A clock management control circuit of the present invention is a clock control circuit for supplying a valid clock signal to a target circuit in accordance with a system clock signal. When a valid input instruction signal indicating timings of data input to the target circuit changes from a disabled state to enabled state, the supply of the clock signal to the target circuit starts in accordance with the system clock signal, and if a valid output instruction signal indicating timings of data output from the target circuit changes from the enabled state to disabled state, the supply of the clock signal is stopped after a lapse of a predetermined time period set externally. The clock control circuit for supplying the valid clock to the target circuit can therefore be used in common for a variety of waveforms of a valid input flag and a valid output flag.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a clock control circuit and an integrated circuit, and more particularly to a clock control circuit for controlling a clock signal to be supplied to a target circuit to reduce a consumption power and to an integrated circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
A clock signal is distributed to flip-flop circuits and the like in an integrated circuit. A flip-flop circuit receives a clock signal in order to hold input data synchronously with the clock signal, and even if the data to be held in the flip-flop circuit does not change, the clock signal changes so that an unnecessary power is consumed. It is therefore desired from the viewpoint of power consumption that a clock signal should be supplied to the target circuit in an integrated circuit only during the necessary and minimum period.
A clock enabler, which is a combination of, e.g., a latch circuit and a logical gate, has been proposed in order to regulate the supply of a clock signal. In this clock enabler, an inverted signal of a clock signal is input to a gate terminal of the latch circuit and an enable signal is input to a data input terminal of the latch circuit, to obtain a corrected enable signal from a data output terminal of the latch circuit. The logical gate generates a logical sum of the corrected enable signal and clock signal to obtain a clock signal with a regulated period. A change in the state of the corrected enable signal occurs only while the clock is in a low level state, so that the waveform (duty ratio) of the clock signal generated by the logical gate is the same as that of the original clock signal. The clock signal with the regulated period can therefore be obtained without being influenced by a timing shift of the original enable signal (for example, refer to FIG. 1 of Japanese Patent Application Publication No. H09-284101).

Clock control circuit and integrated circuit


A layer change control method and an apparatus for an optical medium in which a layer change is accurately performed even where there is a level deviation of a focus actuator error signal (FE). The layer change control method includes measuring a needed time from where a focus point of the optical medium breaks away from a current layer to where the focus point arrives at a desired layer, and controlling a focus driving voltage needed to pull the focus point of the optical medium into the desired layer, and a time to output the focus driving voltage by using the needed time. Therefore, since a layer change can always be accurately performed even where there is a deviation in a FE level, according to the physical characteristic and operational deviation of a focus actuator, a stable disc driving environment can be provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical medium having a dual layer, and more particularly, to an apparatus and a method of controlling a layer change of an optical medium having a dual layer.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, an optical medium is a disc-type recording and reproducing medium. Optical media that are currently available are roughly divided into digital versatile discs (DVDs) and compact discs (CDs). An optical medium having a dual layer has been introduced to satisfy an increasing demand to store more data into an optical medium. Dual layer optical media that are currently available includes a dual layer DVD.
FIG. 1 shows a flowchart illustrating a conventional method of changing a layer in dual layer optical media. That is, where a dual layer optical medium is placed on an optical driver to be driven, and where a layer change of the optical medium is requested, a kick voltage (kick force) Fspk, as shown in FIG. 2, is added to a focus actuator driving signal (focus of drive, FOD) in operation 101. The kick voltage is a kick force which is needed to have a focus point break away from a current layer. Therefore, the focus point begins to break away from the current layer by the FOD, to which the kick voltage is added.
In operation 102, it is monitored whether a level of a generated focus actuator error signal (FE) arrives at a SFok+Fkll level shown in FIG. 2. At this time, the FOD maintains the state in which the kick voltage Fspk is added to the FOD. SFok is a hysteresis level of the FE, and Fkll is the FE level where a break operation of the focus actuator begins. The break operation is an operation to reduce the kick force provided to the focus actuator to pull in the focus point to a target layer.
Where it is determined in the operation 102 that the FE level arrives at the SFok+Fkll level, the monitoring level for the FE level changes to an Fklf level and the FE level is monitored till the FE level arrives at the Fklf level in operation 103. The Fklf level is an FE level corresponding to the end point of a kick interval.
Where it is determined in the operation 103 that the FE level arrives at the Fklf level shown in FIG. 2, the adding of the kick voltage to the FOD stops in operation 104 so as to stop the kick operation. Accordingly, interval t on the FOD shown in FIG. 2 becomes the kick operation interval of the focus actuator.
Where the kick operation interval ends, an FOD having a reference voltage Vref is generated in operation 105. In operation 106, it is monitored whether the FE level arrives at the Fkll level shown in FIG. 2. An interval from a time where the FOD is generated as the reference voltage Vref, to a time where the FE level arrives at the Fkll level, is an inertia interval in which a kick voltage or a brake voltage is not added.
Where it is determined in the operation 106 that the FE level arrives at the Fkll level, an FOD having a brake voltage FkBk is generated in operation 107. Accordingly, the focus actuator begins to perform an operation to reduce the voltage, which arrived at the kick voltage, so as to pull the focus point into a desired layer.
In operation 108, it is monitored whether the FE level arrives at a (3/2) SFok+Fkll level shown in FIG. 2. Where it is determined that the FE level arrives at the (3/2) SFok+Fkll level, the monitoring pointer for the FE level again changes into the SFok+Fkll level in operation 109. Where it is determined in the operation 109 that the FE level arrives at the SFok+Fkll level, the brake operation is processed to stop in operation 110. That is, adding of the brake voltage to the FOD stops. Accordingly, the brake operation interval becomes T′ interval of FIG. 2. Then, the focus actuator performs a focus pulling operation into a corresponding layer in operation 111.
FIG. 3 shows a diagram illustrating a layer change of an optical medium from layer 0 to layer 1. From focus point A, a kick voltage Fspk is added to a FOD for a kick interval (t) so that the focus point of the focus actuator breaks away from the layer 0. Then, during an inertia interval T, only a reference voltage is generated in the FOD. Thereafter, from a focus point B, a brake voltage FkBk is added to the FOD for a brake interval T′ so as to pull a focus point C into the layer 1.
However, since predetermined voltage values are used as the kick voltage and the brake voltage which control the layer change, if a deviation occurs in the FE level and the FE waveform, according to the sensitivity of the focus actuator, the location of a pickup, and the type of the optical medium, or if there is a difference between FE levels generated in an inner circumference and an outer circumference of the optical medium, the focus point cannot be accurately detected. Accordingly, a focus drop occurs and the layer change fails.

Method and apparatus for controlling layer change of optical media


A method of providing an extension mechanism to an schema editor such that custom properties may be defined for nodes within an XSD schema. The custom properties allow the schema editor to define characteristics of non-XML data within XSD schemas in a standard fashion. The XSD schemas may then be used to parse and validate instance data that is not natively in XML format, such as flat files.

More and more businesses are exchanging data and processing documents electronically. This creates problems as electronic documents may have may different and often incompatible formats due to requirements of legacy backend systems. One solution to this problem is to ensure that all documents are of a particular type, for example Extensible Markup Language (XML). Extensible Markup Language (XML) and XML-based schema languages enable one to describe and exchange structured information between collaborating applications or business partners in a platform and middleware-neutral manner. As a result, many industry initiatives have started to adopt XML and XML-based schema languages to specify both their vocabularies and content models. These schemas are becoming widely published and implemented to facilitate communication between both applications and businesses.
However, it is often not possible to convert or upgrade systems to operate using XML. Many proprietary systems cannot be updated in a cost effective manner, resulting in interoperability issues. A solution to this problem is found in the BizTalk Server, available from Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash., which addresses these interoperability challenges in a platform and technology-neutral manner. It provides specifications for the design and development of XML-based messaging solutions for communication between applications and organizations. BizTalk is capable of receiving documents submitted through a wide variety of media, such as HTTP, SMTP, and SOAP; as e-mail attachments; through the message bus; programmatically through exposed APIs; and through adapter components. The BizTalk Server receive functions monitor HTTP, MSMQ message queues, and file locations for incoming business documents. The receive functions are responsible for submitting the received documents on to a processing pipeline, the second step in the process.
A BizTalk Server processing pipeline is set up to receive incoming documents that conform to a specific document definition, which defines the ordering of the business data within the document. When the document arrives through a receive function, a processing pipeline can log the whole document or any portion of it to the BizTalk Document Tracking database for later analysis, or transform the document to conform to the schema of the target application. After documents are received and mapped to the format of the target application, they are delivered either directly to that application or to a business process that manages delivery to multiple target applications.
However, with all the functionality that BizTalk offers, it does not provide a simple method of allowing third parties to define and modify XML schemas (e.g., XSD) to represent non-XML data, such as, flat files, EDI files, X12 files, etc. that may be received by the server. The present invention provides such a solution.


A textile treatment process, treatment bath, and treated fabric are disclosed. The process imparts water repellant, stain resistant, and wrinkle-free properties as well as aesthetically pleasing hand properties to a fabric made in whole or in part of fibers having a hydroxyl group, such as cellulosic fibers, though immersion in an aqueous bath and subsequent heating for curing. The aqueous treatment bath contains a urea resin, polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) and, preferably, fluoroalkyl acrylate copolymer.

