A curbside mailbox wherein the outgoing mail compartment is located under the incoming mail compartment behind a single carrier service door. The incoming mail, when inserted, drops behind the outgoing mail compartment and falls into a deep mail storage area, to be retrieved by the owner through a locking rear access door. The rear access door retains a mechanical key lock and acts like a hasp fitting over a flange that is built into a upper rear wall. This feature allows the owner to double lock for added security or single lock placing a combination lock on the flange if the owner desires not to carry a key or give access to key for someone authorized to remove mail. The locking mailbox further includes a channel on top for a highly visible address display, a mounting channel on lower front to allow for quick and easy engagement, and a post cover assembly for safe and attractive installation.

Research and development of the present invention and application have not been Federally sponsored, and no rights are given under any Federal program.
Not Applicable
1. Field of Invention
The present invention pertains to mailboxes and their support post, and more particularly to full service, locking curbside mailboxes that comply with U.S. postal regulations and are theft and weather resistant, have a highly visible identification means, are attractive and safe, and are easy to install.
2. Description of Prior Art
Many people take mailboxes for granted. Mailboxes have become virtually invisible to most people. The reason being, the majority of curbside mailboxes are usually ugly breadbox shaped containers held up on a wooden post or metal stake. People have few alternatives to depend upon to hold the valuable information that mail often contains about their personal lives. This personal, and most times, confidential information is accessible to any unauthorized person who merely opens the mailbox door. Due to the increase of mail being stolen from mailboxes, identity theft has escalated to the extent that it is being called the crime of the 21st century. Resulting from the growing occurence of mail theft, the U.S. Postal Service has introduced a new locked mailbox classification that will provide customers with an option to purchase mailboxes that offer increased security for their mail. Many people are concerned with mail theft but may not be handy or just don""t have the time to replace their mailbox. The U.S. Postal Service has standards for curbside mailboxes, but it does not regulate the design of mounting accessories for mailboxes. The Postal Operations Manual states that a mailbox shall be provided with a means for convenient and locked mounting that meets all applicable requirements set forth in the Postal Operations Manual. It also states that the installation and construction of curbside mailboxes shall conform to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Postal Service as well as standards established by the Highway Department""s Task Force of Highway Safety.
Prior art locking type mailboxes are known in which the body of the mailbox has an elongated receiving neck leading to a lower storage chamber. The length or angle of the mailbox or a blocking element inside the body of the mailbox serve to prevent any unauthorized person from removing the mail by trying to reach into the lower storage chamber. Prior art locking type mailboxes are also known to have a lockable door on the lower storage chamber that is located on the front, back, or side of the body of the mailbox. Examples of such known prior art devices are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. Des. 354,610 to Hassan, U.S. Pat. No. 4,724,999 to Fitzgerald, U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,378 to Dorr, U.S. Pat. No. 5,148,974 to Clopper, U.S. Pat. No. 6,109,519 to McClure, U.S. Pat. No. 6,234,388 to Taylor, U.S. Pat. No. 6,244,505 to Grimes, U.S. Pat. No. 5,938,113 to Kim, U.S. Pat. No. 5,526,979 to Mann, U.S. Pat. No. 5,992,736 to Parker, U.S. Pat. No. 5,435,484 to Carlson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,400,960 to Jeffs, U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,115 to Hassan, U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,132 to Bachmeier, U.S. Pat. No. 5,617,993 to Morris, U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,883 to Pachl, U.S. Pat. No. 4,993,626 to Berry, U.S. Pat. No. 4,905,891 to Wildish, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,880,344 to Earle.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a Postmaster General approved locking mailbox and means of installation which has many of the advantages of the prior art mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new locking mailbox which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the known prior art mailboxes either alone or in any combination thereof. None of the known prior art provides a highly visible and uniform address channel; a unique rear access door that acts as a hasp, has a built in mechanical key lock and can accommodate an additional lock on a flange for added security or convenience; is provided with an attractive, convenient, safe, and easy means of installation; and is a theft and weather resistant locking mailbox that is safe to use while complying with U.S. postal regulations and the Highway Department""s Task Force for Highway Safety. Thus, the need exists for an improved, aesthetically pleasing, safe and simple to install and use, locked, weather and theft resistant mailbox, that allows for highly visible identification and mail storage, and is approved by the Postmaster General.
Accordingly, besides the objects and advantages of the locking mailbox described in our above patent, several objects and advantages of the present invention are:
(a) to provide an improved full service locking mailbox that has incoming and outgoing mail compartments that are weather and theft resistant located behind a single carrier access door;
(b) to provide an attractive, uniform, and highly visible means of displaying an address not only for delivery personal but also for Emergency Services;
(c) to provide a lockable mail access door on the back side of the mailbox so a person authorized to retrieve mail does not have to enter a street or roadway in front of the mailbox and expose themselves to danger or create a safety hazard;
(d) to provide a mailbox that is deep enough so an unauthorized person cannot reach down to remove mail, and has a large enough storage area that can hold mail for a period of time while the owner is away;
(e) to provide a full service locking mailbox that has all the standards required by the U.S. Postal Service and thus can be approved by the Postmaster General;
(f) to provide a safe, attractive, simple in design and operation, inexpensive to manufacture, and structurally stable locking mailbox;
(g) to provide an optional means of locking the rear mail access door; and
(h) to provide an easy, safe, and attractive means of installation that is approved and recommended by the Highway""s Task Force for Highway Safety.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.
The present invention provides a full service locking mailbox that is safe, weather and theft resistant, has a highly visible address display channel, a unique rear access door, and a post cover assembly for attractive, quick, safe, and easy installation. The locking mailbox and post cover assembly are preferably constructed of a type of plastic material. The material""s thickness, form, and mechanical properties will more than adequately meet the operational, structural, and performance requirements set forth by postal regulations. The material the locking mailbox is constructed of will not be toxic, flammable, transparent, or hazardous in any way. The body of the full service locking mailbox is a vertically extended rectangular housing leading to a lower mail storage area. The shape of the body of the locking mailbox is deep enough for mail to drop to the bottom so that an unauthorized person cannot remove it. The top of the locking mailbox extends slightly beyond the carrier service door in the front. In the back the top slopes and extends slightly beyond the rear access door creating overhangs that act as barriers for moisture from entering the locking mailbox.
Mailboxes are not only used for incoming mail delivery and outgoing mail pickup, but also as a means for identification. Should street names and numbers be assigned by local authorities, a postmaster authorizes their use as a postal address. The number is then used as a means of identifying a location, usually a residence or business. This number according to postal regulations must be inscribed in a contrasting color and in legible numerals at least one inch high on the side of the mailbox that is visible to the carriers approach. Emergency Services require three inch numbers to allow for easy identification of a location. The top of the body of the locking mailbox includes a dovetail channel that is designed to hold highly visible address numbers that are affixed to plates that slide into the channel so that delivery and especially emergency personnel may quickly and easily locate a residence. The address plates with numbers affixed to both sides are highly visible by all approaches. A carrier signal flag, used to indicate to the carrier that outgoing mail is present, is made of a plastic material having no sharp edges and having a minimum visible area of 4 square inches when engaged. It is mounted on the right side of the mailbox when facing it from the front, as required by postal regulations.
Both the incoming and outgoing mail compartments are located behind a single carrier service door in the forwardly extended top part of the body of the locking mailbox. The single carrier service door provides access for incoming mail delivery and outgoing mail collection. The carrier service door has an easy-to-grip handle located within the top third of the door and operates freely and solely by pulling outward and downward. The door and the opening for the door have a built-in seal that provides protection against wind, rain, sleet, and snow. The carrier service door is held closed by a means such as a magnet. The carrier service door, when open, swings further than 180 degrees but will come to rest no further than 180 degrees, as required by postal regulations. The carrier service door has no protrusions other than a handle and magnet. Neither of these will interfere with delivery nor present a safety hazard. On its exterior, the carrier service door will have permanent markings that read US MAIL and APPROVED BY THE POSTMASTER GENERAL as required by postal regulations.
The outgoing mail compartment is located under the incoming mail compartment. The incoming mail, when inserted, drops behind the outgoing mail compartment and falls to the bottom of the vertically extended rectangular body into the storage area. The incoming mail can be retrieved by an authorized person through a lower lockable rear access door. The locking rear access door is located in back of the mailbox in order for an authorized person to remove mail away from any passing traffic so as not to expose themselves to danger or create a safety hazard. The entire bottom area of both the incoming and outgoing mail compartments where the mail rests is fabricated to prevent mail from being damaged due to compensation or moisture. The resulting surface area that touches the mail does not exceed 0.25 square inch per dimple or impression and is a minimum of 0.12 inches high on centers not exceeding one inch, as required by postal regulations. The upper back wall terminates a short distance below the slanted top of the locking mailbox body to allow for an opening to access mail. The upper back wall performs the function of stopping the rear access door and retaining a flange for the rear access door to fit over. The locking rear access door of the locking mailbox is designed for an authorized person, not the mail carrier, to access delivered mail. The rear access door does not interfere with the normal delivery and collection of mail by the carrier, and is not susceptible to being forced open by large items inserted through the carrier service door. The locking rear access door has the same type of built-in seal as the carrier service door has to provide protection against harsh weather. The rear access door is held closed by a built-in mechanical key lock. An easy-to-grip handle is located on the rear access door so that it may be pulled open with little force. A small opening near the mid top of the rear access door fits over a flange that is part of the upper back wall of the locking mailbox. The opening fits over the flange and allows the rear access door to act as a hasp that can hold an optional padlock or combination lock. This construction allows for added security or convenience. The rear access door can be double locked for added protection of mail, or single locked using a combination lock on the flange if the owner desires not to carry a key or give access to key for someone authorized to remove mail.
A post cover assembly in accordance with the present invention includes a telescoping post cover preferably made of the same material as the locking mailbox. The Highway Department""s Task Force for Highway Safety states that the ideal support is an assembly which, when struck, will bend or fall away from the striking vehicle instead of severely damaging the vehicle and injuring its occupants. Supports that bend are most desirable although 100 mmxc3x97100 mm wood post may be used. Mailboxes should be properly attached so as not to become missiles if impacted. The design of mailboxes and their support have a direct correlation to the damage and injury caused by a vehicle""s impact. The telescoping post cover assembly is made to slide over a wooden post and/or a metal ground engaging stake and adjusts to the height needed for proper installation as set forth by postal regulations and the Highway Departments Task Force for Highway Safety. The post cover assembly has a raised ridge running longitudinally along opposite sides of the telescoping body. This raised ridge allows the telescoping post cover to slide into or out of itself and contributes to the initial positioning of the mailbox. The locking mailbox has a mounting channel located under the carrier service door that extends vertically to the bottom of its body. A recessed groove runs vertically along opposite sides of the mounting channel. The locking mailbox is engaged to the post cover assembly by the raised ridge in the post cover sliding into the recessed grove in the mounting channel. Fastening means such as screws can be inserted to penetrate the post cover, the wooden post and/or the ground engaging stake through an open rear access door allowing for easy, inconspicuous and secure mounting. An alternate method of installation provides a means of attaching the locking mailbox to a multiple mailbox support by means of inserting a fastening means such as screws to penetrate through the multiple support and into the bottom of the outgoing mail compartment.


