Disclosed is a device for intermittently conveying packages which are conveyed in a first moving direction in package carriers (2) in a first processing plane in positions underneath various treatment stations and are conveyed back in a second return motion plane in a second moving direction that is parallel in relation to the first moving direction, whereby a conveying cycle is formed. The aim of the invention is to enable such a device to be efficient, compact and be operated using simple devices. According to the invention, the respectively superimposed ends of the essentially horizontal first conveyor (19) in the first processing plane and of the essentially horizontal third conveyor (12) in the second return motion plane are connected to one another for forming the conveying cycle by means of vertically acting second and fourth lifting conveyors (9, 15). Each conveyor (9, 19, 12, 15) has a separate drive (22-24). A third loading plane is arranged between the first processing plane and the second return motion plane. The three planes are arranged in an essentially horizontal manner. Each package carrier (2) is constructed in an even manner and is held in a horizontal position by means of the conveyor cycle. Means for loading and unloading the packages into and/or from the package carriers (2) are provided in the region of the third loading plane in a loading direction which is parallel in relation to the first moving direction of the packages.

The invention concerns an apparatus for intermittently conveying packages which are conveyed in a first travel direction in package carriers on a first process plane in positions beneath various treatment stations and on a second return plane in a second travel direction parallel to the first travel direction, forming a conveyor circuit.
For producing and in particular finishing packages, in known machines they are held in workpiece carriers and intermittently fed by means of endlessly circulating conveyor belts to individual treatment stations in which the respective package for example is filled after having been folded into the finished condition, and finally closed. The conveyor belts pass around two direction-changing guide rollers, wherein the workpiece carriers are turned in the conveyor arcs thereof from a vertical orientation into a horizontal one and then again into a vertical orientation. The vertical orientation is that for the process plane because conveyors of that kind are frequently used in relation to the packaging of liquid foodstuffs which are introduced from above into the package which is disposed therebeneath and which is open upwardly. In many conveyors, the workpiece carriers are rigidly interlinked, for example by way of roller chains or link chains. This is found to suffer from the disadvantage that after prolonged operation there are undesirable increases in the length of the chains, with the consequence of inaccurate positioning under the respective treatment station. If there a wish to use such conveyors in the foodstuffs industry sterile packaging is frequently required and when using roller or link chains movable parts have to be lubricated so that such conveyors cannot operate in clean room conditions where however the operation of filling the packages is carried out.
Admittedly, operators have already changed over to using toothed belts in order to avoid lubrication and to have a smaller increase in length. However, separating off the package carriers, for example for the purposes of better sterilization, and subsequent refitment, are practically impossible. In addition, when using toothed belts there is often a limited level of resistance to thermal and chemical influences in the environment.
In order to increase the machine output of packaging machines and there in particular filling devices, that is to say in order to be able to process a larger number of packages in a machine per unit of time, a plurality of package carriers have been arranged in mutually juxtaposed relationship along the process plane, the package carriers therefore being arranged in mutually juxtaposed relationship transversely with respect to the first travel direction. If the endless conveyors of the known kind can be used at all for multiplication in respect of width, the width of such a process plane however, at least for static reasons, is subject to limits which do not permit a further increase in output.
Therefore the object of the invention is to provide a conveyor apparatus for packages of the kind set forth in greater detail in the opening part of this specification, which while being of a compact structure permits a high output and operation with simple devices.
In accordance with the invention that object is attained in that the respective mutually superposed ends of the substantially horizontally extending first conveyor in the first process plane and the substantially horizontally extending second conveyor in the second return plane are interconnected to form the conveyor circuit by substantially vertically operating second and fourth lift conveyors, that each conveyor has a separate drive, that arranged between the first process plane and the second return plane is a third loading plane, the three planes are substantially horizontally arranged, each package carrier is of a substantially flat structure which is held in a substantially horizontal position over the conveyor circuit and that provided in the region of the third loading plane are means for loading and unloading the packages into and/or out of the package carriers in a loading direction which is parallel to the first travel direction of the packages.
It is firstly possible to explain the conveyor apparatus according to the invention by means of a simple conveyor picture which shows a rectangular conveyor path with a first travel direction at the top on a first process plane which is adjoined at the end of that plane by a lift conveyor in order to convey the package carriers out of the first process plane downwardly into the second return plane; that is then followed by the substantially horizontally extending third conveyor in the second return plane, in which respect here the travel direction is parallel but opposite to that of the first process plane, and the conveyor circuit is closed by a so-called fourth lift conveyor which lifts the package carriers from the lower second return plane into the upper first process plane. If that rectangular path is viewed in the clockwise direction, then the package carriers are moved in the first process plane from left to right by the first conveyor, at the end they are lowered vertically downwardly by the second lift conveyor into the second return plane, there they are moved horizontally towards the left by the third conveyor so that the fourth lift conveyor can then again vertically lift the package carriers upwardly into the initial position into the first process plane. Different travel patterns can be set by virtue of the respectively separate drives for each of the conveyors. In addition it is possible to adopt very simple drives and the drives can be caused to operate at different speeds, in accordance with the respective control thereof, in such a way that for example a large number of package carriers is present in the entire conveyor circuit only on one of the horizontal planes, while in the other three conveyors only few to no package carriers are being moved. It is possible in that way to save on package carriers, simplify operation, for example afford excellent cleaning possibilities, and nonetheless predetermine a high level of output. The most slowly operating station predetermines the time cycle for intermittent conveyance of the packaging carriers.
The advantageously compact structure of the conveyor apparatus is not subjected to any limitation if the above-mentioned third loading plane is disposed between the first process plane and the second return plane. However by virtue of the arrangement of that loading plane, it is possible to considerably increase the output of the conveyor apparatus in that the loading and unloading operation can be accelerated to a surprisingly great degree, which was not possible in the case of the previous conveyors with the feed at the entry to the process plane being vertically downwardly. The overall structure is simplified by virtue of the fact that the three planes described are arranged substantially horizontally. In a preferred embodiment the length of the conveyor is determined by the various, successively arranged treatment stations or the overall length required for same. The height of the conveyor apparatus of compact structure is kept low and operation is speeded up and simplified because each substantially flat package carrier is always held horizontally, including in the vertically operating second and fourth lift conveyors. More specifically the loading and unloading means can then withdraw finished packages from the package carriers and introduce empty packages into the package carriers at the loading position, with a high level of acceleration and over short distances, in which respect that can be effected at the same time for a multiplicity of packages if the package carriers accommodate a plurality of packages.
The foregoing measures show how a very powerful conveyor can nonetheless be of a very compact structure and permits the use of simple devices for operation thereof, for example for the loading operation, for varying the travel direction, although or precisely because no arcuately guided route has to be followed or also there is not an arcuately guided portion of conveyor bodies that has to be moved.
In a further advantageous configuration of the invention the total conveyor time of the lift conveyor is substantially equal to the cycle time of the first conveyor in the first process plane and the time for loading or unloading is approximately equal to the transport time within the cycle time of the first conveyor. The intermittent movement of the first conveyor is effected in cycles each with a respective given cycle time. The duration of that cycle time is equal to the sum of the transport time plus the hold time. This means in other words that in one cycle a package carrier on the one hand is transported to a given treatment station (transport time) and on the other hand is additionally thereafter stopped until the treatment is concluded (hold time). The cycle time has expired, after the expiry of those two periods of time. The first conveyor in the first process plane has comparatively short transport times in relation to the hold times. The package carrier can therefore be transported to the new treatment station in a shorter time than the time required to conclude the treatment. If in a preferred embodiment the cycle time is six seconds, then the hold time can be set to five seconds and the transport time to one second. In accordance with the invention the conditions are correspondingly reversed in the lift conveyor. The time which is necessary to carry out the entire transportation procedure of the lift conveyor, that is to say the time for the movement and for the loading procedure (loading or unloading) is approximately as long as the cycle time of the first conveyor. Of that total cycle time the time for loading and unloading the lift conveyor represents only a fraction. The time for loading and unloading the lift conveyor is approximately equal to or less than the transport time of the first conveyor; in the above-indicated example therefore only about one second is needed for loading or unloading. That surprisingly short time is only possible because there is the separate third loading plane for the loading and unloading operations, the third loading plane being horizontal like the other two planes (process plane, return plane). Added to that is the fact that the loading and unloading means involve an operating direction which is parallel to the first travel direction of the packages. If the lift conveyor operates vertically then loading and unloading are effected in a horizontal direction. In the loading operation for example pushers only need to push the treated packages out of the package carriers and a short period of time is sufficient for that. A specific embodiment of a preferred machine with a particular conveyor apparatus according to the invention permitted loading and unloading of 1 liter packages in 0.8 seconds, and in another type of machine 0.5 seconds. No previously known machine permitted loading or unloading of a conveyor in such a short time.
