A gear lock mechanism for use with a door or window adapted to lift and slide. The gear lock mechanism includes a gear channel, an adjustable lock box assembly configured for removably positioning in the gear channel and at least two roller carriages. Each of the at least two roller carriages has a plurality of wheels for moving the door or window to an open and closed position. A backset adapter may be removably connected to the gear lock mechanism.

Typically, exterior non-lift and slide sliding doors or windows include active door panels that do not raise or lower, but have a fixed roller in place. These door or window panels have weather-stripping in contact with the bottom sill, top jamb, side jamb and interlock, which is where the active door or window panel meets with another active door or window panel or fixed door or fixed window panel. During operation, these door or window panels will have weather-stripping that will be in contact with the bottom sill and top jamb at all times.
When opening or closing the active panel of these types of doors and windows, a substantial amount of friction is caused from the weather-stripping of the top and bottom rails because the weather-stripping is in contact at all times with the bottom sill and top jamb in order to seal the panel. This friction creates difficulty in opening and closing a typical sliding door or window panel, which is even more apparent in a non-typical, oversized, thicker, taller, wider, heavier sliding door or window panel. In addition, this friction between the weather-stripping with the bottom sill and top jamb creates greater wear and tear on the bottom sill and top jamb as well as the weather-stripping, which greatly reduces the longevity of the weather-stripping as well as the door or window system as a whole.
As a result, most standard sliding doors or windows designed have the reputation of not sealing particularly well to keep water and outside atmosphere and elements from leaking through the door or window fixture. This problem with the sealing ability may result in water damage, outside atmosphere and elements infiltration as well as less efficient sealing of heating and cooling of living spaces resulting in related elevated energy costs for the homeowner.
In order to address the shortcomings of traditional sliding doors and windows discussed above, lift and slide doors and windows are known in the art. Unlike typical sliding doors or windows, lift and slide doors and windows eliminate the friction problem due to the weather-stripping being in constant making contact with the bottom sill and top jamb. Lift and slide doors and windows are required to have lift and slide hardware in place in order to function. Lift and slide doors and windows have active panels that actually rise and lower when an operator handle is rotated on an axis 180 degrees.
When the active panel is unlocked, the handle can then be rotated, the gear lock mechanism disengages with the multiple jamb strikes and then the panel is raised enough to separate the weather-stripping attached on the top and bottom rails from making contact on the top jamb and bottom sill. The raising of the panel is due to roller carriages typically having two wheels on each carriage (four total wheels) attached to the gear locking mechanism, which raise the panel when the operator door handle is rotated. This action eliminates the friction discussed above and, thus, decreases the difficulty in opening and closing a sliding door or sliding window as well as non-typical, oversized thicker, taller, wider, heavier sliding door or window panels. As a result, lift and slide doors and windows are superior in sealing, operation and efficiency.
When a lift and slide door or window panel is closed and then locked by rotating the handle back by 180 degrees, the gear lock mechanism engages with multiple strikes located on the side jamb and at the same time the panel is lowered down to rest on top of the bottom sill. A keyed lock cylinder can then be rotated to secure the panel from being operated from the outside. This action creates a superior positive seal to prevent water and outside atmosphere and elements from leaking or passing through the door or window fixture. As a result, a lift and slide door is more resistant against water infiltration, outside atmosphere and other elements infiltration with more efficient heating and cooling capability and reduced energy costs. In addition, a more secure opening is created due to the multiple locking points and keyed cylinder port integrated in the lift and slide gear lock mechanism, which locks the door or window panel to the multiple strikes attached to the jamb.
Generally, a lift and slide panel will have a lift and slide operating handle connected to a spindle, which is positioned at the opposite end connected to a hub on a lift and slide gear lock mechanism. The gear lock mechanism includes a long channel having multiple locking ports. The long channel is connected to a lead roller carriage assembly at the bottom of the gear lock mechanism channel. The lead roller carriage assembly is connected to a linkage rod or connecting rod. The linkage rod may be connected to a trailing roller carriage assembly.
With the lift and slide panel in the locked condition, the operating handle is attached to the face of a lock stile pointing straight up at the ceiling in a upward vertical condition parallel to the panel's vertical edge. The gear lock mechanism is attached to a lock stile and is locked or engaged onto the multiple strikes located on the jamb. The panel is in the lowered condition resting on the bottom sill resulting in substantial sealed condition with the bottom sill and top jamb, side jamb and interlock. A keyed lock cylinder after being engaged prevents opening the panel from the outside.
With the lift and slide panel in the unlocked condition, the keyed lock cylinder being disengaged, the operating door handle is attached to the face of the lock stile and is pointing straight down to the floor in a downward vertical condition parallel to the panel's vertical edge. The gear lock mechanism is attached to the lock stile is unlocked from or disengaged from the multiple strikes located on the side jamb. The panel is in a raised condition away from the bottom sill and top jamb enough so that the weather-stripping on the bottom rail of the panel is not in contact with the bottom sill and that the top rail weather-stripping is not in contact with the top jamb. The panel can then be moved along the track with less friction to create an opening, which allows for easier opening and closing of a panel.
Although lift and slide doors and windows alleviate a number of problems associated with traditional sliding doors and windows, they still suffer from certain limitations. For example, the lift and slide gear lock mechanisms associated with lift and slide doors and windows known in the art have fixed or permanent backsets. The fixed backsets are typically positioned at standard heights, such as 27.5 mm and 37.5 mm. As a result, if it is desired to position a backset at a different location, gear lock mechanisms with different backsets have to be purchased separately for door or for windows, which decreases efficiency with respect to time and expense. In addition, as noted above, the roller carriages are limited to two wheels (or four total wheels) for moving the lift and slide door, which is not ideal for displacement of the weight of the door and efficient operation of the lift and slide door.
Accordingly, there is a need for a variable gear lock mechanism with an adjustable configurable backset in various sizes, such as 27.5 mm, 37.5 mm and 50 mm for use with lift and slide doors and/or windows. Moreover, there is a need for an adjustable lock box that may be configured to operate with the gear lock mechanism in a door position and a window position. Finally, there is a need for roller carriages for use with the gear lock mechanism having more than four wheels to displace greater weight and operate more efficiently.

Adjustable gear lock mechanism for a lift and slide door or window


A high speed screening technique is disclosed which can be used to enlarge an image, or when combined with a halftone screen, can be used for high speed screening of stored images. A microcompiler generates customized program code responsive to an input enlargement ratio. The customized program code then performs halftone screening on the input image for the specified desired enlargement ratio. In general, for each different enlargement ratio, a different customized program code is generated. Thus, a parameter of the screening process, the enlargement ratio, which is an input to the microcompiler, is not an input during the run time of the customized program code, thereby permitting the customized program code to run faster since an input parameter has been removed and built into the code itself.

Images are typically stored in a memory representing tone values for each pixel of the original image. For a black and white image, the stored pixels represent the gray scale value corresponding to each pixel. For a color image, each color plane is stored as an array of pixels each representing the tone value for each pixel of the image in each respective color plane. For example, if each of the pixels of a black and white image is represented by a 8 bit digital word, then the tone value for a given image pixel may be one of 256 values between the black level and the white level.
Continuous tone images do not print well on most printing devices where typically the absence or presence of the ink on the paper is used to represent the printed image. In order to represent halftones (shades between the presence or absence of the printed ink), the original image is screened to produce a pattern, such a variable size dots which appear to the human eye as a halftone image.
Screening to produce halftone images is well known. The screen consists of an array of dots, or halftone cells, each of which represents one section of continuous tone in the original image as a single dot of variable size and shape. A halftone cell, in turn, consists of an array of smaller screen cells each having individual values against which the input pixels derived from the original image will be compared. The screen is usually stored as a fairly small pattern that repeats itself. If the value of the image pixel is greater than corresponding value of the screen cell, a mark is generated by the marking engine, whereas if the value of the image pixel is less or equal to the screen cell value, then no mark is generated by the marking engine, or vice versa.
In the prior art, techniques for mechanical and electronic screening of images, using a great variety of specific halftone screening patterns, and at various screening angles, are well known to those skilled in the art, In general, the halftone screen is much finer than the original image. That is, in order to represent the halftone by a variable shaped dot of solid color, the halftone cell typically has more screen cells than there are original image pixels. The output device and the screen typically have the same spatial resolution, but the original image usually must be enlarged in size. For example, one scan line on the output device may be 8000 pixels, but only 2000 pixels of the original image were scanned. Therefore, an enlargement ratio of 4 must be used. In general, it is necessary to enlarge the original image by an enlargement factor so that the enlarged image has the same number of pixels as the screen has screen cells. Also, in cases where only a portion of the input image is to be printed, the portion to be printed must be enlarged to fit the screen and final image size. Usually, image enlargement and screening are performed in the same process. The enlargement ratio is almost always greater than one. If the enlargement ratio is less than one, the reduction is performed elsewhere, prior to screening.
To enlarge an image, pixels are repeated. For example, to enlarge an image by a factor of 4, each pixel is repeated 4 times in each of the horizontal and vertical directions. To enlarge an image by a factor of 2.5, each pixel is repeated two times for one half the time, and three times for the other half of the time, in order to average 2.5 times. The enlargement method is typically accomplished by adding a number equal to the reciprocal of the desired enlargement ratio to a register. The previous pixel value is repeated until the register overflows, after which the next pixel is repeated until the register overflows again. Screening (comparing pixels) is performed at the same time as enlargement (repeating pixels). After each register addition of the reciprocal and test for overflow, the resulting input pixel is compared to the appropriate screen cell to generate a screened image.
A key performance measure in screening an image is speed. A fine screen results in a high quality image, but the more cells in the screen, the longer it will take to screen an image. Also, for color separations, four screens, one for each of yellow, magenta, cyan and black are required. Therefore many image screening apparatus typically implement the screening steps in hardware, which generally is faster than a corresponding application of the same methods in software. The present invention makes implementation in software practical and faster than prior art methods.

