An optical device to control the output power of a laser on recording and reproduction without expensive high-speed circuits is provided. The optical disk device of the present invention comprises monitor portion for monitoring the power of laser light, averaged light quantity calculating portion for calculating the averaged light quantity of the power of the laser light, memory portion for memorizing the averaged light quantity, error quantity calculated portion for calculating the difference between the output signals of the averaged light quantity calculating portion and the memory portion, and laser power control portion for controlling the power of the laser light in response to the output signal from the error quantity calculating portion.

The present invention relates to an optical disk device used in particular to an apparatus and method of controlling the output power of a laser on recording and reproduction of signals to and from an optical disk.
Prior art method of recording information on a disk in a recording area by using laser light includes magneto-optical recording method and phase change recording method. Both methods record information on a recording layer by focussing a laser light upon the recording layer to heat it. In these recording methods, the distribution of the temperature over the recording layer will give a large influence upon the shape of a recording mark, that is, the quality of reproduced signals. The factors, which determine the temperature distribution, include the pulse width and power of recording light, etc. The current-emitted power characteristics of the semiconductor laser depends upon the temperature. Since the laser light having a power, which is ten times larger than that on reproduction, is necessary on recording, heating of the semiconductor laser becomes larger so that the temperature of the semiconductor laser is elevated. As a result, the current-emitted power characteristics may change. Accordingly, in order to record information in a good manner, it is also necessary to control the power of emitted light of the semiconductor laser on recording.
Under such a circumstance, a method of power control on recording has been proposed as is represented by Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 09-288840.
Now, a prior art power control system, which is disclosed in the above-mentioned publication, will be described.
FIGS. 1 and 2 are a block diagram and timing chart showing the prior art power control system, respectively.
In FIG. 1, a laser light emitted from a semiconductor laser 4 is passed through a collimator lens (not shown) and a rise mirror and focussed on a recording layer of an optical disk by portion of an objective lens. A part of the laser light is split in the course of its optical path and is incident upon a photodiode 5. On reproduction, the semiconductor laser 4 is supplied with a current which is obtained by voltage/current converting by portion of a V/I converting circuit 3 an output of the adding circuit 2 which is a sum of an output of a reproduced power presetting circuit 1 and an output of an amplifying circuit 13-1 which will be described hereafter, so that the laser generates a laser light having a power depending upon the supplied current value. A current output from the photodiode 5 is converted into a voltage signal by portion of an I/V converting circuit 6, and is then input to S/H (sample and hold) circuits 21-1-3. The S/H circuit 21-1 samples/holds the output from the I/V converting circuit 6 in response to timing pulses from a timing pulse generating circuit 11 for outputting it to a subtracting circuit 12-1.
Since timing pulses each having a given period are input to the S/H circuit 21-1 from the timing pulse generating circuit 11, the output of the S/H circuit 21-1 becomes an output signal of the I/V converting circuit 6, that is, the signal which is obtained by sampling/holding the magnitude of the light emitted from the semiconductor laser 4 at intervals of a given period of time.
In a subtracting circuit 12-1, the output signal from the S/H circuit 21-1 is compared with a signal from a reference signal generating circuit 10. The difference is input to an amplifying circuit 13-1 and is amplified at a given gain and then input to an adding circuit 2.
In such a manner in a reproducing mode of operation, a closed loop (is formed by a reproduction power presetting circuit 1, adding circuit 2, V/I converting circuit 3, semiconductor laser 4, photodiode 5, I/V converting circuit 6, S/H circuit 21-1, subtracting circuit 12-1, reproducing power reference signal generating circuit 10 and the amplifying circuit 13-1. The power emitted from the semiconductor laser 4 is controlled to a predetermined power.
In recording mode of operation, a peak power ON signal and an erasing power ON signal corresponding to a recording signal and recording gate signal (/WG) are input to current switch circuits 16, 18 from a recording pulse generating circuit 15.
The current switching circuits 16, 18 conducts or blocks the current signals output from the V/I converting circuits 27-1, 27-2 in response to the peak power ON signal and the erase power ON signal to impress the semiconductor laser 4 with it. An output signal from the adding circuit 26-1 which is a sum of the output signal from the peak power presetting circuit 24 and the signal from the amplifying circuit 13-3 is input to the V/I converting circuit 27-1. An output signal from the adding circuit 26-2 which is a sum of the output signal from the erasing power presetting circuit 25 and the signal from the amplifying circuit 13-2 is input to the V/I converting circuit 27-2.
On the other hand, the semiconductor laser 4 is constantly impressed with a current which is obtained by voltage/current converting by the V/I converting circuit 3 the output from the adding circuit 2 which is a sum of outputs of the reproducing power presetting circuit 1 and the amplifying circuit 13-1. When the current switching circuit 16 is turned on, the semiconductor laser 4 is impressed with a sum current of the output currents from the V/I converting circuits 3 and 27-1. When the current switching circuit 18 is turned on, the semiconductor laser 4 is impressed with a sum current of the output currents from the V/I converting circuits 3 and 27-2. Pulse light that is shown in FIG. 2 is emitted from the semiconductor laser 4.
A part of the emitted light is input to the photodiode 5 similarly to the reproducing mode. The photodiode 5 outputs a current corresponding to the incident light quantity to the I/V converting circuit 6. The I/V converting circuit 6 converts the output current from the photodiode 5 into a voltage signal for outputting the signal to the S/H circuits 21-1 through 21-3.
Three kinds of timing pulses are output from the timing signal generating circuit 11. When the pulse emitted light from the semiconductor laser 4 is the reproducing power, a timing pulse for holding the output signal of the I/V converting circuit 6 is output to the S/H circuit 21-1. When the pulse emitted light from the semiconductor laser 4 is the erasing power, a timing pulse for holding the output signal of the I/V converting circuit 6 is output to the S/H circuit 21-2. When the pulse emitted light is the peak power, a timing pulse for holding the output signal of the I/V converting circuit 6 is output to the S/H circuit 21-3. Accordingly, the S/H circuits 21-1 through 21-3 output the output signals of the I/V converting circuit 6 corresponding to the reproducing, erasing and peak powers, respectively.
The output signals of the S/H circuits 21-1 through 21-3 is input to the subtracting circuits 12-1 through 12-3, in which they are compared with the output signals from reproducing power reference signal generating circuit 10, erasing power reference signal generating circuit 22 and peak power reference signal generating circuit 23, respectively. The differences are input to the amplifying circuits 13-1 through 13-3 as the outputs from the subtracting circuits 12-1 through 12-3, respectively.
The amplifying circuits 13-1 through 13-3 amplify the input signals at predetermined gains and output the signals to the adding circuits 2, 26-2 and 26-1.
In the prior art method, the peak, erase and reproducing (bias) powers of the pulse light for recording can be controlled to respective predetermined powers as well as the emitted light power for reproducing by the above-mentioned arrangement.
In the above-mentioned prior art method prior art method, it is necessary for the output signal of the I/V converting circuit 6 to have about the same bandwidth as that of the pulse emitted light of the semiconductor laser 4 as is apparent from FIG. 2.
The pulse width of the pulse light may be about one quarter of the bit period in the narrowest case. If data having a bit period of 40 nsec is recorded, the pulse width would then become 10 nsec at minimum and the output signal of the I/V converting circuit requires a bandwidth which is about 100 MHz.
Accordingly, the photodiode 5 and the I/V converting circuit 6 also require a bandwidth of about 100 MHz and higher. This should be achieved to reduce the cost.
Since it is necessary for the S/H circuits 21-1 to 21-3 to complete the sample/hold operation within 10 nsec or less, the circuits having a faster speed and higher accuracy are required. This should be achieved to reduce the cost.
As mentioned above, the current-output characteristics of the semiconductor laser changes with its temperature. FIG. 3 shows the current-output characteristics of the semiconductor laser 4 when its temperature changes.
Since the threshold current and differential efficiency (gradient) in the current-output characteristics of the semiconductor laser 4 changes with its temperature, the prior art contemplates to compensate for both. As is apparent from FIG. 3, the change in temperature of the differential efficiency is less than the change in temperature of the threshold current.
If the power of the emitted light is represented as Pp when the semiconductor laser 4 is impressed with a current Ip at a given temperature T1, the plot of the current-emittedpower characteristics of the semiconductor laser 4 is shift rightward as shown in FIG. 3 and the gradient changes from a rectilinear line as represented by a broken line to a solid line. Accordingly, only the emitted power of Pp-xcex94P1 is obtained with the same current.
If the semiconductor laser 4 is supplied with the current Ip plus the changes in the threshold current xcex94Ith, the emitted power would become Pp-xcex94P2, which approaches the emitted power Pp at temperature T1.
Recently, the deterioration of the quality of the recording mark with respect to the change in the peak power has been reduced by the improvement in the storage medium. It is not advantageous to compensate for the change in temperature in the differential efficiency by using an expensive circuit.
It has been found that the power of the emitted pulse light at beginning of recording is approximately equal to a preset value since the temperature of the semiconductor laser per se does not change so fast.
The present invention was made under such circumstances. It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical recording/reproducing device which is capable of recording/reproducing information at a practically good quality and which has a structure which is suitable for reduction in cost.
In order to accomplish the above-mentioned object, a first aspect of the present invention provides an optical disk device for recording signals on an optical disk which constitutes a signal recording medium by focussing laser light on the face of said optical disk comprising:
an averaged light quantity calculating portion for determining the averaged light quantity of the laser light by splitting the laser light focussed upon the face of said optical disk and by detecting its low frequency component; a memory portion for outputting the averaged light quantity in a reproducing mode of operation and for memorizing and outputting said averaged light quantity which has been calculated for a first period of time (t1) after the beginning of recording in a mode of recording operation; an error quantity calculating portion for calculating the difference between signals output from said averaged light quantity calculating portion and said memory portion; and laser power control portion for controlling the power of said laser light in response to an output signal from said error quantity calculating portion.
The optical disk device may preferably further include an error quantity holding portion for holding the output value of the signal which is output from said error quantity calculating portion immediately before the beginning of recording and the laser power control portion may be controlled in response to the output signal from said error quantity holding portion for a second period time (t2) after the beginning of recording.
The optical disk device may preferably further include a reference signal generating portion for generating a signal having a predetermined level and in lieu of the output signal from said memory portion, the output signal from said reference signal generating portion may be input to said error quantity detecting portion for a third period of time (t3) after the beginning of recording.
The averaged light quantity-calculating portion may comprise a photoelectric converting portion for converting laser light into a current or voltage signal having a response frequency which is not higher than the lowest frequency of signals to be recorded.
The memory portion may preferably comprise an A/D and a D/A converting portions.
There may be a relation t1 less than t3xe2x89xa6t2 among said first, second and third periods of time (t1), (t2) and (t3).
In order to accomplish the above-identified object, a second aspect of the present invention provides an optical disk device for recording signals on an optical disk which constitutes a signal recording medium by focussing laser light on the face of said optical disk comprising:
a monitoring portion for splitting the laser light focussed on said optical disk face and for monitoring the power of the laser light; an averaged light quantity calculating portion for calculating the averaged light quantity of the laser light which is detected by said monitoring portion; a memory portion for outputting the averaged light quantity in a reproducing mode of operation of the signals and for memorizing and outputting said averaged light quantity which has been calculated for a first period of time (t1) after the beginning of recording in a mode of recording operation; an error quantity calculating portion for calculating the difference between signals output from said averaged light quantity calculating portion and said recording portion; and a laser power control portion for controlling the power of said laser light in response to an output signal from said error quantity calculating portion.
The optical disk device may preferably further include an error quantity holding portion for holding the output value of the signal which is output from said error quantity calculating portion immediately before the beginning of recording and said laser power control portion may be controlled in response to the output signal from said error quantity holding portion for a second period time (t2) after the beginning of recording.
The optical disk device may preferably further include a reference signal generating portion for generating a signal having a predetermined level and in lieu of the output signal from said recording portion, the output signal from said reference signal generating portion may be input to said error quantity detecting portion for a third period of time (t3) after the beginning of recording.
The averaged light quantity calculating portion may comprise a low-pass filter having a cutoff frequency which is not higher than the lowest frequency of band of signals which are reproduced from said optical disk.
The memory portion may preferably comprise an A/D and a D/A converting portion.
There may be a relation t1 less than t3xe2x89xa6t2 among said first, second and third periods of time (t1), (t2) and (t3).
It is possible to combine the above-mentioned features as of the present invention as many as possible.