It is further desirable in accordance with the invention if the package carrier has on two diametrally opposite sides U-shaped, outwardly open recesses which are oriented in the first travel direction of the first conveyor. A vertical axis can be envisaged in the center of a U. If an inverted further U is arranged at a spacing under that first U oriented in such a way that both central axes fall onto one line, then that gives the above-described orientation of the two recesses. In accordance therewith the invention also provides the teaching that said central line of the two U-shaped recesses which are arranged in mutually opposite relationship is parallel to the first travel direction. The orientation of those recesses has a particularly advantageous effect in the third loading plane in the loading and unloading operations. In the unloading procedure the one package is pushed or pulled out of the recess which is open outwardly in the conveyor direction, with that direction of movement being for example the same as that of the first travel direction. The other oppositely disposed package is then moved out in the opposite direction. Both are effected at the same time and require only little time. The other advantage of the two recesses is that in that way the package carrier has double the capacity. The man skilled in the art knows that the width of a machine and also a conveyor apparatus cannot be increased just as maybe desired because strength conditions impose a limit in terms of increasing the width of a package carrier. By virtue of the arrangement of two recesses which are oriented relative to each other, it is possible to hold, transport, load and unload two packages on this path, instead of one.
It is further desirable in accordance with the invention if the package carrier is in the configuration of an elongate bar extending transversely with respect to the first travel direction, in such a way that the recesses come to lie in pairs in mutually juxtaposed relationship. Besides the above-mentioned doubling of the capacity of a package carrier from one to two packages, the enlargement in capacity in a transverse direction is possible to a certain extent as is permitted by strength conditions. For that purpose the package carrier can be designed in a bar or plate form and the recesses can be arranged in paired mutually juxtaposed relationship. The loading and unloading devices which operate in the third loading plane can then move all mutually juxtaposed packages in a bar out or in at once. The capacity of such a conveyor apparatus is thereby considerably increased.
It is also advantageous in accordance with the invention if the package carrier for holding bottles is a bar-shaped metal sheet with pairs, arranged in mutually juxtaposed relationship transversely with respect to the first travel direction, of U-shaped recesses which face away from each other and the width of which corresponds to the outside diameter of the bottle neck. A desirable area of use of the conveyor apparatus according to the invention is receiving, holding and transporting upwardly open bottles which are preferably made from plastic material. The width of the respective U-shaped recess then approximately corresponds to the outside diameter of the bottle neck in question. It will be appreciated that a bottle then only needs to be pushed from the outside into the bottom of the U-shape in order to provide a good hold for the bottle there. Unloading is conversely equally expedient. The production of such a package carrier is inexpensive and technically surprisingly simple. A metal sheet or bar of a suitable configuration with double walls and stiffening rails can be easily produced and does not require any maintenance whatsoever apart from cleaning. Such a package carrier can be used in the above-described devices and transported over the various conveyor paths. Carriers, supports and rails mounted thereto can be provided at the narrow ends of a preferably bar-shaped sheet member so that the package carriers are supported with simple means along the first process plane and also along the second return plane and are preferably displaced with a sliding motion on support rails.
In that respect in accordance with the invention it is particularly advantageous if the drive device of the first conveyor in the first process plane has at least one thrust rod which extends in the first travel direction and which is pivotable and which can be pushed forward and back in the first travel direction and in the opposite direction thereto and on which are fixed at a spacing from each other advance projections which can be brought into engagement with locking grooves on the package carrier. It is precisely in the first process plane in which the packages have to be treated and transported in a hygienic fashion because inter alia this involves filling of the package, that simple and robust motion means should guarantee a reliable advance movement. The at least one thrust rod is such a conveyor means. Fixed to the thrust rod at a spacing from each other are advance projections which for example all protrude in a first direction radially from the thrust rod. If the thrust rod is pivoted about its own axis, those advance projections can then be pivoted from a rest position into such a position in which the advance projections engage into locking grooves on the package carrier, the locking grooves being arranged in just fitting oppositely disposed relationship. When then the thrust rod is moved a distance in the direction of its longitudinal direction, the package carrier is then also moved by the same amount. If thereafter the thrust rod is again pivoted through an angle which can be for example 90xc2x0 or 180xc2x0, the locking grooves then release the package carriers. The thrust rod can move back to the next package carriers, come into engagement therewith and then also push them on. When a plurality of advance projections are fixed to the thrust rod, then a plurality of package carriers can be moved at the same time. In the case of wider conveyor apparatuses, it is desirable in accordance with the invention to provide on each side, that is to say at the two oppositely disposed ends (wide sides) of the package carrier, a respective rod, that is to say in total two thrust rods in the apparatus. It is desirable if a single motor provides a synchronous for both thrust rods. One motor can provide for example for longitudinal displacement and the other for pivotal movement.
In the case of high-output machines each treatment station has a dual row of treatment devices which are arranged in transversely mutually juxtaposed relationship. If then for example a flushing operation is carried out on the interior of the package in one station, then the flushing operation is effected simultaneously for two (or a multiple of two) packages. If in the next treatment station the flushing substance is removed by drying, then two respective drying devices respectively provide for drying out the interior of the packages simultaneously in the next treatment station. This time-saving design configuration of the overall conveyor and filling machine involves double the number of tools in each treatment station. In the case of nozzles or the like this does not involve a high level of costs. If however consideration is given to the procedure for sealing and closing a package, the devices involved are nonetheless quite expensive if precise and in addition possibly also sterile sealing has to be effected. It would then be desirable and possible to provide only one row of sealing stations when the package carrier is firstly moved with the respective leading packages in the leading recesses into position under the sealing stations and thereafter the respective next packages in the trailing recesses of the same package carrier are moved into position under the same sealing stations. This means however that the conveyor apparatus must be capable of conveying the package carrier only by half a cycle distance. That is possible from the point of view of time, that is to say treatment in half the cycle time is possible, for the sealing operation is effected must faster than the operation of filling the package with a liquid.
Therefore according to the invention a particularly preferred embodiment is characterized in that fixed between two advance projections which project radially in the same direction from the thrust rod is an intermediate stroke projection projecting radially in another direction on the thrust rod, in such a way that each package carrier can be advanced in half the cycle time by half the cycle distance under a given treatment station.
The advantageous structure of the respective package carrier and the support thereof laterally on support rails on which it is slidingly displaced permit the individual package carriers to be decoupled from each other. The described simple conveyor means with the advance projections are capable of advancing the package carriers in each case by an entire cycle distance. If now in accordance with the last-described measure an intermediate stroke projection projects radially from the thrust rod between two advance projections at a different angle, other cycle distances with other cycle times are possible for the same package carrier. Therefore in one and the same process plane the package carriers can be conveyed by way of seven (or fewer) out of eight treatment stations in each case by an entire cycle distance and in one (or more) stations the package carrier can be conveyed twice by half the cycle distance, so that firstly the front row of the open and filled packages passes into a position under the row of sealing tools and in the next step still within the full cycle time (for the filling operation) the next rear row passes into a position under the sealing tools so that both rows of packages can be successively provided with sealed closures in the full cycle time.
A further advantage of the U-shaped recesses in the package carrier of the widths which are adapted to the bottle necks is that bottle bodies of a different format can be accommodated and transported by one and the same package carrier provided only that the outside dimensions of the bottle neck are the same. In many bottles of different formats, the neck dimensions are standardized and are of a fixed structure.
In contrast to the state of the art the package carriers according to the invention are not rigidly interlinked so that they can be flexibly staggered. Almost all package carriers for example can be moved into the first process plane and the arrangement cleaned at the other conveyor portions or almost all package carriers can be moved into the second return plane in order to clean the individual treatment stations from all sides. Portions of the overall conveyor according to the invention can therefore be run empty. The simple and practical way in which the package carriers are held on the carrier rails means that it is possible for them to be replaced in a very short time and using simple tools. That can be necessary under some circumstances for example upon a change in bottle or format.
Loading of the package carriers from both sides, in a preferred embodiment from the front and from the rear, permits loading and transporting of the packages at both sides, in a short time and in a space-saving fashion.