An EEPROM memory cell comprising a transistor on a first conductivity type semiconductor substrate and a capacitor formed on a second conductivity type semiconductor substrate. The capacitor comprises first and second injector regions of third conductivity type, a channel region of second conductivity type separating the first and second injector regions and a first electrically floating structure disposed above the channel region, wherein a first edge portion of the floating structure overlaps a portion of the first injector region and a second edge portion of the first floating structure overlaps a portion of the second injector region, and a control gate region of fourth conductivity type located within the second conductivity type semiconductor substrate region. The gate structure and first floating structure are electrically connected together. In different aspects of the present invention, the EEPROM memory cell may also include a second capacitor.

This invention relates to semiconductor devices such as Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM) devices. More particularly, it is concerned with Flash EEPROM devices comprising memory cells capable of operating at low voltages and being manufactured using conventional Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) processes.
Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC) lie at the heart of most electrical systems and devices. An ASIC contains the specific functionality of the device or system on a single Integrated Circuit (IC) or Chip. Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) process are used in the fabrication of ASICs and the manufacture of various discrete IC devices used in electrical systems and products. In many instances, when power is first applied to an electrical system or device, the existing ASICs and/or CMOS ICs within these devices or systems may require reconfiguration or programming. Microprocessor based systems are a good example of applications requiring programming and initialization when power is first applied to the device.
Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM) devices provide a means for storing reconfiguration or programming information within an electrical system or device and are comprised of an array of memory cells. Each memory cell within the EEPROM device stores a single information bit in the form of electrical charge. EEPROM memory cells may be integrated within an ASIC device or used as a discrete EEPROM device that connects to several other ICs requiring programming or reconfiguration. The EEPROM must retain stored information or code even when the system has been tuned off. For this reason they are referred to as Non Volatile Memory (NVM). The EEPROM also provides the flexibility of being electrically erasable and re-programmable, allowing programming upgrades without the need for removing the EEPROM device from the system.
Many conventional CMOS processes only require a single layer of polysilicon during fabrication. However, memory devices such as EEPROMs mostly require multiple layers of polysilicon which require several additional steps during the fabrication process. These additional steps result in increased fabrication costs, lower yields and longer processing times. Memory architectures with single polysilicon layers and requiring no process changes or additions to a baseline deep sub-micron CMOS process greatly simplify the fabrication process of CMOS devices with integrated EEPROM cells.
Single polysilicon EEPROM devices have been developed which enable device fabrication using conventional CMOS processes. However, reliability issues during memory device programming, reading and erasing operations are of concern. Subsequent program, read or erase operations on a selected memory cell or cells may cause unselected memory cells with stored electrical charge to unwantingly discharge their stored electrical charge. Alternatively, unselected memory cells with no stored electrical charge may become electrically charged. As a result of these operations, disturbance mechanisms such as program disturb, gate program, and gate erase, may affect data integrity. Consequently, the architecture of the memory cell within a given single polysilicon EEPROM device must ensure reliability, by reducing these disturbance mechanisms during device program, read or erase operations.
Some single polysilicon EEPROM devices require relatively high voltages for reliable memory cell programming or erasing. High voltage program and erase signals introduce the need for memory cells with oxide insulation regions with increased thickness and external power supply bias voltages capable of supplying sufficient programming and erase currents. The increase in the oxide insulation region thickness consumes additional die area, while the use of external power supply bias voltages introduces additional external circuitry, complexity in and power consumption. Therefore, it is desirable to fabricate a charge-transfer voltage pump device within the EEPROM device (on chip), wherein the charge-transfer pump device generates the necessary program and erase voltages. However, there is a limit to the current that can be supplied to the EEPROM memory cells by the on chip charge-transfer voltage pump, and insufficient xe2x80x9cprogrammingxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cerasexe2x80x9d current will decrease the program/erase window of the memory cells for storing charge or significantly increase the required program and erase times.
Accordingly, there is a need for single polysilicon EEPROM memory devices that operate at low erase and program voltages and currents. Furthermore, it is desirable that the memory cells do not suffer from various disturbances during the program, read and erase operations.
The present invention relates to single layer polysilicon memory devices, which may be fabricated using CMOS processes. In one aspect this invention relates to an EEPROM memory cell comprising a transistor device and capacitive device. The transistor device is formed on a first conductivity type semiconductor substrate wherein the transistor comprises an electrically floating gate structure, a source region within a graded diffusion region, and a drain region.
The capacitive device is formed on a second conductivity type semiconductor substrate and comprises a first and second injector region of third conductivity type, a channel region of second conductivity type separating the first and second injector regions, and a first electrically floating structure disposed above the channel region. A first edge portion of said floating structure overlaps a portion of the first injector region and a second edge portion of the first floating structure overlaps a portion of said second injector region. A control gate region of fourth conductivity type is located within the second conductivity type semiconductor substrate and the gate structure and said first floating structure are electrically connected together. The EEPROM memory cell comprising the transistor device and first capacitive device is capable of receiving bias voltages for electrically programming, electrically erasing and electrically reading the memory cell.
In another aspect of the present invention an EEPROM memory cell comprises a transistor device, a first capacitive device and second capacitive device. The transistor device is formed on a first conductivity type semiconductor substrate and comprises an electrically floating gate structure, a source region of second conductivity type either within or not within a graded diffusion region and a drain region of second conductivity type.
The first capacitive device is formed on a second semiconductor substrate of second conductivity type and comprises first and second injector regions of third conductivity type, wherein a first channel region of second conductivity type separates the first and second injector regions. A first electrically floating structure is disposed above the first channel region, wherein a first edge portion of the first floating structure overlaps a portion of the first injector region and a second edge portion of the first floating structure overlaps a portion of said second injector region. A first control gate region of fourth conductivity type is located within the second semiconductor substrate.
The second capacitive device is formed on a third semiconductor substrate region of second conductivity type, wherein the second capacitive device comprises a third and fourth injector regions of third conductivity type, a second channel region of the second conductivity type separating the third and fourth injector regions, and a second electrically floating structure disposed above the second channel region. A first edge portion of the second floating structure overlaps a portion of the third injector region and a second edge portion of the second structure overlaps a portion of the fourth injector region, and a second control gate region of fourth conductivity type is located within the third semiconductor substrate. The gate structure and the first and second structures are electrically connected together.
The EEPROM memory cell comprising the transistor device, first capacitive device and second capacitive device is capable of receiving bias voltages for electrically programming, electrically erasing and electrically reading the memory cell.
It will also be appreciated that in different aspects of the present invention, EEPROM memory cells comprising a transistor device, first capacitive device or first and second capacitive device may incorporate different structural variations.

