A dual-injector fuel injection engine includes a cylinder block, a cylinder head, an intake port, an intake manifold, a surge tank, an in-cylinder injector, an intake pipe injector, and first and second delivery pipes. The in-cylinder injector is positioned below the intake port, when seen from an axial direction of a crank shaft, and attached to the cylinder head. The intake pipe injector and the second delivery pipe are supported above the intake port, when seen from the axial direction of the crank shaft, by the intake manifold to be close to the intake port.

The present invention relates to a dual-injector fuel injection engine in which fuel is injected into a combustion chamber and intake passage from respective injectors.
Generally, in a conventional automobile engine, one fuel injector is provided to each cylinder. In an engine of this type, an injector which injects fuel directly into a combustion chamber and an injector which injects fuel into an intake passage may be provided in order to improve the output and fuel cost, as disclosed in, e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 11-315733 (to be merely referred to as reference 1 hereinafter) or 2002-48035 (to be merely referred to as reference 2 hereinafter).
In the engine described in reference 1, an in-cylinder injector which injects fuel into the combustion chamber is attached to that lower end of a cylinder head which is close to a cylinder block. An injector which injects fuel (light oil) into an intake passage is attached to that side of the cylinder head which is opposite to the in-cylinder injector across an intake port.
The engine described in reference 2 is a multi-cylinder engine. An in-cylinder injector is arranged at the lower end of a cylinder head. An intake pipe injector which injects fuel into an intake passage is arranged in an intake manifold attached to the cylinder head.
The intake manifold extends upward from a side portion of the cylinder head and then to the other side of the cylinder head across a portion above the cylinder head. In the intake manifold, a surge tank is arranged above the cylinder head, and a throttle valve is arranged in the vicinity of the upstream of the surge tank. A supercharger is connected to the upstream of the throttle valve through an intake pipe.
The two types of injectors shown in reference 2 are attached such that delivery pipes are fitted in their ends opposite to the fuel injection ports, and the fuel is supplied from the delivery pipes. Of the two types of injectors, the intake pipe injector is attached to the outer side of that curved portion of the intake manifold which is curved beside the cylinder head and extends vertically.
An engine as described in reference 1 or 2 in which each cylinder is provided with two injectors has a larger number of injectors than in a general engine. Accordingly, the number of assembling steps increases to make the assembly cumbersome. More specifically, when actually manufacturing an engine of this type, operation of attaching the intake pipe injector and its delivery pipe to the engine and operation of attaching the intake manifold to the cylinder head are performed almost simultaneously in a narrow area. Hence, until one of the two operations ends, the other operation must wait. The intake manifold must be attached and detached in maintenance of the intake pipe injector. The problem of overlapping operations thus occurs not only in the manufacture of the engine but also in the maintenance as well.
As shown in reference 2, often, the intake pipe injector and its delivery pipe are connected to each other by fitting the intake pipe injector in the delivery pipe, and they are sealed by a seal member such as an O-ring. If the intake pipe injector and its delivery pipe are aligned incompletely, fuel may leak from the sealed portion partly because the fuel is pressurized excessively.
Therefore, an engine in which each cylinder is provided with two injectors should be assembled easily and appropriately without requiring overlapping operations, as described above.
When an intake pipe injector is to be mounted in an engine of this type readily, the intake pipe injector should not extend outside the intake manifold to make the engine bulky, as in the engine shown in reference 2.


The use of device context in applying security policies is provided by receiving a Domain Name Service (DNS) query for a network resource from a user device (UD) at a DNS analysis server, the DNS query including a functional label describing a context of the UD; analyzing the DNS query to determine whether the UD is permitted to access the network resource based on the functional label; and in response to the functional label indicating that the UD is not permitted to access the network resource, transmitting a block page to the UD. The functional label can be added to the DNS query by a Mobile Device Management application on the UD, a router associated with the UD, or an enterprise server. Contexts for previously blocked DNS queries can be aggregated to identify UDs sharing at least one value with the previously blocked DNS queries as security compromised devices.

To retrieve a network resource via a Uniform Resource Locator (URL), a computing device may submit a Domain Name Service (DNS) Query (also referred to as a DNS Request) to resolve the domain name of the requested network resource into an Internet Protocol (IP) address. For example, a user wanting to visit the website of example.com sends a DNS query to a DNS server to return the IP address that "example.com" is associated with. This process may be handled recursively based on whether a given device has already visited or served the network resource in question and has cached the IP address for the requested network resource.
Network security policies define whether a computing device connected to the network is permitted or denied access to various webpages or network resources. In some cases, when a user attempts to visit a forbidden webpage or other domain, a router or network controller may send a "block page" to the requesting device to inform the user that the request has been blocked. A network administrator may customize the block page to explain why a given webpage is blocked, and may have several different block pages for different user groups, data domains, subdomains, or classes of domains that are blocked by the security policies.
To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures. It is contemplated that elements disclosed in one embodiment may be beneficially used in other embodiments without specific recitation.

Device context in network security policies


A preform is easily and promptly sterilized. Superheated steam (S) generated from water, and having a temperature of 200° C. to 500° C. and a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure is blasted to entire inner and outer surfaces of a preform (1) including a mouth portion (1a) thereof.

In a conventional technology, there has been provided an aseptic filling method as an inline system for forming an aseptic package by, while conveying a preform made of PET (polyethyleneterephtalate), performing a sterilization treatment by blasting a sterilizing agent gas such as hydrogen peroxide or like to the preform, molding the preform into a bottle by a blow-molding machine, filling the bottle with drink, and then capping the bottle (for example, refer to Patent Document 1)
Furthermore, there have been also provided a method in which evaporated sterilizing agent is adhered to a preform, and remaining sterilizing agent is exhausted by flame of a burner (for example, refer to Patent Document 2), and a method in which steam of a sterilizing agent is sprayed to a preform and the preform is heated and then blow-molded (for example, refer to Patent Document 3).
Furthermore, there has been also provided a method of sterilizing a preform without using any sterilizing agent. In such method, water steam is blasted into a preform to heat the preform to a temperature more than glass-transition point and maintain that temperature for a predetermined time for sterilizing the interior of the preform, and immediately thereafter, air is blasted into the preform to remove steam drain from the preform (for example, refer to Patent Document 4).

Preform sterilizing method and content filling method and system


An organic light emitting diode (OLED) including: a substrate; a reflection layer on the substrate and including metal; a first electrode on the reflection layer and including a light transparent aluminum zinc oxide (AZO); an organic layer on the first electrode and including an emitting layer; and a second electrode on the organic layer and including a semi-transparent reflection layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an organic light emitting diode (OLED) and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) are manufactured by sequentially stacking a first electrode as an anode, an organic emitting layer, and a second electrode as a cathode.
In a top emission type OLED structure in which light emitted from an organic emitting layer is transmitted through a second electrode to realize images, a first electrode is formed on a reflection layer using a metal oxide with a high work-function, and the second electrode is formed using a semi-transparent reflection type electrode. In addition, luminescence efficiency of light emitted toward the second electrode may further be increased by optical resonance occurring between the reflection layer and the second electrode in the top emission type OLED.
In this regard, if the thickness of the first electrode utilized as an anode is increased, the formation of faint (dim) spots may be reduced, and power consumption may be decreased.
In addition, in the top emission type OLED, light emitted from the organic emitting layer is transmitted through the anode due to resonance occurring between the reflection layer formed under the anode and the semi-transparent reflection layer utilized as a cathode. Thus, if an absorption constant k of the anode is increased, luminescence efficiency is reduced.
An indium tin oxide (ITO) layer, which has been used as an anode in conventional OLEDs, has a high absorption constant k, and an etching rate different from that of the reflection layer, and thus it is difficult to utilize it to form a thick anode.

Organic light-emitting diode and method of manufacturing the same


A modem/telephone interconnect for sharing a telephone line or communication channel between a modem and a telephone or other communication device. The interconnect provides access to the telephone line by both devices but normally prevents each device from interrupting or interfering with the operation of the other. The telephone can be used to monitor data transfer by the modem without the possibility of interfering with the data signals or quiet times.