Integrated half-tone screening and enlarging using an enlargement mapping pattern having linked, unique pattern segments


A 5th generation (5G) or pre-5G communication system for supporting a higher data transfer rate than a 4th generation (4G) communication system such as long term evolution (LTE) is provided. An electronic device may include a processor and a communication interface operatively coupled to the processor for transmitting and receiving a message. The processor can transmit a first message to a first electronic device using a proximity communication for communication with a second electronic device, and the first message can include information enabling the first electronic device to communicate with the second electronic device on behalf of the electronic device.

To satisfy the demand for increased wireless data traffic, which has grown after commercialization of the 4th generation (4G) communication system, efforts are exerted to develop an advanced 5th generation (5G) communication system or a pre-5G communication system. The 5G communication system or the pre-5G communication system is referred to as a beyond 4G network communication system or a post long term evolution (LTE) system.
To achieve a high data transfer rate, the 5G communication system considers its realization in an extremely high frequency (mmWave) band (e.g., 60 GHz band). To mitigate a path loss of propagation in the extremely high frequency band and to extend a propagation distance, beamforming, massive multiple input multiple output (MIMO), full dimensional (FD)-MIMO, an array antenna, analog beamforming, and a large scale antenna are discussed in the 5G communication system.
To improve a system network, the 5G communication system is developing an evolved small cell, an advanced small cell, a cloud radio access network (RAN), an ultra-dense network, a device to device (D2D) communication, a wireless backhaul, a moving network, cooperative communication, coordinated multi-points (CoMP), and interference cancellation.
Besides, the 5G system is developing hybrid frequency shift keying (FSK) and quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) modulation (FQAM) and sliding window superposition coding (SWSC) as advanced coding modulation (ACM), and filter bank multi carrier (FBMC), non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA), and sparse code multiple access (SCMA) as advanced access technologies.
The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the present disclosure.

Apparatus and method for controlling transmission and reception in a wireless communication system


A method for selecting options for a virtual machine in a data processing system. The browser provides an interface in which the interface allows for selection of options for use by the virtual machine. A selection of an option is received for use by the virtual machine. The selection of the option is stored, wherein the selection of the option is used by the browser when initializing the virtual machine.

1. Technical Field
The present invention provides an improved data processing system and in particular an improved method and apparatus for selecting properties for a JVM. Still more particularly, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for selecting initializing properties for a Java virtual machine used with a browser.
2. Description of Related Art
Internet, also referred to as an xe2x80x9cinternetworkxe2x80x9d, is a set of computer networks, possibly dissimilar, joined together by means of gateways that handle data transfer and the conversion of messages from the sending network to the protocols used by the receiving network (with packets if necessary). When capitalized, the term xe2x80x9cInternetxe2x80x9d refers to the collection of networks and gateways that use the TCP/IP suite of protocols.
The Internet has become a cultural fixture as a source of both information and entertainment. Many businesses are creating Internet sites as an integral part of their marketing efforts, informing consumers of the products or services offered by the business or providing other information seeking to engender brand loyalty. Many federal, state, and local government agencies are also employing Internet sites for informational purposes, particularly agencies which must interact with virtually all segments of society such as the Internal Revenue Service and secretaries of state. Operating costs may be reduced by providing informational guides and/or searchable databases of public records online.
Currently, the most commonly employed method of transferring data over the Internet is to employ the World Wide Web environment, also called simply xe2x80x9cthe webxe2x80x9d. Other Internet resources exist for transferring information, such as File Transfer Protocol (FTP) and Gopher, but have not achieved the popularity of the web. In the web environment, servers and clients effect data transaction using the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), a known protocol for handling the transfer of various data files (e.g., text; still graphic images, audio, motion video, etc.). Information is formatted for presentation to a user by a standard page description language, the Hypertext Markup Language (HTML). In addition to basic presentation formatting, HTML allows developers to specify xe2x80x9clinksxe2x80x9d to other web resources identified by a Uniform Resource Locator (URL). A URL is a special syntax identifier defining a communications path to specific information. Each logical block of information accessible to a client, called a xe2x80x9cpagexe2x80x9d or a xe2x80x9cweb pagexe2x80x9d, is identified by a URL. The URL provides a universal, consistent method for finding and accessing this information by the web xe2x80x9cbrowserxe2x80x9d. A browser is a program capable of submitting a request for information identified by a URL at the client machine. Retrieval of information on the web is generally accomplished with an HTML-compatible browser.
When a user desires to retrieve a page, a request is submitted to a server connected to a client computer at which the user is located and may be handled by a series of servers to effect retrieval of the requested information. The information is provided to the client formatted according to HTML. Typically, personal computers (PCs) along with work stations are typically used to access the Internet.
Often applications or programs may be sent to a computer from a web server across the Internet. Java applications are becoming increasingly more prevalent as the type of application sent between web servers and client computers. Java applications are common on the Internet and becoming more increasingly common in intranets and in other types of networks used in businesses.
Java is an object oriented programming language and environment focusing on defining data as objects and the methods that may be applied to those objects. Java supports only a single inheritance, meaning that each class can inherit from only one other class at any given time. Java also allows for the creation of totally abstract classes known as interfaces, which allow the defining of methods that may be shared with several classes without regard for how other classes are handling the methods.
The Java virtual machine (JVM) is a virtual computer component that resides only in memory. The JVM allows Java programs to be executed on a different platform as opposed to only the one platform for which the code was compiled. Java programs are compiled for the JVM. In this manner, Java is able to support applications for many types of data processing systems, which may contain a variety of central processing units and operating systems architectures. To enable a Java application to execute on different types of data processing systems, a compiler typically generates an architecture-neutral file formatxe2x80x94the compiled code is executable on many processors, given the presence of the Java run-time system. The Java compiler generates bytecode instructions that are non-specific to a particular computer architecture. A bytecode is a machine independent code generated by the Java compiler and executed by a Java interpreter. A Java interpreter is a part in the JVM that alternately decodes and interprets a bytecode or bytecodes. These bytecode instructions are designed to be easy to interpret on any computer and easily translated on the fly into native machine code.
Presently available browsers are designed using a fixed embedded JVM in which the browsers pass fixed options to the JVM. Such a design limits the flexibility of developers and users of Java applets within the browser. xe2x80x9cAppletsxe2x80x9d are mini applications that typically run inside a Java-enabled browser, such as Netscape Communicator. In particular, users cannot change properties, such as, for example, initial heap size and garbage collection from within a browser. Such a situation would prevent running an applet using a browser in which the applet requires a stack size that is larger than one coded for the browser.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to have an improved method and apparatus for providing users an ability to select and pass options to a JVM used in association with a browser.
The present invention provides a method for selecting options for initializing a virtual machine in a data processing system. The browser provides an interface in which the interface allows for selection of options for use by the virtual machine. A selection of an option is received for use by the virtual machine. The selection of the option is stored, wherein the selection of the option is used by the browser when initializing the virtual machine.

Method and apparatus to selectively define java virtual machine initialization properties using a browser graphical user interface

International Business Machines Corporation


The present invention provides a method for industrial-scale protein separation by reverse phase chromatography by use of a buffer system and an additional salt.

