In a speech recognition device and a speech recognition method, a key phrase containing at least one key word is received. The speech recognition method comprises steps: receiving a sound source signal of a key word and generating a plurality of audio signals; transforming the audio signals into a plurality of frequency signals; receiving the frequency signals to obtain a space-frequency spectrum and an angular estimation value thereof; receiving the space-frequency spectrum to define and output at least one spatial eigenparameter, and using the angular estimation value and the frequency signals to perform spotting and evaluation and outputting a Bhattacharyya distance; and receiving the spatial eigenparameter and the Bhattacharyya distance and using corresponding thresholds to determine correctness of the key phrase. Thereby this invention robustly achieves high speech recognition rate under very low SNR conditions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a recognition technology, particularly to a speech recognition device and a speech recognition method.
2. Description of the Related Art
Keyword detection or spotting plays an important role in speech recognition technologies. The speech recognition process includes obtaining the eigenparameters of speech, constructing models for the speech characteristics, and establishing a comparison method for the eigenparameters (calculating distance or similarity). Speech recognition technologies have developed for many years, and a large-scale vocabulary database has been able to achieve a not-bad recognition rate. However, the existing speech recognition technologies are hard to maintain a given level of recognition rate when the environment is contaminated by noise or competing speeches, even for a single keyword. In fact, noise is inevitable for a practical environment.
In the existing ASR (Automatic Speech Recognition) system, determining when to start automatic speech recognition is an important function, which is usually called a wake-up function or a push button. Appropriately using the wake-up function can greatly reduce the error rate of recognition. In a computer or mobile phone, the wake-up function is normally realized via a touch-control operation or a push button. However, such an implementation needs a premise that the hand of the user can reach the device or machine. If the device is not beside the user, the user normally wears a wireless device to generate a reliable wake-up signal. For example, the user has to wear a wireless device to instruct a household robot. However, it is difficult for the user is hard to always wear a wireless device at his home. Therefore, such a measure has barriers in many applications. Thus, how to realize a wake-up function without wearing any device has become a practical and challenging subject. When the controller interface of a controlled device is out of vision, the wake-up function can only be realized via speech. It seems to be a simple problem of recognizing a single keyword. However, the speaker may be remote from the receiver device, or the environment is noisy. In fact, SNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio) is normally very poor in practical applications. Similar to the push button or touch control, the speech-based wake-up function should also possess almost 100% detection rate and almost 0% false positive rate lest the controlled device act wrong or slowly.
Accordingly, the present invention proposes a speech recognition device and a speech recognition method to solve the conventional problems.

Speech recognition device and speech recognition method using space-frequency spectrum


A fundus camera includes an imaging unit configured to capture a fundus image formed via a photographic optical system, a portion information detection unit configured to detect information about a predetermined portion of a fundus from image data acquired from the imaging unit, and an image generation unit configured to generate an image according to a tone curve which is changed according to a result of a detection performed by the portion information detection unit of the fundus image.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fundus camera and an ophthalmologic image processing apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a technique useful for gradation conversion of an eye fundus image.
2. Description of the Related Art
When an image of a fundus of a subject's eye is captured using a fundus camera, it is useful if both an optic papilla portion and a macular portion, which are the brightest and the darkest portions in a fundus image, can be observed at the same time.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-107133 discusses a fundus camera that captures an image of a subject's eye using an imaging unit by alternately changing an intensity of light emitted from a photographing light source.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-52639 discusses a fundus camera that generates a high-contrast image for each region of interest, such as a macular portion or an optic papilla portion, in one image-capturing operation of a fundus according to a setting value for each region, and stores the generated image.
However, if the conventional fundus camera is used to capture one eye fundus image including both the optic papilla portion being the brightest portion and the macular portion being the darkest portion in the fundus image, since an image sensor does not provide a satisfactory dynamic range, the macular portion will be underexposed if the exposure of the optic papilla portion is appropriate. On the other hand, overexposure of the optic papilla portion occurs if the exposure of the macular portion is appropriate.
If a fundus camera such as the one discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-107133 is used, an operator needs to flash the photographing light source twice in capturing an image.
If a fundus camera such as the one discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-52639 is used, the operator needs to look at two different images when the operator views the optic papilla portion and the macular portion.

Fundus camera and ophthalmologic image processing apparatus


Apparatus for dehumidifying or otherwise conditioning the air in a room has a cabinet housing a pair of units side by side. Each unit is essentially a conventional dehumidifier but has its evaporator and evaporator fan above its condenser, compressor and condenser fan and is separated therefrom to establish an upper evaporator section and a lower condenser section. The cabinet has outside air inlet ports opening into the upper and lower sections with each controlled by adjustable dampers. The cabinet also has a port through which air is discharged to the outside by the condenser fans. Separate conditioned air outlets open from the upper section into the room. In addition, the cabinet has ports in its ends to admit air from the room into the upper and lower sections and these are also provided with adjustable dampers. The control for the apparatus is based on inputs from sensors responsive to the humidity and temperature of the inside and outside air, circulating air and discharged air and they provide outputs controlling the operation of the fans, the compressors and the adjustments of the dampers to establish and maintain suitable room humidity and temperature conditions.

Air conditioners and dehumidifiers are widely used. As far as we are aware, however, no such apparatus is suitably versatile for use where the control of the humidity in a room as well as the room temperature must be efficiently and economically maintained at all times and its operation safeguarded against the failure of a component.

Apparatus for use in dehumidifying and otherwise conditioning air within a room


An integrated compound semiconductor light-emitting-device capable of emitting light as a large-area plane light source. The light-emitting-device includes plural light-emitting-units formed over a substrate, the light-emitting-units having a compound semiconductor thin-film crystal layer, first and second-conductivity-type-side electrodes, a main light-extraction direction is the side of the substrate, and the first and the second-conductivity-type-side electrodes are formed on the opposite side to the light-extraction direction. The light-emitting-units are electrically separated from each other by a light-emitting-unit separation-trench. An optical coupling layer is formed between the substrate and the first-conductivity-type semiconductor layer. The optical coupling layer is common to the plurality of light-emitting-units, and capable of optical coupling of the plurality of light-emitting-units and distributing a light to the entire light-emitting-device.

