The invention relates to a process for the formation of an image obtained from an array of detector pixels comprising at least one detector pixel, the image formed constituted by at least one set of P image pixels for each detector pixel, characterized in that it successively comprises:

The invention relates to a process for the formation of an image obtained by a camera and comprising an array of detector pixels.
The invention more particularly applies to the field of medical imaging using gamma cameras integrating a detector in the form of an array of pixels based on CdZnTe or CdTe semiconductor material.
The array of detector pixels of a gamma camera is constituted by regularly spaced pixels, surmounted by a collimator, preferably having square holes.
The collimator is placed in front of the array of pixels in order to only retain the radiation having an incidence perpendicular to the surface of the pixels. The semiconductor detectors directly convert the energy of the gamma photons into charge carriers. The collection of the charge carriers takes place by means of contacts deposited on each pixel and to which is applied a high bias voltage. The amplification and shaping of the signal are then effected by an electronic circuit, whose digital output supplies the value allocated to the image pixel.
Therefore the response of a pixel of the array corresponds to the sum of the gamma events received at the surface of the pixel.
The image produced by a gamma camera detector constituted by CdZnTe or CdTe semiconductor material pixels has a very pronounced xe2x80x9cmosaicxe2x80x9d appearance. This xe2x80x9cmosaicxe2x80x9d appearance is very disadvantageous compared with the continuous appearance of the image produced by an Anger detector.
An Anger detector makes it possible to transform the incident gamma rays into light and then electric pulses, define the location of the gamma photons which have interacted and measure the deposited energy. An Anger detector is constituted by a collimator, a scintillator crystal, a light guide, photomultiplier tubes and locating electronics.
The holes of the collimator, perpendicular to the scintillator surface, only permit the passage of rays normal to the entrance plane of the detector. The scintillator-light guide assembly makes it possible to transform the incident gamma photons into light photons and distribute the light over several photomultipliers. The light photons are emitted isotropically, their number following Poisson""s law. The photomultipliers transform these light photons into electrons, whose number is then multiplied by dynodes. The number of photoelectrons emitted also follows Poisson""s law.
The locating electronics calculates a barycentre of contributions of photomultipliers, whose significances correspond to their geographical position on the crystal and the resulting image is therefore created by sampling these responses.
An object of the invention is to implement a process enabling the images from an array of gamma camera detector pixels to have a quality like that of images from an Anger camera.
The invention relates to a process for the formation of an image obtained from an array of detector pixels comprising at least one detector pixel, the image formed being constituted by at least one set of P image pixels for each detector pixel. The process comprises:
a stage making it possible to create N elementary pixels from one detector pixel, N being an integer equal to or lower than P and
a stage of randomly distributing events received by each detector pixel in the N image pixels corresponding thereto.
An advantage of the invention is that of eliminating the xe2x80x9cmosaicxe2x80x9d appearance of the image produced by a gamma camera.

Abstract: a stage (E2) making it possible to create N elementary pixels from one detector pixel, N being an integer equal to or lower than P and

Abstract: a stage (E3) of the random distribution of events received by a detector pixel in the N elementary pixels corresponding thereto.

Abstract: The invention applies to the field of medical imaging.


An electronic device: displays an interactive UI object that conditionally exhibits respective interactive behavior responsive to changes in detected contact intensity, and content that does not exhibit the respective interactive behavior. The device detects a first input over the interactive UI object. In accordance with a determination that the first input meets first appearance-manipulation criteria (e.g., an intensity of the contact exceeds a first intensity threshold), the device changes an appearance of the interactive UI object based on the intensity of the contact and independent of lateral movement of the contact. In accordance with a determination that the first input meets second appearance-manipulation criteria (e.g., the intensity of the contact exceeds a second intensity threshold, greater than the first intensity threshold), the device changes the appearance of the interactive UI object based on lateral movement of the contact detected after the intensity of the contact exceeds the second intensity threshold.

Users of electronic devices with touch-sensitive displays often access a variety of content. While accessing a particular content item (e.g., a news article within a news application or browser), users often want to manipulate a portion of the content (e.g., an embedded image or other content object within the news article) so that they can quickly learn more about or explore the portion of the content. Users are typically unable to perform these manipulations and often attempt cumbersome and inefficient processes in order to find a way to try to perform a desired manipulation (e.g., by accessing the portion of the content item using a different application besides the example news application).
Conventional methods for performing these manipulations (if available at all) are cumbersome and inefficient. For example, having to leave an application in order to use a different application that may provide similar content that can be manipulated is tedious and requires a user to increase the number, extent, and/or nature of inputs needed to manipulate embedded content. In addition, these methods (if available at all) take longer than necessary, thereby wasting energy. This latter consideration is particularly important in battery-operated devices.

Devices, methods, and graphical user interfaces for manipulating embedded interactive content


A method of adapting a man-machine interface (20) of an aircraft (50) depending on the functional level of a pilot, the method comprising a plurality of successive steps. Firstly, before starting a mission, the characteristics of said mission and the characteristics and the physiological state of said pilot are determined. Thereafter, during said mission, the state of the mission and the current state of said aircraft together with a current behavior of said pilot are determined and a current functional level of said pilot is estimated. Thereafter, said current functional level of said pilot is compared with reference functional levels, and said man-machine interface (20) is then adapted in order to assist said pilot automatically and in optimum manner in making the pilot aware of the situation, in the pilot's decision-making, or in the actions taken by the pilot depending on the pilot's stress state or work load state.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention lies in the field of man-machine interfaces for aircraft. It relates to a method and to a device for adapting the man-machine interface of an aircraft depending on the level of the pilot's functional state. The method and the device are intended more particularly for rotary wing aircraft.
(2) Description of Related Art
In an aircraft, continuous and both-way exchanges take place between the pilot and the aircraft. The pilot communicates with the aircraft via various flight controls and also via various data input means, such as a keypad, a pointer, e.g. a touch tablet enabling certain parameters to be specified, or various switches. Similarly, the aircraft communicates a large amount of information to the pilot, in particular relating to flight conditions, to parameters of the aircraft, and to the outside environment. By way of example, the information may be communicated visually by means of various screens or directly on the pilot's helmet visor, audibly by issuing an alarm or by using a voice synthesis device, or indeed by the sense of touch, by making use of vibration in one or more of the controls of the aircraft. Furthermore, the aircraft may also take charge of the piloting of the aircraft during certain stages of flight by means of an autopilot.
These elements enabling communication to take place between the pilot and the aircraft are referred together as constituting the man-machine interface, commonly specified using the initials MMI. When the aircraft has a copilot, the MMI also enables communication to take place between the copilot and the aircraft. Nevertheless, the description below is limited to communication between the pilot and the aircraft, it being understood that the pilot could be replaced by the copilot at any time.
Nowadays, such an MMI enables the pilot to be informed by providing the pilot with all of the available information depending on the various stages of flight of the aircraft and/or on flying conditions. However, since the piloting of an aircraft is becoming ever more complex, it is advantageous to be able to provide the required information to the pilot at a time that is appropriate. Nevertheless, although human factors are taken into account when designing an MMI, they are not taken into account during a flight. The list of all the information to be presented and the way in which it is to be presented in real time are independent of any human factors associated with the pilot, such as stress, emotions, and fatigue, for example.
Nevertheless, human factors are at the origin of numerous incidents or accidents that occur in aircraft. It is commonly accepted that pilot error or wrong application of a procedure can often be attributed, in full or in part, to an error made by the pilot. Such pilot error may result from one or more human parameters such as pilot stress, fatigue, emotions, or indeed work load when that becomes excessive.
Finally, such human factors, if they become excessive, and when combined with the complexity of certain stages of flight, can have a harmful influence on the pilot's awareness of the pilot's internal environment, such as managing aircraft controls and information, and also of the pilot's external environment, such as the terrain over which the aircraft is flying, the obstacles that might be encountered, and the weather. This harmful influence can have effects not only on the pertinence of decisions made by the pilot, but also on the actions the pilot performs, in particular on the quality of aircraft maneuvers.
All of the necessary information is delivered to the pilot by the MMI, and it is also via the MMI that the pilot can manage the information. Thus, when human factors become excessive, the pilot is under conditions that are prone to error generation and that can lead to an incident or indeed to an accident.
In particular, nowadays, accidents that can be attributed to pilot human factors constitute more than three-quarters of the accidents involving rotary wing aircraft.
At present, the MMI does not take human factors into account in real time, and more particularly it does not take account of the functional state of the pilot of the aircraft, even though solutions exist for attempting to anticipate them or to limit their consequences.
For example, the MMI has a function that makes it possible to detect and then to correct simple pilot errors, such as departure from a flight path or an information input error, in order to avoid such errors leading to an accident. However, that function does not enable multiple pilot errors to be corrected.
During training to become a pilot, pilot selection also makes it possible to test pilots for their abilities, in particular in terms of tolerating stress and in terms of the work load they can perform. Nevertheless, and in spite of the stress that taking an exam can generate, it is not possible to be certain that the character or the emotionality of pilots might not one day have a harmful effect on performing a particular maneuver or stage of flight.
Furthermore, the regular practice carried out by aircraft pilots, whether in flight or on a simulator, and also the additional training they receive, makes it possible, among other things, for pilots to automate the procedures that should be applied under various flight conditions and to improve their knowledge about various types of aircraft. Nevertheless, such practice and training cannot cover all possible situations exhaustively. Furthermore, the high cost of such practice and training can also limit the extent to which it can be used. In addition, the stress and fatigue encountered while practicing are always less than those that a pilot will encounter in a real situation.
Finally, simulations also make it possible to evaluate the work load to which a pilot can be subjected during various stages of flight in a variety of realistic missions. Nevertheless, an exhaustive list of all possible circumstances that might be encountered by a pilot, as a function of the pilot's level of knowledge and experience, cannot be evaluated with any certainty.

