A wellbore inertial directional surveying system for providing a complete directional survey of an oil or gas well borehole to determine the displacement in all three directions of the borehole path relative to the well head at the surface. The information generated by the present invention is especially useful when numerous wells are drilled to different geographical targets from a single off-shore platform. Accurate knowledge of the path of the borehole allows proper well spacing and provides assurance that target formations are reached. The tool is lowered down into a borehole on the electrical cable. A computer positioned on the surface communicates with the tool via the cable. The tool contains a sensor block which is supported on a single gimbal, the rotation axis of which is aligned with the cylinder axis of the tool and, correspondingly, the borehole. The gyroscope measurement of the sensor block rotation is used in a null-seeking servo loop which essentially prevents rotation of the sensor block aboutthe gimbal axis. Angular rates of the sensor block about axes which are perpendicular to the gimbal axis are measured by gyroscopes in a manner similar to a strapped-down arrangement. Three accelerometers provide acceleration information as the tool is lowered within the borehole. The uphole computer derives position information based upon acceleration information and anular rate information. Kalman estimation techniques are used to compensate for system errors.

The present invention relates to a tool which provides a complete directional survey of an oil or gas well borehole for determining the displacement of the borehole path in all three directions relative to the well head at the surface.
Most instruments or tools which are used to perform directional surveys include devices which measure the attitude, or angular orientation, of the tool as it is lowered on a cable into the borehole. Typically, accelerometers or tilt sensors are used to measure tool inclination and gyroscopic or magnetic compasses are employed to locate North. The displacement of the tool is calculated by projecting each incremental increase in cable length in the direction determined by the tool attitude. Displacement measurement errors are usually on the order of ten feet for each one thousand feet of borehole length and result from errors in the gravity and north sensing devices, and misalignment between the tool and the borehole. In addition, displacement measurement errors result due to inaccuracies in the cable length measurement.
Recently, efforts have been made to adapt aircraft inertial navigation systems for use as borehole directional surveying instruments. In an inertial navigation system the outputs of the accelerometers and gyroscopes are manipulated in a computer to provide velocity and displacement. No measurements of cable length are required.
Broadly speaking, two types of navigation system mechanization exists, namely, gimballed and strapped down. In a gimballed system, the sensor block containing the gyroscopes and accelerometers is supported by a set of gimbals which isolate the sensor block from rotation relative to the outer casing. In normal operation, the sensor block remains virtually rotationally motionless and maintains approximately its initial or referenced alignment. The outputs of gyroscopes on the sensor block are used in null-seeking servo loops which drive the gimbals so that no rotation of the sensor block occurs. An advantage of a gimballed system is that the gyroscopes are not required to measure large angular rates. The gyroscopes operate in a benign, nominally zero, angular rate environment. An important disadvantage of gimballed systems is high mechanical complexity.
A strapped-down system does not include gimbals. Any angular rate of rotation of the instrument casing within the borehole is transmitted directly to the sensor block. The gyroscopes must measure a wide range of angular rates from zero up to perhaps several hundred degrees per second. Strapped-down systems are mechanically simpler and usually smaller than gimballed systems.
Hithertofore, a number of borehole sensor devices have been developed which normally include a gyroscope and accelerometers to measure the attitude and a cable measurement device to determine the depth of the instrument within the borehole. For example, two patents issued to Van Steenwyk, U.S. Pat. No. 3,753,296 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,199,869, together with the Van Steenwyk et al apparatus which employs an attitude gyroscope mechanism. Each of these patents includes a suitable meter 17 which records the length of the cable extending downwardly in the well for logging purposes. In addition, each patent discloses a gyroscope 25 which is mounted on slip ring structures 25a and 26a being provided with terminals for transmitting signal outputs of the gyroscope and an accelerometer 26.
Barriac, U.S. Pat. No. 4,244,116, discloses a device for measuring the azimuth and the slope of a drilling hole. This device incorporates a gyroscope 5 and an accelerometer 12 which include two principle axes of sensitivity which are parallel with respect to each other. This device is designed only for measuring the attitude of a borehole.
Barriac, U.S. Pat. No. 4,238,889, discloses a device for scanning the azimuth and slope of a borehole. The device includes a gyroscope and an accelerometer which are suspended from a cable. The gyroscope and accelerometer are only for measuring the attitude of the mechanism within the borehole and a measuring means 6 is provided for measuring the length of the cable as the device is lowered into the borehole.
Armistead, U.S. Pat. No. 3,691,363, discloses a method and apparatus for directional logging of a borehole. A constant speed electric motor 11, for example, a synchronous motor, is mounted in an upper instrument casing 13 to rotate a first coil 10. The first coil 10 is positioned within a Helmholtz coil 40. The Helmholtz coil 40 is gimbally mounted to the upper instrument case 13 so that it maintains its central axis in a vertical orientation whereby the rotating inclined coil 10 is subjected to magnetic flux lines of a substantially vertical direction. A length measuring and pulse generating unit 119 is provided which is mechanically coupled with the sheave 114 and includes means for measuring each increment of cable length passing over the sheave 114 as the logging instrument is raised or lowered. The length measuring and pulse generating unit 119 issues a trigger pulse for each length increment measured.
The Grosso et al Patent, U.S. Pat. No. 3,982,431, and the Asmundsson et al Patent, U.S. Pat. No. 4,021,774, disclose borehole sensor devices. Each borehole sensor includes a three axis gimbal device for determining a vertical plane using the force of gravity as a reference, a horizontal plane using the force of gravity as a reference and a north direction using the magnetic field as a third axis reference. Both of these devices utilize mud which flows through the orifice 50 which creates pressure pulses in the mud stream which are transmitted to and sensed at the surface to provide indications of various conditions sensed by the sensor unit 44. The mechanisms disclosed in both of these patents are actually operative for a short period of time every thirty feet or so of depth of the borehole. The device disclosed in both of these patents is utilized to measure the attitude of the mechanism within the borehole.
Poquette, U.S. Pat. No. 4,245,498, discloses a well surveying instrument which provides incremental angular information about two axes normal to the axial center line of a well pipe to be surveyed. Tilt information is provided by a rate gyro positioned in azimuth by a null-seeking azimuth gyro on an azimuth gimbal. The depth of the device within the borehole is obtained by measuring the length of the cable paid out as the device is lowered into the borehole.
Starr, U.S. Pat. No. 4,302,886, discloses a gyroscopic directional surveying instrument. The subject matter set forth in the Starr Patent is primarily directed to protecting the instrument disposed within the outer casing of the device. More particularly, Starr provides a surveying instrument which can withstand pressure of 24,000 pounds per square inch. In addition, the device is designed to withstand temperature in the range of 450.degree. F. The instrument disclosed by Starr includes a vacuum flask and a pressure vessel in which the instruments are disposed.

Wellbore inertial directional surveying system

The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy


Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) is implemented using multi-bit feedback and variable retransmission energy. The multi-bit feedback provides information to the transmitter about the state of the decoder so that the transmitter can adapt retransmissions to the current state of the decoder. In some embodiments, the multi-bit feedback indicates a level of convergence reached by the decoder, and the transmitter varies an amount of energy used for the retransmission as a function of the multi-bit feedback. The transmitter can vary the amount of energy applied to the retransmission by varying the number of bits in the retransmission, or by varying a transmit power used for the retransmission.

