A method for making a current-perpendicular-to the-plane giant magnetoresistance (CPP-GMR) sensor with a Heusler alloy pinned layer on the sensor's Mn-containing antiferromagnetic pinning layer uses two annealing steps. A layer of a crystalline non-Heusler alloy ferromagnetic material, like Co or CoFe, is deposited on the antiferromagnetic pinning layer and a layer of an amorphous X-containing ferromagnetic alloy, like a CoFeBTa layer, is deposited on the Co or CoFe crystalline layer. After a first in-situ annealing of the amorphous X-containing ferromagnetic alloy, the Heusler alloy pinned layer is deposited on the amorphous X-containing ferromagnetic layer and a second high-temperature annealing step is performed to improve the microstructure of the Heusler alloy pinned layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to a current-perpendicular-to-the-plane (CPP) magnetoresistive sensor that operates with the sense current directed perpendicularly to the planes of the layers making up the sensor stack, and more particularly to an improved method for making a CPP sensor that contains a ferromagnetic alloy, like a Heusler alloy, that requires high-temperature post-deposition annealing.
2. Background of the Invention
One type of conventional magnetoresistive (MR) sensor used as the read head in magnetic recording disk drives is a "spin-valve" sensor based on the giant magnetoresistance (GMR) effect. A GMR spin-valve sensor has a stack of layers that includes two ferromagnetic layers separated by a nonmagnetic electrically conductive spacer layer, which is typically formed of Cu or Ag. One ferromagnetic layer, typically called the "reference" layer, has its magnetization direction fixed, such as by being pinned by exchange coupling with an adjacent antiferromagnetic "pinning" layer, and the other ferromagnetic layer, typically called the "free" layer, has its magnetization direction free to rotate in the presence of an external magnetic field. With a sense current applied to the sensor, the rotation of the free-layer magnetization relative to the fixed-layer magnetization is detectable as a change in electrical resistance. If the sense current is directed perpendicularly through the planes of the layers in the sensor stack, the sensor is referred to as current-perpendicular-to-the-plane (CPP) sensor.
In a magnetic recording disk drive CPP-GMR read sensor or head, the magnetization of the fixed or pinned layer is generally perpendicular to the plane of the disk, and the magnetization of the free layer is generally parallel to the plane of the disk in the absence of an external magnetic field. When exposed to an external magnetic field from the recorded data on the disk, the free-layer magnetization will rotate, causing a change in electrical resistance.
The fixed or pinned ferromagnetic layer in a CPP-GMR sensor used in read heads may be a single pinned layer (sometimes called a "simple" pinned layer) or part of an antiparallel (AP) pinned structure. In a simple pinned structure the pinned layer has its magnetization pinned by being exchange-coupled to an antiferromagnetic pinning layer, which is typically a Mn alloy like IrMn. In an AP-pinned structure first (AP1) and second (AP2) ferromagnetic layers are separated by a nonmagnetic antiparallel coupling (APC) layer with the magnetization directions of the two AP-pinned ferromagnetic layers oriented substantially antiparallel. The AP1 layer, which is in contact with the antiferromagnetic layer on one side and the nonmagnetic APC layer on the other side, is the pinned layer. The AP2 layer, which is in contact with the nonmagnetic APC layer on one side and the sensor's electrically conductive spacer layer on the other side, is the reference layer. The AP-pinned structure minimizes magnetostatic coupling between the reference layer and the CPP-SV free ferromagnetic layer.
The materials making up the ferromagnetic layers are typically crystalline alloys of CoFe or NiFe. However, Heusler alloys, which are chemically ordered alloys like Co2MnX (where X is one or more of Ge, Si, Sn, Ga or Al) and Co2FeZ (where Z is one or more of Ge, Si, Al, Sn or Ga), are known to have high spin-polarization and result in an enhanced magnetoresistance and are thus desirable ferromagnetic materials to use in one or both of the reference layer and free layer. Heusler alloys are usually deposited directly on a layer of a crystalline ferromagnetic material such as Co or CoFe. Other materials with high spin-polarization are non-Heusler alloys of the form CoFeX (where Xis one or more of Ge, Al, Si or Ga).
Heusler alloys and non-Heusler alloys of the form CoFeX (where X is one or more of Ge, Al, Si or Ga) require significant high-temperature post-deposition annealing to achieve chemical ordering and high spin-polarization. However, at high annealing temperatures the Mn in the antiferromagnetic pinning layer diffuses into other layers in the sensor stack, which reduces the pinning strength and alters the desired composition of the Heusler alloy. This results in degraded sensor performance. The insertion of an amorphous CoFeB ferromagnetic layer at the interface between the antiferromagnetic pinning layer and the ferromagnetic pinned layer has been suggested to block the diffusion of Mn. However, after post-deposition annealing the sensor with the CoFeB interface layer exhibits only marginal improvement in magnetoresistance.
What is needed is an improved method for making a CPP-GMR sensor that has one or more ferromagnetic layers formed of a material, like a Heusler alloy, that requires high-temperature post-deposition annealing.

Method for making a current-perpendicular-to-the-plane (CPP) magnetoresistive sensor containing a ferromagnetic alloy requiring post-deposition annealing


A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate in which a SiGe layer having a first width in a channel direction is embedded in a channel forming region; gate insulating film formed on the channel forming region; a gate electrode formed on the gate insulating film and having a region protruding from a forming region of the SiGe layer with a second width wider than the first width; and source/drain regions having extension regions formed on the semiconductor substrate which sandwiches the channel forming region, thereby forming a field effect transistor, wherein the extension region is apart from the SiGe layer so that a depletion layer extending from a junction surface between the extension region and the semiconductor substrate does not reach the SiGe layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof, and particularly relates to a semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof including a field effect transistor.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, technical barriers to reduce a gate length of the field effect transistor are increasing. In order to alleviate the situation, attention is focused on high mobility channel materials, for example, strained Si, SiGe, Ge and the like. Additionally, it is known that, when the gate length is reduced, speed of carrier injection at a source end is more important rather than carrier mobility in operation speed of the transistor.
In a transistor disclosed in JP-A-2004-39762 (Patent Document 1), with regard to the source end, when carriers are moved from a Si-layer region to a Si1-xGex (x=0 to 1) layer region, a band gap between a conductor and a valence band is narrowed and thereby speed of carrier injection is increased. Patent Document 1 discloses that operation speed of the transistor can be improved as a result of the increase of carrier injection speed even when the gate length is short.
The transistor having the same structure is disclosed also in JP-A-2005-209980 (Patent Document 2). In Patent Document 2, extensions and deep source/drain regions are made of the Si layer because it is difficult to control impurity diffusion when the channel and the source/drain regions are all made of SiGe. Patent Document 2 discloses that channel mobility can be improved while maintaining controllability of impurity diffusion in the source/drain regions according to the structure.
In a transistor disclosed in JP-A-3-280437 (Patent Document 3), a SiGe layer is formed in the Si layer by Ge ion implantation, and the channel region has a structure in which a gate oxide film, the Si layer and the SiGe layer are stacked. According to the structure, carriers are moved in the SiGe layer having the narrow band gap and high mobility while forming the uniform gate oxide film, thereby improving transistor characteristics. This is a so-called SiGe channel transistor.
In JP-A-5-112491 (Patent Document 4), a double-gate transistor is disclosed, in which carrier are moved in SiGe. This is also the SiGe channel transistor similar to the Patent Document 3.
A transistor disclosed in Jp-A-2001-291864 (Patent Document 5) improves CMOS characteristics by forming tensile strained SiGe in the channel region and improving drive current of an NMOS and a PMOS in a balanced manner. The transistor disclosed in Patent Document 5 is also the SiGe channel transistor.
In the case of tensile Si, drive current is improved 1.7 times in the NMOS and 1.4 times in the PMOS as much as the drive current in the MOSFET made of Si. As a result, unbalance between the NMOS and the PMOS further increases. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the rate of improvement in drive current of the PMOS. The rate of improvement in mobility is higher than the tensile Si in a region having higher Ge concentration when using the tensile SiGe, therefore, the CMOS characteristics can be improved.
However, the transistor disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a structure in which the SiGe region is extended to ends of the gate. Normally, an extension impurity is designed so as to enter the inside of the gate to form overlap regions. That is, in the transistor structure of Patent Document 1, junctions of the source/drain are formed in the SiGe region, therefore, it is difficult to suppress junction leakage due to the narrower band gap as compared with Si. As a result, the junction leakage leads to increase of off-leakage current and characteristics as an LSI will deteriorate.
The transistor of Patent Document 2 has a structure in which the gate is arranged to the outside of the SiGe region formed in advance so that impurities do not enter the SiGe region in the light of controllability of impurity profiles. In Patent Document 2, a depletion layer of the extension may enter the SiGe region. In this regard, the junction leakage similar to Patent Document 1 may occur. Additionally, the gate is formed after the SiGe region is formed in the process, therefore, the process is not self aligned. As a result, the source/drain junctions are not always formed outside the SiGe region and the junction leakage may occur in the same manner as Patent Document 1.
In the cases of Patent Documents 3 to 5, as whole the source/drain regions are SiGe regions, the transistor has a structure in which the junction leakage is more likely to occur than Patent Document 1, which may leads to increase of off-leakage current.