The invention relates to a compressor having a piston and rod assembly which is segmented to allow adjustment of the compressor's output. In particular, fasteners accessible from the top surface of the piston can be removed so that shims can be added or removed from piston rod. The addition or removal of shims lengthens or shortens the piston rod so that the compression ration can be fine tuned. These adjustments, as well as replacement of the piston seal, can be accomplished without extensive disassembly of the compressor.

The present invention relates to compressors and, in particular, to compressors which have reciprocating pistons carried by an eccentrically rotating member. Such compressors are supplied as components to original equipment manufacturers for use in a wide variety of applications, ranging from spraying equipments to pneumatic tool operation.
In some applications, the precise output of the compressor may be critical. In such situations, it is desirable to be able to adjust or fine tune the compression ratio of the compressor. When used herein, the compression ratio is the ratio of the volume above the piston at the bottom of a stroke to the volume above the piston at the top of a stroke. Therefore, even though the size of a stroke will remain constant with a given eccentric, the output, or compression ratio, can be modified by changing the length of the piston rod. As clearance above the piston at the top of the stroke is reduced by making the rod longer, the compression ratio increases.
In some compressors, there is a need to maximize the compression ratio. In other instances, the optimal compression ratio may be one other than the maximum. In other instances, rod material or assembly considerations, variations in dimensional tolerance may make it impossible to precisely achieve a desired rod length. It is also important to provide adjustability of the piston rod length without extensive or complex operations requiring skilled labor.
Another important factor in compressor performance is the durability of a piston's seal. Depending upon the frictional characteristics or other properties of a seal, continuous or intermittent usage may cause early failure of the seal, even though the other working parts of the compressor may be far from failure. In such cases, replacement of the seal may be desirable. In many compressors, replacement of piston rings or seals is a major undertaking which requires significant time and skilled labor.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a compressor in which the piston rod length can be adjusted.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a compressor in which the piston rod length can be changed without extensive disassembly of the compressor which may require skilled labor.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a compressor in which adjustment of the piston rod length can be achieved quickly and precisely.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a compressor in which the piston seal or ring can be replaced without removing the piston and rod assembly from the compressor.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a compressor in which both replacement of the piston seal and adjustment of the piston rod length can be achieved with a minimum of complexity and labor.
These and other objects of the invention are achieved with a compressor which includes a housing and a motor driven eccentric onto which is mounted a lower rod piston section. The lower piston section is attached to a main piston section which carries a seal clamp. Fasteners are used to hold a seal between the seal clamp and the main piston section. Other fasteners are used to allow shims to be placed between the lower end of the main piston section and an upper surface of the lower piston rod section to affect a change in the output of the compressor. Both replacement of the seal and adjustment of the piston rod length can be achieved by simply removing the compressor heads and without requiring access to the connection between the lower piston rod and the shaft.

Compressor with a segmented piston rod assembly


An embedded circuit substrate comprising: a core structure having a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other; a first patterned conductive layer disposed on the first surface and embedded in the core structure; a second patterned conductive layer disposed on the second surface and embedded in the core structure; and a plurality of conductive blocks disposed in the core structure for conducting the first patterned conductive layer and the second patterned conductive layer is provided. Furthermore, a manufacturing method of an embedded circuit substrate is also provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a circuit substrate and a manufacturing method thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to an embedded circuit substrate and a manufacturing method thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
In semiconductor package, circuit substrate is one of the packaging devices in common use. The circuit substrate is constituted by patterned conductive layers and dielectric layers interlaced to each other, wherein two circuit layer are electrically connected through conductive vias. However, with the improvement of integrity and flatness, the conventional structure and manufacturing process of circuit substrate are no longer sufficient for use. Thus, a circuit substrate with an embedded circuit is developed.

Manufacturing method of embedded circuit substrate

Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc.


A new wet oxidation process of wastes, specifically of mixtures of at least two, liquid (wastewaters) and dense (sludges), pumpable wastes is described. An apparatus useful for a wet oxidation process of this type is also described.

The present invention relates to a new wet oxidation process of wastes, specifically of mixtures of at least two, liquid (wastewaters) and dense (sludges), pumpable wastes, and an apparatus useful for carrying out such process.
Within the scope of the present description and the subsequent claims, the term "wet oxidation" is intended to mean an oxidation in wet phase or "humid oxidation", i.e. an autocatalytic process leading to the oxidative demolition of organic or inorganic substances present in a liquid phase, by using oxygen (or, as an alternative, air) as oxidizing gas.
Within the scope of the present description and the subsequent claims, the term "COD" is intended to mean "Chemical Oxygen Demand", i.e. the chemical oxygen demand expressing the amount of oxygen in mg/l of water needed for the complete demolition of the organic or inorganic substances present.
Within the scope of this description and the subsequent claims, the term "multi-stream waste suspension" is intended to mean a mixture of at least two different types of wastes, preferably wastewaters and sludges.

Process and apparatus for wet oxidation of wastes


An apparatus of a rotary pulse encoder and a sleeve, including: a rod-shaped rotary pulse encoder; and a clamping sleeve; in which the rod-shaped rotary pulse encoder and the clamping sleeve are in a bore of a holder for sensing a rotational speed of a rotor, in which the clamping sleeve is positioned in the bore so as to be secured against rotation, and the rotary pulse encoder is friction-locked in the clamping sleeve with a sensor head so as to be axially displaceable, in which the sensor head has a non-cylindrically symmetrical cross-section at least in sections, and the clamping sleeve has at least one inwardly facing position-setting element, by which the sensor head is arranged in the clamping sleeve so as to be secured against rotation.

