The present invention relates to an outer dome configured to provide protection and optical correction to a system of projection optics and the output thereof. More particularly, an optical projection system having an optical offset of greater than 100% is comprised within a projector housing having an outer dome comprised of an optically active material mounted onto an opening approximately coinciding with the optical projection system's exit pupil. The outer dome is configured to be decenterized from the exit pupil (e.g., the center of the dome is offset from the exit pupil in one or more of an x, y, and z direction) such that it provides optical correction to a projected image. Therefore, an outer dome is configured to provide protection to optical elements provided therein and improvement of projected image quality (e.g., reduced image distortion, reduced aberration).

In recent years large screen televisions (e.g., having a horizontal screen dimension greater than 37 inches) have become commonplace in many consumer's homes. This is in large part due to the emergence of new types of display systems which have made cathode ray tube (CRT) televisions obsolete in the large screen television market. One such type of display system is a projection display system (e.g., rear projection (RP) televisions, front projection projectors), wherein a projection lens is used to project an image onto a screen. Television sets and projectors have been developed that use projection lenses to support large projected image sizes at a reasonable cost. Projection lenses may be used for either front or rear projection, depending on whether the lens is on the viewer side of the screen or behind the screen. Often front projection lenses are used in projectors while rear projection lenses are used in televisions.
In a front projection system, the projector and viewer are on the same side of the display surface, with the image from the projector reflecting from the display surface to the viewer. An optical system utilizes light engine and projection optics to project an image directly on a display surface. It is desirable in such systems to have a short throw distance. The throw distance of a projection system is given by the projection distance d divided by the diagonal length D of a display surface, wherein the diagonal D is measured from the opposite corners of the display surface. Projectors with a short throw distance can provide large images for projectors placed at close distances from a projection screen (e.g., in small home theatre rooms, classrooms, small meeting rooms, etc.).
A typical projector system can utilize short-throw, wide-angle lenses with an on-axis optical path. This has an advantage of limiting depth reductions, but does so at the cost of a more complex design (e.g., even though keystone distortion is not present, this approach still requires optical elements that are challenging to design and manufacture). The optical and geometric constraints manifest themselves as increased pincushion or barrel distortion and keystone distortion. The design of prior art systems has largely been constrained by the requirement of minimizing these distortions along with achieving a required Modulation Transfer Function (MTF), correcting for lateral color, and meeting lens F-number specifications, while satisfying cost-performance tradeoffs.
Prior art rear projection systems use screen assemblies that have low reflectance to light impinging on them from the front (by use of light absorbing materials) in order to provide a high contrast ratio. These screen assemblies also have a high transmittance for light impinging on them from the rear (by use of lenticular arrays and collimation of light) in order to provide high brightness. Light is typically collimated by using a Fresnel lens as part of the screen assembly. A Fresnel lens is a symmetrical circular structure (its optical center is located at the physical center, or on the axis of the projection light path) for on-axis projection systems. A Fresnel lens of a given focal length substitutes for a large circular plano convex lens of the same focal length. The diameter of such a Fresnel lens is at most the length of the display diagonal. These Fresnel lenses are typically thin, very flexible and expand with interior temperature rise. The image quality for on-axis projection systems is not very sensitive to variations in the central portion (around the optical axis) of a Fresnel lens' surface profile. Unfortunately, when these symmetrical Fresnel lenses are used in off-axis RP systems (e.g., the off axis projection lenses use the off axis portion of an on axis Fresnel lens) they become problematic very quickly when the offset becomes high (e.g., angle of incident greater than 60°). In addition, the Fresnel lens in off-axis RP systems must be carefully designed because the light impinges on the rear of the screen at incident angles that vary from a minimum near the bottom of the screen of from 0±5 degrees to a maximum of up to 80±5 degrees near the top of the screen. Accordingly, the collimation must be performed with very high incident angles. Unfortunately, Fresnel lenses in short throw configurations are highly susceptible to image distortion due to screen flatness problems when the angle of incident becomes very steep.


A method is provided that includes processing biological data using a biological simulation model, including calculating a set of measurements called indexes that measure interrelationships between hormones and/or blood test data; and analyzing from the indexes, the endocrine system by axis and in sequence along an adaptation process. The method includes running a selection algorithm from the indexes to identify biological dysfunctions across the endocrine system and the autonomous nervous system, and recommending corrective actions based on the identified biological dysfunctions. The method includes validating potential organism dysfunctions of the patient through the identified biological dysfunctions, consolidating diagnostic actions including the recommended corrective actions into a single diagnostic, and receiving selection of diagnostic actions therefrom. And the method includes assisting in selection of a therapeutic strategy applicable to each selected diagnostic action, and producing a final ready-to-use prescription with quantified dosage based thereon.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a Biological Simulation Model and associated apparatus, method and computer-readable storage medium for evaluating a patient ("exemplary" as used herein referring to "serving as an example, instance or illustration").
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention consider the organism as a whole, made of elements in permanent interaction and working together as a network. It quantifies the physiological relationships at organ and organism-level that drive the functioning of the body, and it helps identify the underlying dysfunctions linked with a disease and their evolution with or without treatment. It goes beyond the symptomatic approach of the disease and takes into account the state of the patient in its overall functioning, the so called "terrain" of the patient, which plays a key role in the ability of an individual to face a disease. For example, exemplary embodiments of the present invention facilitate an understanding of why an individual faced with a very cold weather will contract pneumonia, while similar cold weather had no effect on the individual a year earlier. Similarly, for example, exemplary embodiments of the present invention facilitate an understanding of why out of ten people faced with very cold weather under similar conditions, one will contract sinusitis, two will contract pneumonias, one will contract shingles, the rheumatoid arthritis of one will flare-up, while the other five will not contract anything.
The disease may be viewed not only as caused by a factor X, but may also and primarily be caused by one or more dysfunctions of the organism. In fact, the disease, as may be seen through the symptoms, may be considered the end of an internal process where the body has unsuccessfully attempted to contain the exposure. The symptom may be considered the signal that the body has failed in its attempt, and it will need to mobilize many more resources, unless it gets outside help. The Biological Simulation Model of exemplary embodiments of the present invention facilitates an understanding of what happened and identify the root causes that drove the failure of the organism.
Exemplary embodiments propose an explanation of the basic functioning of the organism, under control of the endocrine system, as the manager of the physiological phenomena that permits the life maintenance within the body, through a sequence of catabolic and anabolic metabolic activities.
Regulation of the internal environment requires a single and autonomous system manager that has the ability to interact permanently with all organs and body systems in order to direct and control all input/output transfers. This system manager also needs the ability to act for its own safeguard in order to remain efficient and manage the organism.
The endocrine system can fulfill the mission of managing the overall organism. The endocrine system is connected to all systems, and may act anywhere in the body and react to all kinds of solicitations: sensorial, metabolic or physiological. The endocrine system is able to reset the basal state (homeostasis) and to participate in its evolution; and it participates in growth, ensures cells nutrition and prioritizes the distribution of energetic resources. The endocrine system manages all factors involved in the defense system of the organism, and manages two fundamental attributes of the organism: short term and long term adaptation, which are hormone-dependent. It also has enough autonomy to correct its own deficiencies.
As an example, in the 1930s, Hans Selye described the role of the endocrine system in the body response to specific aggressions such as third-degree burns, spread-out infections, hemorrhages and the like, which were associated with identical reactions from the organism, which he referred to as the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS).
Exemplary embodiments propose not only a global view on how the endocrine system organizes the body response to any kind of aggression (external or internal, physical, chemical, viral, emotional, etc.), but also how it manages the maintenance of the basic structure of the organism.

Endobiogenic-based processing of biological data


In a projection-type video display device that displays an image by projecting the image onto a projection object starting from a desk surface, a display screen on which a position and a gesture operation of a user are reflected is displayed in a predetermined area. An illumination and a camera are disposed in the projection-type video display device installed on the desk surface, a gesture using user's fingers is detected, and, for example, a menu screen and an operation guide are displayed according to the gesture. The shadows of the fingers are photographed by the camera, and a gesture is detected. According to the gesture, the display screen is moved, rotated, divided, or enlarged/reduced, or a menu screen is displayed. The display direction is determined in consideration of the direction of sides of the desk.

A technology for controlling of a display direction to be a direction in which a video can be easily seen by a user when a projection-type display device projects the video onto a horizontal face such as a desk has been devised.
In Patent Document 1, a technology has been disclosed in which a projection-type display device disposed on the upper side of a projection object includes an imaging unit, a user interface image capturing an operator's motion is acquired, and a display screen is controlled based on a detection result of the motion.
In addition, in Patent Document 2, a method has been disclosed in which a display device disposed on the upper side of a projection object recognizes the position and the motion of a user and the shape of a projection object and a display position, a display direction, and the like are controlled in accordance therewith.