Conveying device comprising a packages carrier


An oscillating lawn sprinkler (4) has a spray pipe (7) pivotally mounted on a sprinkler body (5). The spray pipe (7) is driven to oscillate by water pressure through a motor mechanism disposed in a driving mechanism compartment (6). The driving mechanism compartment (6) is connected to a supply of water on one side thereof and with one end of the spray pipe (7) on the other side thereof. An adjusting mechanism is provided for adjusting the flow rate of water delivered by the spray pipe. Furthermore, a mechanism for adjusting the oscillating range of the spray pipe has a control member (9) disposed on the same side of the driving mechanism compartment (6) as a control member (26) of the water flow rate adjusting mechanism. Both the control members (9, 26) are disposed on the side of the driving mechanism compartment opposite to the spray pipe (7). A filtering mechanism is removably housed at a water supply inlet connection (8) of the oscillating sprinkler (4) for filtering the supply water.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an oscillating lawn sprinkler of the type which is placed freely on the ground and connected with a water supply for watering lawns, gardens, or other cultivated areas.
(2) State of the Prior Art
Oscillating lawn sprinklers are basically made up of a pipe having a number of spray apertures or nozzles therein, the pipe being pivotally mounted on a sprinkler bearing block or body and driven to oscillate by the pressure of the water going into the sprinkler. The water is conducted through a turbine-type motor enclosed in a sealed compartment, the motor then driving the spray pipe. The bearing block usually has an elongated shape with the sealed compartment mounted on one of its ends. This sealed compartment is connected with the water supply source and also serves as a driving support for at least one end of the oscillating pipe. Furthermore, mechanical control devices are provided in the sealed compartment for adjusting the range of the oscillating sprinkler to cover a desired surface area to be watered.
The above-described type of sprinkler is known from, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,559,888, 4,245,786, and 4,721,248. However, these sprinklers have the drawback of having the controls for adjusting the surface area to be sprayed by the oscillating sprinkler located at an inconvenient point on the sprinkler. Indeed, these control devices are usually mounted on the inner side of the compartment containing the driving mechanism, i.e. the side of the compartment facing the spraying pipe, just below the end of the spraying pipe.
Consequently, each time the mechanical control device needs to be adjusted, a user must turn off the water supply, move the oscillating sprinkler to a more convenient position in which the mechanical control devices can be more easily seen and accessed, adjust the mechanical control devices, replace the sprinkler in position on the ground, and finally turn the water supply back on.
The considerable inconvenience of the required procedure outlined above is further aggravated by the fact that the water supply tap is usually at a location quite remote from the oscillating sprinkler itself, requiring the user to walk back and forth repeatedly between the water supply tap and the oscillating sprinkler.
A further drawback of this type of sprinkler is that it has no mechanism for adjusting the water delivery rate to the spray pipe. Consequently, a user of the oscillating sprinkler must rely solely on adjustment of the water supply tap to adjust the water delivery rate of the oscillating sprinkler.
Again, adjustments to the oscillating sprinkler are made particularly inconvenient if the water supply tap is situated remotely from the oscillating sprinkler, or if the oscillating sprinkler is in a location which cannot be seen from the water supply tap.
Sprinklers, in general, can also be connected to water supply sources other than drinking water supply sources. For example, a sprinkler could be supplied with water from an open irrigation canal through appropriate delivery pumps. When connected in this manner, a sprinkler requires a filtering device to retain therein any particulate contaminants and foreign material which may be delivered along with the water, and which might be likely to damage the turbine-like driving mechanism of the sprinkler. A filter or strainer is usually disposed in the flow stream by being inserted in the water supply hose, at the end of the hose which is connected with the water supply intake fitting of the oscillating sprinkler. A ring nut is typically used to retain the filter or strainer in the water supply hose.
The above arrangement of the filter or strainer, however, is quite inconvenient in that the arrangement makes it difficult to clean the filtering surface when the filtering surface becomes clogged. Indeed, the filter or strainer is frequently fixed in the end fitting of the water supply hose, so that, even where the filter or strainer can be removed, it will be necessary to disassemble the entire fitting in order to be able to clean the filtering surface.


A fabrication method for a read only memory provides a substrate having a memory cell region and a periphery circuit region. A memory cell region has a memory cell array and the periphery circuit region has transistors. A precise layer having a plurality of first openings is formed in the memory cell region. The first openings are above the channel region of each memory cell in the memory cell array and the critical dimension of the first openings is identical. A mask layer having second openings and third openings is formed on the substrate. The second openings locate over a pre-coding memory cell region, and the third openings locate over the transistor gates. An ion implantation is performed to code the memory cell in the pre-coding memory cell region and to adjust the threshold voltage of the transistor, using the precise layer and the mask layer as a mask.

