A light-modulation element is constituted as a light-modulation element for constituting a GLV device and has the same constitution as the conventional light-modulation element except for differing in the structure of the combined light-reflective film and membrane-side electrode of a membrane. The combined light-reflective film and membrane-side electrode is composed of a two-layer metallic film forming a TiN film of 10 nm to 70 nm in thickness provided as a lower layer and an Al film of 50 nm to 150 nm in thickness provided thereon. In the combined light-reflective film and membrane-side electrode, the Al film has a smooth reflective surface and a high light-reflectance, so that the light-utilization efficiency of the light-modulation element is high.

The present invention relates to a light-modulation element, a GLV device, and a laser display. More particularly, the present invention relates to a light-modulation element including a combined light-reflective film and a membrane-side electrode having a high reflectance, a GLV device including the light-modulation elements, and a laser display including such a GLV device or devices.
Attendant on the progress of miniaturizing technology, attention has been paid to the so-called micromachine (MEMS: Micro Electro-Mechanical System) element and small-type apparatuses incorporating the MEMS element or elements.
The MEMS element is formed as a miniaturized structure on a substrate such as a silicon substrate a glass substrate, and the like, in which a driver for outputting a mechanical driving force and a semiconductor integrated circuit or the like for controlling the driving of the driver are coupled electrically and, further, mechanically. A basic characteristic of the MEMS element lies in that the driver constituted as a mechanical structure is incorporated in a part of the element, and the driving of the driver is performed electrically by application of a coulomb attractive force between electrodes or the like.
The constitution of a light-modulation element will be described by showing as an example the light-modulation element provided in the GLV (Grating Light Valve) device developed as a light-intensity conversion element, namely, a light modulator for laser display, by SLM (Silicon Light Machine) Company.
First, referring to FIG. 5, the structure of the GLV device including the light-modulation elements will be described. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the constitution of the GLV device.
As shown in FIG. 5, the GLV device 10 is a device in which a plurality of light-modulation elements 12 are disposed densely and in parallel to each other. Each of the light-modulation elements 12 constituting the GLV device 10 is a light-modulation element called MOEMS (Micro Optical Electric Mechanical System) including an electrostatic-driving-type membrane 16 having a light-reflective film 14 on the upper side thereof, and it has the function of modulating the intensity of light reflected by the light-reflective film 14 by diffraction of light through alternate variation of the height of the light-reflective film 14 as a result of mechanical movements of the membrane 16 by an electrostatic attracting force or an electrostatic repelling force.
Next, referring to FIG. 6, the constitution of the light-modulation element 12 will be described. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the constitution of the light-modulation element.
As shown in FIG. 6, the light-modulation element 12 includes an insulating substrate 18, such as a glass substrate, a substrate-side electrode 20 composed of a thin Cr film or the like and formed on the insulating substrate 18, and the electrostatic-driving-type membrane 16 crossing and being astride the substrate-side electrode 20 in a bridge form.
The electrostatic-driving-type membrane 16 and the substrate-side electrode 20 are electrically isolated from each other by a void portion 22 therebetween.
The electrostatic-driving-type membrane 16 includes a bridge member 24 composed of an SiN film provided as an electrode-support member and based on the substrate 18 bridgingly astride the substrate-side electrode 20, and a combined light-reflective film and membrane-side electrode 14 composed of an Al film of about 100 nm in thickness that is provided on the bridge member 24 oppositely to and in parallel to the substrate-side electrode 20.
The bridge member 24 is opposed to and spaced by a predetermined gap from the substrate-side electrode 20 so as to secure the void portion 22 therebetween, and it is provided for supporting the combined light-reflective film and membrane-side electrode 14 in parallel to the substrate-side electrode 20.
In the GLV device 10, the insulating substrate 18 and the substrate-side electrode 20 thereon are respectively a common substrate and a common electrode for the light-modulation elements 12, as shown in FIG. 5.
The electrostatic-driving-type membrane 16 constituted of the bridge member 24 and the combined light-reflective film and membrane-side electrode 14 provided thereon is a portion called a ribbon.
The bridge member 24 may in some cases be of the cantilever type in which only one end of a beam portion extending in parallel to the substrate-side electrode 20 is supported by one column portion, in place of the bridge form shown in FIG. 6 in which both ends of the beam portion are supported by two column portions, respectively.
The aluminum film (Al film) used as the combined light-reflective film and membrane-side electrode 14 is a metallic film preferable as an optical component material on the ground that (1) it is a metallic film which can be formed comparatively easily, (2) it has a small wavelength dispersion of light reflectance in the visible ray region, (3) a spontaneously oxidized alumina film formed on the surface of the Al film functions as a protective film for protecting the reflective surface, and the like.
On the other hand, the SiN film (silicon nitride film) constituting the bridge member 24 is a film deposited by a low-pressure CVD process. The SiN film is selected on the ground that its physical properties, such as strength and elastic constant, are suitable for mechanical driving of the bridge member 24.
When a minute voltage is impressed between the substrate-side electrode 20 and the combined light-reflective film and membrane-side electrode 14 opposed to the substrate-side electrode 20, the electrostatic-driving-type membrane 16 approaches the substrate-side electrode 20 due to an electrostatic phenomenon, and when the impressing of the voltage is stopped, the electrostatic-driving-type membrane 16 is spaced away from the substrate-side electrode 20 into its original state.
Each of the light-modulation elements 12 constituting the GLV device 10 modulates the intensity of the light reflected by the light reflective film 14 by diffraction of light as a result of alternative variation of the height of the light-reflective film 14 through the approaching and spacing actions of the electrostatic-driving-type membrane 16 relative to the substrate-side electrode 20.
The dynamic characteristics of the membrane 16 driven by utilizing the electrostatic attracting force and electrostatic repelling force are substantially determined by the physical properties of the SiN film formed by a CVD process or the like, and the Al film plays a main role as a mirror or reflector.
In the conventional light-modulation element, however, since the combined light-reflective film and membrane-side electrode is composed of an Al film, there have been the following problems. Namely, although the Al film has the above-mentioned merits, the material is comparatively low in melting point and is soft. Therefore, when a thin Al film of about 100 nm in thickness is formed, differences in thickness of the Al film are generated due to aggregation of aluminum. In addition, when the differences in height are as large as not less than 400 nm, a rough surface reaching to 1 xcexcm is generated in the Al film, and light reflectance of the Al film is lowered. For example, while the bulk Al film has a light reflectance of about 92% for light with a wavelength of 600 nm, the light reflectance of the conventional light-modulation element 10 is about 86.5% for the wavelength of 600 nm; thus; there is a lowering in reflectance by about 5%.
Besides, when the differences in thickness generated in the Al film are extremely large, the Al film may be broken, resulting in an electrically non-conductive state. In such a case, driving of the membrane cannot be achieved, and the light-modulation element cannot function.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a light-modulation element including a combined light-reflective film and membrane-side electrode being uniform in thickness and having a high light reflectance.
The present inventors found out that the variation in the thickness of the Al film is generated as a result of the promotion of migration of aluminum because the Al film formed on an amorphous SiN film is formed by a low-pressure CVD process.
However, it is difficult to find an appropriate membrane film that can be used in place of the SiN film, and it is preferable to utilize the good light reflectivity of Al film by providing the Al film as an upper layer, from the viewpoint of light reflectivity.
In view of this, the present inventors gained the idea of intermediately providing a high-melting-point metal film, for example, a titanium film, and forming crystals with a columnar, fine-grain structure between the SiN film and the Al film so as to restrain the migration of aluminum by the good surface condition of the high-melting-point metal film. The present inventors have confirmed the effects of this idea by experiments to reach to the present invention.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a light-modulation element including a substrate-side electrode provided on an insulating substrate, and a membrane including a bridge member extending above and spaced from the substrate-side electrode in the manner of crossing the substrate-side electrode, the bridge member having at least an upper layer thereof composed of an SiN film, and a combined light-reflective film and membrane-side electrode composed of a metallic film provided on the SiN film of the bridge member oppositely to the substrate-side electrode, the membrane driving said light-reflective film by an electrostatic attracting force or an electrostatic repelling force acting between the combined light-reflective film and membrane-side electrode and the substrate-side electrode, wherein a multilayer metallic film including an Al film constituted mainly of aluminum (Al) and at least any of a high-melting-point metal film, a high-melting-point metal nitride film, and a high-melting-point metal carbide film provided under the Al film is provided as the combined light-reflective film and membrane-side electrode.
The present invention can be applied to a light-modulation element in which at least an upper layer of a bridge member is composed of an SiN film. The bridge member may be entirely composed of the SiN film, may have a two-layer structure constituting an upper layer composed of the SiN film and a lower layer composed of a film other than the SiN film, for example, an SiO2 film, and, further, may have a three-layer structure.
The Al film may be an Alxe2x80x94Si alloy film, an Alxe2x80x94Cu alloy film, an Alxe2x80x94Cuxe2x80x94Si alloy film, or an Al film containing other impurities.
In the present invention, the Al film is formed on any of a high-melting-point metal film, a high-melting-point metal-nitride film, and a high-melting-point metal-carbide film which has good crystallinity with a columnar, crystal structure so that the Al film has a good crystal structure, and aggregation phenomenon would not easily occur.
Therefore, no variation is generated in the thickness of the Al film, so that the Al film has a smooth reflective surface, light reflectance is enhanced, and light utilization efficiency of the light-modulation element is enhanced.
Preferably, the multilayer metallic film provided as the combined light-reflective film and membrane-side electrode includes a high-melting-point metal film provided on the SiN film of the bridge member and a high-melting-point, metal-nitride film or a high-melting-point, metal-carbide film provided on the high-melting-point metal film.
The high-melting-point metal film has the effect of enhancing adhesion between the high-melting-point, metal-nitride film or the high-melting-point, metal-carbide film and the SiN film.
More preferably, the high-melting-point metal film is any of a titanium (Ti) film, a tungsten (W) film, a molybdenum (Mo) film, and or tantalum (Ta) film, and the high-melting-point, metal-nitride film or the high-melting-point, metal-carbide film is a nitride film or a carbide film of the any of the titanium (Ti) film, the tungsten (W) film, the molybdenum (Mo) film, or the tantalum (Ta) film.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a GLV device including a plurality of light-modulation elements disposed in parallel to each other, wherein each of the light-modulation elements includes a substrate-side electrode provided on an insulating substrate, and a membrane including a bridge member extending above and spaced from the substrate-side electrode in the manner of crossing the substrate-side electrode, the bridge member having at least an upper layer thereof composed of an SiN film, and a combined light-reflective film and membrane-side electrode composed of a metallic film provided on the SiN film of the bridge member oppositely to the substrate-side electrode, the membrane driving the light-reflective film by an electrostatic attracting force or an electrostatic repelling force acting between the combined light-reflective film and membrane-side electrode and the substrate-side electrode, wherein the combined light-reflective film and membrane-side electrode is a multilayer metallic film including an Al film constituted mainly of aluminum (Al) and at least any of a high-melting-point metal film, a high-melting-point, metal-nitride film, and a high-melting-point, metal-carbide film provided under the Al film, the combined light-reflective films and membrane-side electrodes are independent from each other and disposed in parallel to each other, and the substrate-side electrode is provided as a common electrode.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a laser display including a laser and a GLV device disposed on the optical axis of laser light emitted from the laser to modulate the intensity of the laser light, wherein the GLV device includes a plurality of light-modulation elements disposed in parallel to each other; each of the light-modulation elements includes a substrate-side electrode provided on an insulating substrate, and a membrane including a bridge member extending above and spaced from the substrate-side electrode in the manner of crossing the substrate-side electrode, the bridge member having at least an upper layer thereof composed of an SiN film, and a combined light-reflective film and membrane-side electrode composed of a metallic film provided on the SiN film of the bridge member oppositely to the substrate-side electrode, the membrane driving the light-reflective film by an electrostatic attracting force or an electrostatic repelling force acting between the combined light-reflective film and membrane-side electrode and the substrate-side electrode, wherein the combined light-reflective film and membrane-side electrode is a multilayer metallic film including an Al film constituted mainly of aluminum (Al), and at least any of a high-melting-point metal film, a high-melting-point, metal-nitride film, and a high-melting-point, metal-carbide film provided under the Al film, the combined light-reflective films and membrane-side electrodes are independent from each other and disposed in parallel to each other, and the substrate-side electrode is provided as a common electrode.
In the laser display according to the present invention, there is no limitation as to the number of lasers; the laser display may be a monochromic laser display or a full-color display.
In the case of the full-color display, the laser display includes: a red laser, a green laser; a blue laser; a color-combination filter for combining red laser light, green laser light and blue laser light emitted respectively from the red laser, the green laser and the blue laser; and GLV devices disposed on optical axes between the red laser, the green laser, the blue laser, and the color-combination filter for modulating the intensities of the red laser light, the green laser light and the blue laser light emitted respectively from the red laser, the green laser and the blue laser.
According to the present invention, since the ground for the Al film is the high-melting-point metal film or the like, degradation of surface morphology due to aggregation of aluminum in the Al film can be prevented, and a light-modulation element having a high reflectance and, hence, a high light-utilization efficiency can be realized.
By this, it is possible to enhance the reliability of the light modulation element and to increase the production process margin of the light-modulation element.
Further, by composing the GLV device of the light-modulation elements according to the present invention, it is possible to realize a GLV device having a high light-utilization efficiency and a long useful life. Besides, by incorporating such a GLV device or GLV devices in a laser display, it is possible to realize a laser display having a high light-utilization efficiency.

