A coil assembly including a coil of material having a square or hexagonal cross section wound on a bobbin. On the coil winding surface are a plurality of first mutually parallel grooves which have a V-notch cross section and are so arranged that the centers of adjacent grooves are separated from each other by a distance of about P which is the width of said grooves. The coil winding surface also has a plurality of second mutually parallel grooves which have a V-notch cross section and are so arranged that the centers of adjacent grooves are also separated from each other by the distance P. Each of the first grooves is off-set from the corresponding second groove in the axial direction by the distance of about P/2 or less. A pair of intermediate sections with oblique grooves having a predetermined length in the circumferential direction are provided between the respective ends of the first and second grooves.

This invention relates to a winding device for winding a heavy-gauge wire made of a hard material, e.g., a metal wire, on a coiling drum or a bobbin in an orderly manner, and in particular, onto a winding device suitable for forming a coil to be used in the magnet switch of an engine starter, the rotor coil of an alternator, etc.
Japanese Utility Model Unexamined Publication (Jikkaisho) No. 61-88972 discloses an example of a winding device for winding a wire on a bobbin in an orderly manner. In the winding device disclosed, a plurality of wire guide grooves, which are parallel to each other, are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the winding drum, and the area in which the winding lines of a wire are shifted in the axial direction is formed as a flat, smooth surface devoid of any guide groove, thereby enabling the wire to be positively wound on the bobbin in an orderly manner at the first stage of winding. The problem with such a known device is that it does not allow for orderly coil winding when a coil is to be wound to the extent of providing a plurality of layers of coil.


A light fixture (10) is provided having an upper housing (11), a light diffusor (12), a light source (13), and a heating source (14). The housing includes a mounting plate (17) adapted to be mounted to the ceiling of a structure in conventional fashion. The upper housing includes an upper wall, two oppositely disposed side walls (18), a bottom wall (19) spanning the side walls, and an annular airflow ring (21). The bottom wall has a central opening (23) therein. The airflow ring has a plurality of air exhaust holes (24) and a plurality of air intake holes (25). The mounting plate, bottom wall, and two side walls form an air channel (28) in fluid communication with the exhaust holes of the airflow ring. The heat source includes a pair of heating elements (38) mounted within the airflow channel and a motorized fan (39).

Lighting fixtures have existed for many years. Recently, some lighting fixtures have incorporated heaters to warm the surrounding air. These light fixtures are typically placed in a bathroom so as to heat the room in order to make it more comfortable for people after taking a shower or bath. As such, these light fixtures are not designed to blend into the more formal aesthetics of other rooms within a typical home.
Accordingly, it is seen that a need remains for a light fixture that can provide heat but which is unobtrusive and easy to maintain. It is to the provision of such therefore that the present invention is primarily directed.


A PWM controller for a direct current brushless motor comprising first and second windings includes a motor drive circuit receiving pulse width modulation control signals to drive the first and the second windings; and a control circuit having inputs coupled to the first and second windings to control a pulse width modulation control circuit such that pulse width modulated control signals are provided to the motor drive circuit only when the voltage across the first and second windings are at a predetermined level.

One problem with operation of brushless direct current motors of the type that are commonly used to provide electronic equipment cooling is that the leakage inductance between the motor windings may produce significant leakage inductance voltage spikes on the drive transistors. Also overlapping commutation results in current spikes on the motor power source.
Unless controlled or suppressed, the leakage inductance voltage and overlapping commutation current spikes may produce significant electromagnetic interference effects in associated electronic circuitry. In the past, suppression circuitry has been utilized to minimize the effect of leakage inductance spikes.
A significant disadvantage to the prior approach of suppression is that the suppression utilizes capacitors, either bypass capacitors or cross coupling capacitors across the motor windings. This is a disadvantage because the use of any component that can not be integrated onto an integrated circuit leads to extra cost and physical space requirements.
It is therefore desirable to provide a motor controller circuit that reduces the required capacitance to suppress leakage inductance and overlapping commutation spikes.

Controller arrangement with adaptive non-overlapping commutation


A cathode, electrochemical cell and process for making either is disclosed. The cathode includes iron disulfide which exhibits multiple peaks representing distinct maxima of mean diameters for the volume-based particle size distribution. All of the maxima are less than 20 microns. A combination of natural pyrite ore and synthetic iron disulfide may be mixed to achieve the desired distribution, or a combination of natural pyrite ores may be processed in different manners to achieve the desired characteristics.

Lithium batteries (i.e., batteries containing metallic lithium or a metallic lithium alloy as sole electrochemically active negative electrode material) are becoming increasingly popular as portable power sources for electronic devices having high power operating requirements. Among these lithium batteries, lithium-iron disulfide (i.e., batteries utilizing iron disulfide as the primary electrochemically active positive electrode material) batteries are the most widely used and prevalent 1.5 volt consumer battery sizes (i.e., AA and AAA).
Lithium-iron disulfide batteries are usually made from pyrite, a naturally-occurring ore that contains mostly iron disulfide (preferably, in excess of about 90 wt. % and more preferably at or above about 95 wt. %). The natural ore is crushed, heat treated, and dry milled (e.g., jet milled) to a mean diameter of the volume distribution that is between 20 to 30 microns. In this approach, the fineness of the grind is limited by relatively hardness of the mineral and the reactivity of the particles with air and moisture. As the particle size is reduced, the surface area increases and becomes more susceptible to weathering, which is an unwanted oxidation in the presence of moisture and/or air to create iron sulfates. In turn, sulfates may increase acidity and reduce electrochemical activity of the pyrite and, by extension, the final cathode material. Iron disulfide particles under this approach can have particles sizes that are close to the final cathode coating thickness of about 80 microns because of inconsistencies in the dry milling process, and large particle sizes can negatively impact processes such as compaction/calendaring (causing substrate distortion), coating to substrate bond disruption and separator damage.
Under an improved manufacturing approach, the pyrite particles from natural ore may be milled in situ within the coating slurry through the use of a media mill. This approach can yield much smaller particle sizes and avoids the weathering issue, but the in situ nature of the media milling restricts the manufacturer to a single particle size profile based upon the resident time in which the slurry is subjected to milling. Stated differently, in a media milling operation, it is difficult to tailor the shape of the particle distribution produced by the milling, which is usually expected to be fairly uniform.
Pyrite particles derived from natural ores also contain a number of impurities. In particular, natural pyrite typically contains metal-based impurities containing metals such as Si, Mn, Al, Ca, Cu, Zn, As, and Co. Impurities are believed to decrease theoretical capacity input and contribute to problems such as shorting and/or other problems. The total concentration of various impurities in natural pyrite ore varies based upon mining and storage conditions, although they are often at least about 3 wt. % of the overall material. Notably, although pyrite and iron disulfide may be used interchangeably herein, a portion of that material may include non-electrochemically active constituents depending upon the context, and any reference to purity of pyrite or iron disulfide should be understood and interpreted accordingly.
Synthetic pyrite is also available as a potential raw material. Owing to the synthesis process, these materials can be substantially more expense than natural ore and the mean diameter of the volume distribution for synthetic pyrite typically has an average particle size anywhere from tens of nanometers up to about 2 microns. While synthetic pyrite can be produced with little or no metal-based impurities as found in natural pyrite, some synthetic pyrites may contain iron sulfides having forms other than FeS2. For example, some types of synthetic pyrite may also contain iron sulfide (FeS), marcasite (a distinct and less preferred form iron disulfide) and/or lesser order iron sulfides such as pyrrhotite (FeS1.3), all of which may have unwanted and/or unpredictable effects upon the electrochemical performance of synthetic pyrite. Additionally, synthetic pyrite has been observed to undergo greater volumetric expansion upon discharge as compared to natural pyrite. Finally, synthetic pyrite present challenges owing to the pyrophoric nature of extremely small particles.
The discharge reaction between lithium and iron disulfide is unique in comparison to the class of cathode compounds normally considered as candidates for primary lithium batteries. First, as iron disulfide discharges, the commonly accepted lithium-iron disulfide electrochemical reaction is expressed as 4 Li+FeS2→2 Li2S+Fe. However, the inventors have determined the proposed reaction mechanism involves at least two distinct reactions, including and the formation of an intermediate phase that ultimately concludes with a complete displacement reaction:2Li+FeS2→Li2FeS2 2Li+Li2FeS2→2Li2S+Fe
Second, iron disulfide cathodes undergo significant volumetric expansion during discharge in comparison to other cathode materials. In fact, as described in United States Patent Publication 2009/0104520 (incorporated by reference), iron disulfide cells and cathode coatings both must have sufficient amounts of void engineered into the cell design in order to avoid physically compromising the battery container. United States Patent Publication 2010/0273036 (also incorporated by reference) goes on to further suggest that even when the container has sufficient strength and the cell/cathode design has sufficient void, the expansion experienced by the cathode is non-uniform and causes deformation in parts of the coated iron disulfide cathode that can lead to physical penetration of the separator layer adjacent to the cathode.
One reason for the non-uniformity of expansion may relate to the fact that, unlike other electrode materials, the shape and morphology of pyrite varies from particle to particle and is not consistent. Depending upon the source (natural ore vs. synthetic) and the conditions under which the material was extracted and stored, pyrite may have a smooth or rough morphology, or a mixture of both. Moreover, the shape of the particles is rarely ever spherical and instead encompasses any number of polygonal cross-sectional shapes.
In the past, only a single pyrite source having a consistent composition was used, in part to avoid discontinuities in expansion upon discharge, difficulties with rheology/mix processing and/or unwanted variability in performance of the pyrite as a cathode material.