This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 91 105278, filed on Mar. 20, 2002.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for fabricating a memory device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for fabricating a read only memory device.
2. Description of Related Art
The read only memory device provides the non-volatile property, wherein the stored information is retained even electrical power is interrupted. As a result, the read only memory device is incorporated into many electronic products to maintain a normal operation for the products. The mask read only memory device is the most fundamental type of read only memory device. A typical mask ROM device uses a channel transistor as the memory device. The programming of a mask ROM device is accomplished by selectively implanting ions to an identified channel region. By altering the threshold voltage, the control of the xe2x80x9conxe2x80x9d state and the xe2x80x9coffxe2x80x9d state of the memory device is thus achieved.
A typical mask read only memory device comprises a polysilicon word line crossing over a bit line. The region under the word line and between the bit lines is the channel region of the memory device. Whether or not ions are implanted to the channel region determines the storage of the binary digit of either xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d, wherein the implanting of ions to the identified channel region is known as code implantation.
In general, when a code implantation process is performed on a mask read only memory, a patterned photoresist layer that exposes a pre-coding region is formed with a photomask. An ion implantation process is then performed to implant dopants to the pre-coding region in the substrate under the stacked gate structure. Usually, as required by the circuit design, an isolated pattern region and a dense pattern region are formed on a same photomask. An overexposure and an underexposure in the isolated pattern region and in the dense pattern region often occur during the transferring of a mask pattern due to the optical proximity effect. The accuracy of the critical dimension of the transferred pattern is thereby affected. Consequently, a misalignment would result as dopants are being implanted to the identified channel region of a mask read only memory device during the code implantation process. Information that is being stored in the memory cells of the memory device is thus erroneous to adversely affect the operational function of the memory device and the reliability of the products.
Conventionally, to correct the non-uniformity of pattern in the dense pattern region and the isolated pattern region of a coding mask of a mask read only memory device, the optical proximity correction technique is employed to design a mask with a special pattern. However, this type of mask with a special pattern, not only increases the manufacturing time, it also complicates the manufacturing process and increases the manufacturing cost. Further, after the fabrication of the photomask is completed, it is rather difficult to debug the defects in the pattern of this type of photomask.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a fabrication method for a read only memory device, wherein the openings in the dense pattern region and in the isolated patter region in the memory cell array of the mask read only memory device are formed having the same dimension, even without the application of the optical proximity correction technique.
Based on the foregoing reasons, the present invention provides a fabrication method for a read only memory device. The method provides a substrate that comprises a memory cell region and a periphery circuit region, wherein a memory cell array is formed in the memory cell region and a plurality of transistors is formed in the periphery circuit region. A precise layer that comprises a plurality of first openings is then formed on the identical. Further these first openings are located above the channel region of each of the first memory cells in the memory cell array. A mask layer that comprises a plurality of second openings and third openings is formed on the substrate. The aforementioned second openings are positioned above a plurality of the pre-coding memory cell regions in the memory cell region, while the third openings are positioned above the gates of the transistors in the periphery circuit region. An ion implantation process is then conducted to code the memory cells in the pre-coding memory cell region and to adjust the threshold voltage of the transistors.
The present invention employs a precise photomask to pattern a pattern-transferred layer (a precise layer), wherein openings are defined above the channel region of each memory cell and the critical dimension of these openings is identical. Another patterned photoresist layer (mask layer) is then formed on the substrate. The patterned photoresist layer exposes a pre-coding memory cell region in the memory cell region and a gates of the transistors in the periphery circuit region. Thereafter, using the pattern-transferred layer (precise layer) and the patterned photoresist layer (mask layer) as a coding mask for the mask read only memory device, the pre-coding memory cell is coded and the threshold voltage of the transistors is adjusted. According to the present invention, the critical dimension of each of the openings in the precise layer is about the same and each opening is precisely corresponded to the channel region of each memory cell. The problem of having critical dimension difference between the coding windows in the isolated pattern region and that in the dense pattern region due to the optical proximity effect is prevented. Further, when the code implantation is being performed on the pre-coding memory cell in the memory cell region, the threshold voltage of the transistors in the periphery circuit region is concurrently adjusted to further simplify the manufacturing process.
Further, the present invention also employs a photoresist layer as the pattern-transferred layer. When the pattern-transferred layer comprises a photoresist material, a deposition step and an etching step can be omitted to further simplify the manufacturing process and to further reduce the manufacturing cost. Moreover, according to the present invention, deviation in the critical dimension between the dense pattern region and the isolated pattern region is mitigated by using two photoresist layers.
Further, the precise layer in the periphery circuit region can be completely opened or selectively opened or completely not opened. The second opening and the third opening in the mask layer can form with one piece of photomask or two pieces of photomask.
The present invention provides a fabrication method for a read only memory device. This method provides a substrate that comprises a memory cell region and a periphery circuit region, wherein a memory cell array is formed in the memory cell region and a plurality of transistors is formed in the periphery circuit region. A mask layer that comprises a plurality of first openings and second openings is formed on the substrate. The first openings are located above a plurality of pre-coding memory cell regions in the memory cell region and the second openings are located above the gates of the transistors in the periphery circuit region. A precise layer is formed on the memory cell region. The precise layer comprises a plurality of third openings, wherein the critical dimension of each of the third openings is identical and the third openings are positioned above the channel region of the pre-coding memory cell in the pre-coding memory cell region. Thereafter, an ion implantation process is conducted to code the pre-coding memory cells in the pre-coding memory cell region and to adjust the threshold voltage of the transistors, using the mask layer and the precise layer as a coding mask.
Accordingly, the present invention employs a photomask to pattern the pattern-transferred layer, wherein the pre-coding memory cell region in the memory cell region and the gates of the transistors in the periphery circuit region are exposed. Further using the precise photomask, a plurality of openings having the same critical dimension is defined in the memory cell region. Further, these openings are located above the channel regions of the pre-coding memory cell in the pre-coding memory cell regions, exposing the word line of the memory cell. The critical dimension of each opening in the precise layer is identical and each opening in the precise layer precisely corresponds to the channel region of each memory cell. Even without the application of the optical proximity correction technique to manufacture the coding mask, any deviation in the critical dimension of the coding window between the dense pattern region and the isolated pattern region due to the optical proximity effect is prevented. Further, according to the present invention, when the coding implantation is being performed on the pre-coding memory cells in the memory cell region, the threshold voltage of the transistors in the periphery circuit region is being adjusted concurrently to further simplify the manufacturing process.
Further, the present invention employs a photoresist layer as a patterned transferred layer. When the pattern-transferred layer comprises a photoresist material, a deposition step and an etching step can be omitted to further simplify the manufacturing procedure and to further reduce the manufacturing cost. Moreover, the present invention simply employs two layers of photoresist to improve any deviation in the critical dimension between the dense pattern region and the isolated pattern region.
Further, the first opening and the second opening of the mask layer can form with one piece of photomask or two pieces of photomask. The precise layer in the periphery circuit region can be completely opened or selectively opened or completely not opened.
The present invention provides a fabrication method for a read only memory device. The method provides a substrate that comprises a memory cell region and a periphery circuit region, wherein a memory cell array is already formed in the memory cell region and a plurality of transistors is formed in the periphery circuit region. A negative photoresist layer is then formed on the memory cell region, followed by performing a first exposure process to transfer the pattern of the first photomask to the first negative photoresist layer, wherein the pattern of the first photomask precisely correspondes to the channel region of each memory cell in the memory cell region. The non-crosslinked portion of the first photoresist layer is positioned above the channel region of each memory cell in the memory cell region. A second negative photoresist layer is then formed on the substrate. A second exposure process is performed to transfer the pattern of the second photomask to the second photoresist layer and to the first negative photoresist layer, wherein the pattern of the second photomask corresponds to a plurality of the pre-coding memory cell regions in the memory cell region and the gates of the transistors in the periphery circuit region. As a result, the non-crosslinked portions of the first negative photoresist layer and the second photoresist layer are positioned above the plurality of the pre-coding memory cell regions in the memory cell region and above the gates of the transistors in the periphery circuit region. A development process is conducted to pattern the first negative photoresist layer and the second photoresist layer. An ion implantation process is conducted to code the pre-coding memory cells in the pre-coding memory cell region and to adjust the threshold voltage of the transistors using the patterned first negative photoresist layer and the pattern second negative photoresist layer as a mask.
According to the present invention, after forming the first negative photoresist layer, the pattern of the precise photomask is transferred to the first negative photoresist layer, wherein the non-crosslinked portion of the first negative photoresist layer is located above the channel region of each memory cell. Thereafter, a second negative photoresist layer is formed. The pattern of the second photomask is then transferred to the first negative photoresist layer and the second negative photoresist layer. The opaque portion of the second photomask is positioned above the pre-coding memory cell region in the memory cell region and above the gates of the transistors in the periphery circuit region. Therefore, the non-crosslinked portions of the first negative photoresist layer and the second negative photoresist layer are positioned above the pre-coding memory cells in the pre-coding memory cell region. Moreover, the non-crosslinked portion of the second negative photoresist layer is also positioned above the gates of the transistors in the peripheral circuit region. After this, the non-crosslinked portions of the first negative photresist layer and the second photoresist layer are removed to form a plurality of openings in the memory cell region, wherein the critical dimension of these openings is identical. Further, these openings are located above the channel region of each pre-coding memory cell in the pre-coding memory cell region. Since the critical dimension of each opening above the channel region of the pre-coding memory cell in the pre-coding memory cell region is identical, any deviation in the critical dimension of the coding window between the dense pattern region and the isolated pattern region due to the optical proximity effect is prevented, even without the application of the optical proximity correction technique to manufacture the coding mask. Moreover, as the code implantation is being performed to the pre-coding memory cell in the memory cell region in the present invention, the threshold voltage of the transistors in the periphery circuit region is concurrently being adjusted to further simplify the manufacturing process.
Accordingly, the present invention sequentially performs two exposure processes on the two negative photoresist layers with two layers of the photomask and a single development process to pattern the two negative photoresist layers. The number of manufacturing steps in the present invention is greatly reduced to further reduce the manufacturing time and cost. Moreover, the two negative photoresist layers can be formed into a same photoresist layer. In summary, the present invention simply employs two photoresist layers to improve the deviation in the critical dimension of the coding window between the dense pattern region and the isolated pattern region due to the optical proximity effect.
The present invention further provides a fabrication method for a read only memory device. The method provides a substrate that comprises a memory cell region and a periphery circuit region, wherein a memory cell array is already formed in the memory cell region and a plurality of transistors is already formed in the periphery circuit region. A first negative photoresist layer is formed on the substrate, followed by performing a first exposure process to transfer the pattern in the first photomask to the first negative photoresist layer, wherein the pattern in the first photomask corresponds to a plurality of pre-coding memory cells and the gates of the transistors in the periphery circuit region. The non-crosslinked portion of the first negative photoreisist layer is positioned above a plurality of the pre-coding memory cell regions in the memory cell region and the gate of the transistors in the periphery circuit region. The pre-coding memory cell region further comprises the plurality of the pre-coding memory cells. Thereafter, a second negative photoresist layer is formed on the memory cell region. A second exposure process is performed to transfer the pattern of the second photomask to the first negative photoresist layer and the second negative photoresist layer, wherein the pattern in the second photomask precisely corresponds to the channel region of each memory cell in the memory cell region. The non-crosslinked portions of the second photoresist layer and the first photoresist layer are located above the channel region of each memory cell in the pre-coding memory cell region. A development process is performed to pattern the first negative photoresist layer and the second negative photoresist layer. Using the patterned first negative photoresist layer and the second negative photoresist layer as a mask, an ion implantation process is conducted to code the pre-coding memory cells in the pre-coding memory cell region and to adjust the threshold voltage of the transistors.
According to the present invention, subsequent to the formation of the first negative photoresist layer, the pattern of the first photomask is transferred to the first negative photoresist layer. The opaque portion of the first photomask is located above the pre-coding memory cell regions in the memory cell region and the gates of the transistors in the periphery region. Therefore, the non-crosslinked portion of the first negative photoresist layer in the memory cell region is located above the pre-coding memory cell regions and the gates of the transistors. Thereafter, a second negative photoresist layer is formed, followed by transferring the pattern of the second photomask (precise mask) to the first negative photoresist layer and to the second negative photoresist layer. The non-crosslinked portion of the first negative photoresist layer and the second negative photoresist layer are positioned above the channel region of each memory cell. After this, the non-crosslinked portions of the first negative photoresist layer and the second negative photoresist layer are removed to form a plurality of openings having identical critical dimension. These openings are positioned above the channel region of each memory cell in the pre-coding memory cell region, exposing the word line of the memory cell. Since the critical dimension of the openings above the channel region of each pre-coding memory cell is identical deviation in the critical dimension of the coding window between the dense pattern region and the isolated pattern region due to the optical proximity effect is prevented, even without the application of the optical proximity correction technique. Moreover, as code implantation is performed on the pre-coding memory cells in the memory cell region, the threshold voltage of the transistosr in the periphery circuit region is concurrently adjusted to further simplify the manufacturing process.
Accordingly, the present invention sequentially performs two exposure processes on the two negative photoresist layers with two layers of the photomask and a single development process to pattern the two negative photoresist layers. The number of manufacturing steps in the present invention is greatly reduced to further reduce the manufacturing time and cost. Moreover, the two negative photoresist layers can be formed into a same photoresist layer. In summary, the present invention simply employs two photoresist layers to improve the deviation in the critical dimension of the coding window between the dense pattern region and the isolated pattern region due to the optical proximity effect.
Although two photomasks are employed in the manufacturing of a read only memory, one of the photomasks is only required to expose the pre-coding memory cell region in the memory cell region and to concurrently expose the transistors in the periphery circuit region during the coding process. Therefore, this photomask does not have to be as precise as the conventional coding mask. The manufacturing cost for this photomask is thus lower. The other photomask in this embodiment is a precise mask, wherein the specification is uniform. Although the manufacturing cost for this photomask is higher, this photomask can be used repeatedly because the precise mask is only applicable for forming the openings having identical critical dimension in the channel region of the memory cell. Further, the conventional coding mask requires the optical proximity correction technique to mitigate the inaccuracy in pattern transference due to the optical proximity effect, the manufacturing cost for the conventional coding mask is thus very high. In the present invention, the pattern dimension in the dense pattern region and the pattern dimension in the isolated pattern region are identical, even without the application of a special patterned photomask formed with the optical proximity correction technique, the manufacturing cost is thus lower. Further, the advantages provided by the present invention can be accomplished whether the mask layer is formed before the precise layer or the precise layer is formed before the mask layer.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