Low voltage single poly deep sub-micron flash EEPROM


Computer-readable media, methods, and apparatuses are disclosed for voucher management for attraction access. The computer-readable medium includes instructions stored thereon, which when executed on a processor, perform steps of receiving, from an attraction verification terminal for an attraction site, an access request for a customer presenting an access identifier. The instructions are also configured to retrieve, from a voucher engine, an attraction voucher based on the access identifier, and determine whether the attraction voucher has previously been validated. The instructions are also configured to construct access privilege data based on the attraction voucher. Upon a positive determination of a validation flag for the access privilege data, the instructions are also configured to construct and transmit, to the attraction verification terminal, a virtual access token permitting the access request for the customer to access the attraction site.

Customers are accustomed to purchasing vouchers or passes, such as conventional paper tickets or electronic wristbands, to allow access to attraction sites. The customer typically purchases an electronic wristband and the attraction site includes a scanner that scans the electronic wristband. The wristband may allow access to one or more attraction sites, either immediately when the customer first visits the attraction site, or later.

Electronic voucher management for attraction access


A steering lock system includes at least an ignition switch and a locking mechanism capable of inhibiting the turning of a steering shaft. In a state in which the steering lock system is retained by a retaining means on a support table, a movable table is moved toward the support table, a turnable shaft which includes a key chuck means retaining a key at its tip end is rotatably driven by a driving means, thereby rotatably driving a rotor of the steering lock system. By examining the change in the switching mode of the ignition switch in accordance with the turning of the rotor by a switch signal checking means and examining the operational state of the locking mechanism by a locking operation examining means, the inspection can be conducted continuously and automatically on the operation of at least the ignition switch and the locking mechanism of the steering lock system. Thus, it is possible to inspect the operation of the steering lock system, while reducing the number of operating steps and the operating space.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a steering lock system inspection device for inspecting an operational state of a steering lock system which includes at least: an ignition switch which changes a switching mode in response to turning of a rotor adapted to be turned to pass sequentially through a LOCK position, an ACC position, an ON position and a START position in response to turning operation of a key inserted into a keyhole; and a locking mechanism which is switched over in response to turning of the rotor between a locking state for inhibiting turning of a steering shaft and an unlocking state for permitting the turning of the steering shaft.
2. Description of the Related Art
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2003-252173 or the like discloses a steering lock system including at least: an ignition switch which changes a switching mode in response to turning of a rotor; and a locking mechanism which is switched over between a locking state for inhibiting turning of a steering shaft and an unlocking state for permitting the turning of the steering shaft. Conventionally, the inspection of the operation of such a steering lock system after completion of the assembling thereof has been conducted by operators using jigs, respectively on operating portions of the ignition switch and the locking mechanism in separate steps.
In this conventional case where the operators conduct the inspection respectively on the plurality of the operating portions of the steering lock system, not only a large number of operating steps but also a relatively large operating space are required for the inspection.


A laser processor provided with a pulse oscillating laser light source, an exciter for exciting the laser light source on a trigger signal for pusle oscillation, a beam quality adjusting device for adjusting a beam quality as monitoring the pulse-oscillated laser light partly at least, a working apparatus for exposing or processing a workpiece by projecting the adjusted laser light thereon. The laser light from a laser light source side is intercepted by a shutter while it is not used on a sequence on a working apparatus side, thereby operating the laser light source for self-oscillation at a low frequency of 1 to 2 hz, for example; the laser light source is then operated for self-oscillation at a frequency higher than that with the shutter closed therefor when a quality abnormal signal is generated from an abnormal detector upon detection of a beam quality coming outside a standard.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a processor such as exposure device provided with a laser light source, repair device for wafer and mask using a laser beam or the like, and is particularly concerned with an exposure processor for printing a pattern formed on a mask onto a photosensitive substrate such as semiconductor wafer or the like through a projection optical system in a lithography process for production of semiconductor integrated circuits.
2. Related Background Art
A reduced projection exposure device in step-and-repeat system, or a so-called stepper functions centrally in a lithography process for the production of semiconductor integrated circuits. The stepper exposes a circuit pattern formed on a mask or reticle (hereinafter called reticle) onto a photosensitive substrate such as semiconductor wafer with a resist applied thereto or the like (hereinafter called wafer) sequentially at local domains through a reduced projection lens (hereinafter simply called projection lens). In recent years an integration of semiconductor integrated circuits has been enhanced more and more, and thus a requirement is such that the circuits will be formed in submicrons for minimum line width. Consequently, as is preferable for the lithography with a line width of submicrons, drawing the attention presently is a stepper using a laser emitted in the ultraviolet zone at high luminance and high output like KrF laser as a light source for exposure.
Meanwhile, a material usable on a projection lens with such ultraviolet zone laser whose wavelength is shorter than 365 nm (i line of Hg lamp) as an illumination light for exposure is limited to synthetic quartz, fluorite and the like. However, since a spectrum width of the laser is 0.3 to 0.4 nm or so in half-amplitude level, a chromatic abberation may result on the projection lens constructed, for example, only of a quartz lens. Consequently, an achromatic lens with glass materials combined in two kinds or more therefor will be used, however, there is a problem unavoidable in shape (size) and grinding characteristic of the crystal material such as fluorite or the like, and thus a design and manufacture of the lens are subjected considerably to limitations. Then, the projection lens may be fabricated of a single material of quartz lens instead of the aforementioned achromatic lens from using a light extremely narrow in a half-amplitude level of the spectrum width (or a light, for example, narrowed to a band 0.01 to 0.005 nm or below) as exposure light, and a difficulty in designing and producing the projection lens will be removed to a great extent.
Now, therefore, in the stepper provided with such laser, it is generally considered that an exposure of high resolution be realized by narrowing the laser wavelength to a band 0.003 to 0.005 nm through wavelength selectors such as Fabry-Perot etalon (hereinafter simply called etalon), grating and the like which are provided on the laser, and thus preventing a chromatic aberration from arising. However, the wavelength of a light oscillated from the laser fluctuates considerably large immediately after the laser starts oscillating. Further, the wavelength may fluctuate even after stabilized to a certain degree, as the wavelength selectors are subjected to an influence of mechanical vibration, temperature, atmospheric pressure and others. Accordingly, if such fluctuation of the wavelength, namely a variation of the center wavelength of a laser light to a set wavelength exceeds a predetermined tolerance (.+-.0.00l nm, for example), then since the projection lens for use on the laser has the abberation corrected only by a specific wavelength, fluctuations may arise on projection magnification, focal position, distortion and others according to the wavelength fluctuation, thus missing an exposure to be realized at high resolution. Consequently, it is important that a wavelength of the laser will be stabilized, or the center wavelength is matched with a set wavelength, and the wavelength variation is kept coming within a predetermined tolerance. Now, therefore, it is necessary that the wavelength selectors be controlled so as to stabilize the laser wavelength, thereby preventing fluctuations from arising on projection magnification, focal position, distortion and others due to the wavelength fluctuation. In case, for example, Fabry-Perot etalon is used as the wavelength selector, the etalon for wavelength selection will be inclined properly to an optical axis of the laser light through feedback control according to a variation of the laser light center wavelength to a wavelength set on a reference wavelength of mercury lamp or the like. A wavelength shift of the laser light is thus stabilized, and a reticle circuit pattern will be formed on a wafer at the best resolution characteristic at all times.
As mentioned above, in the stepper provided with this kind of laser, a stabilization of the laser light wavelength characteristic (or a stabilization of the center wavelength and wavelength width) is of importance, and a slight unstableness of the wavelength characteristic may cause fluctuations of projection magnification, focal position, distortion and others. For example, a laser light wavelength fluctuates heavily immediately after the laser recommences oscillation after shutdown for a predetermined time or longer, and hence a high precision (high resolution) of circuit pattern is not obtainable even from transferring the reticle circuit pattern onto a wafer in such state. Particularly, when the wavelength selectors are subjected to an influence of mechanical vibration and others during exposure to a wavelength fluctuation, a resist is sensitized unnecessarily as fluctuations arising on projection magnification, focal position and others due to the wavelength fluctuation, or a defective circuit pattern is printed on the wafer.
Consequently, when the stepper does not send an oscillation command (trigger signal) to a laser light source side for a predetermined period of time or over, namely, during replacement of a reticle or wafer, execution of alignment between the reticle and the wafer, the laser light source closes a shutter provided on a laser light outlet according to a command from the stepper, oscillates at a low frequency (1 to 2 Hz, for example) to a wavelength stabilization control, thereby preventing a wavelength fluctuation from arising at the time of restart of an oscillation command from the stepper (at the time of restart of exposure). An operation of the laser light source for oscillation regardless of a trigger signal from the stepper is defined as self-oscillation hereinafter.
In such system, the laser light source is operated for self-oscillation all the time while the laser light source is not used on the stepper side, therefore an arrangement is such that the self-oscillation is carried out at a constant low frequency so as not to shorten uselessly a lifetime of optical parts within the laser light source, parts for high tension control circuit (such as thyratron and others), or a lifetime of a gas for the laser.
However, there may be a case where a beam quality such as absolute wavelength, spectrum width, pulse energy or the like deteriorates unexpectedly (wavelength unlocked and so forth) for some reason such as, for example, a mechanical vibration of the laser light source or the stepper body, an incoming noise, a defective control of the etalon and others. Since the beam quality is monitored on the laser light side by spectroscope, detector and so forth, whether or not it has been deteriorated can be detected immediately by one pulse light emission, however, if the deterioration is considerably severe, then the etalon for stabilizing the beam quality is disabled from tracking control, and thus the laser light source gets down. Consequently, an operator is at the trouble of operating for start of the laser light source and recommencing an operation of the stepper in each occasion.