Devices known as modems (MOdulator-DEModulators) have been used for many years to connect computer terminals and other such devices to ordinary telephone lines. Modems were developed so that digital information could be easily transmitted from one location to another distant location via the telephone line. The telephone line is capable of supporting analog signals generally in the audible frequency range and the modem is a means for modulating those signals using the digital information, coupling the modulated "carrier" to the telephone line, and demodulating signals received from other locations to recover digital information. Modems are well known in the art.
In the past, two methods were normally used to transmit data via telephone lines using modems. First, a telephone line might be dedicated to the transmission of data and would have a modem connected at each of its ends. No other signals, e.g., telephone voice signals, would be transmitted by this "dedicated" line. Second, a telephone line might be used to transmit data signals and voice signals and this might be done alternately or simultaneously. A modem and a ordinary telephone would be connected at each end of the line and would have access to the line. The dedicated line approach is more costly and, in some instances, is not practical, for example, where the number of telephone lines available is low. Therefore, the shared line is preferred in many cases.
One arrangement for sharing a telephone line between a telephone and a modem is shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,524,244 and 4,578,537, both to Faggin, et al. Those patents contain virtually the same disclosure and show a digital and voice telecommunication device. A cross-point matrix comprises a combination of switches which connect the telephone line with telephone equipment and, alternatively, to a modem for data transmission and reception. In a first position, the matrix connects the telephone to the line to provide normal audio communications and connects the modem to the line to detect incoming signals. In a second position, the matrix disconnects the telephone from the line and connects the modem to allow transmission and reception of data signals. The matrix is under the control of a telephone control and computer and is normally in its first position. When it is desired to transmit data via the modem and the telephone line, an operator signals the computer and the computer switches the matrix from its first position to its second position, disconnecting the telephone from the line and providing connections for data transfer. If, while the matrix is in its first position, a carrier signal is detected on the telephone line (indicating that data is to be received by the modem), the computer automatically switches the matrix to its second position. When data transfer is complete, the computer automatically returns the matrix to its first position. In the system shown by Faggin, an incoming carrier signal will cause the computer to interrupt an ongoing voice communication on the telephone and, if an operator instructs the computer to transmit data, the computer will, likewise, interrupt any voice communications.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,302,629 and 4,330,687 to Foulkes, et al., show use of a non-loaded telephone line for simultaneous transmission of digital data and base band telephone signals. The telephone is connected to the "tip" and "ring" telephone wires through an audio or voice frequency filter which prevents the transmitted and received digital data signals from reaching the telephone and prevents spurious high frequency signals generated by the telephone from reaching the non-loaded loops. The modem includes a transmitter and receiver which transmits and receives pairs of frequency-shift keyed (FSK) signals. The FSK signals are chosen to lie outside the normal range of voice or audio frequencies and thus will not be passed by the audio filter to the phone. Thus, data transmission by means of the modem and voice communications by means of the telephone can occur simultaneously along the telephone line. Because of the filtering, the telephone cannot be used to monitor the transmission and reception of data by the modem.


A method of forming a capacitor includes forming first capacitor electrode material over a semiconductor substrate. A silicon nitride comprising layer is formed over the first capacitor electrode material. The semiconductor substrate with silicon nitride comprising layer is provided within a chamber. An oxygen comprising plasma is generated remote from the chamber. The remote plasma generated oxygen is fed to the semiconductor substrate within the chamber at a substrate temperature of no greater than 750xc2x0 C. effective to form a silicon oxide comprising layer over the silicon nitride comprising layer. After the feeding, a second capacitor electrode material is formed over the silicon oxide comprising layer. Methods of forming capacitor dielectric layers are also disclosed.

This invention relates to methods of forming capacitors and to methods of forming capacitor dielectric layers.
Capacitors are commonly-used electrical components in semiconductor circuitry, for example in DRAM circuitry. As integrated circuitry density increases, there is a continuing challenge to maintain sufficiently high storage capacitance despite decreasing capacitor area. A typical capacitor is comprised of two conductive electrodes separated by a non-conducting dielectric region. The dielectric region is preferably comprised of one or more materials preferably having a high dielectric constant and low leakage current characteristics. Example materials include silicon compounds, such as SiO2, and Si3N4. Si3N4 is typically preferred due to its higher dielectric constant than SiO2.
Numerous capacitor dielectric materials have been and are being developed in an effort to meet the increasing stringent requirements associated with the production of smaller and smaller capacitor devices used in higher density integrated circuitry. Most of these materials do, however, add increased process complexity or cost over utilization of conventional SiO2 and Si3N4 capacitor dielectric materials.
One dielectric region in use today includes a composite of silicon oxide and silicon nitride layers. Specifically, a first capacitor electrode is formed to have a silicon oxide comprising layer, typically silicon dioxide, of 6 to 10 Angstroms thereover. Such might be formed by deposition, or more typically by ambient or native oxide formation due to oxidation of the first electrode material (for example conductively doped polysilicon) when exposed to clean room ambient atmosphere. Thereafter, a silicon nitride layer is typically deposited by low pressure chemical vapor deposition. This can, however, undesirably produce very small pinholes in the silicon nitride layer, particularly with thin layers of less than 200 Angstroms, with the pinholes becoming particularly problematic in layers of less than or equal to about 75 Angstroms thick. These pinholes can undesirably reduce film density and result in undesired leakage current in operation.
One technique for filling such pinholes is to wet oxidize the substrate, for example at 750xc2x0 C.-800xc2x0 C., atmospheric pressure, and feeding 5 slpm H2, 10 slpm O2 for 15-60 minutes. Such forms silicon oxide material which fills the pinholes and forms a silicon oxide layer typically from about 5 Angstroms to about 25 Angstroms thick over the silicon nitride. It is generally desirable, however, to overall minimize the thermal exposure of the wafer/substrate upon which integrated circuitry is being fabricated. Exposure to 750xc2x0 C.-800xc2x0 C. for from 15 minutes-60 minutes is significant in this regard.
The invention includes methods of forming capacitors and methods of forming capacitor dielectric layers. In one implementation, a method of forming a capacitor dielectric layer includes forming a silicon nitride comprising layer over a substrate. The substrate with silicon nitride comprising layer is provided within a chamber. An oxygen comprising plasma is generated remote from the chamber. The remote plasma generated oxygen is fed to the substrate within the chamber at a substrate temperature of no greater than 750xc2x0 C. effective to form a silicon oxide comprising layer over the silicon nitride comprising layer.
In one implementation, a method of forming a capacitor includes forming first capacitor electrode material comprising silicon over a semiconductor substrate. A silicon nitride comprising layer is formed over the first capacitor electrode material. The silicon nitride comprising layer has pinholes formed therein. The semiconductor substrate with silicon nitride comprising layer is provided within a chamber. An oxygen comprising plasma is generated remote from the chamber. The remote plasma generated oxygen is fed to the semiconductor substrate within the chamber at a substrate temperature of no greater than 550xc2x0 C. and for no longer than 30 seconds effective to form a silicon oxide comprising layer over the silicon nitride comprising layer and effective to fill said pinholes with silicon oxide. The chamber is essentially void of hydrogen during the feeding. After the feeding, a second capacitor electrode material is formed over the silicon oxide comprising layer.

Methods of forming capacitors and methods of forming capacitor dielectric layers


Example manual wheel restraint systems and methods for restraining a vehicle at a loading dock include are disclosed herein. An example wheel restraint disclosed herein includes a retractable wheel-blocking barrier mounted to a carrier that can be repositioned along a track, where the track is anchored to a driveway of a loading dock. The track runs generally parallel to a vehicle path that a wheel of a vehicle travels along as the vehicle backs into the dock. To block a rear wheel of the vehicle parked at the dock, the barrier extends laterally into the wheel path, adjacent or in front of the wheel. To release the vehicle, the barrier retracts out from within the wheel path. In some examples, to ensure that the vehicle is secured, the barrier and/or the carrier include barrier or carrier catches to help hold the barrier and carrier in a fixed position. In some examples, one or more sensors determine or sense whether the catches are secured or released and generate signals accordingly. The signals, in some examples, alert dock personnel of the condition of the catches.

A typical loading dock of a building includes an exterior doorway with an elevated platform for loading and unloading vehicles, such as trucks and trailers. When cargo is being transferred between the vehicle and the platform, it is generally safe practice to restrain the vehicle by some means to prevent the vehicle from accidentally departing the dock prematurely.
Perhaps the simplest vehicle restraint is a portable wheel chock that is manually wedged in front of a vehicle's wheel to obstruct the vehicle's forward movement. Examples of portable wheel chocks are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,390,245; 7,000,740; 7,040,461 and 7,226,265.
Some example vehicle restraints are permanently mounted to the dock and have a hook that engages the front edge of a truck or trailer's rear impact guard (also known as an ICC bar). Examples of such vehicle restraints are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,882,167; 6,116,839; 6,190,109 and 7,841,823.
Other vehicle restraints, such as those that are sometimes referred to as "wheel restraints," are mounted to the loading dock's driveway and have an arm or wheel-blocking barrier that moves in front of a rear wheel of the vehicle to create an obstruction that inhibits the vehicle from departing from the dock prematurely. Examples of such wheel restraints are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,762,459; 5,582,498; 6,092,970; 6,676,360; 8,006,811 and 8,307,956 and in US patent publications 2011/0162916 and 2009/0194376.