Method and a device for adapting the man-machine interface of an aircraft depending on the level of the pilot's functional state


An armored cab comprises a top wall, two side walls, a front wall, a back wall, and a bottom wall. The cab has a longitudinal axis extending from the back wall to the front wall. The bottom wall includes a first downwardly facing convex wall, at least a second downwardly facing convex wall above the first convex wall, and a plurality of connecting members interconnecting the first convex wall and the at least a second convex wall.

It is often desirable to transport troops, non-military personnel, and equipment across hostile territory via motorized land vehicles such as tactical vehicles, tactical trucks, and similar vehicles. Such vehicles may sustain land mine strikes, or attacks from improvised explosive devices ("IED's"), such as roadside bombs. During transport, people occupying the passenger cabin or cab of the vehicle are susceptible to injury from land mines, IED's, and other bombs and explosives. To withstand the forces of the foregoing types of attacks and explosions and to enhance the survivability of the occupants of the vehicle, it is known to armor the cab of the vehicle with armor plating.
Typical prior vehicle cabs were armored by increasing blast resistance through the use of increased material strength and thickness, as well as increasing blast deflection through the use of angular and "V" shaped structures. Prior "V" shaped hull structures include those with two planar portions angled relative to one another and defining a vertex intermediate the transverse dimension of the vehicle, those with three planar portions angled relative to one another with the intermediate planar portion located intermediate the transverse dimension of the vehicle and oriented generally parallel to the ground surface, and those with four planar portions angled relative to one another and defining a vertex intermediate the transverse dimension of the vehicle. Prior vehicles so armored could be too heavy, too tall, or too expensive. Accordingly, further improvement in the area of armored cabs is desired.

Lightweight blast resistant armored cab for vehicles

BAE Systems Tactical Vehicle Systems L.P.


An embedded nonlinear cooperative pulse-controller (ENCPC) is characterized in that its control algorithm module comprises a comparison module, an identification control unit, a dynamic control unit, a steady-state control unit and a cooperative control unit. The comparison module generates control errors. The identification control unit identifies the model parameters, the time constant and the delay time. The dynamic control unit rapidly reduces the control errors, improves the rise time and decreases the overshoot of the control system. The steady-state control unit further eliminates the control errors in a steady change process and improves the control precision. The cooperative control unit coordinates and generates the final control output signal. The control algorithm module of the ENCPC enables that the ENCPC can quickly and stably eliminate the control errors with short rise time, small overshoot and short settling time.

With the development of modern industry, more and more complex process objects have appeared in the industrial control process. While the requirements for product quality have been increased, traditional control technologies can hardly adapt to these control requirements. In order to improve the control effectiveness, since the 1970s some intelligent control technologies such as expert control, neural network control, fuzzy control and predictive control have been developed or inspired by empirical process operations or biological control principles. These control technologies have played an important role in improving the control effectiveness of some objects in complex processes. However, these control technologies are complex and difficult to implement and apply, which affects their applications and promotions in process engineering projects.

Control algorithm based on modeling a controlled object


A motorized cart, including: a collapsible frame with a collapsible storage compartment, a front wheel, and two rear wheels rotating about a single axis. The frame has a folding support platform including hingedly connected first and second portions. The first portion rotatably connects at a front of the frame, and the second portion rotatably connects to a rear of the frame. A drive compartment houses a battery, a drive controller, and a motor for driving a rear wheel, and is positioned on the frame to position the battery, the drive controller, and the motor below and forward of the axis in an expanded, upright mode, thereby positioning a cart center of gravity forward of the axis. The drive compartment is shaped and positioned on the frame to: permit the collapsing of the storage compartment and the frame to a collapsed mode; provide clearance for the front wheel during transition between the collapsed mode and the expanded, upright mode; and substantially vertically align the cart center of gravity with the axis in a tilted mode, operating only on the two rear wheels.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to beach carts, and more particularly, to a motorized beach cart.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many beach-goers drive to parking lots relatively near the beach, and from there make many trips to ferry all the desired equipment, such as chairs, umbrellas, and coolers to the beach. Thus, a beach cart for carrying such items is desirable to reduce the number of trips. Such a cart, however, is typically transported in or on the car to and from the parking lot. Pushing and/or pulling such a cart, particularly if heavily laden, can be inconvenient. To ease the physical burden on the beachgoer, a motorized cart is desirable. Many examples of motorized carts are known, particularly with respect to motorized golf carts for carrying golf bags and clubs. But these carts lack features that are focused on the needs of beach cart users.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,017,691 to Lu discloses a foldable motorized cart with a battery and a motor disposed directly on a base without being compartmentalized. In a beach environment, such exposed equipment would degrade quickly and could easily become clogged with sand. Additionally, although the cart is disclosed as having an attachable basket, in such a configuration the cart cannot be collapsed for storage.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,106,583 to Nemeth discloses a self-powered folding golf cart that has a battery housing that is disposed fairly high on the device and may pose stability issues. Additionally, although the front wheel and the rear legs are collapsible, the device lacks a collapsible storage compartment.
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2005/0252700 to Kitauchi et al. discloses a vehicle designed for carrying golf clubs in which wheels are used as fulcrums to tilt the vehicle for moving. But this device also lacks a collapsible storage compartment.
Motorized beach carts are also known, but lack features desired by beach-goers. U.S. Pat. No. 7,210,545 to Wald discloses a three-wheeled motorized cart with a propulsion assembly disposed beneath and supporting a front end of a cart platform that supports a tubular cargo frame assembly. The device lacks the ability to store compactly.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,762,363 to Hirschfeld discloses a motorized beach wagon that is convertible to a table. While convenient in these two configurations, this device is also not easily storable in a compact manner.
Further, to protect natural dunes and/or for erosion control, many beaches have raised boardwalks or sections thereof that require traversal of stairs to get to the beach. None of the above-noted carts are disclosed as capable of climbing stairs. Examples of known motorized stair climbing carts include U.S. Pat. No. 3,370,664 and U.S. Pat. No. 2,740,484. U.S. Pat. No. 3,370,664 to Caplan discloses a motorized stair-climbing cart with treads having recesses on the inside thereof that engage motor driven sprocket teeth. The treads also have outwardly extending lugs that engage the edges of stairs to climb the stairs. U.S. Pat. No. 2,740,484 to Montana discloses a motor driven stair climbing hand truck in which a climbing unit is selectively deployed from the chassis and power is disconnected from the driven traction elements, such as the wheels. The climbing unit includes climbing rollers that engage the stairs to lift the hand truck up the stairs. Both of these devices, however, require complex and/or expensive specialized equipment to provide the stair-climbing ability. Such equipment may not fare well in the salt and sand of the beach.
In addition, it may be desirable for the beach cart to have a horizontal surface to set a radio or drinks on, and/or to keep items accessible, but out of the sand.
What is needed is a motorized beach cart that has a collapsible storage container and a collapsible frame for easy storage and transportation of the cart. Additionally, the cart should be stable, ruggedized, and adaptable to multiple transportation situations, including traversing sand and stairs. Further, the cart should have a horizontal storage surface.


Polypeptides having endoglucanase activity, catalytic domains, and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides or catalytic domains. Nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides or catalytic domains.

Cellulases or cellulytic enzymes are enzymes involved in hydrolyses of cellulose. It is known that there are three major types of cellulase enzymes involved, namely endoglucanase, cellobiohydrolase, and beta-glucosidase.
There is a wide spectrum of industrial applications of cellulases. In the textile industry, cellulases are used in denim finishing to create a fashionable stone washed appearance on denim cloths using a biostoning process. Cellulases are also used, for instance, to clean fuzz and prevent formation of pills on the surface of cotton garments using a biopolishing process.
WO9629397 discloses enzyme preparations with performance in industrial applications such as laundry composition, for biopolishing of newly manufactured textiles, for providing an abraded look of cellulosic fabric or garment, and for treatment of paper pulp.
WO2010/076388 discloses fungal endoglucanases with substantial performance at low temperatures; the endoglucanases are used for treating cellulosic material, especially in textile industry, e.g. in biofinishing or biostoning.
There are continued needs in the art for new endoglucanases and methods for obtaining a cellulosic textile fabric with good abrasion effect, and/or reduced tendency to pilling formation in the biopolishing process, especially at low temperature.
The present invention aims to meet these needs.