Rotary pulse encoders mounted in this way are used, for example, to measure the speed of rotation of vehicle wheels, especially in the commercial vehicle sector. The measured speed is used, for example, for correct actuation of ABS (anti-lock) braking systems, wherein the rotor is connected to a vehicle wheel and is configured, for example, as a pole gearwheel with alternately aligned magnetic poles.
The axially displaceable clamping holder of the rotary pulse encoder makes it possible to adjust an air gap between the rotor and the rotary pulse encoder. Due to mounting tolerances, thermal expansions or bearing wear which affects the position of the rotor, the rotary pulse encoder can come into contact with the rotor and recede due to the axially displaceable non-positive holder so that there is no damage to the rotary pulse encoder or the rotor.
Passive sensors, such as inductively operating sensors, are referred to as rod-shaped rotary pulse encoders. These can be rotated about their longitudinal axis without affecting the measurement result.
Furthermore, active rotary pulse encoders are believed to be understood, which for example have Hall sensors. The measurement result of such active rotary pulse encoders depends on the rotary position of the rotary pulse encoder within the holder. When using active rotary pulse encoders, correct orientation of the rotary pulse encoder must be ensured by preventing rotation of the rotary pulse encoder about its longitudinal axis.
From the publication DE 10 2008 054 000 A1, an arrangement is discussed in which a rotary pulse encoder is held by a clamping sleeve in a bore of a holder. A connection adapter for electrical contacting is mounted on the rotary pulse encoder. The rotary pulse encoder is configured as an active sensor and held in a given orientation accordingly. For this purpose, an anti-rotation device is provided either between the connection adapter and the holder, or between the connection adapter and the clamping sleeve, wherein the clamping sleeve is then positioned in the bore of the holder so that it cannot rotate relative to the holder. This can be achieved, for example, by outwardly bent lugs of the clamping sleeve, which are inserted into corresponding indentations at the upper edge of the bore.
For example, the anti-rotation device is achieved by arranging pins aligned radially at a distance from the sensor head and parallel to the sensor head on the connection adapter, which engage in additional bores in the holder. The axial displaceability of the sensor head is not affected by the combination of pin and bore by this type of anti-rotation device.
When the anti-rotation device is formed between the connection adapter and the clamping sleeve, a pin is arranged on the clamping sleeve which projects longitudinally beyond the bore and penetrates into a corresponding bore on the adapter. The connection adapter and thus the sensor head are thus fixed in their rotary position, but can still be moved axially. In both cases, it is necessary that the connection adapter protrudes radially (laterally) beyond the diameter of the sensor head to provide the guide pin or a bore for the guide pin radially spaced from the sensor head.

Arrangement of a rotary pulse encoder and a clamping sleeve for sensing the speed of rotation of a rotor

KNORR-BREMSE SYSTEME FUER NUTZFAHRZEUGE GMBH


A cabinet for use in an environment in which water may be present has a structural base and a face front. The structural base has a pair of structural plastic side pieces for bearing a load of the cabinet, the side pieces each have a pair of legs, a front edge, a back edge and a pair of mounting portions, a plastic floor the floor tilting downwardly from a back of the cabinet towards the face front, the plastic floor having a first portion attaching to one of the side pieces and a second portion for attaching to another of the side pieces, a pair of cross supports for connecting the structural sides above the plastic floor, the cross supports mounting within the mounting portions. The face front is made from wood or a wood byproduct and attaches to each side piece at the front edges thereof.

Cabinets sold from shops or stores for installation by the purchaser are usually installed by holding the cabinet in an intended position against the wall and other cabinets while making or marking holes that are necessary to secure the cabinet in position. This is a difficult operation for the home handyman because of the weight and/or bulk of the cabinet. While supporting the cabinet it is often difficult to judge position and to free one hand to use a tool or marker. Irregular construction of the wall itself can add to these difficulties.
Cabinets that are sold in flat packs are sometimes difficult to assemble.


Disclosed is a process for separating and recovering 3-hydroxypropionic acid from an aqueous solution comprising 3-hydroxypropionic acid and acrylic acid, comprising counter current extracting the aqueous solution with ethyl acetate extractant. Further disclosed is a process for separating and recovering 3-hydroxypropionic acid and acrylic acid from an aqueous solution comprising 3-hydroxypropionic acid and acrylic acid.

Various methods for separating and recovering 3-hydroxypropionic acid from an aqueous solution comprising 3-hydroxypropionic acid and acrylic acid are known. Included within such methods is distilling acrylic acid from the aqueous solution. Further, it is known that acrylic acid in the aqueous solution is extracted with ethyl acetate as an extractant in a cross current manner. This is described in a publication by Shem, Changzhou, You, Sihui; Huaxueshijie, 1997, 19 (2), pg 77-79.

Process for separating and recovering 3-hydroxypropionic acid and acrylic acid


A method and apparatus for measuring a propagation delay of an optical signal between first and second devices in an optical transmission network, the optical signal being transmitted from the first device to the second device via a first optical fiber and from the second device to the first device via a second optical fiber. The second device includes a loopback having a first mode enabling the optical signal to be routed between the two devices. The method includes: detecting by the second device a triggering by the first device of a propagation delay measurement; receiving a measurement signal transmitted by the first device via the first optical fiber; and configuring the loopback in a second mode in which the loopback injects a return signal into the first fiber in response to the measurement signal. The first device implements a method for determining the propagation delay.

For measuring a propagation delay of an optical signal between two optical devices connected by two separate links, one for each transmission direction, a method is known for measuring a forward and return propagation delay. A measurement signal is sent by an optical device initiating the measurement to the neighboring optical device via the first optical link. The latter responds to the measurement signal to the initiating optical device via the second optical link.
The Precision Time Protocol (PTP), as specified in the standard IEEE 1588-2008, enables a communication network to synchronize clocks between devices. Several mechanisms are possible in this standard. One of them comprises a mechanism for calculating optical delay, called 'Peer Delay Link Measurement'. In this mechanism, an initiating device sends a 'Peer_Delay_Request' message to a remote device via a first optical link. The latter responds using a response message 'Peer_Delay_Response' optionally accompanied by another response message 'Peer_Delay_Response_Follow_Up', one of these two response messages including in particular a measurement of an internal electronic processing delay to the remote device. This internal processing delay may vary, for example, according to the load factor of the remote device. This or these response messages are routed via a second optical link, separate from the first optical link. This method therefore enables the internal processing delay in the remote device to be precisely obtained for a given measurement.
A forward and return propagation delay is then obtained by taking away the internal processing delay as it was received from the remote device, from the delay measured by the initiating device. The propagation delay in one direction is then estimated by dividing the forward and return propagation delay into two equal parts. However, this method does not take into account an asymmetry of the optical links connecting the initiating and remote devices.
Thus, in an optical transmission network, when the respective lengths of the links of the two directions are not identical, the value of the estimated propagation delay is affected by an error that is hard to quantify.
In some cases, when there is a difference in length of the links, e.g. optical fibers, the asymmetry can be significant. In other cases, although the difference in length of the fibers in itself is quite small, particularly when they belong to the same cable, asymmetry may arise from the distribution of fibers on the devices themselves or from repairs or splices made during the service life of the cable.
Many applications require a knowledge of this propagation delay of an optical signal from one device to another. Methods of resource reservation or methods of synchronization of optical devices may be cited by way of example.
For these different applications, the precision required for measuring a propagation delay of an optical signal is of the order of a few nanoseconds. It cannot be obtained using existing techniques, in particular due to the error affecting the measurement, especially in the case of asymmetric links.

Technique for determining a propagation delay of an optical signal between two optical devices via an optical link


A computing system for automatic discovery of a storage cluster. A computing system includes a discovery server, which receives a user-input including authentication credentials associated with a storage cluster. The discovery server executes a discovery pattern comprising a sequence of operations for a discovery of a set of resources associated with the storage cluster, based on the received user-input. One of the sequence of operations may correspond to transmission of a plurality of Application Programming Interface (API) calls to an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the storage cluster. The discovery server further receives a plurality of responses from the storage cluster. The plurality of responses includes information associated with the set of resources. The discovery server further generates a dependency map between the set of resources associated with the storage cluster based on the received information and outputs the generated dependency map.