Method for fabricating read only memory including forming masking layers with openings and pre-coding the cell and peripheral regions


An audio system comprises an audio source terminal 11 and a audio playback terminal 13, connected to each another by a wireless data link 14. The source terminal 11 comprises a source computer 15, and a cellular modem 17. The playback terminal 13 comprises a playback computer 19 having an internal processor 23 and an audio processor 24. Connected to the processor 23 is a cellular modem 21, an audio transducer 25, and a user control 27. Data relating to audio components, representing different services, is stored at the source terminal 11 where it is spatially processed and transmitted to the playback terminal. At the same time, each individual audio component is transmitted at a lower bit-rate than the spatially processed data, to the audio source terminal 11, whereafter it is spatially processed. Although the low bit-rate transmission causes a loss of audio quality, the positional data remains unaffected. Accordingly, when played, the combination of a high quality signal with low three-dimensional audio positional accuracy, and a set of low quality signals with high three-dimensional audio positional accuracy, results in restoration of the human perception of three-dimensional position to the degraded three-dimensional audio signal.

The use of sound as a means of presenting computer-based services previously represented in visual form (e.g. on a computer monitor) has been proposed. In particular, it has been proposed that spatialisation processing of different sounds be performed such that the sounds, when played through loudspeakers or some other audio transducer, are presented at particular positions in the three-dimensional audio field. It is envisaged that this will enable Internet-style browsing using only sound-based links to services.
Such a three-dimensional audio interface will use spatialisation processing of sounds to present services in a synthetic, but realistically plotted, three-dimensional audio field. Sounds, representing services and/or information could be placed at different distances to the front, rear, left, right, up and down of the user. An example of a service is a restaurant. A pointer to the restaurant (the equivalent of a hyperlink) can be positioned in the audio field for subsequent selection. There are several ways in which the 'audio hyperlink' can be represented, for example by repeating a service name (e.g. the name of the restaurant) perhaps with a short description of the service, by using an earcon for the service (e.g. a memorable jingle or noise), or perhaps by using an audio feed from the service.
Such a system relies upon a high quality audio interface which is capable of rendering a three-dimensional audio field. Given that each sound, representing a service, is likely to be sent to a user's terminal from a remote device (e.g. the service provider's own computer) it follows that a data link is required. Where the data link has limited bandwidth, and is susceptible to interference and noise (for example, if a wireless telephony link is used) or if the channel employs lossy audio codecs (coder-decoders), it is likely that the link will degrade the three-dimensional nature of the audio. This may have the effect of masking any user-perception of three-dimensional positioning of sounds. This problem can be reduced if each audio component, i.e. each set of data relating to a particular sound, is transmitted independently to the user's terminal where the components are then combined to form the spatialisation processed data. This processed data is not subjected to the lossy transmission link. However, such a system will require larger overall bandwidth in order to carry the multiple audio components. In many network applications, particularly mobile wireless networks, the bandwidth of the access link or channel is a limited and expensive commodity.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A magnetic recording medium in which the center of a magnetic head can be brought to a centerline of a reference track, thereby enhancing the reliability of the magnetic recording medium, the reference track being provided at a predetermined position of a magnetic layer of the medium, a number of magnetic head-tracking optical tracks are provided respectively at positions spaced predetermined distances from the reference track in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the magnetic head, and a data track is formed between any two adjacent ones of the magnetic head-tracking optical tracks, the reference track having a pair of reference recess regions arranged symmetrically with respect to an arbitrary point on the centerline of the reference track, and a flat portion with no recess formed adjacent to each of the reference recess regions, the recess in each reference recess region being formed by cutting by a laser.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a magnetic recording medium such as a flexible magnetic disk, and more particularly to a magnetic recording medium enabling an optical tracking.
2. Discussion of Related Art
There is known a flexible magnetic disk, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,123, in which a reference track is formed at an innermost peripheral portion of a doughnut-like recording region of the disk, and a number of magnetic head-tracking optical recesses of a ring-shape are formed radially outwardly of the reference track at predetermined intervals in concentric relation to the reference track, and the region between any two adjacent rings of magnetic head-tracking optical recesses serves as a data track.
A predetermined signal is beforehand recorded in the above reference track of this magnetic disk. When desired information is to be recorded on this magnetic disk, or when the recorded information is to be reproduced therefrom, the signal in the reference track disposed at the innermost peripheral portion of the recording region are first read by a magnetic head to find a reference position of the magnetic head on the magnetic disk. Then, the magnetic head is shifted a predetermined distance or pitch radially outwardly, and the magnetic head-tracking optical recesses are scanned by optical means, comprising a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element, to effect a tracking servo of the data tracks so as to record or reproduce the information.
FIGS. 18 and 19 are an enlarged plan view and an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of a conventional reference track, respectively. As shown in FIG. 18, the reference track 100 extends along a direction X of travel of a magnetic head, and a pair of rectangular reference recesses 103A and 103B are provided symmetrically with respect to an arbitrary point 102 on a centerline 101 of the reference track 100. A flat portion 104A with no recess is provided adjacent to the reference recess 103A (that is, forwardly of the reference recess 103B), and also a flat portion 104B with no recess is provided adjacent to the reference recess 103B (that is, rearwardly of the reference recess 103A). A number of pairs of such reference recesses 103A and 103B and a number of pairs of such flat portions 104A and 104B are provided at intervals along the direction X of travel of the magnetic head to thereby form the reference track 100.
As shown in FIG. 19, the reference recesses 103A and 103B are formed by pressing a die against a surface of a magnetic layer 105 to compress it.
Predetermined signals are recorded on the reference track 100 over the entire area thereof, wherein, the recorded signals correspond not to the reference recesses 103A and 103B which are depressed, but to the flat portions 104A and 104B which are not depressed. In accordance with the signal waveform obtained by scanning the reference track 100 by the magnetic head, a feedback control is applied to the present position of the magnetic head, so that the magnetic head can be brought to the centerline 101 (reference position) of the reference track 100.
After the magnetic head is thus located at the reference position on the magnetic disk, the magnetic head is radially outwardly shifted a predetermined distance from this reference position to a desired one of the data tracks.
As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, each of the conventional reference recesses 103A and 103B is depressed continuously over the entire length thereof, and therefore has a relatively large area. On the other hand, the magnetic layer 105 contains, in addition to magnetic powder, materials such as a binder, an abrasive material, a filler and a lubricant and has a certain degree of elasticity.
Therefore, when the reference recesses 103A and 103B are formed by pressing by means of the die, a central portion 106 of the reference recess 103A (103B) is made to bulge because of a spring back effect due to the elasticity, as indicated by a dot-and-dash line in FIG. 19, so that the recess fails to be a complete recess. This tendency is conspicuous particularly when the length of the reference recess 103A (103B) becomes greater in the direction X of travel of the magnetic head.
Since the reference recesses 103A and 103B are formed by compression, a thin layer 107, which becomes higher in density in the filling of the magnetic powder than the other portions, is formed underneath a bottom surface of the reference recess 103A (103B).
Therefore, when signals are to be recorded on the reference track 100, undesired signals are likely to be recorded also on the central portions of the reference recesses 103A and 103B, and therefore the center of the magnetic head can not be brought properly to the centerline 101 of the reference track 100, which results in a problem with respect to the reliability.