The present invention provides a composition for cutting or abrasive working operations that comprises at least one lubricious additive and at least one hydrofluorocarbons. The present invention also provides a method for cutting or abrasive working.

This invention relates to cutting or abrasive working operations, particularly to metal, cermet, or composite cutting or abrasive working operations, and more particularly it relates to working fluids comprising one or more hydrofluorocarbon(s) and one or more specific lubricious additive(s) used in conjunction with these operations.
Drilling and machining fluids long have been used in the cutting and abrasive working of metals, cermets, and composites. In these operations, including cutting, milling, drilling, and grinding, the purpose of the working fluid is to lubricate, to cool, and to remove fines, chips and other particulate waste from the working environment. In addition to lubricating and cooling, these working fluids also can prevent welding between a workpiece and tool and can prevent excessively rapid tool wear. See, for example, Jean C. Childers, The Chemistry of Metalworking Fluids, in METAL-WORKING LUBRICANTS (Jerry P. Byers ed., 1994).
A working fluid ideally suited as a coolant and/or lubricant for cutting and abrasive working of metal, cermet, and composite materials preferably imparts a high degree of lubricity for the duration of the cutting and abrasive working operation. But the working fluid should also preferably possess the added advantage of being an efficient cooling medium that is non-persistent in the environment, is non-corrosive (i.e., is chemically inert), and does not leave a substantial residue on either the workpiece or the tool upon which it is used.
Today""s state-of-the-art working fluids generally comprise two categories of materials: (a) oils and other organic chemicals that are derived principally from petroleum, animal, or plant substances; and (b) fluorinated hydrocarbons. The first category, i.e., the oils or other organic chemicals, commonly are used either neat (i.e., without dilution with water or solvent or are compounded with various polar or chemically active additives (e.g., sulfurized, chlorinated, or phosphated additives). These neat or compounded materials are also commonly emulsified to form oil-in-water emulsions. Widely used oils and oil-based substances include the following general classes of compounds: saturated and unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons such as mineral oil, turpentine oil, and pine oil; naphthalenic hydrocarbons; and aromatic hydrocarbons. While these oils (and oil derivatives) are widely available and are relatively inexpensive, their utility is significantly limited, as the oils preferably are non-flammable and consequently exhibit low volatility during drilling or machining operations. These low volatility oils tend to leave residues on tools and workpieces, thus requiring additional processing at significant cost to remove the residues. Emulsified materials also leave residues of surfactants and emulsifiers in addition to oily residues on tools and workpieces.
Fluorinated hydrocarbons, the second category of materials for the cutting and abrasive working of metals, cermets, or composites, has generally included the groups of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), and perfluorocarbons (PFCs). Of these three groups of fluorinated hydrocarbons, CFCs historically are the most useful and the most widely employed. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 3,129,182 (McLean). Then HCFCs were used as lower ozone-depleting potential replacements for CFCs following the Montreal Protocol of 1987. CFCs and HCFCs typically used included trichloromonofluoromethane, 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane, 1,1,2,2-tetrachlorodifluoroethane, tetrachloromonofluoroethane, and trichlorodifluoroethane. The CFCs and HCFCs generally accepted as most useful from this second category of materials possess many of the characteristics sought in a working fluid. While they were initially believed to be environmentally benign, CFCs and HCFCs are now both known to deplete the ozone layer of the atmosphere (See, e.g., P.S. Zurer, Looming Ban on Production of CFCs, Halons Spurs Switch to Substitutes, CHEM. and ENG. NEWS, Nov. 15, 1993, at 12). While PFCs have no ozone depleting potential, they tend to persist in the environment (i.e., they are not chemically altered or degraded under ambient environmental conditions). Also, when used alone, these fluorinated hydrocarbons often do not impart as high a degree of lubricity to cutting or abrasive working operations as do the oils and oil derivatives described in the first category of materials.
Thus, there continues to be a need for a volatile working fluid for use in cutting and abrasive working operations that provides the necessary lubricity for the duration of the operation, but that does not leave a residue on the workpiece. Additionally, this working fluid preferably exhibits low flammability and good environmental properties (i.e., no ozone depleting potential and low global warming potential).
Briefly, in one aspect, this invention provides a working fluid useful for the cutting and abrasive treating of metal, cermet, and composite materials, wherein the working fluid comprises one or more hydrofluorocarbons (hereinafter referred to as HFCs) and one or more lubricious additives, each additive having a boiling point from about 200xc2x0 C. to about 350xc2x0 C. In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of cutting and abrasively treating metal, cermet, and composite materials, comprising applying to the metal, cermet, or composite workpiece and tool a working fluid comprising one or more HFCs and one or more lubricious additives, each additive having a boiling point ranging from about 200xc2x0 C. to about 350xc2x0 C.
The working fluids used in the cutting and abrasive treatment of metals, cermets, and composites in accordance with this invention advantageously provide efficient lubricating and cooling media that fit many of the ideal characteristics sought in a working fluid: efficient lubrication, heat transfer properties, and volatility during the duration of the treating operation, non-persistency in the environment, and non-corrosivity. The working fluids also do not leave a substantial residue (preferably no residue) on either the workpiece or the tool upon which they are used, thereby eliminating otherwise necessary processing to clean the tool and/or workpiece for a substantial cost savings. Because these working fluids reduce tool temperature during operation, their use often also enhances tool life. The addition of lubricious additive increases tool/workpiece lubrication, which minimizes the production of heat from friction, further extending tool life and producing better surface finishes on the workpiece.

Composition comprising lubricious additive for cutting or abrasive working and a method therefor


Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatuses for integrated circuits. An exemplary integrated circuit (IC) method includes providing an IC design layout that includes a design feature; determining a dimensional difference between the design feature and a corresponding developed photoresist feature of a photoresist layer; modifying the CD of the design feature to compensate for the difference, thereby generating a modified IC design layout; and making a mask using the modified IC design layout.

Embodiments of this disclosure relate generally to semiconductor fabrication, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for reducing implant topography reflection effects.
In conventional methods of lithography patterning to a photoresist layer, light may be reflected by the topography of a substrate. For example, the presence of shallow trench isolation (STI) features within the substrate may cause such reflections. Reflected light may cause unintended variations in areas of the photoresist, such as critical dimension (CD) variations of photoresist features as compared to IC design layout features. Furthermore, implant topography reflection may induce photoresist line peeling or "trench scum."
Photoresist regions that are defined as dark regions on a mask may be subject to a certain level of exposure due to reflected radiation. If the intensity of the reflected radiation is above a certain exposure threshold, a dark region could effectively become exposed. Dark regions that become exposed as a result of reflected radiation may be referred to as "reversed regions."
The CD of a photoresist feature in a reversed region may vary locally. Accordingly, adjusting mask bias on a global basis cannot fix this issue, because the variation is not standard across the photoresist. This may be especially true with complicated layout designs that have complex topography. Furthermore, adding a global rule to enlarge smaller patterns is a feed-back compensation solution that requires a wafer-level check, and therefore is not adequate in all respects.
In other conventional methods of lithography patterning, a developable bottom anti-reflective coating (DBARC) layer is deposited on a wafer to prevent reflection. As described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,341,939 to Oweyang et al., a photoresist layer is deposited upon the DBARC layer and the wafer is selectively exposed to irradiation. Although, this conventional solution prevents topography reflection, it is not adequate in all respects.
Thus, there is a need for a method and apparatus for locally compensating CD variation caused by topography reflection.

Method and apparatus for reducing implant topography reflection effect

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


An access probe for remote-sensing access through a viewing port, viewing volume, and access port into a vessel. The physical boundary around the viewing volume is partially formed by a porous sleeve lying between the viewing volume and a fluid conduit. In a first mode of operation, a fluid supplied to the fluid conduit encounters the porous sleeve and flows through the porous material to maintain the viewing volume free of ash or other matter. When additional fluid force is needed to clear the viewing volume, the pressure of the fluid flow is increased sufficiently to slidably translate the porous sleeve, greatly increasing flow into the viewing volume. The porous sleeve is returned to position by an actuating spring. The access probe thereby provides for alternate modes of operation based on the pressure of an actuating fluid.