The present invention provides a negative electrode active material for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, including carbonaceous particles and a Si phase dispersed in the carbonaceous particles, wherein a half width of a diffraction peak of (220) plane in powder X-ray diffraction is 1.5° or more and 8° or less, and an average size of the Si phase is less than 100 nm.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a negative electrode active material for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery and a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery.
2. Description of the Related Art
Owing to the rapid progress in downsizing technology of electronic appliances, recently, various portable electronic appliances are developed and distributed widely. Downsizing is also required in the batteries used as power sources for these portable electronic appliances, and nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries having a high energy density are attracting much attention.
A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery using metal lithium as negative electrode active material has a very high energy density, but the battery life is short because dendritic crystals called dendrites deposit on the negative electrode at the time of charging. Besides, in the secondary battery, dendrites grow and reach up to the positive electrode to cause internal short-circuit, thereby leading to safety problems. Accordingly, as a negative electrode active material replacing the lithium metal, it has been proposed to use carbon materials, in particular, graphitized material capable of absorbing and desorbing lithium. However, the capacity of graphitized material is small as compared with that of lithium metal or lithium alloy, and large current characteristics are low. It has been also attempted to use substances of larger lithium absorption capacity and high density, such as elements which are alloyed with lithium, for example, silicon and tin, or an amorphous chalcogen compound.
Above all, silicon can absorb lithium up to a ratio of 4.4 atoms of lithium per 1 atom of silicon, and the negative electrode capacity per weight is about 10 times that of graphitized material. However, since silicon is large in change of volume due to intercalation and deintercalation of lithium in the charging and discharging cycles, particles of the active material are finely pulverized, and there were problems in cycle life.
Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2000-215887 discloses a negative electrode material for lithium secondary battery, comprising a silicon particle nucleus and a carbon layer for covering the surface of the silicon particle nucleus.
According to the publication, the average particle size of silicon particle nucleus is 0.1 to 50 μm. However, if the average particle size of particle nucleus is 0.1 μm or more, it is hard to prevent pulverization and cracking of the active material in the charging and discharging cycle.
The publication does not specify the half width of any diffraction peak at the (220) plane of silicon, determined by the powder X-ray diffraction of negative electrode material. However, in the publication, as silicon particle nucleus, reagent first class silicon powder by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd. is used. It is known that this powder is crystalline silicon powder. From the description about the material and in view of FIG. 1 of the publication, it can be inferred that the diffraction peak at the (220) plane of silicon has a half width of less than 0.1°.
FIG. 1 of the publication shows the XRD profile of the negative electrode material used in Example 2. FIG. 1 does not represent the entire image of the peak at the (220) plane of silicon. An accurate half width cannot be determined from FIG. 1. Assuming that the maximum peak intensity shown on the axis of ordinates in FIG. 1 is the peak intensity of (220) plane, the present inventors measured the half width. The result was a value smaller than 0.1°.
In the negative electrode active material mentioned in the publication, it is difficult to realize a battery of higher capacity and higher cycle characteristic.

Negative electrode active material for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery and nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery


A cache stores data for use in rasterizing graphics data. The size of the cache is equal to a selected tile size. A processor performs the rasterization of the graphics image by subdividing the graphics image into a plurality of sub-blocks. The sub-blocks are processed, based on a block processing order, by further subdivision of the sub-blocks into tiles for those sub-blocks that have graphics image data. The tiles have a size equal to the selected tile size. Data, associated with a tile, is loaded into the cache, and the cache data is utilized to generate pixels for the associated tile of the graphics image.

1. Field
The invention is directed towards a method and apparatus for cache efficient rasterization of graphics data.
2. Background
To prepare a graphic for display or printing, graphics data is rasterized to convert the graphics data into an array of pixels (bitmap) that is then used to display or print the graphics. FIG. 1 shows a conceptual diagram of an environment 100 in which rasterization is performed. The environment 100 includes a micro-processing unit (MPU) 105, a storage device 110, a cache 115, a frame buffer 120, and an output device 125.
The MPU 105 may comprise a central processing unit (CPU) of a host computer (e.g., desktop or laptop computer, server, gaming console, cellular telephone, etc.) or be part of a graphics device (e.g., graphics accelerator) dedicated specifically for graphics production or a digital signal processing (DSP) unit tailored to performing digital signal processing algorithms. The storage device 110 may comprise various forms of memory resources, such as a permanent storage device, a mass-storage device, a removable storage device, a volatile read-and-write memory, such as a random access memory (RAM), etc.
The MPU 105 loads and executes program instructions of an application 130 to produce streams of graphics data 132. Program instructions of the graphics application 130 and generated graphics data 132 are stored to and read from the storage device 110. The generated graphics data describes a graphic (text or images) to be displayed and can be in various forms, such as equations, coordinates of vectors, vector drawings, etc. Graphics data may include any of several types of data describing a graphic, such as color, texture, depth (z) data.
After the graphics data 132 is generated, the MPU 105 prepares the graphics data for display by rasterizing the graphics data to produce a bitmap 135. During the rasterization process, the MPU 105 loads and analyzes the graphics data to produce the bitmap 135. For example, the MPU 105 may analyze depth (z) data to determine which elements of the graphic are visible and which elements of a graphic are occluded (blocked from view by other elements of the graphic). The MPU 105 may also analyze color and texture data to determine the color and texture components of the graphic. Such analysis determinations by the MPU 105 are reflected in the generated bitmap 135.
The generated bitmap 135 is stored in the frame buffer 120 and is used to display or print an image on the output device 125 (e.g., a display monitor or printer). The frame buffer 120 is typically an area of memory in a memory resource (such as the storage device 110) used to store a bitmapped graphic while the graphic is being displayed or printed on the output device 125.
During the rasterization process discussed above, the MPU 105 transfers graphics data to be rasterized from the storage device 110 to the cache 115 which the MPU 105 can typically access in a significantly shorter time than it can access the storage device 110. The MPU 105 then loads the graphics data from the cache 115 and rasterizes the graphics data to produce the bitmap 135. If the MPU later requires particular graphics data during the rasterization process, the MPU first determines if the particular graphics data is stored in the cache 115 since the access time to the cache 115 is shorter than to the storage device 110. A "cache hit" occurs if the particular graphics data exists in the cache, whereby the particular graphics data is then retrieved from the cache. A "cache miss" occurs if the particular graphics data does not exist in the cache, whereby the particular graphics data must then be transferred from the storage device 110 to the cache 115 which consumes more time and energy as compared to direct retrieval from the cache 115. As such, it is advantageous for graphics data to be retrieved directly from the cache 115 during the rasterization process as much as possible since this reduces the amount of time and energy needed. This is especially true when rasterization is being performed in a portable device (such as a laptop computer, cellular telephone, etc.) where battery power is at a premium.
Typically, however, the rasterization process is performed in an inefficient manner where a large number of graphics data transfers from the storage device to the cache are needed. This is due to this fact that conventional methods of rasterization do not maximize the transfer of graphics data to the cache where most or all of the graphics data transferred to the cache is rasterized before further graphics data is needed from the storage device. Typically then, a significant portion of the graphics data that has been loaded to the cache is not processed and discarded and then replaced by other graphics data that has been loaded from the storage device.
As such, there is a need for techniques to rasterize graphics data in an efficient manner where transfers of graphics data from the storage device to the cache are optimized so that a fewer number of graphics data transfers are needed. This would reduce the time and energy needed to perform the rasterization process.

Cache efficient rasterization of graphics data


Monoclonal antibodies, or antigen-binding fragments thereof, that bind to Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) toxin A or toxin B and methods of using the same to detect or treat C. difficile infections and/or C. difficile-associated disease.

C. difficile is a gram positive, anaerobic bacterium that causes gastrointestinal disease in humans. The bacteria are transmitted through feces and spread to food and other surfaces when people who are infected do not thoroughly wash their hands. C. difficile form spores that can persist outside of a human body for weeks or even months. Symptoms of C. difficile infection can range from diarrhea to life-threatening inflammation of the colon. C. difficile infections are the most common cause of infectious diarrhea in the healthcare setting (Cohen S H et al., Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2010; 31:431-55).
C. difficile infections are more frequent in older adults in a hospital or long-term care facility and commonly occur during or following antibiotic treatment, which disrupts the normal flora of the gut and permits the opportunistic C. difficile to colonize the gut. In more severe infections, the colon can become inflamed (colitis) or form patches of raw tissue that can bleed or produce pus (pseudomembranous colitis). Symptoms of severe C. difficile infection include watery diarrhea, abdominal cramping and pain, nausea, fever, dehydration, and weight loss.
C. difficile produces two cytotoxic enterotoxins, toxin A and toxin B, that have been identified as targets for therapeutic intervention. Toxins A and B are released by the bacteria into the gut and believed to be involved in causing C. difficile-associated disease (CDAD) or the symptoms associated with CDAD. Symptoms of CDAD can be reproduced in animal models by transfer of the toxins. Toxins A and B have glucosyl transferase activity, which is capable of transferring glucose residues from UDP-glucose to Rho-GTPases, thereby inactivating the GTPase proteins found inside the target host cell. Inhibition of the Rho-GTPases results in depolymerization of actin filaments within the host cell, leading to dysregulation of actin cytoskeleton and tight junction integrity, which in turn produces increased cell permeability and loss of barrier function, diarrhea, inflammation, and an influx of molecules associated with the innate immune response. Toxins A and B are found in fecal samples and can be used to diagnose C. difficile infection.
Once a C. difficile infection has been identified, it is best, if possible, to stop taking the antibiotic that caused the infection. The typical treatment for C. difficile is another antibiotic, usually metronidazole or fidaxomicin, for mild to moderate illness, or vancomycin for more severe symptoms. If effective, these antibiotics prevent C. difficile from growing and allow the normal flora to return and colonize the gut. However, in recent years, strains resistant to these antibiotics have been identified, as well as higher recurrence or reinfection rates. Another approach is taking probiotics. Probiotics are non-pathogenic microorganisms, such as bacteria or yeast that compete with C. difficile and help restore balance to the intestinal tract. For patients with severe pain or inflammation, another option is surgery to remove the diseased portion of the colon.
Therapeutic antibodies have been a rapidly emerging field in recent years and provide another possible strategy for treating C. difficile infections. Patients infected with C. difficile experience a wide range of symptoms, the reasons for which are not fully understood. However, antibodies may play a role, as patients who experience milder symptoms tend to possess high titers of anti-toxin A antibody serum titers, while patients susceptible to recurring infections have demonstrated low titers of circulating anti-toxin A antibodies (Hussack and Tanha, Toxins, 2010, (2): 998-1018). US2012/269841 describes murine antibodies that bind mutant C. difficile toxin-A or anti-toxin B. WO2011/130650 describes murine anti toxin-A and anti-toxin B antibodies that were optionally humanized to reduce their immunogenicity, including the lead anti-toxin A antibody, PA-50, and the lead anti-toxin B antibody, PA-41. U.S. Pat. No. 8,257,709 describes anti toxin-A and anti-toxin B antibodies that were generated in transgenic mice, including the lead anti-toxin A antibody, 3D8, and the lead anti-toxin B antibody, 124-152. The transgenic mice contain human immunoglobulin genes encoding certain unrearranged human heavy chain and kappa light chain sequences and, thus, are less immunogenic than murine antibodies.
There remains an unmet need for effective treatment of C. difficile infection, particularly non-invasive treatments that are effective against antibiotic-resistant strains of C. difficile and/or against high-toxin producing strains, including therapeutic antibodies that present reduced immunogenicity while providing high binding affinity for C. difficile toxin A or toxin B and/or potent neutralization activity.