Advancement in field of networking has led to development of storage clusters. In general, a storage cluster refers to a set of resources (say storage servers) that are connected on a network and work together to store data and increase performance, capacity, or reliability of the stored data. The storage cluster distributes workloads to each resource of the set of resources, manages the transfer of workload between the set of resources, and provides access to the stored data from any resource regardless of a physical location of the data. The storage cluster is presented as a single storage system for use by external clients and is managed as a single entity through a software user interface (UI), application programming interfaces (APIs) and/or other management tools.
Traditional methods of discovering the storage cluster uses management software(s), embedded provider(s), or agent(s). However, the discovery of the storage cluster using the management software(s), the embedded provider(s), or the agent(s) have their own limitations. For example, the discovery of the storage cluster using the management software(s) requires installation on the management software(s) on the storage server of the storage cluster and a discovery system has to discover (or support) the management software(s) initially. In case the storage server doesn't support installation of the management software(s) or if the discovery system is not able to discover the management software(s), the storage cluster may not be discovered.
In case of embedded provider(s) like the Storage Management Initiative-Specification (SMI-S) provider, the limitation is that every storage server (for example a new server) does not support the SMI-S agent. Therefore, the storage cluster that support the SMI-S agent executing on the storage server are discovered using this method, but the storage cluster that doesn't support the SMI-S agent are not discovered. Another traditional method of discovering the storage cluster is using agent(s) such as the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) agent. The SNMP agent may tend to have certain network problems (such as the agent is down or there are some timeout issues in the responses during discovery). Moreover, the responses received by the discovery system while discovering using the SNMP agents may contain limited information. Hence, to discover the storage cluster using the agent(s) can by time-consuming and cumbersome. With the advancement in the storage clusters, many organizations, and individuals tend to use such storage clusters to increase performance, redundancy and/or reliability, etc. Therefore, there is a need for the discover system that can quickly and efficiently discover the storage cluster.
Limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of described systems with some aspects of the present disclosure, as set forth in the remainder of the present application and with reference to the drawings.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Provided is a solid-state imaging device and an electronic apparatus capable of achieving both of a high dynamic range operation and an auto focus operation in a pixel configuration in which a plurality of unit pixels includes two or more subpixels. The solid-state imaging device includes a first pixel separation region that separates a plurality of unit pixels including two or more subpixels, a second pixel separation region that separates each of the plurality of unit pixels separated by the first pixel separation region and an overflow region that causes signal charges accumulated in the subpixels to overflow to at least one of adjacent subpixels, in which the overflow region is formed between a first subpixel and a second subpixel.

In general, a solid-state imaging device such as a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor, a charge coupled device (CCD) or the like has been widely used in a digital still camera, a digital video camera or the like.
The solid-state imaging device includes, for example, a photodiode, and accumulates charges by photoelectric conversion. Here, as a focusing method of the solid-state imaging device, a high dynamic range operation of generating a captured image in a wide exposure region by performing different exposure controls and an auto focus operation of dividing a photodiode and adding the same color between the divided photodiodes have been known.
In the auto focus operation, for example, in a case where the photodiode is divided into two, light is received in each of the two divided photodiodes, and signal electrons of which the number exceeds an accumulation capacity are received in one divided photodiode, signal electrons of the same color overflow to the other divided photodiode.
Regarding such a technology, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses an imaging element including a plurality of photoelectric conversion units, a separation region separating the plurality of photoelectric conversion units, and a setting means for selectively setting a potential of the separation region (see Patent Document 1).

Solid-state imaging device and electronic apparatus

SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION


A constant force spring system having a coil spring with first and second arms, a ramp for the second arm to contact and a pin mounted on a base. The coil spring is mounted on the pin and the ramp is positioned such that the second arm of the spring contacts the sloped surface of the ramp. When a force is applied to the first arm of the spring it tends to move the second arm up the sloped ramp. This interaction of the second arm and sloped surface produces a reaction force. The slope angle and ramp configuration is configured such that there are equal and opposite forces produced by the spring system.

1. FIELD
The subject invention is in the field of constant force springs and spring systems, otherwise known as flat rate springs and spring systems. In particular, it is in the field of such springs and spring systems used in applications in which the deflections of the spring or spring system occur slowly, such as in film and tape cartridges.
2. PRIOR ART
There is much prior art in this general field. There is relatively limited prior art in the particular field in which there are size, shape and space constraints. Examples of the particular prior art are shown in the following U.S. Patents, all issued to the inventor of the subject invention.
______________________________________ 4,986,678 4,990,008 4,998,833 ______________________________________
The spring systems disclosed in these patents require adjustments during use in tape and film cartridges in order to keep the spring forces constant within desired limits as the tape or film is transferred from spool to spool. Accordingly, the primary objective of the subject invention is to provide a spring system which has an essentially flat rate over its entire working deflection. A second objective is that the subject system be adaptable to use in the confined and limited space in film and tape cartridge.


A method may comprise obtaining, during drilling operations within a wellbore, two-dimensional accelerometer data with an accelerometer on a rotating downhole tool, determining a radial offset of the accelerometer based on the two-dimensional accelerometer data, and determining a centripetal acceleration of the accelerometer based on the two-dimensional accelerometer data. A system may comprise one or more x-axis accelerometers disposed on a bottom hole assembly, one or more y-axis accelerometers disposed on the bottom hole assembly, an analog to digital converter, wherein the analog to digital converter converts an analog signal from the one or more x-axis accelerometers and the one or more y-axis accelerometers to a digital signal, and a computing subsystem.

In directional drilling, accelerometers and other sensors are often provided in a rotating downhole tool for use in estimation of wellbore directional parameters such as inclination, gravity tool-face, and azimuth. However, manufacturing, assembly, and temporal variations associated with accelerometers can cause undesirable estimation errors.
The description provided in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely because it is mentioned in or associated with the background section. The background section may include information that describes one or more aspects of the subject technology.
In one or more implementations, not all of the depicted components in each figure may be required, and one or more implementations may include additional components not shown in a figure. Variations in the arrangement and type of the components may be made without departing from the scope of the subject disclosure. Additional components, different components, or fewer components may be utilized within the scope of the subject disclosure.

Accelerometer systems and methods for rotating downhole tools


A semiconductor substrate comprises a semiconductor region of one conductivity type and a layer of another conductivity type with first, second and side surfaces. Over surfaces on the first surface side, the side surface side and an outer peripheral portion on the second surface side of the semiconductor region, the layer is formed. An electrode of the one conductivity type is located on the second surface adjacent to the layer. The semiconductor substrate includes a trench located between the outer periphery of the second surface and an end of the electrode with a spacing from the electrode and configured to isolate the layer along the outer periphery of the second surface. When viewed from the second surface side, a shortest distance between the end of the electrode and the trench is smaller than a shortest distance between a junction of the layer of the side surface side and the trench.

Recently, as energy issues and environmental issues are becoming increasingly serious, photovoltaic power generation with the use of solar cell elements that convert light energy directly into electrical energy is receiving attention.
Solar cell elements that are produced with semiconductor substrates such as a single-crystal silicon substrate and a poly-crystal silicon substrate are becoming mainstream. It is required to perform pn isolation for insulation between a p-type part and an n-type part in the solar cell element including a semiconductor substrate.
The methods using a laser are proposed as the method of performing pn isolation (see Patent Documents 1 to 4: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 05-75148 (1993), WO 2006/087786, U.S. Pat. No. 4,989,059 A, and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-198546).

Solar cell element and solar cell module


A RFID transponder includes a resonant circuit for providing a clock signal at a predetermined clock frequency, a self-calibration stage for calibrating the resonant circuit's current clock frequency towards the predetermined clock frequency. The self-calibration stage is adapted to compare a first clock frequency of the resonant circuit determined during an interrogation period, during which the resonant circuit is excited by an external RF signal, with a second clock frequency determined during a frequency maintenance period, during which the resonant circuit is excited internally through an oscillation maintenance circuit of the RFID transponder and to calibrate the resonant circuit towards the predetermined clock frequency based on the comparison result.

RFID transponders are used for all kinds of identification tasks. They can contain data which is written to or read out by read/write units (R/W-units) in a downlink or uplink data transmission, respectively. The antenna of a RFID transponder is typically built with an inductive loop. This inductor is coupled to a capacitor to form a resonant circuit. During downlink data transmission, the resonant circuit is excited by a radio frequency signal (e.g. 134 kHz). Being subject to the external RF excitation, the resonant circuit starts oscillating. In an uplink data transmission phase, the RFID must perform an oscillation with the resonant circuit, which is then received by the R/W unit. An important characteristic is the maximum reading distance over which data can be safely read. In order to reach large reading distances, the resonant circuit should oscillate exactly at a predetermined frequency. Therefore, resonant circuits of RFID transponders are calibrated in a final stage of the manufacturing line. They are typically based on integrated circuits. The resonant frequency is measured by an external test equipment and based on the test result some trimming capacitors are activated in an integrated circuit (IC) of the RFID transponder. Thereafter, further calibration of the RFID transponder can only be performed with external components. Actually, a second calibration step is practically never performed. The calibration procedure is an important economical aspect of the RFID transponder manufacturing process. It is therefore generally desirable to simplify the calibration process and thereby rendering calibration more flexible.


A tactical illuminator has a first switch for providing a lesser amount of visible light on an area of interest than a second switch. The first switch being in close proximity to the second switch to allow an operator to quickly and easily move his finger or thumb from the first switch to the second switch when a need for greater light is encountered. A tactical illuminator has a rotatable switch moveable from a first position that provides a lower level of light output to a second position that provides a greater level of light output. The operator actuating the switch by sliding his finger or thumb parallel to a longitudinal axis of a weapon barrel.

The need to be able to effectively see a target and aim a weapon in the direction of the target is well recognized. Tactical illuminators to facilitate illuminating a target and aiming a weapon, especially under low light conditions, are known. Tactical illuminators have an incandescent lamp or light emitting diode (LED) to provide general illumination of an area or person of interest. The output is typically a white light capable of projecting 40 to 150 lumens, although higher output lights are also known. The tactical illuminator may be attached to a weapon, for example a handgun, long gun, or shotgun, in a variety of different ways.
Known tactical illuminators have a "creep" light that allows a law enforcement officer to approach a hide out with enough light to navigate and a separate bright light for illuminating the area or person of interest.
The tactical illuminators typically have one or more switches to turn the light on or off. The switches have been located on the sides and ends of the devices. Some tactical illuminators combine one or more different type switches to accomplish the switching function.