The present invention relates generally to retransmission protocols for wireless communication systems and, more particularly, to the selection of retransmission parameters for hybrid automatic repeat request operations in wireless communication systems.
High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) for Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) and Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks use Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) at the physical layer to mitigate errors that occur during transmission of data. In HARQ, error detection bits or check bits are added to information bits to be transmitted. The information bits with the added error detection bits are then coded using a forward error correction code to obtain a block of coded data bits. The transmitter transmits a portion of these coded bits to the receiver in an initial transmission. The receiver decodes the received bits and uses the error detection bits to check for uncorrected errors. If the received data block is successfully decoded, the receiver sends a positive acknowledgement (ACK) to the transmitter over a reverse control channel. If the received data block is not correctly decoded, the receiver can request a retransmission by sending a negative acknowledgement (NACK) to the transmitter over a reverse control channel.
In conventional HARQ operations, a single acknowledgement bit is sent from the receiving terminal to the transmitting terminal to indicate whether the transmitted data packet was correctly decoded. Typically, a "1" is transmitted to indicate successful decoding and a "0" is sent to indicate a decoding failure and to request a retransmission. The ACK/NACK informs the base station whether the data packet was correctly received by the user terminal. If the data packet is correctly received by the user terminal, the base station can proceed with the transmission of new data packets. In the event that the data packet is not correctly received by the user terminal, the base station may either repeat the original transmission or send additional coded data bits, which may be combined with the previously transmitted data bits prior to decoding. Sending additional coded data bits lowers the effective coding rate and increases the probability that the decoder will successfully decode the coded data bits.
One drawback of conventional HARQ is that the state of the decoder is not considered in determining the parameters of the retransmission. If the decoder is close to finding on a solution, it may need only a small amount of additional data to successfully decode the transmitted data. On the other hand, if the decoder is still far from finding a solution, then more data may be needed. In the first case, the transmitter may send more data in the retransmission than is needed by the decoder, which wastes resources and creates unnecessary interference. In the second case, the transmitter may not send enough data in the next retransmission, which will result in increased delays.

Hybrid ARQ with variable retransmission energy


A stencil mask is used for exposing a pattern on a wafer using a charged particle beam which is transmitted through the stencil mask. The stencil mask is made up of a plate, and at least a block pattern region formed on the plate. The block pattern region includes apertures of arbitrary shapes for transmitting the charged particle beam which irradiates the apertures within the block pattern region in one shot of the charged particle beam. The block pattern region forms a block mask in which a pair of confronting blanking electrodes is provided with respect to at least predetermined ones of the apertures.

The present invention generally relates to stencil masks and charged particle beam exposure methods and apparatuses, and more particularly to a stencil mask having blanking electrodes and charged particle beam exposure method and apparatus which expose patterns using such a stencil mask.
Recently, the integration density of integrated circuit devices is becoming more and more improved. As a result, the photolithography technique which was conventionally used for forming patterns is being replaced by charged particle beam exposure methods, X-ray exposure methods and the like. The electron beam exposure method in particular is one of the promising charged particle beam exposure methods because fine patterns on the order of microns or even less can be formed by use of the electron beam.
The resolution of the electron beam exposure is high and fine patterns can be formed using the electron beam exposure method. However, there is a limit to the processing capability of the electron beam exposure method because the patterns are drawn by the stroke of the electron beam.
Various proposals have been made to improve the processing capability of the electron beam exposure method. For example, there is a proposed method which forms in advance sequences for generating patterns such as rectangular, square and triangular patterns using a variable rectangular aperture and selecting one of the sequences to irradiate and expose a desired pattern. A Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 52-119185 proposes an exposure method using a mask in which the patterns are arranged in blocks. On the other hand, a Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 62-260322 proposes an exposure method using a plate which includes rectangular apertures for forming general rectangular patterns and apertures for forming repeating patterns which are required to form a memory cell or the like.
The method of forming the repeating patterns is also referred to as a block exposure method or a cell production method, and is an effective method when forming a device such as a memory in which the repeating patterns occupy a large portion of the area to be exposed. Suitable ones of the repeating patterns are formed as block patterns, and one block pattern region is selected. The charged particle beam is irradiated on the selected block pattern region, and the charged particle beam transmitted through the selected block pattern region is repeatedly irradiated at desired positions on a wafer.
FIG. 1 generally shows an example of an electron beam exposure apparatus which performs the block process. The electron beam exposure apparatus is made up of an exposure part 10 and a control part 50. The exposure part 10 includes a charged particle beam generating source 14, a first slit 15, a first electron lens 16, a slit deflector 17, second and third lenses 18 and 19, a transmission (stencil) mask 20, first through fourth deflectors 21 through 24, blanking electrodes 25, a fourth lens 26, an aperture 27, a refocusing coil 28, a fifth lens 29, a dynamic focusing coil 30, a dynamic stigmator coil (i.e., an astigmatic correction coil) 31, a sixth lens 32, electromagnetic main deflection coils 33, electrostatic sub deflection means 34, a stage 35, and first through fourth alignment coils 36 through 39.
The charged particle beam generating source 14 includes a cathode electrode 11, a grid electrode 12 and an anode electrode 13. The first slit 15 forms the cross section of the charged particle beam into a rectangular shape, for example, and the first electron lens 16 converges the shaped charged particle beam. The slit deflector 17 deflects and corrects the beam position depending on a correction deflection signal S1. The second and third lenses 18 and 19 confront each other, and the stencil mask 20 is arranged between the second and third lenses 18 and 19 and is movable in the horizontal direction.
The first through fourth deflectors 21 through 24 are arranged above and below the stencil mask 20 and deflect the beam between the second and third lenses 18 and 19, depending on respective position information P1 through P4, so as to select one of the transmission holes formed in the stencil mask 20. The blanking electrodes 25 block or transmit the beam depending on a blanking signal SB. The electromagnetic main deflection coils 33 and the electrostatic sub deflection means 34 position the beam on a wafer W which is placed on the stage 35 depending on exposure position determination signals S2 and S3. The stage 35 is movable in the X and Y directions.
On the other hand, the control part includes a recording medium, a central processing unit (CPU) 52, an interface 53, a data memory 54, a pattern controller 55, an amplifier part 56, a mask moving mechanism 57, a blanking control circuit 58, an amplifier part 59, a sequence controller 60, a stage control mechanism 61, a laser interferometric device 62, a deflection control circuit 63, and amplifier parts 64 and 65.
The recording medium 51 stores design data related to integrated circuit devices. The CPU 52 controls the entire exposure apparatus. The interface 53 transfers various information which are entered by the CPU 52, such as drawing pattern information related to a pattern which is to be drawn, drawing position information related to a position on the wafer W where the pattern is to be drawn and mask information related to the stencil mask 20. The data memory 54 stores the drawing pattern information and the mask information which are transferred from the interface 53.
The pattern controller 55 functions as a specifying means, a holding means, a calculation means and an output means for carrying out various processes. For example, the pattern controller 55 specifies one of the transmission holes of the stencil mask 20, depending on the drawing pattern information and the mask information, and generates position data indicative of a position of the specified transmission hole on the stencil mask 20. In addition, the pattern controller 55 calculates a correction value H which is dependent on the difference between the respective shapes of the pattern which is to be drawn and the specified transmission hole.
The amplifier part 56 generates the correction deflection signal S1 from the correction value H. The mask moving mechanism 57 moves the stencil mask 20, if necessary, in response to a move signal MS from the pattern controller 55. The blanking control circuit 58 receives a blanking control signal BL from the pattern controller 55, and the amplifier part 59 generates the blanking signal SB based on an output signal of the blanking control circuit 58. The sequence controller 60 controls the drawing process sequence depending on the drawing position information which is transferred from the interface 53. The stage control mechanism 61 moves the stage 35 if necessary. The laser interferometric device 62 detects the position of the stage 35. The deflection control circuit 63 calculates an exposure position on the wafer W. The amplifier parts 64 and 65 respectively generate the exposure position determination signals S2 and S3.
For example, the stencil mask 20 is made of a silicon wafer. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a mask part of the stencil mask 20.
As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of areas are formed in a matrix arrangement at predetermined intervals on the stencil mask 20. In the example shown, nine areas E1 through E9 are formed in a matrix arrangement on the stencil mask 20 at a predetermined pitch EL. Each of the areas E1 in each of the X- and Y- directions, or coordinates through E9 has a size corresponding to a maximum deflection range of the beam on the stencil mask 20, and each side of one square area is of a common value, selected from the range of approximately 1 to 5 mm. In other words, when the beam is irradiated within the area E1, for example, the beam can be deflected within the area E1 using the deflectors 21 through 24, but the stencil mask 20 must be moved if the beam is to be irradiated within the area E9, for example. A reference point is located at the left bottom corner of each of the areas E1 through E9 as indicated by a black circular mark, and XY coordinate values are assigned to the reference point of each area. For example, an area coordinate E.sub.xy =(1, 1) describes the area E7.
As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of blocks are formed in a matrix arrangement at predetermined intervals within each of the areas E1 through E9. In the example shown, thirty-six blocks B.sub.1 through B.sub.36 are formed in a matrix arrangement at a predetermined pitch BL within the area E1. The size of one block corresponds to the size of the beam on the stencil mask 20, that is, the cross section of the beam on the stencil mask 20. For example, each side of one square block is of a common value, selected from the range of approximately 100 to 500 .mu.m. The XY coordinate values are also assigned to a reference point of each block. For example, a block coordinate B.sub.xy =(1, 2) describes the block B.sub.32.
In other words, an arbitrary block within an arbitrary area within the stencil mask 20 can be described by the area coordinate E.sub.xy and the block coordinate B.sub.xy. When E.sub.xy =(1, 1) and B.sub.xy =(1, 2), for example, the block B.sub.32 within the area E7 is specified. In order to carry out the exposure efficiently, it is desirable that all of the patterns required to expose one layer of one particular kind of large scale integrated circuit (LSI) are formed within one area of the stencil mask 20. In FIG. 3, the blocks B.sub.1, B.sub.6, B.sub.31 and B.sub.36 which are indicated by hatchings denote transmission holes which are used when forming variable rectangular patterns.
FIG. 4 shows an example of contact hole patterns of a dynamic random access memory (DRAM). A plurality of memory elements are distributed in the DRAM, and the contact holes are arranged in correspondence with each of the memory elements as shown. When a region surrounded by a solid line 71 is regarded as a block, for example, it is possible to expose the contact hole patterns of the DRAM which are distributed on a plane by repeating the exposure of the block pattern. In the example shown, thirty contact holes are included in one block, and the entire region can be exposed by carrying out the exposure a number of times equal to 1/30th of the number of memory elements. In other words, the block exposure method achieves a high-speed exposure with respect to regular or repeating patterns.
FIG. 5 shows an example of patterns of a plurality of blocks formed within one area of the stencil mask 20. FIG. 5 shows only four kinds of patterns, but the shapes of the repeating patterns are not so limited.
As described above, the block exposure method has an advantage in that the exposure of repeating patterns can be made at a high speed. However, not all LSI patterns can be exposed at a high speed using the block exposure method. Unless exactly the same pattern repeats, the high-speed exposure of the block exposure method cannot be realized because the irradiating position of the beam on the stencil mask 20 must be shifted from one area to another area which includes the desired patterns and this shift can only be made by moving the stencil mask 20. But it takes time to move and accurately position the stencil mask 20.
on the other hand, the contact holes of the ROM, for example, are regularly formed to a certain extent. However, the positions of the contact holes are not perfectly regular, and the contact holes cannot be formed by simply exposing exactly the same pattern repeatedly. As a result, it is necessary to move the stencil mask 20 so that the irradiating position of the beam on the stencil mask 20 is shifted from one area to another area which includes the desired patterns. Furthermore, when the number of areas which include similar but not identical patterns increases, it becomes necessary to change the stencil mask 20 to another different stencil mask in order to expose all of the desired patterns of an integrated circuit device because only a limited number of areas can be provided on the stencil mask 20. But it takes a considerably long time to change the old stencil mask and correctly position the new stencil mask.
There is also an exposure method which uses a blanking aperture array. The blanking aperture array includes apertures which are arranged two-dimensionally throughout the entire region of the blanking aperture array and each is provided with a corresponding pair of blanking electrodes. A voltage is applied across a pair of blanking electrodes of an aperture when the electron beam transmitted through this aperture is to be deflected outside an exposure region on a wafer. Hence, by controlling the supply of the voltage to each of the blanking aperture pairs of the blanking aperture array, it is possible to expose arbitrary fine patterns. An example of such an exposure method using the blanking aperture array is proposed in a Japanese Published Utility Model Application No. 56-19402.
For example, each square aperture of the blanking aperture array has a side of 7 .mu.m, and the apertures are arranged with a pitch of 3 .mu.m when exposing a square pattern having a side of 0.07 .mu.m. The pitch is smaller than the side of the aperture so that patterns of the adjacent apertures are exposed on the wafer connect. In other words, the aperture itself is extremely small and the pitch with which the apertures are arranged is also extremely small, so that arbitrary patterns can be exposed with a high resolution. But because of the extremely small size and pitch of the apertures, it is very difficult technically, if not impossible, to form the necessary interconnections for the blanking electrode pairs on the blanking aperture array because of the extremely small pitch with which the apertures are arranged.