The present invention relates to the treatment of textiles, and more particularly to a treatment bath which provides a fabric having water repellant, stain resistant, and wrinkle-free properties. Most particularly, the present invention relates to a bath for producing water repellant, stain resistant, and wrinkle-free fabrics which display excellent hand and feel.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,856,245 discloses an example of a barrier web comprising a fabric that has been treated with a curable shear thinned thixotropic polymer composition, the fabric being substantially impermeable to liquids, permeable to gases and impermeable to all microorganisms.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,869,172 discloses an example of processes for treating a porous substrate which involves controlled placement of modifiers through the manipulation of chemical and physical properties inherent in the modifiers to produce internally coated porous materials. The treatment involves impregnating the porous substrate with a curable thixotropic material and one or more modifying materials to impart desired properties.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,874,164 and 5,912,116 provide examples of a barrier web comprising a fabric that has been treated with a curable shear thinned thixotropic polymer composition. The fabric is substantially impermeable to liquids, permeable to gases and impermeable to all microorganisms. The barrier webs are either impermeable to all microorganisms or are impermeable to microorganisms of certain sizes. These patents also disclose fabrics that are capable of selectively binding certain microorganisms, particles or molecules depending upon the binding agents incorporated into the polymer before application to the fabric.
The present invention is directed to a textile treatment process that imparts water repellant, stain resistant, and wrinkle-free properties as well as aesthetically pleasing hand properties to a fabric made in whole or in part of fibers having a hydroxyl group, such as cellulosic fibers. The present invention is also directed to the resultant fabric of the process.
The fabrics are treated by immersion into an aqueous bath thereby applying a controlled amount of the bath to the fabric. The fabrics are then preferably dried to their natural regain, and pressed to remove unwanted wrinkles. Thereafter heat is applied to cure the reactants.
The aqueous bath is preferably formulated to apply to the fabric 8% to 14% by weight of the fabric of a reactive modified ethylene urea resin solution and 4% to 10% by weight of a crosslinking polytetrafluorethylene additive which is at least 25% by weight polytetrafluorethylene. Upon immersion of a fabric which has fibers having a hydroxyl group, such as cellulosic fibers, and subsequent heating, the urea resin reacts with the hydroxyl group and forms crosslinks with the polytetrafluorethylene to impart the desired properties to the fabric.
Alternatively, the bath is formulated to apply 0.6% to 3.3% by weight of the fabric of a urea resin, preferably DMDHEU, 0.3% to 1.5% polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE), and 1 to 4% fluoroalkyl acrylate copolymer. A bonding reaction between the urea resin and the hydroxyl group on the fabric is initiated upon immersion of the fabric and strengthened when heat is applied during the drying and curing processes.
Preferably, the bath contains a buffer to maintain pH in a range of 3.5 to 5.5 and a catalyst to speed the reaction.
Objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description which describes a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Bath for producing wrinkle free-water resistant fabrics and garments


An apparatus for adding cordless handset capability to an existing corded telephone is disclosed. A cordless handset replaces the corded handset of the existing corded telephone. The cordless handset includes a wireless transmitter, a wireless receiver, a battery to provide power to the cordless handset, and a battery charging connector. A cradle insert forms a substitute handset cradle over the original handset cradle of the corded telephone. The substitute handset cradle receives the cordless handset when it is not in use. Charging contacts are provided on the substitute handset cradle to charge the batteries of the cordless handset. The substitute cradle allows operation of the hook switch of the corded telephone when the cordless handset is placed into the substitute cradle.

1. The Field of the Invention
This invention relates to cordless telephone devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus and methods for adding cordless handset capability to an existing corded telephone.
2. The Prior Art
The telephone has become an indispensable part of a modern society. Voice communications between people separated by thousands of miles has become commonplace. Telephone service has become so pervasive that mobile telephone service is available in automobiles and commercial aircraft and portable telephones may be carried and used by a person nearly any place a person might want to venture.
The availability of mobile (installed in a vehicle or craft of some type) and portable (battery operated and self contained) telephones has caused consumers to expect instant telephone communications service wherever they roam. In many areas, large numbers of residences now have one or more cordless telephones. Consumers have now come to expect that the freedom which a mobile, portable, or cordless telephone provides will be available everywhere.
When a mobile, portable, or cordless telephone is not available, corded telephones still continue to be widely used. A corded telephone includes a base housing the necessary electrical circuitry and providing a keypad or rotary dial set. The corded base unit has a line jack which is interconnected by wires or cable to a telephone network. The corded base unit also provides a handset jack which is connected by wires or a cable to a handset having a handset receiver and a handset transmitter.
In contrast to a corded telephone, a cordless telephone is one which comprises a handset which includes a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver which communicate with a cordless base which includes a corresponding wireless transmitter and receiver. The base unit has a line jack which is connected by wires or cables to a telephone network as in the case of a corded telephone.
With a cordless telephone, a user can roam distances from the base unit without the restrictions imposed by the handset cord. In comparison, the user of a corded telephone is limited in the distance from the base unit that can be traveled by the length of the cord between the handset and the base unit. Moreover, the handset cord often becomes inconveniently tangled.
While cordless telephones have become commonplace in residential use, cordless telephones are not widely used in business applications. This is so even though users of business telephone systems have long desired cordless telephones in their business settings.
One reason for the lack of cordless telephone capability in business settings is that the capital investment in existing corded business telephone equipment is very substantial. Due to the large capital investment in corded telephone equipment, prudent business people are hesitant to discard existing corded telephone equipment merely to add cordless handset capability to an existing business telephone system. Moreover, in most business settings, a business telephone must interconnect with a business' telephone system rather than with the local telephone network. Thus, a business user must find a cordless business telephone which is compatible with the existing business telephone system or face the choice of replacing or modifying the business telephone system to add cordless handset capability.
In view of the above described problems in the prior art, it would be an advance in the art to provide a system and method for economically adding cordless handset capability to an existing corded telephone without making any permanent modifications to the existing corded telephone. It would also be an advance in the art to provide a system and method for adding cordless handset capability to an existing corded telephone which takes a minimum of time to install on the existing corded telephone and does not require any internal modification to the telephone or to the telephone system to which it is connected.

Apparatus and method for adding cordless handset capability to an existing corded telephone


A temperature compensation circuit for generating a temperature compensating reference voltage (VREF) may include a Bandgap reference circuit configured to generate a Bandgap reference voltage (VBGR) that is substantially temperature independent and a proportional-to-absolute-temperature reference voltage (VPTAT) that varies substantially in proportion to absolute temperature. The circuit may also include an operational amplifier that is connected to the Bandgap reference circuit and that has an output on which VREF is based. The circuit may also include a feedback circuit that is connected to the operational amplifier and to the Bandgap reference circuit and that is configured so as to cause VREF to be substantially equal to VPTAT times a constant k1, minus VBGR times a constant k2.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates to temperature compensation of metal resistors embodied in semi-conductor chips. More specifically, this disclosure relates to circuits for generating a temperature compensating reference voltage, as well as layouts and trimming techniques for such circuits.
2. Description of Related Art
Metal resistors are used in semi-conductor chips for a variety of purposes. In some applications, the metal resistor serves to sense an operating parameter of the circuit, such as the amount of current that is being delivered to a battery while it is being charged and/or removed from it while it is being used.
The resistance of metal resistors typically fluctuates as a function of temperature. Such changes typically occur because of heat generated by the metal resistor, by other components, and/or by other sources. These temperature-dependent deviations in the resistance of the metal resistor can adversely affect the accuracy of its sensing and, in turn, the performance of related circuit functions.
One approach to addressing this issue has been to apply a temperature-compensating voltage to an appropriate point in the circuit to compensate for variations in the resistance of the metal, resistor as a function of temperature. As the resistance increases because of increasing temperature, so does the compensating voltage. When applied appropriately, the temperature-compensating voltage can reduce errors that would otherwise be caused by temperature deviations in resistance.
One typical approach for generating a temperature-compensating voltage is to use what is known as a delta Vbe voltage reference circuit. Such a circuit generates a voltage that varies in proportion to absolute temperature, i.e., a proportional-to-absolute-temperature ("PTAT") voltage. Unfortunately, PTAT voltages typically have a temperature-dependent curve which, when extrapolated, reaches zero volts at 0 Kelvin. The resistance of metal resistors, on the other hand, typically has a temperature-dependent curve which, when extrapolated, reaches zero ohms other than at 0 Kelvin. These differences in zero crossing locations can reduce the ability of a PTAT voltage to accurately compensate for deviations in the resistance of a metal resistor caused by temperature variations.

Circuit, trim and layout for temperature compensation of metal resistors in semi-conductor chips


An immunoassay for the detection of an analyte in a sample includes a plurality of moieties capable of binding to the analyte. Capture moieties, which are not specific for the same epitope, are bound to a solid substrate, and at least one epitope-specific detection moiety is bound to a detectable marker. The detectable marker is a large particle marker having a particle size of ≥50 nm and ≤5000 nm.

