An optical 3D digitizer with an enlarged non-ambiguity zone, comprising a structured light projector for projecting a fringe pattern over a target area, the fringe pattern having a shiftable position over the target area is disclosed. First and second cameras having overlapping measurement fields are directed toward the target area and positioned with respect to the projector to define distinct triangulation planes therewith. The second camera has a larger non-ambiguity depth than the first camera. A computer evaluates a same set of camera-projector related functions from images captured by the cameras including the projected pattern at shifted positions, builds low depth resolution and degenerated 3D models from the camera-projector related functions evaluated with respect to the second and first cameras respectively, determines chromatic texture from the images, and builds a complete textured 3D model from data corresponding between the low depth resolution and degenerated 3D models within a tolerance range.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical 3D digitizer with an enlarged non-ambiguity zone, having various applications for example in the field of color non-contact optical 3D digitization, computer assisted 3D vision, human body digitizing, computer animation and computer graphics, electronic games, 3D electronic archiving, 3D web, reverse engineering and 3D medical imaging.
2. Description of the Related Technology
3D digitizing, particularly non-contact optical 3D digitizing techniques, have become commercially available during recent years. Most of these techniques are based on the principle of optical triangulation. Despite the fact that passive optical triangulation (stereo vision) has been studied and used for many years for photogrammetric measurements, the active optical triangulation technique (particularly laser scanning technique) has gained popularity because of its robustness and simplicity to process data obtained using a computer. Most of the systems based on the active optical triangulation principle were developed for industrial applications, such as robotic assembly, robot guidance, industrial inspection, reverse engineering, etc.
As an example of such technique, a laser beam or a laser stripe is projected on a 3D surface of an object, scattering the laser beam or laser stripe on the surface. It is measured using a photo-electronic device. A signal can be generated indicating the position (usually the depth) of the measured point. In most cases, the basic measurements are either a point or a section profile. A mechanical or optical scanning device is usually used to provide a frame of 3D measurement. For industrial applications, mechanical scanning can be accomplished by the mechanism on which the digitizing device is mounted, such as a robot or a conveyer. The scanning process consists of a sequential data acquisition process and takes relatively longer time to scan a surface. During the scanning, the object should be kept immobilized; this is a major problem when scanning a live being. Different techniques, such as the projection of multiple stripes, laser line scanning during one video frame and high speed scanning, have been developed. These approaches are either too expensive to realize, or their sampling rate is still too low compared to 2D digital imaging.
A laser beam is a monochromatic light source. One single monochromatic laser beam cannot provide full color information of the measured surface. On the other hand, a number of today's 3D applications including computer animation, electronic games, 3D Web, 3D archiving and 3D medical imaging require information on color texture which contributes to most of the visual effects. In order to measure the color texture of a surface, a 3D digitizing system based on a laser scanning principle has to use multiple laser sources (blue, green and red lasers) or use a second camera to get color data. The first solution is very difficult to be implemented and is also very expensive. The second can suffer from problems of misalignment between 3D geometric data and color texture data because they are not captured from the same angle of the view.
Other active optical 3D digitizing techniques are based on structured light projection (pattern coding, moiré or interferometry) or random pattern projection (active stereogrammetry). For all these active optical 3D digitizing techniques, the measurement space is limited by the intersection of the usable light projection coverage (field of view and depth of field) and the usable viewing coverage (field of view and depth of field of at least one optical sensor). If the light projection pattern is periodic, the non-ambiguity zone is limited by the triangulation angle and the period. Different tricks may be used for removing the light projection pattern and get a colored texture image of the measured object. In that case, the same optical sensor may be used for measuring the 3D information and the texture of the surface of the subject, with a unique relation.
An active optical 3D digitizing technique is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,493,095 (Song et al.). Even if this state of the art technique gives impressive results, it is still limited by the encoding points in the light projection pattern and its non-ambiguity zone that is typically much smaller than the depth of field. That may lead to partial or complete discontinuity in the unwrapped phase function if the surface of the subject (3D object) is not continuous. In most cases, a trained user can overcome these limitations; but it is difficult to get an optical 3D digitizer easy to use or even completely automated for any type of subject.
Summary of Certain Inventive Aspects of the Invention One aspect of the invention is to provide an optical 3D digitizer having an enlarged non-ambiguity zone.
Another aspect of the invention is to provide an optical 3D digitizer having nice features of light projection moiré interferometry combined to an automatic order function determination, leading to a precise, simple to use and cost-effective optical 3D digitizer.
Another aspect of the invention is to provide an optical 3D digitizer which no longer requires encoding projected lighting with information related to absolute positions in the image.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical 3D digitizer with an enlarged non-ambiguity zone, comprising: at least one structured light projector for projecting a fringe pattern over a target area, the fringe pattern having a shiftable position over the target area; a first camera directed toward the target area and positioned with respect to said at least one structured light projector to define a first triangulation plane therewith; a second camera directed toward the target area and positioned with respect to said at least one structured light projector to define a second triangulation plane therewith, the second triangulation plane being distinct from the first triangulation plane, the first and second cameras having at least partially overlapping measurement fields, the second camera having a larger non-ambiguity depth than the first camera; and a computer means connected to the cameras, for performing an image processing of images captured by the cameras, the image processing including evaluating a same set of camera-projector related functions from images including the pattern projected by said at least one structured light projector at shifted positions as captured by the cameras, building a low depth resolution 3D model from the camera-projector related functions evaluated with respect to the second camera, building a degenerated 3D model from the camera-projector related functions evaluated with respect to the first camera, determining chromatic texture from the images captured by the cameras, and building a complete textured 3D model from data corresponding between the low depth resolution and degenerated 3D models within a tolerance range.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided an optical 3D digitizing method with an enlarged non-ambiguity zone, comprising: controllably projecting a fringe pattern over a target area using at least one structured light projector, the fringe pattern having a shiftable position over the target area; positioning a first camera directed toward the target area with respect to said at least one structured light projector to define a first triangulation plane therewith; positioning a second camera directed toward the target area with respect to said at least one structured light projector to define a second triangulation plane therewith, the second triangulation plane being distinct from the first triangulation plane, the first and second cameras having at least partially overlapping measurement fields, the second camera having a larger non-ambiguity depth than the first camera; and performing an image processing of images captured by the cameras, the image processing including evaluating a same set of camera-projector related functions from images including the pattern projected by said at least one structured light projector at shifted positions as captured by the cameras, building a low depth resolution 3D model from the camera-projector related functions evaluated with respect to the second camera, building a degenerated 3D model from the camera-projector related functions evaluated with respect to the first camera, determining chromatic texture from the images captured by the cameras, and building a complete textured 3D model from data corresponding between the low depth resolution and degenerated 3D models within a tolerance range.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a computer apparatus for performing an image processing of images captured by first and second cameras, the second camera having a larger non-ambiguity depth than the first camera, comprising: means for evaluating a same set of camera-projector related functions from images captured by the cameras, at least some of the images including a pattern projected at shifted positions; means for building a low depth resolution 3D model from the camera-projector related functions evaluated with respect to the second camera; means for building a degenerated 3D model from the camera-projector related functions evaluated with respect to the first camera; means for determining chromatic texture from the images captured by the cameras; and means for building a complete textured 3D model from data corresponding between the low depth resolution and degenerated 3D models within a tolerance range.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a computer readable medium having recorded thereon statements and instructions for execution by a computer to perform an image processing of images captured by first and second cameras directed toward a target area, the second camera having a larger non-ambiguity depth than the first camera, the image processing including evaluating a same set of camera-projector related functions from the images captured by the cameras, at least some of the images including a pattern projected at shifted positions, building a low depth resolution 3D model from the camera-projector related functions evaluated with respect to the second camera, building a degenerated 3D model from the camera-projector related functions evaluated with respect to the first camera, determining chromatic texture from the images captured by the cameras, and building a complete textured 3D model from data corresponding between the low depth resolution and degenerated 3D models within a tolerance range.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a computer program product, comprising a memory having computer readable code embodied therein, for execution by a CPU, for performing an image processing of images captured by first and second cameras directed toward a target area, the second camera having a larger non-ambiguity depth than the first camera, said code comprising: code means for evaluating a same set of camera-projector related functions from the images captured by the cameras, at least some of the images including a pattern projected at shifted positions; code means for building a low depth resolution 3D model from the camera-projector related functions evaluated with respect to the second camera; code means for building a degenerated 3D model from the camera-projector related functions evaluated with respect to the first camera; code means for determining chromatic texture from the images captured by the cameras; and code means for building a complete textured 3D model from data corresponding between the low depth resolution and degenerated 3D models within a tolerance range.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a carrier wave embodying a computer data signal representing sequences of statements and instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform an image processing of images captured by first and second cameras directed toward a target area, the second camera having a larger non-ambiguity depth than the first camera, the statements and instructions comprising: evaluating a same set of camera-projector related functions from the images captured by the cameras, at least some of the images including a pattern projected at shifted positions; building a low depth resolution 3D model from the camera-projector related functions evaluated with respect to the second camera; building a degenerated 3D model from the camera-projector related functions evaluated with respect to the first camera; determining chromatic texture from the images captured by the cameras; and building a complete textured 3D model from data corresponding between the low depth resolution and degenerated 3D models within a tolerance range.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided an optical 3D digitizing method with an enlarged non-ambiguity zone, comprising: controllably projecting a fringe pattern having a shiftable position over a target area; capturing images obtained by high depth resolution sensing and low depth resolution sensing from respective measurement fields at least partially overlapping each other over the target area; determining absolute pixel 3D positions in the images obtained by low depth resolution sensing and high depth resolution sensing as a function of relations depending on the fringe pattern in the captured images and correspondence between the absolute pixel 3D positions in the images; extracting chromatic texture from the captured images; and building a complete textured 3D model from the absolute pixel 3D positions and the chromatic texture.
The following provides a non-restrictive outline of certain possibly preferably features of the invention which will be more fully described hereinafter.
The optical 3D digitizer may consist of two color (color version) or monochromatic (B/W version) cameras and a light projection system. Each camera-projector couple is defined by a triangulation plane and a usable coverage (field of view and depth of field). The two couples of camera-projector increase the mathematical constrains and remove the ambiguity of a periodicity of a phase function by evaluating an order function. That leads to an optical 3D digitizing apparatus with a composed non-ambiguity zone extended to fill the entire usable coverage (field of view and depth of field).
A possible configuration is based on two (or more) synchronized cameras and one white light projected pattern, defining two optical triangulation planes. The two planes may be coplanar or show a defined relative angle, and their respective usable coverage are overlapping. The two baselines, the angle between the triangulation planes and the orientation of the projected pattern, allow adjustment of two different depth sensitivities and non-ambiguity zones. It is then possible to get a low sensitivity camera-projector couple with a large non-ambiguity zone for the full usable coverage, and a high sensitivity camera-projector couple with a small non-ambiguity zone leading to multiple orders in its phase function, thus giving a higher resolution for the depth. If the two optical triangulation planes are not coplanar, it is easy with a slight tilt of a projection fringe pattern to get a ratio of non-ambiguity depth greater than ten. Correspondence between the two cameras is defined by the configuration and represented by a look-up table (LUT). Once the phase and order functions are evaluated for all the cameras, a 3D model can be automatically constructed using a LUT. An optical device may be used to remove the structures in the projected pattern leading to homogeneous white lighting. This lighting or other external lighting may be used for measuring the colored (or chromatic) texture of a subject, with the same cameras. The colored texture is then naturally and exactly mapped onto the 3D model. It is also possible to evaluate the color information of the subject from the images containing the projected pattern. The 3D information and generated texture can be extracted using mathematical functions (such as the phase, phase shift, average and modulation functions) for one or multiple projected pattern images of the subject, as seen by the cameras. All these functions are defined for every pixel, leading to the highest possible resolution. Using synchronized cameras allows reaching the shortest acquisition time for the 3D digitizing device as if there were only one camera. The overall acquisition time will be a fraction of a second with commercially available standard cameras: such an acquisition time is critical for efficient 3D digitizing, especially for living subject.
Each of the camera-projector couple has the capacity of measuring many mathematical functions for every individual pixels of the camera. By analyzing these functions for all of the camera's overlapped fields of view (such as the phase, phase shift, average and modulation functions), it is possible to increase the non-ambiguity zone, up to cover all the effective measurement volume. The number of image pixels captured by each camera is limited either by industrial standards (for example, NTSC or PAL) or by the manufacturing cost of the camera. This limitation does not apply to the projected pattern. In fact, the only limit for a projected pattern (a film, for example) is the optical resolution of the film and projection optics. It is not uncommon to obtain a resolution of 50 to 100 lines per mm on a pattern to be projected, which may have a size of 35 mm×25 mm. So it is evident that one projected pattern can easily provide the necessary image information for the area covered by at least two cameras.
One approach for 3D coordinate measurements may use one video frame containing a projected fringe pattern. Another approach may require a few video images, which also contain a projected fringe pattern. An image processing based on analysis of mechanical interference pattern provides the 3D coordinate data for each image pixel. So one or more combined images are required to provide 3D measurement of one view of a subject. The acquisition time of one view requires a fraction of a second using commercially available standard cameras. The necessary acquisition time of the digitizer is much shorter than most of existing techniques based on laser scanning principles. Also, many more data points can be measured on a living 3D object who does not need special training to be kept immobilized for several seconds.
The cameras used for the measurement of 3D geometry may provide directly the capturing of color or gray scale texture. In order to ensure a uniform illumination during the capturing of texture, a defocusing optical element which removes the fringe pattern from the image may be used. Another possibility is to block the projected light and use the surrounding or auxiliary lighting for the acquisition of the texture image. It is also possible to evaluate the texture image from known algorithm related to the fringe images. In all these cases, since the same image pixel of the camera measures the 3D geometry and texture data of a point on a 3D surface, the texturing mapping on top of 3D geometry is automatically ensured by the nature of this data acquisition. The 3D digitizer does not need two image sensors to separately measure 3D geometry and texture and avoids the problem of misalignment occurring with laser scanning systems.
The data of 3D coordinates obtained from at least one camera is preferably calibrated in an orthonormal coordinate space. An analysis using the mathematical functions from all the cameras (such as the phase, phase shift, average and modulation functions) allows determination of the order of the phase function for at least one camera. The result is at least one fully textured and accurate 3D model ready to use. The relationship between all these mathematical functions may be defined experimentally during a calibration process that is performed under known conditions. This relationship ensures the conversion of the measurement in computer unit to real physical parameters for the whole surface of the subject to measure in 3D.