Particle size distribution variations in iron disulfide cathodes


A semiautomatic pneumatic gun is provided incorporating a reciprocatable striker-barrel which performs the normal functions of a barrel and a striker, sliding during firing from a cocked position in response to the urging of a striker power spring to impact upon a normally closed valve, which impact releases compressed gas for propelling a projectile from the gun and for recocking the gun. A slidable bolt serves to transfer the impact of the striker-barrel to the valve, and functions as a piston moving in a cylindrical recocking chamber in response to the urging of gas released by the valve to move the striker-barrel back to the cocked position.

It is previously known in the art to have semiautomatic pneumatic guns. In such guns, each pull of the trigger causes the release of compressed gas to propel a projectile from the gun. In a true semiautomatic, compressed gas also provides the motive force to return the gun to the cocked state.
In common with manually cocked guns, semiautomatics in general incorporate a gun frame, a grip, a barrel, a projectile chamber at a breech end of the barrel, a magazine of projectiles with a feed assembly for successively introducing individual projectiles into the projectile chamber, a mechanism to prevent the projectile then in the chamber from rolling forward when the gun in tilted downward, an operator actuatable trigger mechanism, a source of compressed gas, and an internal gas reservoir having at least one normally closed valve which opens briefly in response to trigger actuation, thereby releasing compressed gas to propel the projectile then in the projectile chamber from the gun.
Some mechanism for sealing the projectile chamber against loss of the compressed gas released to propel the projectile will also generally be present in the gun. Typical sealing mechanisms are a longitudinally slidable bolt, a rotatable bolt, a transversely slidable clip, a slide, or a slidable barrel.
It is common in a semiautomatic pneumatic gun as shown in my U.S. Pat. No. 5,063,905 for the valve opening and release of compressed gas upon firing to be effected by the impact of a striker. In such a gun, the striker is restrained in a cocked position against the urging of a compressed striker power spring by a sear in the trigger mechanism. Trigger actuation withdraws the sear, releasing the striker to impact upon and briefly open one or more normally closed main valves. Gas released by the opening of the main valve or valves acts to propel the projectile then within the projectile chamber from the gun, and by virtue of a piston and cylinder mechanism which forms a recock chamber, to return the gun to the cocked state. A movable portion of the piston and cylinder mechanism may serve as the striker, or this movable portion may be linked to a separate striker.
Efficient utilization of the energy available from the compressed gas provided to the gun is advantageous to the user. Achieving efficiency imposes two generally opposed requirements on the mechanism used to achieve the recock-motion and main valve impact functions. First, the recock motion function is ideally achieved if the recock chamber is substantially sealed against the loss of compressed gas from the time the gas is introduced until the recock motion is completed. Second, the impact function is ideally achieved if striker motion from the cocked position to the position of impact is not impeded by the compression of residual gas within the chamber.
Mechanical simplicity is also a desirable goal in the design and manufacture of a compressed gas gun. Most prior art guns employ separate a barrel, hammer, and main valve. In addition, in semiautomatic guns in which gas pressure is utilized to recock the gun automatically, the hammer or striker and bolt are typically interconnected so as to move together thus increasing the friction generated within the gun. To reduce the mechanical complexity of gas-powered guns, it is known to utilize the barrel itself as a striker or hammer by providing a movable barrel which actuates the main valve when the trigger is depressed. U.S. Pat. No. 4,147,152 to Fischer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,531,503 to Shepherd, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,204,625 to Shepherd all describe gas-pressurized guns utilizing a moving barrel with the striker or hammer on the main valve. However, the incorporation of a true semiautomatic operation eluded the inventors of these devices. U.S. Pat. No. 2,817,328 to Gale is one example of a reciprocating barrel, semiautomatic compressed-gas gun. However, although this gun achieves semiautomatic operation in a reciprocating barrel gun, Gale forfeits use of the barrel itself as a striker or hammer thus reverting to a more complex mechanical structure while attempting to obtain the benefits of a mechanically less complex sliding barrel gun. Thus, a need exists for a reciprocating barrel/striker-fired pneumatic gun having a minimum number of moving parts which effectively utilizes the mechanical simplicity of a reciprocating barrel design while providing true semiautomatic operation.


Embodiments create the present method, communication module, vehicle, system, and computer program for authenticating a mobile radio device for a location-specific function of a vehicle. The vehicle comprises a transmitter designed for transmitting mobile radio signals in a mobile radio system and a receiver designed for receiving mobile radio signals in a mobile radio system. Furthermore, a control module designed for controlling the transmitter and the receiver is provided, said control module being coupled to the transmitter and the receiver, and the control module is additionally designed to convert the transmitter from a first mode to a second mode when the vehicle is parked. The transmitter consumes less energy in the second mode than in the first mode. Furthermore, a received mobile radio signal of the mobile radio device is evaluated, said signal comprising information on the identity of the mobile radio device. Finally, an authentication of the mobile radio device is carried out on the basis of the mobile radio signal, wherein the mobile radio device is authorized to use at least one location-specific function of the vehicle after a successful authentication.

It is known to facilitate the remote control and handling of a vehicle for the driver before arriving at or after leaving the vehicle using supporting vehicle responses. For this purpose, control units are used in the vehicles that register the approach or departure of the driver. These control units must be optimized in terms of power consumption, since they must be in operation at least semi-permanently due to the unpredictability of the driver approaching. The operation of these control units takes place with radio transceivers, which can be designed as motor vehicle keys or can assume a variety of other embodiments. A radio transceiver can thus also be designed as a commercially available cellular mobile radio device on which a manufacturer-specific application is executed.
Implementations can be based on Bluetooth low energy technology, for example. Other radio standards with a limited range can be used, which can be designed, for example, in accordance with the WLAN (Wireless LAN), WiFi, or NFC (Near Field Communication) standard. The established cellular mobile radio can also be used with its commercially available mobile devices.
DE 10 2016 108 726 A1 discloses first and second movement data which represent the movement of a first and a second wearable portable apparatus during a first period of time. The first and second wearable portable apparatuses are associated with first and second users, respectively. A position of the first user relative to the second user in the vehicle is determined based at least in part on the comparison of the movement data.
From DE 10 2013 225 742 A1, a wireless communication device (or terminal device) is known, as well as a vehicle having a central module, and a server providing a key. The server providing the key is communicatively coupled to the wireless communication device and the central module via wireless connections.
DE 10 2017 110 251 A1 discloses a system for implementation in an autonomous vehicle, which system comprises a hardware-based processing unit, a man-machine interface, and a non-transitory storage device that contains a registration module. When executed by the hardware-based processing unit, the system performs passenger registration functions.
EP 2 729 904 B1 discloses that personalization of data and, as a result, of settings in a motor vehicle takes place with the aid of a central data processing device. Said device is aware of the positions of a motor vehicle or a plurality of motor vehicles and transmits these positions to a mobile communication device, which compares the transmitted positions with its own.
DE 10 2016 000 546 A1 teaches methods and apparatuses for providing access to a set of functions in a multi-person vehicle for a user of a mobile device.
EP 2 709 051 A1 teaches a method for electronically processing a traffic offense of a vehicle which has an onboard unit having a transceiver, an input device, and an output device.
However, it is necessary to use separate control units in the vehicle for this function, which can additionally be connected with the installation of associated communication antennas. In addition to the direct costs for the components, there are also disadvantages due to the corresponding arrangement of the components in the vehicle, their supply, and control.

Method, communication module, vehicle, system, and computer program for authenticating a mobile radio device for a location-specific function of a vehicle


According to one embodiment, a first well of the first conductivity type which is formed in a substrate. a second well of a second conductivity type which is formed in the first well. The plurality of memory cells, the plurality of first bit line select transistors, and the plurality of second bit line select transistors are formed in the second well, and the plurality of first bit line select transistors and the plurality of second bit line select transistors are arranged on a side of the sense amplifier with respect to the plurality of memory cells of the plurality of bit lines.