Electron devices and light-emitting-devices having a Group III-V compound semiconductor are well-known. In particular, there have been practically used as a light-emitting-device an AlGaAs or AlGaInP material formed on a GaAs substrate for red luminescence and a GaAsP material formed on a GaP substrate for orange or yellow luminescence. An infrared light-emitting-device using an InGaAsP material on an InP substrate is also known.
As the types of these devices, a light-emitting diode utilizing spontaneous emissive light (light-emitting diode: LED), a laser diode having an optical feedback function for deriving an induced emissive light (laser diode: LD) and a semiconductor laser are known. These devices have been used as, for example, a display device, a communication device, a light-source device for high-density optical recording, a device for high-precision optical processing and a medical device.
Since 1990s, as results of attempts for research and development of an InxAlyGa(1-x-y)N Group III-V compound semiconductor (0≦x≦1, 0≦y≦1, 0≦x+y≦1) containing nitrogen as a Group V element, the emission efficiency of the devices using the same has been significantly improved, and blue and green LEDs with high efficiency have been realized. Subsequent research and development have led to LEDs with high efficiency even in the ultraviolet region and recently blue LEDs have been marketed.
By integrating a phosphor with an ultraviolet or blue LED as an excitation light source, a white LED can be obtained. Since a white LED may be utilized as a next-generation lighting device, improvement in output and efficiency in an ultraviolet or blue LED to be an excitation light source has considerably higher industrial significance. At present, intense attempts are made for improving efficiency and output in a blue or ultraviolet in the light of applications in LED lighting.
For improving an output in an element, that is, improvement of the total radiation flux, increase of an element size and ensuring resistance to a large input power are essential. In addition, a common LED is a point light source. If adequately enlarged, the element exhibits light-emitting properties as a plane light source, which becomes particularly suitable for illumination applications.
However, an element having geometrical similarity with simply enlarged area of a common small LED does not exhibit uniform emission intensity over the whole element in general. Thus, it may be conceivable that a plurality of elements are aligned on a substrate. For example, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 1999-150303 (Patent Reference 1), Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2001-156331 (Patent Reference 2), Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2002-26384 (Patent Reference 3) and Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2003-115611 (Patent Reference 4) have described that a plurality of LEDs are formed over one substrate.
Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 1999-150303 (Patent Reference 1) has disclosed an integrated light-emitting component where a plurality of LEDs are connected in series over a substrate. In this reference, in order to separate a part having a pair of pn junction, i.e. a single light-emitting-unit, completely electrically, a GaN layer is etched using an Ni mask until the insulative substrate is exposed (see, paragraph 0027). Therefore, each light-emitting-unit is just a separate LED formed on the same substrate. As shown in FIG. 6 of this Patent Reference 1, a separation trench separating light-emitting-units does not emit light and thus the configuration is a simple alignment of light-emitting elements and is not a surface light source having higher uniformity of emission intensity. In such a configuration, deterioration of one light-emitting-unit in the integrated elements leads to extreme reduction in an emission intensity only in that area. In terms of the manufacturing process, in a process where a GaN material is dry etched using a metal mask such as Ni, controlling an etching shape is not satisfactory because the metal mask is not necessarily adequately resistant and thus the selection ratio in dry etching of GaN material is insufficient.
Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2001-156331 (Patent Reference 2) has also described an integrated device where a plurality of light-emitting-units are formed over one substrate. However, in this reference, the light-emitting-units having a pair of pn junction are also mutually completely separated by a separation trench, and therefore they are separate LEDs formed on the same substrate, as shown in FIG. 2. Therefore, the separation trench (a method for forming it is not disclosed) separating the light-emitting-units does not emit a light, so that emission intensity uniformity cannot be ensured over the whole surface light source. In such a configuration, deterioration of one light-emitting-unit in the integrated elements leads to extreme reduction in an emission intensity only in that area.
Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2002-26384 (Patent Reference 3) has disclosed a process for LED integration for the purpose of providing an integrated nitride semiconductor light-emitting element with a large area and a higher light-emission efficiency. However, as described in FIGS. 2 and 3 and paragraph 0038 in the reference, a separation trench between a light-emitting-unit and another light-emitting-unit is formed by etching a semiconductor layer until the etching reaches a sapphire substrate by RIE using SiO2 as a mask. Since the separation trench separating the light-emitting-units does not emit a light, emission intensity uniformity cannot be ensured over the whole surface light source similar to Patent References 1 and 2. Furthermore, deterioration of one light-emitting-unit in the integrated elements leads to extreme reduction in an emission intensity only in that area. In addition, since SiO2 is used as an etching mask (an oxide mask or a nitride mask is not necessarily resistant) in the process for forming the separation trench, a selection ratio in etching GaN material is insufficient and shape controlling during etching is difficult.
Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2003-115611 (Patent Reference 4) has disclosed a light-emitting-device in which LEDs are integrated for using as a plane light-emitting light source or display. This reference describes two types of devices, in one of which light-emitting-units having a pair of pn junction are mutually electrically separated (Claim 4, FIG. 10(b) and so on). Separation between them is formed by dicing (FIG. 10). In this type, as in the above three references, emission intensity is reduced in a separation trench between light-emitting-units so that uniformity cannot be ensured over the whole surface light source. Likewise, deterioration in one light-emitting-unit leads to extreme reduction in an emission intensity only in that adjacent area. The second type device described in this reference is a device where light-emitting-units having a pair of pn junction are mutually electrically connected (see, Claim 5, FIG. 10(a) and so on). In this type, an n-type semiconductor layer is common to the whole light-emitting-device (FIG. 10(a)). In such a case, current flows not only into the nearest p-side electrode from an n-side electrode but also into all the p-side electrodes from one n-side electrode, so that current injection efficiency is not high as the whole light-emitting-device. Furthermore, since all the p-side electrodes are electrically connected to all the n-side electrodes, deterioration in one part leads to deterioration in the whole device. Therefore, this type device is essentially unsuitable to increase an area for providing a plane light source.    Patent Reference 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 1999-150303    Patent Reference 2: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2001-156331    Patent Reference 3: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2002-26384    Patent Reference 4: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2003-115611

Integrated semiconductor light-emitting device and its manufacturing method


The disclosure provides methods and processes for the preparation of oil-in-water emulsions by mechanical means and injection of the emulsions into meat and poultry to improve eating qualities associated with flavour, juiciness, tenderness and fat content. The disclosure also provides a meat or poultry product prepared by the methods described herein.

Numerous recipes to enhance the flavour, juiciness and tenderness of meat and poultry are known. These predominantly are rubs, marinades and bastes that are applied to the surface of the meat and are used during grilling or several hours before cooking. Rubs include spices and herb mixtures. Marinades are made up of several components including oil which is used to help keep the meat moist, an acidic liquid such as vinegar or citrus juice to help tenderize, as well as herbs and spices for flavouring. Bastes, liquid solutions that generally contain some oil, are applied to keep the meat moist and to seal in the juices. These methods have the drawbacks of not distributing the enhancements consistently and throughout the meat.
Commercial processes directed toward enhancing flavour, juiciness and tenderness of meat and poultry have emphasized injection techniques for bastes and solutions. This creates the possibility of distributing the enhancements better in the meat. These techniques are often used to compensate for lost juices that result from lengthy cooking periods. Various innovations in injection technology have been made and are widely used for commercial processing, but involve difficulties and inconveniences, especially as they relate to adopting popular consumer recipes and 'clean labels'.
Malinow, U.S. Pat. No. 3,615,689 discloses a method of injected basting of an edible fat emulsion into the breasts of turkey with an amount of emulsion equaling 3 percent of the carcass weight. The basting emulsion is composed of a minor amount of water with a major amount of vegetable oil, using a mixed hydrophilic-lipophilic emulsifier and ingredients such as salt, flavouring, colouring materials, etc. The water-in-oil mixture must not separate and remain a smooth emulsion for processing and thus an emulsifier is used to form a stable emulsion. Further, this technique is a manual (not a continuous) process which increases manufacturing cost.
Additional flavour and moisture enhancing solutions have been developed to enhance the eating qualities of meat and poultry. Dressed meat can be injected with a solution, typically by multi-needle injection. This technique involves piercing the meat thereby improving the tenderness and overall textural quality of meat. This technique is well understood in the industry; some standard apparatus and methods are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,338,150 (Nordin), U.S. Pat. No. 3,779,151 (Ross), U.S. Pat. No. 3,922,357 (Townsend), and U.S. Pat. No. 4,690,046 (Corominas).
Other prior art techniques of increasing the water-binding capacity of the meat involve injecting solutions containing dissolved sodium chloride and sodium tripolyphosphate. Without these ingredients, the solution may leak out of the meat product during distribution or during cooking by the consumer creating a problem of excess weight loss and little improvement in quality. However, this technique can be undesirable due to nutritional considerations such as the sodium and phosphate contents of the resultant meat products which adversely impact their consumer appeal. In addition, many desirable additives cannot be utilized in the prior art injection solutions. Examples include oil products such as butter that do not mix in water and ingredients like native starches that do not dissolve in water but disperse instead. As a result, oil and insoluble ingredients do not distribute uniformly throughout the water solutions or remain homogeneous through the injection process or otherwise plug the hollow injection needles.
A moisture enhancing process for meat and poultry typically increases the weight of the product about eight to twenty percent. Although some of this added water evaporates during cooking, the meat has a higher water content when cooking commences, and thus, the cooked meat may have a higher moisture content after cooking as compared to a non-enhanced meat. Prior art techniques utilize high levels of salt and sodium phosphate to influence moisture retention.
Consumers today want 'clean labels', which focus on fewer and more natural ingredients and includes claims such as no additives, no preservatives and no artificial flavours or colours. Accordingly, a need remains for a process which utilizes oil-in-water emulsions or extremely fine dispersions of insoluble natural ingredients that can be distributed throughout a meat and poultry product to enhance flavor, juiciness and tenderness while limiting the amount of fat.

Oil-in-water emulsions for meat and poultry products and methods of producing same


The invention concerns apparatus for molding tube (20) utilizing a travelling mold tunnel. The tunnel is made up of mold blocks (16) each comprising parts (13, 15) which are hinged together to be closeable to form the tunnel and openable to release tube from the tunnel. The opened mold blocks (16) from the downstream end of the tunnel are opened and returned to the upstream end without change in their orientation to reform the tunnel about an extrusion nozzle (18) for thermoplastic extrudate.