Light modulation element, GLV device, and laser display


Self-aligned aperture masks are produced using a positive-acting photoresist (18) which is developed with a liquid developer. The apertures (30) of the mask have lower levels of inter-aperture variability than masks produced using mechanical transfer of toner particles (FIGS. 4-5 and 7-8), both for the apertures of a given mask and between masks.

This invention relates to self-aligned aperture masks used in rear projection screens and, in particular, to self-aligned masks which achieve high definition of the individual apertures making up the mask.
Rear projection televisions are widely used as consumer products and are becoming ever more popular as computer monitors. A critical component of such televisions is the rear projection screen upon which the user views the ultimate image. Such screens need to satisfy a number of stringent criteria.
For example, to provide a bright image, the screen should control the distribution of light in viewer space so that as much light as possible is directed to the places where the user is likely to be. Arrays of either cylindrical lenses or microlenses can be used for this purpose. Co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/222,033, filed Jul. 31, 2000, and entitled xe2x80x9cStructured Screens for Controlled Spreading of Light,xe2x80x9d the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, discloses particularly preferred microlens arrays for this purpose. This application is referred to hereinafter as the xe2x80x9c""033 patent applicationxe2x80x9d.
To achieve high contrast, rear projection screens have typically included an aperture mask designed to prevent ambient light from entering the projection television. Such light can reflect from structures internal to the television and become redirected to the viewer. This redirected light reduces the contrast of the image since it can appear at, for example, places where the image should be black.
In their most simple form, aperture masks can be prepared by printing a black matrix on one of the surfaces making up the rear projection screen. Beginning with arrays of cylindrical lenses and continuing through to arrays of microlenses, workers in the art have used self-alignment techniques to form such aperture masks. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,338,654, U.S. Pat. No. 2,618,198, U.S. Pat. No. 5,870,224, PCT Patent Publication No. WO 99/36830, EPO Patent Publication No. 1 014 169 A1, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2000-147662, and Japanese Patent Publication No. 2000-147663.
The goal of these self-alignment techniques is to ensure that the apertures of the mask correspond to the locations where light will be focused by the lens array. In some cases, the apertures are produced first and are subsequently used to produce microlenses (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,897,980, EPO Patent Publication No. 0 753 791, PCT Patent Publication No. WO 99/36830) and in other cases, the lenses are prepared first and then used in the production of the apertures (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,666,248).
The present invention is concerned with the second approach, i.e., the approach in which an array of lenses is produced first and then used to create a self-aligned aperture mask.
The earliest self-aligned aperture masks were based on photographic emulsion technology. This approach has a number of disadvantages including low transparency of the apertures and poor age performance. If a photographic emulsion were to be used to produce an aperture mask for a projection television, the age performance problem would only become worse in view of the heat which such televisions generate.
Recently, proposals have been made to use DuPont""s Cromalin(copyright) system to produce aperture masks. See, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 09-269546 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,870,224.
As discussed in these references, in the first step of the process, a laminate of (1) a tacky, photosensitive, transparent layer and (2) a lenticular lens array is prepared. Thereafter, the photosensitive layer is exposed with UV light through the lens array. The UV light causes the photosensitive layer to polymerize and lose its tackiness in the exposed regions. A backing film carrying toner particles is then applied to the photosensitive layer and through the application of pressure (e.g., pressure up to 700 kg/cm2), toner particles are transferred to the unexposed and thus still tacky regions of the photosensitive layer. The backing film is then mechanically pulled away from the photosensitive layer with toner particles remaining on the layer at the tacky regions.
As illustrated by the comparative example set forth below, the Cromalin(copyright) system has the serious drawback that it produces apertures of low definition, i.e., rather than having cross-sectional perimeters of the desired design shape, the apertures have ragged, uneven perimeters. Moreover, the Cromalin(copyright) system for producing aperture masks exhibits a high level of variability in the shapes of the apertures, both among the apertures of a given screen and between screens.
An additional problem with the Cromalin(copyright) system arises from the fact that the apertures are filled with polymerized material. Such material may vary from aperture to aperture in, for example, the degree of polymerization, which can produce uncontrollable variations in the optical path for light passing through the finished screen. For example, the surface curvature of the polymerized material filling the apertures can vary in an uncontrollable manner from aperture to aperture.
Further variability in masks produced using the Cromalin(copyright) system can result from different amounts of toner being transferred to the regions of the mask which are intended to block visible light.
A further problem with the Cromalin(copyright) system arises from the fact that the high pressures used in the toner transfer step can damage the lens array portion of the laminate.
The present invention is designed to overcome these problems with the Cromalin(copyright) system.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need in the art for a self-aligned aperture mask having some and preferably all of the following properties:
(1) the mask comprises apertures of high definition;
(2) the mask is produced by a process with low variability both for the apertures of an individual mask and between masks in terms of aperture configuration and optical properties;
(3) the mask is produced by a process which produces essentially the same level of blackness at all parts of the mask which are intended to block light;
(4) the mask is produced by a process which does not apply excessive pressure to a lens array used to produce the self-aligned apertures;
(5) the mask does not substantially deteriorate with age; and
(6) the mask can be produced economically on a continuous basis.
The present invention provides self-aligned aperture masks which have some and preferably all of the foregoing six properties.
In accordance with one of its aspects, the invention provides a method for making an aperture mask for a screen comprising:
(a) providing a substrate having a first side and a second side, the first side having an array of lenses associated therewith;
(b) applying a positive-acting photoresist to the second side of the substrate, said photoresist comprising at least one pigment dispersed in a photosensitive matrix which, upon exposure to actinic radiation, becomes soluble in a developer solution, said at least one pigment absorbing light in the visible range;
(c) exposing the positive-acting photoresist by passing actinic radiation through the array of lenses to form an exposure pattern in the photoresist, said exposure pattern being a function of the optical properties of the lenses; and
(d) developing the positive-acting photoresist using the developer solution to remove photoresist which has been exposed to the actinic radiation and thus form apertures in the photoresist which will transmit visible light to a greater extent than regions of the photoresist that have not been exposed to the actinic radiation.
In accordance with another of its aspects, the invention provides apparatus (a screen subassembly) comprising:
(a) a substrate having a first side and a second side;
(b) an array of lenses associated with the first side of the substrate; and
(c) an aperture mask on the second side of the substrate comprising:
(i) a pigmented polymer layer comprising at least one pigment dispersed substantially uniformly throughout the layer, said pigment absorbing visible light, said pigmented polymer layer being either an unexposed positive-acting photoresist or an exposed, but not developed, positive-acting photoresist; and
(ii) a plurality of apertures which pass through the pigmented polymer layer, the locations of the apertures being based on the optical properties of the array of lenses; wherein the apertures transmit visible light to a greater extent than the pigmented polymer layer.
As used herein, the term positive-acting photoresist means a photoresist having the characteristic that development of the photoresist causes removal from the photoresist of those portions of the photoresist that have been exposed to actinic radiation.
Additional features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the invention as described herein.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are merely exemplary of the invention, and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the invention as it is claimed.
The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments of the invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles and operation of the invention. The drawings are not intended to indicate scale or relative proportions of the elements shown therein.