Semiconductor device with field effect transistor and manufacturing method thereof


A method and an electronic device for providing a video call analysis service are provided. The method includes receiving video call data, detecting an emotional change of a call party using the received video call data, and, when the emotional change is detected, storing the video call data at a time point at which the emotional change is detected.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and a device for providing a video call analysis service.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electronic devices have evolved into multimedia electronic devices by providing a data transmission service and various supplementary services as well as a voice call service. Furthermore, electronic devices have become a necessity due to their portability and various services.
Such electronic devices have been developed to additionally provide various functions, such as a data communication service, as well as a voice communication service due to the development of data transmission technologies. For example, the electronic devices can provide a video call service using the data communication service. In this case, the video call service represents a service for allowing users to communicate with each other while looking at moving video images of each other during the call.
As described above, with the development of video based communication service technologies as well as voice based communication services, the user of the electronic device requires various user interfaces for utilization of video call services.
Therefore, a need exists for a device and a method for providing a video call analysis service in an electronic device.
The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the present invention.

Method for providing video call analysis service and an electronic device thereof


An apparatus and method for protecting radio frequency identification (RFID) data in a communication between a RFID tag and a RFID reader are provided. In the apparatus and method for protecting RFID data, message header information transmitted while communicating the RFID tag and the RFID reader is used to perform an encryption operation for important data, thereby protecting the important data included in the RFID tag. In the present invention, information of the RFID tag can be protected from an illegitimate eavesdropper and an ill-intentioned and unusual message can be detected, thereby ensuring the security of a RFID system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for protecting radio frequency identification (RFID) data, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for protecting RFID data in which a RFID reader encrypts a request message so as to transmit the encrypted message to a RFID tag and the RFID tag encrypts a response message so as to reply to the RFID reader so that information of the RFID tag can be protected from an illegitimate eavesdropper and an ill-intentioned and unusual message can be detected.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional radio frequency identification (RFID) system includes a RFID tag, a RFID reader, and a RFID application server.
The RFID tag and the RFID reader are wireless communication devices and the international standard for a wireless access of the RFID tag and the RFID reader is defined in ISO/IEC 18000. The international standards of the conventional RFID wireless access define parameters of physical layers based on frequency characteristics and a command-response structure communicated between the RFID tag and the RFID reader.
Thus, the RFID reader must conform to a message form defined by the international standard ISO/IEC 18000 in order to read or write an identifier or information stored in the RFID tag.
However, the conventional international standard ISO/IEC 18000 does not define an authentication and a data protection for the RFID tag and the RFID reader. Accordingly, if an ill-intentioned attacker only conforms to the parameters of the physical layers and the command-response structure defined in the international standard ISO/IEC 18000, RFID tag information can be revealed through an illegal eavesdropping or the RFID system can be paralyzed due to an excessive command. Thus, security problems may occur.
An illegal eavesdropping or system rejection due to an excessive command message can be prevented by using a conventional symmetric key encryption/decryption and or a conventional public key encryption/decryption.
However, since the RFID tag has low operation ability, small memory capacity, and low data transmission capability, the conventional network security technology is rarely applied.
Therefore, security protocol which can conform to the RFID international standard and can be applied to the RFID tag and the RFID reader is required.

Apparatus and method for protecting RFID data

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


The invention relates to error control for point-to-multipoint (PTM) transmissions of content data over a radio interface. A method embodiment for controlling a PTM transmission in a PTM-enabled network comprises the steps of receiving and storing redundancy data at a dedicated redundancy data storage in a radio access network, wherein the redundancy data are provided for a correction of transmission errors in the content data resulting from the transmission of the content data without the redundancy data over one or more radio interfaces; receiving a request for redundancy data from a redundancy data control node; and responding to the redundancy data request by providing at least a portion of the redundancy data.

PTM transmissions such as multicast or broadcast transmissions are used for distributing data from typically a single source to a plurality of receivers. In a typical scenario, some content in the form of multimedia data is distributed to an audience within the framework of a (mobile) TV service, Newsfeed, Podcast service, etc. The users may or may not have to register for the service. The content data may be provided in the form of one or more media files representing audio data, video data, image data, but may also contain other data such as any type of binary data such as compressed data files, software files including some piece of software for execution on a processing host, etc. On the other hand, also a simple text file which is distributed by, e.g., a Newsfeed service adapted to bandwidth-limited conditions in a mobile network may be regarded as content.
The content data distributed via a PTM transmission needs to be free from transmission errors to a very high degree. For example, in resource-limited transmission environments such as mobile networks large content files such as image or video files are compressed before transmission using a suitable compression algorithm, e.g. MPEG-2, MPEG-4, MP3, GZIP, etc. The corresponding decompression in the receiving device will in general not be able to handle with transmission errors due to the complex interrelations of multiple data sets (e.g., neighbouring frames in a video) induced by the compression algorithm. Even a single 1-bit error may result in the situation that the received file cannot be opened for presentation to the user. Un-compressed files are also vulnerable to transmission errors; consider for example a multimedia file whose header information is corrupted: Also this file will most probably not open.
In order to reduce transmission errors in data transmission environments, some form of error control is required. Error control enables a data receiver to perform error detection and possibly also error correction in case of transmission errors. Techniques for error control are of general importance in many data transmission environment. Some environments are more prone to errors than others; for example a wireline transmission will generally produce less errors per given amount of data than a wireless transmission. Error control schemes are available which have proven particularly useful in the one or the other environment in order to achieve the desired degree of error-free transmission.
As an example for mobile network environments, the UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service) MBMS (Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service) in 3GPP Release 6 requires that a conforming mobile network implements two mechanisms for increasing the transmission reliability: the first mechanism comprises to add FEC (Forward Error Control) data to the transmitted MBMS content data; the second mechanism is a post-delivery file repair procedure.
Regarding the first mechanism, the FEC data represent redundant information which is provided together with the content data in order to enable the receiver to reconstruct the content data in case of an transmission error. For example, 5 content data bits may be transmitted together with 3 redundancy bits, wherein the redundancy bits (the redundancy data) has been calculated from the 5 content data bits according to a predetermined FEC algorithm. The receiver applies a corresponding algorithm to detect errors in the 5 data bits and to possibly correct the error or request re-transmission, depending on the specific procedure.
Within the framework of the MBMS file repair procedure, a receiving device detects a transmission error, for example because a received filed cannot be decompressed or the header of the file appears to be corrupted (or some bit errors are detected because the content data comprises some redundancy data for detection, but not correction, of transmission errors). The receiving device may then request a re-transmission of the corresponding file. This includes that the device sends a file repair request to the originator of the content data controlling the PTM content transmission in the network. This entity is called BM-SC (Broadcast/Multicast Service Centre) in the MBMS field. The BM-SC may use a PTP (point-to-point) connection for re-transmission of the requested file to the receiving device. In case too many receiving devices request a re-transmission of the file, the BM-SC may also decide to use an MBMS bearer for re-transmission, i.e. performs another broadcast or multicast content data transmission.
Adding redundancy data (FEC data) to the content data is problematic, as it increases the transmission resources required over the radio interface to a considerable degree. Still then, the amount of redundancy provided may be insufficient for successful error correction in case a receiver is in a location with difficult transmission conditions. On the other hand, the added redundancy data may be superfluous for receiving devices in more favourable transmission conditions, in which case the added redundancy data wastes transmission resources.
Requesting a re-transmission of data blocks or even entire files of content data requires the setup of typically many extra PTP connections or even another PTM transmission. This leads to a considerable amount of signaling in the network, usage of processing resource in the control node of the content data transmission (e.g., BM-SC) and further involved nodes in the network. Further, a re-transmission poses a considerable delay in error recovery, which is made worse in case of the MBMS file repair procedure by a mandatory back-off time after the end of the PTM content data transmission in order to avoid network congestion from an implosion of too many parallel file repair requests.

Controlling point-to-multipoint transmissions of content data over a radio interface


A turbine shaft used for a turbocharger including a turbine and a compressor includes a turbine impeller, and a rotor shaft joined on one end side to the turbine impeller. The rotor shaft includes a fitting region configured to fit with a compressor impeller of the compressor by inserting the other end side of the rotor shaft into a through hole formed in the compressor impeller, a fastening region formed between the fitting region and the other end side of the rotor shaft, and configured to allow fastening by a fastening part, and a tapered part having a maximum outer diameter at a position closest to the turbine impeller in the fitting region and formed such that an outer diameter of the rotor shaft decreases from the position closest to the turbine impeller toward a tip side of the compressor impeller.