A tooth care device, a kit for a tooth care device and an associated method of using same are described for providing a convenient and hygienic way of transporting and using a tooth care product. The device includes a base, a gelcap, and a cover. The base has a plurality of hollow wells in which each gelcap is sequestered within each hollow well of the base. Each gelcap has an outer shell and an inner toothpaste core. The cover is attached over the base so that the plurality of gelcaps is hermetically sealed within the device. The kit includes the device and a toothbrush. The method includes the steps of bending, brushing, expectorating, grasping, inserting, obtaining, pealing, placing, pinching, pressing, removing, rinsing, taking, transporting, tearing, and withdrawing.

A wide variety of tooth care devices is currently available on the commercial market and an even larger number of these types of devices are known in the art of tooth care devices, for example, the capsule disclosed by Messner in U.S. Pat. No. 2,004,957; the dentifrice-containing capsules disclosed by Bly et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 2,778,045; the denitrifice encapsulation disclosed by Brown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,427,116; the intraoral medicament-releasing device disclosed by Sipos in U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,952; the single use toothpaste dispensing device and disposable toothbrush kit utilizing same disclosed by Anderson in U.S. Pat. No. 6,254,023; and the toothpaste capsule disclosed by Davis in U.S. Pat. No. D434,137.
While all of the above-described devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a tooth care device having a base, a gelcap, and a cover in which the base has a plurality of hollow wells so that each gelcap is sequestered within each hollow well of the base and hermetically sealed with the cover, wherein each gelcap has an outer shell and an inner toothpaste core. This combination of elements would specifically match the user's particular individual needs of making it possible to provide a convenient and hygienic means of transporting and using a tooth care device. The above-described patents make no provision for a convenient and hygienic means of transporting and using a tooth care device.
Therefore, a need exists for a new and improved tooth care device having a base, a gelcap, and a cover in which the base has a plurality of hollow wells so that each gelcap is sequestered within each hollow well of the base and hermetically sealed with the cover, wherein each gelcap has an outer shell and an inner toothpaste core. In this respect, the tooth care device according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing a convenient and hygienic means of transporting and using a tooth care device.

Tooth care device, kit and method of use


A method of analyzing one or more asset repositories to determine a developer's competency and ability to collaborate in a team environment. The method includes obtaining metadata artifacts as documents from one or more asset repositories. The documents are represented using a tree structure that has nodes to form a knowledge graph that is suitable for input vectorization. Each node is configured in the tree structure to represent a content region within the one or more documents, with a root node representing the entire document and each node representing an aggregation of all its children nodes. One or more computing devices are used to receive an input vector that includes a set of descriptive statistics about data in asset repositories and a vectorized form of one or more concepts. The developer's competency and ability to collaborate in a team environment is automatically estimated using output values of a trained neural network.

Organizations usually have access to data about their employees in a myriad forms. These include work hours, performance evaluations, past projects, Curriculum Vitaes (CVs), certifications, badges, learning etc. This data is usually captured automatically and stored on internal servers. However, organizations usually do not leverage this data for other purposes. Moreover, employing or backfilling software developers is a difficult task.
Many traditional recruiting steps are based on reviewing resumes. This usually does not identify individuals who are the right fit and have expertise in specific Software languages as well as the passion and ingenuity to solve specific problems as education alone is not adequate to determine actual talent.
Recruiters and employers usually try to get an indication of whether an individual or current employee is a good fit for a new position based on anecdotal evidence such as reviews or personal accounts. Recruiters can obtain a candidate's past reviews for decision making even though the review can include subjective analysis of performance that could be inaccurate. Likewise, current employees of an organization can be re-assigned to new positions based on a subjective analysis of their strengths. It would be beneficial to have empirical evidence to back the analysis.

System and method for analysis of workplace churn and replacement

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


Norbornene monomers with epoxy groups and polymer materials thereof are disclosed. The Norbornene monomers with epoxy groups are prepared by Diels-Alder reaction. The Norbornene monomers with epoxy groups are highly active for ring-opening-metathesis polymerization (ROMP), and the molecular weight and PDI value of the obtained polymers are controllable.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to norbornene monomers and polymer material thereof and, more particularly, to norbornene monomers with an epoxy group and polymer material thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Polynorbornene and its derivative were the first commercial products produced from ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) and were important elastomers. Due to high transparency, improved impact resistance, wide temperature range usage and good mechanical and processing properties, polynorbornene and their derivatives are widely applied in shape-memory polymers, lighting devices, machines, electric components, pipe fittings and food packaging.
Previously, metathesis polymerization of olefins was an important process for polymerization, especially the cyclo-olefin ring-opening metathesis polymerization and non-cyclic diene and alkyne metathesis polymerization. With advances in catalyst development, polymer materials with various functional groups have been developed over recent years via metathesis polymerization.
In related arts, organic metal catalysts have been used for metathesis polymerization. Monomers with poly functional groups, however, are apt to perform multi-reaction in metathesis polymerization with organic metal catalysts. So the use of metathesis polymerization of monomers with poly functional groups has been limited.
Grubbs et. al. reported that the ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of cyclo-olefin with Ru catalyst {Cl2Ru(CHPh)(P[C6H11]3)2} exhibits high performance. More particularly, the polymerization of the monomers with functional groups can be achieved with the catalyst because of the combined compound's stability in atmosphere. In addition, such metathesis polymerization resulted in polymers showing high polymerizing rates and large molecular weights, generally associated with living polymerization.
Hence, more research on ROMP of cyclo-olefin derivatives to improve catalyst reactivity soon followed. The research mainly focused on the development of side-chain-type liquid crystals, triblock copolymers synthesized by two-step methods, polymers with various functional groups and polymers having cross-linkable functional groups present in the side chain thereof, etc. The introduction of functional groups improved the optical characteristics and biochemical activity of the polymer.
In addition, ever since nanotechnology and nanomaterials have been researched, compounds with specific structures (such as amphiphilic compounds) have been prepared by ROMP. For example, the forming of compounds with carbon-carbon double bonds by olefin ROMP.
In recent years, ROMP of cycloolefin and metathesis polymerization of non-cyclodiolefin has become very important in polymer synthesis. The preparation of novel functional polymers from norbornene-type monomer is carried out by ROMP.
Polymers with specific functional groups have grown in importance as they exhibit optoelectronic characteristics, biological activity, and nanomaterial properties. Meanwhile, the characteristic of polymer material depends on structure, degree of polymerization, molecular weight, and distribution of molecular weight thereof.
Therefore, the invention provides norbornene monomers with an epoxy group and polymer material thereof, which may be utilized to prepare specific materials for industrial purposes.

Norbornene monomers with an epoxy group and polymer material thereof

National Taiwan University of Science & Technology


An electronic device enclosure includes a base (20), a bracket (10) pivotally connected with the base; and a pair of connecting pieces (30) pivotally attached to the bracket. The base forms a pair of projections (213). The connecting pieces each defines a guideway (35) corresponding to the projections for guiding rotation of the bracket with respect to the base, and a retaining hole (353) engaging with the projections for suspending the bracket over the base.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic device enclosure, and more particularly to an electronic device enclosure which facilitates assembling.
2. General Background
An electronic device, such as computer or server, requires regular maintenance for sure of working well. To facilitate maintenance of the electronic device, an enclosure of the electronic device is often designed to be quickly and easily opened for access components received in the enclosure. Taiwan Patent No. 539147 discloses a computer enclosure which includes a hood, a base and a pair of connecting mechanisms. Each connecting mechanism includes a first lever having opposite ends pivotally connected with the hood and the base respectively, and a second lever having opposite ends pivotally connected with the first lever and the base respectively. The hood is swung apart from the base by means of the connecting mechanisms. However, each connecting mechanism requires at least two levers, it is unduly laborious and time-consuming to assemble the connecting mechanism with the hood and the base.
What is desired, therefore, is an electronic device enclosure which is easily assembled.

Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd.


A fluid flow rate and density measuring apparatus is disclosed including a section of cylindrical conduit comprising a measurement section or housing for the flow sensor. The flow sensor housing is fixedly attached to a conduit at its distal ends allowing fluid to pass through the open ends of the sensor housing as fluid flows through the conduit. An elongated, streamlined, cylindrically symmetric structure is located within the housing with its longitudinal axis aligned along that of the housing thereby forcing fluid through the annular gap between the exterior of the elongated cylindrical structure and the interior wall of the sensor housing.