Stencil mask and charge particle beam exposure method and apparatus using the stencil mask


A system and method provides a route and turn-by-turn directions based on estimates of current and future traffic along the route. A client device may request turn-by-turn directions between an initial and a final location. A server may identify a plurality of routes between the locations. Each route of the plurality of routes may be divided into route segments. For each route segment of a particular route, the server may estimate a travel time. The travel time may be based on estimated vehicle volume data generated from information received from other users vehicle Based on the estimated travel time for each route segment of a particular route, the server may estimate a total travel time for the particular route. The server may repeat this estimate for each of the plurality of routes between the locations and select the route with the lowest estimated travel time. Based on the selected route, the server may generate turn-by-turn directions and transmit the directions to the client device for display.

Various navigation systems provide users with turn-by-turn directions. These systems include handheld GPS devices or mobile phones, vehicle-mounted devices, or Internet-based computers with access to applications such as Google Maps. Users input one or more locations and receive a route and turn-by-turn directions. Generally, these systems generate turn-by-turn directions based on static map data, for example, routing users along the biggest roadways or roads with the highest speed limits. These systems may select the fastest route based on the shortest estimated time to travel along the route. Some systems may incorporate traffic conditions, for example reports of congestion, into this calculation. The user may follow the turn-by-turn directions to reach the one or more locations.
Each user requesting turn-by-turn directions is thus provided with the "fastest route" at the time the request is made. However, the actual travel time along the route may vary depending on the accuracy and extent of the traffic information. Traffic conditions may be very time sensitive, that is, the current level of traffic at a particular location may change by the time the user gets to that location. In another example, if a large number of users request turn-by-turn directions between the same two locations, these systems provide the same turn-by-turn directions to each user. Thus, these systems may actually generate additional traffic and the selected route may no longer be the fastest route between the two locations by the time the user is actually on the road.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A voltage detector detects a voltage of each cell of a plurality of cells that are series-connected. A plurality of discharge circuits are respectively parallel-connected to the plurality of cells. A controller performs a control to equalize voltages or capacities of the plurality of cells to a target value by controlling discharge time of the plurality of discharge circuits, based on the voltages of the plurality of cells detected by the voltage detector. The controller sets the target value higher as an amount of change in the voltages of the plurality of cells in a predetermined period is larger.