Immunoassays are widely used in health care and other fields to determine the presence or absence of specific molecules, such as proteins, hormones, DNA, RNA or enzymes.
A well-known immunoassay method used to determine the concentration of a specific target (the antigen) in a body fluid is the so-called "Enzyme linked immunoassay" (ELISA). Therein, analytes from a sample are immobilized on a solid support, and then an antibody specific to said analyte is added to the solid support, so that it can bind to the latter. The said antibody is linked to an enzyme. A substrate which can be converted by the enzyme in such way that a detectable moiety is produced, e.g. a fluorophore, is then added to the solid support. After a washing step, the solid substrate undergoes a treatment which allows detection of the detectable moiety, e.g. on a fluorescence reader. Thus, it can be determined whether or not the analyte was present in the sample.
A sandwich immunoassay comprises two antibodies that bind to different, non overlapping epitopes on the antigen. A first antibody (the capture antibody) is bound to a solid support and then the sample containing the antigen is added to allow complex formation between antigen and capture antibody. Unbound molecules are removed in a washing step, and then the labeled second antibody (detection antibody) is added and allowed to bind to the complex of capture antibody and antigen, thus forming the "sandwich". After a washing step to remove unbound detection antibodies the quantity of the target molecule is determined by measuring the amount of labeled detection antibody. A number of labeling techniques are used including fluorescence, chemiluminescence, radioactive or magnetic labels.
In most cases, two monoclonal antibodies are used that recognize different sites of the target. In another variant, a combination of a monoclonal capture antibody and an affinity-purified polyclonal detection antibody that has been raised against a different epitope on the antigen is used.
In health care many different molecules are measured to diagnose or monitor a disease. For example the Glucose content in the blood is measured to monitor diabetes. Glucose is a molecule that is present in the blood at relatively high concentration of about of several hundred μg to about 1 mg per mL, corresponding to concentrations lying in the range of about 3 to 6 millimol per mL. The measuring device is provided in form of a handheld device comprising a test strip.
In contrast thereto, other molecules, like the biomarker NT-proBNP, which is used to monitor heart failure, are present in the blood at significantly lower concentrations. In healthy patients, NT-proBNP is present in the blood at concentrations of about 20 pg-150 pg/mL, corresponding to about 24-176 picomol/mL. Values above 500 pg/mL are generally considered to be indicative for acute congestive heart failure (CHF).
Currently, measuring very low concentrations of biomarkers for the diagnosis of disease (for example, cardiovascular disease) requires laboratory analysis, large sample volumes and a time-to-result delay of between 15 minutes and several hours. Although these tests are compact benchtop tests, the relatively long turn around time and large sample volume makes them unsuitable for more demanding environments such as hospital emergency departments, physician's offices and ambulances, where small sample volumes, ease of use, speed and high sensitivity are required.

Highly sensitive immunoassay with large particle labels


An HVAC assembly for a vehicle. The HVAC assembly has an HVAC case with a rear blower and an evaporator. A rear blower scroll directs airflow generated by the rear blower to a lower portion of the evaporator. An airflow conduit is configured to direct airflow generated by a front blower to an upper portion of the evaporator. An airflow divider separates airflow generated by the rear blower from airflow generated by the front blower. The airflow divider divides the HVAC case into an upper area above the divider and a lower area below the divider. A defrost outlet and a front face outlet are at the upper area of the HVAC case above the divider. A front foot outlet and a rear airflow outlet are at the lower area of the HVAC case below the divider.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure, which is not necessarily prior art.
Vehicle heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems include a front blower for circulating airflow. In some vehicles, only the front blower is included. In other vehicles, such as large vehicles with third row seating, a rear blower is included in addition to the front blower for circulating airflow about a rear of the vehicle. While current HVAC systems are suitable for their intended use, they are subject to improvement. The present disclosure provides for an improved HVAC system including at least the advantages and unexpected results set forth herein.

Vehicle heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system


Disclosed are various embodiments for time based network addresses. A network packet is received over a network by a first computing device from a second computing device. The network packet contains a time-dependent destination address for a third computing device, such as a time-dependent internet protocol version 6 (IPv6) address. The time-dependent destination address contains a time-dependent checksum based at least in part on a current time and an encryption key associated with the third computing device. The checksum is validated upon receipt. In response to a determination that the checksum is valid, the network packet is forwarded to the third computing device.

Network addresses are often associated with a device for an extended period of time. For example, once a network address is assigned to a device, the device may keep the network address for as long as the device is connected to the network. This can simplify network administration. However, once a network address is discovered by a malicious actor, the computing device to which the network address is assigned may continue to be attacked by the malicious actor indefinitely. For example, the malicious actor may launch a denial of service (DoS) or distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack destined for the network address and to which the network address is assigned.