Apparatus of utilizing a travelling mold tunnel is commonly used for the production of continuous plastic tubing. The mold tunnel is formed between a pair of complementary mold assemblies each of which comprises an endless run of mold blocks which are articulately interconnected. Each mold block of one mold assembly is complementary to a respective mold block of the other mold assembly, the mold blocks cooperating in pairs along the forward run to form an axially extending mold tunnel defining a tubular mold. The wall of the mold is dependent on the inner face of the mold blocks and is the matter of choice.
The mold assemblies are driven in synchronism with one another so that the mold blocks circulate along the endless tracks. The mold blocks are always located similarly with respect to the direction of their movement. Thus when the direction of movement changes, the orientation of the mold blocks changes with it. For example, the mold blocks on the return run are totaled 90.degree. with respect to mold blocks on the tunnel run. The entrance to the tunnel may be located suitably with respect to an extrusion nozzle for extruding an annular parison of plastic against the mold surface of the tunnel. When the resulting tube is required to have more than one wall, the extrusion nozzle will extrude coaxial parisons of plastic extrudate.
Such apparatus is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,981,663 to Lupke, issued Sep. 21, 1976 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,832,429 to Charpentier 1974. These patents describe apparatus in which the mold assemblies are arranged one above the other. Other conventional apparatus in use is described, for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,677,676 to Hegler 1972, and 3,751,541 to Haglet 1973. The apparatus of these patents shows the mold assemblies arranged side-by-side. Both these conventional configurations of apparatus have particular problems associated with them, in that the independent mold assemblies must be carefully synchronized in operation so that the pairs of cooperating mold blocks come together precisely to form the mold tunnel. Moreover, to provide a pair of independent mold assemblies requires considerable duplication of machinery and equipment and, in the case of the side-by-side layout, the apparatus covers an appreciable area of floor space which may be an appreciable consideration where space is limited or expensive.
Any services which must be supplied to the mold blocks must be provided in duplicate for each mold assembly. Such services include the provision of suction lines, hydraulic fluid lines, possibly heating or cooling services, etc., maintenance and repair work is also duplicated for the mechanism of each endless track. U.S. Pat. No. 4,439,130 issued Mar. 27, 1984 to Dickhut discloses the use of mold blocks which are hinged together and closed to form the mold tunnel and opened to release formed pairs of tube. This makes possible for a single conveyor but the mold blocks still change orientation with changes in their direction of travel.
The use of hinged mold blocks which are closed to form the mold tunnel and are opened to release a formed tube is disclosed in the DE-B-1 171 596. The hinged mold blocks are fixed to a conveyor chain and circulate with this chain arround sprocket-wheels. During their travel on the return path the mold blocks change their direction over an angle of 360.degree..
Since the 1970's various improvements and modifications have been made to the basic type apparatus disclosed in the patents referred to but except for the manufacture of helically corrugated tube no other basic type of apparatus is known. For the production of helically corrugated pipe, a ribbon of molten thermoplastic has been wound on an advancing mandrel. It is not with this type of apparatus that the present invention is concerned.

Process of and apparatus for making plastic tubing


A semiconductor memory device of the invention comprises a plurality of bit lines formed by implanting a second conductive-type impurity in a first conductive-type semiconductor substrate; a thick insulating film on the bit lines; a thin insulating film between the neighboring bit lines; and a plurality of word lines formed on the thick and thin insulating films so as to cross the bit lines, wherein each of the word lines includes a plurality of first conductors and a second conductor which electrically connects the first conductors in series, the respective first conductors are formed on the thin insulating film, the top face of the thickest portion of the thick insulating film is higher than the top face of the first conductors, and the film thickness of the thick insulating film is made thinner toward the end.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a semiconductor memory device and, more specifically, to a semiconductor memory device having contactless memory arrays.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, as a fabrication method of a semiconductor memory device having contactless memory arrays, the following method has been known (reference to, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-77220)
In this method, an ONO layer is formed on a substrate, the ONO layer is etched to form a plurality of columns, an impurity is implanted between the neighboring columns to form bit lines, an oxide is grown thermally on the bit lines, and a plurality of rows made of polysilicon or the like are formed on the ONO layer and the bit line oxide so as to cross the columns of the ONO layer.
However, according to the conventional method, it is necessary to carry out a step of thermally growing the oxides on the bit lines after the bit line formation. In the step, therefore, the impurity for forming the bit lines is diffused to make shortening the channel of a transistor difficult.
Further, it is also difficult to form the oxide in a thick layer on the bit lines; thus, it is difficult to suppress a parasitic capacitance between the bit lines and the word lines to be low.

Semiconductor memory device having insulating film of varying thickness over bit lines


A liquid toner is disclosed herein. The liquid toner includes a toner composition with latex particles incorporated therein. The toner composition includes charged toner particles incorporated into a non-polar liquid carrier. The latex particles are polymer particles of acrylic monomers, vinylic monomers, or mixtures thereof, and each latex particle has a particle size ranging from about 20 nm to about 5 μm.

The present disclosure relates generally to liquid toners including latex particles.
Toners may be used in various commercial printers including digital printers. The toner may, in some instances, be formulated into a liquid form, and this liquid toner may contain a resin incorporated into a liquid carrier. In some instances, pigments and/or dyes may also be incorporated into the liquid carrier to add color to the toner.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


An apparatus for producing semiconductor devices includes a resin molding section for resin-molding semiconductor chips, a loading section for supplying a lead frame, to which the semiconductor chips are bonded, to the resin molding section, a tablet supplying device which supplies a resin tablet to the resin molding section, an unloading section which takes out the resin-molded semiconductor chips with the lead frame from the resin molding section, and a dust cover which covers the resin molding section, the tablet supplying device and the unloading section.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing semiconductor devices and, more particularly, to a method and an apparatus for resin-molding semiconductor devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 illustrates a known resin molding apparatus for resin-molding semiconductor devices. This apparatus has a resin molding section 10 in the center thereof, a loading section 7 and an unloading section 11 which are respectively disposed on the opposite sides of the resin molding section 10. The resin molding section 10, the loading section 7 and the unloading section 11 are covered by dust covers 2, 4 and 6, respectively.
The loading section 7 is provided with a loader 8 for supplying a lead frame and a resin tablet 22 to the resin molding section 10. The loader 8 has a tablet guide portion 24 for receiving the tablet 22 and a slidable stopper 26 for selectively opening and closing the bottom of the tablet guide portion 24.
The resin molding section 10 has a mold 31 and a press 32 for resin-molding semiconductor chips die-bonded to a lead frame which is supplied by the loader 8 of the loading section 7. The mold 31 comprises an upper mold part 28 and a lower mold part 30, and the press 32 acts to press the upper mold part 28 against the lower mold part 30. The lower mold part 30 is provided with a plurality of cavities for receiving semiconductor chips bonded to a lead frame and a pot 34 for receiving the tablet 22. These cavities are connected to the pot 34 through runners.
The unloading section 11 is provided with an unloader 12 for taking out resin-molded semiconductor devices from the resin molding section 10.
The dust cover 4 covering the resin molding section 10 has a first opening 16 on one side wall thereof facing the loading section 7 for allowing the passage of the loader 8, and a second opening 20 on another side wall thereof facing the unloading section 11 for allowing the passage of the unloader 12. A first shutter 24 is provided at the first opening 16 for opening and closing thereof. On the other hand, a second shutter 18 is provided at the second opening 20 for opening and closing thereof.
The operation of the above-described semiconductor resin-molding apparatus is as follows. A lead frame (not shown) to which semiconductor chips are die-bonded is set on the loader 8 of the loading section 7, and a resin tablet 22 is supplied to the tablet guide portion 24 of the loader 8. Then, the first shutter 14 is opened and the loader 8 is introduced into the resin molding section 10 through the opening 16 to set the load frame on the lower mold part 30. In this state, the semiconductor chips bonded to the lead frame are disposed in the cavities. At the same time, the stopper 26 of the tablet guide portion 24 is opened so that the tablet 22 received in the tablet guide portion 24 is dropped into the pot 34 formed in the lower mold part 30. When the loading of the lead frame and the tablet 22 as described above is completed, the loader 8 is returned back to the loading section 7 and the first shutter 14 is closed.
Next, the press 32 is operated to press the upper mold part 28 against the lower mold part 30 so that the mold 31 is closed. Then, the tablet 22 received in the pot 34 is melted by a suitable heating means such as a heater, and is forced out by a plunger or like means and injected through the runners into the cavities, whereby the semiconductor chips are resin-molded.
The resin with which the semiconductor chips and the lead frame are molded is cooled and solidified. Subsequently, the upper mold part 28 is raised by the press 32 and the second shutter 18 is opened. The unloader 12 of the unloading section 11 is then introduced into the resin molding section 10 through the second opening 20 so as to take out the molded semiconductor devices from the lower mold part 30. Each molded semiconductor device, as a product, is thereafter separated from runner portions in the unloading section 11 and placed in a magazine (not shown). Subsequently, the resin burrs adhering to the upper and lower mold parts 28 and 30 are removed by a cleaner (not shown).
During the operation, the dust cover 2 covering the loading section 7 prevents resin powder produced from the tablet 22 for scattering to the outside thereof; the dust cover 4 covering the resin molding section 10 prevents resin burrs produced by resin molding for scattering to the outside thereof; and the dust cover 6 covering the unloading section 11 prevents resin burrs and fine pieces of resin produced by separation of the product and runner portions from scattering to the outside thereof.
It is thus necessary to cover the loading section 7, the resin molding section 10 and the unloading section 11 with the dust covers 2, 4 and 6, respectively, in the known apparatus for producing semiconductor devices. In the loading section 7, semiconductor chips are, however, not yet molded and are exposed to air. Therefore, the resin powder produced from the tablet 22 becomes attached to the semiconductor chips, although the loading section 7 is covered with the dust cover 2. As a result, the properties of the semiconductor chips may be adversely affected.