Devices are known for measuring fluid flow using both static and dynamic pressure measurements. Dynamic pressure is the component of fluid pressure that represents fluid kinetic energy (i.e., is responsive to fluid motion), while static pressure represents only hydrostatic effects. Dynamic pressure results from the force of a fluid impinging on a surface whereas hydrostatic pressure measures only static pressure. Hydrostatic pressure exists regardless of whether the fluid is flowing, whereas dynamic pressure exists only when fluid is flowing. Traditional differential pressure ("DP") devices measure the hydrostatic pressure drop across a structure inserted into the flow stream specifically designed to produce a substantial pressure drop (e.g., an orifice plate) in order to measure flow rate. Hydrostatic pressure differentials measured are smaller than dynamic pressure signals resulting in very limited dynamic flow measurement range.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,865,957 ("the '957 patent"). The '957 patent teaches a mass flow measurement by subtracting two dynamic pressure measurements. With reference to FIG. 4 of the '957 patent, a first dynamic pressure measurement P1 is obtained at the apex of a conically-shaped end-piece; a second dynamic pressure measurement P2 is obtained at a different location (i.e., different radial location) from a pressure port located within the "cylindrical portion" of the body. According to the '957 patent, solely the difference between these two dynamic pressure signals determines fluid mass flow rate. For example, the '957 patent states at column 4, lines 29-31, "FIG. 5 is a schematic flow diagram depicting the process employed in determining mass flow with the device of the present invention" and FIG. 5 explicitly illustrates that P1−P2 determines mass flow. At col. 6, lines 51-54, "The difference between pressures P1 and P2 are then determined either manually or automatically and, through the use of tables or graphs determine the mass flow of fluid through device 10."

Method & apparatus for fluid flow rate and density measurement


A method for processing and playing music. The method includes providing a computing system, an input device, and a display. The method provides a selected music composition in a sequence of music notes. A user input is provided at a selected time as the selected music composition is animated on the display. The user input is processed by the computing system and output a sound. A timing accuracy of the user input is also being determined. The method can be adapted to any digital apparatus that provides a display, a sound output, a user input device, and a data processing device.

The present invention relates generally to music technique. More particularly, the present invention provides a method and system for processing one or more parts of a music composition using a computing device. Merely by way of example, the invention has been applied to a personal computer. But it would be recognized that the invention can also be applied to a personal digital assistant, a cellular phone, a lap top computer, a networked computer, any combination of these, and the like.
The act of playing a music piece, vocally or on an instrument, has been practiced probably since the beginning of human history. Technical qualities such as accuracy of pitch, timing, and duration of each musical note are critical in play a music composition. Conventionally, to achieve such qualities in playing a music composition includes constant practice and assessment of such qualities relies entirely on another human (e.g., an instructor, audience, etc). Moreover, for a novice music player, learning to read musical notes in addition to learning to play a music composition on an instrument can be a challenge. In addition, in playing a music piece interactively among more than one players, for example, using an interlocking techniques, all the players would have to be in the same room. These and other limitation of playing music and learning to play music will be discussed more fully below.
From the above, it seems that an improved method of playing music or learning to play music is desired.

Method and system for processing music on a computer device


An optoelectronic device is disclosed, comprising: a photodiode array including a plurality of first photodiodes, each first photodiode including a respective n+ region and a respective n-well region; a guide array disposed over the photodiode array, the guide array including a plurality of guide members separated from one another by a layer of light-blocking material, the guide members being aligned with the n+ regions of the first photodiodes, such that each guide member is disposed over a different respective n+ region, and the layer of light-blocking material being aligned with the n-well regions of the first photodiodes; and a filter array disposed over the guide array, the filter array including a plurality of bandpass filters, each bandpass filter being aligned with a different one of the plurality of guide members, each bandpass filter having a different transmission band.

Measuring color is an important part of assessing the operation of various electronic devices, such as printing devices and display devices. Furthermore, measuring color is an important part of assessing the performance of various light sources, such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), fluorescent lights, halogen lights, infra-red (IR) light sources, and ultra-violet (UV) light sources. Color meters that are commonly used in the field can have a high cost. Their cost can start in the hundreds of dollars and reach to the thousands, and it can be prohibitively high in some circumstances. Accordingly, the need exists for new color meter designs that can be manufactured more efficiently and have a reduced cost.

Optoelectronic device arranged as a multi-spectral light sensor having a photodiode array with aligned light blocking layers and N-well regions


A display driving device a driving unit, an output unit, and an output control unit. The driving unit includes a first buffer and a second buffer generating a first driving voltage and a second driving voltage, respectively. The output unit includes a first output pad and a second output pad to which voltages are respectively applied via first second data driving paths, respectively, and which output the voltages to outside. The output control unit includes a charge share path that connects the first output pad and the second output pad. Each of the first data driving path and the second data driving path includes a first electro-static discharge (ESD) protection element, and the charge share path includes a second ESD protection element that is disposed separately from the first data driving path and the second data driving path.

1. Field
The inventive concept relates to a semiconductor device, and more particularly, to a display driving device with an improved function of protecting against electrostatic discharge (ESD) and an improved charge share function, and a display system including the display driving device.
2. Description of the Related Art
As semiconductor chips become more highly integrated, more static electricity is generated from fine wirings via pads, and thus, the semiconductor chips are damaged. An ESD protection circuit or an ESD protection element is provided to prevent damage to elements of internal circuits of the semiconductor chips by ESD. The ESD protection circuit generally includes a resistor, a diode, a bipolar junction transistor (BJT), and the like. However, in general display driving devices, resistance of an ESD protection resistor that is disposed on an output pad directly affects output characteristics of the general display driving devices. When resistance of the ESD protection resistor is increased, output waveforms of the display driving device are not good and heat dissipation of the display driving device becomes severe, and thus, output characteristics of the display driving device are lowered. On the other hand, when resistance of the ESD protection resistor is decreased, output characteristics of the display driving device are improved, but a function of protecting against ESD is reduced. Thus, a display driving device with an improved function of protecting against ESD and improved output characteristics is required.

Display driving device and display system with improved protection against electrostatic discharge


An assembly for a vehicle comprising a mechanism for adjusting the angular position of a vehicle pedal includes a motor for generating and transmitting rotary motion to a rotating member, a first pedal assembly having a first support frame with a first slotted hole, rotatably supported on a first fulcrum and supporting a first pedal, a first motion conversion mechanism, having a first rotating member rotatable about a first rotation axis and a first translating member, receiving and converting rotational motion into translational motion, and a first pin, for joint translation with the first translating member and sliding inside the first slotted hole. Sliding of the first pin draws the first support frame in rotation about the first fulcrum between a first and a second angular position. The mechanism includes a second pedal assembly. The first rotating member is connected to the motor to receive rotary motion. A second rotating member of a second motion conversion mechanism is connected in rotation to the first rotating member through a flexible transmission.

In order to ensure maximum comfort for the driver, steering wheel or seat adjustment systems are generally known which are suitable for modifying the relative position of the driver with respect to the driving commands, in particular with respect to the steering wheel and with respect to the pedals, such as sliding adjustment systems in which the steering wheel or seat is mounted slidably on respective rails.
However, by adjusting the position of the seat only or the steering wheel only it is not possible to take into account differences in height of drivers or the size of the legs and feet. This means that, by adjusting the position of the seat or the steering wheel, an optimal and safe position of the driver's foot on the pedal is not always ensured, nor is sufficient space ensured for the mobility of the driver's legs. Naturally, this adversely affects safety and accuracy of commands given by the driver to the pedals.
Different types of devices are available on the market including a motor, which, with suitable return mechanisms, moves a pedal to the desired position.

PLASTIC COMPONENTS AND MODULES AUTOMOTICE S.P.A.


Method and apparatus are provided for controlling and delivering television programming from a control station to one or more substations, which in turn transmit television programming to remote receiving locations on a pay-per-view basis. Programming is originated and delivered from the control station to record and playback devices at the substation. The record, playback and transmission of the programming at the substation is remotely controlled from the control station in accordance with schedule information generated at the control station. Similarly, scrambling and anti-copy devices at the substation can be remotely controlled in accordance with the schedule information.