In a NAND flash memory, out of a plurality of memory cells arranged in rows and columns, half cells arranged in rows undergo a write or read operation. More specifically, the plurality of cells arranged in columns are connected to even-numbered bit lines BLe or odd-numbered bit lines BLo. In the data write or read mode, one of a pair of bit lines BLe and BLo is connected to a sense amplifier SA via a pair of first bit line select transistors. A signal BLSe or BLSo is supplied to the gate electrodes of these first bit line select transistors. A predetermined BL voltage is applied to an unselected bit line of the pair of bit lines BLe and BLo. For this purpose, a pair of second bit line select transistors are connected to bit lines BLe and BLo. A signal BIASe or BIASo is supplied to the gate electrodes of these second bit line select transistors. One of the second bit line select transistors is selected by signal BIASe or BIASo.
The first and second bit line select transistors are arranged on a p-type substrate (Psub). The memory cell array is provided in a p-type well region (CPWELL) for memory cells, which is formed in an n-type well region (NWELL) formed in the Psub.
In the erase mode of the NAND flash memory, Pusb=0V, and NWELL=CPWELL=Vera (erase voltage: for example, 20V) are set, and a plurality of word lines WL included in an erase target block are set to 0V. When the CPWELL is set to Vera, a cell source line CELSRC and the bit lines are forward biased. Hence, the cell source line CELSRC and the bit lines are also set to Vera. The first and second bit line select transistors are provided on the Psub (0V). For this reason, when the bit lines are set to Vera, the voltage Vera is applied to the first and second bit line select transistors as well. It is therefore necessary to form the first and second bit line select transistors using high-voltage transistors. However, the high-voltage transistors have a long channel or large diffusion layer, resulting in a large chip size.
Along with the progress of micropatterning, the pitches between interconnects such as bit lines become narrower. One of the two bit lines BLe and BLo is selected and connected to a sense amplifier bit line SABL. Bit line SABL is connected to the sense amplifier. Since the sense amplifier is formed from a low-voltage transistor, the voltage of bit line SABL needs to be Vdd (2.5V) or less. The first and second bit line select transistors form an interconnect structure in which the bit lines to which Vera is applied are close to bit line SABL to which a voltage less than or equal to Vdd is applied. In such an interconnect structure, as the elements become smaller, it becomes more difficult to hold the breakdown voltage between the interconnects.
A technique of arranging first and second bit line select transistors in a CPWELL has been disclosed (for example, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 8-46159). In this arrangement, the first and second bit line select transistors are formed in a CPWELL, and can therefore be formed from low-voltage transistors. In this case, however, the first bit line select transistors are arranged on the sense amplifier side with respect to the memory cell array, whereas the second bit line select transistors are arranged on the side opposite to the sense amplifier with respect to the memory cell array. For this reason, a voltage generation circuit for generating a power to drive the second bit line select transistors also needs to be arranged on the side opposite to the sense amplifier with respect to the memory cell array. A power pad is generally arranged on the sense amplifier side. Hence, the interconnect that connects the power pad to the voltage generation circuit is long, resulting in a large chip size.
The read operation of the NAND flash memory will briefly be explained. When bit line BLe is selected out of the pair of bit lines BLe and BLo, signal BLSe supplied to the gate electrode of the first bit line select transistor that selects the bit line goes high, and signal BLSo goes low. Bit line BLe is then connected to the sense amplifier via the first bit line select transistor. In addition, signal BIASo goes high, and signal BIASe goes low so that the second bit line select transistor sets a potential BLCRL in the unselected bit line BLo. Bit lines BLe and BLo are arranged in parallel. For this reason, when bit line BLe is selected, the adjacent bit line BLo is set to the potential BLCRL to serve as a shield for bit line BLe. More specifically, since a cell current flows to the selected bit line BLe because of the threshold voltage of the cell, the potential of bit line BLe is fluctuated. The potential change of bit line BLe does not influence other bit lines BLe. Hence, when bit line BLo serves as a shield, the read margin improves.
The cell current flows to bit line BLe, and then flows into the cell source line CELSRC. When the cell current flows to bit line BLe, the potential of bit line BLe falls. Because of capacitive coupling, the potential of bit line BLo also falls. The potential of bit line BLo is BLCRL. If the voltage generation circuit for generating BLCRL is far from the power pad, the interconnect resistance between the power pad and the voltage generation circuit increases to make it impossible to generate the necessary potential BLCRL. Hence, the shielding effect becomes poor, and the read margin decreases. To prevent this, a semiconductor memory device capable of suppressing an increase in the chip size and preventing a decrease in the read margin is demanded.

Semiconductor memory device capable of reducing chip size


The present invention relates to a method for operating a hydraulic system of a self-propelled road paver, in particular, for the supply of hydraulic oil as needed to a closed hydraulic circuit of the road paver, a hydraulic system of a road paver for performing the method and a road paver having such a hydraulic system. The extraction and/or return of the quantity of hydraulic oil occur depending on at least one operating parameter of the road paver.

Hydraulic motors in a closed hydraulic circuit, and, in particular, in a respective one thereof, are used in many self-propelled road pavers for the travel drive and further drives. The hydraulic motors are pressurized with hydraulic oil by hydrostatic pumps (designated below as operating pumps for the purpose of better distinguishability), which in turn are driven by an internal combustion engine, for example. The term operating pump thus designates in the present case a hydraulic pump which conveys the hydraulic oil within a closed hydraulic circuit for driving a consumer. A specific quantity of the hydraulic oil is usually taken from the circuit per unit of time for the exchange of hydraulic oil (for example, for cooling or cleaning purposes) in the closed circuit, which quantity is replaced at another location by a cooled and filtered hydraulic oil, so that the total quantity of the hydraulic oil in the closed hydraulic circuit ideally remains approximately constant. This process is known in the present case as scavenging. The supply of the hydraulic oil to the closed hydraulic circuit during the scavenging process usually occurs by means of constant pumps with a constant volumetric displacement. The pump output is configured in such a way that during the operation of the circuit under loading of the hydraulic motors and simultaneously at a low hydraulic oil flow rate, i.e., at low speed of the internal combustion engine, an oil supply is ensured which is sufficient for the compensation of the hydraulic oil volume taken from the closed hydraulic circuit per unit of time. In order to ensure an oil supply which is adequate over the entire operating spectrum, the delivery rate of the constant pump is therefore always designed for oversupply of the circuit with hydraulic oil, wherein excess amounts are lost as power losses. This produces unnecessary consumption of fuel. Furthermore, problems frequently occur during starting, especially during cold starting of the internal combustion engine, because the produced drag loads are very high. A generic road paver is known, for example, from DE 10 2011 018 469 A1.
The present invention is based on the object of providing a method, a hydraulic system and a road paver of the kind mentioned above with which the fuel consumption of the internal combustion engine can be reduced and at the same time the required dragging power can be reduced, especially during cold starting.

Method for operating a hydraulic system of a self-propelled paver, hydraulic system, especially for using the method, and paver with such a hydraulic system


A transition fitting for directing fluid from a first line into a second line includes a body, an inlet, an outlet, and a channel. The body defines a constant-volume channel that redirects a direction of the fluid entering the inlet. The inlet is connected to the body and connectable to the first line, and the inlet directs the fluid from the first line into the channel. The outlet is connected to the body and connectable to the second line, and the outlet directs the fluid from the channel into the second line. The bracket is connected to the body and at least partially surrounds the body.