Apparatus for producing semiconductor devices


An apparatus for melting a semiconductor material and growing a semiconductor crystal from the melted material includes a susceptor having a peripheral rim, a quartz crucible assembly for receiving the semiconductor material therein. The crucible assembly includes an outer crucible housed in and supported by the susceptor and an inner crucible adapted to be so placed within the outer crucible as to define a multi-wall structure. The apparatus also includes at least one fluid passage for permitting the melted material to flow between the inner and outer crucibles when the multi-wall structure is defined by the inner and outer crucibles, a holder for holding the inner crucible, a heater disposed so as to surround the susceptor for heating the material in the crucible assembly, and a drive mechanism operable to move at least one of the holder and the susceptor vertically between a coupled position where the holder is supported by the susceptor in such a manner that the inner crucible is so placed within the outer crucible as to define the multi-wall structure and a released position where the holder is disengaged from the susceptor in such a manner that the inner crucible is released from the outer crucible.. There is also provided a process which may be conveniently carried out in the apparatus described above.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to apparatuses and processes for growing crystals of semiconductor materials for use in making integrated circuit devices and solar cells, for example. More particularly, the invention relates to such apparatuses and processes which operate in accordance with a Czochralski technique making use of a multi-wall type quartz crucible.
2. Prior Art
In a batch type apparatus for the growing of silicon single-crystal ingots, the quantity of a silicon melt contained in a quartz crucible decreases as the crystal grows. As a result, the quality is not uniform longitudinally within the crystalline ingot obtained by the apparatus of this type. More specifically, the oxygen concentration in the crystal depends upon the quantity of oxygen dissolved in the silicon melt, thereby varying as the silicon melt in the quartz crucible varies. In addition, since the quantity of the melt varies, the thermal distribution in the furnace fluctuates and the convection in the melt varies, so that the crystallization front varies. Further, dopant such as phosphorus, boron and antimony is generally added to the melt to control the electric conductivity of the single-crystal. However, insomuch as the segregation constant of such impurities is not identical to 1, the dopant concentration in the crystal differs as the crystal grows.
Thus, the quality of the single-crystal ingot varies in its longitudinal direction, and therefore it has been only a part of the ingot that has a desired quality. Additionally, the productivity has been low in such batch process.
The approach to resolve the above disadvantages is the use of a continuous type apparatus hitherto proposed wherein the single-crystal ingot is grown while the quartz crucible is being charged with a material. U.S. Pat. No. 2,892,739 or Japanese Patent Application A-Publication No. 61-36197 describes one such apparatus which is the simplest in structure and makes use of the combination of a double crucible and the continuous charging of the material in the form of powders, lumps or granules.
The above continuous type apparatus has, however, the following problems. First, although the temperature of the silicon melt is above 1,420.degree. C., the quartz of which the crucible is made begins to get softened at about 1,100.degree. C. As a result, although the outer crucible supported by a graphite susceptor is not deformed from its original shape so greatly, the inner crucible is susceptible to a large deformation since it is not supported sufficiently, so that the growing of the single-crystal is adversely affected.
Specifically, a great quantity of heat has to be applied to the crucible in an initial stage of the pulling cycle in order to melt the material fed in the crucible, and the temperature in the furnace reaches the maximum at that time. Therefore, the deformation of the inner crucible becomes the greatest at that time. FIGS. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings schematically illustrate conventional apparatuses each of which comprises a quartz double crucible assembly 100 housed in a susceptor 102 and comprising inner and outer crucibles 100a and 100b, and a resistance heater 104 disposed so as to surround the crucible assembly 100. The double crucible assembly 100 is filled with a charge of silicon material 106, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, and the charge is heated by the heater 104 until it is melted thoroughly. Each inner crucible 100a, however, is subjected to deformation as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 as the silicon material is melted.
Secondly, since quartz has a high heat-insulating effect, the temperature is lower at the inner side of the inner crucible than at the outer side thereof. This may be advantageous during the growth of crystals since the silicon material introduced between the inner and outer crucibles can be melted efficiently, but disadvantageous when melting the silicon material initially fed in the crucible since the inner crucible itself prevents the heat generated by the heater from being transferred to its interior, so that the efficiency of the melting is lowered. If the quantity of heat applied to the material should be increased to reduce the time required for the melting, the inner crucible would be subjected to an excessive deformation.
Furthermore, in Japanese Patent Application A-Publication No. 55-47300, there has been proposed an apparatus as shown in FIG. 5 which comprises the inner crucible 100a fixedly secured to a fixed portion 108 through a support 110. Such apparatus, however, has the disadvantages that the inner crucible 100a cannot be rotated together with the outer crucible 100b. For growing a single-crystal ingot, the crucible has to be generally rotated at a speed of 5 rpm to 10 rpm. Without such rotation, the formation of single-crystals may be difficult.
In conjunction with the use of the double crucible, Japanese Patent Application A-Publication No. 58-204895 discloses an apparatus which comprises a mechanism for causing the inner crucible to rotate and move upwardly and downwardly. The apparatus, however, has the drawbacks that it in itself is large in size and intricate in construction, thereby being high in cost.

Apparatus and process for growing crystals of semiconductor materials


A method for producing a petroleum resin including removing a low-molecular mist by means of a filter.

A petroleum resin allows a low-molecular compound which is a highly-viscous fine particle such as an oligomer to be generated in a polymer in its polymerization system as an impurity. The low-molecular compound is separated and generated as a low-molecular mist in a granulation system, in particular.
For example, a hydrogenated petroleum resin is produced by a process in which polymerization is conducted in a polymerization system, followed by removal of unsaturated matters in the resin in a hydrogenation reaction system. At this time, for a resin from which unsaturated matters are removed, a solvent and a low-molecular compound are removed by a thin film evaporator. In the molten state, the resin is sent to a granulation system as a final process to become a hydrogenated petroleum resin pellet.
The above-mentioned molten hydrogenated petroleum resin contains a trace amount of a low-molecular compound which cannot be separated by a thin film evaporator. In the hydrogenated molten petroleum resin containing the low-molecular compound, at the time of dropwise addition thereof to a steel belt at the time of granulation, as for the low-molecular compound, a smoke-like mist is generated from the surface of the resin. This mist is sucked together with cooling air by means of a blower, and then discharged to the outside from an exhaustion port through an exhaustion duct, thereby imposing environmental load.


There is now provided a tool for chipforming machining of metals and similar materials comprising a high speed steel core and a cover of more wear resistant material than the core. If the material in the core has a carbon content 0.05-0.25% lower than the conventional carbon content for the high speed steel in question, improved properties can be obtained.

The present invention relates to an improved compound tool with a core of high speed steel and a cover of more wear resistant material.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,618,540, which is hereby incorporated by reference, discloses a compound tool for chip forming machining with superior properties consisting of a core of high speed steel and a surface of a hard material containing 30-70% by volume of particles selected from the group consisting of carbides, nitrides, carbonitrides and mixtures thereof of metals selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W and mixtures thereof, in a matrix based on Fe, Ni and/or Co. The patent teaches that the high speed steel shall have a conventional composition, e.g., conventional HSS grades M2, M41, T2 and the like with, in particular, a carbon content that from experience and theory has been found to give optimal properties for that particular steel. By conventional composition is thus meant a composition found in international and national standards as well as in specifications from high speed steel manufacturers.
For example, a conventional high speed steel of M2-type has, according to literature data, a nominal composition of the alloying elements 0.3% Si, 0.3% Mn, 4.0% Cr, 5.0% Mo, 6.0% W and 2.0% V with a carbon content of 0.85-0.88 weight-%. To get a higher wear resistance, the carbon content can be increased and consequently about 1.0 weight-% C is a rather common level for M2. A certain variation of the above mentioned figures for the other alloying elements, of course, is allowed. According to the state of the art, the carbon content is considered as the optimum alloying element with regard to a balance in wear resistance and toughness. A decrease in carbon content increases the risk of precipitation of ferrite which gives soft zones in the material. Therefore, the carbon content is not usually considered to be lowered below the nominal amounts. A similar situation in regard to the risk associated with lower carbon content applies to other types of high speed steel.
High speed steel is commercially available in solid or powder state. It should be noted, however, that when a high speed steel powder contains oxygen, the carbon content is increased in order to compensate for the oxygen content. For example, a water granulated M2-powder general has an oxygen content of 0.2 weight-% and a carbon content of 1.1 weight-%. During sintering, carbon monoxide is formed reducing the carbon content in the final product to the convention value as set forth above.


An integrated haptic system may include a digital signal processor and an amplifier communicatively coupled to the digital signal processor and integrated with the digital signal processor into the integrated haptic system. The digital signal processor may be configured to receive a force sensor signal indicative of a force applied to a force sensor and generate a haptic playback signal responsive to the force. The amplifier may be configured to amplify the haptic playback signal and drive a vibrational actuator communicatively coupled to the amplifier with the haptic playback signal as amplified by the amplifier.