Optical 3D digitizer with enlarged no-ambiguity zone


The invention relates to IL-17A binding peptides, inhibitors of the interaction of IL-17A with the receptor IL-17RA, and to bioconjugates, dimers, pharmaceutical compositions and medical use thereof.

Human cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 8 (CTLA8), named also Interleukin 17 (IL-17), was first cloned in 1993. The first biological activity described for human IL-17 was the induction of the production of Interleukin 6 (IL-6) and Interleukin 8 (IL-8) from rheumatoid arthritis synoviocytes. This finding suggested a role for IL-17 in inflammation through IL-6, and in neutrophil recruitment through IL-8 Xu S et al, Cell Mol Immunol. 2010, 164-74; Murcia R Y et al, PLOS ONE 2016, 11(5): e0154755doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0154755).
It was later found that this molecule, later named IL-17A, is part of a larger family which includes five additional members, namely IL-17B to F. IL-17F shares the greatest homology (about 56%) with the first discovered IL-17, IL-17A, while IL-17E displays the lowest sequence conservation (about 16%). The members of IL-17 family exert their functions binding to their receptors in the form of homodimers, with the exception of IL-17A and IL-17F which may also act as heterodimers (Goepfert A et al, Sci Rep. 2017, 7 (1), 8906).
The most widely investigated cytokine of this family, IL-17A, plays an essential role in host defense against microbial infections and it is considered the major driver for a number of inflammatory and autoimmune conditions. Pathological production of IL-17A leads to excessive inflammation and evident tissue damage.
In particular, through induction of a variety of molecules including cytokines, chemokines, acute phase proteins, anti-microbial peptides, mucins, and matrix metalloproteinases, IL-17A can amplify cascades of events that lead to neutrophil recruitment, inflammation and host defense. Although IL-17A is the signature cytokine produced by T helper 17 (Th17) cells, IL-17A, as other IL-17 family cytokines, has multiple sources ranging from immune cells to nonimmune cells.
IL-17B, IL-17C, and IL-17D are also considered pro-inflammatory cytokines but their role is not fully known. IL-17E, also known as IL-25, has the lowest homology and is involved in Th2 cell responses against parasites and allergy. CCL20 drives the recruitment of Th17 and dendritic cells to the inflammatory site. In turn, Th17 cells are activated thus producing inflammatory mediators and leading to chronic inflammation.
The cytokines belonging to IL-17 family signal via their related receptors and activate downstream pathways that include NFκB, MAPKs and C/EBPs to induce the expression of antimicrobial peptides, cytokines and chemokines. The proximal adaptor Act1 is a common mediator during the signaling of all IL-17 cytokines, and it is involved in IL-17-mediated host defense and in IL-17-driven autoimmune conditions.
The IL-17 receptor family consists of five members, IL-17RA, RB, RC, RD and RE, all of which, like their ligands, share sequence homology.
IL-17RA is ubiquitously expressed on a wide range of tissues and cell types and binds to IL-17-A, C, E and F. Receptor signaling occurs through heterodimeric receptors formed of a common IL17-RA subunit and a second subunit that depends on the ligand and regulates signaling specificity. Upon stimulation with the ligand, IL-17RA forms a heterodimeric receptor complex with IL-17RB (for IL-17E), IL-17RC (for IL-17A and IL-17F) or IL-17RE (for IL-17C). It is proposed that the binding of ligand to the first IL-17RA receptor subunit promotes the second binding event, thus inducing the formation of a heterodimeric receptor complex. In particular, the signal of IL-17A and IL-17F is mediated by the complex between IL-17RA and IL-17RC. IL-17F binds to IL-17RA with about 100 to 1000 times lower affinity than IL-17A, while the binding affinity for IL-17RC is comparable between the two cytokines (Onishi R M et al, Immunology 2010, 129(3), 311-321; Gu C et al, Cytokine 2013, 64(2), 477-485).
IL-17A in humans plays a pivotal role in various autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, Crohn's disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, asthma, Behçet's disease, and hyper IgE syndrome (Fujino S et al Gut, 2003, 52, 65-70; Shabgah A G et al, Postepy Dermatol Allergol 2014, 31 (4), 256-261). Furthermore, IL-17A blockade has shown preclinical and clinical efficacy in ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis (Liu S et al, Nature-Scientific Reports 2016, doi:10.1038/srep26071; Lubberts E et al, Arthritis Rheum 2004, 50, 650-659).
Also, IL-17A has been shown to be involved in ocular diseases, and in particular in the pathogenesis of ocular surface and corneal diseases, such as dry eye disease (DED), viral and bacterial keratitis. Antibodies developed to neutralize IL-17A have shown promising results in reducing the severity of these diseases (Garbutcheon-Singh K B et al, Curr Eye Res, 2018, D01:10.1080/02713683.2018.1519834).
DED is an inflammatory and autoimmune ophthalmic disease of the tear system and ocular surface that results in discomfort, visual disturbance and tear film impairment. DED is one of the most common cause of acquired visual impairment in adult population (Stem M E et al, Mucosal Immunol 2010, 3(5), 425-442; Stevenson W et al, Arch Ophthalmol 2012, 130(1), 90-100, Parul Singh, Parul Singh 2012, Hah, Chung et al. 2017). The disease involves an immune and inflammatory process that affects the ocular surface and, in severe cases, may lead to blindness. Current treatment of DED is mainly symptomatic, consisting in ocular lubricants and non-specific anti-inflammatory agents such as corticosteroids, cyclosporine A, and tacrolimus. IL-17A is associated with damage to the corneal epithelial barrier function, which is the most sight threatening complication of DED. An increase in Th17 cells is reported in DED patient ocular tissues that induces an increase in IL-6, TGF-β, IL-23 and IL-17A concentrations on the ocular surface, as well as increased concentration of IL-17 in tears, and number of Th17 cells on the ocular surface of experimental DED models. In addition, it has also been demonstrated that in vivo neutralization of IL-17A results in a markedly attenuated induction and severity of disease (De Paiva C S et al, Mucosal Immunol. 2009; 2(3): 243-253, Chauhan et al, Mucosal Immunol, 2009, 2(3), 243-253; Chauhan S K et al, Mucosal Immunol 2009, 2(4), 375-376; Chauhan, El Annan et al. 2009, De Paiva, Chotikavanich et al. 2009, de Paiva, Huang et al. 2014, Subbarayal, Chauhan et al. 2016).
IL-17A has also been implicated in psoriasis. Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease. It manifests itself as dry, raised, red skin lesions (plaques) covered with silvery scales. Numerous clinical phenotypes exist (i.e. plaque, guttate, pustular, inverse), with disease severity ranging from a few scattered plaques to extensive body surface involvement. Individuals with psoriasis have an increased risk of developing other chronic and serious diseases such as psoriatic arthritis, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular diseases and depression. A central role of IL-17A in the pathophysiology of psoriasis has been demonstrated (Zeichner J A et al J Clin Aesthet Dermatol 2016, 9 (6 Suppl 1), S3-S6). In psoriasis, expression of IL-17 mRNA is higher in lesional compared with nonlesional skin. Additionally, IL-17A levels are significantly correlated to disease severity (Arican O et al. Mediators Inflamm 2005, 2005, 273-279, Takahashi K et al. Clin Exp Dermatol 2010, 35, 645-649). Blockade of IL-17A has been shown to reduce keratinocyte hyperproliferation, T-cell infiltration into the dermis, and mRNA expression of key disease-propagating genes (Krueger J G et al, J Allergy Clin Immunol 2012, 130, 145-154).
Anti-IL-17A antibodies secukinumab (AlN457, Consentyx™), a fully human IgG1k anti-IL-17A mAb, and ixekizumab (LY2439821), a humanized IgG4 antibody, were tested in clinical trials in psoriasis and approved for the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis. During clinical trials, both antibodies were able to reduce the severity of the disease by at least 75% (PASI75) in 80% of the patient population. Moreover, current advanced clinical trials have shown promising results also for treatment of ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis. Other antibodies are now in clinical trials for the same indications.