In the pharmaceutical industry, purification is an integrated part of producing molecules for medical needs. Both biopharmaceutical molecules derived from recombinant techniques and more traditional smaller molecules derived from organic synthesis are generated, and in both cases chromatographic purification techniques play an essential role in production methods. Chromatographic techniques include separation based on ion-exchange, hydrophobic interaction etc. In reversed phase chromatography (RPC) a molecule in solution binds to the hydrophobic surface or hydrophobic ligand of a chromatographic resin. The partitioning of the molecule between the solution and the resin occurs as a result of hydrophobic interactions between the molecule with hydrophobic patches at its surface and the hydrophobic surface on the resin. A solvent of increasing hydrophobicity is subsequently used to dissociate or elute the bound molecule at a point at which the hydrophobic interaction between the exposed patches and the resin is less favourable than the interaction between the bound molecule and the solvent. The molecule then releases from the resin and elutes. Separation of different molecules in the same solution occurs if the molecules have different hydrophobicity and therefore elute at different point in time when the hydrophobicity of the eluting solvent is increased.
In general, RPC is capable of distinguishing between molecules with very small differences in hydrophobicity and it is thus regarded as a very powerful separation tool and the preferred method in analytical chromatography. RPC is applied for preparative use as well; however, RPC is usually used for purification of smaller molecules and peptides that can withstand the harsh operating conditions including organic solvents. Larger molecules, such as proteins denature more easily and preparative RPC is therefore generally considered to be unsuitable for native proteins ["Reversed Phase Chromatography. Principles and Methods", Amersham Pharmacia Biotech; and "Conformation of polypeptides and protein in reversed phase and lipophilic environments" MTW Hearn in "Biochromatography, Theory and Practice" edited by M. A. Vijayalakshmi. Taylor & Francis, 2002.
Disclosures of the application of preparative RPC on larger proteins do exist. In general these applications are, however, performed in fairly small scale, and with a relatively low protein load, on a RPC column with a small diameter and with a column material with relatively small particles size (to be regarded as semi-preparative, non-industrial scale/load). Solvent system used for purification is typically acetonitrile with TFA at very low pH, and no additional salt component is applied for elution.
Wang, Y M et al., Biochem., 354, 161-168, 2001 discloses the use of RPC to purify proteases from snake venom. The protease has a molecular weight around 40 kDa, and the elution solvent was acetonitrile with 0.07% (v/v) trifluoro acetic acid (TFA). The purification was performed on a VYDAC C4 column (4.6×250 mm).
Chlenov, M A et al. J Chromatogr. 1993, 631(1-2), 261-267, discloses the use of RPC at neutral pH to purify biological active thyroid stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and chorionic gonaditropin, all with a molecular weight>30 kDa. All three purifications were performed in a 0.1 M sodium phosphate containing solvent, pH 6.8, on a VYDAC 214TP, C4 column (4.6×250 mm). Acetonitrile was used as eluting solvent. Load volume was 20 μl.
Teshima G and Canova-Davis E, J Chromatogr. 1992, 625(2), 207-215, describes the purification of H2O2-treated human growth hormone on a Polymer Labs PLRP-S RPC-column (300 Å, 10 μm, 7.5×300 mm). The purification was performed in 25 mM ammonium acetate, pH 7.5. The protein was eluted with a 34% to 39% 1-propanol gradient. The purification was performed at 40° C. and at a flow rate of 1 ml/min.
Because of the resolving power of RPC and the need to purify native proteins with high purity, e.g. for therapeutic use, it is desirable to have methods which provide improved or alternative ways of applying RPC in the field of protein separation in industrial scale, including using industrially suitable column loads and retaining substantial levels of bioactivity of the purified protein.

Purification of proteins using preparative reverse phase chromatography (RPC)


In a high power optical system, a thermal waveguide including an optical material having an index of refraction sensitive to changes in temperature, the rectangular optical material having a first dimension and a second dimension in a horizontal plane and a third dimension in a vertical plane, the third dimension being approximately ten times smaller than the first and second dimension, at least one heat sink thermally coupled to the optical material to establish a one-dimensional thermal gradient across the third dimension of the optical material, the thermal gradient having a parabolic profile across the rectangular optical material, and wherein the optical material is configured to act as a waveguide when a laser beam having a power of greater than one watt is incident upon the optical material.

Heat generated in optically transparent materials resulting from laser action or nonlinear processes can create unwanted distortion of the light beams passing through the materials. Typically the generated heat is removed by contacting the material to a heat-removal agent, either another solid material, or a flowing liquid or gas. The resultant flow of heat leads to a temperature gradient in the material. Since the refractive index of a material is temperature dependent, the gradient in temperature leads to a gradient in the refractive index of the material.
The gradient in refractive index can lead to distortion of the beam passing through the material. The distortion typically consists of a modification of the phase across the beam, leading to a change in the beam properties. In some cases, especially if the material is inside an optical resonator, the distortion may be so significant that the resonator no longer functions, i.e. becomes "unstable." Alternatively, the properties of the resonator may become so highly dependent on the amount of heat in the material that any device based on the resonator becomes impractical to use. For materials used as amplifiers, the beam distortion can lead to significant changes in the amplified output beam properties.
The present invention relates to an impending need to design optical systems that can function in the presence of thermally induced gradients in the index of refraction, in particular thermally induced gradients in nonlinear crystals.


An inkable sheet comprises a substrate having on at least one surface thereof an ink absorbent layer comprising a cellulose material and an acid functional resin which is insoluble in water of neutral or acidic pH at room temperature. The acid functional resin may comprise an acid functional polyurethane resin or an acid functional acrylic resin such as a polyacrylate/acrylic acid copolymer. The ink absorbent layer preferably further comprises a weak organic acid or salt thereof and/or at least one crosslinking agent.

With the recent proliferation of microcomputers and colour monitors, there has been a massive growth in the amount of information available for display in colour. Presentation of such information has created a demand for hard copy, for example on paper sheets, on opaque plastics films (which can be more robust than paper sheets) and also on transparent sheets, which are suitable for viewing in transmission mode, e.g., by overhead projection.
Ink jet printing is well established as a technique for printing such information including multi-colour graphics. In ink jet printing, an ink droplet is projected on to an ink receptive sheet at high velocity (e.g., up to 20 m/s). Movement of the ink jet may be computer controlled, and characters may be formed and printed rapidly. To derive advantage from this high speed operating capability requires an ink receptive sheet, which will rapidly absorb the high velocity ink droplet without blotting or bleeding.
To improve image resolution, ink jet printers have been developed which are capable of providing a greater density of ink droplets, for example up to about 1440 dots per inch (dpi). For a given droplet size, the increased `dpi` of such printers as compared with that of lower resolution printers has the effect of increasing the volume per unit area of ink to be absorbed.
Generally, an inkable sheet suitable for use with ink jet printers comprises a substrate carrying an ink absorbent layer. For use in overhead projection, the substrate must, of course, be transparent and transparent polyethylene terephthalate or transparent polyvinyl chloride films are commonly used. In the case of opaque plastics films, opaque polyethylene terephthalate or opaque polyvinyl chloride films are commonly used. The ink absorbent layer typically comprises a polymer or a mixture of polymers and combinations of cellulosic polymers such as nitrocellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose and especially hydroxyethyl cellulose; gelatins; vinyl polymers such as polyvinyl acetate and polyvinyl pyrrolidone; and acrylic polymers such as polyacrylic acid are described in EP-A-0156532, EP-A-0232040 and EP-A-023 3703.
A further consideration is that the use of aqueous based inks having a high water content (possibly up to 95%) is becoming more common. Such inks used for multicolour printing (i.e. cyan, magenta, yellow and black) generally consist of an aqueous solution of an appropriate dye. However, recently there has been a trend to the use of black ink consisting of an aqueous dispersion of a pigment together with a polymer whose function is to hold the pigment together when the ink has dried. Under certain circumstances, the presence of such a polymer in the ink can cause problems, in that if the ink polymer and the polymer in the absorbing layer of an inkable sheet become intermixed, swelling and subsequent shrinking of the ink dot can result, leading to cracking of the dried dot with a consequent reduction of the optical density. This is particularly serious in the transmission mode, where the optical density can be reduced by up to 50% due to light passing through the cracks.
The present invention aims to alleviate the above problems associated with the prior art.


The present invention comprises certain benzyl-substituted photoactive compounds and photoresist compositions comprising such photoactive compounds. The benzyl-substituted photoactive compounds of the invention are particularly suitable as the photoactive component in chemically amplified positive-acting and negative-acting compositions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to novel benzyl-substituted photoactive compounds and photoresist compositions comprising such compounds.
2. Background Art
Photoresists are photosensitive films used for transfer of images to a substrate. They can form negative or positive images. After a coating layer of a photoresist is formed on a substrate, the coating is selectively exposed through a photomask to a source of activating energy such as ultraviolet light. The photomask has areas that are opaque to activating radiation and other areas that are transparent to activating radiation. The pattern in the photomask of opaque and transparent areas defines a desired image to be transferred to a substrate. A relief image is provided upon development of the latent image patterned in the resist coating. The use of photoresists are generally described, for example, in Deforest, Photoresist Materials and Processes, McGraw Hill Book Company, New York (1975) and in Moreau, Semiconductor Lithography, Principles, Practices and Materials, Plenum Press, New York (1988), both incorporated herein by reference.
Various attempts have been made to alter the make-up of photoresist compositions to improve performance of functional properties. In particular, a variety of photoactive compounds have been reported for use in photoresist compositions.
Relatively recently interest has increased in photoresists that can be photoimaged with deep U.V. radiation. Such photoresists offer the potential of forming images of smaller features than may be possible at longer wavelength exposure. As is recognized by those in the art "deep U.V. radiation" refers to exposure radiation having a wavelength in the range of about 350 nm or less, more typically is the range of about 300 nm or less. While a number of photoactive compounds have been reported for use at deep U.V. exposure wavelengths, the need exists for new compounds suitable for use as a photoactive component in photoresist compositions, particularly new photoactive compounds that can be activated by deep U.V. radiation.