Magnetic recording medium having a reference track structure for improved optical tracking


An FM detector circuit includes an unbalanced/balanced conversion circuit, a signal synthesis circuit, a parallel circuit including a first diode connected between a first balanced output terminal of the unbalanced/balanced conversion circuit and one signal input terminal of the signal synthesis circuit and a resonator, a parallel circuit including a second diode connected between a second balanced output terminal of the unbalanced/balanced conversion circuit and the other signal input terminal of the signal synthesis circuit and a capacitor element, and a low-pass filter connected to an output terminal of the signal synthesis circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an FM detector circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Examples of an FM detector circuit include a circuit using a Foster-Seeley method, a circuit using a ratio method, a circuit using a PLL method, a circuit using a slope detection method, and a circuit using a discriminator detection method. Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-195928 (Patent Document 1) discloses an FM detector circuit using a slope detection method. According to Patent Document 1, by using impedance in a resonator, which is changed at a resonant frequency and in the vicinity thereof, frequency modulation (FM component)—amplitude modulation (AM component) conversion of a signal is performed, and furthermore, envelope detection is performed using a diode, whereby FM detection is achieved.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 56-14705 (Patent Document 2) discloses an FM detector circuit using a discriminator detection method. The circuit uses impedance, which is changed at a resonant frequency and in the vicinity thereof, in a piezoelectric resonator so that amplitude modulation of an output signal is rectified by two diodes for AM detection.
For example, for a remote keyless entry receiver, an FSK signal must be demodulated. Normally, an RF signal is heterodyned into an IF signal (a superheterodyne method), and then, the IF signal is detected. However, a superheterodyne method requires a number of components such as a local oscillator, a mixer and other suitable components. To address this problem, a direct detection method in which an RF signal is directly detected without frequency conversion may be used. However, there is a high possibility that an amplifier circuit causes oscillation when an RF signal is greatly amplified for detection. In this case, an amplification factor should be suppressed. Therefore, it is desirable that a low-level RF signal is detected before being amplified.
However, the FM detector circuits according to Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 have problems in that since the FM detector circuits have low detection sensitivity, a detection output is low when an RF signal is at a low level.

FM detector circuit with unbalanced/balanced conversion


Disclosed is a computer-readable medium including a program code. The program code, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to place an electrically active pattern having a first width and a first least margin area, on a layer, to place a first dummy pattern having a second width wider than the first width and having a second least margin area, on the layer, and to place a second dummy pattern having a third width and a third least margin area, on the layer, based on whether a ratio of an area of the layer to areas of the electrically active pattern and the first dummy pattern is within a reference range.

Embodiments of inventive concepts relate to a semiconductor device, and more particularly, relate to a method of designing a layout of a semiconductor device by using an adaptive metal fill.
In addition, the embodiments of inventive concepts relate to a computer program performing an adaptive metal fill and a semiconductor device manufactured by the computer program.
In general, a semiconductor chip may include cells (e.g., transistors) and may include interconnections electrically connecting the cells for the purpose of implementing logic that performs a specific function. The interconnections may be placed over a plurality of layers. In particular, since high integration of a semiconductor chip make manually placing cells and interconnections difficult or impossible, a layout design tool is widely used.
A metal density of interconnections is very important upon placing interconnections in the plurality of layers. For example, if the metal density is not uniform over layers and/or the metal density is out of a range intended by a semiconductor manufacturer, distortion may occur in the process of stacking layers, thereby causing a change in timing of a signal or the like and/or having an influence on semiconductor manufacturing yield. Therefore, a method of inserting a dummy metal is mainly used to make the metal density uniform over layers.
However, as microfabrication technologies develop, even though a metal fill is performed by using a dummy pattern forming rule stored in an existing library, implementing the desired metal density is difficult or impossible. If the desired metal density is not implemented, in the worst case, there may be a requirement to again design a layout, thereby causing an increase in costs and time for development. Therefore, there is a desire for a method of implementing an effective metal fill by using the layout design tool.

Method for layout design and semiconductor device manufactured based on the same


The invention relates to a riser pipe installation that comprises a flexible duct of the non-bound type, the duct being vertically arranged between a mechanical connection with a submerged buoy at the stub on the one hand, and a mechanical connection with the seabed at the bottom on the other hand, wherein fluid connections are provided at the stub and at the bottom for connecting the riser pipe with surface equipment on the one hand and bottom equipment on the other hand; the bottom of the pipe is located at a depth of at least 1000 m where it is submitted to a computable maximum reverse bottom effect F, while the buoy is oversized in order to generate at the bottom of the riser pipe a reaction tension T higher than at least 50% or even 100% of the computable maximum reverse bottom effect F applied at the bottom of the pipe.

The present invention relates to a flexible riser installation for conveying hydrocarbons or other fluids under pressure and to a method of creating such an installation.
Flexible pipes for conveying hydrocarbons, as opposed to rigid pipes, are already well known and generally comprise, from the inside of the pipe outward, a metal carcass, to react the radial crushing forces, covered by an internal sealing sheath made of polymer, a pressure vault to withstand the internal pressure of the hydrocarbon, tensile armor layers to react axial tensile forces and a polymer external sheath to protect the entire pipe and in particular to prevent seawater from penetrating its thickness. The metal carcass and the pressure vault are made up of longitudinal elements wound with a short pitch, and give the pipe its ability to withstand radial force while the tensile armor layers consist of generally metal wires wound at long pitches in order to resist axial forces. It should be noted that in the present application, the idea of winding at a short pitch denotes any helical winding at a helix angle close to 90°, typically comprised between 75° and 90°. The idea of winding at a long pitch for its part covers helix angles of below 55°, typically comprised between 25° and 55° for the tensile armor layers.
These pipes are intended to convey hydrocarbons, particularly on the seabed, and to do so at deep depths. More specifically, they are said to be of the unbonded type and are thus described in the standards published by the American Petroleum Institute (API), API 17J and API RP 17B.
When a pipe, regardless of its structure, is subjected to an external pressure that is higher than the internal pressure, compressive forces directed parallel to the axis of the pipe and which tend to shorten the length of the pipe occur in the pipe wall. This phenomenon bears the name of reverse end cap effect. The intensity of the axial compressive forces is substantially proportional to the difference between the external pressure and the internal pressure. This intensity may reach very high levels in the case of a flexible pipe submerged at a great depth, because the internal pressure can, under certain conditions, be very much lower than the hydrostatic pressure.
In the case of a flexible pipe of conventional structure, for example one in accordance with the API standards, the reverse end cap effect has a tendency of introducing a longitudinal compressive force into the wires that make up the tensile armor layers, and to shorten the length of the flexible pipe. In addition, the flexible pipe is also subjected to dynamic bending stresses, particularly when it is being installed or when it is in service in the case of a riser, that is to say a pipe that makes the connection between a service installation at sea level or thereabouts, and an installation at the bottom of the sea. All of these stresses may cause the wires of the tensile armor layer to buckle and may irreversibly disorganize the tensile armor layers, thus destroying the flexible pipe.
Structural improvements to flexible pipes in order to increase the axial compressive strength of the armor layers have therefore been sought.
Thus, document WO 03/083343 describes such a solution which consists in winding around the tensile armor layers reinforced tapes, for example made with aramid fibers. This then limits and controls the expansion of the tensile armor layers. However, while this solution does solve the problems associated with the radial buckling of the wires that make up the tensile armor layers, it is capable only of limiting the risk of lateral buckling of said wires, which still remains.
Document WO 2006/042939 describes a solution which consists in using wires that have a high width-to-thickness ratio and in reducing the total number of wires that make up each tensile armor layer. However, while this solution reduces the risk of lateral buckling of the tensile armor layers, it does not completely eliminate it.
Application FR 06 07421 in the name of the Assignee hereof discloses a solution that involves adding to the inside of the structure of the flexible pipe a tubular axial-blocking layer. This layer is designed to react the axial compressive forces and to limit the shortening of the pipe, making it possible to avoid damaging the tensile armor layers.
These solutions are effective but have a certain number of constraints, particularly financial ones, which have led to a desire for alternative solutions, at least for specific cases, particularly for the specific case of risers.
There are various different configurations of flexible riser. The most widespread configurations are depicted in FIG. 4 of the standard "API RP 17B; Recommended Practice for Flexible Pipes; Third Edition; March 2002". These are known to those skilled in the art by the names of "Free Hanging", "Steep S", "Lazy S", "Steep Wave" and "Lazy Wave". Another configuration, known by the name of "Pliant Wave®" is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,906,137.
In the "Steep S", "Lazy S", "Steep Wave", "Lazy Wave" and "Pliant Wave®" configurations, the flexible riser is supported, at a depth somewhere between the bottom and the surface, by one or more positive-buoyancy members, of the underwater buoy or arch type. This gives the flexible riser an S-shaped or wave-shaped geometry, allowing it to tolerate the vertical movements of the surface installation without introducing excessive curvature into said pipe, particularly in the region situated near to the seabed, as such excessive curvature is liable incidentally to damage said pipe. These configurations are generally reserved for dynamic applications at a depth of less than 500 m.
In the "Free Hanging" configuration the flexible riser is arranged as a catenary between the seabed and the surface installation. This configuration has the advantage of simplicity but the disadvantage of being ill-suited to dynamic applications at small depths because of the excessive variations in curvature that may be generated near the seabed. However, this configuration is commonly used for very deep applications, that is to say applications at depths in excess of 1000 m, or even 1500 m. This is because under such conditions, the relative amplitude of the movements of the floating support, particularly the vertical movements associated with the swell, remains very much smaller than the length of the catenary, thus limiting the amplitude of the variations in curvature near the seabed and making it possible to keep control over the risk of pipe fatigue and of lateral buckling of the tensile armor layers. However, in order to guarantee that the flexible pipe is able to withstand the reverse end cap effect, which at great depths may reach very high levels, the structure of the pipe has to be engineered according to the aforementioned known techniques, thus leading to solutions that are complex and expensive.
Also known are hybrid risers that use both rigid pipes and flexible pipes. Thus, documents FR 2 507 672, FR 2 809 136, FR 2 876 142, GB 2 346 188, WO 00/49267, WO 02/053869, WO 02/063128, WO 02/066786 and WO 02/103153 disclose a riser of the hybrid tower type. One or more rigid pipes rise up along a substantially vertical tower from the seabed up to a depth close to the surface, above which depth one or more flexible pipes provide the connection between the top of the tower and the floating support. The tower is equipped with buoyancy means to ensure that it remains in a vertical position. These hybrid towers are chiefly used for applications at very great depths. They have the disadvantage of being difficult to install. In particular, installing the rigid portion at sea generally requires very powerful lifting gear.
However, hitherto, no riser installation made as a flexible pipe standing vertically and able effectively to withstand the reverse end cap effect in uses in deep seas (that is to say typically at depths in excess of 1000 m, or even 1500 or 2000 m) without recourse to expensive structural modifications to the pipe was known. At such great depths, the end cap effect has a very large amplitude because of the magnitude of the hydrostatic pressure. When, in an installation for conveying hydrocarbons, particularly in gaseous form, production is halted, for example by closing a valve, the internal pressure inside the pipe may drop and the difference between the high external hydrostatic pressure and the low or zero internal pressure may become considerable. It is conditions such as these that give rise to the reverse end cap effect. If it is desired that a flexible pipe be used in a conventional riser installation, then it is obligatory to adapt the structure of the pipe so that it can withstand the reverse end cap effect at the foot of the riser, which means engineering the pipe reinforcing layers accordingly, the foot of the riser being the determining part, which leads to the remainder of the pipe being overengineered and therefore leads to additional cost.