Linear resonant actuators (LRAs) and other vibrational actuators (e.g., rotational actuators, vibrating motors, etc.) are increasingly being used in mobile devices (e.g., mobile phones, personal digital assistants, video game controllers, etc.) to generate vibrational feedback for user interaction with such devices. Typically, a force/pressure sensor detects user interaction with the device (e.g., a finger press on a virtual button of the device) and in response thereto, the linear resonant actuator vibrates to provide feedback to the user. For example, a linear resonant actuator may vibrate in response to force to mimic to the user the feel of a mechanical button click.
One disadvantage of existing haptic systems is that existing approaches to processing of signals of a force sensor and generating of a haptic response thereto often have longer than desired latency, such that the haptic response may be significantly delayed from the user's interaction with the force sensor. Thus, in applications in which a haptic system is used for mechanical button replacement, capacitive sensor feedback, or other application, and the haptic response may not effectively mimic the feel of a mechanical button click. Accordingly, systems and methods that minimize latency between a user's interaction with a force sensor and a haptic response to the interaction are desired.
In addition, to create appropriate and pleasant haptic feelings for a user, a signal driving a linear resonant actuator may need to be carefully designed and generated. In mechanical button replacement application, a desirable haptic response may be one in which the vibrational impulse generated by the linear resonant actuator should be strong enough to give a user prominent notification as a response to his/her finger pressing and/or releasing, and the vibrational impulse should be short, fast, and clean from resonance tails to provide a user a "sharp" and "crisp" feeling. Optionally, different control algorithms and stimulus may be applied to a linear resonant actuator, to alter the performance to provide alternate tactile feedback—possibly denoting certain user modes in the device—giving more "soft" and "resonant" tactile responses.


Systems, apparatus, methods and computer-readable storage media facilitating information sharing via a communication device are described. In some embodiments, a method includes: generating a text message shell; providing concurrent access to a plurality of different types of content, wherein the plurality of different types of content includes website information; receiving a signal indicative of content selected from the plurality of different types of content, wherein the content is to be included in the text messaging shell; and generating a text message including the content. In some embodiments, providing concurrent access to the plurality of different types of content comprises providing concurrent access to one or more of contacts information, media or geographical location information for the communication device, and wherein the website information comprises a uniform resource locator or a website title.

With advancements in technology, communication devices are becoming ubiquitous in today's society due to convenience of use resultant from their lightweight nature and extensive information processing capabilities. With the onslaught of technology, the amount and type of information that can be shared amongst and between communication devices is ever-increasing. Conventional systems typically encumber the process of sharing information by requiring users to obtain electronic mail (email) accounts, access to devices connected to such networks and in-depth knowledge of how to access and use such accounts and networks. Further, sharing information by email can be time-consuming and somewhat complex, depending on the type of information being disseminated. Accordingly, systems, apparatus, methods and computer-readable storage media for sharing information via communication devices are desirable.

Systems, apparatus, methods and computer-readable storage media facilitating information sharing via communication devices


Systems and associated processes for guiding users to provide more useful reviews are described. These systems and processes can provide guided reviews in certain embodiments by presenting questions to a user in the form of an interview. The questions can be relevant to the item being reviewed, and as such, may be specifically and dynamically selected based on the particular item under consideration. Many other criteria may be used to select the types of questions presented to users, examples of which will be described below. Presenting review questions to users can have the effect of reducing or eliminating the “blank page” effect of having to write a review from scratch, with no guidance. Accordingly, review questions can potentially elicit more thorough and useful feedback than existing review systems in some embodiments.

Networked systems have become an increasingly prevalent and vital technology. Networks, such as the Internet, allow large numbers of computer systems and people to swiftly transfer data across the globe. These networks are often used to provide network applications, such as web applications and mobile applications, to end users. These web and mobile applications are often hosted by server computers that serve content to end user devices.
For example, ecommerce systems commonly provide various types of informational services for assisting users in evaluating products and other offerings. Such services can greatly aid consumers in deciding which product or offering to purchase. These informational services are particularly valuable for purchases over a network, where customers do not have the opportunity to physically inspect or try out products.
One type of information service involves providing feedback from product users. The feedback may be in the form of reviews that discuss the merits and drawbacks of products and services. Users can read other users' reviews to determine whether to purchase a product or service. Thus, reviews can greatly aid users' buying decisions when shopping from an ecommerce system.


An arrangement has a computing unit which is connected to a memory unit, an operator control device and a display device. The computing unit displays, on the display device, a first operator control display which is read out from the memory unit and is composed of at least two display elements, evaluates an operator control operation which is performed by means of the operator control device, and reads out a second operator control display, assigned to the operator control operation, from the memory device. In order to improve the ability to perceive the relationship between the first and the second operator control displays, at least one of the display elements from the first operator control display is also contained in the second operator control display (150), the at least one display element in the first operator control display differing from the second operator control display in at least one of its display properties. The computing unit performs a gradual transformation of the at least one display element from the first operator control display to the second operator control display and displays it.

EP 0 940 295 B1 discloses an apparatus for controlling electronic devices in a vehicle, in which apparatus at least two menus which are different from one another can optionally be displayed on a display unit. When the display is switched from the first to the second menu, the display of the first menu is gradually broken up and in an inversely proportional fashion at the same time the display of the second menu is gradually built up in parallel with this so that while the second menu is appearing, parts of the first menu still remain visible. There is thus a complete changeover from one menu image to a second menu image, i.e. after the appearance of the second menu image an operator must redirect his concentration in order to take in its contents. However, in particular when driving vehicles such as motor vehicles and sailing boats or sports craft, the operator only has a short time to take in newly built-up menu images or operator control displays since he has to concentrate mainly on the task of driving.

Arrangement for controlling electronic devices, in particular in a vehicle


A method for manufacturing a SiC semiconductor device includes: forming recesses to be separated from each other on a cross section in parallel to a surface of the substrate by partially removing a top portion of the drift layer with etching using a mask after arranging the mask on a front surface of a drift layer; forming electric field relaxation layers having the second conductivity type to be separated from each other on the cross section by ion-implanting a second conductivity type impurity on a bottom of each recess using the mask; and forming a channel layer by forming a second conductivity type layer on the front surface of the drift layer including a front surface of each electric field relaxation layer in a respective recess.

A SiC semiconductor device achieving high breakdown electric field intensity generates a high electric field due to the high breakdown electric field intensity. In a case where the SiC semiconductor device is provided with an element of a trench gate structure, a high electric field is generated particularly at a gate bottom. Accordingly, a gate oxide film has a high electric field applied thereto and has a shorter life. In order to prevent such a shorter life, a conventional art proposes a structure in which a p-type impurity layer serving as an electric field relaxation layer is provided adjacent to a trench having a trench gate so as to relax an electric field applied to the trench gate (see Patent Literature 1). Such a structure including an electric field relaxation layer near a trench has a lower electric field applied to a gate oxide film as the electric field relaxation layer has a larger depth, so that the gate oxide film is likely to have a longer life.

Method for manufacturing silicon carbide semiconductor device


A method of manufacturing a condenser with an integrated oil separator. An oil separator bottom plate is fixed with oil separator components in a first condenser dome shell. The oil separator bottom plate is welded using a first longitudinal seam welding and a second longitudinal seam welding. The first condenser dome shell with the oil separator components is coupled with the second condenser dome shell using a third longitudinal seam welding and a fourth longitudinal seam welding to form the condenser with the integrated oil separator.

Chillers generate chilled water which is used to provide air conditioning in buildings. Chillers operate on vapor compression refrigeration cycle and include compressors. Oil is used in compressors for lubrication, cooling, sealing, silencing (reducing pressure pulsation) & for auxiliary functions. Oil is mixed with the refrigerant in compressors. However, oil needs to be separated from the refrigerant to improve the reliability & efficiency of the refrigeration system. For the purpose of separation of the oil & refrigerant, oil separators are installed on the compressor discharge line before the condenser. They usually comprise of a vessel with the discharge gas (refrigerant & oil mixture) inlet connection/s and refrigerant gas outlet connection/s & oil outlet connection/s. The separated refrigerant is supplied to condenser and separated oil is returned to the compressor.
Oil separators may be external which are placed outside the condenser or internal which are placed inside the condenser.
In the existing internal oil separators, oil separator assembly is separately manufactured as an independent vessel and is inserted inside the condenser shell. For this purpose, a separate sheet metal dome is required. There are several challenges in the current design of the internal oil separators. For instance, fitting of the oil separator inside a condenser shell is difficult as the oil separator tends to bend. Moreover, matching the nozzle locations of the oil separator and the condenser shell is difficult. Since the oil separator needs to be welded inside the condenser shell, there is also a possibility of welding damage/leakage as oil separator sheet metal thickness is small. Further, there is always some space between oil separator dome and condenser shell. This can result in high noise and vibrations while the refrigeration system is in operation.
In view of the afore-mentioned problems, there is a need of an efficient and effective system and a method for manufacturing an integrated oil separator with the condenser which alleviates the problems in the existing internal oil separators.