Conventionally, in a typical turbocharger, a turbine impeller is joined to one end side of a rotor shaft, and a compressor impeller is mounted on the other end side of the rotor shaft. A part obtained by integrating the rotor shaft and the turbine impeller is referred to as a turbine shaft. On the other end side of the rotor shaft, a male screw is cut at a tip part. The make screw is inserted into a through hole formed in the compressor impeller from a back surface side of the compressor impeller. At this time, an end surface on the back surface side of the compressor impeller is made abut on a sleeve attached to the rotor shaft of the turbine shaft or a flange part formed in the rotor shaft. Furthermore, a nut is attached to the male screw, which is cut on the other end side of the rotor shaft protruding from the tip side of the compressor impeller (the opposite side to the back surface of the compressor impeller), to fasten. Thus, pressed against the sleeve or the flange part, the compressor impeller is mounted on the turbine shaft and is fixed so as not to slip out. In the present specification, a part, such as the sleeve or the flange part that receives an axial force generated by fastening the nut may be referred to as an "axial force receiving part".
In such a typical turbocharger, rotating the rotor shaft and the compressor impeller at a high speed, the compressor impeller slightly extends with elastic deformation in the radial direction and slightly contracts in the axial direction of the rotor shaft, by a centrifugal force. If the compressor impeller contracts in the axial direction, a holding force by the nut is weakened. As a result, the compressor impeller may be shifted relative to the rotor shaft in the rotational direction.
In order to cope with such a problem, in the invention described in Patent Document 1, the outer diameter of a region fitting with a back surface side of a compressor impeller in a rotor shaft is slightly larger than the outer diameter of a region fitting with a tip side of the compressor impeller. Then, fastening, in advance, a nut in a finished turbocharger by a pressing force which is larger than a pressing force of the nut, when the compressor impeller is mounted on the rotor shaft by shrink fitting, the compressor impeller is prevented from being shifted in the rotational direction in a high-speed rotation.
Moreover, Patent Document 2 discloses that a gap is generated between a sleeve and an end surface on the back surface side of a compressor impeller, due to thermal contraction after when the compressor impeller is shrink-fitted to a rotor shaft. In order to address the problem, in the invention described in Patent Document 2, the inner diameter dimension of a through hole of the compressor impeller is set to be the smallest at an end surface position on the back surface side of the compressor impeller abutting on the sleeve. Thus, in the thermal contraction, first, the end surface position on the back surface side of the compressor impeller and the outer surface of the rotor shaft are fitted together at a high surface pressure, making it possible to prevent generation of the gap between the sleeve and the end surface on the back surface side of the compressor impeller.

Turbine shaft, turbocharger, and manufacturing method of turbocharger

MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES ENGINE & TURBOCHARGER, LTD.


A system and method for controlling a hybrid vehicle including a transmission having a torque converter with a bypass clutch include controlling the slip between the impeller and the turbine of the torque converter in slip mode operation to regulate the converter torque ratio and maintain substantially constant torque at the turbine. Controlled slip uses the hydrodynamic coupling of the torque converter to balance the desired and delivered torque while damping torque disturbances transmitted through the driveline to manage noise, vibration and harshness (NVH).

Conventional automatic vehicles may include a transmission having a torque converter to provide a hydrodynamic coupling with torque multiplication. The hydrodynamic coupling allows the engine to continue running while connected to the transmission when the vehicle is stationary. In addition, the torque converter provides torque multiplication to assist vehicle launch and provides damping of driveline torque disturbances. The torque multiplication or torque ratio varies with the speed difference or slip between the torque converter input element (impeller) and output element (turbine). A torque converter clutch or bypass clutch may be provided to mechanically or frictionally couple the impeller and the turbine to eliminate the slip and associated losses to improve efficiency. However, driveline torque disturbances are then more easily transmitted to the vehicle cabin and may result in noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) and reduce vehicle driveability. As such, the torque converter bypass clutch is usually disengaged or released when the vehicle operating conditions are likely to produce driveline torque disturbances.
Various hybrid vehicle configurations have been developed that utilize both an engine and a motor to drive a vehicle through a transmission, which may be implemented by various types of transmissions that may or may not include a torque converter depending on the particular application. For example, a continuously variable transmission (CVT) or automated manual transmission (AMT) may not include a torque converter whereas a step-ratio automatic transmission having a torque converter may be used to provide similar advantages as in a conventional powertrain as previously described.
Hybrid vehicles generally include an electrical drive mode where the motor is used to power the vehicle and the engine is off. Applications having a torque converter bypass clutch may engage or lock the bypass clutch in the electrical drive mode to improve efficiency. Another hybrid vehicle operation mode uses both the engine and the motor to power the vehicle. A rolling engine start may be used when the vehicle is moving to transition from the electrical drive mode to the hybrid drive mode. The bypass clutch is typically disengaged during engine start to mitigate associated driveline torque disturbances. However, this reduces efficiency as previously described. As a rolling engine start event happens, the traditional control approach does not address the complexity of the power transition and its impact on the driveability.

Hybrid torque converter control during rolling engine start for driveline damping


A machine for wrapping products, wherein a first conveying means presents a number of seats for successively feeding the products at constant speed and along a predetermined route through a number of fixed work stations for forming about each product at least one tubular wrapping having two opposite end portions projecting from the respective ends of the product, and for closing the end portions of each tubular wrapping about the respective ends of the product; closure of the end portions being performed in a fixed closing station wherein second conveying means reverse each seat in such a manner as to arrest the same for a given length of time.

The present invention relates to a continuous wrapping machine.
In particular, the present invention relates to a continuous machine which may be used to advantage in the food industry for wrapping preferably cylindrical-shaped products, such as biscuits or sweets or groups of the same arranged side by side.
Products of the aforementioned type are known to be wrapped on continuous machines usually comprising a number of tangent conveyor rollers for continuously and successively feeding the unwrapped products along a substantially sinusoidal route, along which the products are subjected to a number of wrapping operations. Said wrapping operations usually comprise the formation, about each product, of a tubular wrapping, usually longer than the product, the opposite ends of which project beyond the ends of the product, and are folded or otherwise closed over the same to form a closed wrapping.
One of the major drawbacks of known continuous machines of the aforementioned type is that, by virtue of having to be performed as the products are fed continuously along said route, substantially all the above wrapping operations require a number of devices designed to travel with the products and at least equal in number to the number of products subjected simultaneously to a given operation. If, for example, the unwrapped products are fed successively by a roller for closing the ends of the tubular wrapping, and are housed inside respective seats on the same, each seat usually presents a number of folding elements for engaging the ends of the tubular wrapping.
Known wrapping machines of the aforementioned type are therefore invariably complex in design, relatively high cost and relatively poor reliability.


Systems, circuits, devices and/or methods related to systems and methods for data processing, and more particularly to systems and methods for re-processing data sets not successfully processed during standard processing.

Various data transfer systems have been developed including storage systems, cellular telephone systems, and radio transmission systems. In each of the systems, data is transferred from a sender to a receiver via some medium. For example, in a storage system, data is sent from a sender (i.e., a write function) to a receiver (i.e., a read function) via a storage medium. In some cases, the data processing function uses a variable number of iterations through a data detector circuit and/or data decoder circuit depending upon the characteristics of the data being processed. Where a data set fails to converge after an allowable number of iterations, an error is indicated. Where the errors are extensive and extend across a number of surrounding data sets, the error may not be recoverable even where a re-processing approach is implemented.
Hence, for at least the aforementioned reasons, there exists a need in the art for advanced systems and methods for data processing.

Systems and methods for selective retry data retention processing


An event engine enables application developers to define finite state machines (FSMs) that they want to implement, via a data-driven approach as opposed to having to hardcode the FSMs. The event engine has three notable characteristics:                computations may be associated with FSM state transitions,        the set of computations that is associated with each transition is specified by data (illustratively an XML document), and        the particulars of the computations are defined and handled by plug-ins, each with the same interface.

An event is simply an action or an occurrence detected by a program, and event processing involves determining what to do in response to the detection. Event processing arrangements often employ finite state machines (FSMs) to keep track of detected events and their effect.
Known event-processing arrangements define which events must be detected, and rules for processing them, in software executables or libraries. For example, the Java Finite State Machine Framework provides extensible actions for FSM transitions, which are fixed in code. Therefore, changes to the event-processing rules or to the sets of events to be detected require software developers to make the changes by modifying the event-processing code and delivering a new version of the entire event-processing system. The time, effort, and expertise that are involved in making these changes can be significant. But no way is provided to extend the FSM without code changes. Workflow-event-processing systems may use data files to describe event flows. But they, too, lack extensibility without reprogramming, and further lack ability to associate computations with event transitions. Also known are implementations of FSMs where the set of states and state transitions are described in XML or other-format data files. But these implementations have no computational ability on state transitions, and so cannot be employed to express event-processing rules. And, while some of these implementations may allow actions to be associated with FSM states, they provide only a fixed set of actions that are defined as a part of the FSM code, and thus are not extensible without reprogramming of the FSM. The use of plug-ins for handling elements of XML documents is also known. They are generally used to extend the capabilities of browsers, but the use of plug-ins driven by XML tags is also known in event publish/subscribe contexts. But changing or adding of new processing rules, even if the rules are implemented as plug-ins, requires delivery of new system software.

Data-driven and plug-in defined event engine


Parasitic hydraulic loading on an engine is significantly reduced during cold starts by using an unloader valve to divert the flow of hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic pump to a hydraulic actuator, i.e., load source, recirculating the hydraulic fluid between the hydraulic pump and the unloader valve.