Self-aligned aperture masks having high definition apertures


A jig for face frame hinges may include a base and gripping members, wherein the jig may be secured to a frame member or a wall adapted to receive a hinge base plate and the hinge base plate may be abutted with a first hinge abutting edge of the jig. The gripping members may hold the jig in a selected position so that the hinge base may be abutted with the jig while fasteners are engaged through the base and into the frame member, or while holes are pre-drilled and fasteners engaged to mount the hinge base. The proper position may typically be with a second frame member abutting edge of the jig abutted with an adjacent adjoining frame member. Thus, the jig edges form stops for consistently and positively locating hinge bases of a face frame hinge at a predetermined distance from adjacent frame members.

1. Technical Field
This invention generally relates to hinge mounting tools, and more particularly to a jig providing consistent placement for face frame mounted hinges.
2. State of the Art
Several templates have been developed for marking doors and jams for placement of hinge fasteners and hinges themselves. Templates for marking locations for hinges for subsequent removal of wood to form recesses for leaves of a hinge are also known. These devices have a variety of stops including adjustable stops, many of which are provided by complex mechanisms.
Very little has been done in the area of jigs for face frame hinges. The only activity in this general area appears to have been directed to mounting of continuous hinges that have very distinct elongate structure. Conventional ways of mounting a face frame hinge are accomplished by hand measurements to determine and mark locations to pre-drill holes, and then to install the face frame hinge base. An artisan may use a tape measure or other measuring device to attempt to correctly mark the location for the hinge. The consistency of placement of the hinge is then left to the artisan's accuracy and is often subject to human error in measuring and/or predrilling.
Furthermore, the conventional manner of mounting hinges and mounting the associated doors on cabinets requires correlating the position of the hinge base on the door to the position of the hinge base on the cabinet. Thus, additional potential for errors is introduced during the steps of correlating the measurement on the cabinet to the measurement on the door, marking the position for the hinge base on the door, boring the hole in the door for the hinge base of the door mounted portion of the hinge, and predrilling and/or placing the screws when mounting the door mounted portion of the hinge. The challenge of avoiding error can be complicated by the need to add the amount of the desired overlay in order to properly position the hinge(s) on the door.
Accordingly, what is needed is a jig that provides a more consistent, accurate and convenient method of installing a face frame mounted hinge.

Hinge base plate mounting tool for face frame hinges


A power controller includes an infrared emitting circuit, an infrared receiving circuit, and a switching circuit. The infrared emitting circuit emits an infrared signal received by the infrared receiving circuit which outputs a corresponding control signal. The switching circuit is connected to the infrared receiving circuit to receive the control signal, and is connected to a powering control terminal of a motherboard of a computer to output a pulse signal to turn the computer on and off according to the control signal.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a power controller for a computer.
2. Description of Related Art
A controller for turning a computer on and off is usually disposed on a bezel of a computer chassis. When the chassis is placed under a desk, using the controller to turn the computer on and off can be inconvenient.

Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd.


A mailbox display sleeve may include an inside layer and an outside layer joined at a crease. The outside layer may be made of a clear plastic material. An attachment component may attach the inside layer to an outside surface of a mail box. An insert may fit in between the inside layer and the outside layer of the display sleeve, and may thereby be displayed from the mailbox.

The present invention relates to mailbox accessories, and more specifically, to a transparent display sleeve for the outside surface of a standard mailbox, which allows a user to personalize their mailbox.
Standard US Postal Service Mailboxes are very functional, but their plain appearance is not pleasing for many. Some people attempt to decorate their mailbox with paint, decals, stickers and the like, but these decorative elements are substantially permanent, and therefore not easily replaced or removed when they become damaged by the elements, or when the owner otherwise wants to update the look. Some people use preprinted mailbox covers to enhance the look of their mailbox, but these covers are expensive and not easily personalized.
As can be seen, there is a need for a device which facilitates mailbox personalization and decoration.


A portable exercise device for performing an elbow planche and other gymnastics and calisthenics holding poses. The portable elbow planche support has a pair of geometrical structures connected with articulating joints, supported by a plurality of feet. In one example embodiment, the geometrical structures are trapezoids. The elbow planche support is selectively assembled and disassembled, the feet and the articulating joints are removable for ease of storage, and the elbow planche support folds. In another example embodiment, the elbow planche support is a unitary device.

A planche is a bodyweight exercise in calisthenics and gymnastics in which the user's body is parallel to the ground, the body being supported only by the user's arms while the user holds the position for an extended period. By holding the pose, the user develops core and upper body strength, coordination, balance and stability.
While the exercise can be performed on the floor or a flat surface, the use of hex dumbbells as parallel bars can be implemented, allowing for a less strenuous wrist geometry by having the user grip the bars. The exercise can be further enhanced by performing the exercise on a single or double stationary bar, such as a ballet bar or a railing, raising the point of support higher off the ground than an unassisted exercise or using hex dumbbells.
A common and more mobile alternative to stationary parallel bars are stand-alone exercise bars. A planche could be performed using one or a pair of such a device, with the pair having more stability. These mobile alternatives, commonly known as parallettes, are often made from iron or PVC piping and T-connectors. Unfortunately, mobile parallettes lack the stability of stationary parallel bars, and have to be disassembled to be easily transported or stored.
While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose employed, or for general use, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present disclosure as disclosed hereafter.
In the present disclosure, where a document, act or item of knowledge is referred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not an admission that the document, act or item of knowledge or any combination thereof was at the priority date, publicly available, known to the public, part of common general knowledge or otherwise constitutes prior art under the applicable statutory provisions; or is known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which the present disclosure is concerned.
While certain aspects of conventional technologies have been discussed to facilitate the present disclosure, no technical aspects are disclaimed and it is contemplated that the claims may encompass one or more of the conventional technical aspects discussed herein.


A data processing apparatus for forming a portion of a coherent cache system comprises at least one master device for performing data processing operations, and a cache coupled to the at least one master device and arranged to store data values for access by that at least one master device when performing the data processing operations. Cache coherency circuitry is responsive to a coherency request from another portion of the coherent cache system to cause a coherency action to be taken in respect of at least one data value stored in the cache. Responsive to an indication that the coherency action has resulted in invalidation of that at least one data value in the cache, refetch control circuitry is used to initiate a refetch of that at least one data value into the cache. Such a mechanism causes the refetch of data into the cache to be triggered by the coherency action performed in response to a coherency request from another portion of the coherent cache system, rather than relying on any actions taken by the at least one master device, thereby providing a very flexible and efficient mechanism for reducing cache latency in a coherent cache system.