In recent years, hybrid vehicles (HVs), plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHVs), and electric vehicles (EVs) have been widely spreading. These vehicles are mounted with a secondary battery as a key device. Examples of a vehicular secondary battery mainly include a nickel-metal-hydride battery and a lithium-ion battery. It is expected that the lithium-ion battery, which has high energy density, is spreading at an accelerated rate in the future.
In general, in the case of the lithium-ion battery, from the point of view of maintaining power efficiency and securing safety, an equalization process is performed to equalize voltage between a plurality of series-connected cells. When amounts of self-discharge of a plurality of series-connected cells vary between the cells, an actually usable capacity decreases. Specifically, when the capacity of one of the cells reaches a lower limit, discharging is terminated even if the capacities of the other cells do not reach the lower limit. Further, when the capacity of one of the cells reaches an upper limit, charging is terminated even if the capacities of the other cells do not reach the upper limit. In either case, usable capacities cannot be sufficiently used in some cells. The variation of an amount of self-discharge of cell occurs due to production variations and environmental conditions. For example, a cell located closer to a heat source tends to degrade more rapidly.
As the equalization process between cells, the passive balancing method is the main stream. In the passive balancing method, a voltage of a cell having the lowest voltage in a plurality of series-connected cells is set as a target value, and the other cells are discharged, aiming for the target value.
A measured voltage of a cell after end of charging or discharging contains an overvoltage component due to polarization, and the measured voltage will be converging with elapse of time to an open circuit voltage (OCV) containing no overvoltage component. The overvoltage component depends on a negative electrode material, a state of health (SOH), temperatures, and the like, and varies between cells. Therefore, even if cell balancing is performed to equalize the measured voltages between the plurality of cells on the basis of the measured voltages containing overvoltage components, there is a possibility that open circuit voltages (OCVs) are not equalized between the plurality of cells. To address this issue, in general, the cell balancing is started after a predetermined time has elapsed after end of charging or discharging.
Note that there is a method to estimate the OCV of a cell from the measured voltage of the cell in a state where the polarization does not disappear (for example, see PTL 1). However, there is a large error between the estimated OCV and an actual OCV in some cases, and in such a case accuracy of the cell balancing decreases.

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


Quick-setting hot-melt adhesive compositions comprising a mixture of at least two polyurethane prepolymer, each providing a different glass transition point to said composition. Preferably one prepolymer has a tg above room temperature and one prepolymer has a tg below room temperature. These adhesive mixtures show an attractive blend of properties, giving quick setting bonds which are flexible immediately after bonding and which after curing have excellent heat stability and resistance to hydrolytic and chemical attack.

The present invention relates to quick-setting, hot-melt adhesive compositions which are solvent-free, reactive compositions which can be applied at relatively low temperatures. Hitherto hot-melt materials including EVA, polyester or polyamide have been used for fast bonding processes and automatic adhesive application requiring quick setting bonds but these have necessitated high application temperatures.
For example, solvent-free reactive polyurethane hot-melt materials, such as are disclosed in DOS 2 609 266, solve the problem of high application temperatures by application of a low-viscosity hot melt at 100.degree. C. which sets by crystallisation. Such adhesive systems exhibit good thermolytic and hydrolytic stability when chain-extended and cross-linked by atmospheric moisture. However, bonds provided by these crystallising polyurethane prepolymers have low elasticity before curing resulting in low initial peel strength immediately after bonding and have a lower setting rate which depends on the crystallisation rate of the polyester used. Other reactive crystalline polyurethane hot melts, such as the adhesive compositions disclosed in DOS 3 236 313, do show a better elasticity in the uncured state but have an undesirably high application temperature (approaching those of conventional hot-melt materials) and exhibit pot life problems at application. It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide quick-setting, hot-melt adhesive compositions comprising polyurethane pre-polymers which have improved flexibility immediately after bonding whilst being heat stable and resistant to hydrolytic and chemical attack after curing.

Hot-melt polyurethane adhesive compositions


A power factor correction circuit includes a power transistor, an inductor, and detection circuitry. The inductor is coupled to a drain terminal of the power transistor. The detection circuitry is coupled to the drain terminal of the power transistor. The detection circuitry is configured to determine an input voltage applied to the inductor based on resonant ringing of voltage at the drain terminal, and to detect a valley in the voltage at the drain terminal based on the input voltage applied to the inductor.

Electrical power supplies commonly use diode rectifier circuits to convert from alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC). A diode rectifier conducts current only when the input voltage of the rectifier exceeds the output voltage of the rectifier, so a sinusoidal input voltage results in intermittent non-sinusoidal current flow. The intermittent current flow has a primary frequency component equal to the AC input frequency and substantial energy at integer multiples of the AC input frequency (harmonics). Input current harmonics can cause transient current flow in the AC mains, which can increase the power required from the AC mains and can cause heating of the distribution system. In addition, input current harmonics create electrical noise that can interfere with other systems connected to the AC mains.
The power factor of a power supply is the ratio of the real power delivered to a load divided by the apparent input power, where the apparent input power is the Root-Mean-Square (RMS) input voltage times RMS input current. In general, input current harmonics cause the RMS value of the input current to be substantially higher than the current delivered to the load. Many power supplies include power factor correction to reduce input current harmonics. Power factor correction refers to a process to offset or improve the undesirable effects of non-linear electric loads that contribute to a power factor that is less than unity. These effects involve the phase angle between the voltage and the harmonic content of the current. When the voltage and current are in phase, the power factor is unity, but when the voltage and current are not in phase the power factor is some value less than one.

Zero current and valley detection for power factor correction


Systems and techniques for pre-purchase wearable device testing are described herein. A wearable device may be identified as a trial device to a wearable ensemble. Trial data corresponding to the trial device may be provided to a wearable ensemble system that includes the wearable ensemble.

Wearable devices are devices designed to be worn on a body. Wearable devices may include sensors or processing capabilities to observe the body, or other information, and provide those observations or calculations made from those observations to people. In some cases, services may be paired with one or more wearable devices to provide data collection, analysis, or reporting to a user.


Compounds having the structure ##STR1## wherein (Z)--COO is the residue of an iodinated aromatic acid; M is H, a cation, --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O--.sub.m H, and --CH.sub.2 CH(OH)O--.sub.p H;. m is an integer from 1 to 150; PA1 p is an integer from 1 to 50; and PA1 L is one or more divalent linking groups selected from alkylene, cycloalkylene, arylene, arylenealkylene, and alkylenearylene are particularly useful as wetting agents in x-ray imaging compositions.

X-ray imaging is a well known and extremely valuable tool for the early detection and diagnosis of various disease states in the human body. The use of contrast agents for image enhancement in medical x-ray imaging procedures is widespread. An excellent background on iodinated and other contrast agents for medical imaging is provided by D. P. Swanson et al, Pharmaceuticals in Medical Imaging, 1990, MacMillan Publishing Company.
EP-A 498,482 describes nanoparticulate x-ray contrast compositions which have proven to be extremely useful in medical imaging. The particles consist of a poorly soluble diagnostic agent having adsorbed thereon a non-crosslinked surface modifier, the particles having a mean particle size of less than about 400 (nm).
The present invention is directed to novel iodinated surfactants which are particularly useful as surface modifiers in nanoparticle formulations.


A resistor-capacitor (RC) calibration circuit includes: a current source, providing a current to a first node; a first switch, coupled between the first node and a second node; a second switch, coupled between the first node and a third node; a resistor, coupled between a reference terminal and the second node; a variable capacitor, coupled between the reference terminal and the third node; a third switch, coupled between the third node and the reference terminal; a comparator, comprising a first input coupled to the second node and a second input coupled to the third node; and a logic controller, coupled between an output of the comparator and the variable capacitor for outputting an adjusting signal according to an output signal of the comparator to adjust a capacitance of the variable capacitor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a resistor-capacitance (RC) calibration circuit, and more particularly, to an RC calibration circuit using a single current source.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In integrated-circuitry (IC), poles and zeros of frequency response, current sources and biasing voltages are usually implemented by passive components such as resistors and capacitors. Real values of the passive components, however, will deviate from the designed value due to variations of process, voltage and temperature (PVT). As a result, the poles and zeros of the frequency response are hard to control, meaning currents of current sources and the voltages of biasing points will also deviate from the designed values. Performance of the integrated circuitry is significantly reduced.
For example, when a filter of an integrated circuit is implemented in a resistor and a capacitor, a pole and a zero of the filter are directly related to a resistance R of the resistor and a capacitance C of the capacitor C. The frequency response of the filter is decided by the resistance R and the capacitance C. If the resistance R and the capacitance C—vary with process variation, the frequency band of the filter will deviate from the desired frequency band of the circuit system, such that the overall performance of the integrated circuit is decreased.
To overcome the above problems, a conventional method uses a resistance-capacitance (RC) calibration circuit to correct the deviation of the resistance R and the capacitance C and thereby improve the overall performance of the integrated circuit. The RC calibration circuit uses multiple current sources to generate a plurality of voltages utilized for RC calibration processes. The current of each current source will vary, however, due to process variations, the result being that the plurality of voltages will deviate from their designed values. As a result, current mismatches generated from the process variation decrease the accuracy of the RC calibration circuit and worsen the overall performance of the integrated circuit.