Pay-per-view television programming has been available to cable television subscribers in North America for more than ten years. However, due to many practical difficulties, pay-per-view programming has not been widely accepted.
In the early days of pay-per-view television, local cable television operators generally contacted a number of program suppliers, obtained copies of the programs and scheduled and delivered programming to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis in accordance with revenue splits negotiated with each supplier. The programming would generally be stored at the cable headend for playback on a number of possible sources, including video tape or video cassette recorders, video disc players and the like. The programming would be delivered, on a pay-per-view channel to subscribers possessing addressable cable equipment, in response to orders placed by the subscribers. Known addressable cable equipment include addressable cable converter systems, addressable cable interdiction systems and addressable tap or trap systems.
Eventually, "middleman" networks evolved to deal with the program suppliers and to make programming available to a multiplicity of cable operators. These pay-per-view networks originated scrambled satellite feeds for pickup by participating or affiliated cable operators. With satellite delivered programs, the creation of monthly programming schedules became necessary. The schedules rotated programming from a number of program suppliers through a number of available monthly time slots. The pay-per-view schedules which resulted were not unlike the schedules of monthly subscription pay television, except that programs were released by suppliers to pay-per-view networks a number of months before the same programs were available to monthly subscribers. Subscribers needed to overlay their personal schedules with that of the network in order to find a convenient time to buy. Fixed monthly schedules did not allow for variation of schedules in different communities or in response to viewer preferences.
Several pay-per-view systems are proposed in the patent literature. U.S. Pat. No. 4,381,522, issued April 1983, to Lambert discloses a television system of the first type described above. At the cable television headend there are a number of pre-loaded video tape, disc or film players which are actuated by a minicomputer to transmit television programming over a cable channel in response to a computer generated schedule. The schedule is generated in response to signals transmitted from home viewers by telephone.
There are difficulties with the Lambert system. While the schedule is responsive to viewers' preferences, the system cannot manage community pay-per-view television. As soon as the system has received a number of program requests for a particular start time equal to the number of channels available on the system for this type of programming, others wishing to use the system have to choose between watching a program (and a start time) chosen by someone else or submitting a personal request for future consideration. Such a system does not have the potential to maximize the number of users who would purchase pay-per-view programming. With program scheduling being determined on a first-come-first-served basis, callers requesting a program of interest to few others could determine what programs were playing at what times. Even though more people might be interested in viewing a different program at that time, the channel capacity or time slots available and the random nature of the scheduling would likely yield poor overall usage rates for the system.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,694,490, issued September 1987, 4,704,725, issued November 1987, and 4,965,825, issued October 1990, to Harvey et al. propose far-reaching systems for communicating programming. The systems utilize encrypted signals in broadcast programming, which signals include user specific information which can be displayed or used to control receiver apparatus at the user location. Although far reaching, many practical aspects of broadcast and receiving technology make implementation into existing television transmission systems problematic.
Another viewer specific broadcasting system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,450,477, issued May 1984, to Lovett. The system is designed to allow viewers selective access to television information from large databanks on request. In response to viewers' requests to the cable headend station, a control station sends uniquely modulated carrier frequencies with the selected information to the individual viewer, whose television set is tuned to that carrier frequency. Here again, the system is not practical for pay-per-view television to a large community.


A method of fabricating an electrical contact comprises the following steps. A substrate having at least a silicon region is provided. At least an insulation layer is formed on the substrate, wherein the insulation layer comprises at least a contact hole which exposes the silicon region. A metal layer is formed on sidewalls and bottom of the contact hole. An annealing process is performed to form a first metal silicide layer in the silicon region nearby the bottom of the contact hole. A conductive layer covering the metal layer and filling up the contact hole is then formed, wherein the first metal silicide layer is transformed into a second metal silicide layer when the conductive layer is formed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a structure of an electrical contact. More particularly, the invention relates to an electrical contact connecting semiconductor devices and a fabricating method thereof.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As semiconductor processes advance to very deep sub-micron geometries, such as 20-nm node and beyond, and with the progress of device miniaturization, junction resistance between semiconductors and external contact metals has become a critical issue; therefore, there is a strong need to invent electrical contact structures with relatively low junction resistance, which can be used to connecting semiconductors and conductive lines.
In a convention method of fabricating an electrical contact, in order to reduce junction resistance, a self-aligned silicide (salicide) process is utilized to form a metal silicide layer on the junction of metal and semiconductor layer. For example, a semiconductor device covered with a metal layer is provided first. Next, an annealing process is carried out to diffuse atoms inside the metal layer into certain regions, like silicon regions contacted with the metal layer, so that metal silicide layers is formed on the surface of the certain regions. Then, remaining metal layers are removed and another annealing process is performed. During this process, the resistivity of the metal silicide layers can be reduced. An insulation layer, which has a plurality of contact holes, is than formed on the semiconductor device so that the metal silicide layers can be exposed from the contact holes. Finally, a barrier layer and a conductive layer are deposited inside the contact holes to thereby complete a contact structure. The above-saying procedures, however, need at least two annealing processes and a removing process of the metal layer. Such complicated steps are no doubt increase cost of the manufacture and the thermal budget of the semiconductor device is over consumed.
Regarding the drawbacks described above, there is always a continuing need to develop an electrical contact and a fabricating method thereof, which can simply a fabricating process and save thermal budget of semiconductor devices from over consuming.

Method of fabricating electrical contact


Amphiphilic oligonucleotide conjugates that enhance adjuvant function are disclosed. The conjugates typically include: a lipophilic component, and conjugated thereto (directly or indirectly) an immunomodulating oligonucleotide that, if it were not conjugated to the lipophilic component, would suppress TLR7 and/or TLR8 stimulation. In the presence of albumin, these conjugates significantly enhance adjuvant function, in particular the function of TLR7/8-mediated adjuvants such as an imidazoquinolinamine. The conjugates can be administered, along with an adjuvant compound, to a subject in order to cause and/or enhance an immune response (for instance, to an infectious agent or a cancer antigen) in the subject.

Vaccines remain the single most effective public health intervention ever developed, with millions of lives saved every year through the array of pediatric and adult vaccines administered globally. The first licensed vaccines were composed of inactivated or attenuated live microorganisms. Though these whole-microbe vaccines have been successful in preventing many infectious diseases, this approach is not applicable to some vaccine settings (e.g., therapeutic vaccines for cancer) or may not be safe (e.g., vaccines for HIV). Subunit vaccines that do not contain live components of the pathogens are safer, but are poorly immunogenic and require adjuvants to induce effective immune responses.
Adjuvants broadly defined are any substance added to a vaccine to augment (boost) immune response to the antigen. Adjuvants include diverse compounds including microbe-derived products that trigger conserved pathogen-recognition receptors; synthetic immunostimulatory molecules; and nanoparticles, microparticles, or oil/water emulsions. Adjuvants are important in vaccines, where they are often necessary to activate antigen presenting cells and facilitate the induction of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and antibodies.
Adjuvants boost vaccine immunity through different mechanisms. For example, adjuvants can function as delivery system, promote uptake and direct antigen presentation, or stimulate pathogens recognition receptors (PRRs). Molecules that can engage the Toll-like receptors (TLRs, one of the PPR families) are particularly powerful adjuvants which initiate innate and adaptive immune responses. However, attempts to develop new generation of adjuvants have been hindered by the fact that many adjuvants, although potent in vitro, lack of the physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties that are critical in vivo.
Small molecular immune modifiers (IRMs) such as Imiquimod (R837) and Resiquimod (R848) stimulate TLR7 and/or TLR8, and are approved as monotherapeutic agents for human uses for external genital warts and certain skin cancers. IRMs are powerful adjuvants that enhance both antibody and cytotoxic T cell response. However, these IRMs have poor solubility, induce strong local and systemic inflammatory reactions, and are poorly tolerated. In fact, despite the potent in vitro immune stimulatory activities, R837 and R848 are presently limited to topical uses. Thus, there is an urgent and on-going need to develop advanced approaches to overcome these limitations of IRMs as vaccine adjuvants.
Current paradigms to enhance efficacy and safety of vaccine adjuvants are dominated by delivery systems to target immune cells while minimizing systemic exposure. However, it remains difficult to rationally design delivery formulations that meet all the requirements for vaccines. Possible stability, toxicological issues, complexity and cost greatly restrict their clinical application.

Amphiphilic oligodeoxynucleotide conjugates as adjuvant enhancers


A structural damping assembly includes a bonding plate, a stiffener layer, an elastomeric layer, and a constraining layer. The elastomeric layer is boned between the stiffener layer and the constraining layer. The bonding plate and the stiffener layer extend between, and are preferably in contact with, webs which form a pocket on a substrate such as a transmission support beam. The structural damping assembly uses the energy dissipating properties of the elastomeric layer that is sandwiched between the vibrating stiffener layer and the constraining layer to combat noise due to resonant response while operating as a stiffener that increases the frequency of resonance to a range where coincidental placement with an excitation frequency is reduced.