Benzyl-substituted photoactive compounds and photoresist compositions comprising same


A lighting device, a method of manufacturing a lighting device and a support are described. A support includes a layered structure of alternating conductors and insulating layers. The layered structure includes a mounting section and a body section adjacent the mounting section. The mounting section includes at least one mounting face that has an arrangement direction and at least three alternating contact sections along the arrangement direction. Each contact section is electrically coupled to one of the conductors and separated from a neighboring one of the contact sections by one of the insulating layers. The body section has a width that protrudes sidewards from the at least one mounting face and a length that extends substantially parallel to the arrangement direction.

Recently, efforts have been made to replace traditional light sources such as incandescent light sources comprising a wire filament by lighting devices comprising light-emitting elements such as LEDs. For some specific applications, for instance in automobile lighting, it is desirable to perform a "retrofitting" of such lighting devices. For example, it is advantageous if only the traditional light source such as an incandescent light bulb is replaced by a LED lighting device, while the remaining elements of the lamps, e.g. optical elements such as reflector cups and lenses, do not require replacement. Hence, there are efforts to offer such retrofitting lighting devices that represent a 1:1 replacement for traditional standard light sources, for example H7 halogen bulbs.
Configuring lighting devices for retrofitting traditional light sources is however challenging. Firstly, as the lighting device is intended to make use of the same optical elements as a traditional light source, the illumination pattern of the traditional light source has to be mimicked closely by the arrangement and specification of the light-emitting elements. For example, it may be required that LEDs are arranged in a manner representing the shape of a filament of an incandescent light source, with LEDs being arranged along an arrangement direction. Secondly, the heat transport from the LEDs has to be effective to ensure a long lifetime of the LEDs, which is particularly challenging as reproducing the illumination pattern of the traditional light source may require arranging multiple LEDs very close to each other, which may lead to concentration of heat within a small volume. For retrofitting applications such as in automotive lighting, a high light output is required, which also leads to a high heat output of the light-emitting elements. Thirdly, the light-emitting elements have to be provided with electrical energy in an efficient manner, wherein additional heat generation in the electrical connections should be reduced.
There have been attempts to provide supports for LEDs for retrofit applications based on printed circuit boards (PCBs), which may provide electrical connection of the LEDs with an effective heat transport. However, PCBs restrict the arrangement of LEDs to a substantially flat or two-dimensional shape, so that a mimicking the shape of a filament with PCBs as a support is unsatisfactory.
Other supports from the prior art still require to arrange a significant number of LEDs connected in parallel on conductors with a small cross-sections, such that the heat transport may still be optimized further.
EP 2 760 058 B1 relates to an LED module comprising a column-shaped substrate comprising a first metal plate, a second metal plate, and an insulation layer between the first and second metal layers.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,420,268 B2 discloses a semiconductor chip package, comprising a pillar body including at least three conductors insulated from each other by an insulating layer, the pillar body having a periphery that includes a plurality of mounting faces.

Support for light-emitting elements and lighting device


Connector assemblies that are separate from medical lead extensions provide features such as bores for receiving both a medical lead and a medical lead extension and provide electrical connections between connectors of the leads and connectors of the lead extensions. Connector assemblies may include additional features such as contours and wings that reduce subcutaneous erosion. Connector assemblies may also include retention structures such as movable clips that are moved into engagement with leads and lead extensions to retain them within the connector assembly. Integrated lead extension connectors may also include contours and wings as well as retention structures including movable clips.

Electrical stimulation may be used as a form of therapy for several medical conditions. A stimulation device is implanted into the body at a particular location that is convenient for implantation, and the stimulation device provides electrical stimulation signals. A conduction path is created for the electrical stimulation signals by the presence of an implantable medical lead that includes individual conductive filars that are connected to electrodes on a distal end. The electrodes are positioned at a target site within the body to deliver the stimulation signals.
The implantable medical leads are often made at a length that is less than the distance from the target site to the implantation site of the stimulation device. This may be done to allow the implantable medical leads to be more easily tunneled into position at the target site than would be the case if the lead was significantly longer. This allows for a two-stage implantation where a lead extension is also used, which provides protection for the implanted lead and allows the implanted lead to remain in place if the extension needs to be replaced. The lead extension is positioned between the stimulation device and the implantable lead, and a distal end of the lead extension is an extension connector that receives a proximal end of the implantable lead. The proximal end of the lead includes electrical contacts that establish electrical connection with connectors within the extension connector, while filars extend between the proximal contacts of the extension and the electrical connectors within the extension connector located on the distal end of the extension. Thus, conduction paths from the stimulation device to the electrodes of the implantable lead are achieved.
There are drawbacks to this configuration that utilizes an extension. The extension connector may constrain the tunneling to a single direction. Furthermore, the extension connector on the distal end of the extension requires a different manufacturing method than proximal end of the extension which increases the costs and complexities of manufacturing of the extension. Additionally, the geometry of the extension connector may lead to discomfort for the patient and/or erosion of tissue beneath the skin of the patient.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Connector assemblies for receiving implantable medical leads


Technologies are generally described for an air monitoring device, a method for forming an air monitoring device, and methods and systems for monitoring air using an air monitoring device. A method of forming an air monitor device may include placing a sorbent membrane on a material of n type conductivity. The method may further include placing an electrode on the membrane and placing a thermoelectric heater in thermal communication with the membrane. The method may further include placing the membrane, material, and electrode in a sealed container including a valve to form the air monitor device. The valve may be effective to selectively expose the membrane to an environment outside of the container.

Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
In inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy, electrons may be sent from a source electrode through a material to a destination electrode. A fraction of the electrons tunneling through the material may lose part of their energy by exciting vibronic states of molecules in the material. These lost electrons may be measured to determine a fingerprint of the material.

Inelastic electron tunneling air monitor


This invention provides a digital broadcasting receiving unit capable of achieving synchronization of time information between a base station and a receiving unit with reference clock without use of a crystal oscillator (VCXO) having a variable frequency. The crystal oscillator oscillates a clock of a predetermined fixed frequency. A variable digital dividing circuit divides a fixed frequency by a division ratio so as to change the division ratio. A system decoder detects reference time information from the base station. A reference counter generates time information of a receiving unit. A phase comparator detects a difference between reference time information and time information. A division ratio control circuit controls the change of the division ratio based on the difference. The reference counter generates time information based on a clock having a frequency obtained by dividing by the variable digital dividing circuit and feeds back time information to the phase comparator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital broadcasting receiving unit and a digital broadcasting system.
2. Description of the Background Art
Conventionally, a digital broadcasting receiving unit (hereinafter referred to as receiving unit) for home use has been so constructed that a base station and the receiving unit are operated according to a common clock and time information by accurately synchronizing the reference clock of the base station (broadcasting station) with the reference clock of the receiving unit at home. This method has been described in MPEG2 standard (ISO_IEC—13818-1, Appendix D).
This receiving unit utilizes an expensive crystal oscillator having a variable frequency (hereinafter referred to as VCXO) in order to accurately synchronize the reference clock of the base station with the reference clock of the receiving unit. The operation of the receiving unit having the VCXO will be briefly described as follows.
First, a difference between time stamp information (PCR: program clock reference or SCR: system clock reference) sent from the base station and time information (STC: system time clock) counted by the reference clock (for example, 27 MHz, which is generated by the VCXO) of the receiving unit side is detected. Then, the frequency of the VCXO is controlled using that difference. Here, the receiving unit constitutes a feedback system for time information error and a phase synchronous loop is realized.
The frequency of broadcasting the time stamp information from the base station is very low or may be irregular. The time stamp information may be lost under bad receiving condition. For example, the frequency of broadcasting the time stamp information is about once per 100 ms. Assuming that the frequency of the reference clock of the receiving unit side is 27 MHz, the time stamp information is broadcast only once every about 2,700,000 clock cycles and the reference clock of the receiving unit side needs to be synchronized with the reference clock of the base station according to difference information at this time. When the time stamp information is lost, the frequency of detection of the difference information is lowered further.
On the other hand, because color shift of an image, noise, noise of sound or the like is generated easily when the frequency deflection of the receiving unit side clock is large, the frequency deflection of the receiving unit side clock needs to be kept as small as possible. For the reason above, the frequency needs to be controllable in order to generate the reference clock on the receiving unit side and a clock oscillation circuit having a high frequency accuracy and a high stability is necessary. Conventionally, the VCXO is used in such a clock oscillation circuit.
In the meantime, the reference clock of the base station and the reference clock (generated by the VCXO as described above) on the receiving unit side after synchronization is, for example, 27 MHz.
As described above, in the conventional receiving unit, the expensive VCXO is an indispensable component, which causes a rise of the price of the receiving unit.
For the reason of physical composition, the VCXO cannot be incorporated in a decoder LSI and such an external component as a low-pass filter is also indispensable. Consequently, this not only causes a rise of part cost but also induces a trouble.