Off road equipment such as diesel powered work vehicles can from time to time experience difficulties making cold starts at cold temperatures such as, for example, temperatures less than 0° C. This can, inter alia, result from a combination of: (1) greater difficulties starting an unloaded engine at cold temperatures; and (2) the contiguous application of parasitic loading (e.g., hydraulic loading) on the engine at startup. As engines become more and more fine tuned to the work requirements of the vehicle, i.e., built and tuned to maximize work efficiency as well as energy efficiency, demanding starting conditions may become a more critical challenge for all.


The present invention provides an image processing apparatus which able to shorten processing time and includes an image inputting unit that inputs an image, a region division unit that generates region information by dividing an input image input by the image inputting unit into regions having a plurality of different types of attributes, including a frame region attribute, a non-frame region processing unit that obtains data of respective regions other than frame regions by applying attribute-specific processing for respective regions, excluding frame regions, included in the input image on the basis of the input image and the region information, and executes processing of filling of the processed regions, and a frame region processing unit that executes reduction processing and vectorization processing for the frame region according to the region size of the frame region.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a program.
2. Description of the Related Art
The digitization of information is advancing in recent years, and systems are increasingly prevalent wherein paper documents are not stored as-is, but instead digitized by scanning using a scanner or similar device, with the resulting electronic data being stored or sent to another apparatus. In order to reduce transmission costs, high compressibility is demanded of digitized document images. Also demanded are reusability enabling partial editing of document images, as well as high image quality wherein image quality is not lost after enlarging or reducing document images.
However, when text regions and photo regions are mixed within a document image, applying compression suited to text regions results in good image quality but with a lower compression ratio. Meanwhile, applying compression suited to photo regions results in a high compression ratio, but with less-readable text. Consequently, the related art divides digitized document images into text regions and photo regions, and converts the text regions into vector data, where reusability and high image quality are emphasized. The related art then uses JPEG to compress the remaining photo and other regions that cannot be easily reproduced by vectorization, and then synthesizes and outputs the compressed results for the respective regions. In so doing, the related art realizes highly compressible and reusable document images with high image quality (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-265384).
In many cases, a region enclosed by a large frame taking up either approximately a fourth or over half of the total area of a document image (hereinafter also referred to as the large frame region) contains within it many graphics vectorization regions. Herein, such graphics vectorization regions are graphics regions targeted for vectorization.
When a plurality of graphics vectorization regions overlap, handling the partial overlaps of the target regions becomes difficult if each of the plurality of target regions is separately processed as a graphics vectorization region. Consequently, in such cases, the plurality of graphics vectorization regions are synthesized into a large, all-containing region. Vectorizing such a large, synthesized graphics vectorization region is easier.
However, if the entire plurality of graphics vectorization regions within the large frame region are treated as a single graphics vectorization region, then the region to be vectorized becomes too large, and the time required to process each image becomes extremely long. In order to resolve such increases in processing time, it is conceivable to reduce the graphics vectorization region before vectorizing. However, in this case, the image quality is degraded for the comparatively small graphics vectorization region contained within the large frame region. Furthermore, when enlarging the graphics vectorization region, insufficient memory or limitations on processing time may result in only a portion of the graphics vectorization region within the large frame region being processed.
In light of the foregoing problems, it is desirable to provide an image processing apparatus able to shorten processing time.

Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program


An apparatus for preventing a pedestrian collision accident, a system having the same, and a method thereof are provided. The apparatus includes a pedestrian sensing unit that senses a pedestrian moving into a dangerous area and calculates velocity and direction information of the pedestrian. A communication unit transmits the velocity and direction information of the pedestrian to a surrounding vehicle. A time-to-collision (TTC) calculating unit calculates a TTC using velocity and direction information of a subject vehicle and second velocity and direction information of the pedestrian, when the TTC calculating unit receives the second velocity and direction information of the pedestrian from another vehicle. A controller outputs based on the TTC a warning to a driver of the subject vehicle or the pedestrian.

According to traffic accident records of the National Police Agency, fatalities of pedestrian accidents occupy more than 40% of the total traffic accident fatalities. The most common cause of pedestrian accidents is pedestrian jaywalking. In particular, a pedestrian accident often occurs when vehicles 10 illegally park or stop in line with each other along a road as illustrated in FIG. 1, or when a traveling vehicle 30 collides with a pedestrian 20 while the pedestrian 20 is hidden or blocked by the vehicles 10 parked or stopped illegally and then suddenly stepping out in front of the vehicles 10 as illustrated in FIG. 2.
In this regard, conventionally, techniques have been developed to prevent a pedestrian accident by sensing a suddenly appearing pedestrian using a technology of sensing a pedestrian. However, the conventional technology of sensing a pedestrian merely recognizes the suddenly appearing pedestrian, but is not capable of sensing the movement of the pedestrian in advance and predicting and preventing the collision between the pedestrian and a traveling vehicle in advance.

Apparatus for preventing pedestrian collision accident, system having the same, and method thereof


A system for load-testing a cloud radio access network (C-RAN) is provided. The system includes at least one radio point (RP), each being configured to exchange radio frequency (RF) signals with at least one user equipment (UE). The system also includes a baseband controller communicatively coupled to the at least one RP via a front-haul ETHERNET network. The front-haul ETHERNET network includes at least one switch; and a testing device that is time-synchronized to the baseband controller and the at least one RP. The testing device is configured to receive at least one packet from each of the at least one RP. The testing device is also configured to replicate each of at least some of the received packets to produce a respective replicated packet. The testing device is also configured to transmit at least one replicated packet to the baseband controller.

A cloud radio access network (C-RAN) is one way to implement base station functionality. Typically, for each cell implemented by a C-RAN, one or more baseband units interact with multiple remote units (also referred to here as "radio points" or "RPs") in order to provide wireless service to various items of user equipment (UEs). It is desirable to load-test a C-RAN in a way that is cost-effective and time-effective.

Load-testing a cloud radio access network


An apparatus and computer program product determine a target data type in an environment having a plurality of levels. The plurality of levels comprise a source level, zero or more intermediate levels, and a target level. The zero or more intermediate levels are between the source level and the target level. A target data type representing a transformation of a data type of an associated datum as the datum passes from the source level through the zero or more intermediate levels to the target level is generated. The target data type comprises a sequence of nested transformation functions having an innermost transformation function and an outermost transformation function.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a technique, specifically a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture that implements the method, to determine a target data type in a heterogeneous environment.
2. Description of the Related Art
Computer software systems typically process data. For example, a computer software system may be an application program or a "system" program. Examples of application programs include, and are not limited to, an information integration system, a database management system, and a spreadsheet program. Examples of system programs include, and are not limited to, an operating system and a file system. Typically, an application program relies on at least a portion of a system program to perform its function. Some computer software systems may be coupled to a repository to store data in persistent storage.
In a computer software system, data is typically associated with a data type that defines the data. Some exemplary data types include, and are not limited to, a numeric type, string type, a date type, a time type, and a binary large object type. Some exemplary numeric data types include, and are not limited to, integer, short integer, long integer and floating point.
In FIG. 1, an exemplary database table 10 of a database management system has rows 12 and columns 14 to store data. A row 12 is also referred to as a record. A data type is associated with each column to define the type of data that is contained in that column. For example, the data type for column one 16 is integer and the data type for column two 18 is string.
In a heterogeneous environment, data may be stored in various repositories. The repositories include, and are not limited to, the tables of database management systems, spreadsheet files, flat files, text files such as email, extensible markup language (XML) documents, web pages, image files, and audio or video data files. A repository may be a source of data for a query, and a target when a data value is assigned in an update or an insert. A single query may be used to retrieve data located on any one, or a combination, of the data sources. The repositories may represent the same or related data differently. In other words, related data from different repositories may have different data types.
Typically, in a heterogeneous environment, the data types supported in various software systems and the semantics related to the data types are highly diverse. Different software systems may associate different data types with the same or related data. When data is transferred between software systems, the software systems typically transform the data type of the input data, and output the data with a data type that is different from what was input. In addition, the software systems may be interconnected by software interfaces that may transform the data type of the data as it passes through the interface. Therefore, a consistent view and behavior related to the data may not be provided.
The updating or inserting of data into a repository is referred to as an assignment. When assigning data in a heterogeneous environment, the semantics for the assignment of the data as it passes through various software systems and interfaces are unclear, and the result of the assignment is inconsistent and unpredictable. The source data may pass through multiple levels of software systems and interfaces before reaching a target repository at the lowest level. In the process, the data type associated with the data may be altered multiple times. The uncertainty of when and how the data type is altered may produce inconsistent and unpredictable results for the assignment.
In addition, when an assignment updates or inserts data into multiple repositories, the semantics to determine the target type in the multiple repositories are unclear and may produce inconsistent results. For example, when integrating data from multiple repositories, data having different data types in different software systems is presented as a "union all" view to provide a single uniform view of the data. When data is assigned across the underlying target software systems of the union, the data type may vary across the underlying target software systems inconsistently and unpredictably.
Some software systems use a data type mapping mechanism to map data types between different software systems. For example, when mapping tables of different database management systems, the data types are individually mapped column-by-column. Using this data type mapping mechanism, data in one software system can be viewed from another software system; however, the assignment semantics are unclear and the results of an assignment are inconsistent and unpredictable.
Therefore, there is a need for a method, apparatus and article of manufacture implementing the method, to provide consistent and predictable results when assigning data in a heterogeneous environment. The technique should also provide consistent and predictable results when assigning data to a target computer system in a multi-level environment. In addition, the technique should provide consistent and predictable results when assigning data in a multi-target environment.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Determining a target data type in a heterogeneous multi-level environment

International Business Machines Corporation


Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for associating terms with images. A plurality of images is received. One or more of the received images are associated with one or more terms. Degrees of similarity between a plurality of pairs of images in the plurality of images is determined. A respective weight with respect to a first image of the plurality of images is assign to one or more of the terms based at least on the degrees of similarity. One or more of the terms are selected based on the respective weights of the terms with respect to the first image, and the selected terms are associated with the respective image.