Aspects of the invention include a computer-implemented method for quantifying tester sentiment. The computer-implemented method includes receiving a first feedback data from a first tester, where the first feedback data represents feedback generated by the first tester in connection with a first instance of a first software-under-development. The first feedback data is correlated to an aspect of the first instance of the first software-under-development to derive a tester sentiment data. The tester sentiment data is used to determine a tester sentiment rating of the first instance of the software-under-development. Based on the tester sentiment rating, a resource is applied to the first instance of the first software-under-development.

The present invention generally relates to software development, and more specifically, to quantifying tester sentiment during a development process.
Software development involves the process of building a software application through a pipeline. The software development pipeline includes developers, business owners, and testers that collaborate to identify and execute the software's objectives, design, testing, and verification. Testers are people employed to test the software throughout the different development phases. In many instances, software manufacturers use tracking systems to manage hundreds of testers to test various instances of software in development.

Quantifying tester sentiment during a development process

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A ribbon cable (2) for a hybrid branch cable (1) . The ribbon cable (2) includes a corrugated binder ribbon (30) which facilitates bundling and encapsulation within a tubular outer casing (50). The binder ribbon (30) is corrugated along sections which bridge the conductors (10-12 and 21-26) carried therein. The pattern of corrugations may be formed in one or both opposing surfaces of the bridging section of the binder ribbon (30) and may include a series of ripples, angled notches, rectangular notches, trapezoidal notches, etc.

Residential electrical systems are typically served by a variety of different transmission and distribution cables. For example, with communication equipment, entertainment equipment, alarm equipment, etc., each must be connected via numerous power lines, control lines, and analog and digital communication lines. A confusion of incoming cables often results.
Hybrid branch cables were introduced to eliminate the clutter of discrete cables. Hybrid branch cables are singular cables which carry a multitude of internal conductors. The conductors are devoted to different purposes including 110 volt, 60 Hz power, data communication, and control. U.S. Pat. No. 5,053,583 issued to Miller et al. discloses an exemplary bundled hybrid ribbon cable in which a flat ribbon cable of multiple conductors is rolled and bundled in a generally tubular outer casing. The ribbon cable provides for ease of termination while the bundled tubular configuration facilitates installation and routing of the hybrid cable through the framework of the dwelling.
To further facilitate installation, hybrid branch cables must be as flexible as possible. However, the various signal conductors, power conductors, etc., all detract from the cable's flexibility. Moreover, the close proximity of the internal conductors generates cross-talk, and this necessitates an internal shield which further detracts from the flexibility of the cable. For example, the intertwined foil layer suggested in the above-described '583 patent severely increases the rigidity of the cable along its axis.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,097,099 issued to Miller discloses a partial solution in the form of a composite fiber shield. The composite shield serves to protect the conductors from electromagnetic interference (EMI), yet the fibrous nature does not severely limit the axial rigidity of the bundled cable. The proposed improvement is limited to the shield. This leaves room for further flexibility of other components of the cable.
More specifically, the manufacture of hybrid bundled cables includes rolling of the ribbon cable prior to encasement in the outer shell. The installation and repair of such cables requires stripping of the shell, unrolling of the ribbon cable and positioning of the conductors. Given the frequent need to manipulate the internal ribbon cable, it would be greatly advantageous to increase its flexibility to facilitate folding and unfolding. The present invention provides an innovative solution.


This invention relates to a method, process and apparatus for disinfecting and sterilizing all types of surfaces contaminated with microorganisms and toxic substances to render both inactive. Furthermore, this invention relates to both a method and apparatus for disinfecting and/or sterilizing breathable air and then using this air to protect a confined space from external contamination. The apparatus consists of a new ultra-violet (NUV) source that is more effective than mercury based 254 nm light for destroying DNA of virus, bacteria, spores and cists. It is most effective in breaking chemical bonds in toxic gases and Biotoxins that are useful to terrorists. It is combined with other apparatus that remove particulates and byproducts sometimes produced by the NUV source and maintains positive pressure of the confined space so as to prevent the influx of air from outside the protected zone.