The present invention relates to a damping assembly, and more particularly to a lightweight member, which is mountable to an airframe subcomponent to provide simultaneous localized structural stiffening and damping to reduce aircraft interior noise levels.
A primary determinant of aircraft interior noise levels is the response of the airframe structure to vibration excitation. Each individual component or subcomponent of an airframe has characteristic natural or resonant frequencies that can be coincident with one or more excitation frequencies. This would cause an individual component or sub-component to resonate and emit high noise levels, effectively acting as a speaker in the airframe.
Conventional constrained or shear layer damping has long been provided to address resonant response in an airframe, but damping treatments can be unacceptably heavy or have only limited effectiveness for thicker structural members such as helicopter transmission support beams. Modifying the stiffness of an individual component or subcomponent can also be effective in reducing noise by moving resonance frequencies away from excitation frequencies, but such modifications may require unacceptable design, structural analysis, certification and/or tooling costs for existing airframe designs.
Because resonance frequencies vary from airframe to airframe for a given aircraft model, adding stiffness by itself to an airframe component can adversely result in moving a given resonance frequency closer to an excitation frequency. A device that simultaneously adds both stiffening and damping, however, can potentially mitigate the shortcomings of both in certain applications.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a lightweight structural stiffening and damping assembly for airframe components, which does not impede inspection requirements or add additional resonance effects.


An optical apparatus includes: a condensing optical part having a focal point; and an optical element that is inserted between the condensing optical part and the focal point and capable of shifting, in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis, the apparent focal point as viewed from a side of the condensing optical part.

The present disclosure relates to an optical apparatus used as a light-propagation-direction controller or a selector for controlling the direction of light transmission or light reception with high accuracy in an optical transmitter or an optical receiver of free space light.
The present disclosure relates to a light-propagation-direction controller including such an optical apparatus.
Recently, with the rapid development of laser applications such as light detection and ranging (LIDAR), free-space optical communication, and an optical 3D printer, there is an increasing need for a light-propagation-direction controller to fix or sweep the propagation direction of light such as laser beams at high speed and high accuracy (error of milliradians or less).
Examples of the configuration of the main existing light-propagation-direction controller include those by angular control of a mirror, and those shifting the optical axis by lens position shifting or the like. For the former, a gimbal mirror (see Y. Kaymak et al., "A Survey on Acquisition, Tracking, and Pointing Mechanisms for Mobile Free-Space Optical Communications," IEEE Communications Surveys and Tutorials 20, 1104-1123 (2018)), a galvanomirror system (see H. Jigang et al., "Two Dimensional Laser Galvanometer Scanning Technology for Additive Manufacturing," International Journal of Materials, Mechanics and Manufacturing 6, 332-336 (2018)), a micro-electro-mechanical-systems (MEMS) mirror (see S. T. S. Holmstrom et al., "MEMS Laser Scanners: A Review," Journal of Microelectromechanical System 23, 259-275 (2014)), and the like are generally used. Other examples include a spatial optical modulator that includes no mechanical movable portion and changes the light propagation direction by applying spatial modulation to the phase of light (see T. Hara, "The Latest Advance in Liquid Crystal Spatial Light Modulators," Japanese journal of optics: publication of the Optical Society of Japan 36, 122-128 (2007)).

Optical apparatus and light-propagation-direction controller


A carton for containing and protecting hygroscopic materials is provided and includes an integral pouring spout. The carton includes overlying end closure panels each having an array of partially penetrating cut lines on its inner and outer surfaces and cooperating perforations with through-cuts. A leader tab is provided on an outer end panel and an inner panel has a spout hole therein. The array of cut lines on the panels enables areas of delamination to be created, to lift a cover panel and expose the spout hole when the leader tab is pulled. The cover panel, the leader tab and a cut along the lead edge of the spout hole provide convenient reclosing of the carton. A flat blank for forming into the carton is also encompassed.

Foldable, erectable paperboard cartons or containers have long been recognized as an inexpensive and efficient way to contain many materials for many purposes. Over the years, cartons have been provided with specific features depending on the use of the carton, both in terms of the material to be contained therein and in terms of handling the carton itself.
One area of prior work has been the development of cartons and material for forming cartons for containing hygroscopic material or other materials requiring a high degree of barrier, such as various soap powders, sweeteners or pancake mixes. This type of container is particularly adapted to prevent the absorption of moisture by the material contained in the carton and also to prevent leakage of the material, by having, for example, double thickness walls or films or other coatings applied to or integrated with the carton walls. Leakage can be a particular problem, because the materials are typically in powder or fine granulated form and as such, easily penetrate unsealed seams or perforated lines provided on the carton having cuts that penetrate completely through carton walls.
There have been attempts in the prior art to provide a container that addresses the above concerns. U.S. Pat. No. 4,732,315 discloses a recloseable dispensing package that has a plastic fitment mounted over a cutout area in one flap and an overlying closure flap. Another structure for forming a recloseable opening in a carton for containing a hygroscopic material is present in U.S. Pat. No. 4,718,557, wherein an outside panel may be opened to expose a weakened region that may be partially or fully severed from an inside panel. Also representative of the prior art is U.S. Pat. No. 1,303,138, which discloses a carton with a hinged flap that overlies pouring perforations in an inner flap.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,346,165 discloses an easy opening recloseable container including a dispenser for dispensing the contents. In particular, a portion of the container, severable along perforated lines to form a hinged flap, overlies an opening.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,819,832 discloses a leakproof carton having superimposed inside and outside spout openings. However, one problem unaddressed by this patent, as with other prior art cartons providing protection for material contained therein, is that a consumer has difficulty opening the carton because of the double, reinforced flap structures and the need to remove perforated material from two openings. Moreover, when double perforated flap structures are used, the material contained in the carton may still leak out and moisture may easily penetrate the carton, leading to contaminated contents, when the perforations are through cuts and cuts in separate layers are adjacent or superimposed. Thus, such prior art structures lack desired barrier qualities.
A carton having a double panel end closure with an opening flap in the outer panel providing access to a dispensing aperture in an inner panel is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,395. The opening structure includes a partially pre-cut bridge in the adhesive area for securing the outer flap to the inner panel. One problem with opening features of the type shown in the '165 and '395 patents is that coating materials or adhesives used between inner and outer panels may penetrate the perforations or scores or be inaccurately applied, thereby interfering with opening the carton. Also, cuts that run from the carton exterior to the inner opening can provide a path for moisture entry.
The use of paired, partial cuts, with one cut partially penetrating the package material from the inside and the other cut partially penetrating from the outside, is known as a means for forming frangible opening structures that have barrier qualities until torn. U.S. Pat. No. 4,809,853, discloses a package for containing dry, frangible products with a reclosable pouring opening. The opening/closure flap is defined by such paired, partial cuts into the material from which the carton is made. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,886,170 and 4,919,785 disclose other cartons (not made to dispense materials by pouring) that include tear lines defined by cuts that partially penetrate the inner and outer surfaces of a top panel to define a delaminating tear area therebetween.
Despite the above-cited prior art, there remains a need for a carton for packaging powdered materials that prevents leakage and provides barrier protection for the material contained in the carton, while at the same time providing a pour spout that is easy for a consumer to open.