Nucleic acid constructs and host cells for producing neurospora endoglucanases


A method, system, computer program product, and computer program storage device for transforming a high-level policy associated with a high layer to a low-level policy associated with a low layer. Mapping between high-level objects in a high layer and low-level objects in a low layer is derived by an automated discovery tool. The high-level policy is mapped to the low-level policy according to the mapping (e.g., by substituting the high-level objects with the low-level objects and by performing a syntax transformation). In one embodiment, a low-level policy is transformed to a high-level policy according to the mapping. As exemplary embodiments, policy transformations in traffic shaping and data retention are disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to transforming a high-level policy to a low-level policy. More particularly, the present invention relates to transforming a high-level policy to a low-level policy by utilizing an automated discovery tool that discovers data dependency between high-level objects and low-level objects.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Low-level objects (e.g., devices or IT (Information Technology) resources) are managed not at a high layer (e.g., an application layer in OSI (Open System Interconnection) 7 layer) but at a low layer (e.g., a physical layer in an OSI 7 layer). Therefore, rules or policies at the high layer are not directly reflected on operating low-level objects. Furthermore, most of low-level objects operate based on multi-hop dependences (e.g., an application depends on a database. The database relies on a file system.). A high-level policy (i.e., a rule which controls the high layer; e.g., a business policy) does not usually describe the multi-hop dependencies.
Beigi et al. "Policy Transformation Techniques in Policy-based Systems Management", POLICY 2004, p. 13-24 discusses a policy transformation module for transforming a high-level business-oriented policies into lower-level technology-oriented policies. The module accepts the policies (e.g., a high-level policy or low-level policy) from a system administrator and converts them from a high-level policy to a low-level policy or vice versa. Ashley et al. "From Privacy Promises to Privacy Management", A New Approach for Enforcing Privacy Through out an Enterprise, ACM New Security Paradigms Workshop (NSPW), 2002, p. 43-50 discusses deploying a policy to an IT system by following steps:                1. Mapping a data type in a privacy policy to PII (Personal Identification Information) stored in the IT system.        2. Mapping data users in the privacy policy to enterprise roles in the IT system.        3. Mapping tasks that the IT system and applications perform into a policy defined in business purposes.
However, policies (e.g., a high-level policy or low-level policy (i.e., a rule which controls the low layer)) to manage low-level objects are created mostly manually and do not accurately reflect business priorities (e.g., a priority assigned to an application). Currently, there is no method or system for an automatic policy transformation from a high-level policy to a low-level policy. Sometimes, changes to the policies are too slow to keep pace with changes in business priorities.
Therefore, it is highly desirable to provide a system or method for automatically transforming a high-level policy to a low-level policy. The low-level policy reflects up-to-date business priorities in the high-level policy.

Method to automatically map business function level policies to IT management policies

International Business Machines Corporation


A broom assembly for attachment to a vehicle is adapted to rotate a brush having a tubular core. The broom assembly includes a center section, a left side plate, a right side plate, an idle hub on one of the side plates and a drive hub on the other of the side plates. These hubs define a core axis about which the brush is rotated. A first linear actuator is adapted to move the left side plate along an axis that is parallel to the core axis between a left open position and a left closed position, and a second linear actuator is adapted to move the right side plate along an axis that is parallel to the core axis between a right open position and a right closed position. The broom assembly may be operated in a work mode and a maintenance mode.

Conventional sweeping machines typically employ a broom assembly comprising one or more brushes mounted for rotation about horizontal and/or vertical axes. Some conventional machines include an integral component for collecting material swept by the brush or brushes. Such collecting components may comprise vacuum systems for capturing the material swept by the brushes, or conveyors for transporting such material to a hopper or an adjacent truck. Other conventional machines may operate by pushing the swept material to one side of the machine where it may be collected by a separate collecting device.
Some conventional sweeping machines include broom assemblies which employ permanent brushes, while others employ replaceable brushes. Typically, a replaceable brush comprises a cylindrical brush core of steel or other durable material having a plurality of bristles disposed around its outer periphery. Generally, a replaceable brush is attached to a conventional broom assembly by one or more locking mechanisms that must be unbolted, unpinned or otherwise removed in order to change the replaceable brush.
One type of replaceable brush is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,649,985 of Hunt. The broom assembly described in this patent includes a drive shaft that extends through a replaceable hollow brush core. On each end of the drive shaft is mounted a fixed metal plate that is sized so that the hollow brush core may be placed thereover. The fixed metal plate has a plurality of holes that are adapted to receive bolts. A rubber disk with a central hole to receive the drive shaft and a plurality of spaced bolt holes is placed over the drive shaft and into abutment with the fixed metal plate, and a moveable metal plate with a plurality of bolt holes is then placed adjacent to the rubber disk. The bolt holes in the fixed plate, rubber disk and moveable plate are aligned, and bolts are inserted into the holes in these components and tightened to cause the two metal plates to squeeze the rubber disk therebetween. This squeezing of the rubber disk causes it to expand radially outwardly to create a binding frictional fit with the inner surface of the brush core.
Another conventional broom assembly that is adapted to receive a replaceable brush is described in U.S. Pat. No. RE38,973 of Smith. The broom assembly described in the Smith patent comprises an L-shaped frame component to which a pivotal arm is attached so that the arm may be pivoted to form a U-shaped component to which a removable brush of a predetermined length may be attached. A cylindrical hub on the "short" arm of the L-shaped frame is a drive hub that is operatively attached to a drive motor. This drive hub is mounted to the arm by a universal joint and includes a slot to engage a drive lug on the inside of a brush core. The cylindrical hub on the pivotal arm is an idler hub that is also mounted to the arm by a universal joint. The broom assembly that is described in the Smith patent is mounted to an associated vehicle by means of a parallelogram support structure.
Notes on Construction
The use of the terms "a", "an", "the" and similar terms in the context of describing the invention are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms "comprising", "having", "including" and "containing" are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning "including, but not limited to,") unless otherwise noted. The terms "substantially", "generally" and other words of degree are relative modifiers intended to indicate permissible variation from the characteristic so modified. The use of such terms in describing a physical or functional characteristic of the invention is not intended to limit such characteristic to the absolute value which the term modifies, but rather to provide an approximation of the value of such physical or functional characteristic. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise specified herein or clearly indicated by context. The use of any and all examples or exemplary language (e.g., "such as") herein is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and not to place a limitation on the scope of the invention. Nothing in the specification should be construed as indicating any element as essential to the practice of the invention unless so stated with specificity.
Various terms are specifically defined herein. These terms are to be given their broadest possible construction consistent with such definitions, as follows:
The terms "upper", "top" and similar terms, when used in reference to a relative position or direction on or with respect to a broom assembly for a sweeping machine or a component or portion thereof, refer to a relative position or direction that is farther away from the ground on which the sweeping machine is placed for operation.
The terms "lower", "bottom" and similar terms, when used in reference to a relative position or direction on or with respect to a broom assembly for a sweeping machine or a component or portion thereof, refer to a relative position or direction that is nearer the ground on which the sweeping machine is placed for operation.
The term "front" and similar terms refer to a component or portion of a broom assembly for a sweeping machine that is farthest from the sweeping machine to which the broom assembly is attached, or to a direction or relative position on such a broom assembly that is away from the sweeping machine to which the broom assembly is attached.
The term "rear" and similar terms refer to a component or portion of a broom assembly for a sweeping machine that is nearest the sweeping machine to which the broom assembly is attached, or to a direction or relative position on such a broom assembly that is nearer to the sweeping machine to which the broom assembly is attached.
The term "forward sweeping direction" is the direction towards the front of the broom assembly that is perpendicular to the core axis of the brush.
The term "left", as used herein to describe a direction or relative position of a broom assembly mounted on a sweeping machine or a component of such a broom assembly, refers to a position or orientation towards the left, as viewed by an observer who is observing in the forward sweeping direction.
The term "right", as used herein to describe a direction or relative position of a broom assembly mounted on a sweeping machine or a component of such a broom assembly, refers to a position or orientation towards the right, as viewed by an observer who is observing in the forward sweeping direction.
The term "linear actuator" refers to an electric, hydraulic, electro-hydraulic or mechanical device that generates force which is directed in a straight line. One common example of a "linear actuator" is a hydraulic actuator which includes a cylinder, a piston within the cylinder, and a rod attached to the piston. By increasing the pressure within the cylinder on one side of the piston (over that on the opposite side of the piston), the rod will extend from the cylinder or retract into the cylinder.
The term "rotary actuator" refers to an electric, hydraulic or electro-hydraulic motor or other device that generates force that is directed along an arc or about a center of rotation.
The term "actuator" refers to a linear actuator and/or a rotary actuator.
The term "controller" refers to a computer, a programmable logic controller, a series of switches in combination with relay logic, or any other device or system that may be employed to control or direct the operation of the invention.

Broom assembly for sweeping machine and method of operation


A system and method of providing a micromirror pixel 400 that is highly resistant to bright failure states. The micromirror 400 uses an asymmetric yoke 402 to ensure the mirror is only attracted to the address electrode in one rotation direction. The landing mechanism on the other side of the torsion binge axis also is altered to allow the pixel to over rotate in the xe2x80x9coffxe2x80x9d direction. The over rotation ensures that light reflected by the mirror when in the off direction will miss the projection lens pupil, allowing the corresponding pixel to remain dark in both an operational and failed state.