1. Field of the Invention
This specification teaches a new method for disinfecting and sterilizing air, surfaces of all types and food from microorganisms and toxic chemical substances. More particularly, it relates to a process and apparatus for protecting surfaces in closed or captured environments (zones) from external sources of microbial contamination in an efficient and cost effective process. These zones can be large volumes such as high rise building, cruise ships and jet airliners, or small volumes such as small rooms or surgical operation areas whether in a hospital operating room or on the battle field.
2. Description of the Related Art
All prior art for sterilizing and disinfecting air has been based on using commercially available ultra-violet (UV) lamps or by using magnetic fields. These lamps are either pulsed or continuous. Continuous lamps are mercury based and emit principally at 254 nm. A number of companies are presently producing UV light based apparatus for the destruction of virus, bacteria, spores and pathogens (microorganisms or VSP) that are in room air. This is an effective treatment because it continually exposes room air currents to the treatment light and over time has sufficient exposure time to treat VSP's. The required exposure times range from 10's to 100's of seconds, depending on the light absorption capability of the different virus and bacteria at the 254 nm. While this is effective for treating the room air of individual rooms, it requires long treatment times to be effective for treating large flowing volumes of air that pass quickly down large ducts. Long treatment time is impractical for treating most surfaces.
Magnetic based apparatus also require time to deactivate or destroy these VSP's. Two such inventions are directed to specific applications. Wesley, U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,153 is directed specifically towards liquid like substances enclosed in pipes, but does not discuss any test results. Sangster, U.S. Pat. No. 5,750,072 requires an injection of a sterilizing fluid as a mist or vapor for the magnetic field to produce radicals that in turn are used to alter the VSP's. He does not discuss any test results. Hofmann, U.S. Pat. No. 4,524,079 is directed specifically to treating food stuffs. He speaks of requiring up to 100 pulses at frequencies ranging from 5 to 500 kHz. None of these patents are admitted to being prior art by their mention in this background section. Although the action time would be short, the power required to treat large areas and the apparatus design limit its practical application.
The broad ultraviolet spectrum had been divided into three regions depending on its different effects on biological systems. Reference to these regions are predominantly made in medical terminology with UV-A defined as a range or band between 320 nm and 400 nm, UV-B defined as a band between 280 nm and 320 nm, and UV-C defined as encompassing wavelengths shorter than 280 nm. Photochemists and photobiologists do not generally use these terms because absorption spectra of chemical bonds are much narrower than these generally defined bands. Instead, they use the wavelength of the applied radiation to correlate the observed effects.
Claims have been made that germicidal UV-C radiation is used to deactivate DNA. This is because the mercury lamp emission at 254 nm is close to a good DNA absorption band. None of these claims make reference to any shorter wavelengths and to the primary DNA protein absorption band that peaks at 200 nm (see FIG. 9). In fact, all literature directs researchers away from using any shorter wavelengths due to the high absorption of molecular water. Mercury lamps are used for wastewater treatment and work well for this application. However, this specification teaches that since we do not live underwater, the protein absorption band offers much more significant action spectra that can be used to kill and deactivate the DNA of microorganisms more effectively. This concept is a significant advancement and a step change in the technology used for sterilization and disinfection.
During the past few years, new UV emitting lamps based on the excitation of excimers are becoming commercially available. These emitters produce single line or narrow spectral emission at a wavelength determined by the gas composition of the lamp. If the treatment lamp's wavelength is chosen to match closely to the peak of absorption of the microorganism's DNA, then a lethal dosage can be delivered to the VS P's in a shorter time. No patent has been found that teaches the use of new ultra-violet (NUV) sources coupled with supporting equipment that can effectively and efficiently disinfect and sterilize large volumes of air, large and small surfaces, and food stuffs in various stages of preparation.
In this specification, sterilization or sterilize refers to sterilization or high level disinfectant as defined by US FDA. The terms disinfectant and disinfection refers to all other levels of disinfection.
NUV Background
The genetic makeup of all living organisms is contained in their DNA molecule. Replication occurs by the splitting of the DNA molecule, which duplicates itself through a transformation of its structure. Parts of the DNA molecule have been given names such as pyrimidine bases, cytosine, thymine or uracil that form a group of biochemicals that sustain life. The long DNA molecule holds itself together by using simple bonds like those found in sugars.
Researchers believe that the energy of the germicidal UV photon causes the formation of a strong (covalent) bond to develop between specific biochemicals. However, the bond strength of the covalent bond is very dependent on the relative position of the participating atoms. When the bond is symmetrical on both sides of a hydrogen atom in the bond, it is referred to as a dimer. A dimer is a very strong bond and is not generally broken during the vaporization of the liquid. Germicidal UV light is known to produce Thymine, cytosine-thymine, and cytosine dimers. After the formation of the dimer, further replication of the DNA stops. FIG. 8 shows the concept of the dimer formation in a DNA molecule.
The DNA molecule absorbs light from about 180 nm to about 4300 nm. The most effective wavelength in water is about 254 nm because water absorption increases steadily as the wavelength decreases below 240 nm. DNA absorption also increases with lower wavelength. FIG. 9 graphically shows this relationship (Von Sonntag; Disinfection by free radicals and UV-radiation. Water Supply 4, 11-18 (1986)).
The commercial germicidal light source for UV irradiation near the 260 nm absorption peak of DNA has been produced by using mercury as the source for generating photons. The mercury gas and its pressure in the lamp determine the wavelength of the emitting light. For low-pressure (LP) and low-pressure high output (LPHO) lamps, the emitting wavelength is 254 nm. For medium pressure lamps, the emission ranges from 200 nm to above 300 nm. However, the strength of the emitted light is not effective below 245 nm for the continuous emitting lamps and below 235 nm for medium pressure lamps. Xenon gas in pulsed lamps produces a similar emission as the medium pressure mercury lamps.
DNA action spectra show that absorption increases as the wavelength decreases, with a relative maxima at 260 nm and largest at 200 nm. Many articles indicate the principal action spectra of the DNA absorption is from 245 to 280 nm range and do not address the 200 nm peak. Since water absorption significantly increases below 235 nm, it becomes apparent that DNA effectiveness curves that omit the 200 nm peak apply only to organisms in water.
MS-2 Phage is a marker virus that is used to measure reproduction viability after germicidal UV irradiation. FIG. 10 is DNA absorption without the influence of water (Gates, F. L. A study of the bactericidal action of ultra violet light III. Jour. General Physiology 14, 31-42 (1930)). Absorption is more than doubled at 222 nm.
A recent technical paper (Peak et al, UV action spectra for DNA dimer induction. Photochemistry and Photobiology, 40, 5 (613-620), 1984) suggests that dimer formation is not the only requirement to inactivate DNA. Absorption of other molecular groups in the long DNA chain increase as the wavelength is reduced from 254 nm. Damaging or destroying these bonds may be more effective in deactivating the DNA than compared to the 254 nm band. No one has done a detailed study of the effectiveness of inactivation for the different single line UV emitters that are produced by the new UV source (NUV) excimer lamps. Reports show that damage caused by 254 nm light can be reversed by longer wavelength UV and blue light (FIG. 12). 222 nm photons with their higher energy are not expected to cause this 'photo-reactivation' phenomenon. However, this theory needs to be confirmed.
An excimer lamp emitting at 222 nm is considered the most effective source because DNA chains and biochemicals have greater absorption at this wavelength. The steep rise in absorption below 250 nm is exhibited by all proteins and most nitrogenous bases. It has been fairly well established that the peptide bonds are responsible for the steep rise in absorption exhibited by all proteins. A similar increase in absorption at lower wavelengths occurs as well for nucleo-proteins, aromatic amino-acids, diglycine, triglycine, and bovine albumin (McLaren, et al, Photochemistry of Proteins and Nucleic Acids, Pergamon Press, Macmillan Company, 1964). An organic chemist suggests that this lower wavelength is more effective in breaking bonds and producing dimers in the purine bases and sugar phosphates instead of the pyrimidines. The 222 nm is not strongly absorbed by water vapor and oxygen in the air. A shorter wavelength would be most certainly rendered ineffective by water vapor and oxygen absorption for long irradiation distances in air. Shorter wavelength radiation would significantly increase the production of ozone that is harmful to humans and animals.
Tests
Using a lamp that emits 222 nm, a comparison test with and without water was made to determine the effect of this radiation on organisms. The organism used in all tests was the MS-2 virus, which has become a standard indicator of mutation effectiveness. The EPA report (811-R-96-002) reports a 4.3 average log reduction of the MS-2 virus using mercury light 254 nm at an irradiance greater than 128 mj/cm2.
Three wavelengths were tested: 222, 253, 259 nm. The 222 nm lamp was tested at three levels of irradiance with the virus in a thin layer of water in order to reduce the absorption effect of water. A separate test was also done with the virus in more water. The 253 and 259 nm lamps were tested at the identical irradiance levels with the virus in water. Controls were made on all tests and a single test dish on each lamp was made to check experimental error.
The 222 nm lamp (FIG. 11) produced log 5 reductions at 40 mj/cm2 and log 6.5 reductions at 60 mj/cm2. The water test produced a 3.2 log reduction, which matched the equivalent calculated irradiance in air. The 253 and 259 nm lamps produced about log 4 reductions at 60 mj/cm2. A 3 million reduction in population is about 10 to 100 times more effective than reported mercury 254 nm results at the same irradiance.
Analysis
The results of the test indicate that 222 nm light is very effective in causing mutations in organisms. These tests indicate an improvement of between 10 to 1000 times, depending on the intensity of the lamp. It is important to note the improvement of the 259 nm source compared to the 254 nm source. It produced a 10 times improvement in the test sample. This improvement illustrates the importance in using a UV photon emitter that is near the absorption peak of the DNA or targeted chemical such as nitrogenous bases, proteins, nucleic acids, or amino-acids.
It is important to note that DNA biochemicals will have different absorption spectra and the peak absorption will be shifted by water, pH, temperature, previously absorbed light and surrounding contaminates in the air. The presence of ozone can significantly reduce the resistance to damage and shorten the action kill time. For some applications, ozone is produced to improve the killing or deactivating efficiency.
For example, tyrosine has a relative maximum at 275 nm, a red shift of 20 nm from the normal DNA curve. The tobacco mosaic virus peaks at 265 nm, but its X-protein at pH 7.3 peaks at 280 nm while the RNA peak occurs at 260 nm. Critical to the destruction of the organism is targeting the proper biochemical so the critical dosage can be delivered in the shortest time. The critical dosage is that dosage that destroys or deactivates the organism and prevents its replication.
The excimer lamp is a coaxial design that can be made as small as a pencil to as large as 1 meter long. Lamp efficiency is about the same as mercury at 10-25% wall power to UV emission. The design has several advantages over mercury lamps. Most important is that its gas can be chosen to maximize its emission to the absorption peak of the targeted biochemical. Unlike the mercury lamp, the excimer intensity can be varied from near zero to maximum. It will produce 10 to 1000 times more intensity than mercury, depending on the lamp dimensions, and it does not use mercury that will soon become regulated by the EPA.
The energy of the emitted photon is determined by its wavelength. Photon energy is about 5 ev at 250 nm and increases for shorter wavelengths. Different bonds in the DNA will be affected with photons of different energy.
FIG. 12 illustrates the 254 nm dose required to deactivation different VSP's. The bars represent with (solid) and without (open) photo-reactivation. Note that a dose of 75 mj/cm2 is required to deactivate the MS2 Phage virus and prevent photo-reactivation. In the tests shown in FIG. 11, half the dose at 222 nm was just as effective as the higher dose at 254 nm. Even though the sample was under water, the 222 nm radiation was still more effective than 254 nm radiation.
The 222 nm photon has more energy and is absorbed by S—N, S—O, O—O, O—H, and many carbon bonds that do not absorb 254 nm. This suggest that 222 nm light may also prevent DNA repair that has been reported for low level 254 nm UV sources.
Toxic Gas Weapons
Biotoxins and nerve agents can be used by terrorists as weapons against groups of people. Nothing economical has been developed that could mitigate an attack and prevent the loss of life and incapacitation at the point of attack. While government agencies of the US have developed detectors that could be used in the future to warn people in the confined areas that are under attack, nothing would prevent the attack from being effective.
Biotoxins and nerve agents are organic molecules that contain either DNA or have long chain carbon based molecules. Both of these are susceptible to destruction using NUV light sources. 222 nm will destroy the C═C and C═O bonds causing the destruction of the chemical.
The most effective means for delivery of these agents is to spread them in a gas phase through the air ventilation system. A detector would be used to turn on sufficient NUV sources so that the agents are destroyed before exiting the ventilation system into the confined area where the captured population is present. Tests still need to be done in regulated and controlled laboratories to develop the criteria for these sources to be effective and become the first line of defense. However, the concept of using the NUV source as well as the associated support equipment used for treating VSP's is valid and is also contained in the scope of this specification.
Support Equipment Contained in the Apparatus
Important to the sterilization and disinfecting apparatus is the use of a high E field electrostatic precipitator (ESP). FIG. 13 compares the range of effectiveness with mechanical filters for different pollutant sizes. As illustrated in the fourth column, it is capable of removing VSP's. However, since it can also capture fog and mist, it has the ability to breakdown ozone O3 into oxygen. Its use prevents levels of ozone from exceeding the EPA exposure safe levels.
The apparatus includes a humidification system to provide and maintain minimum moisture content at predetermined and controllable levels. In addition, the apparatus contains baffles and zone restriction devices that enhance the zone protection and minimize the positive pressure required to maintain the protected zone.