Integrated oil separator with a condenser


An ultrasound system is provided which includes a therapy ultrasound transducer and a diagnostic ultrasound transducer and operates in accordance with a method to direct the application of the therapy ultrasound. The method includes operating the diagnostic ultrasound transducer to acquire a first ultrasound image; simultaneously operating the diagnostic ultrasound transducer and therapy ultrasound transducer for a second interval to acquire a second ultrasound image; and determining a difference in the first and second images indicative of the pattern of the therapy ultrasound transducer signal. The difference in the images, which result from enhanced non-linearities and propagation distortions induced by the high intensity therapy ultrasound, can be obtained by subtracting the two images. A method is also provided for monitoring the progress of high intensity therapy ultrasound which evaluates transient changes due to in-situ heating as well as permanent changes which result from cell microstructure alteration.

The present invention relates generally to ultrasonic imaging and more particularly relates to the use of harmonic imaging to guide and monitor the application of therapeutic ultrasound.
It is known in the art of medical imaging and therapy that ultrasonic energy can be used for both diagnostic purposes and therapeutic purposes. For example, high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) beams can be used to treat tumors by causing local focal temperature increases that cause cell necrosis. In using HIFU, the location of the focused ultrasound beam must be determined to place the beams focal point on the tissue (tumor) which is targeted for therapy. In addition, it is desirable to sense and monitor changes which are induced by the HIFU beam within the exposed tissue.
It is known that non-linear propagation occurs in a medium, such as tissue, which is exposed to intense ultrasound pressure, such as that which occurs from a HIFU beam. The HIFU beam is a high intensity pressure wave which alternately compresses and relaxes the tissue during a signal cycle. As a beam propagates, regions of compression can disturb local propagation speeds and result in regions of increased speeds in compression segments and decreased propagation speeds in rarefaction segments of the wave. This effect locally increases with increasing peak pressure values and also exhibits a cumulative nature, i.e., becoming more prominent as an intense beam propagates further into a medium. This tends to distort the propagating pressure wave and enhance non-linearities in the echo signal. This results in a generation of higher-order harmonics and mixing products in a propagating ultrasound signal. This process is altered, however, by attenuation losses in tissue, which typically increase with increasing frequency.
The use of harmonic imaging in diagnostic imaging is also known in the prior art. However, such systems have been generally used to image non-linear scattering from small, gas-filled contrast agent particles. An example of this can be found in applicants"" copending application, Ser. No. 09/318,882, filed on May 26, 1999 and entitled, xe2x80x9cUltrasonic Systems and Methods for Fluid Perfusion and Flow Rate Measurement,xe2x80x9d which is hereby incorporated by reference. There are also reports that different tissues exhibit different non-linear properties that can be observed in second-harmonic images if the peak pressures of the launched pulse are sufficiently large.
Although harmonic imaging techniques have been evaluated and the non-linear properties of tissues have been observed in the past, these effects have not been used in an advantageous matter to guide and monitor the progress of therapeutic ultrasound.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for aiming a therapy ultrasound beam.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system and method for monitoring the application of a therapy ultrasound beam using harmonic imaging.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a system and method for detecting thermal lesions resulting from the application of therapeutic ultrasound and determining the position of such lesions using ultrasound harmonic imaging.
A present method is used for aiming or directing a focused ultrasonic therapy beam. The method begins by acquiring a first image scan using a first frequency ultrasound signal. A second image scan is then acquired using the first frequency ultrasound signal in the presence of a therapy beam ultrasound signal. Difference properties in the first and second image scans are then identified to determine where the focused ultrasonic therapy beam is currently directed. The difference properties can be obtained by generating a difference image from the first image and second image scans. The difference image can then be superimposed on the first image scan and displayed to illustrate the presence of the focused ultrasonic therapy beam.
Preferably, the method described is used in conjunction with an ultrasound system which includes a diagnostic ultrasound transducer and a high intensity focused ultrasound therapy transducer which are arranged in a collinear fashion. It is also preferred that the image scans take the form of non-linearity imaging scans, such as harmonic imaging or pulse inversion imaging.
A further method is provided for operating an ultrasound therapy system having a therapy ultrasound transducer and a diagnostic ultrasound transducer to direct the application of the therapy ultrasound. The method includes operating the diagnostic ultrasound transducer for a first interval to acquire a first ultrasound image scan; simultaneously operating the diagnostic ultrasound transducer and therapy ultrasound transducer for a second interval to acquire a second ultrasound image scan; and determining a difference in the first and second image scans indicative of the pattern of the therapy ultrasound transducer signal.
A method of monitoring ultrasound therapy is also provided. This method begins by acquiring a first ultrasound image (baseline) of a region subjected to therapy. High intensity ultrasound is then applied to the region for a first time period. A second ultrasound image of the region is then acquired after the first time period. An aggregate induced effect can be determined based on the first and second image scans. The high intensity ultrasound can then be discontinued for a second time period and a third ultrasound image is then acquired. Transient changes due to in-situ heating in the region and permanent changes due to alteration in tissue microstructure in the region can then be determined.
Generally, the first time period is selected to be long enough such that the applied high intensity ultrasound has a therapeutic effect. The second time period is selected to allow cooling of the region undergoing high intensity ultrasound therapy.

System and method for ultrasonic harmonic imaging for therapy guidance and monitoring


A computer generates semantic structure information from a document. The semantic structure information includes a plurality of semantic structures in a plurality of sentences in the document and a plurality of morphemes included in each of the plurality of sentences belong to a corresponding semantic structure. The computer generates a plurality of codes by encoding the plurality of morphemes for each of the plurality of sentences. The computer specifies a specific code that corresponds to a specific morpheme from among the plurality of morphemes included in each of the plurality of sentences, wherein at least one morpheme is potentially missing in a semantic structure that the specific morpheme belongs to. A missing-portion information indicates the missing morpheme is included in a prior sentence in the document. The computer adds missing-portion information to the specific code for each of the plurality of sentences.

In recent years, an amount of text data has been increasing explosively, and the importance of text search has increased. In particular, the study of semantic processing for secretarial function application software or the like has become popular, and the importance of search of a semantic structure of a natural sentence has been increasing.
Lexical analysis, morphological analysis, semantic analysis, and the like are used to analyze a natural sentence used in text search. Lexical analysis is a process for dividing a character string into words, and morphological analysis is a process for dividing a character string into morphemes and assigning information such as a part of speech or an attribute to the respective morphemes. The morphemes obtained by morphological analysis may be treated as words.
Semantic analysis is a process for obtaining a semantic structure of a natural sentence by using a morphological analysis result of the natural sentence. What the natural sentence means can be expressed as data handled by computers, by using a semantic structure that is a semantic analysis result.
The semantic structure includes a plurality of semantic codes that respectively indicate the meanings of a plurality of words included in the morphological analysis result, and information indicating a connection relationship between two semantic codes. One semantic code may correspond to a plurality of words. The semantic structure can be expressed, for example, by a directed graph that is formed by a plurality of nodes indicating a plurality of semantic codes and arcs that each indicate a connection relationship between two nodes. A minimum partial structure of the semantic structure is referred to as a semantic minimum unit, and is formed by two nodes and an arc between the two nodes.
Semantic structure search for searching a plurality of documents by using a semantic structure of a search request of a natural sentence can be realized by performing morphological analysis and semantic analysis on text data included in the plurality of documents.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2013-186766
Patent Document 2: Japanese Laid-open Patent
Publication No. 2010-93414
Patent Document 3: International Publication Pamphlet No. 2012/111078
Patent Document 4: International Publication Pamphlet No. 2011/148511
Patent Document 5: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2012-22599
Patent Document 6: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2012-150586

Search apparatus, encoding method, and search method based on morpheme position in a target document


One or more sensors identify a characteristic of a towed implement using non-visual electromagnetic radiation, auditory detection or temperature detection. The characteristic of the implement is compared to a reference characteristic to determine whether the implement has a problem. If so, control signals are generated to control a controllable subsystem based upon the identified problem.

There are many different types of agricultural machines. The agricultural machines include a variety of different towed implements. The towed implements can include such things as tillage equipment, planting equipment, sprayers or other application implements, bailers, among a wide variety of others. Currently, the health of the towed implement can be difficult to detect by an operator of a towing vehicle (such as the operator of a tractor). For instance, if parts on the towed implement are lost, broken, damaged or loosened, or where their proper function is otherwise impaired in some other way, this may not be detectable by the operator unless it is observed by the operator. The operator may need to dismount the towing vehicle and perform a visual inspection of the implement in order to identify some lost, broken, loose, or otherwise compromised portions of the implement.
Detecting a compromised portion of an implement can be even more difficult under some circumstances. For instance, tillage equipment often has multiple rows of ground engaging components. The size of the implement, in itself, can make it difficult for an operator to observe a problem with the implement. Further, during operation, the implement may be engaged with the soil over which it is traveling. This can even further obscure the operator's view of the implement so the observation of problems can even be more difficult.
Because it is difficult to detect problems with a towed implement, the operation of the towed implement can be compromised. For instance, because an operator often only finds a problem by visual inspection, this can mean that the towed implement is operating for a period of time, even while it has a problem. This can lead to degraded performance of the implement, and it can also, at times, result in additional damage to the implement.
The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.