The above evidence strongly supports the development of molecules able to target IL-17A and inhibit its signaling for the treatment of the above pathologies. Until recently, targeting of IL17-A and its receptors has remained the domain of antibodies. The reason for the preference for antibodies is that cytokines, as IL-17A, constitute a protein-protein interaction (PPI) target difficult to target, so far considered undruggable. In fact, PPI interfaces are generally flat and lack deep subpockets and grooves that are usually necessary to bind Small Molecular Weight (SMW) molecules. Despite this, in recent years new research identified a few SMW IL-17A antagonists able to bind IL-17A and prevent its interaction with IL-17RA receptor, and thus inhibit IL-17A pathway activation (Espada A et al. J Med Chem 2016, 59(5), 2255-2260; Ting J P et al PLoS One 2018, 13(1), e0190850; Liu S et al, Scientific reports, 6:26071, doi: 10.1038/srep26071). Among these, a peptide of sequence IHVTIPADLWDWINK (SEQ ID NO: 1), which was named High Affinity Peptide (HAP) has been described (Liu S et al, Scientific reports, 6:26071, doi: 10.1038/srep26071).
However, there is still the need of identifying and characterizing new molecules able to bind with high affinity to IL-17A and prevent IL-17A pathway activation for the development of new therapeutic options for the treatment of disorders involving IL-17A/IL-17RA axis.

IL-17A binding peptides and medical uses thereof


A method and apparatus are disclosed for producing microwave radiation wherein a generally stable, high-beta, relativistic electron plasma is formed in a static magnetic field of a suitable enclosure either by an external microwave source or in situ within the plasma by means of at least one pair of steady-state interacting energetic electron beams, a convectively unstable wave then being created in the confined plasma either internally in an oscillator mode or externally in an amplifier mode by means of an external launcher for producing a pulse of relatively intense microwave radiation at a frequency near a local electron gyrofrequency. The above steps or functions are preferably sequentially repeated with sequential pulses of microwave radiation being withdrawn from the enclosure, focused by quasi-optical means and directed toward a target including electronic circuitry, so that the beam of sequential pulses is coupled into the electronic circuitry for developing substantial amounts of energy therein.

Great amounts of effort have been expended in the prior art in connection with magnetic confinement of plasma for example in controlled thermonuclear fusion devices and the like. In this connection, the plasma comprises a highly ionized gas composed of a nearly equal number of positive and negative free charges (or positive ions and electrons). Because of the mutually coupled nature of electromagnetic fields within such a plasma and the motion of the plasma charges themselves, it has been well documented that the plasma can support unusual oscillations and wave motions, both stable and unstable. For example, stable and unstable wave motions in plasma are described by the McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology, particularly in Volume 10, at pages 443-461 and Volume 14 at pages 501-507, both published by McGraw Hill Inc., 1977.
Further prior art work has been carried out in these areas having a closer relation to the method and apparatus of the present invention. A number of these prior art references are briefly described below.
1. Initially, work in connection with high-beta, hot-electron plasmas produced by electron-cyclotron heating was disclosed in an article by R.A. Dandl, H.O. Eason, P.H. Edmonds and A.C. England entitled "Resonance Effects on Electrons in Mirror-Contained Plasmas", Nuclear Fusion, 11 (1971). PA1 2. Efficient generation of hot-electron plasmas by microwave power with multiple frequency components was discussed in an article by B.H. Quon, R.A. Dandl, W. DiVergilio, G.E. Guest, L.L. Lao, N.H. Lazar, T.K. Samec and R.F. Wuerker entitled "Impact of Multiple-Frequency Heating on the Formation and Control of Diamagnetic Electron Rings in an Axisymmetric Mirror", Phys. Fluids, 28 (5), May 1985. PA1 3a. Work extending the results of a previous investigation of growing electromagnetic waves in a gyrotropic electron plasma to relativistic-electron energies was set forth in an article by R.N. Sudan entitled "Electromagnetic Instabilities in the Non-Thermal Relativistic Plasma", Phys. Fluids, 6, 57 (1963). PA1 3b. Related work concerning a governing equation for whistler modes in the Elmo Bumpy Torus is set forth in an article by P.N. Guzdar and R. Marchand entitled "Whistler Instability in the Elmo Bumpy Torus", Phys. Fluids. 25 (4), Apr. 1982. PA1 4. Production of a hot electron plasma in a magnetic-mirror field by high-power microwave discharges was disclosed in an article by H. Ikegami, H. Ikezi, M. Hosokawa, K. Takayama and F. Tanaka entitled "Microwave Burst at Triggered Instability in a Hot Electron Plasma", Phys. Fluids, 11 (5), May 1968. PA1 5. The effects of a relativistic electron population on the temporal and spatial growth rates of the whistler instability were described in an article by N.T. Gladd entitled "The Whistler Instability at Relativistic Energies", Phys. Fluids, 26 (4), Apr. 1983. PA1 6. Further work in the area of unstable electromagnetic waves similar to whistler modes was disclosed in an article entitled "Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron Instability Driven By Ion Energy Anisotropy In High-Beta Plasmas", Phys. Fluids, 18, 1045 (1975). PA1 7. Additional work concerning the ability of magnetically confined plasmas created and heated by electromagnetic fields near the electron gyrofrequency to support wave instability was disclosed in an article by G.E. Guest and D.J. Sigmar entitled "Stability of Microwave-Heated Plasmas", Nuclear Fusion, 11 (1971). PA1 8. The theoretical rates of amplification of whistler waves propagating through hot-electron plasmas with anisotropic pressures was discussed in an article entitled "Amplification of Whistler waves Propagating Through Inhomogeneous Anisotropic Mirror Confined Hot-Electron Plasmas" by G.E. Guest and R.L. Miller in Phys. Fluids, 3690 (1988). PA1 9. Both experimental and theoretical studies of hot-electron plasma generation using oppositely directed co-linear steady-state streams of energetic electrons interacting with a background plasma have been reported in numerous articles many of Which are cited in an article entitled "Oscillations Present in Plasma Electron Heating by an Electron Beam" by I. Alexess, G.E. Guest, D. Montgomery, R.V. Neidigh, and D.J. Rose in Phys. Rev. Letters, 344 (1968). PA1 10. A theoretical analysis of the three-wave processes by which oppositely directed co-linear steady-state streams of energetic electrons interacting with a cold background plasma can produce electromagnetic waves suitable for generating hot-electron plasmas is presented for example in a book entitled Plasma Astrophysics by S.A. Kaplan and V.N. Tsytovich, published by Pergamon Press (Oxford) 1973. PA1 11. Recent experiments and theories of the three-wave processes by which oppositely directed colinear steady-state streams of energetic electrons interacting with a cold background plasma can produce electromagnetic waves at twice the upper hybrid frequency was reviewed in an article entitled "Experimental Observations of Non-Linearly Enhanced 2.OMEGA..sub.uh Electromagnetic Radiation Excited by Steady-State Colliding Electron Beams" by T. Intrator, N. Hershkowitz and C. Chan. in Phys. Fluids, 527 (1984).
Rather than repeating substantial background information provided for example by the above references, each of the above references is incorporated herein as though set out in its entirety.
Generally, prior art references such as those noted above have dealt with the use of conventional sources of microwave energy to create and sustain magnetically confined plasmas for a variety of applications, together With an identification of the instabilities that can occur in such plasmas. However, there has generally been found to remain a need for a method and apparatus for generating microwave energy at high power levels substantially greater than those contemplated in the prior art while adapting the form of the high-power microwave energy for a number of different application.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,133 issued Mar. 22, 1988 to the inventor of this invention disclosed another method and apparatus for producing microwave radiation. The method and apparatus of that invention included certain features in common with the present invention, particularly in connection with extraction of a beam of microwave pulses from the chamber and direction toward a suitable target. Accordingly, that patent is incorporated herein by reference in order to provide a more complete understanding of the present invention.