The following patents and/or commonly assigned patent applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference:
This invention relates to the field of micromirror devices, more particularly to arrays of micromirror devices.
Micromechanical devices are small structures typically fabricated on a semiconductor wafer using techniques such as optical lithography, doping, metal sputtering, oxide deposition, and plasma etching which have been developed for the fabrication of integrated circuits.
Digital micromirror devices (DMDs), sometimes referred to as deformable micromirror devices, are a type of micromechanical device. Other types of micromechanical devices include accelerometers, pressure and flow sensors, gears and motors. While some micromechanical devices, such as pressure sensors, flow sensors, and DMDs have found commercial success, other types have not yet been commercially viable.
Digital micromirror devices are primarily used in optical display systems. In display systems, the DMD is a light modulator that uses digital image data to modulate a beam of light by selectively reflecting portions of the beam of light to a display screen. While analog modes of operation are possible, DMDs typically operate in a digital bistable mode of operation and as such are the core of the first true digital full-color image projection systems.
Micromirrors have evolved dramatically over the past fifteen to twenty years. Early devices used a deformable reflective membrane which, when electrostatically attracted to an underlying address electrode, dimpled toward the address electrode. Schlieren optics were used to illuminate the membrane and create an image from the light scattered by the dimpled portions of the membrane. Schlieren systems enabled the membrane devices to form images, but the images formed were very dim and had low contrast ratios, making them unsuitable for most image display applications.
Later micromirror devices used flaps or diving board-shaped cantilever beams of silicon or aluminum, coupled with dark-field optics to create images having improved contrast ratios. Flap and cantilever beam devices typically used a single metal layer to form a deformable top reflective layer of the device. This single metal layer tended to deform over a large region, however, which scattered light impinging on the deformed portion. Torsion beam devices use a thin metal layer to form a torsion beam, which is referred to as a hinge, and a thicker metal layer to form a rigid member, or beam, typically having a mirror-like surface: concentrating the deformation on a relatively small portion of the DMD surface. The rigid mirror remains flat while the hinges deform, minimizing the amount of light scattered by the device and improving the contrast ratio of the device.
Recent micromirror configurations, called hidden-hinge designs, further improve the image contrast ratio by fabricating the mirror on a pedestal above the torsion beams. The elevated mirror covers the torsion beams, torsion beam supports, and a rigid yoke connecting the torsion beams and mirror support, further improving the contrast ratio of images produced by the device.
Modern micromirror arrays often have on the order of 1.3 million individual mirrors. As with other complex devices, these large arrays are difficult to produce to the level of perfection required. Methods and devices to improve producibility and reliability are constantly needed.
Objects and advantages will be obvious, and will in part appear hereinafter and will be accomplished by the present invention that provides a method and device for an improved micromechanical device.


A process for depositing void-free silicon oxide layers over stepped topography comprising depositing a first silicon oxide seed layer which is doped with nitrogen from a plasma of tetraethoxysilane and a nitrogen-containing gas, and depositing thereover a silicon oxide layer from a mixture of tetraethoxysilane, ozone and oxygen at low temperatures to produce a silicon oxide layer having improved properties.

In the manufacture of VLSI semiconductor devices, multilevel interconnects are made to increase the packing density of devices on a wafer. This also requires multilevel dielectric layers to be deposited between conductive layers. Such dielectric layers must have good step coverage and planarization properties to produce void-free layers that not only completely fill steps and openings in the underlying substrate, but also form smooth, planarized dielectric layers. Further, such dielectric layers must be able to be deposited at low temperatures, preferably below about 400.degree. C., to avoid damage to underlying, already formed interconnects.
It is known that silicon oxide dielectric layers can be deposited with good conformality and planarization using tetraethoxysilane (hereinafter TEOS), ozone and oxygen at comparatively low temperatures, e.g., about 375.degree. C. It is also known that the ratio of TEOS and ozone affects the film quality and deposition rate. For example, when depositing silicon oxide from TEOS and ozone using a high ozone:TEOS flow ratio, the rate of deposition is reduced, but the film quality is higher and conformality, i.e., the ability to produce void-free filling and planarized layers, is also higher. The layers provide good step coverage and good conformality which leads to excellent planarization, and excellent quality of the silicon oxide when deposited onto silicon. However, when the silicon oxide is deposited onto silicon oxide, for example a thermally grown silicon oxide layer, differences in film quality have arisen. The deposition rate of low temperature silicon oxide films from TEOS and ozone deposited onto thermal silicon oxide is about 20% lower, and the wet etch rate of silicon oxide is high, which is indicative of poor quality films. Furthermore, the surface of the silicon oxide is very rough and contains voids, indicative of a porous film.
Fujino et al have addressed this problem. Their solution is a two step deposition process; first a deposit of silicon oxide using a low ozone concentration (0.5%) is put down, and a second layer deposited thereover using a high ozone concentration (5%).The result is said to be improved film quality of silicon oxide planarizing films.
However, this ozone-TEOS process still has limitations in terms of poor surface quality and surface sensitivity. The higher the ozone:TEOS ratio, the greater the decrease in oxide deposition rate, and the greater the degradation in film properties, such as wet etch rate, water resistance and stress drift with time.
Thus an improved process for depositing silicon oxide layers from TEOS and ozone having excellent conformality and film quality is desirable, particularly for the manufacture of VLSI devices.

Method for depositing ozone/TEOS silicon oxide films of reduced surface sensitivity


A method and device for laser drilling in which the geometric form of the drill-hole wall is influenced by reciprocal action between a laser beam and a supplied process gas, which thereby is ionized to plasma. Furthermore, the outlet opening of the drill hole is influenced by a suitable arrangement of a backing.

Precision micro-holes in nozzles of fuel-injection systems are usually introduced with the aid of erosion methods. Using this technology, it is currently possible to produce minimal diameters of approximately 120 μm in large-scale production. Furthermore, laser drilling also allows the production of precision holes having diameters of less than 120 μm, but this has not yet been introduced as large-scale method.
In the fuel-injection field, there is increasing demand for conical holes to the effect that a fuel-outlet orifice have a smaller diameter than a fuel-intake orifice. Such precision micro-holes are already utilized in systems for diesel fuels (direct injection) or for gasoline (manifold and direct injection).
German Patent No. DE 199 055 71 describes a laser-drilling method in which a laser beam executes a wobbling motion relative to a workpiece. This has the effect that a cone-shaped shell surface is traversed inside the workpiece. The polarization plane of the laser beam is rotated in synchrony with the wobbling motion.
German Patent Application No. DE 100 548 53 describes a method for introducing a micro-hole in a workpiece by means of a laser beam. In this case, the focus of the laser beam is moved continually along a circular path which is concentric with respect to the hole axis, the laser beam being composed of a succession of short laser pulses.
In all current drilling methods, the produced bore must be subjected to follow-up treatment by hydro-erosive (HE) rounding. In fuel injection systems, for instance, this is done primarily to round the edge of the fuel intake (in addition to improving the surface of the bore wall and reducing the variance among the hydraulic flow rates of the individual bore holes of a nozzle). This results in a considerable reduction of the flow resistance at this point and also reduces undesired cavitation manifestations.
An additional considerable improvement in this direction is achieved by the combination of conicalness and distinct HE-rounding.

Method and device for laser drilling in a process gas atmosphere


An achromatic magnetic mass spectrometer, for example of the SIMS type with double focusing, comprises means for canceling the four aberrations of the second order, and means for canceling the off-axis achromatism and for modulating the dispersion in mass.