Switch configuration for a tactical illuminator


Provided is a capacitive touch panel, including: a plurality of coordinate detection electrodes (XP1, XP2, YP2) for detecting X-Y position coordinates; a first substrate (1) including the plurality of coordinate detection electrodes; and a second substrate (6) disposed to be opposed to the first substrate, in which: one of the first substrate and the second substrate includes an elastic layer lower (5) in rigidity than the second substrate and a conductive layer (ZP) having conductivity; the elastic layer and the conductive layer are disposed between the plurality of coordinate detection electrodes and the second substrate; a space between the first substrate and the second substrate defined by a plurality of nonconductive spacers (4); and an antireflective layer is formed on at least one of an interface between the space and the first substrate and an interface between the space and the second substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a touch panel for inputting coordinates on a screen and a display device using the same. In particular, the present invention relates to a technology for enabling an input of a touch panel of capacitive coupling type using such an insulator as a resin pen.
2. Description of the Related Art
A display device including an input device (hereinafter, also referred to as "touch sensor" or "touch panel") having an on-screen input function of inputting information to a display screen by a touch operation (contact and press operation, hereinafter, simply referred to as "touch") with a user's finger or the like is used for mobile electronic devices such as a PDA and a mobile terminal, various home electric appliances, a stationary customer guiding terminal such as an automatic reception machine, and the like. As the input device using the touch, there are known resistance film type of detecting a change in resistance value of a touched portion, capacitive coupling type of detecting a change in capacitance thereof, optical sensor type of detecting a change in amount of light at the portion shielded by the touch, and the like.
The capacitive coupling type has the following advantages when compared with the resistance film type or the optical sensor type. For example, a transmittance of the resistance film type or the optical sensor type is as low as 80%. On the other hand, a transmittance of the capacitive coupling type is as high as about 90%, thereby preventing a reduction in displayed image quality. In the resistance film type, a touch position is detected by mechanical contact to the resistance film, thereby leading to possible deterioration or breakage (crack) of the resistance film. On the other hand, in the capacitive coupling type, there is no mechanical contact such as contact of a detection electrode with another electrode. Thus, the capacitive coupling type is advantageous in durability.
An exemplary capacitive coupling type touch panel is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,030,860. In the capacitive coupling type touch panel disclosed therein, a vertical detection electrode (X electrode) and a horizontal detection electrode (Y electrode) are arranged in vertical and horizontal two-dimensional matrix, and a capacitance of each electrode is detected by an input processing part. When a conductor such as a finger touches a surface of the touch panel, the capacitance of each electrode increases. Thus, the input processing part detects the increase to calculate input coordinates based on a signal of a capacitance change detected by each electrode. Even when the detection electrode is deteriorated to change its resistance value as physical characteristics, such an influence on capacitance detection is limited. Thus, there is only a little influence on input position detection accuracy of the touch panel. As a result, high input position detection accuracy may be realized.

Touch panel and display device using the same

Panasonic Liquid Crystal Display Co., Ltd.


A security device includes a stop member for a rotary drilling instrument used in particular in dental surgery. The stop member is capable of being positioned at a desired depth of drilling and of preventing the depth from being exceeded. The two elements drilling instrument and the stop member include coupling elements directly or indirectly linking them together and co-operating elements capable of transforming their movement, such that when the device is operating, the drilling instrument is retracted rearwards relative to the drilling direction and to the position of the stop member under the action of the elements when the front part of the stop member comes in contact with a neighboring surface. The co-operating elements preferably consist of a screw-nut system, the direction of the thread(s) of the system and the rotating direction of the drill being opposite. A device comprising a gauge containing a piston enables to pre-calibrate and store the desired drilling depth.

The invention relates to a safety device comprising a stop for a drilling instrument of use inter alia in dental surgery. The invention also relates to a device for precalibrating and storing the depth of drilling and directly related to an advantageous process of using the safety device.
One preferred application of these devices is to dental implantology.
As is known, during some operations, inter alia the treatment of root canals, some dental lesions, hard dental or maxillary tissue (e.g. when fitting a dental implant) the depth of penetration, drilling or boring by a specific instrument (endodontic instrument, dental bur or drill, implantology drill bit, etc) must be to a clearly defined depth determined by the practitioner as required by the patient.
The defined depth must be actually obtained but not exceeded. This condition is particularly important in dental implantology, where it is essential to ensure the long-term reliability of the infrastructure for inserting into the jawbone in order to hold a fixed dental prosthesis, but without any risk of injury to neighbouring structures.
For these reasons, manufacturers propose various devices for conforming to these constraints.
For example, in a very simple but very frequently-used device in dental implantology, the instrument has markings in the form of grooves, coloured or otherwise, at different distances P1, P2, . . . Pn on the active part, i.e. the cutting part of the drill bit, so that the drilling operation can be stopped at the right moment, when the practitioner sees that the previously-determined depth has been reached (visual marks, reference 14 in the accompanying FIG. 1).
In other more sophisticated devices (which will be briefly described hereinafter) the instruments are provided with stops, although it should be noted that not one of these prior-art devices is suitable for dental implantology nor intended for use in this special sector.
EP-0 515 274 describes an instrument (a helical drill bit) used in dental surgery and having a cutting part 7 formed with transverse grooves which can serve as an optical reference part indicating the depth of drilling. The practitioner can place a stop ring (8, 9) on the appropriate groove, i.e. the groove corresponding to the depth of the hole which he intends to make, so that he will be better able to check the depth of drilling by positioning the stop, which will thus remain fixed during the required operation.
The teaching in FR-2 613 212 is similar except that the non-operative part 1b has a number of peripheral transverse notches for positioning a clip constituting a fixed depth stop for determining and checking the length of that part of the instrument which is to penetrate into the tooth.
In a variant disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,526,542, the stop is screwed to the drill shank until locked against the rear surface of the cutting part, the screwthread or internal screwthread being oriented oppositely to the rotation of the drill, so that the stop serves as a lock-nut. When the stop comes in contact with a neighbouring surface it will tend to be locked more tightly on to the shoulder presented by the working part at the top. As we shall see hereinafter, this is contrary to the aim of the inventor of the present invention.
The International Application WO 98/03125 discloses a drill bit having a working part formed with calibrated recesses spaced apart (relative to the drill axis) by a millimeter in each case. An annular stop can be moved along the said working part and can be immobilised at each recess, when a pin disposed in the stop can engage in a recess under the action of a spring.
These devices can display the depth of drilling or boring intended by the practitioner, i.e. the stop on the instrument can be positioned in dependence on the said depth, and also serves as a safety element since the aim, once the instrument has been adjusted, is to ensure that the said depth is not exceeded during the operation.
All these known stop devices, however, have at least three kinds of disadvantages as regards the specialist in dental implantology who wishes to drill for the purpose of fitting implants. Firstly, insofar as a stop is simply fixed at a predetermined working position, the prior art devices to not always make optimum use of the depth of the site of operation, apart from the fact that the accuracy of depth display is unsatisfactory. Secondly, in cases where the working conditions are not optimum, these devices may produce an oval hole and thus endanger the primary stability of the implant, in which case a satisfactory result cannot be guaranteed, particularly as regards the stability of the implant (see hereinafter). Finally the prior art devices are uneconomic.
Although these three groups of disadvantages can easily be understood by examining the prior publications, it is worth explaining them further:
When the instrument, which by definition is subjected to pressure during operation, reaches the defined drilling depth, the stop may slip on meeting a surface inclined with respect to the axis of the instrument or an irregular surface, concave or convex at places (which is very frequently the case in implantology, where dental implants have to be fitted on to an apex of a bone crest only slightly larger in diameter than the implant). The probability of slipping is far from negligible, and is greater in cases where the bone for drilling is very spongy and loose or in the very frequent cases where the uppermost part of the apex of the bone crest (always on the same side as the tongue) is of hard cortical bone whereas the lower part (on the buccal side) is softer (only slightly corticalised). The result of such an eventuality will inevitably be a side slip, i.e. a lateral drift of the drill axis, and a consequently oval hole.
This serious disadvantage of the known devices is one reason for lack of primary stability of the implant.
Techniques and knowledge in implantology are in process of development. One development is towards use of non-traumatic techniques, when preparing holes in bones for receiving xe2x80x9cscrew implants in root formxe2x80x9d. Another development is towards adapting drilling techniques to the four bone densities (type D1 comparable to oak wood down to type D4, corresponding to expanded polystyrene) normally found in dental implantology. Consequently the dentist, or more precisely the implantologist, will need a very large number of preferably increasing drill diameters (usually from 1.5 to 5 mm). This is to prevent injury through heating of the dense bone by too rapid drilling of the hole. Another purpose is to adapt the preparatory work to the different diameters of the implants at present available. A final aim, in the case of spongy or loose bone, is to produce holes sufficiently tight for inserting an implant with good primary stability without risk of fracturing the bone trabiculation when inserting an implant, through insufficient drilling of the hole in the bone.
These situations are not taken into account by any of the known safety devices for limiting the depth of drilling.
Finally no citation discloses means for precalibrating the planned depth of drilling and storing the said depth.
The object of the invention is to reduce the said disadvantages and take account of the considerations stated.
The object is achieved by the device and method defined in the claims.
The claimed stop, in addition to being mobile, can be described as xe2x80x9cactivexe2x80x9d in contrast to the xe2x80x9cpassivexe2x80x9d character of the stops known in the prior art, in that the co-operation as described between the stop and the drilling tool or instrument inevitably and automatically results in withdrawal of the instrument from the hole just made by the practitioner, as soon as the desired depth is reached. The moving stop positioned according to the invention effectively prevents the preset drilling depth from being exceeded, together with any other risks such as ovalisation or lesions.
To sum up, as soon as the stop meets an obstacle and is thus prevented from rotating, the stop moves exclusively in the direction for shortening the length of the exposed working part of the instrument, thus avoiding any accident.
Likewise if, when the instrument is set in rotation, the inertia of the stop causes it to rotate on the co-operating means (the screw and nut system in one example) connecting these two elements (i.e. the stop and the instrument, more particularly a drill or drill bit), the resulting rotation communicated to the stop will involve axial displacement thereof in a direction such that the displacement will shorten the portion of the working part of the tool initially projecting from the stop. This is a safety factor, particularly in dental implantology.
The automatic withdrawal of the drill bit at the end of travel eliminates any risk of drift by the tool, i.e. any risk of ovalisation of the hole due to side-slipping of the stop. This feature, as we have seen, is of fundamental importance in dental implantology, particularly in the case of slightly corticalised bone.
Retraction of the drill bit also prevents any excess drilling during the preparation of a hole in very spongy bone (usually in the posterior part of the jaw bones, particularly the upper jawbone). It is essential to avoid any excessive drilling of the tender bone. The lack of accuracy resulting from excessive drilling will destroy the primary stability of the implant, such stability being essential for incorporation in the bone (i.e. the creation of a stable biological link between the bone and the implant so that it can bear loads efficiently and over a longer period without clinical symptoms. This is a fundamental principle and aim of modern implantology).
The adjustment of the depth of drilling by the prior-art stop devices, using bearings or notches, is rudimentary and insufficiently accurate. By contrast, in the device according to the invention, the stop is connected to the non-operative part (shank) of the instrument, preferably via a micro-screwthread, permitting easy, fine and accurate micrometric adjustment of the depth of drilling.
The advantage of micrometric adjustment, by precalibrating the depth of drilling, using an X-ray or tomographic film to scale 1:1, is that optimum use is made of the depth of bone available, without risk of injury to neighbouring structures. The chosen depth of drilling can be adjusted easily during the operation, by very accurate micrometric movement of the stop, leaving the drill in the bone hole under X-ray monitoring. In the case of digital radiography, the depth can be checked and corrected if required (i.e. the stop can be re-positioned) immediately, with the additional advantage of better use of time. Finally the micro-screwthread is a means of accurately correcting and compensating the error due to prestress of the edge of the stop by the nearest part of the bone surface (the position of a stop is pre-adjusted relative to the drill axisxe2x80x94an impossible operation in the case of a stop with bearings or notches).
This method also has an economic advantage, since the standard diameter of shanks (for different diameters of the working part) of drills used in implantology is always 2.2 millimeters, so that a standard stop can be used for a whole range of drills. In other applications where necessary, the standard stop can be supplemented by stops adapted to other shank diameters. In all cases, the device according to the invention enables the number of stops to be narrowly limited, perhaps to a single standard type covering practically all sizes of drill (a feature which makes these devices all the more advantageous in sectors such as implantology where wear is particularly important).