Method and apparatus for producing intense microwave pulses


Compositions and methods reduce symptoms of human allergy to cats. The effectiveness of a molecule which specifically binds to Feline domesticus allergen number 1 (Fel D1) is enhanced by prolonging the time the immunoglobulin stays within the mouth of a cat to whom the anti-Fel D1 molecule is administered in a pet food. The compositions and methods use a powder that is a dried hydrogel encapsulating the anti-Fel D1 molecule, and the hydrogel is based on gelatin, collagen peptides, or gelatin and collagen peptides; and carrageenan. The methods of making the powder provide a high encapsulation efficacy, sustained release of the anti-Fel D1 molecule in the cat's mouth, and oral adhesion of the anti-Fel D1 molecule in the cat's mouth.

Approximately 20% of adults suffer from allergy to cats and/or their dander. Symptoms of cat allergies range from mild rhinitis and conjunctivitis to life-threatening asthmatic responses, and cat allergies are a major roadblock to cat ownership. For example, cat allergy is the primary reason given by cat owners for returning cats to animal shelters.
Most cat allergies are caused by a small stable glycoprotein called Fel D1 (Feline domesticus allergen number 1). This protein is transferred to cat dander by their grooming process and becomes airborne. Upon inhalation of cat dander having Fel D1 attached, an allergy cascade is triggered because of the recognition of the Fel D1 by human immune cells.

Compositions and methods for reducing at least one symptom of human allergy to cats


A pixel data preprocessing method includes the steps of: inputting a first frame data into a timing controller; performing a differential operation on the first frame data to generate a first frame differential data; writing the first frame differential data into a frame memory with the timing controller; reading a second frame differential data from the frame memory with the timing controller; performing an inverse differential operation on the second frame differential data to generate a second frame data; comparing the first frame data and the second frame data; and outputting a driving data with the timing controller according to a comparison result of comparing the first frame data and the second frame data. The present invention further provides a pixel data preprocessing circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to a data processing circuit and method for a liquid crystal display and, more particularly, to a pixel data preprocessing circuit and method.
2. Description of the Related Art
The operating principle of a liquid crystal display is to control the arrangement of liquid crystal molecules sandwiched between two transparent substrates by adjusting the bias applied to the two transparent substrates thereby correspondingly controlling the amount of penetrated light within each pixel area so as to show images on the display. In recent years, accompanying with the increase of the resolution of liquid crystal displays, the data rate of pixel data is correspondingly increased thereby increasing the access speed of a frame memory to generate serious electromagnetic interference (EMI) problems.
In addition, as the response of liquid crystal molecules following the electric field applied thereto can not keep pace with the change of electric field itself, the liquid crystal display will appear image sticking during displaying dynamic images thereby decreasing the image quality. In order to solve this problem, the field of art has proposed an overdrive method, i.e. a voltage level larger than the desired gray level value is applied to liquid crystal molecules during gray level transition so as to reduce the required time for rearranging liquid crystal molecules. In the meantime, an overdrive lookup table is formed by recording gray level values of a current frame and its previous frame such that an overdrive voltage to be outputted to the source driver can be determined according to the lookup table during gray level transitions. For example, Taiwan Patent No. I282544 discloses an operation apparatus for overdrive and operation method for overdrive that determines an overdrive voltage to be outputted according to an overdrive lookup table.
Please refer to FIG. 1, it shows a conventional overdrive method including the following steps. The timing controller 910 inputs a current pixel data F(N+1,M) to a comparator 911 and a frame memory 920. The timing controller 910 reads a previous pixel data F(N,M) from the frame memory 920. The comparator 911 obtains an overdrive pixel data F′(N+1,M) from the lookup table 930 based on the current pixel data F(N+1,M) and the previous pixel data F(N,M). And the overdrive pixel data F′(N+1,M) is inputted into a source driver 21 and a gate driver 22 of a liquid crystal display 2 so as to display images on a liquid crystal panel 23; wherein the current pixel data F(N+1,M) is the Mth row of pixel data of the (N+1)th frame; the previous pixel data F(N,M) is the Mth row of pixel data of the Nth frame; and the overdrive pixel data F′(N+1,M) is the Mth row of overdrive pixel data of the (N+1)th frame for driving a row of pixels of the liquid crystal panel 23 through the source driver 21.
Please refer to FIG. 2, it shows a distribution of the pixel data of a 7×8 frame F, wherein when the first row of pixel data of the frame F are going to be stored into or read out from the frame memory 920, the storing and reading processes may be started from the most left pixel data of the frame F to the right to sequentially store every pixel data in the first row into the frame memory 920 or to sequentially read every pixel data in the first row from the frame memory 920, i.e. the pixel data will be stored into the frame memory 920 or read out from the frame memory 920 in a sequence of 01010 . . . . The data change between two adjacent pixels will generate electromagnetic interference during accessing the frame memory 920. As mentioned above, with the increase of speed for accessing the frame memory, this kind of electromagnetic interference problem during accessing the frame memory will become more serious.

Pixel data preprocessing circuit and method


A plasma display apparatus including a plasma display panel, a chassis base coupled with the plasma display panel, a printed circuit board assembly coupled with the chassis base, a case housing the plasma display panel, the chassis base, and the printed circuit board assembly, and a liquid shielding plate for receiving liquid entering the apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a plasma display apparatus, and more particularly, to a plasma display apparatus capable of discharging liquid that enters the apparatus.
2. Discussion of the Background
Generally, a plasma display apparatus is a flat panel display that generates a gas discharge to display images. It is considered a next generation display that may substitute for a cathode ray tube (CRT) since it has excellent display characteristics, such as large screen size, brightness, contrast, and viewing angle. The plasma display apparatus includes a plasma display panel (PDP) formed of glass substrates, and a chassis base supporting the PDP.
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a conventional plasma display apparatus.
Referring to FIG. 1, the plasma display apparatus includes a PDP having a front substrate 11 and a rear substrate 12, a chassis base 13 attached on a rear surface of the PDP, and a printed circuit board assembly 16 arranged on a rear surface of the chassis base 13. The PDP, the chassis base 13, and the printed circuit board assembly 16 are housed in a case 17. A filter 19 is arranged on a front surface of the case 17.
The PDP is attached to the chassis base 13 by double sided tape 14, and a thermal conductive sheet 15, which dissipates heat generated by the PDP, is disposed between the PDP and the chassis base 13. A signal transmission cable 18 couples electrodes formed on inner surface of the rear substrate 12 with a circuit of the printed circuit board assembly 16. Additionally, another signal transmission cable (not shown) couples electrodes formed on the front substrate 11 with a circuit formed on the printed circuit board assembly 16.
Referring to FIG. 1, the case 17 may be formed by assembling a front case and a rear case. Ventilation holes 17a are formed on upper and rear surfaces of the case 17 to dissipate heat generated by the PDP and the printed circuit board assembly 16.
In such a plasma display apparatus, if liquid enters the apparatus through the ventilation holes 17a, the liquid is not discharged out of the apparatus. For example, liquid may be spilled into the apparatus or when the apparatus is placed outdoors, rain may enter it. If liquid contacts the printed circuit board assembly 16, the apparatus may be damaged or its performance may be degraded due to signal leakage and short-circuiting.