A photosolder resist composition of the invention is characterized by containing (A) a resin containing radical polymerization groups and carboxyl groups obtained by adding a cyclic ether group of a cyclic ether group-containing vinyl monomer to a carboxylic group of a radical copolymer containing at least isobornyl (meth) acrylate and a carboxyl group-containing vinyl monomer as monomer units; (B) an inorganic filler; and (C) a photocurable mixture of a polyfunctional acrylic monomer (c1), a cyclic ether group-containing compound (c2), and a photopolymerization initiator (c3).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a photosolder resist composition which can be alkali developed, and also to a solder resist film formed using the composition.
2. Related Art
As a method for applying a solder to predetermined pares of a printed circuit board, generally employed is a method for forming a solder resist pattern on a printed circuit board. A solder resist is for applying a solder to the parts where the pattern is not formed and preventing solder from applying to the parts where the pattern is formed, and at the same time protecting the circuit in the parts where the pattern is formed.
Mounting electronic parts on a printed circuit board has recently been densified and a solder resist is required to be fine. Hence, a method for patterning a solder resist by photolithographic method tends to become a general method and for such a purpose, a liquid photosolder resist has been employed.
As such a photosolder resist composition, Japanese Patent No. 2868190 discloses a modified epoxy resin obtained by adding acrylic acid to a polyfunctional epoxy resin and adding an acid anhydride to a hydroxyl group produced by the reaction is used.
However, such a modified epoxy resin has a problem that the resin is inferior in acid resistance and alkaline resistance since the resin contains an ester bond easy to be hydrolyzed in a molecule. Therefore, there occurs a problem that defects are easily caused in a gold plating process to be carried out thereafter. Further, since brittleness is high, there is another problem of inferior thermal impact resistance. Furthermore, owing to the epoxy-modified resin, a high cost is also a problem.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 191737 (2000) proposes an acrylic resin-based photosolder resist. However, since the acrylic resin-based resist has high hydrophilicity, the resist has a problem that it is inferior in water resistance and electric properties
The purpose of the invention is to provide a photosolder resist composition excellent in gold plating resistance, thermal impact resistance, and electric insulating properties and to provide a solder resist film formed using the composition.
The photosolder resist composition of the invention contains (A) a resin containing radical polymerization groups and carboxyl groups obtained by adding a cyclic ether group of a cyclic ether group-containing vinyl monomer to a carboxylic group of a radical polymer containing at least isobornyl (meth)acrylate and a carboxyl group-containing vinyl monomer as monomer units; (B) an inorganic filler; and (C) a photocurable mixture of a polyfunctional acrylic monomer (c1), compound containing a cyclic ether group (c2), and a photopolymerization initiator (c3).
The photosolder resist composition of the invention is excellent in acid resistance and alkaline resistance, and consequently excellent in gold plating resistance and at the same time in thermal impact resistance and electric insulating properties since the composition contains the above-described resin (A), inorganic filler (B) and photocurable mixture (C).
The resin (A) is preferable to have double bonds of 0.1xc3x9710xe2x88x923 to 3.0xc3x9710xe2x88x923 mol/g. In addition, the content of the carboxyl group (acid value) is preferably 30 to 200 mgKOH/g.
The ratio of the carboxyl group in the resin (A) and the cyclic ether group in the photocurable mixture (C), that is, in the compound (c2) is preferably (1.3/0.7) to (0.7/1.3) by mole.
Further, the solder resist composition of the invention may further contain a coloring pigment.
The content of the inorganic filler (B) is preferably 5 to 75 parts by weight in 100 parts by weight of solid content of the entire photosolder resist composition of the invention.
Further, in the invention, the resin (A) may be neutralized by a base and made water-soluble.
The solder resist film of the invention is obtained by applying the photosolder resist composition of the invention to a substrate, drying at 50 to 90xc2x0 C., exposing by activation energy beam, removing and developing non-exposed parts with an alkaline washing solution, and heating and curing the photocured parts at 140 to 170xc2x0 C.
Hereinafter, detailed description will be given respectively for the resin (A), i.e. the first component, the inorganic filler (B), i.e. the second component, and the photocurable mixture (C), i.e the third component, of the photosolder resist composition of the invention.
The first component contained in the photosolder resist composition of the invention is a resin containing a radical polymerization group and a carboxyl group, and can be obtained by ring-opening addition of a cyclic ether group of a cyclic ether group-containing vinyl monomer to a carboxylic group of a radical copolymer containing at least isobornyl (meth) acrylate and a carboxyl group-containing vinyl monomer as monomer units. The content of isobornyl (meth)acrylate contained in the resin (A) is preferably 10 to 50% by weight and further preferably 15 to 35% by weight. If less than 10% by weight, the tack property and the thermal resistance may be insufficient and if more than 50% by weight, the brittleness may become too high.
Examples of the carboxyl group-containing vinyl monomer are acrylic acid, methacrylic acid and the like. As an example of the cyclic ether group-containing vinyl monomer, glycidyl methacrylate is typical one and also usable is 3,4-epoxycyclohexyl methacrylate, disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 191737(2000). However, from a viewpoint of an addition reactivity, the material cost and the like, glycidyl methacrylate is especially preferable to be used.
The resin (A) containing a radical polymerization group and a carboxyl group contains at least one radical polymerization group and carboxyl group in one molecule, in which the double bonds are preferably 0.1xc3x9710xe2x88x923 to 3.0xc3x9710xe2x88x923 mol/g and further preferably 1.0xc3x9710xe2x88x923 to 3.0xc3x9710xe2x88x923 mol/g, and the content of the carboxyl group is preferably 30 to 200 mgKOH/g. If the double bonds are less than 1.0xc3x9710xe2x88x923 mol/g, the photocurable property of the obtained resist may become insufficient so that there is possibility to result in deterioration of adhesion and thermal resistance at the time of development, and if they are more than to 3.0xc3x9710xe2x88x923 mol/g, not only the film strength may become brittle but also the resolution property may be deteriorated. Further, if the content of the carboxyl group is less than 30 mgKOH/g, the alkaline development property may be deteriorated, and if it more than 200 mgKOH/g, even the exposed parts may be dissolved. The double bonds are further preferably 1.5xc3x9710xe2x88x923 to 2.7xc3x9710xe2x88x923 mol/g and the content of the carboxyl group is further preferably 70 to 120 mgKOH/g.
The number average molecular weight of the resin (A) is preferably 2,000 to 40,000. If it is less than 2,000, the heat resistance of the obtained resist may be insufficient, and if it is more than 40,000, the viscosity may become too high and there sometimes occurs a problem on the workability at the time of producting the composition.
In the invention, a base may be added to the resin (A) to neutralize the carboxyl group so as to use the resin (A) as an aqueous solution. The above-described base is not particularly restricted and usable are well-known neutralization agents for carboxylic group, for example, inorganic substances such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, and lithium hydroxide; and amine compounds such as triethylamine and dimethylethanolamine. The amount of the above-described base is properly determined corresponding to the molecular weight of the resin (A) and the content of the carboxyl group and may be proper to make the resin (A) water soluble and, for example, the amount may be set to be sufficient to neutralize 30 to 200% (0.3 to 2 mole) of that of carboxyl group.
The second component contained in the aqueous photosolder resist composition of the invention is an inorganic filler. The inorganic filler is used to improve the heat resistance of the resist and usable are well known substances such as barium sulfate, finely powdered silicon carbide, amorphous silica, talc, mica and the like. Additionally, the above-described inorganic filler includes a well-known fire retardant. Incidentally, the above-described inorganic filler can be dispersed by a known method in the presence of the resin (A)
The amount of the above-described inorganic filler is determined as a ratio to the entire solid content of the photosolder resist composition of the invention. The ratio will be described later in the description of the photosolder resist composition.
The third component contained in the photosolder resist composition of the invention is a mixture of a polyfunctional acrylic monomer (c1), a compound containing cyclic ether group (c2), and a photopolymerization initiator (c3).
 less than Polyfunctional acrylic monomer (c1) greater than
The above-described polyfunctional acrylic monomer (c1) may be any compound having two or more polymerization groups (for example, acryloyl group or methacryloyl group) in one molecule, and it is possible to make photocuring for patterning by including the polyfunctional acrylic monomer (c1). Practical examples of the above-described polyfunctional acrylic monomer (c1) are pentaerythritol triacrylate, dipentaerythritol pentacrylate, polyethylene glycol diacrylate, polypropylene glycol diacrylate, trimethylolpropane triacrylate, pentaerythritol tetraacrylate, dipentaerythritol hexacrylate and methacrylates corresponding to the above-described acrylates. They may be used solely or in combination of two or more of them.
 less than Cyclic ether group-containing compound (c2) greater than