In one embodiment, a semiconductor chip includes a gate electrode extending between a source electrode and a drain electrode. The source electrode and the drain electrode include finger form electrodes that are an engaged arrangement with each other. One or more gate drawing electrodes are connected to portions of the gate electrode, and protrusion electrodes connect the gate drawing electrodes to a gate shunting wiring disposed on a substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a semiconductor device, in particular, a semiconductor device including a power MOS transistor with low on-resistance and high switching performance.
2. Description of the Related Art
A power MOS transistor has higher switching performance and more stable performance than a bipolar type power transistor, and thus it is widely used in an inverter circuit for a switching power supply such as a DC-DC converter, an inverter circuit for a motor, and so on.
In recent years, a power MOS transistor used in such circuits needs to have still lower on-resistance and higher switching performance so as to correspond to portable devices becoming smaller and lighter such as a mobile phone. The on-resistance of a power MOS transistor is decreased by increasing the impurity concentration of the drift layer which is a low concentration drain layer.
However, the increasing of the impurity concentration of the drift layer decreases the drain-source breakdown voltage BVDS. In other words, the on-resistance and BVDS are in a tradeoff relation. Therefore, the impurity concentration of the drift layer can not be increased without limit. In order to decrease the on-resistance under a predetermined BVDS, the cross section of the flow path of a drain current need be increased. In other words, the gate width W need be increased.
In this case, finger form electrodes are employed for a drain electrode and a source electrode in order to avoid increasing the die size, in which the drain electrode and the source electrode respectively form a plurality of fingers and these fingers are inserted therebetween. A gate electrode is disposed between the finger form drain electrode and source electrode, and extends from one end to another end of the finger form electrodes.
The switching performance of a power MOS transistor is evaluated using the response speed of the gate voltage VG when a predetermined amount of pulse voltage VP is applied to the gate input terminal. The amount of the gate voltage VG directly applied to the gate electrode right above the channel does not immediately increase and reach the predetermined input pulse voltage VP, and instead increases late after a time depending on the amounts of the gate resistance RG and the gate input capacitance CI.
This delay time is called a rise time trise, and a relation of trise∝RGCI is established. The delay time trise is obtained by subtracting a time taken to reach 0.1 VP from a time taken to reach 0.9 VP when the gate voltage VG to finally reach is VP. The larger the gate resistance RG and the gate input capacitance CI are, the longer the rise time trise of the gate voltage VG is, degrading the switching performance of the power MOS transistor.
Although details will be described below, FIG. 3C shows a rise state of the gate voltage VG of a power MOS transistor 50 shown in FIG. 3A when a pulse voltage VP is applied to the input voltage thereof. The pulse voltage VP is applied to a CR circuit shown in FIG. 3B which is an equivalent circuit of the power MOS transistor 50 in FIG. 3A.
The gate voltage VG rises late after a rise time trise which depends on a time constant RGCI which is the product of the gate resistance RG and the gate input capacitance CI. Furthermore, the gate voltage VG falls late when the pulse voltage VP is turned off, too. Corresponding to the gate voltage VG, fall and rise delay occurs in the drain voltage VD, too, as shown in FIG. 3D. Therefore, when the resistance RG of the gate wiring is large, the switching performance of the power MOS transistor is degraded.
A gate electrode was formerly made of a polysilicon film doped with impurity, but in recent years it was made by layering a metal silicide film on a polysilicon film so as to decrease the gate resistance RG.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-171433 discloses decreasing the gate input capacitance CI and gate resistance RG. As to decreasing the gate input capacitance CI, in a power MOS transistor, the gate-drain capacitance CGD which forms the gate input capacitance CI is decreased while an increase of the on-resistance is minimized.
In detail, the gate-drain capacitance CGD is decreased by decreasing the impurity concentration of the drift layer near the channel region so as to make the depletion layer easily extend, thereby decreasing the gate input capacitance CI. On the other hand, the impurity concentration of the drift layer near the drain layer is increased, thereby decreasing the on-resistance.
As to decreasing the gate resistance RG, it is disclosed that a groove is formed in the interlayer insulation film over the gate electrode extending between the drain and the source and a plug electrode is formed by filling the groove with tungsten (W) and used as a gate electrode shunt wiring. Since the metal tungsten (W) is formed to have the same thickness as that of the interlayer insulation film, the gate resistance RG is decreased.
As described in Japanese Patent Application publication No. 2010-171433, by forming the groove in the interlayer insulation film along on the gate electrode extending between the drain and the source and forming the plug electrode filling the groove with tungsten (W) as the gate electrode shunt wiring, the gate resistance RG is decreased to an enough value.
However, in order to satisfy a demand for further enhancing the switching performance, it is necessary to decrease the resistance of the plug electrode made of a tungsten (W) layer. To this end, it is necessary to further increase the thickness and width of the plug electrode made of tungsten (W). However, such a plug electrode with larger thickness and width causes a limit in miniaturizing a wiring pattern.
Therefore, a new means is necessary so as to further decrease the gate resistance RG.

Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC


A holder of a ribbon for typewriters or similar machines in which the ribbon can be transferred from a supply spool to a take-up spool and where the two spools are disposed on a slider. By means of the invention it is intended to manufacture the slider for the two spools in as simple a manner as possible and without further assembly steps. This is made possible when the holder, together with the slider for the ribbon spools, is initially made as a one-piece plastic part. It may also have a pivotable cover so that a cassette is formed after insertion of the spools and closing of the cover. The one-piece construction of the holder with the slider also makes securing for transport unnecessary. When the holder is inserted into a correspondingly designed receptacle, the slider is separated from the holder by breaking off from thin connecting points at so-called predetermined breaking points and it is positioned a little higher than the holder on the respective guide bars of the receptacle. After laterally pivotable side elements of the receptacle have been moved in, the ribbon is in a functionally correct position in the typewriter or the printer. Because of this design of the holder in connection with the receptacle, simple manipulation in the course of the insertion of a new ribbon is achieved.

Such ribbon cassettes are known from, e.g. German Utility Model GE-GM 83 10 441. These ribbon cassettes are made of several parts and are assembled. This requires, on the one hand, considerable expense for the several tools. Furthermore, drive, braking and tensioning elements must be provided in the ribbon cassette which are discarded when the ribbon is used up. As a whole, such ribbon cassettes for typewriters and printers are usually offered at a relatively high cost.

Holder of a ribbon for typewriters or similar machines


A plurality of surface acoustic wave resonators including a comb electrode and a grating reflector are coupled on a piezoelectric substrate. Dielectric film is formed on the surface of at least one surface acoustic wave resonator. No dielectric film is formed on the surface of at least one other surface acoustic wave resonator. Thus, a SAW filter where the insertion loss into a pass band is small, the steepness is sufficient, and the band is wide can be obtained.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a surface acoustic wave filter used for an electronic device and to a SAW duplexer using the filter.
2. Background Art
Recently, the variety of communication systems used for portable phones has been increased. In a US-made PCS (Personal Communication Services) system, namely one of the communication systems, the cross band between the transmission band and reception band is set to be extremely narrow, namely 20 MHz. Accordingly, a band pass filter that has a broad pass band width and a large attenuation in extremely close proximity to the pass band is greatly required. A SAW duplexer used for such an application requires small insertion loss and sufficient suppression in the band of the other party. The band of the other party of a transmitting filter of a SAW duplexer is the reception band, and the band of the other party of a receiving filter is the transmission band. Therefore, a SAW duplexer is required to have a filter characteristic having a steep frequency characteristic in the cross band.
A surface acoustic wave filter (hereinafter referred to as "SAW filter") is well known as one of the filters having a steep filter characteristic. A SAW filter, however, has a temperature coefficient of frequency depending on an employed piezoelectric substrate. The temperature coefficient of frequency of a GHz-band SAW filter employing a generally used lithium tantalate substrate, for example, is −40 through −35 ppm/° C. Therefore, for realizing a SAW duplexer employing a SAW filter that is used in a communication system such as PCS having a narrow cross band, the temperature coefficient of frequency of the SAW filter must be improved.
The following structure is known in order to provide a surface acoustic wave device that has a relatively good temperature coefficient of frequency and broadband characteristic. In this structure, a silicon dioxide (SiO2) film is formed on the surfaces of surface acoustic wave resonators forming at least one SAW filter that is disposed on a piezoelectric substrate, and the surface acoustic wave resonators are interconnected by at least one of a series connecting method and a parallel connecting method. Thus, a target surface acoustic wave device is realized.
Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 2003-60476 discloses the following surface acoustic wave device. This surface acoustic wave device has the following elements:                at least one surface acoustic wave filter formed on a piezoelectric substrate; and        one-port surface acoustic wave resonators that are formed on the piezoelectric substrate and are connected to the SAW filter by at least one of a series connecting method and a parallel connecting method.A film having a positive temperature coefficient of frequency is formed so as to cover at least one of the surface acoustic wave resonators except for the part having the SAW filter. Forming the film having the positive temperature coefficient of frequency aims to improve the temperature coefficient of frequency, suppress the degradation of insertion loss into a pass band, and widen the pass band.
In a conventional surface acoustic wave device, however, a longitudinally coupled mode SAW filter is employed as the SAW filter formed on the piezoelectric substrate. The longitudinally coupled mode SAW filter, which has been recently significantly improved, suffers a large insertion loss compared to a ladder type SAW filter that uses a surface acoustic wave resonator as the impedance element. It is thus difficult to apply a longitudinally coupled mode SAW filter to a SAW duplexer where insertion loss is required to be small. A surface acoustic wave resonator having a silicon dioxide (SiO2) film is connected in this document, so that the insertion loss further increases.
The longitudinally coupled mode SAW filter structured in one stage hardly has sufficient suppression, so the filter is generally structured in two or more stages. In a structure of two or more stages, the insertion loss nearly doubles, and hence the application to the SAW duplexer further becomes difficult. Further, in the longitudinally coupled mode SAW filter increase of the degree of suppression is difficult on the high frequency side of the pass band. Therefore, it is difficult to employ a longitudinally coupled mode SAW filter as the transmission filter of the PCS system.
The present invention addresses the conventional problems, and provides a SAW filter that has a high temperature coefficient of frequency and suffers extremely small insertion loss into the pass band. By employing the SAW filter, a SAW duplexer is provided which has a steep frequency characteristic in the cross band and a large degree of suppression in the band of the other party and prevents a signal from leaking to the band of the other party.