It is known to provide multi-processing systems in which two or more master devices, for example processor cores, share access to shared memory. Such systems are typically used to gain higher performance by arranging the different processor cores to execute respective data processing operations in parallel. Known data processing systems which provide such multi-processing capabilities include IBM370 systems and SPARC multi-processing systems. These particular multi-processing systems are high performance systems where power efficiency and power consumption is of little concern and the main objective is maximum processing speed.
It should be noted that the various master devices need not be processor cores. For example, a multi-processing system may include one or more processor cores, along with other master devices such as a Direct Memory Access (DMA) controller, a graphics processing unit (GPU), etc.
To further improve speed of access to data within such multi-processing systems, it is known to provide one or more of the master devices with their own local cache in which to store a subset of the data held in the shared memory. Whilst this can improve speed of access to data, it complicates the issue of data coherency. In particular, it will be appreciated that if a particular master device performs a write operation with regards to a data value held in its local cache, that data value will be updated locally within the cache, but may not necessarily also be updated at the same time in the shared memory. In particular, if the data value in question relates to a write back region of memory, then the updated data value in the cache will only be stored back to the shared memory when that data value is subsequently evicted from the cache.
Since the data may be shared with other master devices, it is important to ensure that those master devices will access the up-to-date data when seeking to access the associated address in shared memory. To ensure that this happens, it is known to employ a cache coherency protocol within the multi-processing system to ensure that if a particular master device updates a data value held in its local cache, that up-to-date data will be made available to any other master device subsequently requesting access to that data.
The use of such cache coherency protocols can also give rise to power consumption benefits by avoiding the need for accesses to memory in situations where data required by a master device can be found within one of the caches, and hence accessed without needing to access memory.
In accordance with a typical cache coherency protocol, certain accesses performed by a master device will require a coherency operation to be performed. The coherency operation will cause a coherency request to be sent to the other master devices identifying the type of access taking place and the address being accessed. This will cause those other master devices to perform certain coherency actions defined by the cache coherency protocol, and may also in certain instances result in certain information being fed back from one or more of those master devices to the master device initiating the access requiring the coherency operation. By such a technique, the coherency of the data held in the various local caches is maintained, ensuring that each master device accesses up-to-date data. One such cache coherency protocol is the "Modified, Owned, Exclusive, Shared, Invalid" (MOESI) cache coherency protocol.
Cache coherency protocols will typically implement either a write update mechanism or a write invalidate mechanism when a master device seeks to perform a write operation in respect of a data value. In accordance with the write update mechanism, any cache that currently stores the data value is arranged to update its local copy to reflect the update performed by the master device. In accordance with a write invalidate mechanism, the cache coherency hardware causes all other cached copies of the data value to be invalidated, with the result that the writing master device's cache is then the only valid copy in the system. At that point, the master device can continue to write to the locally cached version without causing coherency problems.
It is typically much simpler to implement a write invalidate mechanism than it is to implement a write update mechanism, and accordingly the write invalidate mechanism is the most commonly used cache coherency technique.
However, when using the write invalidate mechanism, this can result in data being removed from a master device's local cache before it has necessarily finished using that data. For example, if we refer to the master device producing the updated data value as the producer, and assume that there is at least one other master device that is (or will be) performing data processing operations using that data value (such a master device being referred to as a consumer hereafter), then it will be apparent that the result of the coherency operation performed on initiation of the write operation by the producer is that the consumer's local cached copy of the data value is invalidated, and the write then proceeds in respect of the producer's local cache. When the consumer then subsequently issues a request for the data value, a miss will occur in its local cache, thereby introducing a latency whilst that data is retrieved from another cache, or from a shared memory (for example if the producer has subsequently evicted the updated data from its cache back to memory before the consumer requests the data). Hence, the use of the write invalidate mechanism has the potential to impact performance of the data processing system.
One known technique for seeking to increase the hit rate in a cache involves the use of prefetch mechanisms within a master device to seek to prefetch, into that master device's local cache, data before it is actually needed during performance of the data processing operations by that master device. Such prefetch mechanisms are described, for example, in the article "Cache-Only Memory Architectures" (COMA), by F Dahlgren et al, Computer, Volume 32, Issue 6, June 1999, Pages 72-79. COMA seeks to reduce the impact of frequent long-latency memory accesses by turning memory modules into large dynamic RAM (DRAM) caches called attraction memory (AM). When a processor requests a block from a remote memory, the block is inserted in both the processor's cache and the node's AM. Because a large AM is more capable of containing the node's current working data set than a cache is, more of the cache misses are satisfied locally within the node. The article also discusses prefetching as means for retrieving data into a cache before the processor needs it. In software-controlled prefetching, the compiler or programmer inserts additional instructions in the code to perform the prefetching. Alternatively, hardware-controlled prefetching uses a mechanism that detects memory reference patterns and uses the patterns to automatically prefetch data.
Whilst such prefetching techniques could be used in the above-described producer-consumer scenario to improve the chance of the consumer's access requests hitting in its local cache, such prefetch mechanisms can significantly complicate the operation of the master device and impact the performance of that master device due to the processing overhead involved in implementing such prefetch mechanisms.
The above type of multi-processing system, where multiple master devices share data, use caches to improve performance, and use a cache coherency protocol to ensure that all of the master devices have a consistent view of the data, is often referred to as a coherent cache system. In non-coherent cache systems, where data is not shared between the various master devices, it is known to use lockdown mechanisms in individual caches in order to lockdown one or more cache lines of data to avoid that data being evicted whilst it is still needed by the associated master device. However, in coherent cache systems, such an approach is not practical. For example, when employing a write update mechanism, it would be complex to incorporate support for locked down cache lines. Furthermore, when employing the commonly used write invalidate mechanism, it would not be possible to allow cache lines to be locked down, due to the need to be able to invalidate a cache line in any cache as part of the cache coherency mechanism.
Considering the particular producer-consumer issue discussed earlier, an alternative mechanism which could reduce the latency of access to data by a consumer would be to bypass the cache system altogether, and instead to pass the data between producers and consumers using dedicated hardware, such as FIFOs. However, these would have to be sized and positioned appropriately at SoC (System-on-Chip) design time, and hence such an approach does not provide a very flexible mechanism. Further, such an approach would add to the cost and complexity of the design, and accordingly it will generally be considered more preferable to continue to use the coherent cache system as a means for sharing data between the producers and consumers.
Another known mechanism for seeking to reduce latency of access to data by a master device is "read snarfing". In particular, when master devices have a shared data bus, then the response to a read request issued by a particular master device (say M1) is visible to another master device (say M2) in the system, since the same read data pins are provided to both M1 and M2. By such an approach M2 could populate its own cache based on the read operations performed by M1 without needing to issue a read request itself, since it can "snarf" the values that were read by M1. However, such an approach lacks flexibility, since it requires a master device utilising the snarfing approach to have visibility of the read data bus that is provided to other master devices, and requires another of those master devices to perform a read before such snarfing can take place.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an improved technique for managing data within a cache forming a portion of a coherent cache system.

Apparatus and method for handling data in a cache


The described method and system provide for utilizing portals during GPS navigation to avoid unnecessary off-route notifications and route recalculation in problem areas. The method and system are described in the context of a GPS unit that is part of a telematics unit in a vehicle. If the route calculated by the GPS unit includes certain problem areas such as tunnels and stacked bridges, the GPS unit may utilize portals to process GPS navigation through those areas. When a user enters a portal, normal GPS navigation is suspended and certain features are disabled. For example, the user will not longer receive Turn-by-Turn (TBT) directions, off-route notifications, error notifications, and route recalculation notifications, until the GPS unit determines that the user has arrived at a second portal or until the user manually re-enables those features. The portals should be preferably located at the inlets and outlets to the problem areas. Thus, while the user is in a problem area, errant GPS information may be discarded or ignored, and the provision of unnecessary off-route notifications and route recalculations to the user may be avoided.

Telematics units within mobile vehicles provide subscribers with connectivity to a telematics service provider (TSP). The TSP provides the subscriber with an array of services ranging from emergency call handling and stolen vehicle recovery to diagnostics monitoring and turn-by-turn navigation. Telematics units are often provisioned and activated at a point of sale when a subscriber purchases a telematics-equipped vehicle. Upon activation, the telematics unit can be utilized to provide a subscriber with the telematics services.
One of the services conventionally provided by TSPs is GPS navigation, which may include the provision of Turn-by-Turn (TBT) directions. To use GPS navigation, a user of the telematics unit may enter a destination, and the GPS component of the telematics unit may provide directions (e.g. through a display and/or through vocal instructions) to the user based on a calculated course from the user's current location to the user's destination. When a user does not follow the directions and goes off-course (i.e., when the position of the vehicle is not on the calculated course), the GPS unit may recalculate a new course for the user to take based on the vehicle's position when it goes off-course.
While this is often a helpful feature for users who accidentally take a wrong turn, miss a turn, or encounter some unanticipated obstacle (e.g. road closures), off-route notifications and course recalculation is often a source of annoyance for users when they occur while the user is actually on-route. For example, if the calculated route takes the user through a tunnel or a stacked bridge (or other type of areas where GPS navigation is prone to error), GPS positioning information may be lost or erroneous while the user is in the tunnel or stacked bridge, causing the GPS unit to present off-route notifications and route recalculation when not necessary. Such areas, including but not limited to stacked bridges, tunnels, etc., will hereinafter be referred to as "problem areas" for convenience.
Thus, it is an object in part to provide a system and method for processing GPS navigation such that traveling through areas such as tunnels and stacked bridges do not trigger off-route notifications. However, while this is an object underlying certain implementations of the invention, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to systems that solve the problems noted herein. Moreover, the inventors have created the above body of information merely for the convenience of the reader; the foregoing is a discussion of problems discovered and/or appreciated by the inventors, and is not an attempt to review or catalog the prior art.