The present invention relates to a plumbing fixture and more particularly to a fitting for use in a water supply system of a refrigerator.
As a result of an increased awareness of contaminants in the water supply, many people are turning to alternative sources for their water. For example, the bottled drinking water industry has grown significantly in the last 10-20 years. Another alternative method of obtaining clean water has been through the use of household water filtration systems. At one extreme, some water filtration systems have been designed and installed to provide central water filtration for an entire household. However, if a central water filtration system is not being used, the ability to ensure filtered drinking water at each possible source requires that each outlet or faucet have its own filtration system.
Until recently, one potential outlet for drinking water that was not being filtered was the typical household refrigerator. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the refrigerator 110 includes a fluid or water supply system 100 that supplies water to water dispensing devices in the refrigerator 110, such as an automated ice maker 118 and a door water dispenser 122. The water supply system 100 receives the water from a water supply line 114, and the supply of the water is controlled via a valve 112 connected to the water supply line 114. Upon actuation of the valve 112, the valve 112 allows water to flow into supply line 116 for the ice maker 118 and a supply line 120 for the door water dispenser 122. As the refrigerator 110 provides no easy access for an addition of a filtration system, the water being supplied to the ice maker 118 and the door water dispenser 122 is not usually filtered.
The failure of previous refrigerators 110 to provide filtered water was remedied by a redesign that added a filtration system 124 into the water supply system 100, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The addition of the filtration system 124, however, required the water supply system 100 to include additional components. One component that was added was an outlet line 130 from the filtration system 124 to the first valve 112.
Another additional component required by the addition of the filtration system 124 is a second valve 126, which connects the water supply line 114 to the inlet line 128 for the filtration system 124. The second valve 126 is required because the water supply line 114 and the inlet line 128 cannot be directly connected. The inlet line 128 is typically a plastic line without any connectors, and the water supply line 114 is typically a copper pipe with a threaded connector. As such, the second valve 126 is necessary to connect the water supply line 114 to the inlet line 128.
The use of a valve to connect a water supply line to an inlet line of a filtration system is, however, problematic. For example, the valve must be energized or activated before water can flow through the valve. As such, the valve is an expensive piece of hardware that also has the potential to fail during use. Another problem with the valve is that the components within a refrigerator are very tightly packed, and available volume for additional components within the refrigerator is very limited. Not only does the valve require considerable volume, the valve is typically oriented such that water flows into and out of the valve along the same direction. This orientation is not ideal in the close quarters of the refrigerator, as the water supply line and/or the inlet line for the filtration system must be bent to accommodate the valve. Thus, there is a present need for an inexpensive and reliable fitting that can easily connect the water supply line to the inlet line.
These and other needs are met by embodiments of the present invention which provide a transition fitting for directing fluid from a first line into a second line. The transition fitting includes a body, an inlet, an outlet, and a channel. The body defines a constant-volume channel that redirects a direction of the fluid entering the inlet. The inlet is connected to the body and connectable to the first line, and the inlet directs the fluid from the first line into the channel. The outlet is connected to the body and is connectable to the second line, and the outlet directs the fluid from the channel into the second line. The bracket is connected to the body and at least partially surrounds the body. The body is also rotatable relative to the bracket.
When used in a refrigerator having a filtration system, the transition fitting advantageously allows for an easy connection between a water supply line and an inlet line for the filtration system. Also, by having the transition fitting change the direction of water flow received from the water supply such that the water flows in a direction towards the filtration system, bending of the water supply line or the inlet line is not required. The transition fitting can also be attached to a valve in the refrigerator to reduce the amount of space taken up by the transition fitting within the refrigerator.
In aspects of the invention, the inlet and the outlet include a threaded compression connector or a quick-connect connector. Also, the bracket includes two opposing locking tab slots, and the body includes two opposing locking tabs. When the locking tabs are inserted into the locking tab slots, rotation of the body relative to the bracket is prevented in at least one rotational direction. The bracket also includes crimping tabs while the body includes crimping tab slots. When the crimping tabs are inserted into the crimping tab slots, rotation of the body relative to the bracket is also prevented in at least one rotation direction.
In further aspects of the invention, the outlet is detachable from the body. Also, the inlet is detachable from the body and rotatable relative to the body. The bracket includes a top portion, a left side portion, a right side portion, and a rear portion. The left side portion and the right side portion are connected to the rear portion and the top portion, and the top portion includes an inlet hole through which the inlet is partially inserted. The inlet also has a non-circular, bilaterally symmetrical cross-section. Thus, when the inlet is partially inserted into the inlet hole, the top portion of the bracket prevents rotation of the inlet relative to the bracket in at least one rotational direction.
In other aspects of the invention, the transition fitting includes a pair of fasteners. The fasteners are partially inserted into holes in the left side and the right side portions of the bracket. Each of the fasteners is then respectively connected to the body to prevent rotation of the body relative to the bracket in at least one rotational direction. A flow washer can be disposed between the outlet and the body.
In another embodiment of the invention, a refrigerator receiving water from a water supply line is provided. The refrigerator includes at least one water dispensing device, a valve, a filter, and a transition fitting. The valve is connected to and supplies water to at least one water dispensing device. The filter filters the water and supplies the water to the valve. The transition fitting is connected to the water supply line and supplies the water to the filter. The transition fitting also provides an always-open flow of the water from the water supply line, through the transition fitting, and into an inlet line for the filter.
Additional advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description, wherein only the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown and described, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated for carrying out the present invention. As will be realized, the present invention is capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.


A portable solar kiosk is provided. The solar kiosk is configured for use with vending machines, outdoor kitchens, parking lot payment booths, bus stop waiting areas, and the like, as well as associated battery systems, solar power assemblies, traditional power access, wiring systems and harnesses, and so forth. The solar kiosk includes a multiplicity of solar panels. The multiplicity of solar panels can charge batteries to power a vending machine. The solar kiosk includes side beams supported by a base such that the solar panel array can swivel on swivel rod to an appropriate angle to the sun. The base of the solar kiosk can support battery bank assemblies.

Solar panels are utilized to provide alternative power sources to power consuming devices. Solar power is useful in locations where traditional power sources are not available or reliable, such as county or state fairgrounds, craft shows, festivals, the desert, parks, athletic events, parking lots, and the like. By way of example, vending machines, outdoor kitchens, parking lot payment booths, bus stop waiting areas, and the like, all can be powered by traditional power sources. However, alternative power sources would enable use in remote locations or where traditional power is not reliable. Furthermore, alternative power sources can be used purposefully to avoid use of traditional power systems even when it is available.
Related utility patents known in the art include the following: U.S. Pat. No. 6,201,181, issued to Azzman et al. on Mar. 13, 2001, discloses a portable solar module cart. A portable solar module cart is provided which comprises a platform, a pair of wheels attached to opposite sides of the platform, a pair of support struts attached to opposite sides of the platform and movable relative to the platform between a first retracted position in which they lie substantially parallel to the platform and a second erected position in which they extend at a selected angle to the platform so that a DC power source can be disposed on and supported by the platform, a solar panel pivotally mounted to the struts, the solar panel being movable on its pivot when the struts are in their erected position so as to be in a perpendicular relationship with an imaginary line connecting the sun and the solar panel, whereby to maximize the solar energy collected by the panel, and means for locking the solar panel in any selected position on its pivot.
The foregoing patent information reflects the state of the art of which the inventors are aware and is tendered with a view toward discharging the inventors' acknowledged duty of candor in disclosing information that may be pertinent to the patentability of the technology described herein. It is respectfully stipulated, however, that the foregoing patent and other information do not teach or render obvious, singly or when considered in combination, the inventors' claimed invention.


A method of fabricating a non-volatile memory is described. A substrate having stacked gate structures thereon is provided. Each stacked gate structure includes a select gate dielectric layer, a select gate and a cap layer. A source region and a drain region are formed in the substrate. The source region and the drain region are separated from each other by at least two stacked gate structures. A tunneling dielectric layer is formed over the substrate and then a first conductive layer is formed over the tunneling dielectric layer. The first conductive layer is patterned to form floating gates in the gaps between the stacked gate structures. After forming an inter-gate dielectric layer over the substrate, a second conductive layer is formed over the substrate. The second conductive layer is patterned to form mutually linked control gates in the gaps between neighboring stacked gate structures.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a non-volatile memory and a method of operating a non-volatile memory array.
2. Description of Related Art
Electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) is a type of non-volatile memory that allows multiple data reading, writing and erasing operations. In addition, the stored data will be retained even after power to the device is removed. With these advantages, it has been broadly applied in personal computer and electronic equipment.
A typical EEPROM has a floating gate and a control gate fabricated using doped polysilicon. To prevent erroneous reading resulting from the over-erasure of the EEPROM during an erasing operation, a select gate is set up above the substrate on the sidewall of the control gate and the floating gate forming a so-called split-gate structure.
At present, the industry has developed an AG-AND memory cell array fabricated using a split-gate memory cells (refer to U.S. Pat. No. 6,567,315). FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of a conventional AG_AND memory cell structure. As shown in FIG. 1, the AG-AND memory cell structure includes a substrate 100, a well region 102, an auxiliary gate transistor Qa1 (Qa2), a memory device Qm1 (Qm2) and source/drain regions 104a, 104b (104c) in the substrate 100 on one side of the auxiliary gate transistor Qa1 (Qa2) and the memory device Qm1 (Qm2) respectively. The auxiliary gate transistor Qa1 (Qa2) includes an auxiliary gate 106a and the memory device Qm1 (Qm2) includes a floating gate 108a (108b) and a word line 110. The word line 110 serves as a control gate for the memory device Qm1 (Qm2). The auxiliary gate transistor Qa1 (Qa2) and the memory device Qm1 (Qm2) together form a memory cell Q1 (Q2). In an AG-AND array, neighboring memory cells in the row direction use a common source/drain region.
To program memory cell Q1 of the aforementioned AG-AND memory cell array, a 13V bias voltage is applied to the word line 110, a 1V bias voltage is applied to the auxiliary gate 106a, a 0V bias voltage is applied to the source/drain region 104a and a 5V bias voltage is applied to the source/drain region 104b. Thus, electrons are injected into the floating gate 108a of the memory device Qm1 to program the memory cell Q1. Because a bias voltage is not applied to the auxiliary gate 106b, the memory cell Q2 is not programmed.
However, in the aforementioned AG-AND memory cell structure, a source/drain region (104a, 104b or 104c) is formed in the substrate 100 on each side of the memory cell Q1 (Q2). To prevent the source/drain region (104a, 104b or 104c) from getting too close to the conductive channels underneath the memory cell, the source/drain regions (104a, 104b or 104c) have to be separate from each other by a definite distance. This precludes any further miniaturization of the memory cell array.