This specification relates to image annotation.
Image search engines have become a popular tool on the Internet. These search engines help users find images that match their criteria. Some of these search engines index images by keywords or labels. Such image search engines retrieve images by matching users' search queries against these keywords or labels.
The keywords or labels for indexing an image can be drawn from text surrounding the image in a webpage or other text associated with the image (e.g., the filename of the image), for example. The keywords or labels can provide some indication of the content of an image. For example, an image of a horse can be associated with the keyword "horse." In some cases, the keywords for an image that are extracted from the text may not be informative or useful. For example, words such as "cool" and "wow" generally are not very informative about the content of an image. Poorly labeled images can degrade the quality of an image search result.

Association of terms with images using image similarity


The present invention relates to a field emission device and a method of fabricating the same. The method includes forming a hole having a nanometer size using silicon semiconductor process and then forming an emitter within the hole to form a field emission device. Therefore, the present invention can reduce the driving voltage and thus lower the power consumption.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a field emission device having an emitter formed in a nano hole, and more particularly to a field emission device and a method of fabricating the same which can lower the operating voltage to reduce the power consumption.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Field emission devices employ a phenomenon that electrons are emitted from a part of the emitter when a voltage is applied between the emitter and a gate electrode. The field emission devices are applied to microwave devices or field emission displays (FED).
Generally, the field emission device is divided into a diode-type having an upper plate and a lower plate used as an emitter and a cathode, and a triode-type having a gate formed around an emitter for supplying a voltage.
As the diode-type has a high operating voltage and is difficult to control the amount of electron emission, the triode-type is usually employed. In particular, a spindle type emitter is widely used.
The spindle type emitter has a fine tip of a cylindrical shape and emits electrons when a high electric field is applied to an end of the fine tip. Thus, as the operating characteristic of the spindle type emitter is stable, it has been most widely used as an emitter of the triode-type field emission device. Further, a lot of researches on the shape and material of the tip have been actively made.
As the field emission device having this spindle type emitter, however, is driven with a high voltage of about 50Vxcx9c100V, it has a high consumption voltage. Thus, it is required that the voltage be further lowered in order to commercialize the field emission device using the spindle type emitter.
In order to fabricate a field emission device driven with a low voltage, an aspect ratio of the emitter must be increased. Therefore, a research on manufacturing the emitter using carbon nanotube has recently been made.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional field emission device.
Referring now to FIG. 1, an emitter electrode 12 made of metal is formed on a silicon substrate 11. An insulating layer 15 having an aperture 15a is formed on the emitter electrode 12. A catalyst layer 13 made of a transition metal is formed on the emitter electrode 12 exposed through the aperture 15a. An emitter 14 is formed on the catalyst layer 13. A gate electrode 16 having a given pattern is formed on the insulating layer 15. The transition metal includes carbon nanotube, a nano grain film and a metal tip.
At this time, the emitter 14 composed of a metal tip may be formed right on the emitter electrode 12 exposed through the aperture 15a without the catalyst layer 13.
If an operating voltage is applied to the emitter electrode 12 and the gate electrode 16, respectively, a high electric field is formed around the emitter 14. Due to this, electrons are emitted from the emitter 14.
Meanwhile, in order to fabricate the field emission device driven with a low voltage, it is required that the aspect ratio of the emitter be increased. The aspect ratio of the emitter can be increased by a formation of a hole having a nanometer size. The hole having a nanometer size should be formed in anodized aluminum oxide layer since the hole can not be formed in conventional oxide layer. However, anodized aluminum oxide is not suitable for the semiconductor manufacturing process. Therefore, it is difficult to manufacture the emitter having a large aspect ratio by using the conventional method.
The present invention is contrived to solve the above problems and an object of the present invention is to provide a field emission device and a method of fabricating the same, capable of reducing the driving voltage and thus lower the power consumption, in such as way that a hole having a nanometer size is formed by processes of manufacturing the semiconductor devices and an emitter is then formed in the hole to increase the aspect ratio of the emitter.
In order to accomplish the above object, a field emission device according to the present invention, is characterized in that it comprises a silicon substrate having an emitter electrode formed in a surface portion thereof; an insulating layer formed on the emitter electrode and having a nano hole to expose the emitter electrode; an emitter formed on the emitter electrode exposed through the nano hole; and a gate electrode formed on the insulating layer.
A method of fabricating a field emission device according to the present invention is characterized in that it comprises the steps of forming silicon rods on a silicon substrate; forming an emitter electrode within the silicon substrate; forming insulating layer between the silicon rods; forming a gate electrode on the insulating layer; forming a nano hole in the insulating layer by removing the silicon rods; and forming an emitter on the emitter electrode exposed through the nano hole.

Field emission device and method of fabricating the same

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


The present invention provides a mounting system for a plumbing fixture fitting that provides a rigid mounting even when the plumbing fixture fitting has an extended height.

When installing a plumbing fixture fitting that has an extended height (such as a floor mounted tub filler), the plumbing fixture fitting needs to be rigidly mounted to the mounting surface.
Plumbing fixture fittings having an extended height can be difficult to mount. Additionally, there can be issues with the stability of plumbing fixture fittings having an extended height.

Mounting system for plumbing fixture fitting


An image display unit with screen input function is provided, by which it is possible to input image data directly to a screen without decreasing numerical aperture of pixel. The image display unit comprises a light detecting TFT 61 receiving a light entering from a screen of a liquid crystal display panel, said light detecting TFT 61 is connected in series to a switching TFT 60, which does not receive a light entering from the screen of the liquid crystal display panel. To a source electrode of the light detecting TFT 61, a storage capacitor Cst and a pixel electrode of a liquid crystal element are connected. The liquid crystal element is represented by a capacitor CLC. A sensor control line 140 is connected to the gate electrode of the light detecting TFT 61, and a gate line 120 is connected to the gate electrode of the switching TFT 60. A data line 110 is connected to the drain electrode of the switching TFT 60, and a storage line 150 is connected to one end of a storage capacitor Cst. An image signal is sent to a pixel electrode (ITO) of the liquid crystal element (CLC). The light detecting TFT 61 transmits photoelectric current Isig generated by sensing the light to a sensor signal processing circuit (see FIG. 1) via the data line 110.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image display unit with an optical sensor incorporated in a display panel. In particular, the invention relates to an image display unit with screen input function, by which image data can be directly inputted to screen without decreasing numerical aperture of pixel.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An image display unit with screen input function is known, which inputs information by touching operation (hereinafter may be referred simply as "touch") by touching the screen with a finger of a user. This type of image display unit is used in a portable terminal with a touching sensor such as PDA or in a stationary type client guiding terminal. As the image display unit screen input function, there are several types: a type to detect the change of resistance in the portion pressed by touching, a type to detect the change of capacity, or a type to detect the change of light amount in the portion shielded by touching.
In particular, efforts have been made in recent years, to develop a type of image display unit to detect coordinates of the touching portion by finding the changes of the light amount of the external light in the pixel structure on the screen. For instance, the Patent Document 1 discloses a light sensing element (optical sensor) by a thin-film transistor (TFT) for each pixel on a liquid crystal display panel, which makes up a liquid crystal display unit.
FIG. 20 shows an equivalent circuit diagram to explain pixel arrangement in a conventional example of a general type liquid crystal display panel with optical sensor for each pixel unit as disclosed in the Patent Document 1. This liquid crystal display panel comprises a plurality of gate lines (GLs), a plurality of data lines (DLs), a first switching element (Q1) electrically connected to each of the gate lines (GLs) and the data lines (DLs), and a liquid crystal capacitor (CLC) and a first storage capacitor (CST1) each connected to the first switching element (Q1), Further, it comprises a first voltage line (VL1), a second voltage line (VL2), a second switching element (TS1) to detect the intensity of external light and to convert it to electric current, a second storage capacitor (CST2) for preserving electric charge generated by electric current provided from the second switching element (TS1), a third switching element (TS2) to output the electric charge maintained at the second storage capacitor (CST2), and a reading line (ROL). The second switching element (TS1), the second storage capacitor (CST2), and the third switching element (TS2) make up together a type of optical sensor.    [Patent Document 1] JP-A-2005-129948.

Image display unit with screen input function

Panasonic Liquid Crystal Display Co., Ltd.