An external adjustable ballast system for keeled sailboats comprising a weight that is designed for low hydrodynamic drag, mounted through a beam to a shaft running down the leading edge of the fin keel. Turning the shaft moves the weight to optimize hull trim, both fore/aft and athwartships, for a particular point of sail. If the weight and beam are shaped as a lifting body and mounted to the shaft such that it pivots as it rotates to optimize angle of attack, the dynamic balancing component can allow for a lighter weight. Ballast weight and beam can be raised or lowered to optimize performance for expected wind conditions. The leading edge of the fin keel is a rotatable non spherical shaft. When rotated, the shaft creates an asymmetric cross section which improves hydrodynamic efficiency of the keel.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to sailing yachts, and more particularly to externally ballasted high performance sailing yachts.
2. Description of Related Art
Typically, external ballast is located at the lowest point on rigidly fixed keels. The keel serves two functions—it supports the external ballast and it provides a high aspect lifting surface to keep the vessel from sliding sideways as it sails upwind. As the vessel heels, the ballast works to counteract the force of the wind. There is no restoring force until some angle of heel is generated. As vessels heel, the effective area of the lifting surface reduces, comprising the windward performance. Attempts to reduce the angle of heel, center on moving ballast. Two typical methods of moving ballast to the windward side of the vessel include the swing keel and internal water ballast. The swing keel mounts ballast on the bottom of the keel, using the keel as a moment arm to increase the effectiveness of the weight in generating a righting moment. Water ballast using pumps to fill bladders inside the hull as needed to adjust trim. Since the water is inside the hull the moment arm to the center of buoyancy is short, requiring significantly more weight to an equivalent righting moment.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,163,377 and 5,622,130 describe various aspects of a keel-less sailing yacht that has fore and aft cambered foils for leeway control and a dynamic gravitational ballast for heeling resistance. A ballast-supporting structure, in the form of an elongated strut extending downwardly from the hull, supports the ballast generally beneath the hull. Twin fore and aft rotatable foils are also supported by the hull with extension below the hull for optimum performance under a wide range of operating conditions, preferably being controlled by a hydraulic or electric system.
A keel-less sailing yacht with appendages in the form of a movable ballast-supporting strut and twin fore and aft foils is sometimes referred to as a canting ballast twin foil (CBTF) sailing yacht. Such CBTF sailing yachts enjoy recognized sailing success accompanied by significant interest in CBTF technology. However, various structural and operational concerns need attention.
For example, the downwardly depending foils and ballast-supporting strut hinder operations in shallower water. In addition, replacement of foils damaged by vessel grounding is impaired. Furthermore, operating performance of larger sailing yachts, including those designed for ocean racing or cruising, can suffer somewhat under various sailing conditions (e.g., sailing off wind) due to the friction drag introduced by the downwardly depending appendages. Thus, a need exists for CBTF improvements in these respects.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,886,481 describes a pivotable deployable bulb mounted foil apparatus for a sailboat whose foils can be deployed from a nested position and pivoted when needed for lateral resistance. This invention is especially adapted to a canting keel where the sailboat loses its lateral resistance from the keel when the keel is canted.


The present invention provides a wafer polishing method and a polishing apparatus which are capable of preventing peripheral sags of a wafer due to polishing and then manufacturing the wafer, especially an SOI wafer at a high flatness level. There is provided a wafer polishing method using a polishing apparatus which comprises a rotatable table having a polishing cloth adhered thereon and a polishing head equipped with a wafer holding plate opposing to the table and in which the back surface of the wafer is held by a holding surface of the wafer holding plate and the front surface of the wafer is pressed to and polished by the polishing pad, comprising a polishing step of polishing the front surface of the wafer to a predetermined total polishing stock removal without changing the polishing apparatus, wherein the polishing step is divided into plural sub-steps and a holding position of the wafer in a subsequent sub-step is different from a holding position of the wafer in a previous sub-step.

In recent years, in order to improve a yield in a device process, a requirement for a high flatness level of a semiconductor wafer such as a silicon wafer has been more and more enhanced. A manufacturing method for a mirror polished wafer with such a high flatness level has been generally constituted of: a single crystal growing process producing a single crystal ingot using a Czochralski (CZ) method, a Floating Zone (FZ) method or the like; and a wafer manufacturing (processing) process slicing the single crystal ingot into sliced wafers to process at least one main surface of each of the sliced wafers into a mirror polished surface. With thus manufactured mirror-polished wafer, devices have been fabricated.
A more detailed description of the wafer manufacturing (processing) process will be given below. The process includes: a slicing step of slicing a single crystal ingot to obtain a thin disk-like wafer; a chamfering step of chamfering a peripheral edge portion of the wafer obtained through the slicing step to prevent cracking or chipping of the wafer; a lapping step of flattening the wafer; an etching step of removing processing deformation remaining in the chamfered and lapped wafer; a polishing step of making a mirror surface of the wafer; and a cleaning step of cleaning the polished wafer to remove a polishing agent or dust particles deposited thereon. The above-described wafer processing process shows main steps thereof, and sometimes other steps such as a heat treatment step, surface grinding step and others may be added, or the same step may be divided into multiple sub-steps, or the step sequence may be changed.
Moreover, in recent years, an integration level in an integrated circuit has greatly increased, which has been accompanied by stricter required conditions imposed on a processing precision such as flatness or smoothness of a mirror-polished wafer surface. In addition, in order to achieve an integrated circuit higher in performance, reliability and product yield, not only a higher mechanical precision, but also better electric characteristics have been required. Especially, an SOI wafer, which is an ideal dielectric isolation substrate, has been used in applications to high frequency and high-speed devices mainly related to mobile communication equipment and medical equipment and further great increase in demand therefor is expected in the future.
An SOI wafer 50, as shown in FIG. 7, has a structure in which an SOI layer 52 (also referred to as a semiconductor layer or an active layer) for forming an element such as a single crystal silicon layer is formed on an insulating layer 54 (also referred to as a buried oxide (BOX) film layer or simply an oxide film layer) such as a silicon oxide film. The insulating layer 54 is formed on a support substrate 56 (also referred to as a substrate layer) and the SOI wafer 50 has a structure in which the insulating layer 54 and the SOI layer 52 are sequentially formed on the support substrate 56.
As conventional manufacturing methods for an SOI wafer 50 having the SOI structure in which the SOI layer 52 and the support substrate 56 are made of, for example, silicon and the insulating layer 54 is made of, for example, a silicon oxide film, there are exemplified a SIMOX (Separation by implanted oxygen) method in which oxygen ions are implanted into a silicon single crystal at a high concentration and thereafter the single crystal is subjected to heat treatment at a high temperature to form an oxide film thereon; and a bonding method (adhering method) in which two mirror-polished wafers are bonded with each other without the use of an adhesive, followed by processing one of the bonded wafers into a thin film.
Since the SIMOX method can controllably determine a film thickness of an active layer portion (SOI layer) 52 to serve as a device active region by an acceleration voltage in oxygen ion implantation, there is an advantage to obtain a thin active layer high in film thickness uniformity easily whereas there have remained many problems of reliability of a buried oxide (BOX) film (insulating layer) 54, crystallinity in an active layer, and others.
On the other hand, a wafer bonding method is carried out in such a way that an oxide film (insulating layer) 54 is formed on at least one of two single crystal silicon mirror-polished wafers, then both wafers are adhered to each other without using an adhesive, then a composite wafer is subjected to heat treatment (usually at a temperature in the range of 1100° C. to 1200° C.) to strengthen bonding therebetween and thereafter one of the wafers is thinned into a thin film by grinding or wet etching, followed by mirror-polishing the surface of the thin film so as to form an SOI layer 52; which leads to advantages that reliability of the buried oxide film (insulating layer) 54 is high and crystallinity of the SOI layer is also good. However, the thus adhered SOI wafer 50 is subjected to mechanical processing such as grinding or polishing into a thin film, and hence the obtained SOI layer 52 have limitations in its film thickness and uniformity thereof.
As a manufacturing method for an SOI wafer, it has very recently started to pay attention to a method for manufacturing an SOI wafer by bonding of an ion implanted wafer and separating of the wafer. This method is also referred to as an ion implantation separation method, which is such a technique that as shown in FIG. 8. In this method, two silicon wafers 52a and 56a are provided to be ready for use (FIG. 8(a), step 100); an oxide film (insulating layer) 54a is formed on at least one wafer 52a (referred to as a bond wafer) (FIG. 8(b), step 102); hydrogen ions or rare gas ions are implanted onto the upper surface of the one wafer 52a (FIG. 8(c), step 104); a micro-bubble layer (enclosed layer) 58 is formed in the interior of the wafer 52a, the surface onto which the ions are implanted is contacted and adhered with the other silicon wafer 56a (referred to a base wafer) through the oxide film 54a (FIG. 8(d), step 106); thereafter heat treatment is applied to the adhered wafers to separate the one wafer 52a as a thin film with the micro-bubble layer 58 as a cleavage plane (FIG. 8(e), step 108); and heat treatment is further applied to the rest of the adhered wafers to strengthen the bond to thereby obtain an SOI wafer 50 (FIG. 8(f), step 110) (see JP-A No. 5-21128). The cleavage plane is a good mirror-polished surface and the SOI wafer 50 having high uniformity of film thickness of the SOI layer 52 can be obtained with relative ease. Furthermore, in some cases the thus obtained SOI layer 52 is subjected to CMP polishing in order to remove strain therein and make the layer to be a thinner film (FIG. 8(g), step 112).
While there have been developed various types of polishing apparatuses for manufacturing such a mirror-polished wafer or an SOI wafer, many of them are directed to improvements on holding means for polishing (polishing heads and besides wafer holding plates), for example, means for holding a wafer on a soft holding surface such as a backing pad or the like, means for vacuum chuck and a template (a retainer).
For example, JP-A No. 7-171757 discloses a polishing head in which a wafer is vacuum chucked on a wafer vacuum chucking plate made of a flexible thin plate provided on an opening at the lower portion of the wafer holding member, the wafer holding member is vertically hung and held in a housing by an expandable cylindrical member and a high flexible holding member, and a compressed air at a given pressure is introduced into the hermetically sealed housing to eliminate an influence of the weight of the wafer holding member itself to thereby polish a wafer only at a uniform air pressure.
Also, JP-A No. 2000-198069 discloses a technique related to a polishing head (a wafer holding method) where in a polishing work holding plate equipped with a work holding plate body having multiple through-holes vacuum chucking a work, a holding surface of the holding plate body is covered with a film obtained by thermally curing a thermosetting resin coated on the holding surface and the surface of the film is polished.
Further, JP-A No. 2002-113653 discloses a polishing head where in a substrate holding device that holds a semiconductor wafer as an object for polishing and pressing the wafer to a polishing surface on a polishing table, there are provided a top ring body holding the semiconductor wafer, a retainer ring fixed to the top ring body or formed into a single piece together therewith holding the outer peripheral edge of the semiconductor wafer and a fluid room provided in the top ring body as well as covered with an elastic membrane, wherein by supplying a pressure fluid into the fluid room, the semiconductor wafer is pressed to the polishing surface through the elastic membrane and by imposing a pushing force to the top ring body, the retainer ring is pressed to the polishing surface.
In addition to the above disclosed techniques, JP-A No. 08-257893 discloses a polishing head in which the outer peripheral portion of a wafer is held in a state capable of elastically deforming in the thickness direction of a wafer; and JP-A No. 11-42550 discloses a technique in which a first space portion pressing a carrier and a second space portion pressing a retainer ring are provided, wherein a pressure air is supplied into the first and second space portions to elastically deform the central portion and the outer peripheral portion of an elastic sheet to thereby press the carrier and the retainer ring to a polishing table.
Thus there have been developed various techniques related to a polishing head and wafer holding for a polishing apparatus used in manufacturing a mirror-polished wafer, an SOI wafer and the like. As shown in FIG. 9, a polishing apparatus 10 of this kind comprises, as a fundamental structure: a rotatable table 14 having a polishing cloth 12 adhered thereon; a polishing head 18 equipped with a wafer holding plate 16 provided opposing to the table 14; and a retainer ring 20 holding a wafer (W) by the outer peripheral edge thereof, wherein when polishing, a polishing agent 24 is supplied onto the polishing cloth 12 from a polishing supply tube 22, the back surface of the wafer (W) is held on a holding surface 16a of the wafer holding plate 16 through a backing pad 26 or the like (the wafer may be held with a synthetic resin member, a ceramic member, an elastic member or the like), and the polishing head 18 is pressed to thereby press the surface of the wafer (W) to the polishing cloth 12 for polishing. Incidentally, in FIG. 9, numerical reference 28 designates a rotary shaft of the table 14, and 30 a driving shaft for the polishing head 18. A polishing apparatus having a structure without the retainer ring 20 has been conventionally employed.
However, attempts have been made to process a wafer to a high flatness level by contriving a mechanism of a polishing head or the like, but there has been a limitation on mechanical improvements. That is, there has been a technical portion in which improvements are limited because of the remaining influence of flatness (a fluctuation in thickness) of a holding surface of a wafer holding plate, distortion caused by assembly or the like.
For example, in the above-described manufacture of the SOI wafer, a wafer having the SOI layer excellent in flatness can be manufactured by means of an ion implantation separation method. Polishing may be conducted in order to make the SOI layer thin. Due to the polishing, the SOI layer may be degraded in flatness (sags of a surface) against the purpose thereof. Flatness required for the SOI wafer is especially 10 nm or less in in-plane dispersion for a 300 mm diameter wafer, which is much severer as compared with a level of about 1 μm (1000 nm) or less in in-plane dispersion required for a mirror-polished wafer subjected to the ordinary process for manufacturing (processing) a wafer. Therefore, even slight degradation in flatness gives rise to a problem. The degradation in flatness is caused by an influence of a fluctuation in a holding surface of a wafer holding plate of a polishing head or distortion due to assembly. It has been demanded to improve configuration degradation in a portion not to be mechanically corrected.