Security device comprising a stop member for drilling instrument used in particular in dental surgery and device pre-calibrating and storing drilling depth


In a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having a negative electrode containing Si as a negative electrode active material, a binder containing a non-crosslinked polyacrylic acid having a weight-average molecular weight of 300,000 to 3,000,000 is incorporated into a negative electrode molded article that constitutes the negative electrode, so as to prevent electrode decay resulting from expansion and contraction during charge/discharge, as well as to achieve high energy density and improved charge/discharge cycle characteristics.

As the negative electrode for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries, substances capable of absorbing and desorbing lithium ions such as a carbon material have conventionally been used, and lithium ion secondary batteries employing such substances are commercially available. As the binder, styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) are typically used. However, non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries having sufficient energy density and charge/discharge cycle characteristics have not been achieved yet.
Meanwhile, investigations have been done on the use of materials containing Si as a negative electrode active material that contributes to higher energy density and excellent charge/discharge cycle characteristics. For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. Hei 9-289022 proposes the use of SiO as a negative electrode active material and an acrylic acid polymer as a binder. Likewise, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2005-11802 proposes the use of an alloy containing Si as a negative electrode active material.
However, when the negative electrode of a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery contains an active material containing Si having high energy density, the use of conventionally used SBR or CMC cannot yield sufficient binding property, and therefore electrode decay resulting from expansion and contraction during charge/discharge cannot be prevented completely. Likewise, the use of polyacrylic acid having a low weight-average molecular weight cannot yield sufficient binding property, and electrode decay due to expansion and contraction during charge/discharge cannot be prevented completely.
The weight-average molecular weight of polyacrylic acid has a correlation with binding property or viscosity. If the weight-average molecular weight is low, the binding property will be low. If the weight-average molecular weight is high, the viscosity will be high. Accordingly the use of polyacrylic acid having a low weight-average molecular weight cannot yield sufficient binding property, failing to prevent the electrode decay resulting from expansion and contraction during charge/discharge. If the viscosity increases with a high weight-average molecular weight, it makes the dispersion of polyacrylic acid difficult, creating variations in battery characteristics.
When the electrode contains an active material containing Si, the active material reacts with a trace amount of water in the battery during charge/discharge, producing a gas. Because cross-linked polyacrylic acid, lithium salt of cross-linked polyacrylic acid, sodium salt of cross-linked polyacrylic acid and calcium salt of cross-linked polyacrylic acid, lithium salt of non-crosslinked polyacrylic acid, sodium salt of non-crosslinked polyacrylic acid and calcium salt of non-crosslinked polyacrylic acid are highly hygroscopic, they are not suitable for use as binders.
Furthermore, because polymethacrylic acid and polyacrylic ester are soluble in electrolytes, they dissolve in the presence of electrolytes, so that the electrode cannot retain its shape, leading to a significant decrease in charge/discharge cycle characteristics.
When the electrode contains an active material containing Si having high energy density, the electrode expands and contracts during charge/discharge. In the case of an electrode produced by applying, onto a current collector, a slurry (electrode material mixture) prepared by mixing an active material and a binder with a dispersing medium such as water or an organic solvent, a thin active material layer (material mixture layer) formed on the current collector is bonded to the current collector by the binder. Accordingly, even if the active material expands and contracts during charge/discharge, the conductivity is unlikely to decrease.
In the case of an electrode formed of a molded article in the form of a pellet having a certain thickness without a current collector, however, the strength of the molded article lowers due to expansion and contraction of the active material, leading to electrode decay. As a result, the conductivity decreases, and the charge/discharge characteristics decrease significantly.

Non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


An apparatus for controlling an automotive air-conditioner wherein an air distribution to left and right sides of a vehicle passenger compartment is achieved either in an automatic control mode or in a manual control mode which is selected by a judgement made based on the vehicle passenger compartment and the quantity of solar radiation. In case of the automatic control mode, the rate of change of the air distribution control is changed dependent upon the position set by an air-distribution setting unit relative to the direction of solar radiation so as to meet the occupant desire.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for controlling an air-conditioner of a motor vehicle of the type wherein proportions of air to be distributed to left and right portions of a vehicle passenger compartment are controlled automatically or manually. More particularly, the invention is directed to such a control apparatus capable of using an automatic control mode and a manual control mode dependent upon the quantity of solar radiation. The invention further concerns an automotive air-conditioning controller having a function to compensate the imbalance in. air distribution which could be caused dependent upon the direction of solar radiation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There have been proposed various methods of automatically changing proportions of air discharged from left and right air outlets dependent upon quantities of solar radiation measures at left and right portions of a vehicle passenger compartment. According to one known such proposal disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-open Publication No. 54-97947, the air-conditioning balance based on the control of the respective quantities of air discharged from the left and right air outlets is changed dependent upon the balance of the left and right solar radiation quantities for providing an improved air-conditioning feeling while a motor vehicle is cruising in the sunshine. Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-50884 discloses an automotive air-conditioner in which in addition to the foregoing automatic left and right air distribution control dependent upon the left and right solar radiation quantities, an air distribution setter is provided to manually distort the left and right air distribution control toward either side, thereby adjusting the automatic air-conditioning appropriately at the occupant's desire.
In the prior art arrangements, the automatic control of left and right air distribution is performed to vary the quantities of air at all times depending upon the quantity and direction of solar radiation irrespective of the occupant's feelings about the current air-conditioning state. For instance, it occurs likely that the quantity of air discharged toward the assistant driver's seat increases even in the absence of the assistant driver; the quantity of discharged air in a particular direction increases against the occupant's intent. The manual correction of the automatic air distribution control using the air distribution setter is not quite satisfactory in meeting the occupant desire.
Further more, when air distribution setter is set in a position to increase the air distribution quantity in one side, the automatic control of air distribution dependent upon the solar radiation quantities still has the same weight as such manual correction. Accordingly, if the opposite side is exposed to solar radiation due to the change of direction of the solar radiation, the discharged air quantity at the opposite side is increased under the force of the automatic control, while the quantity of air discharged toward the side selected by the air distribution setter decreases. A desired air distribution control is therefore difficult to obtain.