Digital broadcasting receiving unit and digital broadcasting system


An electronic apparatus includes a control portion (1) including: an installation portion (11) that associates the user who performs installation with the installed program; and a program use control portion (17) that permits all users to use a first installed program associated with a first user and permit a second user and a third user who attempts to install a second installed program associated with the second user to use the second installed program. When the third user who is a user other than an administrator attempts to install an application program that the third user is not permitted to use, if the application program is the second installed program, the installation portion (11) does not perform installation and causes the program use control portion (17) to permit the third user to use the second installed program.

The functions of electronic apparatuses such as an image forming apparatus have been diversified. In the case where many users share one electronic apparatus, it is not easy to select and provide a function suitable for each user. In this respect, Patent Literature 1 discloses an apparatus that classifies users into classes and determines a usable application for each class.
However, in recent years when functions have been diversified, providing functions desired by all users as standard equipment has been difficult due to a storage capacity and other factors. Thus, a form in which only basic functions are mounted as standard equipment and an extension application program is installed as necessary is the recent mainstream.
Here, installation of an extension application preferably can be performed according to a user's own request. However, in the case where a user is permitted to freely install an extension application, undesired extension applications may accumulate to strain the capacity of an HDD (hard disk drive).
Patent Literature 2 discloses a data processing apparatus that deletes unexecuted firmware from a RAM (random access memory). Even when the firmware is deleted from the RAM, the firmware can be reloaded from an HDD. Thus, the data processing apparatus dynamically manages the RAM capacity.
Moreover, Non-Patent Literature 1 discloses a system that deletes data files, not application programs, based on elapsed days from last update dates or last access dates.


Systems and methods are presented for screen painting updates on a client display to reflect changes in a remote server display. According to a method embodiment, an FBUR is sent from a virtual network computing (VNC) client through a network connection to the VNC server. The FBUR requests the VNC server to identify changes in a display of the VNC server. An FBU is received from the VNC server at the VNC client. The FBU identifies changes in the display of the VNC server. A screen painting algorithm implemented by the VNC client to update a display of the VNC client is dynamically modified based on a speed of the network connection. The display of the VNC client is updated using the screen painting algorithm.

A Virtual Network Computing (VNC) system is a client/server software package that allows remote network access to graphical desktops. During a typical VNC session, an operator performs a remote management session and uses the remote desktop like his local desktop. The operator performs various graphical operations like reading a document, editing text, using a graphical user interface (GUI) application, and the like. The quality of service depends on the responsiveness of these operations.
A VNC system includes a client, a server, and a communication protocol. The VNC client, also referred to as a VNC Viewer, is interested in the graphical desktop of a remote machine, and periodically requests updates of the screen (Frame Buffer) of the server. The VNC client sends a request packet, referred to as a FrameBufferUpdateRequest (FBUR), to the server to request the update of the server.
The VNC server is a process running on the remote machine. The VNC server sends the updates of its screen as a response to receiving the FBUR from the VNC client. This response by the server sent to the client to update the screen changes is referred to as a FrameBufferUpdate (FBU). The FBU includes information regarding the changed portion of a screen. The changed portion of the screen is divided into various small rectangles, and the rectangles are encoded according to various encodings to optimize the amount of data transferred. The number of rectangles depends on type of encoding used. For example, hextile encoding splits the FBU into 16×16 rectangles, and tight encoding has one rectangle for background color and one rectangle has foreground, etc.). The rectangle represents the area of the screen that is effected, but the information in the rectangle depends on the encoding used to represent that rectangle.
The VNC protocol (e.g. remote framebuffer (RFB)) is a simple protocol for remote access to graphical user interfaces (GUIs). The VNC protocol is based on one graphic primitive from the server to the client ("Put a rectangle of pixel data at the specified X,Y position") and event messages from the client to the server.
In known VNC systems, the VNC client receives a FBU from the VNC server, and reads the total number of rectangles represented in the FBU. For each rectangle represented in the FBU, the VNC client reads the information for one of the rectangles, decodes the information, paints the decoded information for the rectangle on the screen, and then continues to read, decode and paint each one of the remaining rectangles in the FBU until all of the rectangles in the FBU have been processed. When all of the rectangles in the FBU have been processed, the VNC client sends a new FBUR to the VNC server.

Adaptive screen painting to enhance user perception during remote management sessions


A data handling system for transferring data between two units, the data being transferred in blocks of a selected number of data words, up to predetermined maximum number. A buffer stores the data being transferred. The buffer includes a plurality of stages arranged serially from an input end to an output end, the number of stages being equal in number to the predetermined maximum number of data words that may be transferred in a block. If the number of data words being transferred is less than the predetermined maximum number, as indicated by a control signal from the unit transmitting the data, the buffer either receives the data in the stage a number of stages from the output end, or transmits the data from the stage a number of stages from the input end, equal to the number of words being transferred in the block.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to digital data processing systems, and more specifically to buffering systems for use in such data processing systems. More specifically, the invention provides a first in-first out buffer of adjustable size, or adjustable numbers of storage locations. This can facilitate the transfer of data between two elements through the buffer since, if the number of data words being transferred is less than the number of locations in the entire buffer, the number of locations in the buffer can be reduced so as to allow the first-loaded data word, after all of the data words have been fully loaded into the buffer, to be at the output end of the buffer and available to be transmitted to the receiving module. The invention thus ensures that time is not spent stepping the data words through the storage locations in the buffer after they have been loaded before the data is sent to the receiving module.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A digital data processing system generally includes three basic elements; namely, a memory element, an input/output element, and a processor element, all interconnected by one or more busses. The memory element stores data in addressable storage locations. This data includes both operands and instructions for processing the operands. The processor element causes data to be transferred or fetched, to it from the memory element, interprets the incoming data as either instructions or operands, and processes the operands in accordance with the instruction. The results are then stored in addressed locations in the memory element. An input/output element also communicates with the memory element in order to transfer data into the system and to obtain the processed data from it. The input/output elements normally operate in accordance with control information supplied to it by the processor element. The input/output elements may include, for example, printers, teletypewriters or keyboards and video display terminals, and may also include secondary data storage devices such as disk drives or tape drives.
It is common in data processing systems to use buffers to synchronize communications among the various elements forming the data processing system. These buffers can be "stacks", or last-in-first-out (LIFO) buffers, in which a receiving module retrieves data words in the reverse order in which they are loaded by a transmitting module. Alternatively, the buffers can be first-in-first-out (FIFO) storage elements in which a receiving module receives data words in the order in which they are loaded by a transmitting module. In some cases, buffers have the capacity for storing only single data words. In that case the LIFO and FIFO buffers are effectively the same. In other cases, the buffers may have several storage locations each of which can store a data word. The capacity of a buffer is selected by a designer based on a number of factors, including the speeds of the modules in transmitting and receiving data and the amount of data that is expected to be transferred between the two modules.
In a data transfer through a multiple-location FIFO buffer, data words are typically serially loaded into an input end, shifted through all of the storage locations in the buffer, and transmitted from an output end. If a transfer is of sufficient data words to use up all of the locations in the buffer, the data for the receiving module is at the output end of the buffer when all of the data have been loaded. However, if the transfer is not of sufficient data words to occupy all of the locations in the buffer, the receiving module will have to enable the buffer control to shift the data words through the buffer to the output end before it can begin receiving them.
A stack or LIFO buffer, on the other hand, does not have this problem. In a stack buffer, the output end and the input end are the same; data words do not have to be shifted through the buffer to reach the output end. However, two problems arise from the use of a stack buffer in some circumstances. First, the order of the data words received by a module from a stack buffer is reversed from the order in which they are loaded into the buffer. If the order is important to the receiving module, it will have to be designed with that buffering limitation in mind. Second, since the input and output ends are the same, only one module, the transmitting or receiving module, can use the stack buffer at a time, either to load or receive data. With a FIFO buffer, this limitation does not exist; the transmitting module can load data into the input end of a FIFO buffer at the same time that the receiving module is receiving data therefrom.

Adjustable buffer for data communications in a data processing system


Provided are a human body communication device and an operating method of the same. The human body communication device according to an embodiment of the inventive concept includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a transmitting circuit, a receiving circuit, a ground electrode, and a switch. The transmitting circuit generates a first signal in a transmitting mode and transmits the first signal to the first electrode. The receiving circuit receives a second signal from the first electrode in the receiving mode. The receiving circuit includes a differential amplifier that amplifies a difference between a voltage level of a first input terminal depending on the second signal and a voltage level of a second input terminal. The switch electrically connects the second electrode and the ground electrode in the transmitting mode, and electrically connects the second electrode and the second input terminal in the receiving mode.