The invention is embodied in a process for synthesizing a new image representing a new viewpoint of a scene from at least two existing images of the scene taken from different respective viewspoints. The process begins by choosing a planar surface visible in the at least two of the existing images and transforming the at least two existing images relative to one another so as to bring the planar surface into perspective alignment in the at least two existing images, and then choosing a reference frame and computing parallax vectors between the two images of the projection of common scene points on the reference frame.. Preferably, the reference frame comprises an image plane of a first one of the existing images. Preferably, the reference frame is co-planar with the planar surface. In this case, the transforming of the existing images is achieved by performing a projective transform on a second one of the existing images to bring its image of the planar surface into perspective alignment with the image of the planar surface in the first existing image.. Preferably, the image parameter of the new view comprises information sufficient, together with the parallax vectors, to deduce: (a) a trifocal ratio in the reference frame and (b) one epipole between the new viewpoint and one of the first and second viewpoints.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an image processing method and apparatus employing multi-view parallax geometry. In one application, a previously unknown view from a new perspective of 3-dimensional objects is rendered from 2-dimensional images taken from different perspectives.
2. Background Art
The analysis of 3D scenes from multiple perspective images has been a topic of considerable interest in the vision literature. For the sake of clarity, this specification refers to published techniques described in this literature where appropriate, and for the sake of brevity such references are made to the following publications by the numbers given below in brackets (e.g., "[3]"):

View synthesis from plural images using a trifocal tensor data structure in a multi-view parallax geometry

Yissum Research Development Co. of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem


A cleaning member includes a core member, a foamed elastic layer in which fillers are filled in bubbles of a foamed elastic layer that are present at a surface of a side opposing to an outer circumferential surface of the core member in at least one side or both sides of ends in a longitudinal direction in the foamed elastic layer that is disposed so as to helically wind a strip shaped foamed elastic member from one end of the core member to the other end thereof in the outer circumferential surface of the core member, and a bonding layer that bonds the core member and the foamed elastic layer.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a cleaning member and a charging device, a unit for an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus.
2. Related Art
In an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic system, first, a surface of an image holding member including a photoreceptor or the like is charged and an electric charge is generated, and an electrostatic latent image is formed by laser light or the like modulated by image signals. Thereafter, the electrostatic latent image is developed by charged toner and a visible toner image is formed. In addition, the toner image is electrostatically transferred to a transfer medium such as recording paper directly or via an intermediate transfer member, the toner image is fixed on the transfer medium, and the image is obtained.

Cleaning member and charging device, unit for image forming apparatus and process cartridge, and image forming apparatus


A drive assist display apparatus displays the backward or frontward of a vehicle. It is assumed that planes are perpendicular with the front-back direction, the downward, leftward and rightward directions being perpendicular with the front-back direction. Square subjects assumed to be on the planes are displayed as squares or rectangles having equal to one another on respective regions in accordance with the direction. The regions include a forward correction image display region in the vicinity of other display regions. The vicinity area has the same display image corresponding to a straight line coincident with a vertical straight line with respect to the ground surface or being in the vehicle front-back direction. The bottom side of a leftward or rightward correction image display region and the left or right side of a downward correction image display region are straight lines coincident with respective vehicle front-back direction straight lines.