A freestanding offshore well structure includes a generally cylindrical caisson having a relatively small diameter drivepipe section connected to a larger diameter caisson section which is of sufficient strength to withstand wind and wave action. An upper portion of the drivepipe section is provided with a landing ring for a hanger for a conductor casing string or a wellhead body for a surface pipe string. A casing connector or nipple supports a diverter above the landing ring. The caisson is driven to refusal, the diverter attached to the upper end of the caisson and drilling operations and installation of the casing string, surface pipe and wellhead body are carried out through the diverter. The diverter is then removed and connection of wellhead valve bodies, handles and associated conduits to the wellhead is then carried out to complete the well assembly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to an offshore well structure including a support caisson and wellhead assembly and a method of installing the caisson and wellhead assembly.
2. Background
In the installation of offshore oil and gas wells in relatively shallow waters conventional practice includes, initially, installing a so-called drivepipe which is driven to refusal. The well is then drilled and, if it is successful, it is completed. After the well completion a supporting caisson is over-driven around the drivepipe before the drilling rig is moved off of the drill site. The caisson and the drivepipe or the wellhead assembly are suitably inter-connected and the caisson serves as a support structure which is sufficiently strong to withstand wind and wave action against the free standing drivepipe and casing arrangement. U.S. Pat. No. 4,710,061 to C. R. Blair et al and assigned to the assignee of the present invention discloses typical prior ar offshore well structures.
Prior art practice has also required several steps in installing and removing a device known as a diverter with respect to the drivepipe during each stage of drilling to permit the installation of casing strings of progressively smaller diameter. The prior art practice also, of course, requires the final step of overdriving the protective caisson after the well is completed. Considering the high cost of drilling and completing oil and gas wells, including offshore wells in particular, there has been a continuing desire to reduce the number of components required for the well installation as well as the time required to drill and complete the well. The present invention is directed to an improved offshore wellhead system of the so-called free standing type as well as an improved method for installing same.


The disclosed systems and methods for Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT), utilizes an iterative approach which adjusts a treatment plan based on inter- or intra-fraction images to improve the accuracy of the radiation delivered during the overall treatment. The prescribed dose of radiotherapeutic radiation is mapped onto the patient's anatomy using an image acquired of the region, which is to be the target for radiotherapeutic radiation. Following beam-angle-optimization, fluence optimization and segmentation, the efficiency of delivery of each segment is determined using an objective function, and the segments ranked according to their efficiency. The plan proceeds with the choice of the most efficient segment (or segments) to be delivered first. When this radiation has been delivered, having been tracked to establish its distribution, this delivered distribution can be subtracted from the original prescribed dose and the process repeated so that the delivered radiation gradually converges on the original prescribed dose.

IGRT is the process of frequent two and/or three-dimensional imaging, during radiation treatment, used to direct the delivery of the therapeutic radiation.
It is known that exposure of human or animal tissue to ionising radiation will damage the cells thus exposed. This finds application in the treatment of pathological cells, for example. In order to treat tumours deep within the body of the patient, the radiation must however penetrate the healthy tissue in order to irradiate and destroy the pathological cells. In conventional radiation therapy, large volumes of healthy tissue can thus be exposed to harmful doses of radiation, potentially resulting in unacceptable side-effects. It is therefore desirable to design a system for treating a patient with ionising radiation and treatment protocols so as to expose the pathological tissue to a dose of radiation which will result in the death of those cells, whilst keeping the exposure of healthy tissue to a minimum.
Several methods have previously been employed to achieve the desired pathological cell-destroying exposure whilst keeping the exposure of healthy cells to a minimum. Many methods work by directing radiation at a tumour from a number of directions, either simultaneously from multiple sources or multiple exposures over time from a single movable source. The dose deposited from each direction is therefore less than would be required to destroy the tumour, but where the radiation beams from the multiple directions converge, the total dose of radiation is sufficient to be therapeutic. By providing radiation from multiple directions, the damage caused to surrounding healthy cells can be reduced.
Intensity modulated arc therapy (IMAT) is one method of achieving this, and is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,818,902. In this process, the radiation source is rotated around the patient, and the radiation beam collimated to take a desired shape depending on the angle of rotation of the source, usually with a multi-leaf collimator (MLC). The potential advantages of a particular form of IMAT, volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), have recently given rise to a number of commercial implementations and research studies. In these systems, the dose rate, rotation speed and MLC leaf positions may all vary during delivery. In general, plans comparable in quality and accuracy to static-gantry intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) can be obtained, normally with reduced delivery times.
In typical IMRT methods, a linear accelerator rotates on a gantry around the patient, emitting "modulated" beams of X-rays from a number of pre-fixed angles, where modulation is carried out using a multi-leaf collimator (MLC) attached to the head of the linear accelerator. The MLC shapes the pattern of the outgoing radiation beam, through a sequence of movements of its metal leaves, in order to precisely target the tumours while minimizing exposure of the neighbouring healthy structures.
To make sure the radiation beams are correctly directed, the treatment can be guided by imaging of the target region, before or even during a course of radiation treatment—although the latter is usually predicated on a system where a course of treatment is divided into individual treatments (called "fractions", where a treatment is applied on a single day, for example), and imaging is carried out between fractions. This is known as IGRT; a typical IGRT method might include localization of a cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) dataset with the planning computed tomography (CT) dataset from planning. IGRT might also include matching planar kilovoltage (kV) radiographs or megavoltage (MV) images with digital reconstructed radiographs (DRRs) from the planning CT.
Kilovoltage computational tomography (CT) is carried out during treatment by providing a separate source of imaging radiation mounted on the rotatable gantry, placed at an angle relative to the main radiation head. A detector is positioned diametrically opposite the source of imaging radiation, and collects imaging data for a plurality of rotational angles of the gantry. This data can then be reconstructed to form three-dimensional images using known CT techniques. See PCT application WO 2006/030181 for an example of this method. Kilovoltage radiation is often preferred for imaging due to the high contrast between different structures in the patient.
In megavoltage computational tomography (CT), a radiation detector is placed on the rotatable gantry diametrically opposite the main treatment head, and is designed to detect the megavoltage radiation after it has passed through (and been attenuated by) the patient. The images generated are therefore individual transmission images, from the beam's eye view (BEV). Megavoltage imaging can be used to verify the position of the MLC leaves in relation to the target within the patient. The detector is usually known as an 'electronic portal imaging device' or EPID. However, the high energy associated with therapeutic radiation is not ideal for imaging purposes as the attenuation coefficients of the various tissue types within a patient are similar at this energy level, leading to poor image contrast. In addition, this method is inherently two-dimensional because in conventional radiotherapy the megavoltage beams are directed at the patient from typically at least three angles, which may be insufficient to provide three-dimensional imaging.
The above two methods comprise the majority of IGRT strategies currently employed. However, radiation therapy systems which incorporate real-time MRI tracking of tumours or other radiation targets are currently being developed. One problem with existing and planned radiotherapy systems is to ensure that the radiation distribution is applied accurately according to the treatment plan, in terms of both the locations the radiation is delivered to and the amount of radiation delivered (the "dose") to any particular location. A second problem is that of beam-angle optimisation, which is to determine the "optimal" number and values of gantry angles, which is often formulated as a combinatorial optimisation problem. Another, interrelated problem is to reduce the amount of radiation, or dose, applied to non-targeted tissue which is adjacent to targeted tissue and/or in the path of radiation beams applied to targeted tissue. In addition, each treatment should be delivered in a short time, to minimise the effects of patient or target movement and also to maximise the use of the radiotherapy system. These non-trivial problems are rendered even more complex by practical issues such as the characteristics and/or limitations of the radiotherapeutic and the imaging systems, the accurate positioning of the patient and the target tissue before treatment and the possibility of there being movement of both of these, both inter- and intra-treatment, and inter- and intra-fraction. Computerised treatment planning systems attempt to address these problems, however the computational methods and algorithms used are extremely complex and involve enormous amounts of data to be manipulated, which requires large amounts of processing and takes a significant amount of time. Research continues into methods of delivering radiation in such a way that the dose distribution is accurate (i.e. ensuring that the radiation is delivered to the intended locations, or target region(s), and not to other locations) whilst ensuring careful control of the absolute dose delivered to any single location (i.e. ensuring that the amount of radiation delivered to a target region is in accordance with the treatment plan—at or up to a certain level in the case of a tumour, below a predetermined safe level in the case of non-targeted but non-sensitive tissue, and at a negligible level in the case of certain sensitive, non-targeted tissue).
In the IMRT planning process there are further problems which also need to be considered, all to do with optimisation. One is called the fluence optimisation problem, which is to find a set of "optimal" intensity profiles corresponding to the given set of beam angles. Another is the leaf sequencing problem which is to determine an "optimal" sequence of MLC leaf movements that delivers the intensity profile for each beam angle.


A method for calibrating a radar sensor of a vehicle includes fixing the vehicle in place on a transport; moving the vehicle along a route past a reflector for radar waves using the transport; irradiating the reflector with radar waves and receiving reflected radar waves using the radar sensor while the vehicle is moved along the route; determining a position and/or an alignment of the radar sensor relative to the reflector multiple times based on the reflected radar waves; and spatially calibrating the radar sensor based on the ascertained positions and alignments relative to the reflector by ascertaining a position and/or an alignment of the radar sensor relative to the vehicle.