Flexible riser pipe installation for conveying hydrocarbons


A method and device make it possible to show information interactively on a user terminal of an image display system, without requiring additional bandwidth for transmitting feedback information. The image display system includes an image source device and a user terminal connected to each other via a link. An input image signal and user command are received and, based on these, a further image signal representing an image part is generated. A compressed image signal is formed from the input image signal and an imposed image part. The compressed image signal is transmitted to the user terminal via the link where decompression occurs.

The invention relates to a method of operating an interactive image display system. The invention also relates to an image source device for implementing such a method.
1. Field of the Invention
From the JPEG and MPEG standards (see e.g. communications of the ACM, april 1991 Vol. 34 no. 4 pages 31-44 and pages 47-58) it is known to compress images. These standards make it possible to reduce the amount of memory used to store images, for example in a video recorder or on an optical disk. After reading the image signal from the memory, it can be transmitted in its compressed form to a remote location. This occurs for example when a remotely located server providing video on demand serves to a user terminal such as a television set, possibly with a set-top box. In the user terminal the compressed signal is decompressed and displayed. The use of compression reduces the bandwidth required for transmission via the link between the image source device and the user terminal.
User terminals can be provided with a user control input, for example a handheld remote control unit, for entering user commands for controlling the functioning of the image source. Controlling the functioning may involve for example selection of sound volume, selection from a number alternative images or image sequences, selection from alternative language channels, controlling fast forward operation of a videorecorder etcetera.
The image display system can assist the user by providing information about available commands. The content of this information may be adapted after a command is actually entered, to show its effect and/or subsequently assailable commands. As this information depends on user actions, it is interactive. This information is generated by the image source device and is transmitted to the user terminal.
The MPEG standard provides private data streams which allow such information to be transmitted together with the compressed signal. This has the disadvantage that additional transmission bandwidth is needed for transmitting information about the commands.
2. Description of the Related Art
It has been known to provide the user terminal with means for overlaying on-screen display information over the image received from the image source device. This encompasses for example showing a bar representing the selected volume, showing menus of possible channel selections in which the actually selected item is highlighted, or showing images from the selected channel as a small xe2x80x9cpicture-in-picturexe2x80x9d inside a currently displayed image.
Another application of interactive on-screen display is in games in which a user command dependent foreground item, such as an image of a puppet controlled by the user is super-imposed on a user-independent background such as a landscape through which the puppet is moved under control of the user commands.
It is an object of the invention to provide for a method and device which makes it possible to show information interactively on a user terminal of an image display system, without requiring additional bandwidth for transmitting feedback information.
The invention provides for a method of operating an interactive image display system, wherein the image display system comprises an image source device and a user terminal connected to each other via a link, the user terminal having a user control input, the method including the steps of
receiving an input image signal representing an input image,
receiving a user command from the user control input,
generating a further image signal, dependent on the user commands the further image signal representing an image part,
forming a compressed image signal representing an output image corresponding to the input image with the image part superimposed thereon in the image source device,
transmitting the compressed image signal from the image source device to the user terminal via the link, for decompression of the compressed image signal and subsequent display of the output image, both at the user terminal. Thus interactive information is superimposed on the image at the side of the image source device and transmitted to the user terminal as one image, comprising both the original input image and the overlayed parts. Hence, on the whole no more bandwidth is required than for transmitting the input image. The method is particularly useful for image source devices that are located remotely from the user terminal, and that serve a plurality of user terminals with input image signals from a common source such as a magnetic disk, and that individualize the compressed images transmitted to individual user terminals by overlaying user terminal specific image parts.
In an embodiment of the method according to the invention in said receiving step, the input image signal is received in compressed form and further comprising the step of converting the input image signal into an at most partially decompressed input image signal. The forming step includes forming the compressed image signal by combining the at most partially decompressed input image signal and further image signal, whereby a required amount of computation for forming the compressed image signal from the input image signal is less than a further amount of computation that would be required for forming the compressed image signal from an uncompressed representation of the output image.
An additional advantage is that there are no jitter problems in positioning the image parts relative to the input image, such as occur in systems where the image parts are added to an input signal that is received as an analogue signal containing sync information.
It is to be noted that the operation of superimposing image parts on a compressed image without fully decompressing it is known per se, from a publication by B. C. Smith and L. A. Rowe, titled xe2x80x9cAlgorithms for Manipulating Compressed Imagesxe2x80x9d in IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications (September 1993) pages 34-42, which is included by reference.
In a further embodiment of the method according to the invention the compressed image signal formed in said forming step contains a collection of compressed output blocks, each compressed output block representing a respective subimage of the output image, the collection including first compressed output blocks and at least one second compressed output block. The first compressed output blocks are copied identically from corresponding compressed input blocks from the at most partially decompressed input image signal, the at least one second compressed output block being formed in dependence on the further image signal. Thus the work required for forming the compressed image is limited because only the affected blocks need to be decoded and encoded in anyway at all; the other blocks remain unaffected. Preferably, the blocks are encoded using a Digital Cosine Transform (DCT) as in the MPEG and JPEG standards.
In an embodiment of the method according to the invention the image part is a graphical symbol, with a shape selected according to the user commands.
In a further embodiment of the invention said generating step includes selecting the compressed representation of the graphical symbol from among a set of compressed representations of alternative graphical symbols. Thus most of the computational work for forming the compressed image can be done prior to receiving the user commands. Reaction to the user commands can therefore be faster.
In a further embodiment of the invention the method further includes setting a selectable parameter pertaining to the input image, such as selection rum a number of alternative images, alternative language channels, brightness values, contrast values or sound volume values in dependence of the user command.
In an embodiment of the invention the generating step includes receiving a source image signal, the further image signal being generated by downsizing the further image. This is particularly useful for generating a picture in picture (PIP) display, showing one video channel as a relatively small window inside another video signal. The computational effort required for generating the downsized image in compressed form is less than required for compressing a full image.
The invention also provides for an image source device, having
an image input for receiving an input image signal representing an input image,
a command input for receiving user commands,
generating means for generating a further image signal, dependent on the user command
superimposing means for forming a compressed image signal representing the image with the image part superimposed thereon,
an external output, and
transmitting means, for transmitting the compressed image signal via the external output. This device implements the method.
The image source device can be used remotely, but also locally, being for example a videorecorder or a tuner that is connected only to one user terminal, for example a television monitor. In a system with more than one source device (video recorder, tuner etcetera), on screen display from each of the source devices can be transmitted to the user terminal (the monitor), without requiring extra bandwidth, and without decompression means capable of decompressing full images real time in all image source devices (tuner, video recorder etcetera). Only one such means is needed, in the user terminal (the monitor).