There have so far been proposed a wide variety of drive assist display apparatuses for providing a driver with an image taken by a vehicle-mounted camera mounted on such as a rear trunk or a front grille of a vehicle to make the driver sense a backward or a forward of the vehicle.
The conventional drive assist display apparatus is required to take the image of a wider area, and to display a wider image.
In order to realize the requirement, the conventional drive assist display apparatus is designed in various ways such as, for example, taking the image with a plurality of vehicle-mounted cameras or taking the image by using a wide-angle lens, and displaying the wide image in a limited display area.
As an example, the conventional drive assist display apparatus taking the image by using the wide-angle lens is disclosed by a Patent Literature 1.
As shown in FIG. 57, the Patent Literature 1 discloses an image taken by using the wide-angle lens. In the image view, the reference sign 101-1 is regarded as indicating a crosswise straight line crossing in front of the vehicle-mounted camera on the ground surface, and the reference sign 101-2 is regarded as indicating a vertical straight line extending from the ground surface with forming a building.
As an example, the conventional drive assist display apparatus designed to perform a correcting operation of a wide-angle taken image is disclosed by a Patent Literature 2.
As shown in FIG. 58, the Patent Literature 2 discloses a corrected omnidirectional image developed by a Mercator projection from an omnidirectional taken image. FIGS. 59 and 60 each shows an image clipped horizontally about a range of 180 degrees from the corrected omnidirectional image shown in FIG. 58. In FIGS. 59 and 60, the reference sign 102-2-1 is regarded as indicating a vertical straight line extending from the ground surface with forming a building. In FIG. 59, the reference sign 102-2-2 is regarded as indicating parallel lines extending on the ground surface with crossing from the near side toward the far side of the vehicle-mounted camera, the parallel lines constituting a vertically-striped pattern of a crosswalk. In FIG. 60, the reference sign 102-3-1 is regarded as indicating a crosswise straight line crossing in front of the vehicle-mounted camera on the ground surface.
As an example, the conventional drive assist display apparatus designed to take the image with the plurality of vehicle-mounted cameras and to display the image taken by the vehicle-mounted cameras is disclosed by a Patent Literature 3.
As shown in FIG. 61, the Patent Literature 3 discloses a display image including three images respectively taken by three vehicle-mounted cameras. The display image has a backward left image display region 71 for displaying the image taken by the vehicle-mounted camera mounted at an angle toward a backward left direction, a backward right image display region 72 for displaying the image taken by the vehicle-mounted camera mounted at an angle toward a backward right direction, and a backward straight image display region 73 for displaying the image taken by the vehicle-mounted camera mounted at an angle toward a backward straight direction.
In the image arrangement, the image regions 71 to 73 are located in a manner that the backward left image display region 71 and the backward right image display region 72 are covered by the top side of the backward straight image display region 73.
As shown states 3 and 5 in FIG. 61, in responding to change the display region of a moving object T crossing in the back of the vehicle from the backward left image display region 71 to the backward straight image display region 73, an auxiliary image M′ is appeared in the backward straight image display region 73 so that an auxiliary image guide line F′ in the backward straight image display region 73 is contiguous to a movement locus F in the backward left image display region 71. This results in the fact that an eye line of a driver is led to the backward straight image display region 73 with reducing a feeling of discontinuity.


A system, computer readable medium and a method for multi-dimensional decoding. The method may include calculating, for each single code component of multiple code components and for each dimension of the multi-dimensional decoding, multiple first candidates and assigning a first reliability score for each first candidate; selecting, for each single code component and for each dimension, a second candidate out of the multiple first candidates in response to first reliability scores of the multiple first candidates; selecting, per dimension, multiple third candidates out of all second candidates associated with the dimension, in response to reliability information related to the second candidates associated with the dimension; selecting fourth candidates out of third candidates of all dimensions; wherein a number of the fourth candidates is smaller than a number of the third candidates of all dimensions; wherein the fourth candidates are indicative of locations of bits to be evaluated; and applying a multi-dimensional soft decoding process on the multiple code components.

Multi-dimensional codes are widely used due to their potential efficiency. It is usually impractical to implement optimal decoding in the sense of maximal probability per information bit, such as maximum likelihood (ML) decoding, since the complexity may grow rapidly.
There is a need to reduce the complexity of multi-dimensional codes while benefiting from increased decoding efficiency at a low complexity.


A heat sink may be spring strapped onto a socketed processor using clips that engage the spring strap and that are pre-positioned on the circuit board. The clips may be C-shaped and may include an upper spring arm portion, a vertical portion, and a base which may be surface mounted to the circuit board. The upper spring arm of the C-shaped clip then releasably engages the spring strap to clamp the heat sink firmly onto the socketed processor.

This invention relates generally to techniques for securing heat sinks to processors.
Conventionally, a processor is mounted in a socket on a motherboard such as a printed circuit board including a plurality of integrated circuits secured thereto. The integrated circuits may be electrically coupled by conductive lines printed on the circuit board. Heat dissipation affects the operation of the processor and thus it is desirable to have a highly effective and relatively compact heat sink for the processor.
Commonly clips are provided on the socket for the processor. Straps that connect to those clips are used to clamp a heat sink over the processor contained in the socket. This technique provides a firm spring attachment between the heat sink and the processor and is effective in dissipating heat from the processor.
However many available sockets do not include the clips for spring strapping the heat sink onto the socket. While it would be desired to use a spring clip strapping technique, there is no way to attach the strap so as to secure the heat sink over the processor.
Thus there is a need for a way to spring strap heat sinks onto processors secured in sockets without strap attaching clips.

Clamping heat sinks to circuit boards over processors


The present disclosure relates to a recombinant gram-negative bacterial cell comprising: a.) a mutant spr gene encoding a spr protein having a mutation at one or more amino acids selected from D133, H145, H157, N31, R62, I70, Q73, C94, S95, V98, Q99, R100, L108, Y115, V135, L136, G140, R144 and G147 and b.) a gene capable of expressing or overexpressing one or more proteins capable of facilitating protein folding, such as FkpA, Skp, SurA, PPiA and PPiD, wherein the cell has reduced Tsp protein activity compared to a wild-type cell, methods employing the cells, use of the cells in the expression of proteins in particular antibodies, such as anti Fc Rn antibodies and proteins made by the methods described herein.

Bacterial cells, such as E. coli, are commonly used for producing recombinant proteins. There are many advantages to using bacterial cells, such as E. coli, for producing recombinant proteins particularly due to the versatile nature of bacterial cells as host cells allowing the gene insertion via plasmids. E. coli have been used to produce many recombinant proteins including human insulin.
Despite the many advantages to using bacterial cells to produce recombinant proteins, there are still significant limitations including the difficulty of producing protease sensitive proteins. Proteases play an important role in turning over old, damaged or mis-folded proteins in the E. coli periplasm and cytoplasm. Bacterial proteases act to degrade the recombinant protein of interest, thereby often significantly reducing the yield of active protein.
A number of bacterial proteases have been identified. In E. coli proteases including Protease III (ptr), DegP, OmpT, Tsp, prlC, ptrA, ptrB, pepA-T, tsh, espc, eatA, clpP and lon have been identified.
Tsp (also known as Prc) is a 60 kDa periplasmic protease. The first known substrate of Tsp was Penicillin-binding protein-3 (PBP3) (Determination of the cleavage site involved in C-terminal processing of penicillin-binding protein 3 of Escherichia coli; Nagasawa H, Sakagami Y, Suzuki A, Suzuki H, Hara H, Hirota Y. J. Bacteriol. 1989 November; 171(11):5890-3 and Cloning, mapping and characterization of the Escherichia coli Tsp gene which is involved in C-terminal processing of penicillin-binding protein 3; Hara H, Yamamoto Y, Higashitani A, Suzuki H, Nishimura Y. J. Bacteriol. 1991 August; 173 (15):4799-813) but it was later discovered that the Tsp was also able to cleave phage tail proteins and, therefore, it was renamed as Tail Specific Protease (Tsp) (Silber et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 89: 295-299 (1992)). Silber et al. (Deletion of the prc(tsp) gene provides evidence for additional tail-specific proteolytic activity in Escherichia coli K-12; Silber, K. R., Sauer, R. T.; Mol Gen Genet. 1994 242:237-240) describes a prc deletion strain (KS 1000) wherein the mutation was created by replacing a segment of the prc gene with a fragment comprising a Kanr marker.
The reduction of Tsp (prc) activity is desirable to reduce the proteolysis of proteins of interest. However, it was found that cells lacking protease prc show thermosensitive growth at low osmolarity. Hara et al isolated thermoresistant revertants containing extragenic suppressor (spr) mutations (Hara et al., Microbial Drug Resistance, 2: 63-72 (1996)). Spr is an 18 kDa membrane bound periplasmic protease and the substrates of spr are Tsp and peptidoglycans in the outer membrane involved in cell wall hydrolysis during cell division. The spr gene is designated as UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot POAFV4 (SPR_ECOLI).
Improved protease deficient strains comprising a mutant spr gene have been described. Chen et al describes the construction of E. coli strains carrying different combinations of mutations in prc (Tsp) and another protease, DegP, created by amplifying the upstream and downstream regions of the gene and ligating these together on a vector comprising selection markers and a sprW174R mutation (High-level accumulation of a recombinant antibody fragment in the periplasm of Escherichia coli requires a triple-mutant (ΔDegP Δprc sprW174R) host strain (Chen C, Snedecor B, Nishihara J C, Joly J C, McFarland N, Andersen D C, Battersby J E, Champion K M. Biotechnol Bioeng. 2004 Mar. 5; 85(5):463-74). The combination of the ΔDegP, Δprc and sprW174R mutations were found to provide the highest levels of antibody light chain, antibody heavy chain and F(ab′)2-LZ. EP1341899 discloses an E. coli strain that is deficient in chromosomal DegP and prc encoding proteases DegP and Prc, respectively, and harbors a mutant spr gene that encodes a protein that suppresses growth phenotypes exhibited by strains harboring prc mutants.
Other improved protease deficient strains containing mutations in both Tsp and spr have been described in WO2011/086136.
Strains disclosed in WO02/48376 are lac− and cannot grow in cultures where thymidine, fucose or maltose are employed as the carbon source. This can be a severe disadvantage for strains intended for use on a commercial scale. There may be further disadvantages associated with the strains, for example the lack of production of alkaline phosphatase. The latter is a periplasmic protein involved in phosphate utilization from culture media.
Certain proteins exhibit peptidyl-prolyl isomerase and/or isomerase activity and/or chaperone activity and have been found to provide advantageous properties when employed in cell lines employed for recombinant protein expression.
The present invention provides new bacterial strains carrying both Tsp and spr mutations and at least one gene encoding a protein or proteins capable of facilitating protein folding which provide advantageous means for producing recombinant proteins.