Surface acoustic wave filter, and saw duplexer


Methods of treating a previously fractured bacteria contaminated subterranean formation penetrated by a well bore whereby the bacteria contamination is substantially reduced or eliminated are provided. The methods basically comprise mixing a bactericide with a fracturing fluid in an amount effective to contact and kill bacteria contained in the formation and pumping the mixture into the formation at a rate and pressure sufficient to re-fracture the formation. The re-fracturing of the formation causes the bactericide to be distributed throughout the formation and to contact and kill bacteria contained therein without adversely effecting the productivity of the formation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the treatment of bacteria contaminated wells, and more particularly, to methods of treating previously fractured bacteria contaminated subterranean formations to substantially reduce or eliminate such contamination.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The presence of anaerobic bacteria in an oil and/or gas producing formation, and particularly sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB), cause a variety of problems. If the bacteria produce sludge or slime, they can cause a reduction in the porosity of the formation which in turn reduces the production of oil and/or gas therefrom. Sulfate reducing bacteria produce hydrogen sulfide, and the problems associated with hydrogen sulfide production, even in small quantities, are well known. The presence of hydrogen sulfide in produced oil and gas can cause excessive corrosion in metal tubular goods and surface equipment, a lower oil selling price, and the necessity to remove hydrogen sulfide from gas prior to sale.
When the fluids utilized in drilling or stimulating oil or gas wells contain bacteria, the producing formations can become contaminated with the bacteria. Such contaminated formations which have been fractured have heretofore been particularly difficult or impossible to treat. That is, prior attempts to introduce one or more bactericides into such formations to contact and kill the bacteria therein have been largely unsuccessful due to the bacteria being located in or near fractures at long distances from the well bores. When treating fluids containing bactericides have been pumped into such previously fractured contaminated formations, the treating fluids have either failed to reach the locations of the bacteria, and/or the proppant materials in the previously formed fractures have been disturbed thereby reducing the productivities of the formations.
By the present invention, improved methods of treating previously fractured bacteria contaminated subterranean formations are provided whereby the bacteria are substantially eliminated without lowering the productivities of the formations.


A light guide plate (32) for a backlight module includes a light incident surface (321), a bottom surface (323), and a plurality of light guide elements (320) disposed therein. Each light guide element has a light refractive surface (324) opposite to the light incident surface. An angle between the light refractive surface and the bottom surface is an acute angle. A refractive index of each light guide element is different from that of adjacent light guide elements. The reflectivity index of the light guide element and the angle can be selected and arranged so that most if not all the light beams are emitted from the light output surface. Thereby, the light guide plate is highly efficient in the utilization of light beams.

Most portable electronic devices such as laptop and notebook computers, mobile phones, and game devices have flat viewing screens unlike the cathode-ray-tube (CRT) monitors of conventional desktop computers. Nevertheless, users still generally expect the flat viewing screens to provide performance equal to that of CRT monitors. To meet this demand, computer manufacturers have sought to build flat panel displays (FPDs) offering superior resolution, color, and contrast, while at the same time requiring minimal power consumption. Liquid crystal displays (LCDs) are one type of FPD that satisfy these expectations. However, the liquid crystals of an LCD are not self-luminescent. Rather, the LCD generally needs a surface emitting device such as a backlight module which offers sufficient luminance (brightness) in a wide variety of ambient light environments.
Referring to FIG. 7, this is a side view of a conventional backlight module. The backlight module 10 includes a light source 11, a light guide plate 12, a diffuser 13, a prism film 14, and a reflector 16. The light guide plate 12 includes a light output surface 122, a bottom surface 123 opposite to the light output surface 122, and a light incident surface 121 and side surfaces (not shown) interconnecting the light output surface 122 and the bottom surface 123. The reflector 16 is disposed adjacent to the bottom surface 123. The diffuser 13 and the prism film 14 are stacked in that order on the light output surface 122. The light source 11 is disposed adjacent to the light incident surface 121, for facilitating efficient transmission of light beams emitted by the light source 11 to the light guide plate 12. A plurality of dots 124 is formed at the bottom surface 123, in order to reduce internal reflection of light beams and provide more uniform brightness.
In operation, light beams emitted from the light source 11 enter the light guide plate 12. Some of the light beams strike the bottom surface 123, are scattered by the dots 124 and/or reflected by the reflector 16, and then exit through the output surface 122. Other light beams directly exit through the output surface 122. The light beams that exit through the output surface 122 then transmit through the diffuser 13 and the prism film 14, and finally illuminate a liquid crystal panel (not shown).
However, some of light beams propagating within the light guide plate 12 strike the side surfaces, and a portion of the light beams scattered by the dots 124 and/or reflected by the reflector 16 also strike the side surfaces. Light beams striking the side surfaces are liable to leak out from the side surfaces and be lost. Thereby, the backlight module 10 may have low efficiency in the utilization of light beams.
What is needed, therefore, is a backlight module which can provide highly efficient utilization of light beams.

Light guide plate with internal light guide elements and backlight module using the same


A method for robust preamble location and gate training in a Double Data Rate type Three (DDR3) computing environment. A single algorithm is employed to begin sampling a Data Strobe Signal (DQS) at a maximum delay value designed to fall within the driven region of a DQS. The method then begins sampling the DQS in a sequence of delay values from right to left. Each result of the sampling indicating a high state and a low state are stored as well as the occasions where the DQS transitioned from high to low indicating a rising edge. At a consecutive number of samples returning a low state, the method determines the preamble has been reached and discontinues sampling. The method retains the most recently stored rising edge as the first rising edge and configures the result for gate training.

Hardware devices operating in a computing environment must communicate efficiently and with great speed to compete. Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM) devices, specifically Double Data Rate type Three (DDR3) SDRAM devices may be of value to a hardware manufacturer and a user. In order for a DDR3 SDRAM device to receive a communication from a controller, the controller may send a Data Lane (DQ) signal and a Data Strobe Signal (DQS) to the DDR3 SDRAM. A separate DQ and DQS may be concurrently sent on multiple paths (lanes) from controller to memory increasing transfer bandwidth. During a period of no communication, the DQS may be in a state known as "tri-state" where the DQS signal is at a unpredictable voltage level. As the SDRAM controller prepares to send a communication signal, it may first drive the DQS to a low state indicating to the SDRAM a DQ data line is forthcoming. This DQS low state is known as the preamble indicating to the SDRAM that a following DQ is on the way. One challenge for the SDRAM controller is to recognize this low state of the DQS to enable an AND gate to open for the SDRAM to receive the DQ data signal. Efficient recognition and location of the DQS preamble preceding the DQ may enable the SDRAM controller to train the AND gates for each lane to timely open allowing for proper timing of communication and capture of a valid data signal.
For DDR3, there is a DQS signal for every individual data path transiting the memory system. As the controller may send a signal, a first indicator that a signal is in transit may be when the DQS is driven from a tri-state to a low state. This DQS low state may indicate a valid DQ is en route from transmission source to reception destination and may be of at least one or more clock cycles in duration. Should the AND gate be closed the communication will not occur. However, if the gates are timed or "trained" correctly, proper communication will be received. For example, a single algorithm employed that ensures the first sample taken by the algorithm is within the driven region of the DQS may eliminate a need for trial and error sampling to determine if the first sample is within the DQS.
Previous attempts at preamble location have focused on random DQS sampling, progressive (low to high) or (left to right) DQS sampling, and delay value trial and error to sample the DQS in an attempt to find the time when the DQS was driven initially to a low state (the preamble). These attempts may begin sampling a DQS at a minimum delay value of zero and work "left to right" increasing the delay value by a step size and sampling again. This left to right method maintains no guarantee of positioning the first sample taken to be within the actively driven DQS. Additionally, a method of sampling a DQS in search of a first rising edge, may not know from where along the DQS the sample is taken rendering the method useless. Where a sample is taken from outside the actively driven DQS in the tri-stated region, random results have been observed increasing time or decreasing possibilities of preamble location and ultimately, wasting computing resources. Therefore, it is imperative the "preamble" is found first, in order to know which rising edge is the first rising edge of the DQS, and that the DQS signal is valid instead of in a tri-stated region.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,600,681 B1 to Korger et al., discloses a method for calibrating DQS qualification in a memory controller. Korger samples a DQS from a minimum delay value to a maximum delay value in an attempt to locate the preamble. However, Korger samples the DQS from left (minimum) to right (maximum) in preamble location. Such left to right sampling has proven to return arbitrary results and require a considerable number of sampling iterations before a preamble may be located.
Similarly, United States Patent Application Publication No. US 2011/0199843 A1 to Dreps et al., discloses a method and apparatus for strobe offset in bi-directional memory strobe configurations. Dreps purports to sweep a delay value from right to left, however, Dreps maintains trial and error associated with multiple iterations of a DQS sweep to eventually locate the preamble.
Therefore, it would be advantageous if a method were disclosed which provides for efficient and robust DQS preamble location and gate training while in training mode, without resorting to a resource consuming method incorporating trial and error.