Resistance-capacitance calibration circuit without current mismatch and method thereof


A freezer comprises an insulated housing with two opposite walls defining an interior chamber therebetween, the walls respectively defining a charging opening and a discharge opening for respectively charging products to be frozen into the interior chamber and discharging the frozen products from the interior chamber, and a stack of horizontal freezer plates arranged in the interior chamber. Vertical screw jacks vertically displace the stack of freezer plates whereby they are successively moved to the level of the openings. To assure good lubrication at low temperatures, each screw jack comprises a screw element, a nut engaging the screw element, a tube element concentrically surrounding the screw element, the nut being affixed to one tube element end and the opposite tube element end being closed, and one of the screw jack elements being pendularly suspended from the freezer housing frame while the stack of freezer plates is suspended on the other screw jack element, and a tubular casing having a bottom, the tubular casing concentrically surrounding the tube element and the tube element passing fluid-tightly through the tubular casing bottom, the interiors of the tube element and of the tubular casing being in communication with each other to define an oil-filled closed space of a predetermined volume. A closed expansion reservoir of air is connected to an upper part of the closed space, and a motor is coupled to the one screw jack element for rotating the one screw jack element.

The present invention relates to a freezer comprising an insulated housing having two opposite walls defining an interior chamber therebetween, the walls respectively defining a charging opening and a discharge opening for respectively charging products to be frozen into the interior chamber and discharging the frozen products from the interior chamber. A stack of hollow horizontal freezer plates through which a refrigerant fluid circulates is arranged in the interior chamber and means for vertically displacing the stack of freezer plates is provided to move the freezer plates successively to the level of the openings. The freezer further comprises means for charging the products to be frozen onto a respective freezer plate through the charging opening at a charging station and for simultaneously discharging the frozen product through the discharge opening. One type of freezer with vertically movable freezer plates has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,557,975.
More particularly, this invention relates to freezers of this type wherein the vertical freezer plate displacement means comprises screw jacks. Such screw jacks have the advantage that they permit a precise vertical positioning of the freezer plates but they pose problems with respect to lubrification at the very low temperatures at which they must operate in the freezing chamber.


[Object] To provide an image processing apparatus, an image processing program, and an image processing method capable of obtaining three-dimensional information of an observation target object.

The present technology relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing program, and an image processing method for performing image processing for a microscopic image.
When an observation target object is observed by using a microscope, it is necessary to focus the microscope on the observation target object in order to obtain a sharp image. Adjusting a focus while looking at a microscopic image by an observer is a troublesome task. Further, in the case where a living cell or the like is used as an observation target object, the living cell may move with time to be outside of a field of view of a microscope.
If three-dimensional information including a shape, a position, and the like of an observation target object can be automatically obtained, the problem as described above is not caused, and a sharp image of an observation target object can be automatically obtained. Up to now, three-dimensional information of an observation target object can be obtained by using a scanning microscope such as a two-photon excitation laser scanning microscope and a confocal scanning laser microscope. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a scanning microscope system that receives light obtained by scanning laser light in a light receiver to form a scanning image.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2005-128086

Image processing apparatus, image processing program, and image processing method

Abstract: [Solving Means] An image processing apparatus includes a difference calculation unit and a difference distribution generation unit. The difference calculation unit calculates, for each of pixels that constitute a pickup image in each of a plurality of pickup images taken at different focal depths, a difference of a luminance value from an adjacent pixel. A difference image generation unit generates, on the basis of the difference and the focal depth at which the pickup image including the pixel whose difference is calculated is taken, a distribution of the difference with respect to the focal depth.


An optical rain sensor device includes a first light emitting element adapted to emit a first light pulse toward an inner surface of a transparent substrate, a second light emitting element adapted to emit a second light pulse toward the inner surface of the transparent substrate, a photodetector adapted to detect a light from the first light pulse and the second light pulse that is reflected by the inner surface of the transparent substrate, and a rain sensor controller. The rain sensor controller includes a regulated current source adapted to apply a compensation current signal at a terminal of the second light emitting element based on a regulation signal, so that a total current across the second light emitting element is increased or decreased to reduce an imbalance between the first light pulse and the second light pulse.

Optical rain sensors are commonly employed as rain-sensitive switches for controlling electric devices in a wide range of applications, such as automotive vehicles and irrigation systems. The detection principle of optical rain sensors is based on detecting the portion of infra-red light emitted by one or more light emitting sources that is reflected from an internal surface of a transparent substrate, such as a windshield. The light reflected from the windshield is detected by a photodetector and the detected signal analyzed to determine variations in the intensity of the reflected light. In case the windshield is covered with rain or moisture drops on its external surface, the total internal reflection of the incident infrared light is reduced and consequently, less reflected light will be detected by the photodetector. The detection of a decrease in the intensity of the detected reflected light is an indication of rain or moisture drops on the external surface of the windshield and may be used for triggering the operation of an electrical device, such as the motor of an automobile wiper.
FIG. 1 illustrates a optical rain sensor device 100 according to the prior art. This sensor design includes an optical sensor 110 with two light emitting elements (LED 120 and LED 125) for detecting rain and/or moisture drops deposited on one side of a transparent substrate 130 (e.g. a windshield). The two LED elements 120, 125 are arranged on the opposed side of the windshield 130 from the rain and/or moisture and oriented such as to make the respective light beams incident on different areas of the windshield 130 with respective incidence angles θ1 and θ2 (with respect to a perpendicular to the substrate 130). The incidence angles θ1 and θ2 may be approximately symmetric (for e.g. −45° and +45°, respectively), as exemplified in FIG. 1.
The emitted light beams are reflected from the windshield onto a photodetector 140, which outputs a detection signal 145 that is processed by an integrated circuit (IC) 150 for detecting the presence of drops. Since moisture and/or rain drops 135 are normally unevenly distributed over wet surfaces, the intensity of the light reflected from LED 120 and LED 125 will differ depending on whether the respective light beams are incident on a region covered by a drop or not. Total internal reflection will be reduced in the presence of a drop on the outward surface, due to the refraction of light through the transparent substrate 130 and the drop, such that the signal from LED 120 will be weaker than that of LED 125. Any sudden variation of difference between the intensity of the detected LED signals is an indication of rain or moisture drops on the substrate 130.
In the optical rain sensor device 100 according to the prior art shown in FIG. 1, if the LED signals are not perfectly balanced, a sensitivity change in the rain sensor photodetector due to exposure to sunlight may lead to false detections. As a result, any sensitivity variations of the photodetector due to sunlight exposure may amplify such imbalance, thus generating a detection signal signature that could be confused with the detection of real moisture drops.
The emission of light from each LED is generally controlled in intensity and frequency by dedicated rain sensor integrated circuit (IC) 150 which outputs driving currents on respective LED channels (for e.g. A and B) suitable for generating light pulses on the LEDs connected to the channels. The amplitude and frequency of the driving currents output by the rain sensor IC 150 can be controlled with a digital-analog converter (DAC) microcontroller 160. The rain sensor LEDs 120, 125 are typically controlled with a driving current of 20 mA amplitude and 100 kHz frequency, which can be coarsely adjusted by existing integrated circuits with a step of about +/−2.5 mA. However, this current resolution is not sufficient for compensating smaller differences between the driving currents of the LED channels (A or B) and as a consequence, it is not possible to correct imbalances between LED signals by adjusting the current on the LED channels of the rain sensor IC 150 to reduce false detections.