Recombinant bacterial host cell for protein expression


In an apparatus having an internal combustion engine, a compressor for compressing engine intake gases, a particulate filter for filtering particulate matter from engine exhaust, an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system for recirculating exhaust gases from a location downstream of the particulate filter to a location upstream of the compressor, and a particulate filter function detector configured to detect a failure of the particulate filter, a method of operating the engine, including receiving a signal from the particulate filter function detector, comparing the signal from the particulate filter function detector to a predetermined signal threshold, determining if the signal received from the particulate filter function detector meets a predetermined condition relative to the predetermined signal threshold; and reducing a flow of exhaust gas through the EGR system if the signal meets the predetermined condition.

Controlling nitrogen oxide ("NOx") emissions in internal combustion engines has posed significant challenges to the automotive industry. One method for controlling NOx emissions is generally known as exhaust gas recirculation (EGR). This method utilizes a conduit to recirculate exhaust gases into the engine intake. The recirculated exhaust gases absorb heat in the combustion chamber, thereby lowering the temperatures within the combustion chamber and lowering the production of NOx. A cooler may be provided along the EGR conduit to cool the recirculated exhaust gases and thereby help further lower combustion temperatures.
In a turbocharged engine, two types of EGR systems may be employed. The first may be referred to as a high pressure EGR system, and recirculates exhaust from a location upstream of the exhaust turbine. The second may be referred to as a low pressure EGR system, and recirculates exhaust from a location downstream of the exhaust turbine.
A low pressure EGR system may recirculate exhaust gases to the engine intake at a location either upstream or downstream of the intake compressor. In a low pressure EGR system where recirculated exhaust is delivered to the intake upstream of a compressor, particulate matter in the recirculated exhaust can damage the compressor. To help prevent such damage, the low pressure EGR system may draw exhaust from a location downstream of a particulate filter such that particulate matter is removed from the exhaust before it reaches the low pressure EGR intake. However, failure of the particulate filter may occur, in which case particulate matter in the exhaust may damage the intake compressor, EGR cooler, charge air cooler, and/or other engine components.
The inventors herein have realized that particulate damage to an engine may be avoided or lessened in an apparatus having an internal combustion engine, a compressor for compressing engine intake gases, a particulate filter for filtering particulate matter from engine exhaust, an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system for recirculating exhaust gases from a location downstream of the particulate filter to a location upstream of the compressor, and a particulate filter function detector configured to detect a failure of particulate filter, by performing a method of operating the engine including receiving a signal from the particulate filter function detector, comparing the signal from the particulate filter function detector to a predetermined signal threshold, determining if the signal received from the particulate filter function detector meets a predetermined condition relative to the predetermined signal threshold; and reducing a flow of exhaust gas through the EGR system if the signal meets the predetermined condition.

System and method for operating an engine having an exhaust gas recirculation system


A laser oscillator system which transmits laser input beam pulses through optical diode and into a plurality of time-multiplexed phase conjugate amplifier which sequentially amplify in chronological order subsequent input beam pulses. The optical diode is positioned on the oscillator laser beam pulse axis and is comprised of a polarizer, a half-wave plate which rotates the pulse polarity by 45.degree. in one direction and a Faraday rotator which rotates the pulse polarity 45.degree. in the opposite direction. A plurality of grouped Pockels cells and polarizers are positioned on the oscillator axis past the Faraday rotator. The polarizers route the input beam pulse toward a phase conjugate amplifier when a half-wave voltage is applied to the Pockels cell. Each phase conjugate amplifier has a phase conjugate mirror, at its output for retroreflecting the once amplified input laser beam pulse back therethrough for a second amplification. The twice amplified laser beam pulse is returned back to and reflected off the beam splitter back through the Pockels cell. The pockels cell rotates the pusle back to its orignial polarity as the pulse returns to the optical diode. Teh faraday rotator rotates the pulse 45.degree. and the half-wave plate rotates the pulse another 45.degree. for a total of 90.degree.. The 90.degree. rotated amplified output pulses from the time multiplexed amplifiers are reflected off the polarizer and out the laser system.

1. Field
The invention is in the field of high brightness laser systems which use a low energy master oscillator laser beam and a power amplifier usually limited to a low pulse repetition rate, and specifically to the time-multiplexing of a plurality of phase conjugated power amplifiers in which the oscillator laser beam pulses pass through an optical diode comprised of a polarizer, a half-wave plate, and a Faraday rotator and wherein a plurality of Pockels cells are electronically sequentially switched to divert successive oscillator pulses to sequential amplifiers in a Gatling gun fashion of firing the amplifiers and out the optical diode to provide a high pulse repetition rate for the laser system.
2. Prior Art
Known high brightness lasers which use solid state lasers as power amplifiers in a laser oscillator system are usually pulse rate limited by the thermal effects in the power amplifier laser rods. The pulse repetition frequency may be limited to about 60 Hertz. A laser system which is limited in frequency is a laser oscillator and a solid state laser rod phase conjugated power amplifier with a polarizer in optical alignment therebetween for routing the oscillator laser beam pulses into the phase conjugated power amplifier and the retroreflected amplified output laser beam pulses out of the laser system toward a target. The phase conjugated power amplifier has at the back side a quarter-wave plate and a phase conjugate mirror, comprised of a focusing lens and a stimulated Brillouin scattering cell, for retroreflecting the once amplified beam back. The retroreflected beam is amplified a second time then on the pass back through the power amplifier. The two passes through the quarter-wave plate result in the beam polarization to rotate by 90.degree.. The twice amplified output beam pulse is reflected off the polarizer.
The stimulated Brillouin scattering of the laser beam pulses results in a phase conjugated and distortion free retroreturn of the input laser beam pulse even when the amplifier has some slight movement or misalignment. Such a laser system has high-fidelity amplification and a stable output beam direction. The frequency of producing laser pulses therefrom is however limited by the temperature generated in the laser rods of the power amplifiers.
The present invention provides an increased pulse repetition frequency by switching a plurality of phase conjugate amplifiers sequentially in sychronism with the oscillator laser beam pulses so that no amplifier is overloaded. The amplifiers are the solid state laser rod type with each having an input thereto along an optical axis of a laser oscillator and an output therefrom to a phase conjugate mirror which retroflects the pulse back through the quarter-wave plate. The phase conjugate mirror is comprised of a focusing lens and a stimulated Brillouin scattering cell. The amplifiers are selectively time multiplexed sequentially with the input beam pulses so that each individual amplifier unit operates at a frequency below the critical overheating level, which may be at about 60 Hertz. By use of the stimulated Brillouin scattering cell for retroreflection, the outputs from each amplifier is automatically and stably aligned with the outputs of the other amplifiers.
A similar patent application is concurrently filed, titled "Gatling Gun Laser Amplifier Using Rotating Mirrors" by co-inventors Suresh Chandra and Geraldine Daunt. The other application is however distinctly different from the present invention.

Gatling gun laser pulse amplifier using an optical diode

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army


An image forming apparatus includes: a heating unit; a pressure roller; a first frame supporting the heating unit; a second frame engaging the first frame; a first gear; a second gear; and a fixing member. The second frame supports a shaft portion of the pressure roller. The first gear is provided at one end of the shaft portion and rotatable with the pressure roller. The second gear engages the first gear and transmits a drive force to the first gear. The fixing member has a first portion engaging the shaft portion and a second portion engaging the second frame. At least a part of the first portion engages the shaft portion at a position on a downstream side of the shaft portion in a second direction in which the shaft portion receives a force upon transmission of the drive force.

Hitherto, there is known an image forming apparatus including a pressure roller and a fusing belt that is disposed so as to be in pressure contact with the pressure roller. In the image forming apparatus, the pressure roller rotates upon transmission of a drive force to a gear provided at a shaft of the pressure roller, and the fusing belt rotates in accordance with the rotation of the pressure roller. In this image forming apparatus, there is a case where the pressure roller moves toward the fusing belt in a direction that the pressure roller faces the fusing belt when the drive force is transmitted to the gear of the pressure roller.
In order to solve such a problem, there is known an image forming apparatus including a spring that applies an urging force to a shaft of a pressure roller. The spring urges the shaft of the pressure roller so that the pressure roller moves away from a fusing belt in a direction that the pressure roller faces the fusing belt.

Image forming apparatus provided with heating unit and pressure roller


Described are an alarming method and device, belonging to the technical field of Internet. The method includes: acquiring a monitoring video from a photographing device, wherein the photographing device captures the monitoring video by monitoring a region including a sensitive area; judging whether a monitoring target exists in the sensitive area by analyzing the monitoring video; and when the monitoring target exists in the sensitive area, sending alarming information to a terminal device to enable the terminal device to prompt alarm.

Along with the popularization of cameras, real-time monitoring with a camera becomes more and more popular. A camera may acquire an image in a monitoring area during real-time monitoring, while there may usually exist a sensitive area, such as a vicinity of a socket, a door and a window and the like. In the monitoring area of the camera, an unsafe event may occur when a specific object is located in the sensitive area, for example, it may be dangerous when a child is located nearby the socket, so that there is an urgent need for an alarming method which may prevent occurrence of an unsafe event.