Embodiments of the inventive concept relate to a communication device, and more particularly, relate to a device for communicating using a human body as a medium and a method of operating the same.
A signal transfer medium is needed to exchange signals between electronic devices. A human body communication device that communicates using a human body as the medium may communicate between portable devices or between a fixed device and a portable device through a contact of a user. For example, a communication between portable devices such as a digital camera, a smart phone, a wearable device such as a smart watch, etc. and peripheral electronic devices may be performed through the contact by the user. In addition, a communication between devices attached to or inserted into the human body may be performed. The human body communication device may be applied in various fields such as a medical care, a security, a retail, a smart management, etc.
A human body communication of a capacitive coupling type exchanges a signal, based on an electrical potential difference between an electrical signal applied to the human body and the earth. The signal transmitted using the human body as a medium may be received from an electronic device that is connected to another part of the human body. In the human body communication of the capacitive coupling type, channel characteristics are determined based on a coupling capacitance value by the communication device itself, the user (human body), and an environment around the user. There is a demand for a human body communication device capable of improving a communication quality by securing a stability of such channel characteristics.

Human body communication device and operating method of the same

ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE


An image reading apparatus includes a fingerprint sensor that acquires a plurality of first images obtained by successively reading the portions of a relatively moving object, an extrapolation section that extrapolates the plurality of first images to generate a plurality of second images obtained by extending the image area of the first image, and a relative position detection section that calculates the relative position between the plurality of images or the plurality of second images based on a plurality of images including at least the plurality of first images or the plurality of second images.

Small information devices such as mobile phones and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) have become increasingly sophisticated in recent years and have become capable of communicating with a network or storing a large amount of personal information. Under such circumstances, a demand for improvement in the security performance in such devices is increasing significantly. In order to assure the security in such devices, personal authentication based on a password, an ID (Identification) card and so forth conventionally and commonly used can be adopted. However, the password and the ID card have a high degree of possibility of misappropriation. Therefore, it is much demanded to achieve personal authentication (authentication for certifying that a user of a device is the one registered in advance) having a high degree of reliability.
Personal authentication based on organism information (biometrics information) has a high degree of reliability. Therefore, it is considered that such personal authentication can satisfy the demand described above. Particularly, if a fingerprint is used as the organism information, not only the reliability but also the convenience is high.
If personal authentication is performed using a fingerprint as organism information, a capacitance type fingerprint sensor or an optical type fingerprint sensor is used to sample a fingerprint (a pattern formed from ridges which may contact with a sampling face of the fingerprint sensor and valley lines which do not contact with the sampling face) as image information from a finger of a person to be authenticated. Thereafter, characteristic information (e.g., position information of a bifurcation or an end point) is extracted from a foreground of the fingerprint image (e.g., a ridge image). Then, the extracted characteristic information and registration characteristic information of the person to be authenticated registered in advance are collated with each other. Thus, determination on whether or not the person to be authenticated is the original person, that is, the personal authentication is performed.
Incidentally, a general fingerprint sensor (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as "plane type fingerprint sensor") for sampling a fingerprint image from a person to be authenticated normally has a sensor face (sampling face) having a size greater than that of a finger. However, in recent years, in order to incorporate a fingerprint sensor into a small-size information device such as a mobile phone set and a PDA, such a method as described below is utilized. That is, the size of the sensor face is formed smaller than that of a finger and a plurality of partial images successively sampled through the sensor face are synthesized to obtain an image of the entire fingerprint.
As a fingerprint sensor which can deal with such a situation, a sweep type fingerprint sensor is available. The sweep type fingerprint sensor has a rectangular sampling face (sensor face/image pickup face) having a length and an area sufficiently smaller than those of a finger. When the sweep type fingerprint sensor is used, a plurality of partial images of a fingerprint are successively sampled by the fingerprint sensor while the finger is moved with respect to the sampling face (fingerprint sensor) is moved with respect to the finger. Then, the entire fingerprint image is reconstructed based on the plurality of sampled partial images. Then, information of a characteristic point (a bifurcation or an end point of a ridge) is extracted and produced from the reconstructed entire fingerprint image, and personal authentication is performed based on the extracted information. It is to be noted that, relative movement of a finger with respect to a sampling face is hereafter referred to as "sweep" or "slide". Further, there is known a technique in which a sweep type fingerprint sensor is used in a pointing device.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-091769    Patent Document 2: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-208620    Patent Document 3: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2006-107366    Patent Document 4: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-248820    Patent Document 5: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2001-307078
However, in the technique of the sweep type fingerprint sensor, an overlapping area between the partial images is essential in order to acquire information of the entire fingerprint from the partial images of a sampled fingerprint. Similarly, in the technique of the sweep type fingerprint sensor used in a pointing device, an overlapping area between the partial images is essential in order to measure the movement direction and orientation of a finger.

Image reading apparatus and method for successively reading a plurality of partial images from a relatively moving object


When a substrate 30 is to be subjected to a magnetron plasma process, a dipole ring magnet 21 is provided, in which a large number of anisotropic segment magnets 22 are arranged in a ring-like shape around the outer wall of a chamber 1. A magnetic field gradient, wherein the magnetic field strength decreases from the E pole side toward the W pole side in a direction perpendicular to a magnetic field direction B, is formed in a plane perpendicular to the direction of an electric field between a pair of electrodes separated from each other. The anisotropic segment magnets have a first section a including anisotropic segment magnets arranged in the vicinity of a region A located outside an E pole side end of the process substrate with an N pole thereof being directed toward this region, and a second portion b including anisotropic segment magnets arranged with an S pole thereof being directed toward this region, to locally increase the magnetic field strengths of the first and second regions.