A radar system can be used in vehicles as a base element for sensing the environment. Through the emission of radar waves, i.e., electromagnetic waves, otherwise known as a primary signal, and the reflection of these electromagnetic waves at an object, the reflective component of the radar waves, also known as a secondary signal, is evaluated on the basis of different criteria in order to determine information such as the distance or dimensions of the object.
For use in the vehicle, the radar system should be adjusted or calibrated. This can be accomplished through a manual fine adjustment, or the radar system can have the capability of performing an automatic calibration. The manual calibration is carried out by precisely aligning the radar sensor(s) of the radar system with the geometrical drive axis (e.g., the rear axle) of the vehicle. A laser beam can be used for this purpose, which is projected onto a mirror on the sensor housing and impinges upon a measuring panel in a defined position.
Certain radar systems are able to carry out an automatic calibration during the ride. In the process, the radar system automatically searches for reference points based on which the geometrical drive axis and the installation position are detected and reconciled with one another.

Automatic calibration of a vehicle radar sensor


A duty cycle error accumulation circuit includes first to nth delay units and a feedback unit. The first to nth delay units receive a clock signal, a first input signal and a second input signal, respectively, to generate a first output signal and a second output signal by delaying one signal selected from first and second input signals based on a logic level of the clock signal. The feedback unit supplies second input signal to a kth delay unit based on second output signal of a (k+1)th delay unit. The first output signal of the kth delay unit is supplied to the (k+1)th delay unit as first input signal, and the clock signal is supplied to the first delay unit as first input signal and to the nth delay unit as second input signal. The duty cycle error accumulation circuit effectively corrects a duty cycle of a clock signal.

1. Field
Example embodiments relate generally to a duty cycle correction circuit, and more particularly to a duty cycle error accumulation circuit capable of precisely detecting duty cycle errors by accumulating the duty cycle errors for a plurality of periods and a duty cycle correction circuit having the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Components, such as a processor and a memory included in a general electronic device, transceive data in synchronization with clock signals. However, errors may occur when the data are transceived between the components if a duty cycle error occurs due to a mismatch in length between a logic low level duration and a logic high level in the clock signal.
For instance, in the case of a double data rate (DDR) memory, the data are transceived at every rising edge and falling edge of the clock signal. If the duty cycle error occurs in the clock signal, a data transceiving interval may not be constantly maintained, so an error may occur when the data are transceived between the DDR memory and the processor.
Therefore, the duty cycle error of the clock signal has to be kept below a predetermined level for the normal operation of electronic devices.
Recently, as the clock frequency of the electronic device is gradually increased, an allowable value of the duty cycle error of the clock signal is also gradually reduced. Thus, a duty cycle correction circuit capable of precisely detecting the duty cycle error of the clock signal is necessary to correct the duty cycle error of the clock signal.

Duty cycle error accumulation circuit and duty cycle correction circuit having the same


A ridge waveguide having a recessed ridge forming an isolated tip at a terminal end of the waveguide's aperture efficiently couples light into a spot adjacent to the tip in a medium below the terminal end of the waveguide which is significantly smaller than the light's wavelength. The waveguide is used to heat a recording medium via the small spot for heat assisted recording or to pattern substrates by photolithography with line width exposures that are significantly smaller than the wavelength of light. The body of the waveguide may also be recessed away from the medium in an area surrounding the waveguide's aperture to further confine the energy emerging from the waveguide to the small spot adjacent the tip in the medium.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to waveguides in general and more particularly to heat assisted recording. It also relates to near field microscopy and to nanoscale photolithography.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) involves heating a spot on the surface of a magnetic recording medium to reduce its coercivity sufficiently so that it can be magnetically recorded by an applied recording field. The advantage of this technique is that the coercivity of the media at ambient can be significantly increased, thereby improving thermal stability of the recorded data even for very small bit cells. One of the difficulties with the technique is finding a method to heat just the small area which is to be recorded. Heating with laser light as is done in magneto-optic recording is the most promising approach, but the difficulty with this is that at the current storage densities contemplated for HAMR, the spot to be heated is ˜25 nm in diameter, which is fifty times smaller than the wavelength of useful semiconductor lasers. The so-called diffraction limit in optics is the smallest dimension to which a light beam can be focused. The diffraction limit in three dimensions is given by the equation
                    d        =                              0.6                        λ                                n                                                                          sin                                                                          θ                                              (        1        )
where d is the spot diameter, λ is the wavelength of the light in free space, n is the refractive index of the medium in which the light is focused, and θ is the maximum angle of focused light rays from the central axis of the lens. The factor λ/n is the wavelength of the light within the medium in which the light is focused. The spot diameter is directly proportional to the wavelength of the light within this medium. The minimum focused spot diameter in the classical diffraction limit in air is ˜λ/2, which is much too large to be useful for HAMR.
When light is incident upon a small circular aperture, it is well-known in classical optics that the amount of power transmitted through the aperture scales as the ratio of the aperture to the wavelength raised to the fourth power. For an aperture with a ˜25 nm diameter at a visible light wavelength of 500 nm, a typical transmission efficiency is about 10−6. This throughput is orders of magnitude too small to be practical for HAMR.
In order to circumvent this problem, a "C"-shaped aperture in an opaque metal film presents a possible approach to increasing the amount of power transmitted while keeping the spot size at the dimensions required. This design 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1. It comprises a "C"-shaped aperture 30 located within a conductive body 28. Because this structure requires some thickness to be opaque to incident light, the structure is as also sometimes referred to as a ridge waveguide. A "C"-shaped ridge waveguide has a propagating mode for light polarized perpendicular to the long dimension 22 of the waveguide cross section at a wavelength that is approximately equal to the sum of the length L of the long dimension 22 and twice the height H of the short dimension 16. However, the field density is concentrated in the region between the ridge 12 and the wall 29 opposite.
A calculation of the electric field at the bottom surface of the waveguide using finite-difference time domain ("FDTD") analysis indicates that there is a large field amplitude in the small region near the tip 26 of the ridge 12 in the waveguide 10. As a result, this structure appears suited as a means to efficiently transport optical energy into a small, sub-wavelength spot at the output end of the waveguide, at least for optical recording.
However, for the C-shaped aperture to be effective for HAMR applications, the energy must be also be efficiently absorbed by the media below the waveguide in a tightly confined spot. FIG. 2 is a contour FDTD plot of the efficiency of power absorption in the media when a typical media surface is spaced just below the waveguide. The FDTD calculation results shown in FIG. 2 are for a wavelength of 900 nm with respect to a gold structure illustrated in FIG. 1 of the following dimensions: The height H 16 of the aperture 30 is 60 nm, the length L 22 of the aperture 30 is 240 nm, the height h 20 of the ridge 12 is 36 nm, and the width w 18 of the ridge 12 is 24 nm. The index of refraction for gold is 0.17+i(5.95). Below the ridge waveguide is an air gap of 10 nm, and then the recording medium which consists of a 10 nm layer of cobalt followed by an 80 nm layer of iron. The index of refraction for the cobalt is 2.65+i(5.16). The index of refraction for iron is 3.12+i(3.87). A plane wave is incident normally from the top of the structure.
In FIG. 2, a contour plot is shown of the optical power that is dissipated within the recording medium below the ridge waveguide. The bright region 32 represents a "hot" spot where the highest density of power dissipation occurs. The dark regions 34 represent colder spots. The black lines 31 and 33 are the contours at the full width half maximum (FWHM) level. The dashed line corresponds to waveguide aperture 30.
FIG. 2 indicates that the optical power is very poorly confined by the waveguide/media combined structure. The electric field wraps around the sides and bottom of the ridge 12 in the waveguide 10 and spreads out into "wings" underneath the waveguide. The horizontal distance between FWHM contour lines 31 at hot spot 32 is about 70 nm at its narrowest part even though the ridge width is only 24 nm. The vertical distance between FWHM contour lines 33 at hot spot 32 is >>100 nm long even though the ridge 12 height is 36 nm. This elongation of the hot spot 32 is a result of the confinement of the field between the bottom of the ridge of the waveguide 10 and the media surface. According to this FDTD analysis, this waveguide structure is not useful for generating a small optical hot spot for heat assisted recording.


Methods and apparatus for processing a substrate positioned on a substrate support assembly are provided. For example, a substrate support assembly includes an electrostatic chuck having one or more chucking electrodes embedded therein for chucking a substrate to a substrate support surface of the electrostatic chuck; an edge ring disposed on the electrostatic chuck and surrounding the substrate support strike; two or more radio frequency (RF) power sources coupled to the edge ring and at least one of a baseplate disposed beneath the electrostatic chuck or an electrode disposed in the electrostatic chuck; a matching network coupling the edge ring to the two or more RF power sources; and an RF circuit coupling the edge ring to the two or more RF power sources, the RF circuit configured to simultaneously tune at least one of an RF amplitude or an RF phase of respective signals of the two or more RF power sources.