Real-time, fine adjustment of driver current of a light emitting device of an optical rain sensor


The present invention relates to a disc brake for a motor vehicle, comprising an inner (12) and an outer (14) disc, fastened one to the other and with a fixed spacing (D), an outer pair and an inner pair of friction elements for coming into frictional engagement with the opposite faces of the two discs, and support (16) and control (42, 42') members intended for laying the friction elements against their respective disc, the brake comprising a supporting yoke (16) extending both on the inside of the inner disc (12), in the gap (D) between the two discs, and on the outside of the outer disc (14), an inner caliper, interacting with the inner pair (40i, 40e) of friction elements, and an outer caliper, interacting with the outer pair (40'i, 40'e) of friction elements, the two calipers (42, 42') being mounted slidably in the supporting yoke (16). The inner caliper (42) comprises a body (44) in the form of an upturned U, the base (46) of which straddles the inner disc (12) and has an outer wing (48) descending into the gap (D) between the two disc (12, 14) and coming into contact with fraction element (40e) and an inner wing descending on the inner side of the inner disc (12), forming a cylinder (52), receiving a piston (54) in contact with friction element (40i). The outer caliper (42') comprises a body (44') in the form of an upturned U, the base (46') of which straddles the two discs (12, 14) and has an outer wing (48') descending on the outside of the outer disc (14) and comes into contact with friction elements (40'e) and an inner wing (50') descending on the inside of the inner disc (12), forming a cylinder (52') receiving a piston (54'), and the caliper (42') having a spacer (74) in the form of an upturned U, the base (26) of which straddles the inner disc (12) in a radial gap (I) separating the periphery of the inner disc (12) and the base (46') of the caliper and having an inner wing descending on the inner side of the inner disc (12) in order to come into contact with the piston (54'), and a outer wing descending in the gap (D) between the two discs in order to come into contact with friction element (40'i).

The present invention relates to a brake with two discs of fixed spacing.
Single-disc brakes have an inherent limitation in that the disc has only two friction surfaces.
It is known to overcome this limitation by multiplying the number of discs. However, in most cases, this type of multiple-disc brakes comprises a stack of alternate discs and friction rings integral in terms of rotation, but free in terms of translational motion relative to a rotating axle and relative to a stationary cylinder respectively.
In current practice, these complex and costly brakes are reserved for aeronautics.
Where mass-production motor vehicles are concerned, however, the aim is to manufacture brakes which are both simple and economical and which can be serviced and maintained at the least possible cost.
The basis for a solution involves producing a brake with two discs of fixed spacing, thus avoiding the problems inherent in the abovementioned brakes with sliding discs. In fact, the fixed mounting of two discs parallel to one another presents very few difficulties.
In contrast, the main problem is in the arrangement and control of the two pairs of friction elements and of the supporting members associated with them.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,505,363 provided a brake with two discs of fixed spacing comprising a stationary support common to two calipers and extending over an angular sector of approximately 180.degree.. The two calipers are composed of pieces in the form of risers engaged axially slidably in means for guiding the common stationary support circumferentially one after the other, head to foot, the hydraulic motors associated with the two calipers being located on either side of the pair of discs.
There are many disadvantages of such a brake: it has a large axial bulk. Moreover, to function, it requires a considerable space in order to allow for the removal of the calipers when the linings have reached their maximum acceptable wear. Finally, the yoke and the calipers cover the discs over more than half their surface, this being detrimental to their ventilation and their cooling.
The maintenance of such a brake also presents disadvantages: mounting all the movable elements of the brake slidably on transverse slideways raises other problems well known to an average person skilled in the art: corrosion of the sliding surfaces, jamming by wedging when skewing occurs, difficulty in removing the brake, if only to replace the pads carrying the friction linings.


A projectile formed from dissimilar materials. The projectile includes a metallurgical interlayer that joins the dissimilar materials together. The metallurgical interlayer also matches the shock impedance of the two materials to prevent delamination during launch and during impact.

Bonding of dissimilar materials is frequently performed for a variety of reasons. Typically the dissimilar materials each have properties that are desired in a particular product. The bonding of these materials can be done successfully in many products. However, in certain products, this bonding is problematic. The bonding of dissimilar materials in products that undergo a harsh dynamic environment often fail. An example of such products are ballistic projectiles that undergo extreme environments during launch and upon impact on a target.
Weaponry systems using ammunition rounds, projectiles or warheads have been in use for centuries. These have evolved into complex systems capable of delivering their payloads at high speeds and long distances. The payloads, such as ammunition rounds, projectiles or warheads have evolved as well, from simple lead projectiles to high density warheads capable of entering hardened surfaces.
Often it is desirable for these projectiles to possess certain characteristics in order to achieve specific results. For example, certain projectiles may be formed from a hardened material such as tungsten in order to enter into hardened surfaces.
Ammunition that is capable of entering hardened surfaces with a high energy release has become required in order to combat improvements in armor as well as other applications. While certain materials are currently being used, such as tungsten, that are capable of penetrating hardened armor, these materials do not have high reactivity or fire start capability. Currently, projectiles formed of depleted uranium have been used to penetrate and destroy armored vehicles. Depleted uranium has high density and pyrophoricity (ability to burn) which makes it desirable for these high kinetic energy applications. Unfortunately, this ammunition creates an unacceptable environmental risk. Fine particulates of uranium can be inhaled which may result in illness or sensitization. Also, the spent rounds create a hazardous waste product.
There are also other applications for weapon munitions that have combinations of characteristics. Attempts have been made in the past to form projectiles from combinations of materials to provide these different characteristics. These attempts have been unsuccessful for various reasons. The process of firing the weapon systems to launch these projectiles involves shock loading conditions on launch and impact. The prior multi-material projectiles tended to delaminate during this process. Also, the combined materials are often destroyed or damaged during impact.
Thus a need exists for a projectile formed from multiple materials that have a combination of desired properties and that can withstand the rigors of the launch and impact during use.


There is provided a head hair dyeing method using a two-part hair dye composition which contains a first part containing an alkali agent, a second part containing hydrogen peroxide and a non-aerosol type foamer container for discharging a mixture solution of the first part and the second part as foam, the composition containing a surfactant in at least one of the first part and the second part, the method including discharging the mixture solution as foam, applying the foam to the head hair, and then re-foamed on the head hair.

While liquid or creamy hair dye compositions have been widely used so far, it is difficult to apply these compositions to the head hair evenly. In particular, in the case of consumers themselves applying a hair dye composition to their own head hair at the roots or on the back of the head, they need to acquire skills of, such as, "blocking" or using two mirrors facing each other ("two-mirror technique"), and a careful operation is required to apply the composition evenly.
Accordingly, discharging a composition as foam in order to simplify the hair dyeing operation has been proposed, and hair dyes of a two-part aerosol type and those of a one-part non-aerosol type are known, for example. However, those of a two-part aerosol type have such problems that uneven bleaching or uneven dyeing is likely to occur due to an inconsistent mixing ratio of a first part and a second part, a pressure-proof metal container or the like is oxidized and corroded by hydrogen peroxide, and the internal pressure of the pressure-tight container is excessively increased by degradation of hydrogen peroxide. Furthermore, since such a one-part non-aerosol type has no or weak bleaching ability, it is difficult to achieve a great change in the color tone by one procedure. Therefore, a problem arises, i.e., a hair dyeing operation tends to be cumbersome since a hair dye is required to be left to develop for a long time and the procedure is required to be repeated after application.
On the other hand, discharging a two-part hair dye composition as foam from a non-aerosol type foamer container (e.g., Patent Documents 1 and 2) has been proposed. By discharging a mixture solution of a first part and a second part from a foamer container as foam, variation in the mixing ratio hardly occurs compared to conventional two-part aerosol hair dyes and a sufficient bleaching or hair dyeing ability may be obtained compared to conventional one-part non-aerosol hair dyes.
Meanwhile, all of these two-part aerosol type hair dyes, one-part non-aerosol hair dyes and two-part non-aerosol hair dyes, by which the hair dyes are discharged as foam from foamer containers, still suffer a common problem, i.e., it is difficult to adjust foam quality by which easiness of discharging from a container and operability on the head hair are well-balanced. To solve this problem, for example, Patent Document 3 proposes a composition that maintains adequate foam quality and has an excellent foam breaking property at the time of application to the hair. However, a careful operation is still required for even application, and an alternative dyeing method has been needed.    [Patent Document 1] JP-A-2004-339216    [Patent Document 2] JP-A-2006-124279    [Patent Document 3] JP-A-2001-019626