Mass spectrometers are devices allowing the chemical structure of the constituent molecules of a sample or analyte to be characterized. Mass spectrometry is thus a micro-analysis technique that typically only requires a few picomoles of the sample in order to extract from it characteristic information regarding its molecular weight or its molecular structure. There exist various types of mass spectrometers, amongst which may be noted mainly time-of-flight mass spectrometers, quadrupole mass spectrometers and magnetic mass spectrometers. Reference may for example be made to a general publication such as that by John Roboz, Introduction to mass spectrometry, Instrumentation and techniques, published by Interscience publishers, 1968, or else by J. Throck Watson, Introduction to Mass Spectrometry, published by Lippincott-Raven, 1997, notably introducing the various types of mass spectrometers and their principles of operation. Magnetic mass spectrometers may be further separated into spectrometers with single focusing and spectrometers with double focusing. As far as the theoretical aspects relating to the optical properties of mass spectrometers are concerned, reference may be made to the work by H. Wollnik, Optics of charged particles, published by Academic Press, 1987.
In the following, the qualification "optical" is to be considered as it is accepted in its wider sense, here applied to ion optics.
One particular type of mass spectrometry is commonly denoted by the name SIMS, which is an acronym for the expression "Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry". One of the problems specific to this technique of analysis is that the ions accelerated in the mass spectrometer exhibit a large energy dispersion. Regarding the chromatic properties of mass spectrometers, and notably the devices involving ions exhibiting a large energy dispersion, reference may usefully be made to the work by A. Benninghoven et al., Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry, published by John Wiley, 1987. This publication notably deals with SIMS techniques.
The present invention falls notably into the field of mass spectrometers of the SIMS type. In spectrometers of this type, it is known that the principle for extraction of the secondary ions leads to a large dispersion in energy of the emitted ions. It is furthermore known that an electrostatic section may advantageously be introduced into mass spectrometers of the SIMS type between the sample and the magnetic section, this electrostatic section being designed to render the mass spectrometer achromatic for at least one mass. It is commonly possible to vary the magnetic field produced by the magnetic section. This is easily achieved by varying the electrical excitation, for example in the case where the magnetic field is produced by an electromagnet. In this case, the condition for achromatism is not associated with a given mass, but with a particular trajectory. If this trajectory is considered as the main axis of the spectrometer, the spectrometer is said to be achromatic on the axis, and not to be achromatic away from the axis or "off-axis".
Still more particularly, the present invention may relate both to a spectrometer referred to as "single-collection", in other words capable of measuring a mass along the axis, and to a mass spectrometer referred to as "multi-collection", in other words capable of measuring several masses simultaneously. It is for example possible to simultaneously measure several masses by disposing a plurality of collectors in the focal plane of the mass spectrometer. The blur observed at the focal point of a given mass different from the on-axis mass, when the energy distribution of the ions is relatively broad, is called off-axis chromatic aberration. Employing the notation of H. Wollnik, presented in the aforementioned publication, this blur may be characterized by an aberration coefficient x/em defined by the equation:Δx1=(x/em)×(ΔE/E)×(M1−M0)/M0,
where M0 is the mass on the main axis for which there is good chromatic focusing, ΔE the energy dispersion of the beam, and Δx 1 the blur formed at the place where the trajectories of the mass M1 are focused at the opening.
It is desired to reduce the blur Δx 1 in order to improve the off-axis mass resolution. In order to reduce this blur, the aim is to cancel the coefficient x/em. In multi-collection mass spectrometers, it is therefore necessary, in order to guarantee a good resolution in mass for various masses, to be able to eliminate or significantly reduce the off-axis chromatic aberrations.
Various types of mass spectrometers exist known from the prior art, which are constructed so as to be achromatic on the axis. Amongst these types of spectrometers, the Nier-Johnson spectrometer may be mentioned.
The Mattauch-Herzog spectrometer, also known from the prior art, is notably characterized by the fact that the exit face of the magnet is aligned with the entry point. This particular configuration enables a certain number of noteworthy properties, and notably allows achromatism to be obtained for various masses. However, it is sometimes very advantageous for a mass spectrometer to have a large dispersion in mass, and in this case, the Mattauch-Herzog spectrometer is not suitable.
It is furthermore known that it is preferable, with the aim of increasing the resolution in mass, to eliminate or reduce the aberrations of the second order. It is recalled here that the use in mass spectrometers of elements that are not axisymmetric about the main axis, such as the electrostatic and magnetic sections, leads to aberrations of the second order. These aberrations cannot, by definition, be corrected by a focusing process. Four types of aberrations of the second order are produced in mass spectrometers comprising a magnetic section and an electrostatic section; these aberrations of the second order are denoted according to the usage in the field of optics or of ion optics: a first aberration denoted x/aa proportional to the square of the opening angle in the radial plane, a second aberration x/bb proportional to the square of the opening angle in the transverse plane, a third aberration x/ae proportional to the opening angle in the radial plane and to the relative difference in energy, and a fourth aberration x/ee proportional to the square of the relative difference in energy.
It is known that the respective geometrical parameters of the electrostatic section and of the magnetic section and of other ion optics devices may be calculated in such a manner that the 4 second order aberration coefficients cancel each other out. For example, reference may be made to the work by H. Matsuda, Double focusing mass spectrometer of second order, International Journal of Mass Spectrometry and Ion Processes, 14 (1974). In this publication, a spectrometer with double focusing designed with a set of very precisely determined physical and geometrical parameters is notably proposed. This type of solution has several drawbacks: there is no possibility of adjusting the correction for the aberrations and, if the calculations are not completely exact, the aberrations are not really canceled.
Furthermore, this type of spectrometer cannot be differently adjusted according to the type of performance specifications that it is desired to favor: for example, a very good resolution in mass only on the axis or else a reasonably good resolution in mass for all the masses detected by the multi-collection. Lastly, this type of spectrometer is not stigmatic, in other words it is impossible to dispose at the exit of the spectrometer an ion microscope function which enables an image of the sample, filtered in mass, to be displayed.
It is also known that hexapoles can correct aberrations of the second order. Reference may, for example, be made to the aforementioned work by Wollnik. A hexapole is a set of six poles disposed about the main axis, and alternately biased at an electrical potential of +V or −V.
Spectrometers known from the prior art are equipped with correcting electrostatic hexapoles: a mass spectrometer with single focusing as described in the European patent application EP 0124440 or a mass spectrometer with double focusing such as described in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,638,160. The advantage of introducing electrostatic hexapoles in order to reduce the aberrations is that it is then possible to adjust the aberration correction as finely as possible by adjusting the excitation voltage of the hexapole while at the same time observing a signal characteristic of the sharpness of the spot, such as for example the signal resulting from the scanning of the beam over the edge of the exit slit of the spectrometer, which exit slit is disposed upstream of a counting mechanism or the projection onto an ion-photon conversion device, such as a micro-channel wafer, of the image of the ion beam in the plane of the exit slit.
In a mass spectrometer with stigmatic double focusing, it is known that as long as a difference in magnification between the image in the radial plane and the transverse plane is not created, it is not possible to simultaneously cancel the aforementioned first and second aberrations of the second order x/aa and x/bb; but it is also known that if this difference in magnification is created with the appropriate means such as described in the European patent application EP0473488, it is then possible to simultaneously cancel these two aberrations.
Reference may be made to the article by E. de Chambost et al., Achieving High Transmission with the Cameca IMS1270, Secondary Mass Spectrometry, SIMSX, published by John Wiley, 1995, where it is notably stated that with a hexapole situated between the entry slit and the electrostatic section, a hexapole situated upstream of the magnetic section and a hexapole situated downstream of the magnetic section, the aforementioned first three aberrations of the second order x/aa, x/bb and x/ae may be canceled. This configuration allows the transmission for a resolution in mass of the order of 10,000 to be considerably improved. However, the fourth aberration of the second order x/ee is not canceled, which represents a serious drawback when resolutions in mass greater than 20,000 are required.

Magnetic achromatic mass spectrometer with double focusing


An electrode substrate of a flat panel display comprises a substrate, an electrode layer, a conductive layer, and a barrier layer. The electrode layer is disposed above the substrate. The conductive layer is disposed above the electrode layer. The barrier layer is disposed above the conductive layer.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to a display panel, an electrode panel and an electrode substrate thereof and, in particular, to a display panel of a flat panel display, an electrode substrate of a flat panel display, and an electrode panel of a flat panel display.
2. Related Art
Referring to FIG. 1, the currently used electrode substrate 4 of a flat panel display includes a substrate 41, an electrode layer 42, and a conductive layer 43. The electrode layer 42 is disposed on the substrate 41, and the conductive layer 43 is disposed on the electrode layer 42. The material of the conductive layer 43 is selected from low resistance metals or the alloys thereof, such as a commonly used chromium or silver alloy.
In the manufacturing processes of the flat panel display, an etchant is used to etch the conductive layer 43 of the electrode substrate 4 into the required pattern of conductive lines or the pattern of auxiliary conductive lines. Then, a light-emitting area is formed on the electrode substrate 4 and a corresponding electrode is formed on the light-emitting area. Finally, the electrode substrate 4 is connected with a driving device (e.g., driving chip) to form the display panel.
During the process of forming the pattern of conductive lines or the pattern of auxiliary conductive lines on the electrode substrate 4, a photoresist layer 5 is provided on the conductive layer (e.g. silver alloy) 43, and a patterned mask 6 is then disposed above the photoresist layer 5. Meanwhile, an ultra-violet light (UV light) illuminates the patterned mask 6 and the photoresist layer 5, as shown in FIG. 2A. Thereafter, a development step is performed. Finally, the etchant is used to etch the conductive layer 43 into required pattern of the conductive lines 431, as shown in FIG. 2B. However, the conductive layer (e.g. silver alloy) 43 tends to be oxidized and becomes black owing to the exposure of the UV light, thereby increasing the resistance of the conductive layer 43 and reducing the adhesion force between the conductive layer 43 and the photoresist layer 5. Meanwhile, in the subsequent processes, the driving device (driving chip) is pressed and adhered onto the conductive lines 431, the oxidized conductive lines 431 cannot be easily adhered to the driving device. The driving device tends to be peeled or separated from the conductive lines 431, thereby influencing the reliability of the display panel. In addition, when the display panel is used, the conductive lines 431 also tend to react with the external oxygen or sulfur. Thus, the conductive lines 431 tend to be oxidized or even burnt out owing to the heat generated when the current flows therethrough.
This invention is therefore to provide a display panel, an electrode panel and an electrode substrate thereof, which can solve the above-mentioned problems.