An edge ring (e.g., process kit) is a circular component which surrounds a perimeter of a substrate, such as a semiconductor substrate, during plasma processing in a process chamber. Due to exposure of the edge ring to plasma within the process chamber, the edge ring may erode and require replacement or maintenance over time. When the edge ring is severely eroded, the shape of the plasma sheath at the edge of the substrate distorts and changes the plasma processing characteristics at the edge of the substrate. The change in plasma processing characteristics causes undesirable processing effects at the edge of the substrate, thus reducing the yield near the edge of the substrate. Also, adjusting the sheath enables adjusting the tilt of high aspect ratio features at the extreme edge of the substrate. Other methods and apparatus for controlling a plasma sheath exist, such as edge rings which are movable relative to the substrate. However, the inventors believe that such moving parts can undesirably lead to increased particle formation in the process chamber. Alternatively, an independent radio frequency (RF) generator with a separate RF match network can directly drive the edge ring. However, such generators do not work well if multiple RF frequencies are used for the substrate bias, and multiple generators with a dual frequency match network can be very expensive.
Therefore, the inventors have provided improved apparatus and methods for processing a substrate.

Apparatus and methods for manipulating power at an edge ring in a plasma processing device


Light-emitting structures, and related components, systems, and methods associated therewith are provided. In one embodiment, a light-emitting structure includes at least one LED, a contact bond pad supported by the at least one LED, and a flexible circuit member bonded to the contact bond pad.

A light-emitting diode often can provide light in a more efficient manner than an incandescent light source and/or a fluorescent light source. The relatively high power efficiency associated with LEDs has created an interest in using LEDs to displace conventional light sources in a variety of lighting applications. For example, in some instances LEDs are being used as traffic lights and to illuminate cell phone keypads and displays. Many technological advances have led to the development of high power LEDs by increasing the amount of light emission from such devices.
Typically, an LED is formed of multiple layers, with at least some of the layers being formed of different materials. In general, the materials and thicknesses selected for the layers influence the wavelength(s) of light emitted by the LED. In addition, the chemical composition of the layers can be selected to promote isolation of injected electrical charge carriers into regions (commonly referred to as quantum wells) for relatively efficient conversion to optical power. Generally, the layers on one side of the junction where a quantum well is grown are doped with donor atoms that result in high electron concentration (such layers are commonly referred to as n-type layers), and the layers on the opposite side are doped with acceptor atoms that result in a relatively high hole concentration (such layers are commonly referred to as p-type layers).
Traditional light-emitting devices may have complex packages which may require multiple manufacturing steps in order to form a packaged LED. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a light-emitting structure 100 may include a light-emitting diode 102 and a transparent layer 103 (e.g., a window) supported by a package 104. Typically, contacts 106 can be attached via solder or electrically conductive adhesive 108 to the package 104. The contacts 106 can be disposed between the package and a supporting structure 110 (e.g., core board). The package 104 can include electrically conductive vias 124 (e.g., metal-filled vias). Additionally, some light-emitting structures incorporate an electrically isolating dielectric material 112 between the support structure and the circuit board contacts.
Light-emitting devices also generally include one or more electrical contact bond pads 114 (also known as electrodes) which are features on a device that may be electrically connected via wire bonds 116 to a wire bond pad contact 118 which in turn can receive power from a power source (not shown). Typically, wire bonds 116 are soldered 120 to the wire bond pad contacts 118 and the electrical contact bond pad 114, as illustrated in FIG. 2. Electrical current can be provided from the power source to the device via the wire bond pads 118 and electrical contact bond pad. In addition, the electrical contact bond pad 114 can include current spreading members 122 (e.g., metal fingers) which are capable of delivering current along the lengths thereof and to the surface of the LED 102.
The complexity of such LED devices and multiple manufacturing steps involved in fabricating such devices inevitably increases production time and costs. Further, the wire bonds tend to have small diameters which further can add to the fabrication complexity and production time. Also, the wire bonds can be current limiting due to their small diameters.

Flexible circuit light-emitting structures


There is disclosed a bearing unit (5, 5a) for a wheel comprising a stationary race (6) having stationary race track surfaces (11a, 11b) on a peripheral surface on the stationary side thereof to be supported and fixed by a suspension system in its used state, a rotating race (8) having rotating race track surfaces (14a, 14b) on a peripheral surface on the rotating side so as to fix a wheel and a braking rotating member in its used state, and a plurality of balls (17) provided between the rotating race tracks and the stationary race tracks, wherein a standard value for the mutual difference in diameter between these balls is not more than 1.0 μm.

A wheel of a vehicle and a brake rotor for constituting a disc brake which serves as a brake are rotatably supported by a knuckle which constitutes a suspension system. That is, an outer race serving as a stationary race and constituting a bearing unit for a wheel is fixed in a circular support hole portion formed on this knuckle by means of a plurality of bolts. On the other hand, the wheel and the rotor are connected and secured to a hub for constituting a bearing unit for a wheel by means of a plurality of studs and nuts.
Plurality outer race tracks respectively serving as stationary race tracks are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the outer race 6, while a coupling flange is formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof. Such an outer race is fixed to the knuckle by coupling this coupling flange to the knuckle with a bolt.
On the other hand, an attachment flange is formed in a part of the outer peripheral surface of the hub which is protruded from an outer end opening of the outer race ("outer with respect to the axial direction" means the outer side in the width direction in a state of being assembled in the vehicle, which is the same throughout this specification). The wheel and the rotor are connected and fixed to the outer side surface of this attachment flange with the studs and nuts. Also, an inner race track is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the middle portion of the hub at a part opposite to the outermost race track out of the plurality of outer race tracks. Further, an inner race is fitted and fixed onto a small step portion which is formed in an inner end portion of the hub. Another inner race track formed on the outer peripheral surface of the inner race is arranged to face the innermost outer race track, out of the plurality of outer race tracks.
Plurality of balls are provided to be rotatable between each of the outer race tracks and inner race tracks in a state that they are respectively held by retainers. With this structure, a double row angular type ball bearing which is a back-to-back duplex bearing is constituted, and the hub is supported to be rotatable on the inner side of the outer race to be capable of supporting a radial load and a thrust load. Seal rings are provided between each of the inner peripheral surfaces of the both end portions of the outer race and the outer peripheral surface of the middle portion of the hub, and the outer peripheral surface of the inner end portion of the inner race, respectively, so as to block a space in which the balls are provided from the outer space.
When the bearing unit for a wheel is used, the outer race is fixed to the knuckle and, at the same time, the wheel and the rotor to which a tire is combined are fixed to the attachment flange of the hub. The rotor and a support and a caliper fixed to the knuckle are combined with each other to constitute the disc brake. At braking, a pair of pads which are provided to sandwich the rotor therebetween are pressed against the both sides of this rotor.
Incidentally, it is known that, at the time of braking of the vehicle, there is often generated a vibration followed by unpleasant noise called a judder. It is also known that such a vibration is caused by various reasons including an uneven frictional condition between a side surface of the rotor and a lining of the pad. However, a shake of the rotor is known as a great cause of the vibration. That is, a side surface of the rotor should make a right angle with the center of rotation of this rotor properly. However, it is difficult to obtain a perfect right angle in this case due to an inevitably error in manufacturing. As a result, it is unavoidable that the side surface of the rotor shakes slightly in the direction of the rotary shaft during a running of the vehicle. If such a shake becomes great, a judder is generated when linings of the pair of pads are pressed against the both sides of the rotor for braking. Apart from this judder generation, there are several problems including that a surface against which the linings of the pads of the rotor are pressed is partially abraded or a vibration of the vehicle body becomes great at the time of braking due to a shake of the rotor.
In order to solve the problems such as generation of a judder, it is important to suppress a shake of the rotor with respect to the axial direction (axial shake). In order to suppress this shake, it is required to improve the degree of perpendicularity of an attachment surface of the attachment flange with respect to the center of rotation of the hub and to improve the planar precision of this attachment surface itself. Particularly, as to the degree of perpendicularity, it is important to improve the precision in the positions and the configurations of the attachment surface and the race track surfaces (the outer race tracks and the inner race track). Technologies for improving the precision are disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 10-217001 and 2000-234624.
Meanwhile, a shake of the rotor may be caused when a mutual difference between the diameters of the balls assembled in the bearing unit for a wheel (the difference between the average diameter of the greatest ball and that of the smallest ball, out of the balls to be assembled in the bearing unit) is great. That is, if a difference between the diameter of some ball present in a ball row and that of other balls present in the same ball row is great, the hub is rotated in a shaking manner with respect to the outer race upon revolution of these balls. For example, if the diameter of a certain ball in the inner ball row and that in the outer ball row, the rows constituting the bearing unit for a wheel are greater than the diameter of the other balls in the same ball rows, a distance between the inner peripheral surface of the outer race and the hub or the outer peripheral surface of the inner race becomes greater in a part in which certain balls having the greater diameter are present. For this reason, the central axis of the hub is inclined in the counterclockwise direction with respect to the central axis of the outer race. As a result, when the bearing unit is operated, the hub shakes in a rotating manner with respect to the outer race and the rotor which is fixed to the attachment flange formed on the outer peripheral surface of this hub shakes in the direction of the rotary shaft. Then, the greater the difference between the diameter of the certain balls and that of other balls is, the more striking the scale of this shake is.
Recently, in order to prevent the generation of a judder at braking, it is demanded to sufficiently suppress a shake of the rotor. However, if the mutual difference in lot diameter between the balls assembled in the bearing unit for a wheel is great, it is difficult to satisfy such a demand as described above. Accordingly, it is required to reduce the mutual difference in diameter between the balls in order to sufficiently suppress a shake of the rotor.