Automated stores comprising a plurality of superimposed levels (1a, 1b, 1c. .), subdivided into parallel corridors (2a, 2b, 2c. .) on either side of which are arranged rows of racks or cells forming storage zones (3) for the products which are handled by means of autonomous trucks (4) brought to a predetermined level by at least one lift unit (5). Each storage level (1a, 1b, 1c. .) includes a set of rails forming a plurality of networks (6) pointing along the longitudinal X axis of the stores inside each inter-column space (2a, 2b, 2c) and one network (7) pointing along the transverse Y axis perpendicular to and at the end of the inter-column spaces. The autonomous trucks (4) include two-way forks on which the product to be handled rests.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improvement to automated installations which make it possible to store and/or to make available various products, which installations, in the rest of the description, will be denoted by the expression "stores". It also deals with a novel type of truck making it possible to provide the displacements of the products inside such stores including a plurality of superimposed levels, which truck could possibly also be used for providing the displacements of products on just one level, for example the ground.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
In numerous industrial fields, there is the problem of having to store products temporarily, this being true both for the company's own needs in terms of its business activity (raw materials, piece parts. .), and for the articles manufactured by the company which are to be stored temporarily before being made available to the user or purchaser.
Very numerous proposals have been made to date for producing automatic stores making it possible not only to limit manual interventions to a minimum, but also to store, in a given volume, the greatest possible number of products.
To date, the most widespread solution for producing automatic stores consists in producing units in which the storage zones are substantially in the form of "columns" of great height, subdivided in the vertical direction into a plurality of superimposed levels constituting rows of racks, or cells whose dimensions are a function of the products to be stored, these "columns" being separated from each other by aisles along which there move units commonly denoted by the expression "transfer loader" or "transverser".
In general, such stores therefore define three axes along which the products are displaced, namely:
X: longitudinal axis of the stores, of the furniture or columns, of the aisles; PA1 Y: transverse axis perpendicular to the furniture (columns), and to the aisles; PA1 Z: vertical axis. PA1 the said trucks being brought to a predetermined level by means of at least one lift unit, and each storage level including a set of rails forming networks, one pointing along the longitudinal axis of the stores inside each intercolumn space and the other pointing along the transverse axis; PA1 the autonomous trucks including two permutable chassis each equipped with sets of wheels, one of which can be associated with the rails pointing along the X axis, the other with the rails pointing along the Y axis, characterised in that: PA1 the said networks pointing along the longitudinal axis X of the stores and along the transverse axis Y consist of: PA1 a plurality of networks pointing along the longitudinal axis X of the stores inside each inter-column space; PA1 a single network pointing along the transverse axis Y perpendicular to and at the end of the inter-column spaces; PA1 the autonomous trucks including means (two-way forks) on which the product to be handled rests in order to position it in and extract it from a storage compartment. PA1 one of the chassis, termed "outer chassis", including driving and supporting wheels necessary for the displacements along the X axis, as well as rollers for lateral guidance along the two axes X and Y; PA1 the second chassis, termed "inner chassis", supporting the driving and supporting wheels necessary for the displacements along the Y axis, as well as the two-way forks on which the product to be handled rests (for positioning in or extraction from a storage compartment).
To date, as stated previously, in order to provide the handling of the products inside such storage units, equipment designers propose automatic or guided machines of the "transfer loader" or "traverser" type, which make it possible to take up and to store pallets or containers in the cells of the columns which constitute the lateral faces of each aisle. Such automatic handling machines all have in common the fact that they run either directly on the ground, or on rails fixed to the ground. They may or may not change aisle. They all include a lift system which makes it possible to bring the member for handling the pallet or the container opposite the cell in question.
Taking account of the fact that the height of the stores becomes greater and greater, these machines become very tall (it being possible for the height to reach several tens of metres), with, in particular, a substantial toll on their cost and on the need to have an increasingly restrictive geometry of, on the one hand, the pallet handler and, on the other hand, the ground.
In order to provide the handling of products on the ground, it has been proposed to produce autonomous trucks which can effect changes in direction, these trucks being either guided by rails or automatically guided and in general being equipped with one or more guidable wheels allowing them to effect turns. Such a design of truck therefore gives rise to the production of displacement circuits which, in the change of direction zones, involve a substantial surface area, given that the truck moves in a curve which consequently, decreases the zone available for actual storage, for a given surface area.
Moreover, such trucks can only be displaced on a single level and they cannot work equally well on several different levels.

Automated stores and novel type of truck making it possible for the products to be positioned in or extracted from the storage zones

Societe d'Etude en Mecanisation et Automation (CIMAT)


A ceramic circuit substrate having high bonding performance and excellent thermal cycling resistance properties, having a circuit pattern provided on a ceramic substrate with a braze material layer interposed therebetween, and a protruding portion formed by the braze material layer protruding from the outer edge of the circuit pattern, wherein: the braze material layer includes Ag, Cu, Ti, and Sn or In; and an Ag-rich phase is formed continuously for 300 μm or more, towards the inside, from an outer edge of the protruding portion, along a bonding interface between the ceramic substrate and the circuit pattern, and has a bonding void ratio of 1.0% or less.

In power module applications such as elevators, vehicles, and hybrid cars, ceramic circuit substrates are used. These ceramic circuit substrates have a metal circuit board bonded, with a braze material, to the surface of a ceramic substrate composed of a ceramic such as alumina, beryllia, silicon nitride, or aluminum nitride, and have semiconductor elements further mounted at prescribed positions on the metal circuit board.
In recent years, with the higher outputs and higher integration of semiconductor elements, the amount of heat generated by semiconductor elements has been steadily increasing. In order to efficiently disperse this generated heat, ceramic substrates that are highly insulating, highly thermal conductive aluminum nitride sintered bodies, or silicon nitride sintered bodies are used.
However, there is a large difference between the thermal expansion coefficients of ceramic substrates and metal plates, and the load from repeated hot-cold cycles generates thermal stress caused by the differences in the thermal expansion coefficients at the bonding interfaces between the ceramic substrates and the metal plates. In particular, residual stress due to compression and tension acts on the ceramic substrate near the bonded portion, thus forming cracks in the ceramic substrate, leading to bonding defects or thermal resistance defects, and causing problems such as reduced operational reliability as an electronic device.
Here, Patent Document 1 proposes a structure which improves the thermal cycling properties of a ceramic circuit substrate by controlling the length of a braze material that protrudes from the bottom surface of a metal plate so as to be longer than 30 μm and no more than 250 μm, and preferably 50 μm to 200 μm.
Patent Document 2 proposes a method for controlling the structure of a portion protruding from a braze material layer of a ceramic circuit substrate so that Ag-rich phases occupy a larger area therein than do Cu-rich phases, thereby suppressing dissolution of the braze material protruding portion due to etching and preventing stress relaxation effects of the braze material layer protruding portion from decreasing.
Patent Document 3 proposes a method for controlling the thickness and length of a braze material layer so as to be caused to protrude at a fixed ratio, thereby improving the thermal cycling properties of a ceramic circuit substrate.