Display panel, electrode panel and electrode substrate thereof


A through portion is formed on a semiconductor substrate. Into the semiconductor substrate, a first ion implantation is performed via the through portion. The through portion is at least partially removed in the thickness direction from a region of at least a portion of the through portion when viewed in a plan view. A second ion implantation is performed into the semiconductor substrate at the region of at least the portion thereof. An implantation energy for the first ion implantation is equal to an implantation energy for the second ion implantation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, in particular, a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device including a step of performing ion implantation.
2. Description of the Background Art
A step of performing ion implantation to form an impurity region is one of basic steps in a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device. The ion implantation may be performed for a plurality of times with different implantation energies in order to obtain a desired impurity concentration distribution in the impurity region in a depth direction. For example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2010-45363 discloses an example in which ion implantation is performed for five times in total in order to form, in silicon carbide, a doping distribution with a concentration of approximately 1×1017 cm−3 and a depth of approximately 0.6 μm. The implantation energies differ from one another among these five ion implantations. Specifically, the implantation energies are 40 keV, 100 keV, 200 keV, 280 keV, and 360 keV.
In the technique of the above-described publication, the plurality of ion implantation steps are performed with the different implantation energies. In consideration of facility cost, it is difficult to prepare one ion implanting device for each implantation energy. Hence, in the technique of the above-described publication, it is necessary to adjust a setting value for the implantation energy. However, when the implantation energy is changed, it takes a long time to stabilize the device. This leads to low efficiency in manufacturing semiconductor devices.

Method for manufacturing semiconductor device


Display devices and programs display a guide image on a display mounted on a vehicle so as to be visually recognized such that the guide image is superimposed on a view ahead of the vehicle. The guide image provides guidance about a travel direction of the vehicle that travels on a travel path after leaving a guide branch point. The devices and programs display the guide image in a manner such that a region overlapping a nearby object present on a near side of the travel path on which the vehicle travels is removed from the guide image.

Various means have been used as information providing means that provides an occupant of a vehicle with various types of information, such as route guidance and a warning for an obstacle, for supporting traveling of the vehicle. Examples of such tools include a liquid crystal display installed on the vehicle to provide visual indication and a speaker to output audio. One example of recent information providing means of this type is a device, such as a head-up display (hereinafter referred to as an "HUD") and a windshield display (hereinafter referred to as a "WSD"), that provides information by displaying an image superimposed on the surrounding environment (view) of the driver.
For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-69800 (JP 2005-69800 A) discloses that, when providing route guidance, a navigation system causes a voice guidance device to provide a voice notification of a landmark (such as a convenience store) on the route, and causes an HUD to display a virtual image superimposed at the position of the landmark on the real view ahead of the vehicle. This allows the occupant to recognize the position of the landmark for turning right or left (that is, the position of the intersection to turn right or left), based on the position of the virtual image seen through the windshield.


Disclosed herein is an air conditioner including a main outlet and a plurality of fine outlets provided in a main body, wherein at least one discharge guide for guiding air discharged by a blowing fan to one of the main outlet and the fine outlets is disposed in the inside of the main body to cool indoor space in various ways.

In general, an air conditioner generates cold air or warm air through a refrigerating cycle, and supplies the cold air or warm air to indoor space to cool or heat the indoor space.
Recently, an air conditioner having an outlet panel provided with fine outlets of very small sizes to discharge air at very low speed so as to cool indoor space while preventing cold air discharged from the air conditioner from directly reaching a user's skin has been developed.


An opto-acoustic transducer assembly includes a substrate; at least one layer of opto-acoustic material coupled to a surface of the substrate, where the at least one layer of opto-acoustic material generates sound waves when struck by pulses of pump light; and an acoustic lens configured to focus sound waves generated by the at least one layer of opto-acoustic material towards a sample. The acoustic lens is further configured to collect sound waves returning from the sample and to direct the returning sound waves to the at least one layer of opto-acoustic material. In one non-limiting embodiment the at least one layer of opto-acoustic material is interposed between the substrate and the acoustic lens, and the substrate is substantially transparent to light having wavelengths of interest.

In an acoustic microscope sound is generated in some way and then brought to a focus. The object to be studied is placed at or near the focus and an image of the object is obtained by moving the object laterally and monitoring the variation of the amplitude and phase of the acoustic waves that are reflected from the object or that are transmitted through the object. Instead of moving the object that is to be imaged, it is often preferable to hold the object in one place and vary the position of the acoustic focus. The position of the acoustic focus can be changed by moving the position of the lens used to focus the sound.
Conventional acoustic microscopes consist of a transducer to generate sound, and a lens to focus the sound, a coupling medium (usually water) through which the sound propagates to come to a focus, and the sample object. The sound reflected from the object may be collected by the same lens that is used to focus the incident beam or by another lens. To collect sound transmitted through the sample a collection lens is needed on the far side of the sample.
It is usually considered that the first scanning acoustic microscope was built by R. A. Lemons and C. F. Quate, (see "Acoustic Microscope—Scanning Version", Appl. Phys. Lett. 24, 163 (1974)). This used a continuous acoustic wave of frequency 160 MHz, had a resolution of 10 micron, and worked in the transmission mode.
The resolution of an acoustic microscope is determined by the wavelength λ of the sound that is used and by the numerical aperture of the lens or lenses that are used. To achieve a high resolution, it is necessary to work at the highest possible frequency with a large numerical aperture. According to Briggs, p. 45, the best resolution ever obtained with water as the coupling medium is the work of B. Hadiomioglu and C. F. Quate, Appl. Phys. Lett. 43, 1006 (1983). They used sound pulses of frequency 4.4 GHz and 3 ns duration, with a lens of numerical aperture 0.73 and a radius of 15 micron. The resolution in the linear mode was 0.37 micron and with non-linearity was 0.24 micron. Non-linearity refers to the effect that if the amplitude of the sound near to the focus is sufficiently large, higher frequency harmonics are generated. The presence of these shorter wavelength components improves the resolution. Note that 3 ns at 4.4 GHz is only 13 cycles.
When the frequency is increased, the attenuation of the sound in water becomes a severe problem. In water, the attenuation in the GHz frequency range varies as the square of the frequency. At 38° C., human body temperature, the attenuation a per unit distance in water is given by a=0.016 f2 micron−1, where f is the frequency in GHz. In a reflection microscope, it is necessary to have the time duration t of the acoustic pulse less than the round trip time from the lens surface to the sample and back. When sound is generated by an electrically driven piezoelectric transducer, it is very difficult to make t less than a few ns (say 5 ns), and so the acoustic path length has to be at least 8 micron and preferably somewhat longer. A 5 GHz sound wave would be attenuated by 35 dB after traveling 10 micron. Thus, for a given working distance from the lens to the sample object, the attenuation effectively controls the highest frequency that can be used and consequently limits the resolution. Water is the usual choice for a coupling medium because of its low attenuation. There are liquids with lower attenuation (e.g., He, H2, CS2, Hg, Ga), but there are difficulties in working with these materials. For example, He and H2 cannot be used as coupling liquids at room temperature. For biological samples, water is generally the only possible coupling medium.
Thus, those skilled in the art desire a scanning acoustic microscope with improved resolution. In particular, those skilled in the art desire a scanning acoustic microscope that can use higher frequency pulses of shorter wavelength to improve the resolving power of the scanning acoustic microscope. Further, those skilled in the art desire a scanning acoustic microscope in which the sensor head can be positioned more closely to the sample being imaged to reduce attenuation of the sound waves used for imaging purposes by the coupling medium.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Opto-acoustic methods and apparatus for performing high resolution acoustic imaging and other sample probing and modification operations


A correction value, which is used to correct misalignment of recording positions in a main scanning direction, is determined using a representative nozzle sub-array as a reference. The representative nozzle sub-array is within a predetermined range around the center of a nozzle array provided on a print head. The correction value is set, based on a positional misalignment test pattern printed with the representative nozzle sub-array. The misalignment of recording positions in the main scanning direction in the course of bidirectional printing is corrected with the correction value.