Apparatus for controlling an automotive air-conditioner


A semiconductor device structure and method to form the same. The semiconductor device structure includes a non-volatile charge trap memory device and a resistor or capacitor. A dielectric layer of a charge trap dielectric stack of the memory device is patterned to expose a portion of a first conductive layer peripheral to the memory device. A second conductive layer formed over the dielectric layer and on the exposed portion of the first conductive layer is patterned to form resistor or capacitor contacts and capacitor plates.

Non-volatile memory (NVM) generally utilizes a charge trap layer to store charge and provide non-volatility. NVM is typically fabricated on a substrate into arrays of memory cells, each cell including a charge trap memory device. Along with a memory array, high and low voltage logic devices, such as complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) transistors, as well as thin film resistors and metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitors may be fabricated in peripheral regions of the substrate to form an integrated circuit (IC) device.
Integration of the various active and passive devices in an IC device is increasingly challenging as the NVM and logic devices independently scale to smaller dimensions and higher densities. In addition to the greater expense associated with patterning a feature with smaller dimensions, scaling may also entail new materials, such as high-k materials (i.e., materials with a dielectric constant ∈ greater than that of silicon nitride) and metal gate layers, that may necessitate more complex process flows, multiplying the number of patterning (lithography and etch) operations to further increase costs. Methods of fabricating IC devices having a reduced number of patterning operations are therefore desirable.

Integration of resistors and capacitors in charge trap memory device fabrication


A circuit and method for protecting a transistor during operation transistor's BV.sub.CEO by limiting the reverse base current. The reverse base current is used to adjust the applied base-emitter voltage. Limiting the reverse base current keeps the collector and emitter currents within safe limits and thus extends the safe operating area of the transistor. The invention finds application as an overvoltage sensor and transistor protector circuit and is particularly applicable to implementation in an integrated circuit. The circuit may be combined with circuits for the protection of a transistor against excessive current and temperature in a high voltage linear regulator.

The present invention relates to a circuit and a method for detecting an overvoltage condition and for protecting a transistor in response thereto. Detection of the overvoltage condition may be integrated with protection for an overcurrent condition as well as excessive heat, and is accomplished by sensing a reverse base current. The safe operating area ("SOA") of the transistor may be extended in response to the detected condition by reducing the externally generated base-emitter current.
Transistor operation in a forward active state is usually limited to an SOA that is defined in the collector voltage/collector current plane, an example of which may be seen in FIG. 1. Operation outside the SOA can result in transistor failure from high temperatures caused by excessive power dissipation.
With reference to FIG. 1, the line A-B represents the upper limit of the transistor's current carrying capability and the line B-C illustrates the basic thermal limitation associated with the maximum allowable junction temperature, i.e., the first breakdown condition. The line C-D-E illustrates the limit imposed by the second breakdown discussed below, and the line E-F is the collector-emitter breakdown voltage BV.sub.CEO, i.e., the maximum voltage that can be applied from the collector to the emitter with the transistor's base open circuited (I.sub.B =0). The present invention is directed to extending the SOA limits defined by the line C-D-E-F as suggested by dashed line C-G-H in FIG. 1; that is, in the areas limited by second breakdown and the BV.sub.CEO.
The second breakdown limitation may be the result of several mechanisms. One mechanism is localized thermal run-away; that is, non-homogeneous current densities in the transistor that cause localized "hot spots". This mechanism can be controlled by keeping the current density uniform across the emitter. To this end, the transistor can be modified to include multiple emitters with small ballasting resistors.
The second mechanism, the one to which the present invention is addressed, is related to a phenomena known as avalanche multiplication that may be more clearly understood with reference to FIG. 2. With reference to FIG. 2, assume transistor Q1 is operating with a collector current I.sub.c that is much greater than an externally supplied base (biasing) current I.sub.B and that the collector to base voltage V.sub.CB is increasing. As the collector electrons pass through the collector-base depletion region, they gain energy from the electric field (VCB). At some voltage, a few of the collector electrons have enough energy to generate electron-hole pairs when they collide with a lattice atom. The number of collector electrons that generate electron-hole pairs increases exponentially with the electric field as is shown in Equation (1) below. EQU M.apprxeq.exp ((V.sub.CB -K.sub.1)/K.sub.2) (1)
where K.sub.1 and K.sub.2 are constants dependent on the construction of the transistor, and PA1 where M.ltoreq.1.
The generation of the electron-hole pairs causes the collector current to increase beyond that associated with the base current to the point of transistor failure.
Avalanche multiplication increases collector current in two ways, i.e., directly due to the new electrons, and indirectly due to the increase in base current from the new holes, assuming a constant external base current. In other words, the new electrons are added to the collector current I.sub.c while the new holes go to the base and are added to the externally base current I.sub.B. At BV.sub.CEO, the component of base current generated by the new holes is sufficient to keep the transistor on without any base current from an external source. Above BV.sub.CEO, the base current I.sub.B actually reverses direction from that shown in FIG. 2. As may be seen in FIG. 1, the situation where voltage is increasing and current is increasing (due to avalanche multiplication) will quickly drive transistor operation out of the SOA.
Nevertheless, situations exist where it is desirable to have a transistor that is able to operate outside of its traditional SOA to its BV.sub.CES (or BV.sub.CBO). For example, there are applications where a transistor is normally operating at voltages only slightly below its BV.sub.CEO and there may be disturbances on the high voltage supply which would take the collector-emitter voltage of the transistor above BV.sub.CEO. The transistor may not have to supply full load current during such a disturbance, but it is desirable that the transistor survive. A transistor with this ability may be useful, for example, in a prior art high voltage linear voltage regulator such as illustrated in FIG. 2.
A transistor can be operated at voltages above BV.sub.CEO if its collector current is sensed and controlled. This may be accomplished by using a high voltage, voltage sensing element. However, unless the collector current is limited to a small value, the need to dissipate power from such an element will present space and/or heat problems. For example, a high voltage resistor divider network (or a combination of a resistor network and a Zener diode) could be used, but the area of the resistor would be quite large and would not likely find application in most integrated circuits where space is typically a major concern.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel overvoltage detection circuit and method.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an novel circuit and method for extending the SOA of a transistor so that the transistor can safely operate with voltages above its BV.sub.CEO.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel circuit and method for controlling the collector current in a transistor so that its SOA is extended.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a novel integrated circuit for detecting the magnitude and direction of a transistor's base current.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel circuit and method for extending a transistor's SOA by reducing externally supplied base current responsive to detection of reverse base current above a predetermined threshold.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a novel circuit and method for detecting excessive voltage, current and heat in an integrated circuit transistor.
Yet a further object of the present invention to provide a novel circuit and method for protecting an integrated circuit transistor against excessive voltage, current and heat.
Yet still a further object of the present invention to provide a novel high voltage linear regulator and method.
These and many other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains from a perusal of the claims, the appended drawings, and the following detailed description of preferred embodiments.