The present invention relates to a magnetron plasma processing apparatus for processing a target substrate such as a semiconductor wafer with a magnetron plasma.
In recent years, a magnetron plasma etching apparatus for performing micropattern etching by generating a high-density plasma in a comparatively low-pressure atmosphere has been put into practical use. In this apparatus, a permanent magnet is arranged above a chamber. The magnetic field produced by the permanent magnet is applied horizontally to a semiconductor wafer. An RF electric field perpendicular to the magnetic field is simultaneously applied to the semiconductor wafer. The drift motion of electrons caused upon application of the magnetic and electric fields is utilized to etch the semiconductor wafer with a very high efficiency.
In the magnetron plasma, what contributes to the drift motion of electrons is a magnetic field perpendicular to the electric field, i.e., a magnetic field horizontal to the semiconductor wafer. As a uniform horizontal magnetic field is not always formed in the above apparatus, plasma uniformity is not sufficient. Thus, a nonuniform etching rate, charge-up damage, and the like may occur.
In order to avoid these problems, formation of a horizontal magnetic field uniform with respect to the semiconductor wafer in the processing space in the chamber is sought. As a magnet that can generate such a magnetic field, a dipole ring magnet is known. As shown in FIG. 9, this dipole ring magnet 102 is formed by arranging a plurality of anisotropic segment columnar magnets 103 in a ring-like shape outside a chamber 101. The directions of magnetization of the plurality of anisotropic segment columnar magnets 103 are slightly shifted from each other to form a uniform horizontal magnetic field B as a whole. FIG. 9 is a view (plan view) of the apparatus seen from above. The proximal end side of the direction of the magnetic field is indicated by N, the distal end side thereof is indicated by S, and positions separated 90xc2x0 from N and S are respectively indicated by E and W. In FIG. 9, reference numeral 100 denotes a semiconductor wafer.
The horizontal magnetic field formed by the dipole ring magnet in this manner is a horizontal magnetic field directed only in one direction of from N to S in FIG. 9. Accordingly, electrons travel in one direction by drift motion, causing nonuniformity in the plasma density. More specifically, the electrons drift in the direction of the outer product of the electric field and the magnetic field. In other words, when the electric field is formed to extend downward from above, the electrons travel from the E pole side to the W pole side by drift motion. Consequently, the plasma density is low on the E pole side and high in the W pole side, resulting in nonuniformity.
To prevent this, the dipole ring magnet is rotated in its circumferential direction to form a rotating magnetic field, so the direction of drift motion of electrons is changed. In practice, however, this cannot make the plasma density sufficiently uniform over a wide range.
A technique has been proposed in which a magnetic field gradient is formed in the drift direction of electrons, i.e., in a direction from the E pole side to the W pole side in FIG. 9, so the nonuniformity of plasma accompanying the drift motion of electrons is eliminated (Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 9-27278). According to this technique, as shown in FIG. 10, the number of anisotropic segment columnar magnets on the W pole side is made smaller than that on the E pole side. As a result, a gradient is formed in which the magnetic field strength increases in the direction from the E pole side to the W pole side.
In recent years, devices have been required to shrink more and more in feature size, and a plasma etching process in a lower pressure has been required. To perform an efficient plasma process in a low pressure, the plasma density must be further increased. For this purpose, in the magnetron plasma process, the magnetic field strength may be increased.
When, however, an insulating film such as an oxide film is to be etched, to avoid charge-up damage, the magnetic field strength of that portion where a wafer is present is limited to about 200 Gauss at maximum. Even when a magnetic field gradient is formed by the above technique and plasma uniformity can be achieved, the plasma density cannot be sufficiently increased, and the etching rate may not be sufficiently high. If a region where the magnetic field is locally strong can be formed outside the E pole-side end of the wafer, the plasma density may be increased without damaging the wafer. Conventionally, however, it is difficult to locally form a strong magnetic field portion.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a magnetron plasma processing apparatus which can form a locally strong magnetic field portion at a desired position in a processing space for a target object, so the plasma density of the processing space can be increased.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a magnetron plasma processing apparatus which comprises
a chamber with an outer wall that can maintain a reduced pressure,
process gas supply means for supplying a process gas into the chamber,
a pair of electrodes arranged in the chamber to oppose each other and to define a processing space therebetween,
electric field forming means for applying a voltage to the pair of electrodes, thus forming an electric field in the processing space, and
magnetic field forming means for forming, in the processing space, a magnetic field perpendicular to the direction of the electric field and directed in one direction, and which subjects a target substrate to a magnetron plasma process while the target substrate is set in the processing space to be parallel to the electrodes,
the magnetic field forming means having a dipole ring magnet including a plurality of first anisotropic segment magnets arranged in a ring-like shape around the outer wall of the chamber so as to form a magnetic field gradient, within a plane perpendicular to the direction of the electric field, such that a magnetic field strength is large and small on upstream and downstream sides, respectively, in an electron drift direction along a direction perpendicular to a direction of the magnetic field,
at least one second anisotropic segment magnet, arranged in the vicinity of a predetermined region located outside that end of the target substrate which is on the upstream side in the electron drift direction, with an N pole thereof being directed toward the predetermined region, and
at least one third anisotropic segment magnet arranged in the vicinity of the predetermined region with an S pole thereof being directed toward the predetermined region,
the second and third anisotropic segment magnets serving to locally increase the magnetic field strength of the predetermined region to be larger than that formed by the first anisotropic segment magnets.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a magnetron plasma processing apparatus which comprises
a chamber which has an outer wall and can maintain reduced pressure,
process gas supply means for supplying a process gas into the chamber,
a pair of electrodes arranged in the chamber to oppose each other and to define a processing space therebetween,
electric field forming means for applying a voltage to the pair of electrodes, thus forming an electric field in the processing space, and
magnetic field forming means for forming, in the processing space between the pair of electrodes, a magnetic field perpendicular to the direction of the electric field and directed in one direction, and which subjects a target substrate to a magnetron plasma process while the target substrate is set in the processing space to be parallel to the electrodes,
the magnetic field forming means having a dipole ring magnet including a large number of anisotropic segment magnets arranged in a ring-like shape around the outer wall of the chamber, to form a magnetic field gradient, within a plane perpendicular to the direction of the electric field between the electrodes, such that the magnetic field strength is large and small on upstream and downstream sides, respectively, in an electron drift direction along a direction perpendicular to the direction of the magnetic field, and
the plurality of anisotropic segment magnets including a first portion including at least one anisotropic segment magnet arranged in the vicinity of a first region located outside that end of the target substrate which is on the upstream side in the electron drift direction with an N pole thereof being directed toward the first region, and a second portion including at least one anisotropic segment magnet, arranged in the vicinity of a second region located outside that end of the target substrate which is on the upstream side in the electron drift direction, to be away from the first region, with an S pole thereof being directed toward the second region, the first and second portions serving to locally increase magnetic field strengths of the first and second regions.
With the above arrangement, a strong magnetic field portion can be locally formed at a predetermined region located outside that end of the target substrate which is on the upstream side in the electron drift direction. The plasma density of the processing space can accordingly be increased.
Preferably, the anisotropic segment magnets are arranged such that gaps among those which are on the upstream side in the electron drift direction are narrower than gaps among those which are on the downstream side in the electron drift direction.
The anisotropic segment magnets preferably form a magnetic field with 200 Gauss at maximum, preferably 100 Gauss to 200 Gauss, at a portion thereof opposing the target substrate, and a magnetic field of at least 200 Gauss, preferably 200 Gauss to 400 Gauss, at the predetermined region.


A conveyance system includes a chamber 1, a plate 7A disposed in the chamber 1, the plate 7A being used for disposing an article thereon, an in-chamber bridge 19 disposed in the chamber 1 and capable of coming into contact with the plate 7A, a moving member 3A that moves along the in-chamber bridge 19 and the plate 7A to move the article on the in-chamber bridge 19 and the plate 7A, and a sterilization device 100 that sterilizes an interior of the chamber 1, in which the chamber 1 is allowed to be tightly sealed, with the moving member 3A disposed on the in-chamber bridge 19.

In a process of manufacturing articles such as pharmaceuticals and foods, a chamber such as a freeze-drying chamber may be used (for example, PTLs 1 to 4). The articles are moved by a moving member and conveyed inside and outside the chamber. The chamber may be sterilized to prevent microorganisms such as bacteria from entering the articles. For example, in a freeze-drying chamber, the components in the chamber, a plate on which the articles are disposed, and a pipe for supplying a refrigerant are sterilized with high-pressure steam.


A power interface, a mobile terminal, and an electronic device are disclosed. The power interface includes a housing and a connection body. The housing includes a perimeter wall defining an opening. The connection body is disposed in the housing, one end of the connection body extends out of the housing from the opening, and located outside the housing. The perimeter wall comprises a pair of arc sections located at two ends of the perimeter wall and spaced apart from each other in a length direction.

With the continuous improvement of living conditions, mobile terminals (such as mobile phones) have become essential communication tools for people. In order to meet the requirements of users and improve the market competitiveness of the mobile terminals, on one hand, researchers and developers continue to improve the performance of mobile terminals; on the other hand, researchers and developers continue to improve and optimize the appearance of mobile terminals. Power interfaces are important components for the mobile terminals. On one hand, when charging the mobile terminals, the power interfaces are required for charging the mobile terminals; on the other hand, data transmission between the mobile terminals and other devices is achieved by the power interfaces. However, during a long-term use, impurities and chippings may enter the power interfaces, and may be difficult to clean. In this way, the charging and data transmission performances of the mobile terminals are affected, and failures will even occur. Besides, the power interfaces will get loose since connectors are frequently inserted into the mobile terminals and removed from the mobile terminals, which results in an unstable connection, and the service lives of the batteries and the mobile terminals are also affected. In addition, the power interfaces are disposed at outer sides of the mobile terminals, which has an important influence on the appearances of the mobile terminals.

Power interface, mobile terminal, and electronic device

GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD


An electrode in an electronic device using a functional thin film facilitates epitaxial growth during the functional material film-forming process and prevents the generation of cracks due to thermal stress. An oxide superconductor is using as an electrode material, thereby forming the crystal structure identical with the crystal structure of a functional thin film, and rendering their lattice constant and coefficient of thermal expansion close to the lattice constant and coefficient of thermal expansion functional thin film. According to the electrode material, high electric conductivity, low thermal conductivity and large thermal absorption coefficient characteristics can also be obtained.

This invention relates to an electronic device using a functional thin film such as a pyroelectric IR sensor and, more particularly, to an electronic device using a functional thin film wherein its electrode material is improved.
For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 143258/1989 describes pyroelectric sensors wherein a pyroelectric element plate is formed from PbTiO.sub.3, Al or Pt is used as its lower electrode and NiCr is used as an upper electrode which acts also as an infrared absorption layer. Besides the foregoing, it also is known that Sn doped In.sub.2 O.sub.3 (ITO) be used as a lower electrode and that Al or gold black be used as an upper electrode.
When the metal or ITO is used as electrodes in the prior art, the following disadvantages occur in connection with the functional materials such as PbTiO.sub.3.
(i) The crystal structure of PbTiO.sub.3 and the like is fundamentally different from that of the metals and the like and therefore it is difficult to carry out epitaxial growth in forming PbTiO.sub.3 and the like by a thin film technique such as a laser ablation method.
(ii) The coefficient of thermal expansion of PbTiO.sub.3 and the like is greatly different from that of the metals and the like and therefore cracks and lattice defects are liable to occur due to the thermal stress during the film-forming process.
(iii) The metal electrode formed by the laser ablation method has an inferior surface, the metal electrode can have defects such as pinholes and such drawbacks are reasons why sensors having defects are produced.
(iv) The metals and the like have a high thermal conductivity, and therefore an incident energy cannot be effectively transformed into output charge in applying them to a pyroelectric IR sensor.
(v) The metals and the like have small emissivity (thermal absorption coefficient) and therefore it is disadvantageous to use the metals and the like as the upper electrode (light-receptive portion) of the pyroelectric IR sensor from the standpoint of efficiency.
An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device using a functional thin film by which the above drawbacks (i) through (v) of the prior art can be solved.