Direct observation or viewing by sensors is often used for guidance or control of industrial processes. A significant problem typically encountered in the applications is maintaining clear and uninterrupted transmission through a window or path by which the industrial process is viewed. This problem can be substantial in all environments, however when a sensor is tasked to directly observe a process producing smoke, spatter, powder or other airborne debris, the problems of sensor path and window cleanliness becomes critical. This often results in frequently disrupting the process to clean or change windows, or requires the installation of additional complexities such as window blades, shutters, or other mechanisms. Sensors used for tomography, optical pyrometry, laser absorption spectroscopy, or other remote sensing industrial applications must tolerate the dirty environments associated with dirty, particulate laden environments generated by coal combustion, metal spraying, molten metal atomization, and steel making, among others.
Devices intended to house sensors for use in dirty environments often incorporate an air purge in order to maintain viewing window cleanliness. The air purge acts to maintain a flow across the viewing window in order to mitigate deposition of foreign matter originating with the industrial process. In some cases, higher pressure air may be periodically employed in order to provide a short duration higher energy purge for matter which may gather on or around the viewing window over the course of normal purging. See e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 3,021,385 to Summerhayes Jr., et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,981,088 to Burris; U.S. Pat. No. 4,969,035 to Dawson; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,592,217 and 5,831,668 to Hirvonen et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,362,889 to Mustonen; U.S. Pat. No. 6,672,725 to VanOsdol; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,522,834 to Heaven et al., among others. Many of these approaches are additionally intended to maintain a positive pressure flowing from the viewing lens into the vessel conducting the process to be observed. The intent of the positive pressure is to prevent foreign matter from approaching the viewing lens from the vessel environment. Other typical approaches for depositions resistant to normal purge pressures include the use of deslagging blades which are periodically deployed across the viewing lens. See e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,759,299 to Kennedy.
Generally speaking, the higher pressure purges are effectuated either through an increase in air supply pressure in order to increase the flow rate through static components, or through the inclusion of additional, dedicated higher pressure pathways. Forcing a higher pressure flow through static components increases parasitic energy requirements, and can increase the necessary bulk of the components in order to withstand repeated exposure to higher design pressures. Similarly, additional, dedicated higher pressure pathways increase the volume footprint of the access probe en toto, in addition to incurring additional probe infrastructure. It would be advantageous to provide an access probe whereby a positive pressure in front of a viewing lens could be increased by utilizing a higher pressure to manipulate the geometric relationship between components, such that a higher pressure pathway could be established without significantly altering the compact nature of the access probe. It would be further advantageous if the probe could act to clear occluding debris from around an access port into the vessel as a result of the component manipulation.
The disclosure relates to an access probe intended to allow access for a measurement medium into a vessel generating particulate laden or hazardous environments, such as a coal fired boiler with slagging walls. The access probe is advantageously utilized for the assistance of passive and active remote sensing of phenomena occurring within the vessel environment utilizing remote sensing instrumentation positioned outside the vessel, via access ports extending through the vessel containment. The measurement medium is typically light and the access is typically provided for the purpose of visual access; however the access probe may be advantageously utilized for the assistance of passive and active remote sensing instrumentation utilizing a variety of measurement mediums such as x-rays, ultrasounds, magnetic resonances, radar, sonar, and the like.
Aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the accompanying description and claims.

Transpiration purging access probe for particulate laden or hazardous environments


A new and distinct cultivar of Angelonia plant named ‘Fairy Queen’, characterized by its upright and vigorous plant habit; medium green-colored foliage; pink and white bi-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Angelonia, botanically known as Angelonia salicariifolia and hereinafter referred to by the name 'Fairy Queen'.
The new Angelonia is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of an unnamed selection of Angelonia salicariifolia, not patented. The new Angelonia was discovered by the Inventor from within a population of plants of the parent selection in a controlled environment in Aichi, Japan in July, 2004.
Asexual reproduction of the new Angelonia by cuttings in a controlled environment in Aichi, Japan since July, 2004, has shown that the unique features of this new Angelonia are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.


Provided is an error amplifier. The error amplifier includes: an amplifying unit receiving first and second input signals and amplifying a voltage difference between the received first and second input signals; a first voltage generating unit generating first and second driving voltages for driving the amplifying unit; a second voltage generating unit generating first and second body voltages to implement a body biasing method; a cascode current source including first to fourth PMOS transistors to provide a bias current to the amplifying unit and the first voltage generating unit; and an output unit outputting a signal of the voltage difference amplified by the amplifying unit, wherein the first and third PMOS transistors receive the first body voltage through a body terminal and the second and fourth PMOS transistors receive the second body voltage through a body terminal.

The present invention disclosed herein relates to an error amplifier, and more particularly, to an error amplifier having a cascode current source using body biasing.
Recently, mobility increase due to the rapid development of information and communication technology and the development of transportation brings the drastic increases of portable electronic product markets. Simultaneously, a miniaturization trend on a charger or adapter of an electronic product comes to the fore. That is, according to the development of an integrated circuit technology and the cultural needs of the consumers, production and sale of portable multimedia devices having various functions, small area, and light weight are increased.
Accordingly, a battery based portable electronic device such as a smart phone, a navigation system, and an MP3 player is manufactured focusing on size, speed, and power management. Especially, in order to implement a small area, an integrated circuit technology for integrating various chips, used for driving portable devices, into one chip is being developed. That is, in order to realize various functions in the same chip area, an integrated circuit technology having typical circuit characteristics but a reduced area is being developed.
As one of blocks for designing a power management integrated circuit (PMIC), an error amplifier is being designed and developed. An error amplifier detects and amplifies errors of an output voltage and a feedback voltage, and maintains a feedback system to secure circuit stability. Moreover, the error amplifier may change the number of stages for gain according to a usage purpose or may install a compensation stage to obtain the stability of a feedback system, with various structures.
Moreover, the error amplifier may increase the size of a transistor during a design process or makes it in symmetry during a design process in order to obtain the same result as a simulation. Accordingly, the error amplifier may reduce errors occurring during manufacturing processes. Especially, a technology for designing a large area to reduce errors occurring during processes may affect various factors such as parasite component increase, speed, and stability due to the size increase of a transistor. Furthermore, as interest is on the miniaturization of an electronic device, a technology for reducing the size of an IC-chip and providing the same or high performance becomes required. Accordingly, a technology of a circuit design for providing the same performance and a small area is being developed.

Error amplifier having cascode current source using body biasing

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute

Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation, Dankook University


A motion capture apparatus includes: generating means; predicting means; projecting means; evaluating means; and estimating means. The generating means generates a kinematics model having joints connected to one another. The predicting means hierarchically calculates predicted positions at a current time of the joints of the objective person, and predicts three-dimensional positions and postures of the joints and the limbs. The projecting means projects the three-dimensional positions and postures of the joints and the limbs of the objective person on a two-dimensional image plane, the three-dimensional positions and the postures being predicted by predicting means. The evaluating means evaluates reliability about projection positions projected by the projecting means based on the observation image of the objective person. The estimating means estimates the three-dimensional positions and postures of the joints and the limbs of the objective person at the current time based on an evaluation result about the reliability.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to motion capture apparatus and method for recognizing a posture or a motion of an objective person in accordance with an image captured with a camera, and a motion capture program for use therein.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is necessary to realization of a natural interface between a human being and an apparatus to generally analyze information on various actions and voices of an operator, including a manual gesture and a body gesture of a human being, and to detect and recognize existence, intention, and the like of the human being. In order to attain this, the various techniques relating to analysis about a motion and an action of the human being have been investigated in the past. A motion analyzing technique can be roughly classified into a technique for acquiring motion information by using special markers or the like, and a technique for analyzing a motion based on an image analysis not using any of the markers.
A magnetic system, a mechanical system, an optical system, or the like is known as a system using special markers or the like. However, an optical motion capture system is especially frequently utilised as a recent motion tracking/capturing system. Motion capturing/analyzing systems such as an MX camera system (trademark) manufactured by Vicon Peaks Inc., an OptiTrack (trademark) manufactured by Natural Point Inc., and a Hawk Digital System (trademark) manufactured by Motion Analysis Corporation, have already been utilized in the fields of the Computer Graphics (CG), the movie production, and the like. The motion analysing system with markers has such a merit that information on a motion of a person can be previously measured. For this reason, the motion analyzing system with markers is frequently utilized in the fields such as the CG and the movie production for which the highly precise motion analysis is necessary.
However, in this system, a large-scale system configuration is necessary, and attachment of the markers to a human being imposes a burden on the human body. Therefore, it may not be possible to call this system a natural human machine interface (HMI).
Thus, the inventors of the present invention adopt the motion analyzing technique based on the image analysis not using any of the markers in order to realize the natural HMI in the general environment. Several motion analysing techniques each being based on the image analysis not using any of the markers have been investigated. Typically, there is given a motion and posture tracking technique based on a three-dimensional model of a person and a stereo image (for example, D. Demirdjian, T. Ko, T. Darrell, Constraining Human Body Tracking, Proceedings of the International Conference on Computer vision, 2003, hereinafter referred to as Non-patent Document 1). There is also given a person motion tracking technique based on a three-dimensional model of a person using a multiple cameras (for example, K. M. Cheung, S. Baker, J. K. Hodgins, and T. Konade, Markerless Human motion Transfer, Proceedings of the 2nd International Symposium on 3D Data Processing Visualization and Transmission, September, 2004, hereinafter referred to as Non-patent Document 2). There is also given a motion analyzing technique based on a person region and a movement model (for example, Ramanan, D., Forsyth, D A, Zisserman, A. "Strike a Pose: Tracking People by Finding Stylized Poses", Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition (CVPR), San Diego, Calif., Jun. 2005, hereinafter referred to as Non-patent Document 3).