The above-described compound containing cyclic ether group (c2) is to be heated to cause curing reaction with the carboxyl group of the resist composition [mainly of the resin (A)]. Examples of those which the cyclic ether group is glycidyl are well-known compounds such as bisphenol type, phenol novolak type, cresol novolak type, epoxylated polybutadiene and the like. A variety of compounds are commercialized as those having alicyclic epoxy group and examples are Celloxide series, Epoleed series, Cyclomer series and their polymers sold by Daicel Chem. Ind., Ltd. Further, as those having oxetane group, sold by Toagosei Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. are Aron Oxcetane series. Among them, taking the storage stability of a mono-liquid state mixture of (A), (B) and (C) into consideration, preferable are those having 2 or more alicyclic epoxy groups or oxetane groups in one molecule, whose reaction rate is slow as compared with those having glycidyl groups and especially preferably are those having 3 or more of the groups.
 less than Photopolymerization initiator (c3) greater than
As the above-described photopolymerization initiator (c3), well-known compounds may be used. Practical examples are benzoin and benzoin alkyl ethers such as benzoin, benzoin methyl ether, benzoin ethyl ether, benzoin propyl ether and the like; acetophenones such as acetophenone, 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone, 2,2-diethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone, 1,1-dichloroacetophenone and the like; aminoacetophenones such as 2-methyl-1-[4-(methylthio)phenyl]-2-morpholinopropanone-1,2-benzyl-2-dimethylamino-1-(4-morpholinophenyl)-butancne-1, N,N-dimethylaminoacetophenone and the like; anthraquinones such as 2-methylanthraquinone, 2-ethylanthraquinone, 2-tert-butylanthraquinone, 1-chloroanthraquinone and the like; thioxanthones such as 2,4-dimethylthioxanthone, 2,4-diethylthioxanthone, 2-chlorothioxanthone, 2,4-diisopropylthioxanthone and the like; ketals such as acetochenone dimethyl ketal., benzyl dimethyl ketal and the like; benzophenones or xanthones such as benzophenone, 4,4xe2x80x2-bisdiethylaminobenzophenone and the like; and phosphine oxide such as 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyldiphenylphosphine oxide. These compounds may be used solely or as a mixture of two or more of them and further, a tertiary amines such as triethanolamine and a photoinitiator promotor such as ethyl dimethylaminobenzoate may be added to use.
The weight ratios of the above-described polyfunctional acrylic monomer (c1), compound containing cyclic ether group (c2), and photopolymerization initiator (c3) in the photocurable mixture contained in the photosolder resist composition of the invention are determined as the ratios to the entire solid content contained in the photosolder resist composition of the invention. The ratios will be described later in the description of the photosolder resist composition.
Further, the above-described photocurable mixture may further contain a compound containing an amino group such as dicyanediamide, and melamine and blocked isocyanate and the like which are reacted with a cyclic ether group, other than the above-described components.
The photosolder resist composition of the invention contains (A) a resin containing radical polymerization groups and carboxyl groups obtained by adding a cyclic ether group of a cyclic ether group-containing vinyl monomer to a carboxylic group of a radical copolymer containing at least isobornyl (meth) acrylate and a carboxyl group-containing vinyl monomer as monomer units; (B) an inorganic filler; and (C) a photocurable mixture of a polyfunctional acrylic monomer (c1) a compound containing a cyclic ether group (c2), and a photopolymerization initiator (c3).
The photosolder resist composition of the invention can be obtained by mixing the above-described components by a method well known by skilled in the art. At that time, the ratios of the respective components preferably satisfy the following conditions in order to improve the capabilities of the resist composition and the resist obtained from the composition.
At first, the ratio of the carboxyl groups of the resin (A) to the cyclic ether groups of the photocurable mixture (C) is preferably from (1.3/0.7) to (0.7/1.3) by mole ratio. If the ratio is out of the range, the cross-linking degree may not be increased, thereby resulting in insufficient heat resistance. Further, the ratio is more preferably from (1.15/0.85) to (0.85/1.15).
Next, the inorganic filler (B) is preferably in a ratio of 5 to 75 parts by weight to 100 parts by weight of the entire solid content of the photosolder resist composition of the invention. If less than 5 parts by weight, in some cases, the effect of preventing the heat resistance and curing shrinkage becomes insufficient and if more than 75 parts by weight, in some cases, the development property is deteriorated. The ratio is more preferably 15 to 60 parts by weight.
The polyfunctional acrylic monomer (c1) contained in the photocurable mixture (C) is preferably in a ratio of 2.0 to 15.0 parts by weight to 100 parts by weight of the entire solid content of the photosolder resist composition of the invention. If less than 2.0 parts by weight, in some cases, the photocurable property is insufficient and if more than 15.0 parts by weight, in some cases, the cold heat impact resistance is deteriorated.
On the other hand, the photopolymerization initiator (c3) contained in the photocurable mixture (C) is preferably in a ratio of 0.5 to 7.5 parts by weight to 100 parts by weight of the entire solid content of the photosolder resist composition of the invention. If less than 0.5 parts by weight, in some cases, the photocurable property is insufficient and if more than 7.5 parts by weight, in some cases, the hardness of a film is possibly lowered since the polymerization degree is too low at the time of photocuring. The ratio is more preferably 1.0 to 5.0 parts by weight.
The compound containing the cyclic ether group (c2) contained in the photocurable mixture (C) is preferably in ratio of 5.0 to 15 parts by weight to 100 parts by weight of the entire solid content of the photosolder resist composition of the invention. If less than 5.0 parts by weight, in some cases, the heat resistance is insufficient owing to low curing density and if more than 15 parts by weight, in some cases, the cured film becomes brittle. Further, the ratio is more preferably 7.5 to 12.0 parts by weight.
The photosolder resist composition of the invention may contain an internal solvent other than the above-described components based on necessity. The solvent is used as an assisting agent for making a film even and capable of dissolving the oil components among the above-described components therein and has a boiling point of 120 to 250xc2x0 C., preferably 135 to 200xc2x0 C., and practical examples are propylene alycol diacetate, dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether, propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate and the like. In the case of using such an internal solvent, it is added preferably in 100 parts by weight or lower, more preferably in 25 parts by weight or lower, to 100 parts by weight of the entire solid content of the photosolder resist composition of the invention.
Further, the photosolder resist composition of the invention may contain a coloring pigment. As the coloring pigment, usable are well-know pigments such as phthalocyanine copper, phthalocyanine chloride, Quinacridine Red and the like. In the case of including a coloring pigment, the pigment is added preferably in a ratio of 0.02 to 4.0 parts by weight to 100 parts by weight of the entire solid content of the photosolder resist composition of the invention. If less than 0.02 parts by weight, in some cases, the coloring property is insufficient and if more than 4.0 parts by weight, in some cases, the film is possibly parted at the time of development owing to deterioration of the photocurable property. The ratio is more preferably 0.05 to 1.0 parts by weight.
The photosolder resist composition of the invention can be obtained by mixing the above-described components and generally, at first the resin (A) is produced and then the inorganic filler (B) and if necessary a coloring pigment are added to the resin and then the respective components of the photocurable mixture (C) and an internal solvent if necessary are added and the resulting mixture is made uniform. In form of products, possible are two-liquid mixture type ones consisting of a mixture of the resin (A) and the inorganic filler (B) and the photocurable mixture (C), and one-liquid type ones containing all of the resin (A), the inorganic filler (B) and the photocurable mixture (C).
The photosolder resist composition of the invention may be used while being emulsified by neutralizing the resin (A) with a base and making the resin water soluble, removing the solvent contained in the resin based on necessity, adding the inorganic filler (B) and a coloring pigment if necessary and dispersing them, and after that, adding the respective components of the photocurable mixture (C) and an internal solvent based on necessity. Since the water-soluble photosolder resist composition can be used while using a lessened amount of a solvent, it is extremely advantageous from the viewpoint of scarce malodor emission and good working environments. The particle diameter of the emulsion of the photosolder resist composition of the invention obtained in such a manner is preferably 0.1 to 10.0 xcexcm and more preferably 0.3 to 2.0 xcexcm in the surface area average particle diameter. If it is smaller than 0.1 xcexcm, it may be difficult to produce and if it is larger than 10.0 xcexcm, precipitation or flocculation of particles sometimes takes place.
The ratio of the solid content of the photosolder resist composition of the invention is preferably 30 to 90% by weight and more preferably 40 to 70% by weight. If it is less than 30% by weight, the economical efficiency may be slight and if it is more than 90% by weight, it may be difficult to produce since the viscosity becomes too high.
The photosolder resist composition of the invention is applied to a base material such as a substrate and generally dried at 50 to 90xc2x0 C. After drying, activation energy beam such as UV ray is radiated to carry out exposure and the non-exposed parts are developed and removed with an alkaline washing solution and further the photocured parts are heated at, for example, 140 to 170xc2x0 C. to promote thermal curing and obtain a solder resist film.