Method of fabricating non-volatile memory


An information editing apparatus for editing a reproduction manner of record information which is recorded on an information storage medium and includes at least one picture information, includes: a selecting unit for selecting a partial record information from the record information, the partial record information being part of the record information and including at least one picture information; a designating unit for designating a reproduction timing of the selected partial record information; an extracting unit for extracting the picture information included in the partial record information as a representative picture information indicative of the partial record information; and a recording unit for recording one of the extracted representative picture information and a designation information indicative of a recorded position on the information storage medium of the representative picture information and the designated reproduction timing on the information storage medium as a reproduction control information separately from the record information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information editing apparatus for editing a reproduction manner of a recorded information already recorded on an information storage medium, and an information reproducing apparatus for reproducing the recorded information in the manner edited by the information editing apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to an information editing apparatus for editing a reproduction manner of the recorded information including one or a plurality of picture information, and an information reproducing apparatus for reproducing the recorded information in the manner edited by the information editing apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
If recorded information such as a plurality of broadcast programs or the like (hereinafter, recorded information to be continuously reproduced will be referred to as a "program") is recorded in a currently popular video tape recorder so that a user can select a target program desired to be viewed from the plurality of programs, it is necessary to find a leading portion of the target program by performing feed-forward or feed-back operation on the video tape and then start the reproduction therefrom.
However, this reproduction method is inconvenient in the cases where many programs are recorded on one video tape or where a recording time for each program is long even if the number of recorded program is small.
So, the following configuration is proposed in order to solve that disadvantage. That is, a recording position on a video tape, a recorded date, a channel (in a case of a broadcasted program) and the like are extracted for each recorded program. Then, those information for all recorded programs are collected and recorded at a leading area of the video tape as contents information. At the time of reproduction, the contents information is used to select the target program desired to be viewed. The reproduction apparatus searches for the recording position of the desired program by referring to the contents information, and then automatically starts the reproduction of the program.
However, in the above-mentioned conventional program searching method, only a character such as a title of each program and the like is recorded as the contents information. Therefore, it is quite inconvenient for a user who wants to grasp the whole contents of the recorded programs at a glance.
Also, in the above-mentioned conventional program reproducing method, the recorded programs can be reproduced only in a manner that they are originally recorded. Thus, a user cannot arbitrarily edit and view the recorded programs in a manner as he or she desires.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Information editing apparatus and information reproducing apparatus


The differential engine comprises a motor, a torque conversion stage, and a loading mechanism. The torque conversion stage includes first and second differential stages which are coupled together with a pair of shafts, with the shafts rotating in opposite directions. The first differential stage comprises an input shaft which is coupled to the output shaft of the motor, and first and second output shafts which are coupled to the respective shafts. The second differential stage comprises an output coupled to the output drive shaft, and first and second input shafts which are coupled to the respective shafts. The second differential stage includes a gear mechanism which applies a rotational torque to the output drive shaft when a difference occurs between the rotational speeds for the shafts. The rotational speeds of the shafts are varied by loading one or both of the shafts.

The present invention relates to engines, and particularly to a differential engine with variable torque conversion.
A major problem with existing electric engines is that the peak efficiency occurs over a relatively narrow range of output speeds, which are not at low or starting speeds. An efficiency-speed curve for a typical engine is shown in FIG. 1 and indicated by reference A. As shown in FIG. 1, the typical electric engine achieves peak efficiency in the range of 80% to something less than 100% and is represented by point B on the efficiency-speed curve A, whereas a low output speeds and startup speeds (indicated by reference C), the efficiency is in the range 20 to 25%.
This problem is compounded by the need for high starting torque if a load, for example, an automobile, has to reach operating speed under acceleration. The starting torque varies directly with accelerationxe2x80x94the higher the acceleration, the higher the required starting torque. As torque is directly proportional to the current in the motor coil, the accelerating torque (e.g. acceleration from a stopped position or deceleration under a controlled reverse motor torque) will demand a significantly higher motor coil current. This means the current required by the motor to produce a given torque at a low speed or from a stop will be much greater than the current that would be needed to produce the same torque at higher speeds because the efficiency of the motor at low speeds is much less than at higher speeds as illustrated by points B and C on the efficiency vs. output-speed in FIG. 1. Furthermore, the energy loss in the motor increases exponentially as this loss is equal to the resistance of the motor winding multiplied by the current raised to the second power.
During stop/start operation of an electric motor powered system, particularly when relatively quick acceleration and deceleration forces are present, the operating efficiency of the electric motor will be well below the peak efficiency point, and is typically in the range of 20% to 25% as indicated by point C in FIG. 1, even lower than this under accelerating/decelerating conditions. As a result, an electric vehicle will travel much farther distances at constant highway driving conditions than within a city.
In view of these and other known deficiencies, there remains a need for an engine which improves on the torque output vs. speed characteristic of known designs and approaches the ideal engine operating characteristic as shown in FIG. 1(b).
The present invention provides a differential engine with variable torque conversion.
In a first aspect, the present invention provides, a differential engine with a variable torque output, the differential engine comprises: (a) a motor for driving an output shaft at a rotational speed and applying an input rotational torque to said output shaft; (b) a torque conversion stage coupled to the motor for converting the input rotational torque into a rotational torque at an output shaft for coupling to a load; (c) the torque conversion stage including a first differential stage, the first differential stage having an input shaft coupled to the output shaft of the motor, and the first differential stage having a gear mechanism for translating the rotational torque from the input shaft to first and second output shafts and the gear mechanism driving each of the output shafts at the same speed and in opposing rotational directions; (d) the torque conversion stage including a second differential stage, the second differential stage having a first input shaft coupled to the first output shaft of the first differential stage, and a second input shaft coupled to the second output shaft of the first differential stage, and including a gear mechanism for applying a rotational torque to the output shaft when a difference occurs between the rotational speeds of the first and second input shafts for the second differential stage; (e) a loading mechanism, the loading mechanism being coupled to one of the input shafts on the second differential, the loading mechanism being responsive to a control input for loading the input shaft to vary the rotational speed of the associated input shaft.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a differential engine with a variable torque output, the differential engine comprises: (a) a motor for driving an output shaft at a constant speed in a predetermined direction; (b) a transmission stage having an input shaft and an output drive shaft for driving a load, the input shaft is coupled to the output shaft of the motor; (c) a regenerative charging stage, the regenerative charging stage has an input for receiving power from the transmission stage and charging an energy storage device; (d) the transmission stage comprises a first differential stage and a second differential stage, the first differential stage has a drive mechanism coupled to the input shaft, and the second differential stage has a drive mechanism coupled to the output drive shaft, and the drive mechanism for the first differential stage is coupled to the drive mechanism for the second differential stage through first and second differential shafts, the differential shafts rotate in opposite directions at the same speed; (e) the transmission stage includes a generator coupled to one of the differential shafts, the generator is responsive to a control input for generating the power output for the regenerative charging stage, and operation of the generator loads the differential shaft and produces a difference in the speed of the differential shafts, and the drive mechanism in the second differential stage translates the difference to the rotational speed of the output drive shaft.
In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a differential engine with a variable torque output, the differential engine comprises, (a) a first motor for driving an output shaft at a rotational speed and applying an input rotational torque to the output shaft; (b) a second motor for driving an output motor shaft at a rotational speed and in a same direction as the output shaft for the first motor; (c) a torque conversion stage coupled to the motor for converting the input rotational torque from the first motor and the second motor into a rotational torque at an output drive shaft for coupling to a load; (d) the torque conversion stage includes a first differential stage, the first differential stage has an input shaft, the first differential stage has a gear mechanism for translating the rotational torque from the input shaft to first and second output shafts and the gear mechanism driving each of the output shafts at the same speed and in opposing rotational directions; (e) the torque conversion stage including a second differential stage, the second differential stage has a first input shaft coupled to the first output shaft of the first differential stage, and a second input shaft coupled to the second output shaft of the first differential stage, and including a gear mechanism for applying a rotational torque to the output drive shaft when a difference occurs between the rotational speeds of the first and second input shafts for the second differential stage; (f) an input stage having a first input shaft coupled to the output shaft of the first motor, and a second input shaft coupled to the output motor shaft of the second motor, and the input stage having an output shaft and the output shaft being coupled to the input shaft of the first differential stage, and the input stage including a gear mechanism for translating the rotational torque from the output motor shaft and the output shaft to the output shaft of the input stage; (g) a loading mechanism, the loading mechanism is coupled to one of the input shafts on the second differential stage, the loading mechanism is responsive to a control input for loading the input shaft to vary the rotational speed of the associated input shaft.
Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