Ceramic circuit board and production method therefor


A pushing apparatus and conveying system for an interventional medical instrument. By covering a thermoplastic elastomer on the surface of a steel cable to form an overlay film, steel cable support is improved when guaranteeing the flexibility thereof so that it is difficult for the instrument to deviate from a predetermined position when conveying the instrument, the operation time is shortened, and the operation risk of patients is reduced. Meanwhile, in the conveying system, a sealing member is provided in an inner cavity of a hemostasis valve body to match the overlay film of the steel cable so that the distal end of the hemostasis valve body is isolated from the outside, and the release effect of the instrument can be assessed by radiography before the instrument is released from the steel cable in operation, thereby effectively reducing harm to patients.

Treating cardiovascular diseases by catheter intervention is a conventional therapy at the present, and it specifically means that various materials, devices and the like are put into parts such as the heart, an artery blood vessel and a vein of a human body via a catheter intervention therapy to treat the cardiovascular diseases.
For example, an interventional medical instrument, such as an Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) occluder, a Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) occluder, a Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) occluder and a Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) occluder, is placed via the catheter intervention method, and then reaches a defective part of the heart so as to occlude the defect to treat congenital heart diseases. For another example, an occluder may be put into a left atrial appendage through a catheter intervention method to prevent a left atrial appendage thrombus caused by atrial fibrillation and avoid apoplexy caused by a fact that the thrombus goes up to a brain, or prevent systematic embolization caused by a fact that the thrombus reaches other portions of a body through a blood circulation system of a human body. Or for another example, a lung volume reduction device is delivered to a diseased position of a bronchus of the lung to treat pulmonary emphysema.
During delivery of the interventional medical device into the heart, the artery blood vessel, the vein, the left atrial appendage and the bronchus of the lung through a delivery system, the interventional medical device is generally pushed to a predetermined part through a flexible pushing steel cable, and then connection between the interventional medical device and the pushing steel cable is cut off to release the interventional medical device; and whether the release position of the interventional medical device is appropriate or not, whether the interventional medical device is poorly spread or not, and whether an operation effect is satisfactory or not are confirmed through radiography or ultrasonic.
In an actual use process, to reduce trauma of patients, it should reduce inner and outer diameters of a delivery sheath as much as possible. However, under a condition that the model of the selected interventional medical device is not changed, the inner diameter of the sheath used cooperatively is smaller, and the pushing resistance of the interventional medical device is greater; and particularly when a path of pushing the interventional medical device is relatively long, a supporting force of the flexible steel cable will be insufficient, which directly leads to a fact that it is relatively easy for the interventional medical device to deviate from a predetermined position, thus prolonging the operation time and increasing the operation risk of the patients.


A method of fabricating a high-voltage device suitable for a low-voltage device. A well formed by ion implantation in the high-voltage device region serves as a drift region for fabricating the high-voltage device. Therefore, one mask is used to define a portion of the wells of the high-voltage device region and the wells of low-voltage device region. It is not necessary to use multiple masks to pattern the well of the low-voltage device region and the drift region of the high-voltage device region.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method of fabricating a high-voltage device that is suitable to apply in a low-voltage device, and more particularly to a method of fabricating a high-voltage device wherein a well formed by ion implantation is used as a drift region.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the size of the device is reduced, the reduced channel length shortens the desired time of the transistor during operation. The problem of short channel effect due to the reduced channel length gradually becomes more serious. According to the formula of electrical field=voltage/length, when the channel length of the transistor is reduced and the voltage is fixed, the energy of the electrons in the channel rises due to the enhancement of the electrical field. On the other hand, the electrical field is also enhanced, raising the energy of the electrons in the channel, when the voltage is increased and the channel length is fixed. Both of these situations may cause electrical breakdown.
For example, devices used for drivers of digital versatile disk (DVD) and liquid crystal display (LCD) need to endure a high voltage of about 12-30V. Generally, a high-voltage device uses an isolation region and a drift region under the isolation region to increase the distance between a source/drain region and a gate, so that the device can be operated normally under a high voltage.
FIGS. 1A-1D are schematic, cross-sectional views of fabrication of a high-voltage device as known in the prior art. Referring to FIG. 1A, an N-type semiconductor substrate (not shown) is provided, and a well 10 having P-type impurity is formed in the semiconductor substrate. A pad oxide layer 20 is formed on the well 10, and a silicon nitride layer 30 is then formed on the pad oxide layer 20.
Referring to FIG. 1B, the silicon nitride layer 30 is patterned by a photoresist layer 40. A portion of the silicon nitride layer 30 is then removed to form a silicon nitride layer 50 on the pad oxide layer 20, and a portion of the well 10 is exposed. N-type ions are implanted into the exposed well 10 to form a drift region 60 having N-type ions.
Referring to FIG. 1C, the photoresist layer 40 is removed. Using the silicon nitride layer 50 as a mask, a field oxide layer 70 with a bird's beak of each side of the silicon nitride layer 50 is grown on the drift region 60. The N-type ions in the drift region 60 are driven in the well 10 at a high temperature to broaden the drift region 60.
Referring to FIG. 1D, the silicon nitride layer 50 and the pad oxide layer 20 are then removed. A thin oxide layer 80 is formed on the well 10 to serve as a gate oxide layer. A polysilicon layer 90 serving as a gate is formed on the well 10 by photolithography. Ion implantation with N-type ions of low dosage and high energy is performed on the well 10, and a drift region 100 having N-type ions is then formed by driven-in thermally. N-type ions having high dosage and low energy are implanted into the well 10 beside the gate 90 to form a source region 110 and a drain region 120.
As shown in FIG. 1D, in order to raise the breakdown voltage of the device, it is necessary to form multiple masks to fabricate the structure of the drift region. Fabrication of masks for the drift region consumes time and money, to the extent that throughput cannot be increased.

Method of fabricating high voltage device suitable for low voltage device


A cable rewinding device comprises a rewinding box, a detector provided on a side of the rewinding box received in the rewinding box in a universal joint manner in a stored position having a ball member, a body including a detecting circuit having a circuit board, a plurality of lights, and a plurality of cords, and a head portion extended outwardly from the body having first spaced grooves and second spaced grooves, in which the cords are in an electrical communication with the first and the second spaced grooves such that an electrical status such as open circuit, error in connection, or over current of a cable having a plug is obtained through the lights when the plug is inserted into the first and the second spaced grooves. With this device, repairing in time, preventing error in connection, and avoiding damage to the electrical equipment are realized.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cable rewinding device, and more particularly to a cable rewinding device with detector for detecting the communication cable and showing its electrical status.
2. Description of Related Art
Communication cables are widely employed in the electrical communication between electrical devices, such as computers, modems, telephones, and facsimile machines. Typically, a cable rewinding box is used to pulling and winding cable in an ordered way for dealing with the lengthy mixed cable.
A number of cable rewinding devices have been located in a search, such as Taiwanese Utility Model Patent Application Numbers 87,214,430, 87,215,276, and 88,203,935. These three prior art devices generally comprises a housing, a take-up reel provided on the base of the housing for winding the cable, and a helical spring acting as retaining or loosening the cable. Further, various cable connection configurations and take-up reel constructions have been proposed in these prior art.
However, they only provide the functions of communication and taking up reel at most. Other functions, such as detecting the communication cable, determining whether the communication cable is open or closed, or incorrectly connected, or measuring the current in the cable for determining whether it is over a predetermined threshold (note the threshold may be different in different countries) in order to pre-warning the consumers and communication equipment manufacturers if such occur, are totally not provided. As such, a poor communication and even a failure may occur.
A need remains to provide an improved cable rewinding device to overcome the above drawbacks of prior art.