Method of operating an interactive image display system and image source device for implementing the method


There is provided an ophthalmology information processing apparatus that allows to easily grasp a change in each part in continuously captured ophthalmology images. The ophthalmology information processing apparatus reads out a plurality of continuous captured images stored in a storage unit. An image analysis unit aligns the captured images. The ophthalmology information processing apparatus calculates the variation and position information of the pixel information of each pixel between the captured images based on the alignment information. An image generation unit generates a three-dimensional image which is displayed on a display unit simultaneously with the captured images.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ophthalmology information processing apparatus for processing an ophthalmology image captured by an ophthalmographic apparatus and a method of controlling the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
As an ophthalmographic apparatus, a fundus camera for capturing an image of the fundus of an eye to be examined is widely known. As the fundus camera, an apparatus that has a plurality of imaging modes such as color imaging, FAG (Fluorescent AngioGraphy), and ICG (IndoCyanin Green) angiography to perform imaging suitable for the examination purpose is known.
Fluorescent imaging such as FAG or ICG angiography is used to inspect the blood circulation state in the fundus blood vessels and find a morbid portion of the fundus by observing fluorescence leakage or hypofluorescence.
As an effective diagnostic method in the fluorescent imaging, fundus images after intravenous injection of a fluorescent agent are recorded as a moving image, and interpretation is done based on the recorded moving image.
Recently, widespread digital image filing systems allow to easily display captured images stored in a computer or a database. There also exist an apparatus for highlighting a designated portion of a captured image by image processing and an apparatus for displaying a three-dimensional image based on the luminance (light intensity) distribution information of the pixels of each captured image (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 2003-190096 and 2007-029460). Another system compares captured images during follow-up and displays change information concerning the images (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-022506).
However, when observing a change in images obtained at a short time interval by, for example, moving image capturing, it is difficult to grasp the changing portion because the variation is very small in the three-dimensional display based on the absolute values of luminances. In addition, it is difficult to visually grasp a small change when the variation in the changing portion is represented by a color distribution on a plane.

Ophthalmology information processing apparatus and method of controlling the same


An approach for determining similar text documents. The approach can calculate a first set of vectors for a first cluster of text documents and a first comparison vector for a text document of interest. The approach can select a subset of text documents from the cluster of text documents based on comparing the vectors from the first set of vectors to the first comparison vector and picking a predetermined number of closest comparison text documents. The approach can calculate a second set of vectors for the subset of documents and second comparison vector for the document of interest. The approach can generate similarity ratings for the subset of documents based on pairwise comparisons of the second comparison vector and the second set of vectors. The approach can generate a ranked list of the second cluster of text documents based on the similarity ratings.

Text similarity searches are a common and useful tool in many domains for identifying similar texts within a corpus of documents. The theory of text similarity in documents can be applied to any text document-based information. In particular, this functionality is especially useful in identifying duplicate document or similar defect reports during quality assurance testing.
A pairwise comparison of two texts is often useful when trying to determine similarity but attempting to execute a pairwise comparison over all possible pairs in a set of text documents is a resource intensive task, and not feasible in a real-world scenario. Limiting the pairwise comparison to a subset of the whole dataset would be computationally easier, but determining the appropriate subset is difficult and introduces risk. For instance, the risk of excluding what may be the desired best matching document from the subset. Merely filtering to a cluster from the overall set would yield a result that is too generic and encompasses too many documents.

Hybrid clustering and pairwise comparison document matching

International Business Machines Corporation


A image guided motion scaled surgical robotic system (160) employs a surgical robotic arm (168) and an image guided motion scaled surgical controller (162). In operation, responsive to an input signal indicative of a user defined motion of the surgical robotic arm (168) within an anatomical region, the image guided motion scaled surgical controller (162) controls an actuated motion of the surgical robotic arm (168) within the anatomical region based on a map (164) of a motion scale delineated within an imaging of the anatomical region.

Surgical robotic systems today are controlled from a surgeon console. More particularly, an operator moves handles on the console whereby a signal from the handles is interpreted and translated into the motion of a surgical robotic arm. This motion may be scaled so that a motion of a robot end-effector is smaller or larger than the motion of the handles or operator's hands. Currently, the scaling factor is defined by the surgical robotic system or by the operator of the system. For example, the operator may define the scaling factor as 5:1, which means a motion defined by the handles of the surgeon console is reduced 5× for the corresponding motion of the robot end-effector.
The scaling factor facilitates an improvement in a precision of a surgical robotic procedure by allowing console operators to perform very delicate procedures (e.g., suturing a small vessel) with large handle motion that is more intuitive and by scaling down any operator tremor applied to the handles.
Historically, the scaling factor may be effectuated via a voice recognition system, control buttons or the like, and may be set differently for different surgical robotic arms and along different directions. Nonetheless, a setting of a scaling factor is subjective and it is fixed until the console operator decides to modify the scaling factor. Additionally, the current subjective setting of a scaling factor fails to effectively account for the surgical environment and is therefore independent of a proximity of a robotic end-effector to critical structures or tissue or to other robotic arms.
Furthermore, one issue is a constant scaling factor may lead to surgical complications. For example, if the scaling factor is set to amplify a motion of a robotic arm and a console operator gets close to a forbidden zone of an anatomical region, then a reaction time of the console operator may not be sufficient to stop or slow down the approach of the surgical robotic arm to the forbidden zone, which may lead to injury. Also, in some cases, another issue is a surgical task may require fine motion in one area of the anatomical region and fast motion in another area of the anatomical region. For example, if tissue is to be removed (e.g., resection of a tumor or milling of bone), then a fast, large motion may be desirable in free space of the anatomical region while a fine or slow motion might be required close to the tissue boundaries. Clearly, frequent changes of the scaling factor by the console operator to address these issues may distract from the surgical robotic task.

Image guided motion scaling for robot control


An antenna device includes a core portion made of magnetic material, a wire coiled around the core portion leaving a leading end portion by a predetermined length, a case holding the core portion on which the wire is coiled and fixed on a body of a vehicle, and an elastic member provided between the core portion and the case for holding the core portion relative to the case.

An antenna which establishes communication between an electronic key which an owner of a vehicle carries and a vehicle is provided on a smart entry system. A known antenna is described in JP2001-345615A.
The known antenna includes a ferrite member and an electric conductive wire. The antenna is made by coiling an electric conductive wire around a ferrite member, and is housed in a case which is made of resin. Potting material (i.e., resin) is injected into the case in order to hold the antenna and to waterproof the antenna.
Generally, ferrite includes low mechanical intensity and is likely to break. Accordingly, the antenna made of ferrite is required to be provided with resistance to vibration and resistance to impact by another means. Further, with an antenna including a core portion made of magnetic material other than ferrite, it is also favorable that the antenna is provided with resistance to vibration and resistance to impact considering that the antenna is mounted on a vehicle. With the known antenna described in JP2001-345615A, the ferrite member is protected from oscillation and impact by means of potting material injected into the case.
Notwithstanding, potting material requires cure time. In other words, a waiting time during which operation is not conducted is generated until the potting material is cured in a series of assembling operation from inserting the antenna in the case to holding the antenna in the case. Thus, in terms of a view for productivity (i.e., ease of assembly), there is room for improvement.
A need thus exists for an antenna device which can reduce man-hour for assembling an antenna.