The present invention provides an optical switch for making part of incident light, which has been made incident on an optical waveguide, selectively emergent to a light emergence portion provided outside the optical waveguide. The optical switch includes a liquid crystal device for selective emergence of the incident light. An arbitrary layer of the liquid crystal device is set such that letting xcex94n be a difference between a refractive index n0 of the optical waveguide and a refractive index n1 of the arbitrary layer of the liquid crystal device, xe2x80x9cdxe2x80x9d be a thickness of the arbitrary layer, and xcex be a wavelength of the incident light, the values of xcex94n, xe2x80x9cdxe2x80x9d, and xcex satisfy a condition of 2.20xc3x9710xe2x88x923xe2x89xa6|xcex94nxc2x7dxc2x7xcexxe2x88x921|xe2x89xa63.03xc3x9710xe2x88x923. With this optical switch, the uniformity of a light emergence efficiency can be easily realized by making use of a small change region in which the light emergence efficiency is not largely varied. The present invention also provides a display unit using the optical switches.

The present invention relates to an optical switch for making light in an optical waveguide selectively emergent therefrom, and a display unit on which the optical switches are arrayed.
In home televisions, a cathode-ray tube having a mechanism of emitting light by exciting phosphors with electron beams is used as a display. In liquid crystal displays, a light transmittance is changed by varying a polarization characteristic of liquid crystal. In these liquid crystal displays, a color of white light is selected by using a filter. In plasma displays, phosphors are excited with ultraviolet rays generated by plasma.
By the way, television receivers have disadvantages that a depth of a cathode-ray tube is long, thereby making it impossible to realize a thin display, and that the weight of the cathode-ray tube is heavy. A further disadvantage of the television receivers is that since light emission is obtained by exciting phosphors, a half-width of an emission spectrum of each of three primary colors is large, to degrade a color purity and a color reproducing characteristic. Liquid crystal displays have a disadvantage that since a half-width of an emission spectrum determined by a color filter is also large, to degrade a color purity and a color reproducing characteristic. Plasma displays have disadvantages that since light emission is obtained by exciting phosphors like cathode-ray tubes, a half-width of each emission spectrum is large, to degrade a color purity and a color reproducing characteristic, and that it is not easy to adjust gradation of an image.
On the other hand, as display units utilizing photonics, there are known display units using optical waveguides. Such a display unit, however, has a problem that a contrast ratio of light emergent in response to turn-on/turn-off of an optical switching device, that is, an optical switch such as liquid crystal is low. Further, an optical switch having a structure in which light transmissive layers are stacked has another problem that a slight change in light emergence efficiency depending on a thickness and a refractive index of each layer of the stacked structure may exert a large effect on an uniformity of the entire light emergence efficiency, and therefore, it is expected to provide an optical switch capable of easily realizing the uniformity of a light emergence efficiency.
An optical switch composed of an optical waveguide including at least a cladding layer, and a light directivity coupler having an electrode film, an alignment control film, and ferroelectric liquid crystal filled between a pair of substrates is known, for example, from Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 8-36196. The design of this optical switch aims that a coupling efficiency (light emergence efficiency) becomes 1, that is, a transfer rate of light becomes 100% by optimizing a refractive index of liquid crystal, and with respect to such design of the optical switch, the above document describes that the coupling efficiency can reach 98% by setting an effective refractive index of liquid crystal to 1.523.
An optical switch designed to pursue a high coupling efficiency as the optical switch described in the above document, however, has a problem. Namely, a refractive index of each component such as ferroelectric liquid crystal, an optical waveguide, an electrode film, or an alignment control film may be deviated from a design value due to variations which occur depending on a thickness and a material characteristic of each layer in production steps, and if the refractive index of a component is deviated from a design value, then such a deviation cannot be canceled only by adjusting a refractive index of ferroelectric liquid crystal, and the coupling efficiency is largely degraded as the deviation in the refractive index of the component from the design value becomes large, thereby failing to obtain the uniformity of a light emergence efficiency.
An object of the present invention is to provide an optical switch capable of significantly improving a contrast ratio, obtaining a clear, bright image, and easily realizing the uniformity of a light emergence efficiency, and to provide a display unit using the optical switches.
To achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical switch for making part of incident light, which contains a specific polarized light component and has been made incident on an optical waveguide, selectively emergent from the optical waveguide to a light emergence portion provided outside the optical waveguide, the optical switch including: a multi-layer structure composed of a plurality of light transmissive layer; wherein letting "sgr" be a refractive index control accuracy at the time of producing the multi-layer structure, a refractive index of at least one light transmissive layer in the multi-layer structure is different from a refractive index of a light transmissive layer other than the at least one light transmissive layer in the multi-layer structure by 3"sgr" or more.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical switch for making part of incident light, which contains a specific polarized light component and has been made incident on an optical waveguide, selectively emergent from the optical waveguide to a light emergence portion provided outside the optical waveguide, the optical switch including: a light transmissive stacked structure including a function layer for selective emergence of the incident light; wherein letting xcex94n be a difference between a refractive index n0 of the optical waveguide and a refractive index n1 of an arbitrary layer forming part of the stacked structure, xe2x80x9cdxe2x80x9d be a thickness of the arbitrary layer, and xcex be a wavelength of the incident light, the values of xcex94n, xe2x80x9cdxe2x80x9d, and xcex satisfy a condition of 2.20xc3x9710xe2x88x923xe2x89xa6|xcex94nxc2x7dxc2x7xcexxe2x88x921|xe2x89xa63.03xc3x9710xe2x88x923.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a display unit including: a plurality of optical waveguides, disposed approximately in parallel to each other, for receiving light containing a specific polarized light component as incident light; one or two or more light emergence portions crossing the optical waveguides; and optical switches, disposed between the waveguides and the light emergence portions, for making part of the incident light selectively emergent from the optical waveguides to the light emergence portions provided outside the optical waveguides; wherein each of the optical switches has a light transmissive stacked structure including a function layer for selective emergence of the incident light; and letting xcex94n be a difference between a refractive index n0 of the optical waveguide and a refractive index n1 of an arbitrary layer forming part of the stacked structure, xe2x80x9cdxe2x80x9d be a thickness of the arbitrary layer, and xcex be a wavelength of the incident light, the values of xcex94n, xe2x80x9cdxe2x80x9d, and xcex satisfy a condition of 2.20xc3x9710xe2x88x923xe2x89xa6|xcex94nxc2x7dxc2x7xcexxe2x88x921|xe2x89xa63.03xc3x9710xe2x88x923.
With these configurations of the second aspect of the present invention, in which a value of xcex94nxc2x7dxc2x7xcexxe2x88x921 is specified, even if a refractive index of each layer of the light transmissive stacked structure of the optical switch is fluctuated, the light emergence efficiency is not varied so much. To be more specific, as a result of calculation, it is revealed that a small change region, in which the light emergence efficiency is not largely changed even if the refractive index n1 of an arbitrary layer is fluctuated and is somewhat deviated from a design value, is present in the vicinity of a refractive index portion at which the light emergence efficiency is maximized. By making effective use of such a small change region, it is possible to suppress a variation in light emergence efficiency even if the refractive index of an arbitrary layer is varied. The small change region in which the light emergence efficiency is not largely changed appears under a condition that a deviation in phase of light passing through an arbitrary layer (refractive index: n1, and thickness: xe2x80x9cdxe2x80x9d) is within a specific range. A value of xcex94nxc2x7dxc2x7xcexxe2x88x921 expresses the deviation in phase of transmission light, and the above condition for suppressing the light emergence efficiency by making use of the small change region is given by an expression of 2.20xc3x9710xe2x88x923xe2x89xa6|xcex94nxc2x7dxc2x7xcexxe2x88x921|xe2x89xa63.03xc3x9710xe2x88x923. The uniformity of the light emergence efficiency can be realized by setting the arbitrary layer under the above condition.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical switch for making part of incident light, which contains a specific polarized light component and has been made incident on an optical waveguide, selectively emergent from the optical waveguide to a light emergence portion provided outside the optical waveguide, the optical switch including: a light transmissive stacked structure including a function layer for selective emergence of the incident light; wherein letting L xcexcm be a length of the function layer in the longitudinal direction of the optical waveguide, a thickness of the optical waveguide is in a range of 0.05xc2x7L xcexcm to 0.2xc2x7L xcexcm.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a display unit including: a plurality of optical waveguides, disposed approximately in parallel to each other, for receiving light containing a specific polarized light component as incident light; one or two or more light emergence portions crossing the optical waveguides; and optical switches, disposed between the waveguides and the light emergence portions, for making part of the incident light selectively emergent from the optical waveguides to the light emergence portions provided outside the optical waveguides; wherein each of the optical switches has a light transmissive stacked structure including a function layer for selective emergence of the incident light; and letting L xcexcm be a length of the function layer in the longitudinal direction of the optical waveguide, a thickness of the optical waveguide is in a range of 0.05xc2x7L xcexcm to 0.2xc2x7L xcexcm.
With these configurations of the third aspect of the present invention, in which a thickness of an optical waveguide is specified, a light intensity at one optical switch or at one pixel can be set to a high value. To be more specific, if the thickness of the optical waveguide is excessively thin as compared with a size of a function layer for selective emergence of the incident light in the optical switch, a mode number of a spectrum of light allowed to enter the optical waveguide is reduced, so that it is difficult to obtain a sufficient light intensity. On the other hand, if the thickness of the optical waveguide is excessively thick as compared with the size of the function layer, the probability that a light ray of one mode enters the function layer of one optical switch is reduced, so that it is impossible to obtain a sufficient light intensity even by performing selective emergence of light. Accordingly, to optimize the light intensity, it may be desirable to specify a range of the thickness of the optical waveguide. To be more specific, letting L xcexcm be a length of the function layer in the longitudinal direction of the optical waveguide, the thickness of the optical waveguide may be set in a range of 0.05xc2x7L xcexcm to 0.2xc2x7L xcexcm in order to optimize the light intensity.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical switch for making part of incident light, which contains a specific polarized light component and has been made incident on an optical waveguide, selectively emergent from the optical waveguide to a light emergence portion provided outside the optical waveguide, the optical switch including: a light transmissive stacked structure including a function layer for selective emergence of the incident light; wherein letting xcex94n be a difference between a refractive index n0 of the optical waveguide and a refractive index n1 of an arbitrary layer forming part of the stacked structure, xe2x80x9cdxe2x80x9d be a thickness of the arbitrary layer, and xcex be a wavelength of the incident light, the values of xcex94n, xe2x80x9cdxe2x80x9d, and xcex satisfy a condition of |xcex94nxc2x7dxc2x7xcexxe2x88x921|xe2x89xa63.03xc3x9710xe2x88x923 and |xcex94nxc2x7dxc2x7xcexxe2x88x921|xe2x89xa00.
With this configuration of the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the range of a deviation in phase of transmission light, which is expressed by xcex94nxc2x7dxc2x7xcexxe2x88x921, is extended, the production of an optical switch becomes easier than the production of the optical switch under the above-described condition specified according to the second aspect of the present invention. In addition, since a value of xcex94n may become negative, the deviation in phase of transmission light is expressed by an absolute value of xcex94nxc2x7dxc2x7xcexxe2x88x921.


Techniques for preventing recovery of specific data elements based on a recovery prevention configuration defined by a user are disclosed. In some embodiments, a computer system performs operations comprising: receiving a recovery prevention configuration from a first computing device of a first user, the recovery prevention configuration comprising at least one recovery prevention parameter specified by the first user via one or more user interface elements displayed on the first computing device, the at least one recovery prevention parameter being configured to identify one or more backup data elements stored in a secondary storage system; storing the recovery prevention configuration in a database in association with the secondary storage system; and filtering out the one or more backup data elements stored in the secondary storage system from a data recovery process based on the at least one recovery prevention parameter of the stored recovery prevention configuration.

The volume and complexity of data that is collected, analyzed and stored is increasing rapidly over time. The computer infrastructure used to handle this data is also becoming more complex, with more processing power and more portability. As a result, data management and storage are becoming increasingly important. Significant issues of these processes include access to reliable data backup and storage, and fast data recovery in cases of failure. Other aspects include data portability across locations and platforms.
One technical problem that arises in data management and storage is with the conflict between privacy regulations and the responsibility of an entity managing a backup secondary storage service to not delete backup data. With the General Data Protection Regulation GDPR and other privacy regulations, organizations have the need to support customers' right to be forgotten, which implies that that they should delete data about the customer in their production and backup systems. However, these privacy regulations are in direct conflict with compliance requirements that many industries have for data backups. In addition to the issues discussed above, other technical problems may arise as well.

Preventing recovery of specific data elements


A cache memory device includes: a data memory storing data written by an arithmetic processing unit; a connecting unit connecting an input path from the arithmetic processing unit to the data memory and an output path from the data memory to a main storage unit; a selecting unit provided on the output path to select data from the data memory or data from the arithmetic processing unit via the connecting unit, and to transfer the selected data to the output path; and a control unit controlling the selecting unit such that the data from the data memory is transferred to the output path when the data is written from the data memory to the main storage unit, and such that the data is transferred to the output path via the connecting unit when the data is written from the arithmetic processing unit to the main storage unit.