Pyroelectric IR sensor using an oxide superconductor upper electrode


A foaming die device is provided, which has a closure element rotatably provided therein. The foaming die device allows a three-dimensional trim cover assembly with an opening defined therein to be placed therein and also allows a liquid foaming agent to be injected into an inside of so placed trim cover assembly for foaming operation. In operation, when the trim cover assembly is placed in foaming die device prior to the foaming operation, the closure element is able to be rotated toward and easily inserted in the opening to prevent leakage of the liquid foaming agent therethrough, whereas, when the trim cover assembly is taken out from the foaming die device subsequent to the foaming operation, the closure element is able to be rotated and easily removed from that opening.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for forming a foamed product integral with trim cover assembly. In particular, the invention is directed to a foaming die device of the type which allows a three-dimensional trim cover assembly to be placed therein and allows a liquid foaming agent to be injected into the inside of such trim cover assembly, so that a foam padding is created by curing the liquid foaming agent and filed in the trim cover assembly, thereby forming a foamed product integral with the trim cover assembly, such as a headrest or armrest for instance.
2. Description of Prior Art
In general, a vehicle or automobile is provided with a cushiony support element for resiliently supporting a body or some body portions of seat occupant or passenger in a comfortable way, which includes a seat, a headrest, an armrest and so forth. Such cushiony support element is basically formed by a foam padding and a three-dimensional trim cover assembly covering the foam padding. Typically, to form that cushiony support element, there has been known a foaming process for forming a foamed product integral with trim cover assembly, which consists of the steps of: providing a three-dimensional trim cover assembly preformed in a predetermined shape (which conforms to an outer shape of headrest or armrest, for example); placing the trim cover assembly together with required frame element(s) in a given foaming die device; thereafter injecting a liquid foaming agent into an inside of the trim cover assembly; and curing the liquid foaming agent so as to create and fill a foam padding in the trim cover assembly, whereby a foamed product integral with trim cover assembly is produced, which has frame element(s) integrally provided therein (i.e. a resultant headrest with stays or a resultant armrest with frames, for example)
Let us now for example assume that a headrest with stay will be formed in the above-described process. First of all, prior to the foaming operation, a three-dimensional trim cover assembly is preformed by sewing together separate cover materials in a predetermined shape conforming to a headrest. In most cases, in the process of forming such trim cover assembly, at first, all the cover materials are sewn together, with their reverse surfaces exposed outwardly, while defining an opening at a given point, so as to provide a reversed state of three-dimensional trim cover assembly, with all its outer surfaces facing inwardly thereof, which has the foregoing opening defined therein. Thereafter, a local part of the outer surfaces disposed inwardly of so reversed trim cover assembly is drawn outwardly through such opening, and then, by completely drawing out all the outer surfaces through that particular opening, a whole of the trim cover assembly is reversed into a normal state where all the outer surfaces thereof show up outwardly. Next, a required headrest frame element having a pair of stays formed therewith is inserted through the opening into the inside of such normal state of trim cover assembly and placed in position therein, while projecting the pair of stays through respective two holes formed in the trim cover assembly to the outside, whereby is provided a basic headrest unit comprising the three-dimensional trim cover assembly and the headrest frame disposed therein, with the pair of stays projecting outwardly from the trim cover assembly.
Such basic headrest unit is then placed in a foaming die device, followed by injecting a liquid foaming agent into the inside of the trim cover assembly. At this step, there has been the problem that the liquid foaming agent is leaked out through the aforementioned opening.
To solve the foregoing problem, the prior invention disclosed in the Japanese Laid-Open Patent, Publication No. 9-11252, which has been assigned to the same assignee of the present invention, teaches a foaming die device provided with a closure element for forcibly causing the afore-said opening to close tight, thereby preventing leakage of a liquid foaming agent through that opening. In brief, according thereto, when the basic headrest unit is placed in the die device, a closure plate element is forcibly inserted in the opening so that both two lateral edges of the opening are stretched outwardly in a direction opposite to each other, whereupon the opening is deformed laterally and brought to close contact with all peripheral surfaces of the plate element. Thus, the opening itself is in a completely closed state to prevent the liquid foaming agent from being leaked out therethrough.
In the foregoing prior art, the foaming die device comprises a stationary die and a movable die, such that the movable die is movable toward and away from the stationary die so as to close and open the die device, thereby allowing a basic headrest unit to be placed between the two dies and allowing a resultant headrest to be taken out therefrom. However, the closure plate element is provided to the movable die, with the result that, after having placed the basic headrest unit in the stationary die, just prior to the movable die being engaged upon the stationary die, it is required on the worker's side to quickly and precisely insert the closure plate element in the foregoing opening in the basic headrest unit. At this step, in most cases, the worker can not easily insert the closure plate element in the opening and can hardly ascertain that the closure plate element is precisely inserted in the opening in a manner sufficient to prevent leakage of liquid foaming agent through the opening.
Additionally, when disengaging the movable die from the stationary die, it is required for the worker to use his or her much more force than usual to forcibly widen the opening and remove the closure plate element therefrom, which has been with the problem that the movable die can not be quickly disengaged from the stationary die.

Device for forming foamed product integral with trim cover assembly


An active suspension control system employs a strategy minimum fluid pressure in the working chamber of an inside suspension system is reached at greater lateral acceleration than that via which at which the maximum fluid pressure in the working chamber of an outside suspension system is reached. The system also takes a strategy for adjusting the fluid pressure in the working chambers of the inside and outside suspension system inversely proportional to each other while the lateral acceleration is maintained smaller than a predetermined pressure at which the maximum fluid pressure in the working chamber of the outside suspension system is reached. This assures driving stability and riding comfort by permitting vehicular rolling in response to a lateral acceleration greater that a given lateral acceleration criterion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an actively controlled suspension system for an automotive vehicle. More specifically, the invention relates to an anti-rolling suspension control system which can maintain satisfactorily high driving stability and prevent the vehicles gravity center from being lifted up even during cornering to cause substantially great lateral acceleration.
2. Description of the Background Art
The U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,490, issued on Oct. 27, 1987, to Hirotsugu YAMAGUCHI et al., and assigned to the common assignee to the present invention, discloses an actively or positively controlled automotive suspension system which includes hydraulic cylinders for generating variable damping force against relative motion of a vehicular suspension member and a vehicle body in bounding and rebounding directions for adjusting suspension characteristics and adjusting vehicle body attitude.
A similar type of actively controlled suspension systems has been disclosed in the co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 060,911, filed on June 12, 1987 and assigned to the common assignee to the present invention now U.S. Pat. No. 4,801,155. Further, European Patent First Publications Nos. 02 49 246 and 02 49 209 respectively corresponding to co-pending U.S. patent applications Ser. Nos. 061,368 (filed on June 15, 1987) and 059,888, filed on June 9, 1987, both of which have been assigned to the common assignee to the present invention. The later-mentioned three inventions include features of anti-rolling and/or anti-pitching suspension control for adjusting damping characteristics at respective vehicular wheels for suppressing vehicular rolling motion.
In such prior proposed active suspension control systems damping characteristics of the suspension oriented outside of the corner, which suspension system will be hereafter simply referred to as "outside suspension systems", are harder in order to prevent outward shifting of a vehicular body gravity center due to centrifugal forces exerted on the vehicular body, and, on the other hand, damping characteristics of the suspension systems oriented inside of the corner, which will be hereafter simply referred to as "inside suspension systems" are softened for preventing damping characteristics from serving as a source of self-induced rolling motion. In the practical suspension control, suspension control the signal for the outside suspension system is increased according to an increasing of the lateral acceleration exerted on the vehicular body, which suspension control signal will be hereafter referred to as "outside suspension control signal", and, on the other hand, the suspension control system for the inside suspension system, which is produced by inverting the outside suspension control signal, is decreased inversely proportional to the increasing rate of the outside suspension control signal, which suspension control system for the inside suspension system will be hereafter referred to as "inside suspension control signal." By such strategy of suspension control, minimum fluid pressure to be generated in a working chamber of the inside suspension system is set to be reached at a predetermined lateral acceleration. On the other hand, the fluid pressure in the working chamber of the outside suspension system does not reach a predetermined maximum pressure at the predetermined lateral acceleration. Therefore, when the lateral acceleration exerted on the vehicular body becomes greater than the predetermined lateral acceleration, the fluid pressure of the working chamber in the inside suspension system is maintained at a minimum pressure and only the fluid pressure of the working chamber of the outside suspension system is increased toward a predetermined maximum pressure. When the lateral acceleration becomes substantial, increased fluid pressure in the outside suspension system becomes a source of vehicular attitude change to cause lifting of the outside of the vehicular body leading lifting up of the gravity center. This gives a feeling for the passenger in the vehicle that the vehicle is shifting upward toward the outside, to cause degradation of the riding comfort.

Anti-rolling control system for automotive active suspension system