Method and apparatus for sterilizing and disinfecting air and surfaces and protecting a zone from external microbial contamination


The present invention discloses a mask ROM which has excellent compatibility with a logic process and improves integration of a memory cell, and a fabrication method thereof. The mask ROM includes: a substrate where a memory cell array region and a segment select region are defined; first and second trenches respectively formed at the outer portion of the memory cell array region and at the outer portion of a buried layer formation region of the segment select region; an element isolating film and an isolating pattern respectively filling up the first and second trenches; a plurality of buried layers aligned on the substrate in a first direction by a predetermined interval, and surrounded by the isolating pattern; and a plurality of gates aligned in a second direction to cross the buried layers in an orthogonal direction.

This application claims the priority of Korean patent application Serial No. 2001-51826 filed on Aug. 27, 2001.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mask ROM and a fabrication method thereof, and in particular to a mask ROM which has excellent compatibility with a logic process and improves integration of a memory cell, and a fabrication method thereof.
2. Description of the Background Art
A mask ROM is a non-volatile device for discriminating data and recording necessary information according to a mask process in an element isolation process, a metal process or an ion implant process for a channel region of a memory cell.
FIG. 1 is a layout diagram illustrating a memory cell of a conventional flat cell type mask ROM.
The flat cell type mask ROM has been widely used in a fabrication method using a logic process.
Referring to FIG. 1, the flat cell type mask ROM includes: a substrate 100 where a memory cell array region I and a segment select region II are defined; a trench (not shown) formed at the outer portion of the memory cell array region I of the substrate 100; an element isolating film (not shown) filling up the trench; a plurality of buried layers 110 aligned on the resultant structure in a first direction by a predetermined interval; and a plurality of gates 114 aligned in a second direction to cross the buried layers 110 in an orthogonal direction.
In the fabrication process of the flat cell type mask ROM, an isolation process is performed at the outer portion of the memory cell array region I to surround the whole memory cell array region I, instead of performing a LOCOS or STI process for isolating memory cells. A source/drain junction of the memory cell is the buried layer 110 formed before the gate process. It is thus unnecessary to isolate the junctions.
A contact 122 of the buried layer junction does not exist in the memory cell array region I but in the segment select region II. In addition, a width of the gate 114 is a channel width of the memory cell.
As described above, the isolating film and the contact are not formed in the memory cell, and thus a size of the memory cell is about 4F2 (xe2x80x98Fxe2x80x99 implies a minimum line width of photolithography), thereby improving integration, simplifying the whole process and cutting down production costs.
When a logic process of a design rule below 0.35 xcexcm is applied to the fabrication process of the flat cell type mask ROM, 1) the isolation process is performed by LOCOS, 2) N type impurity-doped polysilicon, Ti-Salicide or W-Polycide is used as the gate formation material, and 3) Ti-Salicide identical to the gate formation material is employed as the source/drain junction.
In addition, when the flat cell type mask ROM is fabricated according to a logic process of a design rule below 0.25 xcexcm, 1) the isolation process is performed to surround the whole memory cell array region by a trench STI, 2) Ti-Salicide or Co-Salicide is used as the gate formation material, and 3) Ti-Salicide or Co-Salicide identical to the gate formation material is employed as the source/drain junction.
Accordingly, the flat cell type mask ROM having compatibility with the logic process of a design rule below 0.35 xcexcm has been commercially used. There are therefore increasing demands for a flat cell process having compatibility with the logic process below 0.25 xcexcm.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a conventional flat cell type mask ROM process.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the conventional method for fabricating the mask ROM includes: an isolation process for forming an element isolating film at the outer portion of a memory cell array region; a well formation process; a buried layer formation process; a process for forming a gate insulating film and gates in the memory cell array region and its peripheral region; a cell isolation ion implant process for implanting ions to the memory cell array region; a process for forming a source/drain in the gates of the peripheral region; a coding process; a process for forming a contact in a buried layer of a segment select region; and a bit line formation process.
FIGS. 3a through 3c are cross-sectional diagrams, taken along lines AB, BC and CD of FIG. 1. In FIGS. 3a to 3c, xe2x80x98axe2x80x99 denotes an active region of the memory cell array region, and xe2x80x98bxe2x80x99 denotes a peripheral region which is the outer portion of the active region.
The conventional method for fabricating the mask ROM will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3a to 3c.
As depicted in FIG. 3a, provided is a substrate 100 where a memory cell array region I and a segment select region II are defined.
A trench 103 is formed by etching the outer portion of the active region (a) of the memory cell array region I of the substrate 100. Thereafter, an insulating film such as an oxide silicon film is deposited over the resultant structure, and etched according to an etch back process or a chemical mechanical polishing process, to form an element isolating film 104 filling up the trench 103.
A well 102 is formed on the substrate 100 having the element isolating film 104 according to an impurity implant process. Here, the element isolating film formation process may be performed after the well formation process, as depicted in FIG. 3B.
Thereafter, a photolithography process and an impurity implant process are sequentially carried out in the memory cell array region I and the segment select region II of the substrate 100 having the well 102, thereby forming buried layers 110, 111 aligned in one direction.
A gate insulating layer 112 is positioned on the substrate 100, to form gates 114 aligned in an orthogonal direction to the buried layers 110, 111.
Although not illustrated, a cell isolation ion implant process is performed in the active region (a) of the memory cell array region I, a source/drain 130 is formed in the peripheral region (b), and a coding process is performed thereon.
As shown in FIG. 3c, a protective film 120 is deposited on the substrate 100, and a contact 122 serving as a passage to a bit line (not shown) to be formed according to a succeeding process is formed on the buried layer 111 of the segment select region II.
Then, the bit line electrically connected to the buried layer 111 of the segment select region II through the contact 122 is formed, and thus fabrication of the mask ROM is finished.
When the mask ROM is fabricated according to the logic process of a design rule below 0.25 xcexcm, the element isolating film is formed according to the shallow trench isolation and the chemical mechanical polishing process.
In general, one segment of the memory cell consists of 32 word lines and 1024 bit lines. When a size of the segment is decreased, an area of the memory cell having the same integration is increased. Considering that the gate is designed under the minimum design rule, a height of the 32 word lines is approximately 64F. When it is presumed that a height of the segment select end is about 12F, a height of the segment is 76F, and a length of the 1024 bit lines is about 2048F. That is, a size of the segment is represented by xe2x80x982048Fxc3x9776Fxe2x80x99. In the case of the design rule below 0.25 xcexcm, the size of the segment is represented by xe2x80x98512Fxc3x9719 xcexcmxe2x80x99.
The memory cell is an aggregate of the segments. For example, 128 segments are required to compose a 4M bit memory cell array. Therefore, a size of the 4M bit memory cell is approximately xe2x80x98512Fxc3x972432 xcexcmxe2x80x99, which is a size of the active region composing a memory cell block.
However, in the conventional method for fabricating the mask ROM, a polishing speed is not uniform in the wide active region of the memory cell array region. As a result, polishing uniformity is reduced in a memory cell larger than xe2x80x98200 xcexcmxc3x97200 xcexcmxe2x80x99.
In addition, the buried layer is patterned in a minimum size allowable in the photolithography. It is thus difficult to pattern the buried layer in the boundary portion between the segment select region and the memory cell array region.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for fabricating a mask ROM which can improve polishing uniformity in a polishing process in the element isolating film formation, and which can easily pattern a buried layer in a boundary portion between a segment select region and a memory cell array region.
In order to achieve the above-described object of the present invention, there is provided a mask ROM including: a substrate where a memory cell array region and a segment select region are defined; first and second trenches respectively formed at the outer portion of the memory cell array region and at the outer portion of a buried layer formation region of the segment select region; an element isolating film and an isolating pattern respectively filling up the first and second trenches; a plurality of buried layers aligned on the substrate in a first direction by a predetermined interval, and surrounded by the isolating pattern; and a plurality of gates aligned in a second direction to cross the buried layers in an orthogonal direction.
There is also provided a method for fabricating a mask ROM including the steps of: providing a substrate where a memory cell array region and a segment select region are defined; forming an element isolating film and an isolating pattern at the outer portion of the memory cell array region and at the outer portion of a buried layer formation region of the segment select region; forming a plurality of buried layers aligned over the resultant structure in a first direction by a predetermined interval, and surrounded by the isolating pattern; and forming a plurality of gates aligned in a second direction to cross the buried layers in an orthogonal direction.

Mask ROM, and fabrication method thereof


A switching cabinet with two side walls, a back wall, a bottom side and a cover side and with frame pieces which, at least in part, are formed by multiple beveling of the side walls, the back wall, the bottom side or the cover side in the inner space of the switching cabinet, where the sections formed by beveling have a section which is inclined or parallel to the plane of the corresponding side wall, the back wall, the bottom side or the cover side and is at a distance from these. Extended mounting capabilities are offered by the fact that the inclined or parallel sections of two bordering walls standing perpendicular to one another or of a wall and a side of the switching cabinet are assigned to one another in such a way that they form a deepened inside receptacle in the inside space of the switching cabinet.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to with a switching cabinet with wall elements having side walls, a back wall, a bottom and a cover side and with frame pieces which are formed at least in part by multiple beveling of the wall elements in the inside space of the switching cabinet, so that the sections formed by beveling have a section running inclined or parallel at a distance from the corresponding wall element.
2. Description of Prior Art
A switching cabinet of this type is known from German Patent Reference DE 37 31 547 C3. In this switching cabinet of the art, by multiple beveling, frame sections are formed on the side walls, back wall, bottom side and/or cover; these have two sections which are perpendicular to one another, directed toward the inside space of the body of the cabinet and thus provide possibilities of adding to the depth, width and height of the body of the cabinet. In addition, by the beveling on the open sides of the body of the cabinet, standing-away sealing struts are formed which facilitate and improve connection between the body of the cabinet and the back wall or the doors of the cabinet. Frequently, additional mounting is desirable in the inside space of the switching cabinet.