A two-piece clip includes a grommet and a pin. The grommet includes a plurality of elastic leg portions separately extending from a flange. The pin includes a shaft for radially expanding the elastic leg portions when the shaft is inserted among the elastic leg portions through the center hole. At an intermediate portion of the shaft, a temporarily locking piece and a locking protrusion are formed. Both ends of the temporarily locking portion are coupled with the shaft in a shaft direction to have a bridge-like shape. The temporarily locking piece protrudes in an outer radial direction. The locking protrusion is adjacent to the temporarily locking piece in a shaft tip end direction. An inner peripheral edge of the flange is engaged between the temporarily locking piece and the locking protrusion so that the pin is temporarily locked to the grommet.

The present disclosure relates to the subject matter contained in Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-171011 filed on Jun. 12, 2002, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a two-piece clip which is configured by a grommet and a pin, and which is used for coupling two panels with each other or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
Usually, a two-piece clip is configured by: a grommet having elastic leg portions which are formed by dividing into plural parts a portion elongating from an annular flange; and a pin having a shaft which is to be inserted between the elastic leg portions through a center hole of the flange, whereby the elastic leg portions are radially expanded.
Such two-piece clips are widely used in various fields such as fixation of automobile parts. For example, a pair of panels which are to be coupled are overlaid on each other so that their mounting holes coincide with each other, and the pin is previously inserted into the grommet by a degree at which the legs are not opened. Under this state, the legs of the grommet are inserted into the coincident mounting holes to make the flange of the grommet butt against one of the panels. When the pin is pressingly inserted under this state, the legs of the grommet are expanded by the shaft of the pin, and the pair of panels are clamped by the flange of the grommet and the legs to be coupled with each other.
A two-piece clip having such a configuration is proposed in JP-UM-A-6-51522. An engagement pawl which elongates in an inner radial direction and in an axial tip end direction are formed on an inner face of a shaft of a grommet so that a pin and the grommet take one of: a first coupling position where a shaft of the pin is inserted into the grommet shaft, the grommet shaft is not radially expanded by the pin shaft, and a flange of the pin separates from a flange of the grommet; a second coupling position where the pin shaft is inserted into the grommet shaft, the grommet shaft is radially expanded by the pin shaft, and the pin flange is in contact with the grommet flange; and a third coupling position where the pin shaft is pulled in the grommet shaft from the second coupling position under a state where the pin shaft is inserted into the grommet shaft but the pin flange separates from the grommet flange. Engagement grooves which are to receive the engagement pawl are formed in the pin shaft. The engagement groove which is to be engaged at the third coupling position with the engagement pawl is formed into a shape in which the tip end of the engagement pawl is restricted to the engagement groove so that the pin shaft is not further pulled out from the grommet shaft. The engagement pawl of the grommet shaft which is to be engaged at the third coupling position with the engagement groove is disposed at any level that is between a face of a to-be-mounted member through which the grommet shaft is passed, and the grommet flange.
In a conventional two-piece clip, under the state where a pin is inserted halfway into a grommet and legs of the grommet are not radially expanded, the pin and the grommet are usually inserted into mounting holes of to-be-mounted members while the heads of the pin and the grommet are nipped. However, it is difficult to nip the pin and the grommet by fingers because the length between a flange of the grommet and the head of the pin is short, thereby causing a problem in that the work of inserting the clip into mounting holes is hardly conducted. In the case where the hole of the front to-be-mounted member is positionally shifted from that of the rear to-be-mounted member, particularly, it is required to search the holes by changing the direction of the legs of the grommet while nipping the heads of the pin and the grommet. When it is difficult to nip the heads of the pin and the grommet, the workability of the mounting work tends to be extremely impaired.
By contrast, in the two-piece clip disclosed in JP-UM-A-6-51522, the head of the pin largely protrudes from the grommet under the state where the clip is temporarily assembled in the first coupling position. Therefore, the clip has an advantage that the head of the pin can be easily nipped when the clip is to be inserted into the mounting holes of the to-be-mounted members.
In the above two-piece clip, when, after the to-be-mounted members are coupled with each other by pressing the head of the pin, the to-be-mounted members must be uncoupled for any reason, the engagement between the legs of the grommet and the shaft of the pin is cancelled, the shaft of the pin is pulled out to radially contract the legs of the grommet, and under this state the legs of the grommet is pulled out from the mounting holes. In this case, there arises a problem in that the engagement pawl of the shaft of the grommet is broken and hence temporary locking at the first coupling position cannot be conducted when the pin is to be reused.
It is an object of the invention to provide a two-piece clip in which temporary locking can be conducted under the state where the head of a pin largely protrudes from a grommet, and in which, after the pin is pressingly inserted into the grommet to be coupled therewith, the pin can be pulled out to cancel the coupling, and the temporary locked state can be again set so that the clip can be reused.
A two-piece clip according to a first aspect of the invention includes a grommet and a pin. The grommet includes an annular flange defining a center hole and a plurality of elastic leg portions separately extending from the flange. The pin includes a shaft, a temporarily locking piece, and a locking protrusion. The shaft radially expands the elastic leg portions when the shaft is inserted among the elastic leg portions through the center hole. The temporarily locking piece extends from the shaft to protrude in an outer radial direction. The locking protrusion is formed on the shaft to be adjacent to the temporarily locking piece in a shaft tip end direction. The shaft and the temporarily locking piece define an opening therebetween so that the temporarily locking piece has a bridge shape. In a process of inserting the pin into the grommet, an inner peripheral edge of the flange is engaged between the temporarily locking piece and the locking protrusion in a state where the leg portions are not radially expanded, and the pin is temporarily locked to the grommet.
According to the invention, under the state where the pin is in mid-course of press insertion of the pin between the elastic leg portions and the legs are not radially expanded, the inner peripheral edge of the flange is engaged between the temporarily locking piece and the locking protrusion, and the pin is temporarily locked to the grommet. Therefore, the temporary locking can be conducted under the state where the head of the pin largely protrudes from the grommet, and the head of the pin can be easily nipped by fingers. In a case such as that where the front and rear to-be-mounted members are positionally shifted from each other and it is required to search a mounting hole of a rear to-be-mounted member after the clip is inserted into a mounting hole of a front to-be-mounted member, consequently, the work can be easily conducted.
When the to-be-mounted members are to be uncoupled after the to-be-mounted members are coupled with each other by pressing the pin to radially expand the legs of the grommet, the pin must be pulled out from the grommet to radially contract the legs. In this case, the axial ends of the temporarily locking piece are connected to the shaft of the pin so that the temporarily locking piece is formed into a bridge-like shape, and hence the temporarily locking piece is prevented from being broken. When the clip is to be reused, therefore, the pin is pulled back halfway from the grommet to cause the inner peripheral edge of the flange to be engaged between the temporarily locking piece and the locking protrusion, thereby enabling the pin to be again temporarily locked to the grommet.
Since the temporarily locking piece has a bridge-like shape as described above, the temporarily locking piece exhibits high elasticity against an external force in a radial direction. Therefore, the insertion resistance which is produced when the pin is pressed to couple to-be-mounted members can be reduced to a relatively small value, so that the work of pressing the pin is not hindered.
In addition to the first aspect of the invention, in a second aspect of the invention, a protrusion height of the locking protrusion is higher than that of the temporarily locking piece. The temporarily locking piece is more easily elastically deformed than the locking protrusion.
According to the invention, when the pin tries to slip off from the grommet under the state where the pin is inserted halfway into the grommet to be temporarily locked, the locking protrusion is firmly engaged with the inner peripheral edge of the grommet. Therefore, the pin is prevented from slipping off.
In addition to the first or second aspect of the invention, in a third aspect of the invention, the temporarily locking piece is two temporarily locking pieces. The temporarily locking pieces are formed at two positions, which are opposed to each other in a circumferential direction of the shaft.
According to the invention, molds for injection molding the bridge-like temporarily locking piece can be easily produced, and the pin can be stably held to the grommet by performing the temporarily locking at two places opposed in the circumferential direction.