Recent arithmetic processing apparatuses that include processor cores, such as a CPU, are generally provided with cache memories to increase processing speeds. A cache memory is provided between a main storage unit, such as a main memory, and a processor core and temporarily stores data that the processor core frequently uses. When executing arithmetic processing, the processor core reads the data from the cache memory, which is closer to the processor core than to the main memory, so that the time required for memory access can be shortened.
In conventional arithmetic processing apparatuses, data that is processed through arithmetic processing by a processor core is temporarily stored in a cache memory and the data is written to a main storage unit at predetermined intervals of time. However, when data is written to the main storage unit via the cache memory, the time required for writing the data becomes accordingly longer (see, for example, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 63-20640). In order to improve the performance of arithmetic processing apparatuses by shortening the time necessary for writing data, arithmetic processing apparatuses are, in some cases, provided with a data path that directly connects a processor core and a main storage unit. FIG. 7 illustrates one example of an arithmetic processing apparatus that is provided with such a data path.
As illustrated in FIG. 7, an arithmetic processing apparatus 500 includes a processor core (hereinafter, "core") 501, a first queue, 502 a second queue 503, and a third queue 504. The arithmetic processing apparatus 500 further includes a selector 505, a data memory 506, a control unit 507, and a memory access controller (MAC) 508.
The core 501 is an arithmetic processing unit that executes various types of arithmetic processing using data that is stored in the data memory 506. The first queue 502 is a queue that temporarily stores data that is written back to the data memory 506 from the core 501. The second queue 503 is a queue that temporarily stores data that is written back to a main storage unit (not illustrated) from the data memory 506 via the MAC 508 when a cache replacement is performed. The third queue 504 is a queue that temporarily stores data that is transferred to the data memory 506 from the MAC 508 when a move in is performed on the occurrence of a cache miss.
The selector 505 selects any one of the data that is stored in the first queue 502 and the data that is stored in the third queue 504 and outputs the selected data to the data memory 506. The data memory 506 temporarily stores data that is frequently used by the core 501 and data that is processed by arithmetic processing in the core 501. The control unit 507 writes or reads data by pipeline processing according to instructions from the core 501. Specifically, the control unit 507 includes a move-out (MO) port unit 511, a priority unit 512, a pipeline 513, and a tag memory 514.
Order responses from the core 501, such as data writing and data reading, are set by the MO port unit 511. The priority unit 512 makes adjustments (data interference control) and inputs data to the pipeline 513. The tag memory 514 stores physical addresses of the data that is stored in the data memory 506 and stores logical addresses that are used for searching tags. When a data writing request is input from the priority unit 512, the pipeline 513 searches the tag memory 514 according to the logical address contained in the request and specifies the physical address of the data that is requested by the core 501. The MAC 508 is connected to the main storage unit (not illustrated) and writes data that is received from the second queue 503 to the main storage unit. If a cache miss occurs, for example, the MAC 508 receives the cache miss data from the main storage unit and transfers the cache miss data to the third queue 504.
In this case, if the latest data is stored in the data memory 506, a data path L20 from the data memory 506 to the MAC 508 is used to write the data to the main storage unit. For writing back data to the data memory 506 from the core 501, a data path L10 is used that extends from the core 501 to the data memory 506 via the first queue 502 and the selector 505.
If the latest data is stored in the core 501 and the data memory 506 stores only old data, a data path L30 for transferring data from the core 501 directly to the MAC 508 is used to write data to the MAC 508. Because a data path L30 that directly connects the core 501 and the MAC 508 is provided, the latest data that is stored in the core 501 can be quickly written to the main storage unit without going via the data memory 506.
However, newly providing a data path that directly connects a core and an MAC increases wiring costs. This is apparent particularly in a CPU including multiple cores and multi-bank storage units. These problems are specifically explained below.
Increases in power consumption in recent single-core CPUs, each of which includes one core, is not ignorable and the performance improvement is approaching its limit. Approaches to further improve the CPU performance are made in some cases using a multi-core CPU that includes multiple cores on a board. Furthermore, in addition to providing multiple cores, approaches to improve the throughput between each core and the cache memory or the main storage unit are made in some cases by dividing the cache memory and the main storage unit into banks. FIG. 8 is a diagram of a schematic configuration of a conventional CPU.
As illustrated in FIG. 8, in a CPU 700 that includes multiple cores and multi-bank storage units, cores #0 to #7, data memories #0 to #3, and MACs #0 to #3 are arranged near the periphery of the board. At the center of the board, a control unit that controls the entire data transfer is located. Because the multi-bank main storage units respectively store different types of data, each of the cores #0 to #7 may write data to all of the MACs #0 to #3. Therefore, all the cores may be connected to all the MACs to provide data paths that directly connect the cores and the MACs, which increases wiring costs.
More specifically, in the CPU 700, a data path L30 that connects the cores and the MACs is provided between all of the cores #0 to #3 and all of the MACs #0 to #3. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the core #1 is provided with data paths L30a to L30d that connect to the respective MACs #0 to #3. Note that the core #1 is further provided with data paths L20a to L20d that connect to the data memories #0 to #3, and the data memories #0 to #3 are provided respectively with data path L10a to L10d that connect to the corresponding MACs #0 to #3.
Among the data paths, particularly, the data path L30b and the data path L30d may be provided across the control unit that is located at the center of the board, which may increase wiring costs. Therefore, it has been difficult to mount a data path L30 that directly connects the cores and the MACs in the CPU 700, including the multiple cores and the multi-bank storage units. The areas A1 and A2, illustrated in FIG. 8, between the cores and the MACs and the data memories and the control unit are areas where wiring is particularly concentrated. Because providing the data path L30 in such areas results in an increase in the circuit size, mounting the data path is difficult.

Cache memory device, processor, and processing method


In a method for processing a satellite image and/or aerial image, unwanted objects are able to be removed from the satellite image and/or aerial image. Geographical positions of objects pictured in the satellite and/or aerial image are determined, at least one photo is taken at ground level at each and/or in the respective immediate vicinity of the geographical positions determined, and these photos taken at ground level are superimposed on the satellite image and/or aerial image.

Satellite images and/or aerial images show the surface of the earth at the instant at which they were taken. For this reason, the satellite and/or aerial image may contain information that is unwanted and not up-to-date, which must be filtered out of the satellite images and/or aerial images depending on their use. In particular, the use of satellite images and/or aerial images for producing photo-realistic maps for navigation systems in vehicles requires that obstacles such as vehicles, trees, etc., which are present in satellite images and/or aerial images when they are taken, be filtered out. If this were not done, when using the unprocessed satellite images and/or aerial images for producing photo-realistic maps for navigation systems in vehicles, there would be a feeling of uneasiness with regard to driving over these virtual obstacles. In addition, for example, the traffic conditions shown in the images do not correspond to the reality. Ultimately, a coherent superimposition of the satellite and/or aerial image with real-time data with respect to the current traffic conditions, the current road and/or parking-place occupancy, etc., is thereby made impossible.

Method for processing a satellite image and/or an aerial image


An under bridge system is provided having a bridge designed to be secured under the top surface of a guitar and at least one female threaded insert in a top surface of the bridge. The bridge may be adapted to be operationally connected to a saddle on the top surface of the guitar. Each of the at least one threaded inserts is coupled with male threads of a corresponding stud extending downward from the bottom of the saddle through the top surface of the guitar. Each stud is turnable to adjust the height of the saddle above the top surface of the guitar.

The present invention generally relates to guitars and, in particular, to an under bridge system for guitars.
Arch-type and electric guitars may have a saddle mounted to, and supported by, a bridge. The saddle supports the strings and transfers the string vibrations through the bridge to the top surface of the guitar and into the air of the hollow body. For the proper use of a vibrator tailpiece, the strings should be at a particular height above the guitar surface. However, on a flattop guitar, a bridge-mounted saddle will raise the strings too high for a vibrator tailpiece to be used.
As can be seen, a saddle may not raise the strings to the correct height for a tailpiece to be used with a flattop guitar.


A method and apparatus for tracking a load on a conveyor system using the trailing edge of the load. The method includes the steps of sensing the trailing edge of the load with a first sensor and updating a load record for the load in response to sensing the trailing edge of the load with the first sensor. The apparatus may include a conveyor, a controller, and a sensor in communication with the controller for sensing the trailing edge of a load on the conveyor.