An electrical connector includes an insulating housing having a front surface concaved rearward to define a receiving chamber with a tongue board therein. Electrical terminals are disposed in the tongue board and elastically stretch into the receiving chamber. A frame-shaped holding shell is mounted in the receiving chamber. A shielding cover adapted for being connected to ground and punched from a metal board has a base board with a window being opened therein and a plurality of contact strips being formed and apart arranged to periphery edges of the base board. The base board is covered onto the front surface of the insulating housing with the window being communicated with the receiving chamber. The contact strips stretch freely outside the insulating housing. A shielding shell is put around the insulating housing and electrically connected with the shielding cover.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to an electrical connector capable of shielding electromagnetic interference.
2. The Related Art
With fast development of electronic technology, various electronic products and peripheral devices thereof are connected with each other with increasing frequency. So, an electrical connector is often used to achieve the connection between the electronic products and the peripheral devices thereof. The rapid developments of the electrical connector call for more stringent requirement to electromagnetic shielding effect of the electrical connector. A traditional method for shielding electromagnetic interference in the electrical connector is to utilize a metal shell to connect with ground. However, the metal shell is generally designed with an evenness outer structure that generally realizes a poor effect for filtering external electromagnetic interference. As a result, electromagnetic interference is often apt to happen in the electrical connector to affect signal communication between the electronic product and the peripheral device thereof. So, an electrical connector capable of overcoming the forgoing problem is required.


A flashlight and bracket device attachable to a cordless drill for illuminating the drilling region. The bracket clips into the screwdriver bit holder cavity of any cordless drill. The bracket and flashlight case can be plastic and molded in one unit. A metal flashlight case can have a plastic or metal bracket attached by fastening with adhesive, rivets, bolts, wire ties, and welding. The bracket has a rectangular element attached to the flashlight case and a cylindrical element which snaps into a spring clip in a cavity in the housing of the cordless drill.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a flashlight attachable to a cordless drill. More specifically, the invention is a flashlight case having a bracket which is adapted for attachment to a conventional spare bit holder built-in to the housing of a cordless drill in order to provide illumination while drilling.
2. Description of the Related Art
The related art of interest describes various portable power tools utilizing an accessory light in various locations, but none discloses the present invention which provides for attaching a flashlight onto a portable drill by means of a bracket attached to the flashlight case which snaps into a conventional bit holder(s) in the portable drill housing. There is a need for a small illumination source for a portable drill, and particularly a cordless drill, which can be readily attached to the drill to greatly assist in the drilling process, especially in a small, crowded, and shaded areas. The related art will be discussed in the order of perceived relevance to the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,822,615, issued on Feb. 11, 1958, to Charlie I. Durst describes a drill attachment precision verifier for a portable electric drill comprising a cylindrical sighting light device placed either on top or on either side of a portable electric drill. Inside the device is a light bulb in the rear actuated with a suitable light source by an external wire and light switch. The sighting device has the light traveling through a first convex-convex lens, a first cross-shaped sight, a second cross-shaped sight, and out the second convex-concave lens. The sighting device is attached to a U-shaped body member which has flanges for sliding in a track mounted on top of the drill. The device is distinguishable for requiring an external electrical source, two lens, and two cross-shaped sights.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,670 issued on Aug. 25, 1998, to Phillip J. Snoke et al. describes a portable power tool light accessory with a mounting belt comprising a light supported by a flexible neck and a body attached by a detachable mounting belt around the portable drill in front of the trigger. The device is distinguishable for requiring a flexible neck and the mounting belt.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,977,278, issued on Aug. 31, 1976, to John Van Jackson describes a light positioned on top of the housing of an automotive impact wrench energized by a car battery. The light housing is integral with the tool housing and has wiring energized by a light switch on the side of the tool body. The light device is distinguishable for being integrated with the power tool body.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,206,538 B1, issued on Mar. 27, 2001, to David B. Lemoine describes a miser light for a cordless battery operated drill located on various positions such as on top, below, or on the bottom battery case. The drill has a spring return trigger switch assembly which energizes the lamp first. The light source may be an incandescent or a halogen bulb matched to the output voltage of the tool battery. There is no disclosure as to the means of attachment of the lamp to the drill. The miser light is distinguishable for its lack of description for the housing and its attachment to the drill.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,833,752, issued on May 30, 1989, to Lonnie W. Smith describes a saber saw tracing light comprising a focused miniature electric lamp with a focusing mechanism projecting a very narrow beam of light mounted permanently on the front of the saw blade to trace the previously scribed saw line. The illumination device is distinguishable for requiring a non-detachable miniature electric lamp.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,525,588, issued on Oct. 10, 1950, to Leroy F. Cameron describes an illuminated electric drill having an electric lamp with a focusing lens built into the front housing below the drill chuck and energized along with the drill. The illumination source is distinguishable for its required built-in front location.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,517,882, issued on Aug. 8, 1950, to Moses Johnson describes illuminated handheld motor tools, such as buffers, grinders and drills. The cylindrical handheld drill has an offset lamp housing and a transparent nozzle either on one side of the right-angled chuck or aligned with an in-line chuck. The illumination means is distinguishable for requiring an integrated lamp and an angled or straight transparent nozzle.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,169,225, issued on Dec. 6, 1992, to Bernhard Palm describes a portable power tool with a light on a slider attached to the battery pack located at the bottom of its pistol handle for illumination of the work area. The light means is distinguishable for being required to attach to the bottom of the pistol handle.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,560,703, issued on Oct. 1, 1996, to Lewis W. Capps describes a mounting device for mounting a flashlight on a handgun. The device has a first bracket for attachment to the grip of the handgun, the bracket being contoured to the surface of the handgun grip and engageable with the grip by friction. The bracket, which engages the grip, extends partially around the grip and is further urged against the grip by means of an elastic band. The first bracket is connected to a second bracket which holds a flashlight under the grip in a desired alignment for coinciding with the gun barrel. The second bracket is located away from the grip except for an upper region that is welded flush to the first bracket so that it does not interfere with normal gripping of the gun. The device is distinguishable for requiring two brackets and being located on the bottom of the handle.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,179,436 B1, issued on Jan. 30, 2001, to Neil Gitkind describes a backpack lantern of a flashlight combined in the center of an elastomeric coupler having two to four legs with hook fastening patches on their ends to engage the ring of loop fastening on the upper part of a capped drinking container. The device is distinguishable for requiring the flashlight to be fastened to a drinking container.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,179,436 B1, issued on Jan. 30, 2001, to Neil Gitkind describes a light source attachment to a drink container for use as a lantern for the home or when camping, comprising a flashlight with its head portion coupled to the open end of the cup with elastomeric couplers with up to four legs having hook fastening patches for attaching to a ring of loop fastening on the rim of the cup. The flashlight and its attachment are distinguishable for requiring elastomeric coupling.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,588,288, issued on Mar. 4, 1952, to Joseph Pohanka describes a dental light comprising a socket member and a rear nipple holding the lamp with its outwardly flaring reflector adjacent the dental burr by a C-shaped metal clamp on the drill handle. The device is distinguishable for requiring a lamp with an angled socket member and rear nipple attachable by a C-shaped clamp.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,313,376 issued on May 17, 1994, to Kirk W. McIntosh describes an illuminated multifunctional pocket knife and light device comprising a hollow channel above the integrated knife handle for the lamp and battery. FIG. 8 describes a detachable flashlight body with a locking tracking means attached to a truncated triangular slot on the top of the main knife case. The flashlight body contains the bulb and battery, but lacks a switch. The device is distinguishable for being limited to attachment to a pocket knife.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,739,167, issued on Jun. 12, 1973, to Glen H. Avery describes a spot light for a rifle or a bow in night hunting comprising a spotlight attached perpendicular to a vertical standard attached below the gun barrel. The battery is behind the standard and connected by exposed wiring to the lamp and the switch located on the rifle stock. The device is distinguishable for requiring a spotlight and a standard.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,403,957, issued on Sep. 13, 1983, and German Patent Application No. DE 31 19 689 A1, published on Dec. 2, 1982, for Walter Moessle al. describes a dental drill with an integrated light. The device is distinguishable for its limitation to and integrated in a dental drill.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus, a cordless drill flashlight case and bracket device solving the aforementioned problem of illumination for a cordless drill is desired.
The present invention is a flashlight and bracket attachment for a cordless drill. The illumination is necessary in dark areas such as inside cabinets, closets, attics, and for basement ceilings, and the like. Conventional portable drills now have one or two storage spaces inside a cavity molded into the drill body and having a clip holder for screwdriver bits. Therefore, according to the present invention, the flashlight has a bracket attached on the side of the flashlight case, the bracket comprising a rectangular base element and a cylindrical element for insertion in the clip holder. In this manner, advantage is taken of the existing clip holder.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide an illumination source attachment device for a cordless drill having an integrated screwdriver bit holder.
It is another object of the invention to provide a flashlight with a holder device for fitting the modified screwdriver bit holder cavity of a cordless drill.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a holder component having a cylindrical attachment element for removable attachment to the cordless drill.
It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.
These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

Flashlight with bracket device for cordless drill


A method of determining position information, the method having detecting—along a first direction—a value of a geometry parameter related to a structure formed on and/or in a substrate, and determining—with regard to a second direction—a value of a position parameter based on the detected value of the geometry parameter and a predetermined relationship between the geometry parameter and the position parameter.