Motion capture apparatus and method, and motion capture program


A recording medium records a program that causes a computer to execute processing of: obtaining pieces of three-dimensional point data observed a mobile body; calculating a feature amount according to a distance between a position of the mobile body and each of three-dimensional points indicated by the pieces of three-dimensional point data; and specifying a reference point that corresponds to the position of the mobile body from among reference points in a mobile space of the mobile body which are registered in a database that registers a combinations each of the respective reference points and the feature amounts according to the distance between the position of the respective reference points and each of three-dimensional points indicated by a pieces of three-dimensional point data observed from the position of the respective reference points, based on the calculated feature amount and the database.

A three-dimensional object verification device estimates position and orientation of an object on the basis of data obtained by a three-dimensional sensor.
Related art is disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2007-322351, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2008-309671, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2012-26974, International Publication Pamphlet No. WO 2014/155715, and Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2009-128192.

Recording medium recording information processing program, information processing apparatus, and information processing method


A retaining device (10) for retaining expansion cards (20) in a chassis (300) includes a retaining member (100) and a locking member (200). An upper positioning protrusion (316) and a lower positioning protrusion (318) are formed on a bent plate (312) of the chassis. The locking member is pivotally attached to the bent plate. A pressing portion (216) is formed on an inner side of the locking member and a notch (206) is defined in an outer side of the locking member. A support portion (126) is formed on the retaining member corresponding to the pressing portion. When the upper positioning protrusion is matched with the notch, the retaining member is put into the chassis. The locking member is pressed until the lower positioning protrusion is matched with the notch, and thus the retaining member is secured to the chassis.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to retaining devices, and particularly to a retaining device which can securely retain expansion cards in a computer chassis.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A computer typically includes a chassis that encloses circuit components, such as processors, memory chips, peripheral interface devices and other circuit elements. The core circuit components, such as the processors and the memory chips, are often mounted on a single printed circuit board, such as a motherboard. It is often desirable to provide the computer with expansion ports or slots for attaching additional printed circuit cards ("expansion cards") having additional capabilities.
In one conventional arrangement, the expansion slots are provided on the motherboard. One drawback with this approach is that the expansion slots occupy valuable space on the motherboard. And nowadays the trend of the computer enclosure is small and thin. So a new type of computer enclosure has a limited height that cannot accommodate an expansion card directly mounted on the motherboard. One approach to addressing this drawback is to attach an intermediate riser card to a single slot of the motherboard and attach a plurality of expansion cards to the riser card.
Such an arrangement for expansion card is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,835,346. A computer chassis is partitioned into first and second regions by a partition wall. A motherboard is positioned within the first region along a bottom wall of the chassis. A riser card abutting the partition wall vertically interfaces with the motherboard. A series of horizontal option card interfaces are located above each other on the riser card within the first region of the enclosure each for interfacing with a corresponding option card and to position the option cards horizontally over the motherboard. However, the riser card is inserted in the motherboard directly and the option cards are inserted in the riser cards and then mounted in a back wall of the enclosure. When the computer is moved to anther place or sustains external shocks, the riser cards and the option cards are prone to be loosed or detached from the motherboard and the riser cards, respectively.


The application discloses a method for establishing a connection between a first communication device capable of receiving an activating message and a mobile communication device, the method comprising:                (a) determining that the mobile communication device is seeking communication with a communication device;        (b) checking the status of a first communication device;        (c) choosing an action required for establishing the connection in view of the status of the first communication device; and        (d) taking the action chosen in (c),wherein taking the action comprises sending to the first communication device an activating message, having at least a portion which activates an application residing on the first communication device.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,113,803 assigned to MICROSOFT Corporation, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a method and system for enabling instant messaging on mobile devices, according to which a customized SMS message is sent to awaken the mobile device so that instant messaging may be initiated. In one of the described embodiments, the recipient responds to the customized SMS message by creating an Internet connection and establishing a chat session over the Internet connection.
The customized SMS is generated and sent by the server, which translates a regular SMS it receives. The patent does not appear to describe any status check made by the server.


A transistor may include a light-blocking layer that blocks light incident on a channel layer. The light-blocking layer may include a carbon-based material. The carbon-based material may include graphene oxide, graphite oxide, graphene or carbon nanotube (CNT). The light-blocking layer may be between a gate and at least one of the channel layer, a source and a drain.

1. Field
Some example embodiments relate to transistors, methods of manufacturing the same, and electronic devices including the transistors.
2. Description of the Related Art
Transistors are widely used as switching devices or driving devices in electronic devices. In particular, since thin film transistors can be manufactured on glass substrates or plastic substrates, they are efficiently used in the field of flat panel display devices such as liquid crystal display devices and organic light-emitting display devices.
However, when transistors are applied to optical devices such as flat panel display devices, the characteristics of the transistors may be changed by light. Particularly, in a transistor having an oxide semiconductor as a channel layer (an oxide transistor), the oxide semiconductor channel layer is sensitive to light, and thus, the characteristics of the transistor may be changed by light.

Transistors and electronic devices including the transistors


The lip of the combustion bowl of a piston for an internal combustion engine has different radii in different sections of the bowl. Most of the lip is sharp to reduce emissions. The part of the lip above the piston pin bore is less sharp to reduce the mechanical stresses that otherwise would accumulate there in a sharp lip, cracking the piston. The lip has a smooth transition between the two radii to avoid creating additional stress.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to pistons for internal combustion engines, and in particular to the shape of the lip of the combustion bowl of such pistons.
2. Description of the Related Art
Future emissions regulations require significant reductions in internal combustion engine emission of particulates, visible smoke, hydrocarbons and NO.sub.x. It has long been known in the industry that making the combustion bowl lip sharp or as nearly sharp as possible helps reduce such emissions. Unfortunately, the sharper the lip, the higher the mechanical stress in the lip, so this has not been a satisfactory emissions control technique in the real world.
Such stress is particularly a problem in the portion of the combustion bowl lip directly above the pin bore of the piston. The piston is thinnest there, and the stress caused by a small, e.g., less than about 1 mm nominal radius, lip is more than the piston can withstand. It typically cracks after a moderate amount of use, leading to catastrophic failure.
One possible solution would be to make the piston out of materials which can withstand a higher degree of stress than the materials conventionally used. In large engines, the pistons normally are made of cast aluminum for reduced mass. Fiber reinforced squeeze castings and ferrous one-piece or articulated pistons would be significantly stronger. Unfortunately, they also are significantly more expensive and heavier.

Engine piston with a dual combustion bowl lip radius


In a measurement device, a reception sensitivity test control unit includes drop determination means for determining whether or not a measured throughput is in a dropped state to a preset proportion in a steep drop region in which the throughput drops steeply, and output level setting means 18e for performing a setting process of setting an output level of the test signal to be different from a previous output level according to a comparison result indicating whether a throughput measurement result exceeds a predetermined threshold value and a determination result indicating whether the measured throughput is in the dropped state by the drop determination means, the setting process including a process of performing level down or level up on the output level of the test signal with respect to the previous output level in units of an error tolerance level EL when it is determined to be the dropped state.