The present invention is directed to a conveyor load tracking system for tracking a load between processing stations, and more particularly to a system and method for tracking a load using the trailing edge of the load.
In the fields of material handling, industrial processing, and baggage systems, automated equipment is used to transport loads automatically through various processing steps. Typically, as loads move on a transportation system, such as conveyors, it is necessary to track each load and any data that is associated with a particular load as well as to control the conveyor. The conveyor may be made up of various conveyor segments, and it may be desirable to control each segment individually as well as track the load as it moves from conveyor segment to conveyor segment. For example, certain control requirements, such as destination station processing rates, load spacing on the conveyor, and selective destinations, may require the controller to start and stop conveyor segments independently, or independently vary conveyor segment speeds.
One common method used to track loads and control conveyors involves sensing the leading edge of the load. As the leading edge of the load is sensed, a load record associated with the load is created and selectively transferred by the controller into lists associated with each conveyor segment or area. Accurate tracking requires that the transfer of the records in the controller and data structure reflect the physical position of the load in the system. While this "leading edge" tracking technique is generally suitable for many applications, particularly when the loads have a common and consistent size and shape (e.g., pallet conveying systems), this technique is subject to ghost loads and race conditions as hereinafter described when used in systems transporting loads of varying sizes and shapes.
One problem associated with using the leading edge for both tracking and control purposes is that certain conveyor control conditions may lead to inaccurate tracking. For example, referring to FIG. 1(a), when a leading edge of a load X is sensed by a sensor B at the end of a conveyor segment C1, the system commonly transfers the load record to the list associated with the next conveyor C2. However, if control conditions require the stopping of conveyor C1 upon sensing the leading load edge of the load while continuing to drive conveyor C2, the encoder E for conveyor C2 continues to pulse and the expected window for load X moves forward on conveyor C2 even though the physical load is stationary at the discharge end of conveyor C1, thereby creating a ghost load in the list of conveyor C2.
One technique for addressing this type of ghost condition is to track both the leading edge and trailing edge of a load. When the leading edge of load X is detected by sensor B, the load record is updated and placed into a holding area associated with sensor B. Upon sensing the trailing edge of the load, the load record is released from the sensor B holding area to the list or data array for conveyor C2. This delay requires determining the size of the load in order to locate the leading edge of load X. To determine the size of the load, the number of encoder pulses is counted between the leading and trailing edges. One problem with this system is that it significantly increases the demands on the controller or processor. Therefore, to maintain operational efficiency, generally more complex and expensive controllers must be installed to track and control the system.
Leading and trailing edge approaches are also used with two sensor arrangements, such as that shown in FIG. 1(b). While this approach is appropriate in many instances, it breaks down if the maximum load length is greater than the spacing between sensors. That is, when sensor B2 detects the lead edge of the load, the controller will attempt to transfer the load record from the front of the list for conveyor C2 to the holding area for sensor B2. However, because sensor B1 has not yet detected the trailing edge of load X, the controller has not transferred the load record from the holding area for sensor B1 to the list for conveyor C2 and therefore no load record is present in the list for conveyor C2. In this condition, the system creates a new load record for the unexpected load. Therefore, when sensor B1 detects the trailing edge of load X, the load record is transferred from the holding area for sensor B1 to the list for conveyor C2. Since the expectation window for the leading edge of load X is calculated as being past sensor B2, the load record is removed from the model for failing to arrive at sensor B2. These additional steps of creating and deleting load records to compensate for loads having a maximum length greater than the spacing between the sensors further increases the demands on the controller or processor and increases the probability of errors in tracking.
The condition discussed with reference to FIG. 1(b) may be overcome by configuring the system such that sensor B1 does nothing when it detects the trailing edge of load X and, when sensor B2 detects the lead edge of load X, the system transfers the record at sensor B1 rather than the record at the front of the list for conveyor C2. However, as is shown in FIG. 1(c), this solution creates a race condition when the distance between leading edges of consecutive loads is smaller than the distance between sensors. For example, if two short length loads X and Y are traveling on the conveyor as shown, sensor B1 detects the lead edge of load X and updates the record to indicate that it is at sensor B1. As noted above, the controller does not update any records or lists when sensor B1 detects the trailing edge of load X. Therefore, if the leading edge of load Y is detected at sensor B1 before the leading edge of load X is detected at sensor B2, a collision occurs in the tracking model, specifically the load record for load Y attempts to overwrite the load record for Load X in the holding area for sensor B1.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 1(d), the above solution of ignoring the trailing edge at sensor B1 also breaks down if a strap, tag, or other loose item attached to load X is detected by sensor B1 but not by sensor B2 and the race condition noted above is satisfied. For example, sensor B1 detects the leading edge of load X and updates the record to indicate it is at sensor B1. Sensor B2 then detects the leading edge of load X and updates the record to indicate it is no longer at sensor B1 but rather at sensor B2. Next, the leading edge of a loose item attached to the trailing edge of load X is detected at sensor B1 and a new load record is created at sensor B1. Subsequently the loose item shifts and is not detected independently from the trailing edge of load X by sensor B2. As noted above, the controller does not update any records or lists when sensor B1 detects the trailing edge of new load, and since it is never detected at sensor B2, it remains in the holding area for sensor B1. When the leading edge of load Y is detected at sensor B1, a collision occurs in the tracking model as noted above
In summary, various methods have been employed with a limited degree of success to overcome and minimize the deficiencies in the prior art and a need exists for a simple solution that effectively tracks the load without adding additional control steps, while eliminating or reducing the potential for ghost loads, race conditions, or tracking collisions.

Method and apparatus for tracking a load on a conveyor system


Apparatus and methods for optically imaging features on the surface of a hand are described. An apparatus in accordance with one implementation includes a fixed light source for illuminating an imaging area, a movable convex contact surface, and a detector. The convex contact surface is exposed to contact a hand and to guide portions of the hand through the imaging area while maintaining contact with the hand. The detector is positioned to intercept light from the imaging area and is adapted to generate therefrom a signal representative of surface features of a hand contacting the contact surface in the imaging area. In accordance with another implementation, a method includes the following steps: placing the hand in contact with a contact surface; guiding the hand in fixed contact with the convex contact surface through an imaging area; illuminating the imaging area with light; intercepting light from the imaging area; and generating from the intercepted light, a signal representative of surface features of the contacting hand being guided through the imaging area.

The invention relates to apparatus and methods for optically imaging features on a surface of a hand, such as fingerprints and palmprints.
Fingerprints and palmprints are commonly taken by applying ink to the surface of the skin and then transferring the ink to a paper medium for recording. The application of ink to the skin and the subsequent transfer to paper requires a skilled expert to produce high quality images. Optical systems for scanning fingerprint and palmprint images have been developed to avoid problems associated with ink-based methods. In common optical systems, a hand to be scanned is held against a transparent platen, and an optical detector scans light reflecting from the interface between the hand and the platen to generate signals representative of fingerprint or palmprint images. These signals are digitized, stored in digital computer memory, and processed for transmission or printing.

Apparatus and method for optically imaging features on the surface of a hand


A implicit structured light decoding method, a computer equipment and a computer-readable storage medium. The method includes: traversing an image captured by a camera to acquire a grayscale value of each pixel point and an ideal neighborhood grayscale distribution; extracting and outputting an updated output image according to the grayscale value of each pixel point and the ideal neighborhood grayscale distribution and in combination with a preset output image; classifying stripe central points in the updated output image into different stripes; determining a correspondence between stripes in the updated output image and stripes in a structured light image according to the different stripes; and decoding all stripe central points by using triangulation method in combination with the correspondence between the extracted stripes and the projected stripe pattern. This solution can efficiently and robustly decode the implicit stripe-based structured light on a basis of ensuring precision.

A projection type human-computer interaction technique generally relies on a projector and a camera to identify actions of human hand in its projected area, so as to achieve information interaction. A projection type human-computer interaction system utilizes persistence of vision of the human eyes, and adopts a projector to project high-speed (usually greater than 120 Hz) implicit structured light (which is a technique that simplifies a matching pixel search by projecting specific textures into a space to be measured, in which structured light is hidden in a parity frame of a projection interface), and the camera synchronously collects the parity frame interface image, then performs a difference operation on the parity frame image to acquire information of the structured light (that is, extraction of the projected textures), and finally uses this information to accurately measure positions of hands and fingertips and the positions of projection interface during the interaction in a real-time manner, thereby achieving an accurate judgment of touches of gestures and fingertips and an accurate judgment of the projection type human-computer interaction.
For the projection type human-computer interaction system, considering its requirement on real time, the system is unable to use time-coded structured light images, and is only able to use space-coded structured light images (the space-coded structured light refers to structured light in which a space array distribution mode in a light field is mathematically coded). In the space coding method, common color coding will make a projection interface flicker due to the time-sharing projection principle of the projector, and other coding methods will reduce the hidden effect due to complexity of patterns. Therefore, under the strict requirements of the implicit structured light technique itself, it is necessary to use a pattern as simple as possible for decoding, such as unidirectional stripes. However, such a simple pattern is difficult to decode accurately due to its information is less than general patterns.
Based on this, some methods of extracting stripes for structured light images have been proposed, which are usually carried out by the center of mass method (finding a center of mass of the gray distribution), the geometric center method (finding boundary points of a stripe, calculating a midpoint of the two points as a geometric center), the Gaussian fitting method (calculating an extreme point of a Gaussian curve fitting result) and the Steger algorithm (using an eigenvector to which an eigenvalue of a Hessian vector with a largest absolute value corresponds, giving normal directions of the points, and performing a second-order Taylor series expansion on grayscale distribution functions of pixel points of the stripe along the normal direction to obtain a stripe center). The existing center of gravity method and geometric center method only use a simple grayscale relationship, which are easily to be affected by the noises. The Gaussian fitting method uses the grayscale distribution characteristic of the stripe center, but the fitting is poor in robustness, and is very sensitive to noises. The Steger algorithm is robust, but flaws of the method itself lead to poor processing effect at stripe endpoints (there exist multiple noise points), and experiments show that the threshold calculation mode proposed in this method is not ideal in extracting stripes of implicit structured light with large noises, and a lot of stripes are lost. Therefore, these methods do not make a large difference in non-offset stripes with less noises, but for implicit stripes that are offset when being projected on an interacted hand, as reflection characteristics of human hand are different, a lot of noises will be introduced, which cause that the method has a relatively large error in extracting the implicit stripe centers, and result in a relatively large error in measurement of the positions of hands and fingertips, thereby affecting accuracy of the system in judging touches of the gestures and fingertips. Furthermore, the projection type human-computer system uses simple stripes as the structured light image, the stripes projected on a hand will be offset, or even misaligned as the height of the hand varies, and loss of stripes may also occur, resulting in a problem of difficulty in determining a correspondence between stripes with offset and stripes in the structured light image.
Therefore, there is currently no mature and robust solution for decoding such simple stripes.

Implicit structured light decoding method, computer equipment and readable storage medium

Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School