A method for testing a monitoring device (20) of an automatic labeling machine (10) for containers (12) for correct functioning, in the case of which, a specially marked measuring container (14) is fed thereto, upon whose detection, a labeling process is discontinued at least for this measuring container (14), and the measuring container (14) provided with markings (16) is scanned by at least one optical sensing device (21) of the monitoring device (20).

Labels are typically applied to beverage containers and bottles filled with beverages in a continuous process by automatic labeling machines which constitute part of a rotary machine used for bottling. Poorly or slantingly applied labels can signify a deficiency which, under unfavorable conditions, can lead to shut-down of the bottling machine. To be able to continuously check for correct placement and fixation of the labels, a camera, or optionally a plurality of cameras having subsequent image analysis can be configured downstream of the labeling machine.
A labeling machine of this kind can be inferred from the German Examined Specification DE 199 11 074 B4. In the case of this known device, the analyzed images from a camera configured downstream of the labeling station are not only used for monitoring for correct placement of the labels, rather, correction signals are also generated therefrom for controlling a correction device for the particular labeling station or for synchronizing a gripper cylinder and removal elements. Thus, to a certain degree, this known system allows for correction of the label placement during continuous operation of the machine.
However, the known monitoring devices are only able to function with the desired degree of reliability when they, themselves, are not out of alignment. To correctly position the camera that is customarily used and to calibrate, respectively initialize this position, test containers can be used, for example, which have a suitable test pattern that can be recognized by the camera and used by the downstream evaluation unit to check the camera settings.
Such a test container and a test arrangement for a control device for containers is discussed in the German Patent Application DE 10 2006 022 492 A1. The test container has a plurality of uniform horizontal marking rings on the container surface that are intersected by vertical markings, thereby forming a grid-type marking structure. With the aid of this marking structure, and by using a system for precise height adjustment of the test container, the camera can be calibrated and adjusted.
Problems can always arise during operation of a labeling machine when an undetected camera misalignment either results in a failure to detect improperly applied labels or in an insufficient or even faulty correction of the setting data used for applying the labels. Often the necessity for a repeated adjustment and subsequent recalibration of the camera can only be deduced by taking precise measurements of containers provided with labels. In this case, however, a multiplicity of containers having improperly glued-on labels may have already been considered to be acceptable and fed for further processing and/or packaging.

Method for testing a monitoring device of an automatic labeling machine for correct functioning


A method and apparatus are provided for efficiently transferring data between a first and second processors having shared memory. A plurality of data packets are aggregated into a packet bundle at the first processor. The packet bundle is then transferred from the first processor to the second processor using the shared memory, wherein the transfer of the packet bundle is performed in a single context switch at the first processor. The packet bundle is then unbundled into individual data packets at the second processor, wherein a processing load of the second processor is reduced due to the aggregation of the data packets into the packet bundle by the first processor.

As consumers seek every more mobile technologies and convenience, more content and services are being delivered to mobile and/or compact devices. At the same time, access terminals, such as mobile phones, are ever smaller or compact in size to allow users to conveniently carry them anywhere they go. Due to their small size, the access terminals often have limited processing capabilities and/or power source (e.g., batteries). A trade-off is often made between processing performance and battery life. More powerful processors consume more power, thereby shortening the life of the battery between charging. However, less powerful processors may not provide sufficient processing power needed for newer applications. For example, with the advent of third generation (3G) and fourth generation (4G) telecommunication standards based on the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), high speed data applications (e.g., internet access, voice over IP, video delivery, etc.) are being implemented for wireless networks. The higher data rates provided by 3G and 4G networks place increasing pressure on processor cores with limited clock rate to support these higher data rates. For handset manufacturers and other original equipment (OEMs) manufacturers that incorporate wireless communication chips and chip sets, these factors lead to added pressure to support the high speed data applications by using off-the-shelf (OTS) commercial mobile operating systems, such as, Windows Mobile, Linux, or Symbian. Unfortunately, such mobile operating systems frequently consume significant processing time in switching contexts, presenting a major hurdle for efficiently supporting next generation high data rates, especially for layered software architectures required by OTS mobile operating systems. Moreover, mobile device hardware typically attempts to reduce the clock rate of the processor core in an effort to conserve or otherwise minimize power consumption.
Consequently, techniques are needed to reduce power consumption of limited clock rate processors without sacrificing processing performance for higher data rates.

Methods and apparatuses to reduce context switching during data transmission and reception in a multi-processor device


An obturator can be secured to a projectile to be launched from within a launch tube. The obturator cooperates with the projectile to seal a pressurized gas within the launch tube during launch. The obturator has a plurality of segments that combine to form a ring. Each segment has connecting features that cooperate with corresponding connecting features of an adjacent segment to hold the segments together by restricting relative circumferential movement, without restricting radially outward movement of individual segments. Preferably, each segment is identical, making it easier to repair and assemble the obturator. Upon launch, the obturator segments can move radially outwardly to separate into relatively small, uniformly-sized pieces.

An obturator seals high pressure gas between a projectile and a wall of a launch tube. Providing a good gas seal increases the gas pressure in the launch tube, which increases the projectile's velocity at launch.
The obturator preferably falls off the projectile after the obturator exits the launch tube. Sometimes the obturator fails to release from the projectile, thereby increasing drag and weight of the projectile, and possibly unbalancing the projectile, thereby reducing its range and accuracy.

Obturator ring with interlocking segments


Image data stored in a memory of a portable communication apparatus is read by an adapter device in response to that the portable communication apparatus is connected to a connector of the adapter device. Subsequently, the portable communication apparatus starts communicating with a charging server and, simultaneously, a print image selection screen is displayed on a LCD. A user selects images and the number of prints of each image in the print image selection screen. Printing is executed when a print button is operated after the user finished selecting the images and the number of prints of each image. After printing is completed, the communication from the portable communication apparatus to the charging server is cut off. The charging server charges telecommunication charge to the portable communication apparatus based on the duration of communication with the charging server.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and a system for printing images photographed by a portable communication apparatus provided with an imaging device.
2. Background Arts
A mobile phone provided with a camera, having an imaging function as well as functions for voice communication and data communication such as sending and receiving e-mail, has been popular recently. Such mobile phone with the camera may store images photographed by the imaging device as image data. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication Number 2002-132923 discloses a method for printing image data, stored in the mobile phone with the camera, by sending them to a printing device via telecommunication network and printing them by means of the printing device.
Concerning the speed and the cost for the communication, however, it is not preferable to send image data via telecommunication network. As an example of other methods, a print system disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication Number 2001-309106 prints images by using a print unit of stand-alone type. In order to print images in this print unit, a user directly sends image data stored in the mobile phone with the camera to a printer, incorporated in the print unit, via wire or infrared communication and operates the printer to print images.
Nevertheless, that print system has a problem of increasing the size and the cost of the print unit, since a charging system and a cash insertion equipment must be mounted within a print unit along with devices for receiving image data and for printing them. Furthermore, the user must prepare cash in advance, as the print system requires it to be inserted in every printing.


A semiconductor device includes: a cooling function component including an active region made of an impurity region and formed on a surface of a semiconductor layer, an N-type gate made of a semiconductor including an N-type impurity, a P-type gate made of a semiconductor including a P-type impurity, a first metal wiring connected to the N-type gate, the P-type gate and the active region, a second metal wiring connected to the P-type gate and the N-type gate, and a heat releasing portion connected to the second metal wiring for releasing heat to the outside.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device having an active component such as a transistor and a manufacturing method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Along with the development of CMOS technology in recent years, drive capability of a transistor is increased and heat generated from the transistor has problems.
In a MOS transistor, a threshold voltage Vth is reduced by 2 mV when temperature is increased by 1° C., therefore, sub-threshold current is increased by two digits in a state of 125° C. as compared with a state of room temperature. Accordingly, temperature management is highly important in the semiconductor device.
In a high-speed logic device such as a CPU, a chip has been hitherto cooled by mounting a heat sink, a fan and so on (for example, refer to JP-A-2000-307042 (Patent Document 1).
The above method is a method of cooling the chip from the outside, which may cause increase of stand-by current, TDDB (Time Dependent Dielectric Breakdown), electromigration and the like and may cause significant troubles with respect to device reliability when the heat generation amount is further increased with progress in miniaturization.
On the other hand, in a semiconductor device formed by performing planarization by a CMP (Chemical Mechanical Polishing) method, a dummy is arranged on the surface of a semiconductor substrate because of planarization of an interlayer insulating film (for example, refer to U.S. Pat. No. 7,014,955 (Patent Document 2)).
A layer in which the dummy is arranged is a layer relating to planarization by the CMP method, which is an active region, a gate, a metal dummy and so on. The use of the dummy as an active component has not been hitherto considered.
Accordingly, a structure in which a cooling function component is arranged in a substrate itself on which the semiconductor device is formed has been devised (for example, refer to JP-A-2008-166725 (Patent Document 3)).
However, it is necessary to add a process for forming the cooling function component to the above method, which may not satisfy the admissibility of cost effectiveness.
In response to the above, there is proposed an attempt to fabricate the device having the cooling function component without positively increasing the process by using agate dummy which has not been used as the active component (for example, refer to JP-A-2001-156228 (Patent Document 4)).

Semiconductor device having a cooling function component