For a wireless terminal that has been developed in recent years and transmits and receives a radio signal corresponding to IEEE802.11ad, 5G cellular, and the like, in which a signal in a wide band of a millimeter wave band is used, a performance test is performed of measuring an output level and reception sensitivity of a transmitted radio wave determined for each communication standard with respect to a wireless communication antenna included in the wireless terminal, and determining whether or not a predetermined reference is satisfied.
For example, in a performance test in which a wireless terminal for a 5G New Radio (NR) system (hereinafter, referred to as a 5G wireless terminal) is used as a Device Under Test (DUT), an OTA test is performed using a radio anechoic box (OTA chamber) called a Compact Antenna Test Range (CATR) which is not affected by a surrounding radio wave environment.
For various tests, such as OTA tests, targeting 5G wireless terminals, for example, tests are obliged to be performed according to standards disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1.
For example, regarding a DUT reception sensitivity test for aggregating measurement results by executing an operation of receiving a test signal transmitted from a signal generator by the DUT (5G wireless terminal) and measuring reception sensitivity a plurality of times, a Section 7.3.2 of Chapter 38.521-2 of non-patent document 1 discloses provisions such as a minimum allowable output level [dB] of the test signal.

Mobile terminal testing device and mobile terminal testing method


A liquid crystal display device in the prior art has been high in its manufacturing cost for the reason that TFTs have been fabricated using, at least, five photo-masks. A liquid crystal display device which includes a pixel TFT portion having an n-channel TFT of inverse stagger type, and a retention capacitor, can be realized by three photolithographic steps in such a way that a pixel electrode 119, a source region 117 and a drain region 116 are formed by a third photo-mask.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention of the present application relates to a semiconductor device having a circuit which is configured of thin film transistors (hereinbelow termed xe2x80x9cTFTsxe2x80x9d), and a method of fabricating the-semiconductor device. By way of example, it relates to an electrooptical device which is typified by a liquid crystal display panel, and an electronic equipment in which such an electrooptical device is installed as a component.
Incidentally, here in this specification, the semiconductor device is intended to signify general devices which can function by utilizing semiconductor properties, and electrooptical devices, semiconductor circuits and electronic equipment are all the semiconductor devices.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, notice has been taken of technology wherein thin film transistors (TFTs) are constructed using a semiconductor thin film (having a thickness on the order of severalxcx9ca few hundred nm) which is formed on a substrate having an insulating surface. The TFTs are extensively applied to ICs and electron devices such as electrooptical devices, and it is especially hurried to develop them as the switching elements of an image display device.
Hitherto, liquid crystal display devices have been known as image display devices. The liquid crystal display device of active matrix type has come to be often employed because an image of: higher definition than by the liquid crystal display device of passive type can be obtained. In the active matrix type liquid crystal display device, a display pattern is formed on a screen by driving pixel electrodes arranged in the shape of a matrix. More specifically, voltages are applied between selected ones of the pixel electrodes and ones of counter electrodes corresponding to the selected pixel electrodes, whereby a liquid crystal layer interposed between the pixel electrodes and the counter electrodes is optically modulated, and the optical modulation is recognized as the display pattern by an observer.
The applications of such an active matrix type liquid crystal display device have widened, and a higher, definition, a higher aperture efficiency and a higher reliability have been more required together with the larger area of a screen size. Besides, enhancement in productivity and reduction in cost have been more required at the same time.
In the prior art, an amorphous silicon film is suitably employed as an amorphous semiconductor film for the reason that it can be formed on a substrate of large area at a low temperature of or below 300. Also, TFTs of inverse stagger type (or bottom gate type) each having a channel forming region formed of an amorphous semiconductor film are often employed.
Heretofore, a liquid crystal display device of active matrix type has been high in its manufacturing cost for the reason that TFTs have been fabricated on a substrate by using, at least, five photo-masks in accordance with photolithographic technology. In order to enhance a productivity and to enhance an available percentage, decreasing the number of steps is considered as effective means.
Concretely, it is: necessary to decrease the number of photo-masks required for the manufacture of TFTs. The photo-mask is employed for forming a photoresist pattern to serve as the mask of an etching step, over a substrate in the photolithographic technology.
Using each of the photo-masks, steps such as coating with a resist, pre-baking, exposure to light, image development and post-baking are performed, and steps such as the formation and etching of a film and further steps such as stripping off the resist, washing and drying are added as the preceding and succeeding steps of the first-mentioned steps. These steps are complicated, and have been problematic.
Moreover, since the substrate is an insulator, static electricity has been generated by friction etc. During the manufacturing process. When the static electricity is generated, short-circuiting arises at the intersection part of wirings laid over the substrate, or the TFTs are deteriorated or destroyed by the static electricity, so that display defects or degradation in an image-quality have/has occurred in the liquid crystal display device. In particular, during the rubbing of liquid crystal orientation processing which is performed in the manufacturing process, the static electricity appears and has been problematic.
The present invention consists in replying to such problems, and in a semiconductor device typified by a liquid crystal display device of active matrix type, it has for its object to decrease the number of steps for fabricating TFTs, thereby to realize reduction in a manufacturing cost and enhancement in an available percentage.
Also, it has for its object to provide a structure capable of solving the problem of the destruction of TFTs or the characteristics deterioration thereof ascribable to static electricity, and a method of fabricating the structure.
In order to solve the problems, according to the present invention, each gate wiring is initially formed by a first photo-mask.
Subsequently, a gate insulating film, a non-doped amorphous silicon film (hereinbelow, called xe2x80x9ca-Si filmxe2x80x9d), an amorphous silicon film which contains an impurity element bestowing the n-type (hereinbelow, called xe2x80x9cn+a-Si filmxe2x80x9d), and an electrically-conductive film are formed in succession.
Subsequently, an active layer, a source wiring (including a electrode) and a drain electrode which are made of the a-Si film are patterned and formed by a second photo-mask.
Thereafter, a transparent electrically-conductive film is formed, whereupon a pixel electrode made of the transparent conductive film is formed by a third photo-mask. Further, a source region and a drain region which are made of the n+a-Si film are formed, while at the same time, part of the a-Si film is removed.
Owing to such a construction, the number of the photo-masks for use in photolithographic technology can be made three.
Moreover, the source wiring is covered with the transparent conductive film which is the same material as that of the pixel electrode, thereby to form a structure in which the whole substrate is protected from external static electricity etc. It is also allowed to form a structure in which a protective circuit is formed of the transparent conductive film. Owing to such a construction, the generation of the static electricity which is ascribable to the friction between a manufacturing apparatus and the insulator substrate can be prevented during a manufacturing process. In particular, TFTs etc. can be protected from the static electricity which appears during the rubbing of liquid crystal orientation processing that is performed in the manufacturing process.

Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


A composite structure for an electric energy storage device is envisioned. The structure is made of a metal substrate and a metal oxide layer disposed over a majority of the metal substrate with the metal oxide layer being comprised of a first and second metals. Carbon nanotubes are disposed on the metal oxide layer. In an embodiment the first metal and the second metal are each selected from a group consisting of: iron, nickel, aluminum, cobalt, copper, chromium, and gold.

Energy storage devices, such as ultracapacitors (i.e., electrochemical capacitors, electrical double layer capacitors or supercapacitors) are increasingly important in powering a wide variety of devices such as, for example, motor vehicles, cellular telephones, computers, etc. and furthermore, may be used as a replacement for or in conjunction with conventional batteries. Ultracapacitors have a number of advantages compared to conventional batteries such as, for example, long life cycle, easy construction, short charging time, safety and high power density.
Conventional ultracapacitors include metal substrates (e.g., aluminum) on which are deposited active materials which have high surface area as the electrodes. Activated carbon is the most commonly used active material, which is typically deposited on metal substrates as a paste and forms a thin film on the surface of the substrate.
Recently, carbon nanotubes have been used as active materials in electrodes to form ultracapacitors. Similarly to activated carbon, carbon nanotubes can be deposited as a paste, which includes a binder, on metal substrates. However, deposition of carbon nanotubes as a paste leads to increased high interface resistance because of the continuing presence of the binder and poor mechanical/electrical contact between carbon nanotubes and metal collectors, which leads to poor power performance of the capacitor. Alternatively, carbon nanotubes may be grown on metal substrates with co-deposition of a metal catalyst. However, the continuing presence of the catalyst leads to poor power performance of the capacitor.
More recently, chemical vapor deposition has been used to directly grow continuous films of both vertically aligned or randomly dispersed carbon nanotubes on thick, highly polished metal substrates. Such carbon nanotubes are useful electrodes for constructing an ultracapacitor but are costly, difficult to package and/or mold and have a reduced performance profile because substantial resistance develops between the carbon nanotubes and the metal surface upon deposition of charge.

Structure for electric energy storage using carbon nanotubes


The present invention provides a gaming apparatus, method and system for transferring the play of a feature earned from one gaming machine, provided as a system bonus or as a promotional award to another gaming machine. The apparatus, method and system provides for selection between feature values FVA-FVX of the gaming machine.