A probe for position-determining apparatus and the like having a housing and in the housing a sensing space and an aperture to the sensing space, a stylus extending out of the sensing space through the aperture, and a stylus-support at the aperture. The stylus is constrained in low-friction engagement with the stylus support towards a generally neutral axis while permitting position-determining displacement on the stylus support. The stylus is linked to the constraining low friction engagement through a lever arrangement including a first lever element extending sideways from and around the stylus and a second lever from the first lever to transfer stylus displacement to the constraining low friction engagement. The lever arrangement includes an abutment engageable by the second lever.

In co-ordinate measuring and similar machines an object is measured by relative motion between a probe and an object in a controlled manner, usually from a datum, until a "touch" of the object is indicated by the probe. The co-ordinates of the touch position are recorded. By such repeated actions the dimensions of the object can be determined.
The aim of such measurements is to achieve precision to better than one micron with a repeatability of half a micron or less. Accordingly it is clear that the "touch" action must be very responsive and free from error. Probes to achieve such touch action usually use a light, thin stylus with a ball-end of hard material to touch the object. The touch action deflects the stylus in a mounting in the probe and the occurrence of the deflection of the stylus is sensed to cause the co-ordinates to be recorded.
Known probes provide good results in many measurements but in some measurements errors arise which cannot be compensated by corrections to the recorded co-ordinates. One cause for such errors is that deflections of the stylus in different directions requires different amounts of deflection before sensing occurs. Another cause is that an electromechanical switch operated by the stylus is used for the sensing action and the making or breaking of the switch is not consistent because of arcing or corrosion at the switch contacts. Probes used hitherto have electrical or mechanical connections to the stylus.
UK Patent Number GB 2,220,748A describes a probe with an external constraining means and a sensing arrangement consisting of a mirror on the stylus to deflect light away from a detector on deflection of the stylus.


A device for operating a microphone system, particularly in a motor vehicle, detects speech sound in several different physical locations to track a virtual microphone location, which is optimized in relation to a moving speech source. From the evaluation of variables, such as operating time, phase and/or amplitude, the individual microphone locations are virtually weighted, and the audio signals from the microphones are added or otherwise combined.

The present invention relates to a method, and a device for operating a microphone system; particularly in a motor vehicle.
Microphones and microphone systems are especially needed in motor vehicles for operating the so-called handsfree telephone. However, they are also needed in voice amplification and communication systems, and in systems for actively suppressing noise.
In this regard, it is important that the sound is, or can be picked up in direct proximity to the head of the vehicle occupant or the vehicle driver. To this end, microphones are generally disposed in the area of the dashboard, in the area of the roof panel, or on the interior mirror. Simple microphones or microphone systems often present a problem for otherwise simple intercoms in car phones, or also for voice-controlled input interfaces on electronic devices. In this case, the voice messages are superposed by driving noises, which is not only problematic with handsfree telephones, but also with voice-controlled input units.
A voice-operated control device for components in motor vehicles is described in, for example, German Unexamined Patent Application No. 196 08 869, where the operation of the control device by means of speech generates a check-back signal, through which it can be determined whether the control device has correctly received the voice-controlled command. Even with regard to its microphone arrangement, a voice-operated control device of this type is only based on a conventional microphone design or microphone arrangement.
A similar type of voice-controlled operating control method is described in German Patent No. 195 33 541. However, the voice-control is treated as such here. In order to achieve secure control, a very expensive voice recognition method is used in which the aspects of noise reduction, echo compensation, feature extraction, and syntax and semantics testing are processed separately from each other. In this case, the aim is simply to postprocess the available voice signals in the best possible manner. An improvement of the voice quality as such, i. e. an improvement of the voice-signal reception, is not considered here.
EP 0721178 A 2 describes a multichannel communication system having a plurality of microphones and a plurality of loudspeakers. In this case, the entire system is designed for at least two people speaking, who are connected to each other in transmit/receive mode. The transmitting means select the voice message from an entire noise background. In a motor-vehicle application, a so-called error or comparison microphone is brought very close to the person speaking, by the seat belt. The location of the microphone is fixed here. Furthermore, the design in this document is for transmit/receive mode for two or more persons.
Along these lines, a frequency-selective control system for acoustic systems is known from EP 0773531 A 2. In this case, the prevention of oversteering is in the forefront. Improving the reception quality of the voice message is not a consideration here. A similar type of system is also known from EP 0721179 A 2. The main objective of the adaptive, tonal control system described therein for eliminating stability problems is to prevent the above-mentioned oversteering, as well.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,539,859 describes a method for reducing noise, which relates exclusively to two microphones acting permanently in reciprocity to each other. A spatial determination specially for obtaining a virtual microphone location is not conducted.
EP 0472356 A1 describes a device, where only the location of the speech or command source is determined by microphones.
This cross-section of the related art indicates that one is principally concerned with improving the already received voice signal. However, improving the reception quality at the location where the speech is generated is frequently, if not fundamentally, neglected.
Therefore, the present invention is based on the object of further developing a method and a device of the species, to the effect that the reception quality of the voice signal input into the system is fundamentally improved.
The stated object of the present invention is achieved by a method of the species, using the characterizing features of Claim 1.
With regard to a device of the species, the stated object of the present invention is achieved by the characterizing features of Claim 4.
Additional advantageous refinements of the method according to the invention are specified in claims 2 through 3, and ongoing refinements regarding the device of the present invention are mentioned in the remaining claims 5 through 8.
The central idea of the present invention, in regard to both the method and the device, is to establish a virtual, optimized microphone location. Normally, this is virtually defined there as the location of the speech source, i.e. the location of the head of the person who is speaking. This so-called spatial noise- or speech-source recognition can be accomplished, e.g. using propagation-delay measurement. In a system of multiple microphones, propagation-delay measurement enables the spatial position of the speech source to be detected while one is speaking. The microphones are added up according to magnitude and phase, in such a manner, that the useful signals are added up and amplified, but the interference signals not correlated to the useful signal are optimally blanked out. Consequently, all of the microphones have a supporting function, and are included in the evaluation. This is not a question of post-processing the microphone signal, but rather improving the speech signal fed into the transmission chain.
The root idea of both the method and device according to the present invention is especially advantageous, because a microphone selected in this manner, or the propagation-delay measurement forming the basis of this, can be combined with a head-position determination of the person speaking.
Means for ascertaining the position of the head, which are used for controlling the air bag, are indeed known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,241. However, the head position is detected here using generated sound waves. A combination of this with a voice-operated microphone is not mentioned.
In an additional advantageous refinement, the data on the head position can then be generated via the speech-source recognition or the so-called virtual microphone-location determination, these data being qualified and usable for controlling the safety systems. That is, the head position is also determined here simultaneously to the normal speaking with car phones or speech-input devices, without having to provide additional, more extensive means. So if the head is in an unfavorable position relative to the air bag system, the safety system can be controlled in an emergency, to prevent the air bag from being deployed.
Therefore, the system is multifunctional as a whole. However, it is important that the speech quality is increased at the detection location. This leads to a clearer transmission while talking on the car phone. Furthermore, the voice commands for units in the motor vehicle controlled by voice input are more easily recognized and carried out.

Method and device for operating a microphone system, especially in a motor vehicle


A container for storing and dispensing beverage, in particular beer, which container comprises a top surface, while in the top surface a valve is provided for dispensing the beverage, and pressure means are provided in the inner space of the container for expelling the beverage from the container via the valve.