Circuit and method for extending the safe operating area of a BJT


A sputtering apparatus includes a susceptor for receiving a substrate, and a first target device disposed to be opposite to a center region of a substrate and at least second and third target devices disposed to be opposite to peripheral regions of the substrate, wherein the second and third target devices are rotatable.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a processing apparatus, and more particularly, to a sputtering apparatus for processing a large-scale substrate, a method of operating the sputtering apparatus, and a method of manufacturing a substrate using the sputtering apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
A display panel, such as a liquid crystal display device (LCD) or a plasma display panel (PDP) is built upon a substrate through a plurality of processes, such as a deposition process and an etching process. Each of the processes is performed using a separate processing apparatus. Among the apparatuses, a sputtering apparatus for forming a thin film is essential for manufacturing the display panel.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a sputtering apparatus according to the related art. Referring to FIG. 1, the sputtering apparatus includes a susceptor 2 and a plurality of target devices 4 that are disposed to face the susceptor 2. A substrate 1 to be processed is securely seated on the susceptor 2, and a predetermined positive voltage is supplied to the susceptor 2.
As shown in FIG. 1, the target devices 4 are arranged along a line in such a way that they face the susceptor 2 or the substrate 1 on the susceptor 2. The width "w2" of a gap between adjacent target devices 4 is very small so that target particles are uniformly deposited on the substrate 1. For example, the width "w2" of a gap between adjacent target devices 4 is much smaller than the width "w1" of each of the target devices 4.
Each target device 4 includes a target 5, a baking plate 6, and a magnet 7. Thus, the sputtering apparatus including a plurality of target. devices 4 has a plurality of targets 5, a plurality of baking plates 6, and a plurality of magnets 7. A predetermined negative voltage is applied to each target 5, and target particles are emitted from each target 5 because of collisions between each target 5 and ions.
The target 5 is fixed on the front surface of the baking plate 6 that faces the susceptor 2. Each baking plate 6 supports the target 5 and dissipates heat from the target 5. The magnet 7 is disposed on the rear surface of the baking plate 6 such that the magnet 7 induces electrons to be collected to facilitate a plasma discharge in an internal space 8 between the target 5 and the susceptor 2. The space 8 between the target 5 and the susceptor 2 is filled with inert gas, such as Ar gas, for plasma discharge.
When a predetermined high voltage is applied between the susceptor 2 and the target 5 as a result of the predetermined negative voltage applied to each target 5 and the predetermined positive voltage supplied to the susceptor 2, the Ar gas in the space 8 between the target 5 and the susceptor 2 is ionized into Ar+ ions that form a plasma. Because more electrons are collected by the magnetic field of the magnet 7, the generated plasma can become high-density plasma. A region of the high-density plasma contains Ar+ ions. A predetermined potential difference occurs between the high-density plasma region and the target 5 supplied with the predetermined negative voltage. The Ar+ ions contained in the high-density plasma region are accelerated by the energy of the predetermined potential difference so as to collide against the target 5. These collisions cause the target 5 to emit target particles, and the emitted target particles are deposited on the substrate 1.
As the size of a substrate to be processed increases, the size of the sputtering apparatus for processing a substrate must also increase. In particular, the number of the target devices 4 increases as the size of the substrate 1 increases, thereby increasing costs of the sputtering apparatus. To uniformly deposit target particles out to an edge region of the substrate 1, the target devices 4 are provided such that the total distribution width d2 of the target devices 4 is greater than the width "d1" of the substrate 1. Thus, the size of the sputtering apparatus is actually greater than the size of the substrate 1.
The target devices 4 are affixed to an external wall or a support such that the target devices 4 do not move or rotate in any direction. Target particles emitted from each of the targets 5 are deposited on portions of the facing substrate 1 respectively facing each of the targets. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the propagation directions of target particles that are emitted from targets of the related art sputtering apparatus. As shown in FIG. 2, the target 5 is impacted by Ar+ ions located at the front of the target 5 such that target particles are emitted from the target 5 in a slightly spread distribution pattern and deposit on the facing substrate 1. Because of the slightly spread distribution pattern, target particles from adjacent targets 5 adjacent to each other can be deposited on the same portion of the substrate 1. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 3, more target particles are deposited on first portions p1 of the substrate 1 which are directly opposite to boundary regions between adjacent targets 5, than on second regions p2 of the substrate 1, which are directly opposite to the targets 5. Consequently, a layer 9 formed on the substrate 1 from the target particles has an uneven surface. Such an uneven layer 9 has poor performance in terms of operational characteristics and image-quality characteristics.

Sputtering apparatus, method of operating the same, and method of manufacturing substrate using the same


A cooling device for cooling a catheter, the cooling device comprising a main cooling unit adapted for supplying the catheter with a main cooling medium and a precooling unit adapted for precooling the main cooling medium before supply of the main cooling medium to the catheter, wherein the main cooling unit comprises a cooling pathway through which a fluid is guidable as the main cooling medium, and comprising a control unit adapted for automatically controlling the main cooling unit and the precooling unit to perform a predetermined cooling procedure, wherein the control unit is adapted for activating the precooling unit before activating a supply of the main cooling medium by the main cooling unit to the catheter.

The invention relates to a cooling device for cooling a catheter.
The invention further relates to a cryosurgery system.
Moreover, the invention further relates to a method of cooling a catheter.
Cryosurgery is the application of extreme cold to destroy abnormal or diseased tissue. Cryosurgery works by taking advantage of the destructive force of freezing temperatures on cells. At low temperatures, ice crystals may form inside the cells, which can tear them apart. More damage may occur when blood vessels supplying the tissue freeze.
In cryosurgery and cyroablation, precooling a refrigerant may enable a more efficient use of a refrigerant. Less refrigerant may be needed, and smaller dimensions are possible. More freezing cycles can be obtained from a given amount of refrigerant. Less-boiling may be achieved in a supply line of the refrigerant.
The pressure of the primary refrigerant may vary with the ambient temperature. Thus, often a pressure reduction is carried out for operating the catheter at a defined pressure. In US 2003/0149428A1 a method is described for simultaneous precooling of the primary refrigerant below its boiling temperature at the selected pressure. Simultaneous control of pressure and temperature is termed conditioning.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,471,694 discloses an apparatus for automatic operation of a refrigeration system to provide refrigeration power to a catheter for tissue ablation or mapping. The primary refrigeration system can be open loop or closed loop, and a precool loop is a closed loop. Equipment and procedures are disclosed for bringing the system to the desired operational state, for controlling the operation by controlling refrigerant flow rate, for performing safety checks, and for achieving safe shutdown.
Other methods of precooling a primary refrigerant in cryosurgery by the use of a secondary refrigerant are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,758,505, U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,355, U.S. Pat. No. 6,530,234, U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,936, WO 02/069820 A2 and GB 2,360,573 A.
Furthermore, alternatively to a secondary refrigerant, a Stirling engine or a Peltier element may be used for precooling as described in US 2003/0149428A1 and WO 02/13710 A1.


Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a convertible children's high chair. According to various embodiments, the convertible high chair generally comprises a first child seat supported above a floor by a high chair frame, and a second child seat configured for being removably coupled to first child seat. The second child seat is configured such that, when detached from the high chair's first child seat, it can be used apart from the high chair as a booster seat (e.g., secured to the seating surface of a standard chair or another support surface). In certain embodiments, the second child seat includes a base surface configured to stably support the second child seat on a separate support surface (e.g., without the need to be attached to or mounted on a separate base or support member).

1. Field of the Invention
Various embodiments of the present invention described herein generally relate to children's high chairs.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventional children's high chairs typically include a child seat elevated above a floor by a frame. Certain high chairs, however, are provided with an additional seat that can be removably secured to the high chair's child seat in order to convert the high chair for use by children of different ages. As an example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,673,934 to Bearup et al describes a high chair having a seat member and a separate infant booster seat that can be removably secured to the high chair's seat member. As such, the high chair is convertible into multiple configurations: the high chair and seat member alone, the high chair with the booster seat secured to the seat member, and the booster seat alone. When the booster seat is detached from the high chair, it must be coupled to a separate base member and can then be secured to a standard chair for use as a booster.
However, there remains a need in the art for an improved convertible high chair that is easier and more convenient for users to convert and that includes a removable booster seat capable of stably supporting itself on a support surface (e.g., a standard chair) without the need to be secured to a separate component (e.g., a separate base member).


A horn radiator assembly includes two horn radiators each of which is formed as a conical horn and a waveguide of constant cross section connected to the small end of the horn as a feed and providing a signal port. The first of the horn radiators is of relatively large cross section and serves to radiate electromagnetic waves at a relatively low frequency. The second of the horn radiators is of relatively small cross section and serves to radiate electromagnetic waves at a relatively high frequency. The second radiator is nested within the first radiator, and is positioned with its radiating aperture coplanar with the radiating aperture of the first radiator. In the second radiator, the waveguide feed is provided with a bend allowing the waveguide feed to pass through a wall of the first radiator. A strut may be affixed to the bend to provide a symmetrical transverse support within the first radiator for the second radiator. A doubly-tapered electrically conductive sheet extends from an apex within the throat of the first radiator horn to the transverse support, and from there tapers back to contact the horn of the second radiator. The tapered sheet guides low-frequency radiation past the strut and the bend to minimize standing wave ratio.

This invention relates to the radiation of electromagnetic power from an assembly of horn radiators operating at different frequency bands and, more particularly, to an assembly of horn radiators wherein a radiator operating at a higher frequency operation is nested within a radiator operating at a lower frequency of radiation.
In communication systems, such as in systems employing a satellite for the communication of signals to various parts of the earth, it is common practice to employ an antenna system comprising a reflector and an array of radiators positioned for illuminating the reflector. Such an antenna system is well suited for the generation of a fan beam which can be directed to a geographical section of the earth. As an example of the construction of such an antenna system, it is common practice to construct the radiators in the form of horn radiators. Signals transmitted by the antenna system may be in one frequency band, while signals received by the antenna system may be in a different frequency band.
A situation of particular interest involves the generation of a spot beam in a high frequency band concurrently with the generation of a broad beam at a low frequency band. While it has been the practice, in many situations, to use a separate set of radiators and separate reflectors for generation of beams at high and at low frequency bands, in the present situation of interest, it is desired to locate the radiator of the spot beam concentric with a radiator of the low frequency band, and to use the same reflector for both the beams of the high and the low frequency radiations.
A problem arises in the colocating of a high frequency horn radiator with a low frequency horn radiator in that one of the horns may provide blockage of the other horn, or may otherwise interfere with the radiation characteristics of the other horn. Thus, in the foregoing situation of interest, there is a requirement to illuminate a single reflector with radiations at two different frequency bands from two radiators which are colocated. However, heretofore, no satisfactory antenna system for horn radiators has been available.