A semiconductor light emitting device having good characteristics, high reliability and long lifetime includes a p-n junction or p-i-n junction made by locating an active layer in a position inside an n-type doped layer or p-type doped layer sufficiently distant from the depletion layer between the p-type doped layer and the n-type doped layer. When a component of intensity of light from the active layer normal to the active layer is P(x), x for its maximum value P.sub.max is x=0, and the range of x satisfying P(x)>P.sub.max /e.sup.2 is -L.sub.n <x<L.sub.p in a semiconductor light emitting device having a p-n junction, doping concentration of at least a portion of the n-type doped layer where x>-L.sub.n is made lower than doping concentration of the other portion of the n-type doped layer, or doping concentration of at least a part of the p-type doped layer where x<L.sub.p is made lower than doping concentration of the other part of the p-type doped layer.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a semiconductor light emitting device especially suitable for use as a semiconductor light emitting device using II-VI compound semiconductors.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, semiconductor lasers used for record/reproduce of high-density optical discs or magneto-optical discs to emit blue to green light, and light emitting diodes used in large-scale displays or signal lamps to emit blue to green light, are under active researches and developments.
The most hopeful materials for manufacturing these semiconductor light emitting devices for emission of blue to green light are II-VI compound semiconductors combining a group II element such as zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), magnesium (Mg), mercury (Hg) or beryllium (Be) and a group VI element such as sulfur (S), selenium (Se), tellurium (Te), or oxygen (O). Semiconductor light emitting devices using these II-VI compound semiconductors are currently under improvements of device characteristics and the lifetime.
Multiplication of dislocations derived from stacking defects in the active layer was pointed out as an important factor of shortening the lifetime of a semiconductor light emitting device using II-VI compound semiconductors. In order to decrease such stacking defects, various approaches were made, such as growing a GaAs buffer layer on a GaAs substrate prior to growth of II-VI compound semiconductors, or optimizing the initial sequence of growing II-VI compound semiconductors. As a result, the lifetime of semiconductor light emitting devices using II-VI compound semiconductors was elongated to over 100 hours at the room temperature. Thereafter, along with the decrease in stacking defects, point defects in active layers have been pointed out as a factor of deterioration of devices. In order to prevent multiplication of point defects, although it is important to establish a growth condition which decreases point defects themselves, it is also necessary to stabilize the electronic state of point defects and to decrease their mobility so as to prevent their coupling.
Moreover, in semiconductor light emitting devices including a ZnCdSe active layer, it has been confirmed that a certain emission wavelength shifts to a shorter wavelength probably because of diffusion of Cd upon a supply of an electric power and that the p-type carrier concentration decreases by annealing. Therefore, device characteristics might be changed by diffusion of component atoms of a crystal or impurities. However, it is not easy to artificially control these diffusion phenomena.
On the other hand, it has been reported that, in devices using a ZnCdSe quantum well layer doped with nitrogen as a p-type impurity, annealing invites serious diffusion of Cd. It is explained as resulting from an unstable electronic state of vacancies of group II atoms (hereinafter called "group II vacancies") existing in the crystal and from an increase in mobility. That is, since group II vacancies intrinsically stabilize by getting free electrons as acceptors, when electrons become less in the crystal as a result of p-type doping, the electronic state of group II vacancies becomes unstable and liable to move. Since group II atoms, Cd, diffuses via movements of vacancies, Cd also becomes liable to move along with the increase in mobility of the group II vacancies. In this manner, diffusion of component atoms of the active layer is closely related to the doping method employed, it is desirable to optimize it so as to minimize deterioration of the active layer.
Semiconductor light emitting devices having a separate confinement heterostructure (SCH) are characterized in effective confinement of light because of the structure where light cannot easily exude from the active layer into the cladding layer having a lower refractive index. However, since it is impossible to completely confine light, there is the possibility that light exuding into the cladding layer excites the energy state of originally unstable atoms or defects and they diffuse toward the active layer. Especially, chlorine (Cl) and nitrogen (N), which are impurities of II-VI compound semiconductors have smaller lattice constants as compared with component atoms such as Zn and Se, are considered to be weak in coupling force between atoms, and are apt to get into unstable energy states. Actually, in a semiconductor laser using II-VI compound semiconductors, it was confirmed that the carrier concentration of a p-type cladding layer decreases under a supply of electric power, and it causes an increase in threshold current value. A possible reason thereof may be that N atoms in the p-type cladding layer are excited by light, get off from lattice sites of group VI atoms, and inactivated or that Cl atoms in the n-type cladding layer are exited similarly, propagate and reach the p-type cladding layer, and compensate acceptors.
In an experiment made by the Inventors, when a semiconductor light emitting device was electrically powered, Cl atoms in the n-type cladding layer diffused and moved the position of the p-n junction. More specifically, a semiconductor light emitting device as shown in FIG. 1 was prepared, and the position of the p-n junction was measured before and after electric power supply to the semiconductor light emitting device by an electron beam induced current (EBIC) method. As a result, before being electrically powered, the p-n junction entirely appeared in the active layer as shown in FIG. 2, but after being electrically powered, a part of the p-n junction in the stripe region moved toward the p-side as shown in FIG. 3. In FIGS. 2 and 3, the EBIC signal is shown by the hatched region. Presumably, such a movement in position of the p-n junction decreases the injection efficiency of carriers into the active layer, increases the threshold current value, and decreases the lifetime of the device.
Under the situation, it has been difficult heretofore to realize a semiconductor light emitting device with good characteristics, high reliability and long lifetime.

Semiconductor light emitting device having a p-n or p-i-n junction


An apparatus is disclosed for improving the transportability of a hydrocarbon stream by reducing its viscosity. The apparatus comprises a reactor vessel useful for providing an incremental amount of heat to a hydrocarbon stream by the introduction of an oxidizing agent into the core portion of the stream. The reactor comprises an influent conduit and an effluent conduit in heat exchange relation with each other, at least one oxidant injection nozzle located in either or both the influent and/or effluent conduits, a conduit to transport oxidant to the nozzles and a valve in the oxidant conduit to control oxidant flow to the nozzles. The reactor can also contain temperature monitors in the influent and/or effluent conduits and an oxidant flow controller device responsive to output from the temperature monitors and adapted to adjust oxidant flow to maintain temperatures in the reactor reaction zone within a preselected range.

Vertical tube reactors which use a subterranean U-tube configuration for providing a hydrostatic column of fluid sufficient to provide a selected pressure are known. This type of reactor has been primarily used for the direct wet oxidation of materials in a waste stream but may also be used for pyrolysis, alkylation, hydrolysis and hydrogenation of waste streams. As exemplified by the following patents, reactors of this nature typically comprise a subterranean vertical U-tube reactor system consisting of influent and effluent conduits concentrically arranged for heat exchange, a reaction zone at the bottom of the reactor, and in some cases, a jacket containing heated media for the external heating of the reaction zone, and pipes to supply oxygen or other reactant gases.
Bauer, U.S. Pat. No. 3,499,247 (1969), discloses a method for the wet oxidation of fluid sewage mixed with combustible refuse. Air is pumped into the influent stream at the well head and is pumped directly into the reaction zone from a subterranean compressed air storage chamber. Pressure in the reaction zone produced by the hydrostatic head may be augmented by a pressure regulating device on the effluent stream.
Lawless, U.S. Pat. No. 3,606,999 (1971), discloses a method and apparatus for carrying out oxidation of sewage or aqueous industrial waste. In addition to the U-tube conduits, the apparatus includes gas venting and supply lines, floats and sparges. Air and/or other reactant gases are introduced to the reaction zone through gas lines travelling down the feed pipe (inner conduit) to the sparges. Air released from the sparges and product gases are trapped in the floats, lending buoyancy to the same. The floats are used to support the feed pipe.
Land U.S. Pat. No. 3,464,855 (1969), discloses a method for the aqueous digestion of wood chips. The patent discloses a variation on the U-tube apparatus in that the well installations contain at least three concentric annular passages. Countercurrent coaxial flow paths containing the wood chip solution comprise two of the annular spaces. The coaxial flow paths are in fluid communication with each other at the soaking reservoir at the well bottom. Additional annular spaces, which are not in fluid communication with reactant materials in the countercurrent coaxial flow paths, are described as carrying steam or other heated fluids to serve as a source of external heat to reactant material in surrounding annular spaces. A valve or plate on the reaction product effluent and a reactant influent pump augment the hydrostatic pressure of material within the coaxial pathways.
Titmas U.S. Pat. No. 3,853,759 (1974), discloses a method for pyrolysis, alkylation, hydrolysis and hydrogenation of raw sewage and for the devulcanization of aqueous rubber solutions in an oxygen deficient environment. Titmas has a steam or heat energy line running axially down the center of the liner (inner conduit) to deliver steam or other heated media to the reaction zone. The reaction zone is within an orifice created by annular rings arranged on the inner surface of the liner and the outer surface of the steam line; steam or other heated medium is injected into the orifice to maximize pressure and temperature in the orifice area. The liner conduit may be suspended for the purposes of accommodating metal expansion upon heating.
McGrew U.S. Pat. No. 4,272,383 (1981), discloses a method and apparatus for the wet oxidation of sewage sludge. The first or outer conduit of the U-tube has a closure at its lower end and the second or inner conduit terminates and is suspended above the outer conduit closure. The reaction zone, which is located within the bottom portion of the outer conduit, is temperature controlled by heat exchange with a heated media in a surrounding annular jacket. The apparatus further comprises a pump for pumping influent into the downgoing flow pipe. Oxygen or other reactant gas may be introduced into the downgoing flow passage at the surface and at inlets at spaced intervals below the ground surface level to form enlarged "Taylor" gas bubbles within the influent.
Bain U.S. Pat. No. 4,778,586 (1988), discloses a method and apparatus for the treatment of whole crude to reduce its viscosity and render it more suitable for transportation by pipeline or ship. The U-tube apparatus contains three concentric annular passages. Two of these passages, the downcomer and the riser, contain the hydrocarbon stream and are in fluid communication with each other at the well bottom in the reaction zone. The third annular passage is a jacket located adjacent to portions of the riser and downcomer corresponding to the reaction zone. The heat exchange fluid circulated through the jacket provides the external source of heat used to raise the temperature of the stream to the reaction temperature. Temperature sensors in or above the reaction zone can be used to control the temperature of the jacket heat exchange fluid and minimize formation of coke on conduit walls.
Although the U-tube configuration of the above-cited patents contain inner and outer conduits in heat exchange relationship, annular jackets surrounding the reaction zone with heating media therein and/or air or gas conduits at a variety of locations and depths, none of the patents suggest or disclose an apparatus which would be useful for the direct oxidative heating of a hydrocarbon stream. Further, none of these patents suggest or disclose the central placement and downstream orientation of oxidant nozzles in the stream within the reaction zone, feedback control relationship between oxidant conduit valves, which control the oxidant flow rate to the nozzles, and temperature monitors located in or above the reaction zone.
The present invention involves an apparatus useful in the method described in copending and commonly assigned application, "Improved Viscosity Reduction by Direct Oxidative Heating," Ser. No. 058,878, filed June 5, 1987, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,818,371 incorporated in its entirety herein by reference. Said application describes a method for providing direct oxidative heating of hydrocarbon material to reduce viscosity thereof with reduced coke formation on reactor walls. The method of Ser. No. 058,878 involves direct heating of the hydrocarbon influent stream by dispensing an oxidant centrally in the influent stream, rather than external heating of the influent stream by using heating elements or media in a jacket in heat exchange relationship with the conduit containing the reaction zone. The apparatus of the present invention uses central placement and downstream orientation of oxidant nozzles in the hydrocarbon stream within the reaction zone to achieve the direct oxidative heating described in the process of Serial No. 058,878. The present invention further involves a feedback control mechanism between temperature monitors in or above the reaction zone and oxidant conduit valves.