Method for robust preamble location in a DQS signal


The present invention relates to a laminated glass having an interlayer film between at least two transparent glass platy bodies. Functional ultra-fine particles of a particle diameter of not greater than 0.2 μm are dispersed in the interlayer film. The functional ultra-fine particles comprise a single substance of metal, oxide, nitride, sulfide or Sb- or F-doped substance of Sn, Ti, Si, Zn, Zr, Fe, Al, Cr, Co, Ce, In, Ni, Ag, Cu, Pt, Mn, Ta, W, V and Mo, or a composite selected from at least two of these, or a mixture containing an organic resin substance in the single substance or composite, or a coated substance coated with the single substance or composite, or an antimony-doped tin oxide and/or tin-doped indium oxide. An infrared-reflective film that selectively reflects a near-infrared ray and has a sheet resistivity ranging from 1 kΩ/□ to 10 GΩ/□ is formed on at least one surface of the interlayer film or at least one transparent glass platy body.

In recent years, there have been used a heat-insulating glass with heat ray (infrared ray) insulation in architectural glasses or vehicular glasses, for the purpose of shielding solar radiant energy passing into the room interior or vehicle interior and reducing the temperature increase of the room interior or vehicle interior and cooling load, and one with ultraviolet ray shield in vehicular glasses for making it mild to human and material sides and environment.
In particular, there have recently been patent applications relating to heat-insulating laminated glasses in which conductive ultra-fine particles are dispersed in an interlayer film for laminated glasses, since they are superior in the above-mentioned heat insulation and ultraviolet ray shield together with visible light ray transmission, radio wave transmission and the like.
For example, Patent Publication 1 discloses, in a laminated glass having an interlayer film between two transparent glass platy bodies, a laminated glass in which fine particles of not greater than 0.2 μm having functions of conductivity and the like are dispersed in the interlayer film. Patent Publication 2 discloses, in a laminated glass formed of a pair of glasses and a soft resin provided between the glasses, a laminated glass in which the soft resin contains a heat-ray shielding metal oxide.
Furthermore, Patent Publication 3 discloses, in a laminated glass having three-layered interlayer film between at least two transparent glass plate bodies, a laminated glass in which functional ultra-fine particles of not greater than 0.2 μm are dispersed in the second interlayer film of the three layers. Patent Publication 4 discloses a process for producing a transparent resin molded body, which is characterized in that a plasticizer, in which a heat-ray shielding inorganic compound of a particle diameter of not greater than 0.1 μm is dispersed, is added to a transparent resin, and this transparent resin is molded.
Of the sunlight rays, an infrared ray having a wavelength of not less than 780 nm (particularly a near infrared ray of a wavelength of 780 nm to 2100 nm) is called heat-ray (infrared ray), since it has a great thermal action, and, when it is absorbed by an object, it is emitted as heat to bring about the temperature increase. It is known that, if infrared rays coming in through a window glass are shielded, heat insulation can be improved by suppressing the temperature increase of a vehicle or architecture.
Patent Publication 1: Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication 8-259279
Patent Publication 2: Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication 8-217500
Patent Publication 3: Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication 10-297945
Patent Publication 4: Japanese Patent 3040681


Techniques are described for loading decoded instructions and super-set instructions in a memory for later access. For loading a decoded instruction, the decoded instruction is a transformed form of an original instruction that was stored in the program memory. The transformation is from an encoded assembly level format to a binary machine level format. In one technique, the transformation mechanism is invoked by a transform and load instruction that causes an instruction retrieved from program memory to be transformed into a new language format and then loaded into a transformed instruction memory. The format of the transformed instruction may be optimized to the implementation requirements, such as improving critical path timing. The transformation of instructions may extend to other needs beyond timing path improvement, for example, requiring super-set instructions for increased functionality and improvements to instruction level parallelism. Techniques for transforming, loading, and executing super-set instructions are described.

The performance of a processor is, in part, dependent upon how efficient the processor's instruction set architecture performs in an intended application program. By evaluating the processor's use in the intended application program, areas for improvement in the processor's instruction set are many times recognized. With a processor already being used in an existing product or application, extending the processor's instruction set to address recognized areas for improvement, for example, providing additional instruction types, support of additional data types, support for increased capacity register files, and improved conditional execution capabilities, is a difficult problem. This problem is due to the need to maintain support of the original instruction set architecture while providing super-set instruction capabilities and to the limited room for growth usually available in the original instructions' formats. An attempt to address such issues was described in an IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin (TDB) titled "Selecting Predecoded Instructions with a Surrogate", dated August, 1992
The "Selecting Predecoded Instructions with a Surrogate" TDB, dated August, 1992, describes the idea of storing predecoded (no instruction decode required) instructions in a special on-chip predecoded instruction memory (PDIM) and selecting individual predecoded instructions to be executed by use of "surrogate" instructions placed in the native instruction stream. The particular processor architecture for which this idea was originally proposed was a processor utilizing a 3-stage pipeline. That pipeline posed implementation problems in executing the surrogate instruction which, as part of its execution, caused a predecoded instruction to be fetched from the PDIM and then executed in place of the surrogate instruction. One of the implementation problems concerned situations requiring that a data memory effective address (EA) be resolved for a predecoded instruction selected for execution. The solution described in the TDB article involved including a component of the effective address in a field in the surrogate instruction itself. This was done so that the surrogate provided address component could be used in a simplified address resolution process during the decode stage of the surrogate instruction while the pre-decoded instruction was being accessed from the PDIM. In the TDB article, the address component included in the surrogate instruction was illustrated to be 16-bits out of a 32-bit surrogate instruction format. The TDB article also indicated the instruction to be decoded and stored in decoded form in the PDIM could be a compound instruction. A compound instruction is typically one in which two instructions are compressed into a single instruction format while specifying operations of the two instructions under specific rules governed by the compressed instruction format. For example, a specific rule may be a reduced register file address space for accessing operands, or having the same target register address for both operations.
The use of 16-bits, half of the available surrogate 32-bit instruction format, for address generation purposes, poses a severe restriction on defining the surrogate instruction. If the 16-bit address component was not required in the surrogate instruction, these 16-bits could be used for other purposes. Also, due to the limited 16-bit space remaining in the surrogate instruction, it is difficult to include additional control information such as the type of effective address generation required, further limiting the usefulness of this approach. The surrogate definition problem becomes even more difficult depending upon the number of address resolutions required by the pre-decoded instruction. Consider a surrogate compound instruction requiring address resolutions to support a memory load operation and a memory store operation, both operations to be simultaneously executed when selected by the single surrogate instruction. As specified by the TDB, the load and store operations would require the surrogate instruction to provide address components for both the load and store operations. The specification of two address components in a single 32-bit surrogate instruction is a difficult task to adequately support within a constrained space such as 16-bits for most typical processors and their associated memory subsystems.
A further problem concerns the memory space required to store predecoded instructions according to the approach of the TDB. For example, consider the storage requirements for a PDIM in a hypothetical 32-bit instruction processor. A predecoded 32-bit instruction would require extensive storage, in most typical cases. For example, predecoding a 6-bit opcode and a 4-bit data type field would require 64-bits and 16-bits, respectively. Without any further predecoding, storage space for 80 predecoded bits and 22 instruction bits would be required. Since full decoding was required by the TDB article, greater than 102 bits would generally be required for a predecoded 32-bit instruction. With K predecoded instructions, a memory of Kx(>102-bits) would be needed and may not be justifiable given the chip area required to implement. As can be seen, there are a number of difficulties presented by the prior art TDB.

Methods and apparatus for transforming, loading, and executing super-set instructions