Differential electric engine with variable torque conversion


A communication terminal device includes: a turbo encoder that performs two systems of convolutional encoding with respect to input data and preforms turbo encoding processing with in-block interleave preformed on one of the two systems using an internal interleaver. Rate matching (puncturing) units which puncture an output of the turbo encoder based on a predetermined rate matching algorithm and interleavers, which change the output of the turbo encoder such that a puncturing cycle based on the rate matching algorithm of the rate matching units is changed. Accordingly, turbo code performance is improved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a communication terminal device and a communication method for performing turbo encoding processing with respect to data that should be transmitted in accordance with a 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Projects) mobile communication system as well as a transmission method of the communication terminal device, a reception method of the communication terminal device and a transmission and reception method of the communication terminal device. The present invention is applicable to error correction encoding processing which uses a turbo code of a communication processor in a portable terminal device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hitherto, in data communication using mobile phone in the 3GPP mobile communication system, there has been employed a technology in which two systems of convolutional encoding are performed with respect to input data 11 which should be transmitted as an error correction code and turbo encoding processing is performed using a turbo encoder with in-block interleave performed on one of the two systems by an internal interleaver.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an encoding circuit of a conventional method.
With respect to the input data 11 to be transmitted, a turbo encoder 10 includes: two systems of convolutional encoder, one of which has an adder 12, D flip-flops 13, 14, and 15 and an adder 16 and the other of which has an adder 20, D flip-flops 21, 22, and 23 and an adder 24; and a turbo internal interleaver 19 which performs the in-block interleave with respect to the other convolutional encoder.
In FIG. 1, in order to obtain a desired encoding rate, rate matching units 27 and 29 are used to thin out parity bits 18 and 25 which are output from the turbo encoder 10 based on a rate matching algorithm. The turbo encoder 10 converts both a system bit 17 in which the input data 11 is output without any change and the output from the rate matching units 27 and 29 from parallel data to serial data in a parallel-serial converter 30 to output an encoded output 31.
The encoding rate of the turbo code in the turbo encoder 10 can be set to various values according to various communication services. An adjustment of the encoding rate of the turbo code is performed by thinning out (puncturing) the output of the turbo encoder 10 through an application of a regulation established as the rate matching units 27 and 29, instead of changing the encoding rate thereof.
[Non-patent reference 1] (Name of Standard) 3GPP TSG-RAN Working Group 1#32, Paris, France, MAY 19-23, 2003, "R1-030421 Turbo Coder Irregularities in HSDPA.doc", (online) [searched on Sep. 3, 2003] Internet <URL:http://www.3gpp.orgftp://ftp.3gpp.org/specs /2003-03/>
When the turbo encoding processing is performed in the above described turbo encoder 10, there has been an inconvenience in which turbo code performance becomes deteriorated in a specific encoding rate due to a relation between a generating polynomial of the turbo code and a puncturing pattern generated by the rate matching algorithm.
The above problem occurs noticeably when a puncturing rate is high and a cycle of the puncturing pattern is 7 bits as shown in the standard of the non-patent reference 1. This is attributed to the generating polynomial of the convolutional encoder which is used for the turbo encoder. In other words, when an arbitrary one bit to be input into the convolutional encoder is considered, an output bit not affected by the input bit appears at a 7-bit cycle as the output of the convolutional encoder. Although the above problem can be avoided either by changing the generating polynomial of the convolutional encoder or by changing the rate matching algorithm, there is a disadvantage of not utilizing an existing design asset.
Accordingly, the present invention aims to provide a communication terminal device and a communication method capable of not deteriorating the turbo code performance when the communication is performed at a specific encoding rate in the mobile phone in accordance with the 3GPP mobile communication system.

Method and apparatus for performing turbo encoding in a 3GPP mobile communication system

Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications Japan, Inc.


Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a metal wiring etchant. A metal wiring etchant according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes ammonium persulfate, an organic acid, an ammonium salt, a fluorine-containing compound, a glycol-based compound, and an azole-based compound.

1. Field of the Invention
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a metal wiring etchant and a method for manufacturing metal wiring using the same.
2. Discussion of the Background
A thin film transistor (TFT) array panel may be used as a circuit board for independently driving pixels in a liquid crystal display or an organic electro-luminescent (EL) display device.
The thin film transistor array panel may include a scanning signal line or a gate line for transmitting a scanning signal, an image signal line or a data line for transmitting an image signal, a thin film transistor connected to the gate line and the data line, and a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor.
The thin film transistor may include a gate electrode that is a portion of the gate wire, a semiconductor layer forming a channel, a source electrode that is a portion of the data wire, and a drain electrode.
The thin film transistor is a switching element that controls an image signal transmitted to the pixel electrode through the data wire according to the scanning signal transmitted through the gate line.
To manufacture the thin film transistor, a metal layer as a wiring material for a gate electrode or a source/drain electrode pair is deposited on a substrate, and the metal layer is etched by using a corrosive gas or a solvent to realize a desired path of the electrical circuit.
While downsizing and highly integrating the circuit, the metal wire becomes thin, however electrical resistance is relatively increased.
Accordingly, copper is increasingly gaining attention as the wiring material having low resistance instead of chromium, molybdenum, aluminum, and alloys mainly used as the conventional wiring material.
However, copper may have poor adherence with a glass substrate or a silicon insulating layer such that it is difficult to use a single layer of copper, and thereby a titanium layer having excellent adherence with the glass substrate or the silicon insulating layer may be used as a lower layer in a multilayer with copper.
To etch this multilayer, a peroxide-based etchant is used, but if the peroxide-based etchant includes metal ions at more than a predetermined concentration, peroxide decomposition is accelerated and it is quickly decomposed into water and oxygen such that heat and quick composition change may be generated, thereby generating instability.
To solve this problem of hydrogen peroxide decomposition, a peroxide solution stabilizer may be added, however the addition of the expensive stabilizer increases the cost.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form any part of the prior art.

Etchant for metal wiring and method for manufacturing metal wiring using the same