The present invention relates to position detection.
In a microfluidic device, channels may be formed in a substrate, and materials like gel, liquids or sample material may be transported through the channels. This can be accomplished, in the field of gel electrophoresis, by applying electric fields along the channels so that charged particles may be moved along the channels under the influence of an electric force.
In a fluid separation system of such a microfluidic device, different components which are separated, using electric fields or the like, may be detected optically. For this purpose, a light beam may be emitted onto a channel, so that molecules moving along the channel can be detected, for instance due to their fluorescence properties.
For microfluidic applications, particular requirements might have to be considered when determining and adjusting the detection position of an instrument. This holds for the transverse directions (like horizontal and vertical position relative to a chip structure, for instance a channel) and also for a longitudinal direction. Examples for such chip structures are applications related to flow-injection and component separation. It might be important or necessary, for a sufficient detection sensitivity, to be in conformity with accurate time and/or spatial distances relative to reference positions.
It may happen that the time dependence of a concentration ratio or an equilibrium state of used chemical agents, in the context of transport procedures using channels, correlates with a position on the chip or along a channel. For instance, for fluorescence detection with sample derivatization, it has to be considered during a measurement using a fluorescence label that the reaction time may be limited by effects like diffusion.
In the light of the small dimensions of microfluidic devices, even moderate requirements concerning relative positioning accuracy can correspond to very small absolute tolerances which, in many cases, are difficult to obtain or are obtainable only with high effort by sophisticated manufacturing procedures.
In many cases, measurement devices are used which enable to position a detector using an adjustment device before the measurement. However, such an adjustment may be complicated and time-consuming.

Position detection based on two-directional correlation


A secure directory device for displaying information on removable plates. The device includes a special key for removing and replacing plates, thereby precluding unauthorized tampering.

The present invention relates to directory devices and relates in particular to such devices in which a plurality of removable plates bearing information or other indicia are supported in a frame where the frame is fixed to a permanent support such as a flat surface or wall.
A typical prior art directory device is disclosed and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,523,402, issued June 18, 1985, to Charles E. Dobson.
In the '402 patent a series of parallel, transversely disposed plates 18 are secured to vertical mounting bars 32 by means of attaching strips 10 which are, in turn, secured to mounting bars 32 by screws 37.
In directory devices of the class to which this invention pertains, it is important that the overall unit present a pleasing, neat and esthetically appropriate appearance.
Most importantly, the directory should be secure against unauthorized tampering or vandalism while incorporating a convenient means for changing or replacing individual information carrying plates.
When the plates show names of individuals or business operations quartered in a large building, normal "turnover" requires that the directory be adjusted to reflect the occurrence of new arrivals or the departure of old occupants.
It is important that these changes be made conveniently, quickly and with little or no risk of damage to the esthetic nature of the directory.

Directory device and method of operation


An efficient and automated algorithm for placing power gating switches within a voltage island of an integrated circuit, which ensures compliance with defined electrical specifications. A power gating switch is placed in every legal location on the integrated circuit and the minimum number of power gating switches is calculated based on current requirements of the voltage island. Each power gating switch is modeled as an ideal resistor whose value is obtained from the slope of the I-V curve of the switch when operating in the linear region. The power distribution networks of the integrated circuit and the voltage island are extracted and modeled as a resistive network. Circuit macros placed within the voltage island are modeled as current sources. The extracted linear network is then simulated using a DC stimulus to obtain expected voltage drops across the voltage island as well as the currents in all branches of the voltage island power grid and through each power gating switch. The process iterates until a placement of a minimum number of power gating switches is found that guarantees compliance with the electrical specifications.

Process technology trends in semiconductor manufacturing suggest that power dissipation is a major design challenge in high performance VLSI chips. For all circuit applications it is highly desirable to reduce and limit power dissipation in deep sub-micron semiconductor designs. In high performance server applications, for example, power dissipation leads to expensive packaging and cooling solutions. On the other end of the performance spectrum, the widespread use of battery operated devices, such as lap top computers, mobile phones and personal digital assistants (PDA's)—without significant advances in battery technology—creates an urgent need to address power dissipation in integrated circuits.
Consistent with constant electric field scaling, semiconductor power supply voltages have been reduced by thirty percent with each technology generation. The reduction in power supply voltage is necessary to manage active power dissipation as well as to maintain circuit reliability. With power supply voltage scaling, the device threshold voltage (Vt) must be reduced to maintain or improve performance. Depending on the process technology, this reduction in Vt leads to an exponential increase in sub-threshold leakage current, which, in some cases, may represent the primary source of power dissipation in the chip. Indeed, for current microprocessor designs, power dissipation due to sub-threshold leakage current constitutes 40-50 percent of total chip power. Consequently, a clear need exists to develop novel techniques for controlling and reducing leakage power, especially since leakage power is expected to grow by a factor of five with each new generation of process technology.
Techniques for the control and reduction of sub-threshold leakage current may be divided into two approaches: static and dynamic. The static approach to low-leakage circuit design is directed to circuit geometries rather than to a functional aspect of the circuit. Such circuit design techniques are intended to reduce leakage current regardless of the mode of chip operation. Dynamic techniques, on the other hand, allow the dynamic control of certain functional blocks of the design during functional operation. In this regard, dynamic techniques involve setting certain functional blocks of the chip into low-leakage mode when they are in "idle" or "sleep" state. Power gating is one common dynamic leakage control mechanism that involves turning off the power supply when the functional block is in idle state. This is achieved by connecting a transistor, referenced as the sleep transistor or power gating switch, in series with the power supply of the logic block. When the functional block is in sleep state, the sleep transistor is turned off, thereby reducing the power dissipated by the logic block. In practice, a network of power gating switches may be necessary to efficiently control and reduce leakage power dissipation.
Power gating techniques involve partitioning the chip into functional logic blocks that may be selectively powered up or down. Circuits that may be periodically powered down are isolated from the primary power distribution network by placing them in voltage islands. A voltage island represents a predefined block of circuitry incorporating an internal power distribution network that is isolated from the primary power distribution network of the integrated circuit.
The power gating switch is a large transistor providing connectivity between the primary power distribution network of the integrated circuit and the voltage island power distribution network. The number of power gating switches necessary to supply the electrical load of the voltage island is dependent on the physical area and capacitive loading of the active circuitry contained within the voltage island. The power gating switches enable the circuitry within the voltage island to be disconnected from the primary power distribution network to reduce the total power dissipation of the integrated circuit during periods when the voltage island circuitry is in idle state.
By turning on the power gating switch, the voltage island and the chip-level power distribution networks are connected and power is supplied to the circuits in the voltage island from the chip power grid through the power gating switches. Conversely, turning off the power gating switch disconnects the voltage island power grid from the chip power grid, thus reducing power dissipation since the circuits in the voltage island are disconnected from the power supply.
FIG. 1 shows a prior art schematic diagram of a voltage island with power gating switches connecting the voltage island power grid 101, 102 and the chip power distribution networks 103, 104. The power gating switches are modeled as PFET transistors and labeled as S0, S1, . . . , Sn in the schematic. As shown in the schematic in FIG. 1, the chip-level circuits 105 draw power from the chip VDD and GND power grids 103, 104 while the voltage island circuits 106 draw power from voltage island VDD and GND power grids 101, 102. Power supplied to the voltage island is controlled by the power gating switches 100.
Due to the significant physical area of typical a power gating switch, a large number of switches in a voltage island will consume a significant portion of the total voltage island area. Thus, it is desirable to minimize the number of switches in a voltage island. However, it is important to have enough switches to guarantee the electrical robustness of the voltage island power distribution. For instance, the power gating switch design specification dictates a maximum current limit, IPGS that can be supplied through the switch. Hence, a minimum of NPGS=IVI/IPGS switches are needed to supply a total current, IVI to the voltage island.

Automated and electrically robust method for placing power gating switches in voltage islands

International Business Machines Corporation