Apparatus for thermal treatment of a hydrocarbon stream


A process for hardening and rendering a roadbed water resistant by measuring and ensuring the clay content of the roadbed soil is a minimum of 12%, amending the soil to bring the clay content within this range. Treating the top six inches of the roadbed soil with an enzyme formulation and removing and setting aside the treated roadbed soil. Applying two mixtures of organo-silane solution to soil remaining in the roadbed in two separate steps, allowing the treated soil to cure between applications. Adding the enzyme treated soil back onto the roadbed, compacting and crowning the soil, then spraying the surface of the treated roadbed and its associated shoulders with the organo-silane mixture. Once again, the organo-silane mixture is applied in a two step process with two different dilutions of the organo-silane formulation to form a hardened and water resistant envelope of soil within the roadbed.

The damaging effects of water are the largest contributor to roadbed deterioration and produce significant maintenance issues for finished roadways. High moisture content in the soil of a roadbed may be due to large volumes of water introduced either through precipitation or capillary action from below. Limiting the introduction of water by creating a hardened and water resistant soil roadbed will:                1. Maintain a roadbed's soil strength near maximum compaction density;        2. Greatly reduce the thermal expansion and contraction of a soil's clays, thereby significantly reducing potholes and road surface cracking;        3. Prevent erosion of both roadbed and shoulders;        4. Reduce maintenance costs associated with the repair of roadbeds caused by water damage and excessive moisture content.


A liquid sample (104) introduced in a main flow passage (101) is held in a dam portion (105), and a trigger liquid (106) is filled in a trigger flow passage (102). In this state, the trigger liquid (106) is further introduced at desired timing into the trigger flow passage (102) so that the front end portion of the level of the trigger liquid (106) is advanced and the front end portion is brought to be into contact with the dam portion (105). This causes the liquid sample (104) to move to the right (downstream side) in the figure, resulting in the liquid sample (104) flowing out to the downstream side of the main flow passage (101). This means that the trigger liquid (106) provides priming to realize a liquid switch.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a liquid switch for controlling a liquid flow, and a microchip and a mass spectrometry system using thereof.
2. Background Art
In recent years, a micro-total analytical system (μ-TAS), in which chemical operations such as pre-processing, reaction, separating, detection or the like of a sample are conducted on a microchip, is rapidly developing. According to the micro-total analytical system, only a very small amount of a sample is required to be used, and analysis with higher sensitivity can be conducted with smaller environment load.
In patent literature 1, an apparatus for achieving a capillary electrophoresis by a micro channel-type chip having a configuration of being provided with a groove or a reservoir on a substrate is described. In this type of the microchip, it is critical to precisely control the timing for introducing a sample or a buffer solution into a channel in the chip. Such technique is requested not only in a separating apparatus and analysis apparatus, but also similarly in a micro chemical reactor.
Conventionally, control of the timing for introducing a sample is usually conducted by an application of an external force such as electric field, pressure and the like. However, such method is difficult to provide a precise control of a behavior of a very small amount of sample in the chip. Further, a problem of requiring larger size of the whole apparatus is also caused due to a necessity to provide an external force-applying unit.
Patent literature 1:Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-207,031

Liquid switch, and microchip and mass-analyzing system using the same


[Object] To provide an input device, a display device, an electronic device, and a mobile terminal such that the reliability of the electrical connection between a detection wiring and a wiring board can be improved.

In recent years, a capacitive touch panel that detects an input operation by capturing a change in capacitance between the finger and a detection electrode has been known as an input device. In such an input device, for example, a colored layer and the detection electrode are provided on a substrate. Further, a detection wiring that is electrically connected to the detection electrode is provided on the colored layer (for example, see PTL 1). Further, the detection wiring is electrically connected to a wiring board containing conductive particles through an adhesive member.

Input device, display device, electronic device, and mobile terminal

Abstract: [Solution] An input device X1 includes a substrate 2, a first colored layer 6 that is provided on the substrate 2, a first detection electrode 3a that is provided on the substrate 2, a detection wiring 8 that is provided on the first colored layer 6 and is electrically connected to the first detection electrode 3a, and a wiring board 10 that is electrically connected to the detection wiring 8 through an adhesive member T1 containing conductive particles P1, the detection wiring 8 extends from a position on the first colored layer 6 to a position on a part of the substrate 2 in which the first colored layer 6 is not included, and if the detection wiring 8 located on a part of the substrate 2 in which the first colored layer 6 is not included is an extension section 8a, the adhesive member T1 is located between the extension section 8a and the wiring board 10.


A Coriolis mass flowmeter with a measuring tube through which a medium can flow, at least one actuator and at least one sensor, wherein the measuring tube is bent between its input and output ends into a first winding and a second winding, the first winding and the second winding merging into one another at a transitional section of the measuring tube. The first winding and the second winding run in parallel winding planes and wherein the first winding and the second winding can be excited to oscillation by the actuator and the oscillations detected by the sensor. The Coriolis mass flowmeter is comparably insensitive to the coupling of external oscillations in that oscillating sections of the first winding and the second winding are bent into a V shape that opens in a direction toward the transitional section of the measuring tube.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a Coriolis mass flowmeter with a measuring tube that can have a medium flowing through it, with at least one actuator and with at least one sensor, wherein the measuring tube is bent between its input end and its output end into a first winding and a second winding, the first winding and the second winding merging into one another at a transitional section of the measuring tube, the first winding and the second winding running in parallel winding planes and being opposite one another and wherein the first winding and the second winding can be excited to oscillation in oscillating sections by the actuator and the oscillations can be detected by the sensor.
2. Description of Related Art
Coriolis mass flowmeters have been known in a variety of very different designs for many years. In mass flowmeters that are based on the Coriolis principle, a measuring tube with medium flowing through it or measuring tubes with a medium flowing through them is/are excited to oscillation by an actuator, which preferably corresponds to an eigenfrequency of the measuring tube in the mounted position. On the input side and output side, inertial forces act differently on the flowing medium in the measuring tube excited to oscillation, and thus, on the measuring tube itself, so that the deflection of the measuring tube is influenced differently on the input and output sides. Usually, two sensors are provided for detecting oscillations, spaced from the actuator on the input and output sides so that, overall, the oscillations of the measuring tube detected by the sensors on the input and output sides have a phase shift that is a direct measure of the mass flow of interest. The measurement, namely the mass flow, is derived from the phase shift using evaluation electronics.
Such Coriolis mass flowmeters have the advantage that they only use one measuring tube, however, the measuring tube is bent into a first winding and a second winding that are opposite one another, i.e., run practically parallel to one another. The actuator acting between the first winding and the second winding deflects the oscillating sections of the first winding and the second winding in opposite directions—i.e., going away from or toward each other—so that the center of mass of the system is maintained overall and external oscillations, i.e., from connections, are practically not noticeable. This advantage is achieved by other Coriolis mass flowmeters that have more than one measuring tube and in which these measuring tubes are correspondingly deflected, however, in Coriolis mass flowmeters having more than one measuring tube, there has to be a transitional section (flow divider) on the input and output sides between a process connection and the multiple measuring tubes, which is omitted in the solution with one measuring tube wound into parallel loops.
When a Coriolis mass flowmeter is built into a piping system, external oscillations—should there be any—are inevitably transferred to the measuring device, which can negatively influence the measurement results because the measurement results are based directly on the oscillations detected by the sensors.
In particular, in small Coriolis mass flowmeters that are provided for the measurement of very small flow amounts, such a coupling of external oscillations is a problem.