A disk array apparatus and an interrupt execution method of the same enables command processing received from an upper level apparatus to be executed in high-speed by reducing rate of the interrupt and substantial processing speed not to decrease even when a write command from the upper level apparatus is continuously executed. A configuration is capable of executing selectively either an immediate interrupt or a delay interrupt. Selection is made to execute the immediate interrupt in the case of a write command while in the case of a read-out command, the delay interrupt is selected. Moreover, Judgment whether or not competition of page occurs when the write command is detected, namely whether or not a region of a cache memory that becomes execution object of the command is used is performed. Only when competition of the page occurs, handling is switched from general delay interrupt to an immediate interrupt. It is possible to reduce waiting time caused by competition of the page while immediately releasing the region of the cache memory that becomes execution object of the command.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an interrupt handling of a disk array apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a disk array apparatus that has constitution capable of implementing interrupt handling so that completion reports of a plurality of data transmission are summarized in one interrupt and an improvement of an interrupt execution method of the disk array apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years development of computer with high-speed operation is making progress. Under the circumstances, development of peripheral apparatus of the computer with high-speed operation is ardently desired. Magnetic disk apparatus is one of peripheral apparatus of the computer. A disk array apparatus is made to enhance reliability of the magnetic disk apparatus. Also, the disk array apparatus is one whose function enables the magnetic disk apparatus to work in more high-speed operation.
The Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. HEI 10-207822 discloses one of the method for executing high-speed data processing. This method is generally known. According to this method, efficiency of a processing apparatus is improved in such a way that the number of the interrupt is reduced. Namely, the first transfer completion report of a data packet is received. The interrupt pauses and waits for an elapse of stand-by permissible time set beforehand from the first transfer completion report of the packet data. Or the interrupt pauses and waits until the transfer completion report reaches the number of limit set beforehand.
However, there occurs following problems when executing the aforementioned way for obtaining high-speed operation with the interrupt reduced in the disk array apparatus.
Generally, the disk array apparatus uses an exclusive cache memory for executing read-out of the data or write of the data. This exclusive cache memory of the disk array apparatus is used for high-speed processing of a read-out command or a write command that are received from an upper level apparatus. Here, the official gazette of the Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. HEI 7-311659 discloses the way of access of the cache memory. Generally, access is executed using unit of data block (hereinafter referred to as page) in which basic unit of the data block multiplies sector capacity on the magnetic disk apparatus thus contained by an integer.
For that reason, exclusive operation is required when accessing the page of the cache memory. The exclusive operation is one in which acquisition (open) of the corresponding page and release (close) of the acquired page are implemented in order to guarantee legality of the data.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart. The flowchart indicates processing procedure of the disk array apparatus when receiving a write command or a read-out command from an upper level apparatus. The disk array apparatus receives the write command from the upper level apparatus (S 201). The disk array apparatus verifies whether or not page of the cache memory including an objective sector to be written is already opened. If the corresponding page is already opened, operation pauses and waits until the page is closed caused by the necessary point of maintenance of exclusiveness (S 202). The disk array apparatus newly opens the corresponding page (S 203). Subsequently, the disk array apparatus starts data transfer to receive the write data from the upper level apparatus for storing in the cache memory (S 204). Here, completion of the data transfer is reported by the interrupt. Therefore, operation pauses and waits for the interrupt of the transfer completion report which indicates its completion (S 205). Then, the interrupt of the transfer completion report is detected, and completion of the data transfer is ascertained. After this operation, processing ends while closing the opened page (S 206).
On the other hand, when the disk array apparatus receives the read-out command from the upper level apparatus, the disk array apparatus, firstly, verifies whether or not the page including the data of objective position is hit (to be developed) within the cache memory (S 207). The disk array apparatus opens the page in the case of cache-hit (S 208). While, in the case of cache-miss the disk array apparatus opens the page of the magnetic disk apparatus including the data of objective position (S 209), and the disk array apparatus reads-out the data from the magnetic disk apparatus to store in the cache memory (S 210). Subsequently, the disk array apparatus starts the data transfer from the disk array apparatus to the upper level apparatus (S 211), and operation pauses and waits for the interrupt of the transfer completion report that indicates its completion (S 212). Then, when the data transfer is completed, the disk array apparatus closes the opened page.
The disk array apparatus executes aforementioned processing. In that case, the disk array apparatus receives various kinds of write commands continuously. Also, the disk array apparatus receives the write command with sequential pattern in the unit of sector and/or the write command for the same sector from the upper level apparatus. At this time, there is possibility that conflict occurs about the open of the page caused by overlapping accesses intended by the disk array apparatus to the same page at which data to be object of the write and/or read-out exists in connection with the cache memory. By this conflict, the write command following on the heels of the first received write command should wait until the page that becomes the object of the write depending on the first write command is closed.
Consequently, as described-above, if the aforementioned way is used, the problems occur. According to the aforementioned means, efficiency of a processing apparatus is improved in such a way that the number of the interrupt is reduced. Namely, the first transfer completion report of a data packet is received. The interrupt pauses and waits for an elapse of stand-by permissible time set beforehand from the first transfer completion report of the packet data. Or the interrupt pauses and waits until the transfer completion report reaches the number of limit set beforehand. Accordingly, completion of the first received write command namely the interrupt of the transfer completion report which indicates transfer completion of the last data packet of a series of the data packets does not generate until the stand-by permissible time set beforehand elapses, or until transfer of the data packets corresponding to the number of limit of the transfer completion report is executed. Accordingly, close of the page is not executed until the stand-by permissible time elapses, thus the problem that processing of the following write command should be waited occurs.
Namely, the delay interrupt described above is intended to improve performance of the processing apparatus in such a way as to reduce the number of generation of the interrupt. However, the delay interrupt itself increases substantial processing time more than necessary processing time. Thus, there is the problem that primary object of high-speed data processing is inhibited.
Further, there may occur of deterioration of performance caused by access conflict for the page of the cache memory not only when receiving continuous write command described-above, but also when receiving a write command continuously after the read-out command in which the data to be the object exists in the same page.
Namely, in such a conventional apparatus, control of delay interrupt for reducing rate of the interrupt is performed regardless of the type of the command received from the upper level apparatus. For that reason, there is the problem that processing performance of I/O deteriorates according to the type of pattern of the received command from the upper level apparatus.
In view of the foregoing it is an object of the present invention to provide a disk array apparatus and execution method of the same that achieves drawbacks of the conventional techniques, and enables the command processing received from the upper level apparatus to be executed in high-speed in such a way as to reduce rate of interrupt, while, it causes substantial processing speed not to deteriorate under the condition that write command from the upper level apparatus is executed continuously.
An interrupt execution method of a disk array apparatus with a cache memory contained of the present invention is the interrupt execution method of the disk array apparatus capable of performing a high-speed data transfer to an upper level apparatus. The aforementioned object is achieved in such a way as to selectively execute either an immediate interrupt for immediately generating the interrupt when receiving a transfer completion report of the first data packet or a delay interrupt for generating the interrupt while waiting an elapse of stand-by permissible time set beforehand or the number of limit of the transfer completion report set beforehand after receiving the transfer completion report of the first packet.
According to application of such constitution, the immediate interrupt and the delay interrupt are capable of being executed selectively. Therefore, when the whole handling speed is improved caused by reducing the number of generation of the interrupt by using the delay interrupt, the delay interrupt is selected to be used. On the other hand, if the whole handling speed is improved as access to the page of the cache memory is made to execute frequently rather than the number of generation itself of the interrupt being reduced, the immediate interrupt is selected to be used.
On this occasion, it is desirable that judgment of selection whether the immediate interrupt is executed or the delay interrupt is executed is performed on the basis of the type of the command from the upper level apparatus.
Generally, in the case of the write command the immediate interrupt is selected, while in the case of the read-out command the delay interrupt is selected. Generally, in the case of the write command, possibility of continuous handling operation is high in comparison with the read-out command, accordingly, also probability that competition of the page occurs is high.
Further, also it is possible to achieve the same object in such a way as to execute an immediate interrupt only when the specified type of the command, for instance, the write command from the upper level apparatus is detected while executing the delay interrupt with steady-state.
The disk array apparatus of the present invention is capable of achieving the aforementioned object by the constitution in which the disk array apparatus includes a main control unit which possesses both an immediate interrupt execution function and a delay interrupt execution function, flag setting means for setting either an immediate interrupt execution flag or a delay interrupt execution flag in compliance with a type of commands from an upper level apparatus, and interrupt function selecting means for starting either the immediate interrupt execution function or the delay interrupt execution function while referring to the set flag set by the flag setting means.
The flag setting means and the interrupt function selecting means are capable of being substantially placed in the apparatus as part of the operation program of the main control unit.
The flag setting means sets the immediate interrupt execution flag when the command from the upper level apparatus is a write command, while when the command from the upper level apparatus is a read-out command, the flag setting means sets the delay interrupt execution flag.
The disk array apparatus of the present invention is capable of achieving the aforementioned object by the configuration in which the disk array apparatus, in the above constitution, further includes interrupt command output means for outputting the immediate interrupt execution command only when specified command from the upper level apparatus is detected and a region of a cache memory that becomes execution object of this command is already used at this time point, and immediate interrupt starting means for starting the immediate interrupt execution function when receiving this immediate interrupt execution command instead of the flag setting means and the interrupt function selecting means.

Disk array apparatus and interrupt execution method of the same


A process for etching semiconductors, such as II-VI or III-V semiconductors is provided. The method includes sputter etching the semiconductor through an etching mask using a nonreactive gas, removing the semiconductor and cleaning the chamber with a reactive gas. The etching mask includes a photoresist. Using this method, light-emitting diodes with light extracting elements or nano/micro-structures etched into the semiconductor material can be fabricated.

The rapid development of optoelectronics has produced a need for methods of producing nanometer-sized patterns on semiconductor surfaces. Typically, these patterns are etched into semiconductor substrates by a number of techniques. For example, wet chemical etching has been used to etch a wide variety of semiconductors. However, wet chemical etching can be isotropic, thereby limiting the aspect ratio of features that can be fabricated, and the uniformity of the process is low. Production industries in the optoelectronics industries require more controlled etching procedures than can be achieved using wet etching.
As a result of the shortcomings of wet chemical etching, dry etching processes have been developed for semiconductors. For example, reactive ion etching has been used to produce well-controlled etching profiles in silicon substrates. Reactive ion etching involves generating chemically reactive species, such as radicals and ions, via an electric discharge in a low pressure reactive gas mixture in a reactor. The reactive species generated in this manner are accelerated towards a substrate by means of an electrical field and react with the silicon to produce volatile reaction product which are pumped away. An etch mask can be applied to the substrate prior to etching to allow the reactive species to etch a pattern into the substrate. Because of the nearly vertical fall of the positively-charged reactive species, etching is much slower on the side-walls of the etched features as the etching progresses into the substrate.
Hard etch masks that are made of, for example, SiO2, Si3N4, or metals are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art of semiconductor photolithography. But these masks are difficult to fabricate since they typically need to be vacuum deposited in a separate step before the photoresist is applied. Hard etch masks make the process more complicated and add more process steps. Additionally, after etching the hard masks need to be removed by dry etching or wet etching. Furthermore, with many etching chemistries, these materials tend to etch at a rate that is close to that of many II-VI or III-V semiconductors which makes their use limited. While reactive-ion etching is very useful for semiconductors, such as silicon, that form volatile byproducts which can be easily eliminated from a vacuum chamber via pumping, reactive-ion etching is not very practical for II-VI semiconductors since these materials do not easily react with reactive-ions and typically do not form volatile byproducts. Dry etching is well-established for patterning most semiconductor materials. Chlorine (Cl2) based reactive ion etching (RIE) is widely used in dry etching of III-V and II-VI semiconductors for fabricating various optoelectronic devices and detectors. Other gas systems, including Cl2/Ar, Cl2/N2, Cl2/He, Cl2/BCl3/Ar, BCl3/Ar, BrCl3, SiCl4/Ar, CCl2F2/H2/Ar, etc., have also been investigated. However, these reactants and their products are known to be corrosive and toxic. Also, rapid post-etching degradation has been observed when Cl-based RIE is used, due to the corrosion by persistent Cl2 residues. In the specific case of cadmium-containing semiconductors, cadmium halides have vapor pressures which are several orders of magnitude too low to provide the basis for useful etching. In the absence of cadmium volatility, the most likely result is the formation of a cadmium-rich material on the surface of the semiconductor. Therefore, CH4/H2 and CH4/H2/Ar based chemistries have been developed and are favored for plasma etching of Cd-containing semiconductors. However, these processes suffer from several drawbacks including extensive polymer deposition, which acts as an etch stop mechanism, rough surfaces, and low etch rates (less than 50 nm/min).


The present invention provides a compound which has the effect of PDE inhibition, and which is useful as a medicament for preventing or treating schizophrenia or so on.

Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are a superfamily of enzymes encoded by 21 genes and subdivided into 11 distinct families according to structural and functional properties.
These enzymes metabolically inactivate the ubiquitous intracellular second messengers, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP); PDEs selectively catalyze the hydrolysis of the 3′-ester bond, forming the inactive 5′-monophosphate. On the basis of substrate specificity, the PDE families can be further classified into three groups: i) the cAMP-PDEs (PDE4, PDE7, PDE8), ii) the cGMP-PDEs (PDE5, PDE6 and PDE9), and iii) the dual-substrate PDEs (PDE1, PDE2, PDE3, PDE10 and PDE11).
The cAMP and cGMP are involved in the regulation of virtually every physiological process such as pro-inflammatory mediator production and action, ion channel function, muscle relaxation, learning and memory formation, differentiation, apoptosis, lipogenesis, glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis. Especially, in neurons, these second messengers have important role in the regulation of synaptic transmission as well as in neuronal differentiation and survival (Nat. Rev. Drug Discov. 2006, vol. 5: 660-670). Regulation of these processes by cAMP and cGMP are accompanied by activation of protein kinase A (PKA) and protein kinase G (PKG), which in turn phosphorylate a variety of substrates, including transcription factors, ion channels and receptors that regulate a variety of physiological processes. Intracellular cAMP and cGMP concentrations seem to be temporally, spatially, and functionally compartmentalized by regulation of adenyl and guanyl cyclases in response to extracellular signaling and their degradation by PDEs (Circ. Res. 2007, vol. 100(7): 950-966). PDEs provide the only means of degrading the cyclic nucleotides cAMP and cGMP in cells, thus PDEs play an essential role in cyclic nucleotide signaling. Thereby, PDEs could be promising targets for various therapeutic drugs.
Phosphodiesterase 10A (PDE10A) was discovered in 1999 by three independent groups (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 1999, vol. 96: 8991-8996, J. Biol. Chem. 1999, vol. 274: 18438-18445, Gene 1999, vol. 234: 109-117). Expression studies have shown that PDE10A has the most restricted distribution within the all known PDE families; the PDE10A mRNA is highly expressed only in brain and testes (Eur. J. Biochem. 1999, vol. 266: 1118-1127, J. Biol. Chem. 1999, vol. 274: 18438-18445). In the brain, mRNA and protein of PDE10A are highly enriched in medium spiny neurons (MSNs) of the striatum (Eur. J. Biochem. 1999, vol. 266: 1118-1127, Brain Res. 2003, vol. 985: 113-126). MSNs are classified into two groups: the MSN that express D1 dopamine receptors responsible for a direct (striatonigral) pathway and the MSN that express D2 dopamine receptors responsible for an indirect (striatopallidal) pathway. The function of direct pathway is to plan and execution, while indirect pathway is to act as a brake on behavioral activation. As PDE10A expresses in both MSNs, PDE10A inhibitors could activate both of these pathways. The antipsychotic efficacy of current medications, D2 or D2/5-HT2A antagonists, mainly derives from their activation of the indirect pathway in the striatum. As PDE10A inhibitors are able to activate this pathway, this suggests that PDE10A inhibitors are promising as antipsychotic drugs. The excessive D2 receptor antagonism in the brain by D2 antagonists causes problems of extrapyramidal side effects and hyperprolactinaemia. However the expression of PDE10A is limited to these striatal pathways in the brain, thus side effects by PDE10A inhibitors were expected to be weaker compared with current D2 antagonists. Regarding hyperprolactinaemia, PDE10A inhibitors would produce no prolactin elevation due to lack of D2 receptor antagonism in the pituitary. Moreover, the presence of PDE10A in a direct pathway makes it likely that PDE10A inhibition will have some advantage over current D2 antagonists; the direct pathway is thought to promote desired action, and activation of this pathway by PDE10A inhibitors may counteract extrapyramidal symptoms induced by excessive D2 receptor antagonism. In addition, activation of this pathway could facilitate striatal-thalamic outflow, promoting the execution of procedural strategies. Furthermore, enhancement of second messenger levels without blockade of dopamine and/or other neurotransmitter receptors may also provide therapeutic advantages with fewer adverse side-effects compared with current antipsychotics (e.g., hyperprolactinaemia and weight gain). This unique distribution and function in the brain indicates that PDE represents an important new target for the treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders, in particular psychotic disorders like schizophrenia.
As a phosphodiesterase (PDE)10 inhibitor, a compound represented by the formula:

wherein Z is

was disclosed in WO2006/072828 Pamphlet.
Further, as a phosphodiesterase (PDE)10 inhibitor, a compound represented by the general formula

was also disclosed in WO2008/001182 Pamphlet.

Pyridazinone compounds as phosphodiesterase inhibitors and methods of treating disorders

Abstract: A compound of formula (I0):

Abstract: wherein        R1 represents        a substituent,        R2 represents        a hydrogen atom, or a substituent,        R3 represents        a hydrogen atom, or a substituent,        Ring A represents        an aromatic ring which can be substituted, and        Ring B represents        a 5-membered heteroaromatic ring which can be substituted,        or a salt thereof.


The invention relates to a wind turbine blade comprising a device for modifying the aerodynamic surface or shape of the blade in an area of the trailing edge, and activation mechanisms for controlling the position and/or movement of the device. The device is at least partly divided into a number of sections by interstices or connecting portions having a higher elasticity. Hereby the overall longitudinal bending flexibility of the device is increased which in turn increases the operability of the aerodynamic device and reduces the wear of the system. The interstices may be open, comprise a filler material, or optionally be covered by an elastic film.

Most modern wind turbines are controlled and regulated continuously during operation with the purpose of ensuring optimal performance of the wind turbines in all operating conditions, such as at different wind speeds or subject to different demands from the power grid. Desirably, the wind turbine can also be regulated to account for fast local variations in the wind velocity—the so-called wind gusts. Also, as the loads on each of the blades vary due to e.g. the passing of the tower or the actual wind velocity varying with the distance to the ground (the wind profile), the ability to regulate each of the wind turbine blades individually advantageously enables the loads to be balanced, reducing the yaw and tilt of the rotor.
A well-known and effective method of regulating the loads on the rotor is by pitching the blades. However, with the increasingly longer blades on modern wind turbines (which at present can be of 60 m or longer) pitching becomes a relatively slow regulation method incapable of changing the blade positions fast enough to account for e.g. wind gusts or other relatively fast load variations.
Another way of regulating the blades is by changing their aerodynamic surfaces or shapes over parts or the entire length of the blade, thereby increasing or decreasing the blade lift or drag correspondingly. Different means of changing the airfoil shape are known such as active trailing edges, or different types of movable or adjustable flaps (e.g. trailing edge flaps, leading edge slats or Krueger flaps, ailerons, or stall inducing flaps). Such different means are here and in the following referred to in common as aerodynamic devices or devices for modifying the aerodynamic surface or shape of the blade. One important advantage of the relatively small aerodynamic devices is a potentially faster response due to less inertia than if the whole blade is being pitched.
In order to obtain the desired regulation of the blades, the flaps or active trailing edges often extend over considerable lengths of the blade and are traditionally actuated or moved in a chordwise plane transverse to the length of the blade. However, known systems may exhibit considerable power consumption during operation and problems with their operational speed. Moreover, known systems are generally exposed to hard wear and corresponding relative short lifetime and durability.

Wind turbine blade with device for changing the aerodynamic surface or shape


An engine includes a pre-chamber jet igniter which injects at least one jet combustion flame into the combustion chamber from the outside of the combustion chamber in which the piston reciprocates to generate power so that the injected jet combustion flame is utilized as the source of ignition of the fuel injected into the space in the combustion chamber to drive the explosion stroke such that combustion of the combustion chamber can be maintained reliable by the use of jet combustion flames in the form of large flame kernels, fuel consumption can be remarkably improved and the generation of NOx can be remarkably reduced using rapid cold combustion which is caused by the continuously reliable combustion, and, in particular, it is possible to prevent liquefaction of the air-fuel mixture due to variations in the flow and pressure of the air-fuel mixture flowing in the combustion chamber.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to an engine, particularly, to an engine including a combustion chamber employing a pre-chamber jet igniter that injects a jet combustion flame, which has been previously formed from an air-fuel mixture, into a space inside the combustion chamber, so that the jet combustion flame serves as a source of ignition of a fuel injected into the space inside the combustion chamber to ignite the fuel, thereby reliably maintaining combustion by use of the jet combustion flame as a large flame kernel and thus remarkably improving fuel consumption and reducing the generation of NOx.
2. Description of Related Art
In general engines, after fuel is directly injected into a combustion chamber (GDI type) or fuel and air are mixed and then supplied to the combustion chamber (MPI type), a combustion flame kernel is created in the combustion chamber by sparks generated from a spark plug, thereby igniting and exploding the air-fuel mixture (flame propagation).
There is a difference between the MPI type and the GDI type in that, in the case in which the fuel is directly injected into the combustion chamber (GDI type), stratified charge combustion is performed, while in the case in which the fuel and the air are mixed and supplied to the combustion chamber (MPI type), homogenous combustion is performed.
Since a explosion stroke is driven by ignition and explosion (flame propagation) in the combustion chamber, power is generated from the engine.
However, if the spark plug generates the ignition sparks in the combustion chamber and the combustion flame kernel is created by the ignition flame in the combustion chamber, the size of the flame kernel is small, and its duration is short, which does not ensure complete combustion in the combustion chamber.
This problem imposes an inherent limit on the above-described combustion schemes.
In order to overcome this limit, lean burn (super lean burn) combustion can be applied to the engine, but the lean burn (super lean burn) combustion has another problem in that a large quantity of NOx is generated due to the high heat of combustion for improving fuel consumption.
In this instance, the generation of NOx can be decreased using DeNOx catalysts, but DeNOx catalysts are expensive, and thus increase costs, and decrease competitiveness.
The information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.

Pre-chamber jet igniter and engine including combustion chamber employing the same