The present invention relates to a technique that carries out bidirectional, reciprocating main scan to print an image on a printing medium. More specifically the present invention pertains to a technique that adjusts misalignment of dot recording positions in a main scanning direction between a forward pass and a backward pass of the main scan.
Recently color printers having a print head that ejects a plurality of different color inks have been widely used as an output device of computers. Some of such color printers have the function of xe2x80x9cbidirectional printingxe2x80x9d for the enhancing printing speed.
In bidirectional printing, misalignment of recording positions in a main scanning direction on a forward pass and a backward pass of main scan often arises due to a backlash of a driving mechanism in the main scanning direction or a warp of a platen that supports a printing medium. One of the techniques proposed to relieve such positional misalignment is disclosed in JPA 5-69625 filed by the applicant of the present invention. This prior art technique registers in advance a potential amount of positional misalignment (deviation in printing) in the main scanning direction and corrects the dot recording positions on the forward pass and on the backward pass, based on the registered amount of positional misalignment.
The print head of the printer generally has a nozzle array that includes a large number of nozzles arranged in a sub-scanning direction. When the print head is driven in the main scanning direction, mechanical vibrations may occur on the print head to slightly shift the orientation of the nozzle array from the sub-scanning direction. Furthermore, the nozzle array may be slightly inclined to different orientations on the forward pass and on the backward pass, for example, due to the backlash of the driving mechanism in the main scanning direction. In such cases, it is difficult to accurately determine the amount of potential positional misalignment, since the nozzle array does not move back and forth keeping the specified posture perpendicular to the main scanning direction as a whole.
The object of the present invention is to solve the problem of the prior art technique discussed above and accordingly to provide a technique that relieves positional misalignment in the main scanning direction on a forward pass and a backward pass of main scan with regard to a nozzle array in a printing apparatus of bidirectional printing.
In order to attain at least part of the above and the other related objects, the present invention is directed to a printing apparatus that comprises a print head having a nozzle array, which is arranged in a sub-scanning direction and ejects ink droplets to record dots on a printing medium, and carries out bidirectional, reciprocating main scan to complete printing on the printing medium. With this printing apparatus, a positional misalignment test pattern is printed on the printing medium with a representative nozzle sub-array, which is part of the nozzle array and is within a predetermined range around a center of the nozzle array. Then a correction value is determined according to correction information that represents a favorable correction state selected based on the positional misalignment test pattern, where the correction value is used to correct the misalignment of recording positions in the main scanning direction on the forward pass and the backward pass of the main scan. The misalignment of recording positions in the main scanning direction is actually corrected with the correction value thus determined in the course of bidirectional printing. Here xe2x80x9cthe representative nozzle sub-array that is within a predetermined range around a center of the nozzle arrayxe2x80x9d represents a group of plural nozzles that includes a specific nozzle closest to the center position along the length of the nozzle array and does not include end nozzles on either end of the nozzle array.
In the case where the angle of the nozzle array in the main scanning direction on the forward pass is slightly different from that on the backward pass, a correction value determined using a nozzle on one end of the nozzle array would cause a significant misalignment of recording positions of ink droplets with regard to the nozzles on the other end of the nozzle array. The arrangement of the present invention determines the correction value on the basis of the nozzles in the neighborhood of the center of the nozzle array. Accordingly, it reduces the total misalignment of dot recording positions, due to the variation in the angle of the nozzle array. The technique of the invention determines the correction value according to the correction information which represents the favorable correction state selected based on the positional misalignment test pattern printed with the representative nozzle sub-array. The correction value is determined not on the basis of deductive inference but on the basis of the positional misalignment test pattern actually printed on a printing medium. The correction value can thus be determined adequately to relieve the actual printing misalignment.
The nozzle array preferably comprises: a color nozzle array including a plurality of color nozzles to eject color ink that are arranged in a predetermined sequence in the sub-scanning direction; and a black nozzle array including a plurality of black nozzles to eject black ink that are arranged in a predetermined sequence in the sub-scanning direction. In this application, a memory included in the printing apparatus stores a first correction value and a second correction value therein. The first correction value is set for correcting the positional misalignment of recording positions in the main scanning direction on the forward pass and the backward pass of the main scan with regard to a representative color nozzle sub-array, which is part of the color nozzle array and is within a predetermined range around a center of the color nozzle array. The second correction value is set for correcting the positional misalignment of recording positions in the main scanning direction on the forward pass and the backward pass of the main scan with regard to a representative black nozzle sub-array, which is part of the black nozzle array and is within a predetermined range around a center of the black nozzle array. Here the color nozzle array and the black nozzle array may have any positional relationship.
This arrangement corrects the misalignment of recording positions in the course of bidirectional printing with the first correction value, which reflects the characteristics of the color nozzle array, and with the second correction value, which reflects the characteristics of the black nozzle array. Namely the arrangement of using both the first correction value and the second correction value can reflect the characteristics of the color nozzle array and the black nozzle array on the correction of the misalignment of recording positions in the course of bidirectional printing.
The positional misalignment correction unit may correct the misalignment of recording positions in the main scanning direction in the course of bidirectional printing with regard to the nozzle array with a mean value of the first correction value and the second correction value. This arrangement readily corrects the misalignment of recording positions in the course of bidirectional printing by taking into account both the color nozzle array and the black nozzle array.
It is preferable that the positional misalignment correction unit corrects the misalignment of recording positions with the first correction value in a print mode that the nozzles of the color nozzle array are used. In the case of color printing, this arrangement carries out the correction with the first correction value that reflects the characteristics of the color nozzle array. This accordingly ensures the correction of recording positions suitable for color printing.
It is also preferable that the positional misalignment correction unit corrects the misalignment of recording positions with the second correction value in a print mode that the nozzles of the color nozzle array are not used. In the case of monochromatic printing, this arrangement carries out the correction with the second correction value that reflects the characteristics of the black nozzle array. This accordingly ensures the correction of recording positions suitable for monochromatic printing.
The positional misalignment correction unit may correct the misalignment of recording positions with the first correction value with regard to the color nozzle array, and corrects the misalignment of recording positions with the second correction value with regard to the black nozzle array. This arrangement ensures the optimum corrections for both the color nozzle array and the black nozzle array in the process of one printing operation.
It is preferable that the color nozzle array includes yellow nozzles for ejecting yellow ink, cyan nozzles for ejecting cyan ink, and magenta nozzles for ejecting magenta ink, and that the representative color nozzle sub-array consists of either of cyan nozzles and magenta nozzles.
In the arrangement of determining the correction value on the basis of the representative nozzle sub-array that is within the predetermined range in the neighborhood of the center of the nozzle array, the nozzles in the neighborhood of both the ends of the nozzle array have a greater degree of misalignment of dot recording positions in the main scanning direction than the nozzles in the neighborhood of the center of the nozzle array. Among yellow, cyan, and magenta, the misalignment of recording positions in yellow is least conspicuous. The misalignment of recording positions in magenta and cyan is more conspicuous than that in yellow. In this preferable structure, the cyan nozzles or the magenta nozzles are arranged in the neighborhood of the center of the nozzle array and the correction value is determined with either the cyan nozzles or the magenta nozzles as the representative color nozzle sub-array. This arrangement makes the total misalignment of recording positions of dots sufficiently inconspicuous.
The present invention is realized by a diversity of applications as given below:
(1) Bidirectional printing apparatus;
(2) Method of bidirectional printing;
(3) Method of correcting misalignment of recording positions in the course of bidirectional printing;
(4) Computer programs to attain any of the above apparatus and methods;
(5) Recording media in which computer programs to attain any of the above apparatus and methods is recorded; and
(6) Data signals that include computer programs to attain any of the above apparatus and methods and are embodied in carrier waves.

Correction of positional misalignment in bidirectional printing by taking into account inclination of nozzle array


Described herein is a click-lock ring for use in hanging shower curtains designed in the form of a split ring wherein one end of the split ring contains a stepped anchoring recess formed from two cooperating lateral openings for receiving a locking head formed at the other end of the split ring. The ring is produced by injection molding a flexible plastic material in a cam-free mold.

A large number of designs of plastic rings are known in the prior an for hanging curtains and shower curtains. These are illustrated in the following patents:
Blod, U.S. Pat. Des. No. 178,862 shows an open circular curtain ring with a connecting pin that bridges the edges of the gap.
Imershein, U.S. Pat. Des. No. 228,624 illustrates a design of a shower curtain holder with a snap connector. However, the pin forming the snap connection is not slotted at the end.
Bussell, U.S. Pat. Des. No. 296,299 shows a ring that is substantially circular with a gap bridging pin.
Bussell, U.S. Pat. Des. No. 296,299 shows a ring that is a substantially square curtain holder with a circular hole, and a pin that bridges the gap.
Snyder U.S. Pat. No. 3,115,181 describes a curtain ting construction which is rather complex and difficult to manufacture.
Kimel, U.S. Pat. No. 3,772,734 describes an openable ring for curtains having a body in the form of a loop carrying two jaws at the end of the loop.
Thus, known shower curtain rings may constitute a loop designed in such a manner as to "click lock". Due to the design of these or their complexity they often can only be produced at low speed and in limited quantities.

Click-lock ring for hanging shower curtains


An adhesive blend is described that can include a semi-crystalline copolymer of propylene and at least one comonomer selected from the group consisting of ethylene and at least one C4 to C20 α-olefin, the copolymer having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) from about 15,000 to about 200,000; an melt index (MI) from about 7 dg/min to about 3000 dg/min as measured by ASTM D 1238 (B), and a (Mw/Mn) of approximately 2. Various production processes are also described. Also described are adhesive compositions and methods for making adhesive compositions having polymers or polymer blends with melt flow rates (MFRS) equal to and above 250 dg/min. at 230°C. Certain specific embodiments of the invention involve the use of a free radical initiator, e.g., a peroxide.

Hot-melt adhesives are thermoplastic materials that can be heated to a melt and then applied to various substrates. A bond is formed upon cooling and resolidification. Among the most widely used thermoplastic polymers in hot-melt adhesives is ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer ("EVA") which is combined with a variety of plasticizers, tackifiers, antioxidants, waxes, and extenders for purposes of improving and/or controlling the viscosity, adhesive properties, shelf-life, stability and cost. Plasticizers have typically included such compounds as polybutenes and phthalates, tackifiers have typically included such compositions as rosin esters and hydrocarbon resins, antioxidants are frequently based upon the known hindered phenol compounds, and wax helps to reduce the melt viscosity in addition to reducing costs.
These hot-melt adhesives have the drawback of often becoming brittle below the glass-transition temperature. Historically, ethylene based semi-crystalline polymers like polyethylene and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), have been used in various adhesive applications; however, such polymers have many problems in their end use applications. For example, semi-crystalline linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) can be used in hot melt adhesive applications where the crystalline network formed on cooling makes a good adhesive free of tack, but the high level of crystallinity causes the material to be brittle. For this reason other monomers, such as vinyl acetate (VA), or alpha-olefins are often co-polymerized with ethylene to break up some of the crystallinity and soften the adhesive. Thus the use of hot-melt adhesives based upon EVA is limited when low temperature conditions of use are desired.
Styrene block copolymers ("SBC") are independently known as an important class of base polymers for adhesive compositions, particularly for such uses as in hot melt pressure sensitive adhesives in tapes, label stock, diaper assembly and the like. However, because of higher melt viscosities than EVA based compositions, SBC based adhesive compositions are not typically used for packaging where high-speed application is economically desirable.
Certain adhesive composition blends of SBC and EVA are known, even though the base polymers are largely incompatible, in the sense of not being able to form stable blends largely free of separation or stratification and resulting nonuniformity of properties. U.S. Pat. No. 4,345,349 describes book-binding hot-melt adhesive compositions prepared from 15-30% SBC, 5-10% EVA, 25-40% rosin ester tackifier, 25-35% wax diluent and 0.5-3% of a stabilizer, e.g., hindered phenol compound. The ratio of SBC to the ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer is from 1.75/1 to 6/1. The low-temperature flexibility improves by increasing the amount of SBC in the composition and using a high softening point tackifier or high melting point wax shortens setting speed. Setting time, in order to be useful in the described bookbinding process, is to be within 30 seconds, and times within 26 seconds are exemplified. U.S. Pat. No. 4,394,915 describes a hot melt adhesive particularly suitable for polyethylene-terepthalate bottle assemblies comprising typically 20-40% SBC, 5-20% EVA, 30-60% tackifying resin, 10-30% wax or oil, and 0.1-4% stabilizer. The tackifying resin can be any of a number of available rosins or resins, including the aliphatic petroleum resins, but is preferably a polymerized tall oil rosin.
PCT/US97/04161 teaches the use of ethylene based copolymers as hot melt adhesive and these materials are useful in some applications, but suffer in that they have higher melt viscosity, poorer processing and poorer adhesion to some types of surfaces than propylene based copolymers. U.S. Pat. No. 5,118,762 addresses the industrial need for hot melt adhesives that have a low melt viscosity and high temperature resistance to shear. The solution in this document is the use of a predominantly branched styrene-isoprene-styrene (SIS) triblock copolymer with a tackifying resin that is compatible with the elastomeric isoprene block, e.g., diene-olefin copolymer resins, rosin esters or saturated petroleum resins, e.g., hydrogenated dicyclopentadiene resins such as ESCOREZ® 5000 series resins of the ExxonMobil Chemical Company.
Blends of isotactic polypropylene and ethylene propylene rubber are well known in the prior art, prior art Ziegler-Natta catalyst systems could only produce ethylene propylene rubber compositions with greater than 30% by weight ethylene at practical, economic polymerization conditions. There exists a need for polymeric materials which have advantageous processing characteristics while still providing suitable end properties to articles formed therefrom, e.g., tensile and impact strength. Copolymers and blends of polymers have been developed to try and meet the above needs. U.S. Pat. No. 3,882,197 to Fritz et al. describes blends of stereoregular propylene/alpha-olefin copolymers, stereoregular propylene, and ethylene copolymer rubbers. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,888,949 Chi-Kai Shih, assigned to E I DuPont, shows the synthesis of blend compositions containing isotactic polypropylene and copolymers of propylene and an alpha-olefin, containing between 6-20 carbon atoms, which have improved elongation and tensile strength over either the copolymer or isotactic polypropylene. Copolymers of propylene and alpha-olefin are described wherein the alpha-olefin is hexene, octene or dodecene. However, the copolymer is made with a heterogeneous titanium catalyst which makes copolymers which are non-uniform in compositional distribution and typically broad in molecular weight distribution. Compositional distribution is a property of copolymers where there exists statistically significant intermolecular or intramolecular difference in the composition of the polymer.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,461,872, A. C. L. Su improved on the properties of the blends described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,888,949 by using another heterogeneous catalyst system. However, the properties and compositions of the copolymer with respect to either the nature and type of monomers (alpha-olefin containing 6-20 carbon atoms) or the blocky heterogeneous intra/inter molecular distribution of the alpha-olefin in the polymer have not been resolved since the catalysts used for these polymerization of propylene and alpha-olefin are expected to form copolymers which have statistically significant intermolecular and intramolecular compositional differences.
In two successive publications in the journal of Macromolecules, 1989, v 22, pages 3851-3866, J. W. Collette of E. I. DuPont has described blends of isotactic polypropylene and partially atactic polypropylene which have desirable tensile elongation properties. However, the partially atactic propylene has a broad molecular weight distribution as shown in FIG. 8 of the first publication. The partially atactic polypropylene is also composed of several fractions, which differ in the level of tacticity of the propylene units as shown by the differences in the solubility in different solvents. This is shown by the corresponding physical decomposition of the blend which is separated by extraction with different solvents to yield individual components of uniform solubility characteristics as shown in Table IV of the above publications.
In U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,853,969 and 3,378,606, E. G. Kontos discloses the formation of in situ blends of isotactic polypropylene and "stereo block" copolymers of propylene and another olefin of 2 to 12 carbon atoms, including ethylene and hexene. The copolymers of this invention are necessarily heterogeneous in intermolecular and intramolecular composition distribution. This is demonstrated by the synthesis procedures of these copolymers which involve sequential injection of monomer mixtures of different compositions to synthesize polymeric portions of analogously different compositions. In addition, FIG. 1 of both patents shows that the "stereo block" character, which is intra or intermolecular compositional differences in the context of the description of the present invention, is essential to the benefit of the tensile and elongation properties of the blend. In situ blends of isotactic polypropylene and compositionally uniform random ethylene propylene copolymers have poor properties.
Amorphous polyolefins, such as atactic polypropylene, have no crystalline network and thus have poor cohesive strength. To improve cohesive strength high molecular weight amorphous polyolefins are needed in high concentrations and this leads to high viscosity and poor processability.
Moreover, all of these compositions either do not meet all of the desired properties for various applications, and/or involve costly and burdensome process steps to achieve the desired results. It is also desirable in packaging to have adhesive compositions that have suitably low melt viscosity for high speed automated coating processes, a sufficiently long time before hardening to preserve sufficient adhesion (known in industry as "open time") in assembly operations such as box closures, yet a quick enough setting speed to allow shortest time application of adhering pressure (known in industry as "setting time").
As set forth in greater detail below, certain aspects of this invention relate to the use of a peroxide or other free-radical initiator to provide a modified polymer or polymer blend. The use of peroxide to degrade certain polymers has been published in the literature.
For example, peroxide-initiated degradation of certain polypropylene resins is discussed generally in the article by Tzoganakis, et al., entitled "Production of Controlled-Rheology Polypropylene Resins by Peroxide Promoted Degradation During Extrusion," pp. 170-180, Polymer Engineering and Science, Vol. 28, No. 3 (1988), and in the article by Rosales, et al, entitled "Viscoelastic Behavior of Controlled-Rheology Polypropylene Resins," pp. 153-169, Materials Engineering, Vol. 4, No. 2 (1993).
Gahleitner et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,705,568, relates to chemically degraded block copolymers. That patent discusses the use of peroxides to degrade elastic polypropylene homopolymers and copolymers with stereoregular block arrangements, blocks of isotactic and atactic propylene sequences. The patent discloses using minor amounts of peroxide, from 0.001 to 0.8% by weight, preferably 0.05% to 0.5% by weight to raise the melt flow index (MFI). The patent also discloses the addition of fillers, stabilizers and mould release agents. However, this patent does not discuss adhesive compositions.
Peroxides have also been used to oxidatively degrade olefinic polymers and/or polymer blends useful as lubricant compositions, as discussed, for example, in Gordon et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,743,391 and Chung et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,749,505.
Peroxides have also been used as curing agents in elastomeric blends. Duncan, U.S. Pat. No. 4,143,099, for example, discusses the use of peroxides in curing and "semi-curing" elastomeric blends, by adding the peroxide curing agent while masticating and shearing the mixture of polymers, and completing the semi-curing of the polymers before the onset of melting.
The present invention is directed in general to providing improved adhesive compositions, and processes or methods for making such compositions.