This application was published in English on Jun. 22, 2000 as International Publication No. WO 00/35803.
This invention relates to a container for storing and dispensing beverage. This invention relates in particular to such a container for dispensing beer or a like carbonated beverage.
Beverages such as beer or other carbonated beverages are conventionally packed in containers such as kegs, cans and the like. Containers for packing and dispensing a series of consumptions are conventionally provided with a top surface having a central opening through which the beverage can be introduced into the container, which opening is subsequently closed with a cap. In the cap, a plug is provided which can be pressed or pulled from the cap. In the sidewall, adjacent the bottom of the container, a pour opening is provided, through which the beverage can be dispensed. In the pour opening, an extending or pivoting pouring tube with a tap or the like is provided, so that measured amounts of beverage can be dispensed. By removing the plug from the cap, evacuation of the inner space of the container is prevented. The beverage flows from the container under the influence of gravity.
These known containers have as a disadvantage that a pour opening, a tap or the like, and a pouring tube are to be provided, which renders the container costly. Moreover, in the use of such a container, there is the disadvantage that the container is to be placed high, or adjacent an edge of, for instance, a tabletop or the like, so as to enable a glass or mug to be held under the tap. In use, furthermore, there is a risk that the container is dislodged when the tap arranged on one side thereof is operated, in particular when the container is partly or substantially completely empty. Furthermore, these known containers have the disadvantage that the equilibrium pressure in the container is particularly dependent on the temperature. If carbonated beverage is dispensed from a relatively warm vessel, relatively much carbonic acid gas will disappear, giving rise to a high degree of foaming, while subsequent cooling of the container will have as a result that substantially no foaming will occur anymore.
It has previously been proposed to use containers in which a tapping rod can be inserted through the central opening in the top surface of the container, while an external pressure source such as a CO2 cartridge can be connected for introducing a pressure gas into the container under simultaneous displacement of the beverage from the container via the tapping rod and a dispensing tube extending above the top surface. Optionally, by way of external pressure source, a hand-operated pumping means, such as bellows, may be provided, with air being used as pressure medium. However, such known apparatuses have as a disadvantage that a relatively complex and costly tapping rod with pressure device is to be employed, which is to be connected and set by a consumer prior to use. Such a tapping rod with pressure control device is to be purchased and maintained by the consumer, in particular to be cleaned after or prior to each use. Moreover, such a known device can entail danger to the consumer, for instance through improper use or incorrect setting, for instance in that a CO2 cartridge may become detached from the pressure control device. A further disadvantage of these known apparatuses is that the central opening, prior to use, is closed by a readily removable cap, so that manipulation of the contents of the container is easily possible. As a consequence, the contents substantially cannot be guaranteed.
EP 0 338 844 discloses a container for storing and dispensing a liquid, comprising a spray can type valve in the top surface. This container is provided with pressure means connected to said container through a wall part thereof, which pressure means can be manually operated for raising the pressure inside said container for dispensing said liquid. A micro-porous membrane filter is provided inside said container, connected to said valve, for micro filtering said liquid to be dispensed, for filtering micro organisms from said liquid.
The object of the invention is to provide a container for storing and dispensing beverage, preferably beer, in which the above-mentioned disadvantages of the above-described known devices are obviated. To that end, a container according to the invention is characterized by the features hereinafter disclosed.
The use of a valve in the top surface of the container provides the advantage that a particularly simple and inexpensive sealing of the container is obtained, while manipulation of the contents of the container can be simply prevented. The use of pressure means included in the inner space of the container, with which beverage can be displaced from the container via the valve upon operation thereof, then provides the advantage that such a container is directly ready for use by a consumer. The consumer cannot access the pressure means proper, and does not need to, in fact cannot, set them, so that errors are avoided. Since the valve is placed in, at least adjacent to, the top surface of the container, a dispensing duct can be simply connected with the valve, which duct terminates at such a height above a setup surface for the container that a glass or the like can simply be held under it. The use of a valve for closing the container provides the advantage that the pressure in the container can be simply maintained and controlled, regardless of the degree of filling of the container.
The valve for use in a container according to the present invention is preferably a spray can valve as used, for instance, in aerosol containers and the like. Such valves, which are known in male, female and tilting designs, are known per se from practice. The use of such valves provides the advantage that they can be made of particularly reliable design, are relatively inexpensive in manufacture and use, and offer a high degree of safety. Surprisingly, it has been found that such valves are particularly suitable for dispensing beverage, in particular carbonated beverage, without giving rise to excessive foaming, while the operation of such valves is not adversely affected by the beverage.
A container according to the present invention is suitable in particular as a consumer package for beverage, in particular beer, and then preferably has a content of between 1 and 10 liters, more particularly between 3 and 7.5 liters. Such containers are relatively easy to handle for consumers and have a content which is conveniently adjusted to normal use by consumers during a xe2x80x9cbest beforexe2x80x9d term of the beverage in question. In addition, such a container, for instance of a content of about 4.5 to 5 liters, then provides the advantage that it can be stored, for instance, in a refrigerator. Moreover, such a device is suitable in particular as a (semi) professional package, for instance as a barrel having a content of between 10 and 50 liters, more particularly between 15 and 45 liters. Such a package provides the advantage that relatively large volumes of beverage can be made available, without necessitating large gas containers and associated pressure control devices to be placed separately from the barrel and to be connected. Such a barrel can, for instance, have a content of 15, 25 or 40 liters.
Further advantageous embodiments of a container according to the present invention are set forth in the dependent claims.

Container for storing and dispensing beverage, in particular beer


Described herein are systems and methods for bidirectional matching. In overview, various embodiments provide software, hardware and methodologies underlying a bidirectional matching approach that implements a multi-level importance weighting procedure. Generally speaking, potential relationships between parties are scored on the basis of criterion matches. In some embodiments, a value is assigned to each criterion match based on a function of predefined factor, which is optionally experientially defined, and a further factor, which is defined based on individual preferences.

Any discussion of the background art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.
It is known to make use of a computer system to perform a search based on a set of criteria. Indeed, such a concept is central to substantially all searching technologies. In broad terms, a searcher provides a query based on one or more criteria, such as keywords and/or qualitative identifiers, and is provided with none or more results in response to the query.
In terms of interfacing parties, the traditional approach is for a first party to provide a set of criteria, and for a search engine to identify none or more parties meeting that set of criteria. For example, a person wishing to purchase a used car provides search criteria (such a price range, make, model, and the like), and the search engine identifies one or more records reflective of used cars posted by persons wishing to sell used cars. For the present purposes, this is referred to as "unidirectional matching", as only the interests of one party are considered (in this case being the party wishing to purchase a used car).
Unidirectional matching is not always appropriate for interfacing parties. Although it is typically suitable for situations where one party has criteria that should be satisfied and the other party is generally impartial (as is the case in most buyer/seller environments), there are situations where both parties have criteria that should be satisfied. This becomes relevant in situations where, although a first party might match criteria provided by a second party, the second party might not match criteria provided by the first party. This leads to a concept referred to herein as "bidirectional matching". By way of bidirectional matching, two (or optionally more) parties are matched based on mutual satisfaction of specified criteria.
Bidirectional matching is conceptually and technologically challenging, and known approaches are relatively rudimentary in nature. It follows that there is a need for improved systems and methods for interfacing parties.

Systems and methods for bidirectional matching


A device for purifying contaminated gas, such as air drawn from an automobile painting tunnel and containing a mist of paint particles, includes an upper water feed orifice 1 connected to a lower flow channel 4 by an intermediate channel 3 which diverges progressively from top to bottom. A horizontal, transverse wall 8 is positioned beneath the feed orifice at a downstream section of the intermediate channel. Water falling against the wall splashes out in a curtain of droplets through which the air must pass, with the paint particles thus being entrained in the droplets and removed from the air flow. The low divergence angles of the intermediate channel ensures the continuous wetting of its walls to prevent clogging.

This invention concerns a device for purifying contaminated gas by passing it through a layer of cleansing liquid. More precisely, the invention relates to a device for purifying gas containing solid and/or liquid particles such as paint particles in the air drawn from painting enclosures or tunnels, such as those used for painting automobile bodies.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,299,602 teaches a gas-purifying device in which a cleansing liquid such as water passes through the device from top to bottom, mixes with the contaminated gas, entrains the particles suspended therein, and is collected in a receiving tank. After the cleansing liquid and the contaminated gas are fed through an upper orifice, they enter a connecting channel which diverges progressively as it extends downwardly, and which connects the cleansing liquid feed orifice to an approximately vertical flow wall(s), a horizontal transverse wall being positioned beneath the feed orifice at the level of the flow wall. The cleansing liquid flows along the flow wall after falling on the horizontal transverse wall, forming a sheet of droplets after impact against said wall, all of which collect in the liquid layer which flows along the flow wall after the particles in suspension are immobilized in the circulating gas. This device allows the collection of all particles in suspension in the contaminated gas requiring treatment.
Nevertheless, until now no device has been able to provide for the continuous flow of the cleansing liquid through the connecting channel joining the cleansing liquid feed orifice to the flow wall. As a result dry areas form on the surface of the connecting channel, and since the liquid does not flow in these areas, the particles in suspension in the contaminated gas adhere to them, thus gradually clogging the device.
Furthermore, such clogging raises an important, heretofore unresolved problem relating to the manufacture of these devices. A major consideration in a contaminated gas cleaner such as the one described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,299,602 is the loss of head caused by the horizontal transverse wall, also called a shield. As stated above, the purification of the gas is effected by droplets formed when the cleansing liquid falls on the shield, these droplets then rebounding toward the flow wall where they are collected after they have entrapped the particles suspended in the contaminated gas.
Accordingly, the shield cannot be positioned at the level of the connecting channel since, as stated above, this channel contains dry areas in which the particle-laden droplets would be smashed, thus clogging the connecting channel.
The sole possibility for remedying the loss of head in a device of this kind would thus consist in the enlargement of the shield by reducing the space between the shield and the flow wall. The only suitable industrial solution has, therefore, always been to halt assembly to dismantle the old shield and to install a new one. This process is, of course, costly and time-consuming.
Furthermore, as evidenced by measurements taken above the liquid feed orifice, a purification device such as that described above functions too noisily. More specifically, and in addition to the excessive general noise level of such a device, the sound spectrum exhibits a peak in the low-frequency range, at about 300 Hz. While high-pitched sounds can be absorbed fairly readily by insulating materials, the much greater difficulty posed by the absorption of low-pitched sounds is well known.