Electronic gaming devices, also sometimes referred to as "slot machines", have been known for many years. Currently these gaming devices are operated as stand-alone devices, linked games or terminals operated from a server, either on a thin client (most processing taking place at the server) or thick client (most processing taking place at the terminal) basis. By stand-alone what is meant is that the gaming device is self contained and does not rely on input or play from other gaming devices or a server for the play of the game. Linked gaming devices rely to an extent on other gaming devices. For example, devices may be linked to provide for one or more progressive jackpots or for shared, community play. Server based play relates to server based gaming where a server, at least in some respects, controls the play of games at the gaming devices. For example where the devices act as a thin client the server receives inputs and randomly selects symbols/numbers for presentation of outcomes at the devices. Alternatively the server may assemble sets of outcomes, e.g. lottery tickets, which are delivered to the devices for display of an outcome. This version is often referred to as central determination systems. Still further in a Bingo application the server may select Bingo outcomes which are displayed (or translated into the display) of outcomes at the gaming device.
Regardless of the arrangement of the gaming devices many modern gaming devices provide features in addition to a base game. For example, a player playing a base game may trigger a feature. The player of the base game may obtain one or more symbols during the play of the base game which "triggers" the feature. The feature may require player selections, provide a series of free base games, provide a multiplier for a series of free games or present an entirely different game experience. The feature provides the player with an opportunity to win credits in addition to any win of the base game, with or without the player having to make an additional wager. As but one example, a player playing a video gaming device base game may be presented with an outcome which provides a win and pay for the base game outcome as well as triggering a feature such as selection from a set of unrevealed bonuses ranging from x to y. The player would be prompted to and would select from the selection set x-y and the bonus(es) would be revealed and won by the player. The bonus may be an award of credits, free games, multipliers, a combination of the foregoing, or other feature to entertain a player. In another example the play of the base game may trigger a feature representing by a series of free spins where any wins are paid at a multiple of the normal pay schedule for the game. The base game may trigger a feature embodied as a second game which is played such as spinning of a wheel or interactive play such as a series of events controlled in whole or in part by player input.
As is apparent gaming machines have been created which offer various base games and features. These games also offer different returns-to-player (RTP) usually designated as a theoretical percentage. Some regulated gaming jurisdictions set minimum RTPs such as 80% which means for every dollar wagered theoretically 80 cents will be returned to the player. The RTP for a game is configured by pairing the various statistical frequencies a designated winning combination will occur with the award and summing the results. The base game and any award from a feature contribute to the calculation of the game's RTP. On a casino floor there may be games with the same theme which have different RTPs (usually as a result of changing the award for certain outcomes) as well as different games altogether with varying RTPs. The different types of features as well as different theoretical awards for the same feature varies constrained only by jurisdictional constraints and the creativity of game designers.
Some gaming systems link gaming machines and provide one or more progressive bonuses for play of the game. These progressives, depending upon the configuration of the game, may be won during a base game or any enabled feature such as, for example, where the progressive is based upon combinations of symbols and where the feature consists of free spins. For example, the feature may be a certain number of free spins of the base game (or a version of the base game having different symbol sets to increase the hit frequency and/or return to player (RTP)) and one or more progressive jackpots may be won based upon symbols obtained. Hence a progressive could be won during the feature. Determining the RTP for such games includes taking into account the contribution to the RTP by the offering of one or more progressive jackpots.
Some gaming systems have secondary games which may be considered as features which are either (1) not based upon the player receiving triggering symbol combinations during the base game or (2) are based upon a determination by the system or controller rather than the gaming device. For example the feature may be triggered on a mystery basis such as described in Olive, U.S. Pat. No. 7,582,014 titled "Slot Machine Game and System With Improved Jackpot Feature" or Torango U.S. Pat. No. 6,592,460 titled "Progressive Wagering System" (the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference) where the feature trigger is randomly determined and the odds of receiving the bonus is proportional to the wager. The feature award may be by credits or the play of the feature resulting in the award of credits. An example of a system determined mystery bonus is Acres U.S. Pat. No. 5,655,961 titled "Method for Operating Networked Linked Gaming Devices" or U.S. Pat. No. 5,752,882 titled "Method and Apparatus for Operating Networked Linked Gaming Devices" (the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference) where the contribution from the linked gaming machines which causes the progressive bonus pool to equal a selected amount triggers a bonus to the contributing gaming device. These types of bonuses are typically referred to as mystery bonuses since they are not based on the symbols the player receives during play of the base game; hence to the player the basis for the award is a mystery. These awards are typically an award of credits to the player.
Turning from the general description of bonuses and features above, there is disclosed in the art a system for a player to save a game state for later play or play on the same or a different machine presenting the same game. Tarantino et al U.S. Pat. No. 6,656,047 titled "Computer-Controlled Gaming Apparatus and Method" describes a dice game where a player builds outcomes to complete categories of outcomes. According to this reference a player may save and store the game progress state for later use. Inasmuch as the game is a specific dice game, the saved game state (where the player is in the game in progress) cannot be used for different gaming machines offering a different game. Commonly owned Luciano, Jr. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/940,945 titled "Transferred Enhanced Gaming Play Features" describes another application of the broad principle of saving a game state.
The difficulty encountered in saving game states is application of a saved game state from one machine of a certain configuration to another gaming machine of a different configuration. For example if a player has won an opportunity to participate in a feature which consists of free games on a first gaming device and desires to save and then use the opportunity to play a different game on a second gaming device where the game feature is the selection from a set of unrevealed prizes instead of free games, such a transfer could not be accommodated since the features are different and have different contributions to the RTPs for the games. This problem has detracted from the utility of providing the player with the freedom to save and transfer an earned game state.
In addition to earning of a feature opportunity it would be advantageous if a gaming operator could provide, as a loyalty reward or as a result of a casino-wide game, a feature opportunity to players who could exercise the feature at a plurality of machines of their choosing.
There is a need for a system, apparatus and method which enables a player to save, at one gaming device having a first configuration, an opportunity for playing a feature game and which enables the player to exercise the saved opportunity on a second gaming device having the same or a different, feature game, configuration. This feature permits a player to accumulate feature opportunities at one or more gaming devices and then exercise those feature game plays at different gaming machines which may have, for example, a different feature presentation and award configuration.
There is also a need to provide awards of feature to players as a marketing tool and/or by a system or controller as all or part of a mystery award.

System, apparatus and method for saving game state and for utilizing game states on different gaming devices


A system includes a receiver component that receives a model of a well system, the model comprising a representation of an electrically energized well casing and/or a fracture as a transmission line that leaks electric current as the current traverses the well casing and/or fracture. The receiver component also receives a value that indicates an amount of the current that is applied to the well casing and a location of a source of the current on the well casing. The system further includes an electromagnetic field calculator component that calculates an estimated electromagnetic field at at least one location on the surface of the earth based at least in part upon the representation of the electrically energized well casing and/or fracture, the value that indicates the amount of current that is applied to the well casing, and the location of the source of the current on the well casing.

As the population of the world increases, efficient mechanisms for obtaining sources of energy including natural gas and oil are continuously being investigated. One exemplary technique for obtaining access to natural gas and oil reserves is known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. Hydraulic fracturing is the process of initiating and subsequently propagating a fracture in a rock formation through utilization of fracturing fluid as a source of energy. To create the fracture in the rock formation, a drill is employed to create a well bore that reaches depths of several thousand feet (until a desired rock formation is reached). A well casing is placed in the well bore, wherein the casing is typically composed of steel or some other conductive metal. The well casing is cemented in place to stabilize the well casing with respect to the earth.
Subsequent to the well casing being cemented in place, a fracturing fluid is pumped down the well bore and through perforations in the well casing at a pressure that is in excess of the fracture gradient of the rock formation. Such pressure causes the rock formation to fracture. Pumping of the fracturing fluid down the well casing is continued to extend the fracture further into the formation. As the fracture extends, a proppant is added to the fracture fluid and pumped down the well casing and into the fracture, thereby causing the fracture to remain open when pumping of the fracture fluid is ceased. This causes the rock formation to become permeable via the fracture, thereby allowing natural gas or oil to be extracted from the rock formation. Hydraulic fractures can be induced using both vertical and horizontal wells.
While hydraulic fracturing techniques have improved over time, there are still several imperfections associated with such techniques. For example, when a fracture is induced and extended in a rock formation, the fracture will travel along the minimum stress directions in the formation. Based upon geological studies, such minimum stress directions can be estimated prior to inducing the fracture in the rock formation. These estimates, however, may be imprecise. In other words, an operator of the well may believe that the fracture is at a particular location and of a certain size and orientation (e.g., horizontal, vertical, combination). In actuality, however, the fracture may be further from the well bore than desired and may travel in an unexpected direction. Additionally, once the fracture is created, it is difficult to ascertain performance of the well. Typically, an operator will monitor amounts of natural gas or oil extracted from the well and determine the quality of the well based upon a rate of flow of natural gas or oil from the well. The operator is unable to obtain, however, data that is indicative of potential of an amount of natural gas or oil that can be extracted from a rock formation. For example, the operator is unable to ascertain how much natural gas may be extracted from the well if the fracture had extended somewhat further and/or traveled in a different direction.

Simulating current flow through a well casing and an induced fracture

National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC