A copying machine executing a processing for connecting a control center and a communication line by activating a modem when a trouble is detected, and transmitting data related to the trouble to the centralized control unit of the control center after the connection of the communication line is made, the machine includes a display apparatus, a communication control apparatus for monitoring the communication state of the modem, a memory in which data for display corresponding to each communication state is stored, display control apparatus for reading data for display corresponding to a communication state monitored by the communication control apparatus from the memory when a trouble is detected, and controlling the display apparatus to display the data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to copying machines, and more specifically, to a copying machine having a function of calling a control center by automatically activating a communication terminal such as a modem when a trouble is detected, and transmitting data related to the trouble after a connection with the control center is made.
2. Description of the Related Art
A system of controlling a plurality of copying machines is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,583,834. In the disclosed system, various kinds of information on copying machines such as the total number of copies, troubles, the remaining amounts of copy sheets and toner is transmitted to a computer. The computer processes the transmitted information and feeds back instructions to the copying machines.
According to such a system, a plurality of copying machines supplied to users are connected to a centralized control unit through a communication network such as telephone lines for remote control of the copying machines. The centralized control unit is provided at an administrators place and the administrator receives information transmitted from each of the copying machines with the centralized control unit. Then, various administrative works are done such as issuance of bills corresponding to the numbers of copies and dispatch of servicemen to cope with troubles.
Since a general copying machine does not have a function of communicating with a centralized control unit through a communication network, a data terminal is attached to a copying machine for communication when such a system is constructed. The data terminal collects various kinds of information from the copying machine and communicates with the centralized control unit based on the collected information.
The data terminal calls the centralized control unit when a trouble occurs in the copying machine, but a communication is not necessarily executed. For example, if the data terminal is defective or the communication line is busy, a communication between the data terminal and the centralized control unit can not be executed. Meanwhile, believing that the occurrence of a trouble in the copying machine is automatically reported to the centralized control unit from the data terminal, the user does not contact the administrator right away. Accordingly, it some times takes a long time before the administrator is informed of the trouble in the copying machine.
Conversely, it is useless for the user to report to the administrator if the data terminal has reported the occurrence of the trouble to the centralized control unit.

Copying machine control system with communication states with control center being displayed


A device for analyzing fluorescent light signals consists of memory means for storing as a reference spectrum a spectrum obtained under predetermined conditions, and extraction means for extracting a predetermined component spectrum based on the results of a conversion of the reference spectrum using a specific wavelength of a measured spectrum obtained during actual measurement and a specific wavelength of the reference spectrum. The arrangement of the invention allows the spectrum of a specific component to be extracted accurately from measured spectra.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a device for analyzing fluorescent light signals in which organisms previously injected with a hematoporphyrin derivative (hereinafter abbreviated as HPD) or other fluorescent substances which have a strong affinity for tumors are irradiated with laser light at predetermined positions such as the trachea, bladder, etc. in order to produce fluorescent light, and tumors in them are diagnosed by means of the intensity of the fluorescence produced at this time.
2. Prior Art Statement
Methods and devices for cancer diagnosis and therapy utilizing the photochemical reactions between laser light and fluorescent substances such as HPD which have a strong affinity for tumors have been proposed (Japanese Patent Application Disclosures Nos. SHO 59-40830 and SHO 59-40869, U.S. Pat. No. 4,556,057).
FIG. 3 is a block drawing illustrating the basic configuration of a diagnostic device of the prior art. The device of FIG. 3 is provided with an ordinary endoscopic diagnostic system 50, a photochemical reaction diagnostic/therapeutic system 51, and a fiber bunch 52. The fiber bunch 52 consists of an image guide 53 and light guides 54, 55 and 56. One end of the fiber bunch 52 is inserted into the patient's body at a position 70 suspected to be the focus, the patient having been previously given an intravenous injection of HPD, and the other end is connected to the endoscopic diagnostic system 50 and the photochemical reaction diagnostic/therapeutic system 51.
The endoscopic diagnostic system 50 consists of a white light source 57 for illuminating the tissue surface at the position 70, the light guide 54 for conducting this light, the image guide 53 for conducting images of the tissue surface to the color camera 58, and a monitor 59 for displaying images of the tissue surface picked up by the color camera 58.
The photochemical reaction diagnostic/therapeutic system 51 is equipped with a laser light source 60, a high-sensitivity camera 62, an analytical circuit 63 and a monitor 64. The laser light source 60 outputs both exciting laser light for diagnosis (405 nm) and laser light for therapy (630 nm), which is irradiated onto the position 70 by means of the light guide 55.
The fluorescence produced by the exciting light from the laser light source 60 irradiated onto the position 70 is conducted by the light guide 56 to a spectroscope 61.
Fluorescence spectrum images SP obtained from the spectroscope 61 are picked up by the high-sensitivity camera 62 which outputs video signals SVO that are arithmetically processed in the analytical circuit 63, and the images are displayed on the monitor 64 as spectrum patterns. The spectrum images SP are set within a wavelength region of 600 to 700 nm so that it will be possible to observe the spectrum with two peaks at 630 nm and 690 nm which is a characteristic of HPD fluorescence.
Since in this type of system endoscopic diagnosis and photochemical reaction diagnosis/therapy are carried out concurrently, the white light source 57 and laser light source 60 are driven to irradiate alternately, using a timesharing system. The fluorescence spectrum system from the spectroscope 61 to the monitor 64 is operated intermittently, in synchronization with the irradiation of laser light from the laser light source 60.
Using this device, during diagnosis the operator can locate the position of a cancer while viewing at the same time the tissue images on the monitor 59 and the fluorescence spectrum patterns on the monitor 64. If a cancer is discovered, the operator can perform therapy immediately by merely switching over the light from exciting light to therapeutic light. Therapy is carried out by means of a photochemical reaction between the HPD remaining in the cancerous part and the therapeutic light. This causes necrosis selectively at the cancerous part only.
Furthermore, as for the confirmation of fluorescence during diagnosis, the spectrum patterns which are unique to the fluorescence themselves are observed directly, making it possible to determine the presence of cancer easily. This can contribute greatly to the early diagnosis and therapy of cancer.
As was described above, this device utilizes the affinity of HPD for tumors in diagnosis and therapy. For diagnosis in particular, it is configured so that it detects the fluorescence spectrum from HPD.
However, as when the tissue surface is irradiated with exciting light in the 405 nm wavelength region spontaneous fluorescence is also emitted from normal tissue, the spectrum that is actually picked up consists of HPD fluorescence on which is superimposed spontaneous fluorescence in the form of background noise. This is reported in, for example, "Laser in Surgery and Medicine," 4, 49-58 (1984).
FIG. 4 shows an example of the total fluorescence spectrum intensity I.sub.TOT, the spontaneous fluorescence spectrum intensity I.sub.AUTO, and HPD fluorescence spectrum intensity I.sub.HPD. As can be seen from FIG. 4, total fluorescence spectrum intensity I.sub.TOT has HPD fluorescence spectrum intensity I.sub.HPD and spontaneous fluorescence spectrum intensity I.sub.AUTO superimposed thereon. For purposes of diagnosis this is not a problem if the spontaneous fluorescence spectrum intensity I.sub.AUTO is sufficiently smaller than HPD fluorescence spectrum intensity I.sub.HPD. In most cases, however, spontaneous fluorescence spectrum intensity I.sub.AUTO is usually about the same as HPD fluorescence spectrum intensity I.sub.HPD or greater. Also, spontaneous fluorescence spectrum intensity I.sub.AUTO and HPD fluorescence spectrum intensity I.sub.HPD are subjected to complex and extensive changes by the areal ratio of normal tissue parts to abnormal tissue parts (cancer parts) in the field of observation, the relative distance between light guides 55 and 56 and the tissue surface, and the laser irradiation angle and detection angle relative to the tissue surface. Because of this, in actual diagnosis, it has been very difficult to accurately detect the HPD fluorescence spectrum intensity I.sub.HPD.

Device for analyzing fluorescent light signals

Agency of Industrial Science and Technology

Ministry of International Trade and Industry


A wireless power feed system with high transfer efficiency of electric power is disclosed. The wireless power feed system includes a power feeding device and a power receiving device, wherein the power feeding device includes a first electromagnetic coupling coil that is connected to an AC power source via a directional coupler; a first resonant coil; a switch connected to the opposite ends of the first resonant coil; a control circuit which conducts switching on/off of the switch based on a parameter of an amplitude of a reflective wave detected by the directional coupler; and an analog-digital converter provided between the first electromagnetic coupling coil and the control circuit; and the power receiving device includes a second resonant coil; and a second electromagnetic coupling coil, and wherein the first electromagnetic coupling coil is provided between the first resonant coil and the second resonant coil.

1. Field of the Invention
One embodiment of the disclosed invention herein relates to power feeding devices, power receiving devices, and wireless power feed systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various electronic devices have spread, and a variety of products are in the marketplace. In recent years, mobile electronic devices such as mobile phones and digital video cameras are used very commonly. Further, electric propulsion vehicles, such as electric vehicles, which are supplied with power based on electricity, are showing up in the market.
In such mobile phones, digital video cameras or electric propulsion vehicles, batteries serving as power storage units (referred to as storage batteries) are incorporated. Currently, such a battery is usually charged with use of a household AC power source that is one of power feeding units, and by being directly contacted with the AC power. In a structure which has no battery or which does not use electricity charged in a battery, a device is operated by power directly fed from a household AC power source via a wire or the like.
On the other hand, researches and developments have been made on a system in which charging on a battery or power feeding on a load is conducted wirelessly, typical examples are an electromagnetic coupling method (also referred to as an electromagnetic induction method, see Reference 1), a radio wave method (also referred to as a microwave method), a resonance method (also referred to as a resonant method, see References 2 to 4).
As described in References 2 to 4, in a wireless power feed technique using a resonance method, a device that receives power (hereinafter, referred to as a power receiving device) and a device that feeds power (hereinafter, referred to as a power feeding device) each have a resonant coil. Further, in each of the power receiving device and the power feeding device, an electromagnetic coupling coil is provided. Feeding power from a power source in the power feeding device to the resonant coil and feeding power from the resonant coil in the power receiving device to a load are conducted by the electromagnetic coupling coils.
The resonant coil of the power feeding device and the resonant coil of the power receiving device are adjusted to resonate (LC resonance) at the same frequency.
When the resonant coil of the power feeding device and the resonant coil of the power receiving device face each other, they makes a resonant phenomenon, and thereby efficient power transfer is realized even when the distance between the resonant coils are large (see Reference 5).

Power feeding device, power receiving device, and wireless power feed system

SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.


The present invention intends to provide an ophthalmic apparatus which enables an examiner to diagnose a patient with cataract and the like in the early stage, and which can be used even for a screening examination and the like. The ophthalmic apparatus comprises an illumination optical system for having illumination light enter an inside of an eye to be examined so that the light scattered and reflected on a fundus of the eye illuminates an anterior part of the eye and a photographing optical system having an imaging spectroscope for obtaining an image including spectral information, for photographing a retroillumination image of the illuminated anterior part of the eye with the imaging spectroscope.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ophthalmic apparatus for photographing a retroillumination image of an eye to be examined.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, a diagnosis of cataract and the like has been carried out mainly by a method based on slit observation with a slit-lamp microscope and observation of a retroillumination image. As a method for diagnosis of the above diseases, such has also been known that an examiner uses an apparatus for sectioning an eye to be examined with slit light and obtaining (photographing) a cross-sectional image of an anterior part of the eye with a photographing optical system disposed based on the Scheimpflug""s principle. Then, a diagnosis of a condition of opacity in a crystalline lens and the like is made based on the obtained image.
Under the above-mentioned method, it is possible to diagnose a condition of opacity in a crystalline lens and the like in which cataract has relatively developed, but it is difficult to make a diagnosis in the early stage of cataract. Further, when a slit-lamp microscope and an apparatus for photographing based on the Scheimpflug""s principle are used, technical observation by an ophthalmologist is required, and the apparatus is not suitable for a screening examination and the like. Therefore, there has been a problem that a patient cannot be diagnosed with cataract unless he or she notices a sign of the disease and is in its advanced stage.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances and has an object to overcome the above problems and to provide an ophthalmic apparatus which enables an examiner to diagnose a patient with cataract and the like in the early stage, and which can be used even for a screening examination and the like.
To achieve the objects and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, an ophthalmic apparatus comprises an illumination optical system for having illumination light enter an inside of an eye to be examined so that the light scattered and reflected on a fundus of the eye illuminates an anterior part of the eye and a photographing optical system having an imaging spectroscope for obtaining an image including spectral information, for photographing a retroillumination image of the illuminated anterior part of the eye with the imaging spectroscope.
In another aspect of the present invention, an ophthalmic apparatus comprises a photographing optical system having a photographing lens, for photographing a retroillumination image of an anterior part of an eye illuminated in light reflected from a fundus of the eye, wherein the photographing optical system has an imaging spectroscope, disposed on an opposite side of the eye with respect to the photographing lens, for obtaining an image including spectral information.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.


A ratchet wrench includes a wrench body having a circular space defined at a head portion of the wrench body, a ratchet with a hollow center placed into the circular space. The ratchet is symmetric to the wrench body. The inner wall of the ratchet has a plurality of first ridges formed thereon. A first recess is formed between each of two adjacent first ridges. Each of the first recesses selectively has a second ridge formed thereon. A second recess is defined on the second ridge. The shape of the second recess is as same as the first recess. In this way, a user can directly alternate the big and small bolts in the ratchet wrench, rather than turn over the wrench to fit the big or small bolt.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a ratchet wrench, more particularly to a ratchet wrench with an easy alternative structure, in which a user can directly alternate the big and small bolts in the ratchet wrench, rather than turn over the wrench to fit the big or small bolt.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional ratchet wrench comprises a wrench body with a round head portion, a ratchet assembled to the head portion of the wrench body. The ratchet has a first space defined at one side and a second space defined at another side. The diameter of the first space is larger than the diameter of the second space. If a user wants to alternate one small bolt for the task, the user needs to turn over the ratchet wrench so that the second space can clamp the small bolt and the user can continue the task. However, the bolts are easily to fall down and to get lost when the ratchet wrench is turning. In addition, the head portion of the big bolt cannot exceed into the second space or the head portion of the small bolt cannot exceed into the first space. It leads to that the total length from the ratchet wrench to the thread end of the bolt is too long to work in a narrow area.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the disadvantage of the conventional.


A machine tool is disclosed which can suppress resonance of an in-machine robot even when vibration occurs during machining of a workpiece. Vibration of the in-machine robot is detected by a vibration sensor of the in-machine robot. When the vibration of the in-machine robot becomes greater than or equal to a threshold during machining of the workpiece, a controller changes a natural frequency of the in-machine robot by exchanging an end effector of the in-machine robot or by changing an orientation of the in-machine robot, to thereby suppress resonance of the in-machine robot.

A technique is known in which an in-machine robot for transporting a workpiece or the like is placed inside a machine tool. Even in the machine tool, if a workpiece having a notch is lathe-turn machined with a lathe, because a force is generated intermittently, vibration is caused. In addition, when the machining condition is harsh due to a high load or the like, even in a continuous lathe-turn machining, chattering may be caused, and vibration may consequently be caused.
JP H10-249455 A, which is not related to an in-machine robot, discloses a hemming apparatus in which a hemming blade is mounted on a robot arm via a vibration source, a part to be bend-machined of a workpiece, which is continuous, is pressed and bent by the hemming blade which is driven by the vibration source, and the hemming blade is thereafter laterally moved along the part to be bend-machined, to continuously bend the part to be bend-machined. JP H10-249455 A further describes that a weight for suppressing resonance of the robot arm due to the vibration of the hemming blade is detachably attached to at least one of the hemming blade and the vibration source thereof.
When the vibration is caused in the machine tool, the vibration is transferred also to the in-machine robot, and a resonance phenomenon may be caused in which the in-machine robot vibrates intensely. When such a resonance phenomenon occurs, a trace of the vibration may be left on the workpiece, causing a product defect, or, in a case where the vibration is intense, the in-machine robot itself may be damaged.
An advantage of the present disclosure lies in provision of a technique which can suppress resonance of the in-machine robot even when vibration is caused during machining of a workpiece.


Color filters are provided which can realize reflection or semi-transmission color liquid crystal display devices having high luminance and excellent color properties. This color filter comprises at least a substrate and a colored layer of a plurality of color patterns, and includes light scattering fine particles and has a haze of 10 to 90. The inclusion of the light scattering fine particles within the color filter can impart a light scattering function to the color filter per se. This can eliminate the need to provide a front scattering plate on the color filter (in its viewer side). Further, a deterioration in color properties caused by light scattering can be surely compensated for by the color property correction of the colored layer per se and/or by the correction of color properties through the addition of a colorant. This is suitable for surely preventing a deterioration in color properties of the color filter per se.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to color filters, and more particularly to color filters for reflection or semi-transmission liquid crystal display devices.
2. Background Art
In recent years, attention has been drawn to color liquid crystal display devices as flat displays. Color liquid crystal display devices may be classified into reflection type and transmission type. Reflection color liquid crystal display devices have the following structure. For example, a color filter comprising a colored layer of a plurality of colors (in general, the three primary colors of red (R), green (G), and blue (B)) (and optionally a black matrix and a flattening layer) and a transparent conductive layer is provided so as to face a TFT array substrate having a reflective electrode layer made of a metal, such as aluminum, and a thin film transistor (TFT element), while leaving a predetermined gap between the color filter and the TFT array substrate, and a liquid crystal layer is provided within the gap. A phase difference plate, a polarizing plate, and a front scattering plate are provided on the color filter (in its viewer side). The front scattering plate has the function of scattering light, and is provided for properly scattering light incident on the reflection liquid crystal display device to ensure satisfactory visibility.
Due to the presence of the front scattering plate, however, the conventional reflection color liquid crystal display devices unfavorably suffer from problems of lowered luminance and lowered color properties. This is attributable to the coloring of the front scattering plate. The presence of the front scattering plate poses an additional problem of a parallax (unsharp image). The lowered luminance is unavoidable in the conventional reflection color liquid crystal display devices wherein the front scattering plate is provided on the color filter (in its viewer side). On the other hand, the lowered color properties can be prevented by performing the correction of color properties on a level corresponding to the coloring of the front scattering plate in the color filter. When the color filter is produced by a process which is different from the production process of the liquid crystal display device, however, it is not easy to properly correct color properties of the color filter.
The present invention has been made under the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a color filter which can realize reflection or semi-transmission color liquid crystal display devices having high luminance and excellent color properties.
In order to attain the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a color filter comprising at least a substrate and a colored layer of a plurality of color patterns, said color filter including light scattering fine particles and having a haze of 10 to 90.
In the color filter according to a first embodiment as a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the substrate is transparent, and the color filter further comprises a transparent electrode layer stacked on the colored layer in its surface remote from the substrate, the light scattering fine particles being included as a light scattering layer between the transparent substrate and the colored layer.
In the color filter according to a second embodiment as a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the substrate is transparent, and the color filter further comprises a transparent electrode layer stacked on the colored layer in its surface remote from the substrate, the light scattering fine particles being contained in the colored layer.
In the color filter according to a third embodiment as a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the substrate is transparent, and the color filter further comprises a flattening layer stacked on the colored layer in its surface remote from the substrate and a transparent electrode layer stacked on the flattening layer in its surface remote from the colored layer, the light scattering fine particles being contained in the flattening layer.
In the color filter according to a fourth embodiment as a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a laminate of a driving element layer and a reflective electrode layer is additionally provided between the substrate and the colored layer in such a manner that the driving element layer is stacked on the substrate and the reflective electrode layer is stacked on the driving element layer, the light scattering fine particles being included as a light scattering layer between the reflective electrode layer and the colored layer.
In the color filter according to a fifth embodiment as a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a laminate of a driving element layer and a reflective electrode layer is additionally provided between the substrate and the colored layer in such a manner that the driving element layer is stacked on the substrate and the reflective electrode layer is stacked on the driving element layer, the light scattering fine particles being contained in the colored layer.
In the color filter according to a sixth embodiment as a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the color filter further comprises a flattening layer stacked on the colored layer in its surface remote from the substrate, and a laminate of a driving element layer and a reflective electrode layer is additionally provided between the substrate and the colored layer in such a manner that the driving element layer is stacked on the substrate and the reflective electrode layer is stacked on the driving element layer, the light scattering fine particles being contained in the flattening layer.
In the color filter according to a seventh embodiment as a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the substrate is transparent, and the color filter further comprises a transparent electrode layer stacked on the colored layer in its surface remote from the substrate, the light scattering fine particles being included as a light scattering layer between the transparent substrate and the colored layer and being further contained in at least one of the color patterns.
In the color filter according to an eighth embodiment as a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the substrate is transparent, and the color filter further comprises a flattening layer stacked on the colored layer in its surface remote from the substrate and a transparent electrode layer stacked on the flattening layer in its surface remote from the colored layer, the light scattering fine particles being contained in the flattening layer and at least one of the color patterns.
In the color filter according to a ninth embodiment as a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the substrate is transparent, and the color filter further comprises a flattening layer stacked on the colored layer in its surface remote from the substrate and a transparent electrode layer stacked on the flattening layer in its surface remote from the colored layer, the light scattering fine particles being included as a light scattering layer between the transparent substrate and the colored layer and being further contained in the flattening layer.
In the color filter according to a tenth embodiment as a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a laminate of a driving element layer and a reflective electrode layer is additionally provided between the substrate and the colored layer in such a manner that the driving element layer is stacked on the substrate and the reflective electrode layer is stacked on the driving element layer, the light scattering fine particles being included as a light scattering layer between the reflective electrode layer and the colored layer and being further contained in at least one of the colored patterns.
In the color filter according to an eleventh embodiment as a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the color filter further comprises a flattening layer stacked on the colored layer in its surface remote from the substrate, and a laminate of a driving element layer and a reflective electrode layer is additionally provided between the substrate and the colored layer in such a manner that the driving element layer is stacked on the substrate and the reflective electrode layer is stacked on the driving element layer, the light scattering fine particles being contained in the flattening layer and, in addition, in at least one of the color patterns.
In the color filter according to a twelfth embodiment as a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the color filter further comprises a flattening layer stacked on the colored layer in its surface remote from the substrate, and a laminate of a driving element layer and a reflective electrode layer is additionally provided between the substrate and the colored layer in such a manner that the driving element layer is stacked on the substrate and the reflective electrode layer is stacked on the driving element layer, the light scattering fine particles being included as a light scattering layer between the reflective electrode layer and the colored layer and being further contained in the flattening layer.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid crystal display device comprising: the color filter according to any one of the first to third embodiments; an electrode substrate comprising a transparent substrate and, stacked on the transparent substrate in the following order, a driving element layer, a reflective electrode layer, and a transparent electrode layer, light scattering fine particles being included as a light scattering layer between the reflective electrode layer and the transparent electrode layer; and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the color filter and the electrode substrate.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid crystal display device comprising: the color filter according to any one of the fourth to sixth embodiments; a display-side substrate comprising a transparent electrode layer stacked on a transparent substrate, light scattering fine particles being included as a light scattering layer between the transparent substrate and the transparent electrode layer; and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the color filter and the display-side substrate.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a color filter comprising at least a substrate and a colored layer of a plurality of color patterns, said color filter including light scattering fine particles and a colorant for correction of color properties.
According to the present invention, the inclusion of the light scattering fine particles within the color filter can impart a light scattering function to the color filter per se. This can eliminate the need to provide a front scattering plate on the color filter (in its viewer side). Further, a deterioration in color properties caused by light scattering can be surely compensated for by the color property correction of the color filter per se (for example, colored layer). This is suitable for preventing a deterioration in color properties of the color filter per se.

Color filters including light scattering fine particles and colorants


A fresh air controller interfaces directly with the electromechanical circuit of an air-conditioner to control its operating settings based upon detected Carbon Dioxide (CO2) level in Parts-Per-Million (PPM) using a “Capno-Switch” which is in essence a specially designed single-beam NDIR CO2 sensor enhanced with features and specifications to render it rugged, compact and very low-cost; unlike conventional single-beam NDIR CO2 sensors, the “Capno-Switch” is capable of providing long-term stability and accuracy in CO2 measurements. The operating settings it can control for the air-conditioner include 1) shutting off the fan, cooling unit and fresh air damper to save energy when the detected CO2 level in the cold air duct is less than 600 PPM; 2) turning on only the fan when the CO2 level is between 600-1,000 PPM; 3) turning on both the fan and the cooling unit when the CO2 level is between 1,000-2,000 PPM and 4) starting to open the fresh air damper to let fresh air in when the CO2 level is in excess of 2,000 PPM. With the incorporation of the “Capno-Switch” as a fresh air controller, air-conditioners can now provide good indoor air quality while at the same time save energy by effectively shutting itself down when nobody is detected to be present.

The importance of ventilation or the bringing in of fresh outside air into one's abode has been recognized since the beginning of civilization. That is the reason why no matter what shapes or forms one's dwelling might take, from the simplest of cabins and huts to the most sophisticated houses and mansions, it always has a number of windows, or one or more doors, whose purpose is to bring in fresh air from the outside in case of need. This simply reflects the fact that as long as people live inside an enclosed space, there will always be a buildup of various forms of airborne dirt or contamination, otherwise generally known as air pollution, that one has to get rid of or neutralize. Ventilation or the bringing in of fresh outdoor air is the most convenient way to remedy the situation as long as there are windows or doors to open. Quoting a century-old French saying, "It is dilution (through adequate ventilation) that is the best solution to pollution!"
Poor indoor air quality within a dwelling has a number of ill and serious ramifications, including fatal accidents. The buildup of poisonous Carbon Monoxide (CO) due to the malfunctioning of gas furnaces or the careless burning of combustibles indoors to get warmth, such as wood, charcoal or liquid fuel, can cost the lives of the inhabitants. An inadequately ventilated indoor space will lead over time, especially when low humidity (<60% Relative Humidity) is not maintained, to indoor air that is full of harmful substances such as mold spores and microbes, dust particles, volatile organic chemicals, airborne germs including viruses and bacteria etc. that will exacerbate the suffering of people with asthma or other respiratory diseases. Indeed, if there is more than one person living in a small enough space that is not properly ventilated, literally speaking, one is breathing other people's air from inside their bodies and vice versa. In other words, if one person has the flu or flu-like illness, the germs that he or she is exhaling into the space will not be able to readily leave the space and the probability of other persons living with him or her getting the same illness will be very much higher. The ill effects of inadequate ventilation can even be felt outside of one's home. The most well-known examples are classrooms at school, insides of school buses or even passenger cabins of airplanes. That is the reason why many people are wary about sending their off-spring to school or themselves traveling by air during the flu season.
In modern day living, with the availability of air-handling appliances such as air-conditioners and heating furnaces, good indoor air quality attained via adequate ventilation is often compromised at the expense of comfort and/or energy or money savings. An important example is the air-conditioner. Most of today's air-conditioners only deal with bringing fresh outdoor air into the conditioned space via a manually adjustable fresh air damper. Since there is no easy way today for anyone to determine how good or bad the air quality is inside an air-conditioned space due to the lack of accurate, low cost and easy to use instrumentation, the fresh air damper is seldom kept open or utilized at all. Thus, most of the time the conditioned air is simply re-circulated from and into a space. This is particularly the preferred mode of operation for one's air-conditioner when the outdoor air is hot and humid. By letting hot and humid air, even though it is fresh, into the conditioned space, one not only pays more because the air-conditioner has to be run at maximum capacity most of the time, the temperature and humidity of the conditioned air in the space may not be able to be maintained according to one's wishes. Thus, one's comfort, based upon one's preferred air temperature and humidity settings, might also have to be compromised as well.
In short, manufacturers of air-conditioners today simply do not address the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) issue. They would leave this to the users at large. Thus it is up to one to determine for oneself whether or not to open the fresh air damper in order to attain better indoor air quality but at the expense of more energy or money spent and even possibly compromising one's own comfort. A more realistic look at the currently prevailing air-conditioner dilemma is simply the non-existence of an adequate fresh air controller, preferably built into the air-conditioner unit, that is accurate, reliable, low-cost and easy to use so as to be able to automatically optimize the unit's operating conditions against air quality, comfort and energy savings according to the number of people (zero or otherwise) present in the conditioned space. It is therefore the object of the current invention to advance such a fresh air controller possessing the desirable characteristics and meeting all the functional requirements set forth above.

Apparatus and method for controlling a fan, cooling unit and a fresh air damper of an air conditioner through use of a Capno-Switch


A telescoping horn, comprising a flared bell portion and a mouthpiece portion. The mouthpiece portion is slideable into the bell portion from an extended position into a telescope position along a common axis. There are means on both portions for limiting the amount of telescoping movement, as well as for limiting the amount of extended motion so that the horn portions remain in engagement with each other in both positions.

Horns are virtually as old as recorded time. Primative horns assumed many forms. Some of the earliest were merely hollow seashells in their natural state having an opening, through or across which, a person blew to make a sound. Others were actual animal horns hollowed out and through which a person also blew to communicate, to make pleasant sound, which with other instruments, produced early music, or to warn of an encroaching enemy, for example.
As time evolved, obviously horns became more complex and were made capable of producing sounds of varying tones. Today, there are scores of differing types and shapes of horns.
The present invention, however, is directed to a collapsable, telescoping horn. Many horns include a flared bell shaped portion and a mouthpiece portion connected by tubing, which may be both straight and curved, as for example in a trumpet, or with moveable portions, as in a trombone. Such horns come both with and without valves.
There is today a need for lightweight, inexpensive horns that take up little space but which may be assembled in a length sufficient to produce a loud, clear tone, as for example, in sports stadia.
There is also need for a lightweight, collapsable horn capable of producing a loud, low-pitch sound for use by boatsmen to warn other boats or to signal in an emergency. Today, such devices are powered by aerosols which are not only undesirable to the ecology but which need to be replaced periodically.
lt is an object of this invention to produce a telescoping horn of relatively simple construction which is small, readily portable but which, when extended, is capable of producing a loud, far-carrying sound.

116
FSC 446
FSC 84
FSC 181
FSC D10
FSC D14
FSC D17


Touchscreen-active protective coverings for single digit or finger of a human hand and methods of using same.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to protective coverings for human hands, and more particularly, to touchscreen-active protective coverings for single digit or finger of a human hand.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is known in the relevant art to provide finger protective coverings, and devices for dispensing them. However, none provide for touchscreen activation by a finger when covered therewith.
By way of example, the following prior art documents illustrate state of the art at the time of the invention:
US Patent Application Publication No. 20100088794 for Finger covers and devices for dispensing finger covers, by inventor Orandini, describes a disposable finger protector and dispensing device, where the cover is made of impermeable and inexpensive material, such as laminated wax paper, vinyl, parchment paper, latex, or rubber, for preventing the finger from becoming dirty or soiled, specifically when handling sticky or greasy food, when handling faucets, door handles and flush handles in public restrooms; the dispenser contains a plurality of openings for covering more than one finger inserted into the device;
US Patent Application Publication No. 20090013441 for Fingertip cover, by inventor Duffy, describes a disposable fingertip cover adhesively applied to the pad of the fingertip, the cover composed of germ and virus impermeable material such as plastic, latex, rubber, or a biodegradable material (paper not mentioned), wherein the fingertip covers are individually packaged for ease of application, and may include antimicrobial ingredients; the fingertip cover intended use is on public surfaces that have the potential to transmit germs and diseases, such as ATM keypads, touchscreens, elevator buttons, public phones, money, and door handles; however, the materials indicated do not function for touchscreen activation;
US Patent Application Publication No. 2004008350 for Finger and palm protector for public use, by inventors LeVert, et al., describes a finger and palm protective shield to prevent the transfer of disease and viruses to the palm and digits of the user, the shield composed of plastic/polymer, conventional fabrics, highly absorbent paper fibrous materials, metal, leather, etc, wherein these materials may be impregnated with agents for destroying viruses, and may be disposable or reusable; the protector is intended to be used on public surfaces, but does not teach or suggest touchscreen applications.

Touchscreen-active protective covering for digit and method of using same, and dispensers therefor


An improved tape automated bonding method of bonding the beam leads of lead frame tape to gold bumps formed on the contact pads of a semiconductor device, wherein the tape includes a plurality of interconnected beam leads defined by at least one opening in the tape such that each beam lead has an inner end and an outer end. The method includes the steps of depositing a gold layer on the beam leads, masking a region of each beam lead from further deposition of material such that a predetermined portion of each beam lead is exposed for further deposition of material, depositing a predetermined amount of tin on the exposed portion of each beam lead, establishing contact between each beam lead and the die bump to which each beam lead is to be bonded and applying a predetermined amount of pressure and heat to form a bond between each beam lead and the die bump to which the beam lead is to be bonded such that the bond formed includes the primary eutectic of the combination of tin and gold.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to tape automated bonding fabrication of semiconductor devices, and more specifically to an improved tape including an arrangement of gold and tin on the connector leads and a method of making and using same.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Tape automated bonding is a method for simultaneously connecting a plurality of bonding pads on a semiconductor device to external circuitry. The method employs a continuous metalized tape having individual frames defining metal leads which are arranged in a pattern so that the inner ends of the leads may be bonded to the bonding pads on the device while the outer ends of the leads may be joined to a conventional integrated circuit package or left free to be otherwise connected to external circuitry.
A semiconductor device generally consists of a plurality of circuit elements, including diodes, transistors, resistors and the like, centrally located in an active region on the semiconductor die. Around the periphery of the active region are a plurality of bonding pads appropriately connected to the circuit elements. External connection is made to the circuit elements via the bonding pads. In making external connections to the bonding pads, it is common in TAB for a "bump" to be formed on the bonding pads or tape to provide solder material.
In the prior art bonding to the bumps on bonding pads of a semiconductor die is accomplished by positioning the lead in contact with the bump and applying heat and pressure to affix the lead in place. Metalization for the solder is supplied by the bump, lead, or both. In tape automated bonding, the lead is placed proximate to, or in contact with, the bump by means of aligning the lead-carrying frame relative to the semiconductor die.
Various combinations of metals for the leads and bumps have been tried to effect improved bonds. For example, in the "DELTA" process (DEnse Lead TApe) a copper-based tin-plated lead is bonded to an all gold bump. The lead is brought in contact with the bump at an applied force of 2-3 g/mil.sup.2 and the interface is brought up to a temperature of 300 to 350 degrees Centigrade to form the bond. The gold and tin are in a particular ratio by weight (i.e., 80% gold to 20% tin) such that in the region of bonding the primary gold-tin eutectic is formed.
One advantage of this process over for example, gold-to-gold thermo-compression bonding is that reduced applied force and heat are required. The gold-to-gold bond requires 15-20 gm/mil.sup.2 applied force and local heating to 500 degrees Centigrade or more in order to form the bond. This high temperature and pressure often has a detrimental effect on circuit components, and can result in malfunctioning or nonfunctioning componentry. Utilizing tin and gold such that the primary gold-tin eutectic is formed means that the force and temperature required to form the bond are significantly reduced. The reduced temperature and pressure results in higher yields of acceptably performing components.
One problem, however, with the use of tin in, for example, a typical eutectic process, is that tin has a tendency to form "whiskers." Whiskers are essentially metal growths that extend from a tin surface. They grow after deposition of tin on lead tape and after bonding where pure tin remains on the lead tape. The exact cause of the formation of tin whiskers is not known. Observation of the whiskers has shown that there are several types of whiskers, including needle, tubular, curl, etc. Their size can range up to five microns in diameter and up to one hundred microns in length. The whiskers can cause shorting and noise in pin tests. In short, whisker formation can have a seriously detrimental effect on device performance.
It is also known that tin whiskers form only on pure tin. They do not form on the gold-tin primary eutectic. Thus any pure tin on the lead or bump remaining after bonding is at risk of having whiskers form thereon. It is therefore desirable to consume the entire quantity of tin in formation of the gold-tin eutectic.

Gold/tin eutectic bonding for tape automated bonding process


A method of forming an ESD protection device with reduced junction breakdown voltage, simultaneously with an integrated circuit which includes FET devices, and the resultant device structure, are described. A silicon substrate is provided on which there are field oxide regions, gates, and active regions. A first ion implant of a conductivity-imparting dopant is performed in a vertical direction into the active regions of the ESD protection device and the FET devices. A first insulating layer is formed over the ESD protection device and the FET devices, and over the field oxide regions. The first insulating layer is patterned to create spacers adjacent to the gates of both the ESD protection device and the FET devices. A second ion implant of a conductivity-imparting dopant with higher concentration than dopant from the first ion implant is performed into active regions of both the ESD protection device and the FET devices. A second insulating layer is formed over the ESD protection device and the FET devices, and over the field oxide regions. The second insulating layer is patterned to form contact openings to the active regions. Finally, a third ion implant of a conductivity-imparting dopant, with opposite conductivity from the first and second ion implants, having equal concentration to dopant from the first ion implant, is performed through the contact openings into active regions of the ESD protection device.

(1) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the manufacture of highly dense integrated circuits, and more particularly to input protection devices to protect attached integrated circuits from damage due to electrostatic discharge.
(2) Description of the Related Art
During handling and operation of integrated circuit devices using Field Effect Transistor (FET) technology, large electrostatic charges can be transferred from external contacts of the integrated circuit into the interior of the circuit, causing damage and/or destruction to FET devices within. In order to prevent such damage, workers in the field have added input protection devices which are typically located between the external contacts and the FET devices. These protection devices are designed to provide a path to safely discharge the electrostatic charge and prevent damage to the internal FET devices.
One such device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,142,345 by Miyata. In this invention, an input protection device is formed and later connected to an internal FET device and a memory structure, which it is designed to protect from electrostatic discharge (ESD). The input protection device is itself an FET device. The protection device's source/drain regions are formed with a single heavy ion implant during separate processing steps from the formation of the source/drain regions for the connected internal devices. Spacers are formed on the gates of both the internal and the protection devices, since the internal devices are formed using LDD (lightly doped drain) regions that require the spacers form one ion implant step.
Another such device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,077,590 by Fujihira, and consists of a high voltage semiconductor device with an integrated Zener diode.


A cargo container handling cart and system comprises a plurality of cargo container handling carts 10, each cart comprising a frame 12 supported on wheels 16, the frame having two support surfaces 26 and at least one centrally disposed container guide 20, each support surface having two cart pins 32, and a cart end edge 28, the support surface 26 bounded by the container guide 20 and the cart end edge 28 for supporting the end of a cargo container, wherein the support surface 26 has a width substantially equivalent to a standard cargo container, the container guide 20 abuts a container end resting on one of the support surfaces 26, and the cart pins 32 extend upwardly from the support surface 26 between the container guide 20 and the cart end edge 28 for engaging with the corner casting holes of the corner fittings of the container end for holding the container end on the support surface 26 against the container guide 20.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is related to systems for transporting cargo containers within container terminals and, more particularly, to a cargo container handling cart capable of supporting the ends of two or more adjacent cargo containers, a plurality of which carts may be used to form and transport a "train" of cargo containers within a container terminal or between separate terminals.
2. Prior Art
Operations within container terminals require dedicated equipment and methods for transporting containers between various cargo handling cranes and other cargo handling equipment. For example, terminal operators commonly use trucks with chassis to transport containers from dockside cranes to yard cranes or to transport containers in a stacking area from one position to another. Each chassis is typically 40-48 feet long and designed to carry either one container 40-48 feet long, or two 20 foot containers. Some terminals use trucks with multi-chassis in an effort to improve efficiency. "Multi-chassis" refers to multiple individual chassis strung together all towed by a single truck. More automated terminals may use automated guided vehicles, rail cars and straddle carriers.
A singular advantage of using railcars and trucks with multi-chassis to transport multiple containers is that the truck or railcar can be controlled by a single operator. On the other hand, trucks and railcars have poor maneuverability and inadequate flexibility. This is in part due to the fact that conventional standardized railcars and truck chassis are designed to accommodate the largest possible container size, even though the largest containers may not be the container size most commonly in use. Since container sizes generally vary, inefficient use of these conventional means of container transport results. For example, FIG. 1 shows three chassis of the same size carrying three containers of different lengths leaving unused capacity on the second and third chassis.

Cargo container handling cart and system using same


A distributed digital data processing system including a host and at least one node interconnected by a communications link. In response to a boot command, the node requests its boot image from the host over the communications link. The host then provides pointers to portions of the boot image to the node. The node then retrieves the portions of the boot image identified by the pointers. These operations are repeated until node retrieves the entire boot image. By having the host supply pointers to the boot image and the node perform the retrieval operations in response to the pointers, the host is freed to perform other operations while the node is actually performing the retrieval operations.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to the field of digital data processing systems, and more specifically to an apparatus and method for enabling booting of an intelligent node connected to a host system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the past, digital data processing systems, or computers, were large and expensive systems including one or only a few central processor units connected to a main memory, mass storage such as disk and tape units, and input/output units such as printers, video display terminals, and telecommunications links. Because of the cost of such systems, they typically supported a number of users, and a significant amount of design effort went into making them faster. However, as more parts of the computers were put onto integrated circuit chips, including entire central processor units, the cost of computers declined dramatically, and so it became cost effective in many applications to devote a single computer to one or only a few users.
A benefit of having all users using a single large computer system is that data and programs may be shared among a number of users. This benefit can also be realized in an environment of smaller computers if they are linked together, for example, to form a distributed system. In a distributed system, the system is controlled by a host computer which provides services to the smaller computers, which are termed "nodes", such as data and program sharing, scheduling of resources such as printers and the like. In addition, the host assists the nodes in booting, that is, in obtaining the node's operating system programs when it (the node) initially begins operating. The operating system programs are programs which are used to control the node, including transfers to other devices in the distributed system.
Typically, when a node is initially powered up, the host senses the node being powered up and begins transferring to the node the copy of the operating system programs, that is, the "boot image", which the node will thereafter use. This is essentially a file transfer operation. However, since the node operates essentially only as a receiver, the host must perform all of the management of the transfer, decreasing its ability to do other processing work until the boot image is completely transferred.

Boot system for distributed digital data processing system


A mobile node (400) capable of establishing an ad hoc network routing is disclosed. The mobile node comprises a transmitting/receiving unit (426) for communicating with other communication unit and a routing request generator (422) for generating a routing request message for requiring an ad hoc network routing. The mobile node further comprises: an address storage (427) for storing an address of the mobile node (400) and an address of a receiving node; a random number generator (430) for generating a random number; a certificate issuing unit (440) for issuing a certificate of the mobile node (400); a digital signature creator (450) for creating a digital signature of the mobile node (400); and a controller (424) for transmitting/receiving the routing request message accompanied by the address of the mobile node, the address of the receiving node, the random number, the certificate and the digital signature via the transmitting/receiving unit, according to an ad hoc network protocol.

The present invention generally relates to a mobile node, an ad hoc network routing controlling method and an ad hoc network system, in which privacy is strongly protected.
As demands for mobile communications are rapidly expanded and diversified, it is required to connect a mobile terminal existing outside an area covered by the nearest mobile communication base station to a mobile communication network. Since it is impossible to directly one-hop-connect such outside mobile terminal even to the nearest base station, a wireless ad hoc network proposal has been made in which such an outside mobile terminal is multi-hop-connected to a base station via other mobile terminal or a temporary simple relaying station. A wireless ad hoc network is a network which is temporarily established by utilizing a mobile terminal or a temporary simple relaying station and the like (See FIG. 1). Each mobile terminal and simple relaying station contain an ad hoc routing protocol, and according thereto each terminal voluntarily exchanges information to establish an ad hoc network. In the ad hoc network, it is important to secure privacy since information can be received by a variety of terminals.
One example of such ad hoc network system is the DSR (Dynamic Source Routing) system in which a new route is established after a mobile terminal generates a routing request. In the DSR system, a transmitting terminal (node) can send data by knowing all node addresses on a route directed to a receiving node. Nodes for relaying the data can understand the next destination to forward to, utilizing forwarded routing information, and therefore the relaying nodes do not contain the routing information, resulting in simple processing. By utilizing the ad hoc network, it becomes possible to provide an outside mobile terminal with cellular communication service, the Internet connecting service and other services. This type of communication system has a gateway node 16 as shown in FIG. 1. The gateway node 16 functions as components in both the ad hoc network and the mobile communication network, and bridges the ad hoc network and the mobile communication network. Any communication node can become a gateway node D. After the gateway node D moves to outside a service area of the mobile communication network, the node cannot be a gateway any longer and becomes just a mobile node.
An ad hoc network is constructed as shown in FIG. 1. Ad hoc networks are not limited to radio communications but can be applied to wired communications also.
A mobile node S(12) establishes an ad hoc network according to an ad hoc routing controlling protocol. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the mobile communication node S(12) is connected to a gateway node D(16) via a relaying node T1(14) and a relaying node T2(15) to establish an ad hoc network. Since the gateway D(16) is in an area covered by a base station B(18), the mobile node S(12) can be connected to the base station B(18) via the gateway node D(16) and enjoy services provided through the base station B(18) (See Patent Document #1).
An example of conventional routing control scheme in the DSR is generally shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. This control scheme is now being discussed in the MANET (Mobile Ad-hoc Networks) Working Group in the IETF (The Internet Engineering Task Force).
With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, such a conventional routing establishment procedure is explained below. A transmitting node S (Source) shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 corresponds to the mobile node S shown in FIG. 1, but not limited to this and may be a gateway node or other mobile nodes. A receiving node D (Destination) shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 corresponds to the gateway node D shown in FIG. 1, but not limited to this and may be mobile nodes. Relaying nodes T (Transmitter) T1, T2 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 correspond to the relaying nodes 14, 15 shown in FIG. 1, respectively, but not limited to them. The two relaying nodes T1, T2 shown in FIG. 3 have the same structure and function, and therefore FIG. 2 representatively shows only one relaying node T.
When the transmitting node S starts communication with the receiving node D, a request/reply generator 222 generates a RREQ (Route REQuest) signal that requests ad hoc network routing generation. A transmitter/receiver 226 transmits the RREQ to a network by broadcasting. A transmitting node address ADDS and a receiving node address ADDD are read out from an address storage 227, added to the RREQ, and transmitted together. Such an address may be an IP address, for example. The control message RREQ may contain information relating the upper limitation on the number of hops.
A transmitter/receiver 246 of the relaying node T1 receives the control message RREQ. The relaying node T1 compares the received address ADDD with its own address ADDT1 stored in an address storage 247. If the relaying node T1 finds that the control message RREQ is not directed to itself, then it adds its own address ADDT1 and transmits the control message RREQ by broadcasting.
The relaying node T2 performs a similar forwarding processing.
The receiving node D receives the control message RREQ, and compares the received address ADDD with its own address ADDD stored in an address storage 267. If the receiving node D finds that the control message RREQ is directed to itself, it adds a duplication of the relayed address information to a RREP (Route REPly) message and transmits back to the transmitting node S by uni-casting.
The relaying node T2 receives the RREP. If the relaying node T2 finds its own address in a relaying address list, it forwards this signal by uni-casting.
The relaying node T1 performs similar processing.
The transmitting node S receives the RREP. Based on the combination of address information ADDS and ADDD, the transmitting node S recognizes that this signal is a reply to the RREQ previously sent by itself, and understands the relayed routing information (S-T1-T2-D).
[Patent Document #1] Japanese Laid-open Publication 2003-230167
However, in a conventional DSR ad hoc network system, there is no authentication on the routing control signals RREQ or RREP, and therefore there is a risk that wrong routing control information is adapted. The address information of the transmitting node, the receiving node and the relaying nodes is stored in the header under condition that everyone can read them, and therefore third parties can easily identify the transmitting node and the receiving node, resulting in a privacy problem.

Mobile node, an ad hoc network routing controlling method and an ad hoc network system


Method for characterizing subterranean formation is described. One method involves simulating a poroelastic pressure response of known fracture geometry utilizing a geomechanical model to generate a simulated poroelastic pressure response. Compiling a database of simulated poroelastic pressure responses. Measuring a poroelastic pressure response of the subterranean formation during a hydraulic fracturing operation to generate a measured poroelastic pressure response. Identifying a closest simulated poroelastic pressure response in the library of simulated poroelastic pressure response. Estimating a geometrical parameter of a fracture or fractures in the subterranean formation based on the closest simulated poroelastic pressure response.

During hydraulic fracturing stimulation process, highly pressurized fluids are injected into a reservoir rock. Fractures are created when the pressurized fluids overcome breaking strength of the rock (i.e., fluid pressure exceeds in-situ stress). These induced fractures and fracture systems (network of fractures) can act as pathways through which oil and natural gas migrate en route to a borehole and eventually brought up to surface. Efficiently and accurately characterizing created fracture systems is important for optimizing hydraulic fracturing. Determination and evaluation of hydraulic fracture geometry can influence field development practices in a number of important ways such as, but not limited to, well spacing/placement design, infill well drilling and timing, and completion design.
More recently, fracturing of shale from horizontal wells to produce gas has become increasingly important. Horizontal wellbore may be formed to reach desired regions of a formation not readily accessible. When hydraulically fracturing horizontal wells, multiple stages (in some cases dozens of stages) of fracturing can occur in a single well. These fracture stages are implemented in a single well bore to increase production levels and provide effective drainage. In many cases, there can also be multiple wells per location.
There are several conventional techniques (e.g., microseismic imaging) for characterizing geometry, location, and complexity of hydraulic fractures. As an indirect method, microseismic imaging technique can suffer from a number of issues which limit its effectiveness. While microseismic imaging can capture shear failure of natural fractures activated during well stimulation, it is typically less effective at capturing tensile opening of hydraulic fractures itself. Moreover, there is considerable debate on interpretations of microseismic events as it relates to hydraulic fractures.
While our understanding of what hydraulic fractures look like in shale reservoirs has improved, data acquisition for most wells tend to be limited with little to no information for characterizing stimulated reservoir volume (SRV). Hence, completion and reservoir engineers are often left to rely on production performance over several months/years to optimize field design and evaluate effectiveness of a completion design. Thus, one of the key challenges in hydraulic fracturing is accelerating this learning process to improve well performance and recovery.

Ubiquitous real-time fracture monitoring


An auditable security system for preventing unlawful diversion of goods and/or services is provided. The security system includes a secure enclosure, an access control system that generates audit data, cameras proximal to the access control system, cameras located in the secure enclosure, a video management system that manages the cameras and generates video data, an exterior computing system configured to allow users to interface with the access control system, the video management system and data stored by the systems, and a database configured for storing data stored by the access control system and the video management system. When a user interacts with the access control system, the cameras begin generating audio and video data, which is stored, along with audit data, in the connected database. The audit data and video data is also provided to a third-party system for processing.

A secure enclosure is any reinforced container, vault, cabinet, vault door, safe or room that is used to hold valuables. A secure enclosure typically includes an interior volume, a reinforced enclosure (usually composed of metal and/or composite material), a door, a lock and a user interface, with which the user interacts. There are a variety of different uses for secure enclosures, including in residential homes, medical offices, industrial warehouses, retail shops, banks, and the like. As a result, secure enclosures have been, and will continue to be, used in a wide range of different sectors for diverse applications.
One of the problems associated with conventional secure enclosures is the lack of a fully integrated security system. Typically, security systems for secure enclosures are built separately and later added to a secure enclosure. This limits the features of the security system and limits the range of secure enclosures that are compatible with said security system. Furthermore, a security system that is later added to a secure enclosure may not be compatible with other systems integrated with the secure enclosure, such as an access system.
Another problem with conventional secure enclosures is the inability of external nodes to interface with the access control system of the secure enclosure. For security reasons, typical access control systems are unitary systems that cannot interface with external nodes, such as databases and analytical tools. This reduces or eliminates the ability of users to gain analytical data about the use of the secure enclosure. This leads to another problem associated with conventional secure enclosures—the lack of auditable data. Conventional secure enclosures, especially secure enclosures with access control systems, usually lack the ability to store relevant data and metadata about the use of the secure enclosures, such as the dates and times the secure enclosure was accessed, the identity of the users that accessed the secure enclosure, the credentials used to access the secure enclosure, and the activity that occurred when the secure enclosure was accessed. This lack of information limits the ability of administrators and/or law enforcement to conduct an investigation if there is an unlawful diversion of valuables from the secure enclosure.
Therefore, a need exists for improvements over the prior art, and more particularly for more efficient methods and systems for providing a security system for secure enclosures for diverse applications.

Auditable security system for secure enclosures


Various systems and methods for request distribution are described herein. In an example, a system for request distribution includes a storage to store instructions and a processor. In an example, upon execution of the instructions, the processor instructs the system to identify an endpoint for routing a request based on a request value using a global lookup table. In an example, upon execution of the instructions, the processor instructs the system to generate a case identifier, wherein the case identifier includes a case hint based on the endpoint for routing the request. In an example, upon execution of the instructions, the processor instructs the system to route the request to an independent scale group based on the case hint, wherein the independent scale group is selected based on a co-location of a geographic interaction point for a service agent and a data shard corresponding to the request.

Routing a large number of requests from customers, employees, and business partners can be handled by a communications system to match these requestors with an agent to handle their request. Managing a large number of requests can involve requestors and data that is dispersed across many geographic locations. Many locations may include their own local rules of communication. The large potential distance between the locations of a requesting user, an agent, and the data to address the request can cause latency issues that can increase in seriousness corresponding to the number of requests made and addressed over time.


A flexible scheme for forming a multi-layer capacitor structure is provided. The multi-layer capacitor structure includes a first electrode and a second electrode extending through at least one metallization layer, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are separated by dielectric materials. In each of the metallization layers, the first electrode comprises a first bus and first fingers connected to the first bus, wherein the first bus comprises a first leg in a first direction, and wherein the first fingers are parallel to each other and are in a second direction. The first direction and the second direction form an acute angle. In each of the metallization layers, the second electrode comprises a second bus and second fingers connected to the second bus, wherein the second fingers are parallel to the first fingers in a same metallization layer.

Capacitors are widely used in integrated circuits. One of the most commonly used capacitors is the metal-oxide-metal (MOM) capacitor. FIG. 1 illustrates a typical MOM capacitor, which includes a bottom plate 2, a top plate 6, and an insulation layer 4 therebetween. The bottom plate 2 and top plate 6 are formed of conductive materials.
As is known in the art, the capacitance of a MOM capacitor is proportional to its area and the dielectric constant (k) of the insulation layer, and is inversely proportional to the thickness of the insulation layer. Therefore, to increase the capacitance, it is preferable to increase the area and k value and to reduce the thickness of the insulation layer. However, the thickness and k value are often limited by the technology used for forming the capacitor. For example, the thickness cannot be less than what the existing technology allows. On the other hand, since the MOM capacitors are often formed in low-k dielectric layers, the ability to increase the k value is also limited.
Methods for increasing the area of the capacitor have also been explored. A problem associated with increased area is that greater chip area is required. This dilemma is solved by the introduction of vertical (multi-layer) capacitors. A typical vertical MOM capacitor 10 is shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a capacitor 10, which includes two metal electrodes 12 and 14 separated by dielectric materials. Each of the metal electrodes 12 and 14 form a three-dimensional structure. For clarity, metal electrode 12 is shown as unpatterned, and metal electrode 14 is patterned with dots.
Each of the metal electrodes 12 and 14 include more than one layer connected by vias, and each layer is formed in a metallization layer commonly used for the formation of interconnect structures. FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of a first metal layer (please refer to the middle layer in FIG. 2). Metal electrode 12 includes fingers 122 and a bus 121 that connects all the fingers 122. Metal electrode 14 includes fingers 142 and a bus 141 that connects all the fingers 142. Fingers 122 and 142 are placed in an alternating pattern with a very small space between the neighboring fingers. Therefore, each finger 122/142 forms a sub capacitor(s) with its neighboring fingers 142/122 or a bus 141/121. The total capacitance is equivalent to the sum of the sub capacitors.
FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of the capacitor 10 in a second metallization layer (refer to the top or the bottom layer in FIG. 2), which overlies or underlies the first metallization layer. Typically, the direction of the fingers in the second metallization layer is orthogonal to the direction of fingers in the first metallization layer. Similarly, electrodes 12 and 14 in the second metallization layer include buses 121 and 141 and a plurality of fingers 122 and 142, respectively. Typically, buses 121 in all the layers have similar shapes and sizes and are overlapped vertically. Buses 141 in all the layers also have similar shapes and sizes and are overlapped vertically. Vias 16 connect buses 121 in the first and the second metallization layers, thereby forming an integral electrode 12. Similarly, vias 18 connect buses 141 in neighboring layers, thereby forming an integral electrode 14.
In addition to the capacitance in each of the metallization layers, the capacitance of capacitor 10 also includes portions created by the overlap between the different layers. FIG. 5 illustrates electrode 12 in the first metallization layer and electrode 14 in the second metallization layer. Note that overlapped portions 19 contribute to the total capacitance of capacitor 10.
In the conventional capacitor shown in FIGS. 2 through 5, fingers 122 are orthogonal to the connecting bus 121, and fingers 142 are orthogonal to the connecting bus 141. The capacitors having such a structure thus require rectangular-shaped chip areas. If an irregular chip area is available, only a sub area having a rectangular shape can be used to form a capacitor. The chip area usage is thus low. Therefore, a more flexible capacitor design is needed.

Flexible metal-oxide-metal capacitor design

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


A memory cell comprises a first inverter (IA) and a second inverter (IB) coupled upside down to each other between a first node (A) and a second node (B), and a first access transistor (TA) having a drain coupled to the first node (A), a gate coupled to a word line (WL) and a source coupled to a bit line (BLREAD). The memory cell also comprises a reference transistor (TC) having a drain coupled to the first node (A) and a source coupled to a reference line (BLREF), a cut-off potential (GND) being applied to a gate of the reference transistor (TC). Moreover, an SRAM cell comprising a reference transistor for neutralizing leakage current and associated read and write method is described.

A prior art memory cell is shown in FIG. 1. The memory cell includes a first inverter IA and a second inverter IB connected upside down to each other between a first node A and a second node B, and a first access transistor TA having a drain connected to a first node A, a gate connected to a word line WL and a source connected to a bit line BLT. It also has a second access transistor TB having a drain connected to the second node B, a gate connected to the word line WL and a source connected to a second bit line BLF.
FIG. 2 illustrates N+1 memory cells P0, P1, . . . , PN as described here above, associated to form a row of a prior art SRAM memory, the row also comprising a differential read amplifier SA. All the cells P0, P1, . . . , PN are connected to the same bit rows BLF and BLT. However, each cell is connected to a different word line WL0, WL1, . . . , WLN. The amplifier SA is a differential amplifier. It has two differential inputs respectively connected to the first bit line and the second bit line.
To program a memory cell of the row of cells, a potential VDD is applied to the word line WL associated with the cell to be programmed and, depending on the piece of data, 0 or 1, to be programmed in the memory cell, a zero potential (ground connection) or the potential VDD is applied to the first bit line BLT, and a potential is applied to the line BLF that is the inverse of the potential applied to the line BLT. In one example, to program a logic 0 in the cell P0, VDD is applied to the lines WL0, BLF and the line BLT is connected to ground. After the programming of a 0, the cell A is at the 0 potential and the cell B is at the potential VDD.
To read the content of a memory cell, for example that of the cell P0 in FIG. 2, the two bit lines BLF and BLT are first of all pre-charged at a power supply potential VDD. Then, the potential VDD is applied to the corresponding word line WL0 (WL0=logic 1) to select the cell P0 (the other word lines are ground-connected: WL1= . . . =WLN=0) and the two bit lines BLF and BLT are made floating. Since the line WL0 is at the potential VDD, the access transistors TA0, TB0 of the memory cell P0 are on. Furthermore, since the node A0 of the cell P0 is at 0 and the line BLT is at the potential VDD, the two sides of the channel of the transistor TA0 are at a different potential, so that a current IREAD flows in this channel. This current IREAD will discharge the line BLT and thus gradually bring its potential to 0. However, since the node B0 of the cell P0 and the line BLF are at the same potential VDD, the two sides of the channel of the transistor TB0 are at the same potential and no current flows in this channel. The line BLF remains at the potential VDD. At the end of a certain period of time, the amplifier SA in principle detects a difference in potential between the lines BLT, BLF and accordingly produces a piece of data corresponding to the piece of data stored in the memory cell, i.e. a logic 0 if the potential at the line BLF is greater than the potential at the line BLT (this is the case of the cell P0 in FIG. 1), else a logic 1.
The reading is possible only if a potential difference of sufficient amplitude appears between the lines BLT and BLF. Now, because of leaks inherent in the access transistors TA, TB of the memory cells of the row, it is possible that this potential difference will never be sufficient, so that it will not be possible to read a cell accurately.
Indeed, even when it is properly turned off by an appropriate potential applied to its gate, a transistor shows leaks when a difference in potential appears between its drain and its source. In the example of FIG. 2, it is assumed that logic 1 values are stored in the cells P1, . . . , PN: the nodes A1, . . . , AN are thus at 1 and the nodes B1, . . . , BN are at 0. With the cell P0 being selected (WL0=1, the transistors TB1, TBN are off (WL1=0, WLN=0); despite this, leakage currents IOFF1, . . . , IOFFN are set up between the drain and the source of the transistors TB1, . . . , TBN. These currents IOFF are related to the potential difference between the line BLF and the cells TB1, . . . , TBN, and to the leakages inherent in the transistors TB1, TBN. They are identical if the transistors TB1, TBN are identical. They will together gradually discharge the potential of the line BLF. Assuming the worst case, if all the cells P1, . . . , PN store a logic 1, then a current equal to N*IOFF discharges the potential of the line BLF.
Although useful, this prior art SRAM memory cell configuration is not without its shortcomings. One shortcoming is if the current N*IOFF is close to the current IREAD, then the two lines BLT and BLF will get discharged simultaneously and along a similar slope so that the difference in potential between these two lines will never be great enough to enable accurate reading of the content of the memory cell P0.
In order to accommodate this shortcoming, it can be seen in practice that it is necessary to have IREAD/(N*IOFF) greater than 5 to enable accurate reading of a cell of the row of N memory cells. Since the current IOFF cannot be limited (it is inherent to the access transistors), it is necessary to limit the number N of cells associated with the same read amplifier SA to be able to ensure accurate reading of the content of the memory cells. It is therefore necessary either to limit the total number of memory cells of a SRAM memory (which obviously limits its capacity), or to add read amplifiers, leading to an increase in the size (in terms of surface area and volume of silicon occupied) of the memory. By way of an indication, for certain memories, N is limited to 128.
Accordingly, a need exists to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and to provide a SRAM memory design with improved leakage current characteristics.


The present invention relates to a light beam emission device for a measuring device for changing the optical properties of a light beam as well as to a corresponding method and to a measuring instrument which uses the light beam emission device, wherein the optical properties of the light beam can be changed automatically thereby from one state to another state. The light beam emission device comprises a base body with an opening for the passage of the light beam; a head which is arranged rotatably around a rotation axis on the base body, and which corresponds substantially to the propagation direction of the light beam through the base body; an optical element, which is arranged turnably around a turning axis on the head; and a turning mechanism for producing a turning of the optical element around the turning axis; wherein the turning mechanism is designed to turn the optical element to a first position and to a second position, second position in which the optical element is located in the light beam, so that the optical properties of the light beam are changed depending on the function of the optical element.

Various types of measuring instruments are used for measuring distances and angles between objects. Here, several conventional measuring instruments, such as surveying instruments, for example, use a laser light source for measuring the distance from or the position of an object by carrying out an electro-optical measurement.
A special measuring instrument, the leveling apparatus or laser leveling apparatus, can measure, for example, with the aid of a measuring rule, differences in height and establish height horizons. For example, a leveling apparatus comprises a targeting telescope which, using a level or a pendulum compensator, can be oriented perpendicularly to the plumb line direction. In addition to the measurement of positions, particularly of differences in height, horizontal surfaces or vertical surfaces can also be established.
To measure distance or position, the user must verify that the laser beam of the laser light source actually impinges on the object at a desired position. However, a laser point which impinges, for example, on a wall, is usually very small, and in a Z mode (i.e., a through beam is horizontal and a deflected beam orthogonal to said through beam), in the case of a large distance, a user may have difficulties finding the laser point with the naked eye or with a conventional photodetector. In addition, the intensity of the laser beam decreases over the distance, so that the intensity of the light that is scattered back by the wall decreases further.
Therefore it can be very expensive and sometimes even impossible to find the laser point with the eye or by moving a photodetector in a target area, owing to the small size of the laser point and of the distance from the laser source.
Furthermore, finding a small laser point becomes even more complicated under outside conditions in the field, such as, for example, ambient light, snow, rain and wind, where a rapid and reliable detection is desirable.
A positioning device and a positioning method that make it possible to find a center of a laser beam more rapidly and more easily, particularly by using a fanned laser beam or fan-like laser beam, is described, for example, in the German patent application having the reference DE 11 2008 003 912.7.
The generation of a fanned laser beam is, however, not trivial. Since a measurement of a distance or a measurement of an angle is not possible with a fanned laser beam or a similarly uncollimated light beam, one must provide either different light sources for the fanned laser beam and an unchanged laser beam, or a way has to be found to introduce an optical element into the laser beam and remove it therefrom, as needed. Such a mechanism is not only helpful in generating a fanned laser beam, but it can also be used to change the propagation direction of a laser beam or other optical properties.
A laser beam which has been fanned out by swiveling in a cylindrical lens can generate a light cone by rotation of the cylindrical lens in the laser beam, so that, using an appropriate emission device for a light beam or for a laser beam, several basic conditions with regard to geometry and user friendliness have to be taken into consideration.
There is a need therefore to provide a light beam emission device for a measuring instrument and a corresponding method which make it possible to change the optical properties of a light beam in a simple and reproducible manner.

Light beam emission device for a measuring device and method for changing the optical properties of a light beam


Synchronizing ancillary data to content including audio includes obtaining a representation of the content's audio and ancillary data pegged to instants in the representation of the content's audio, and aligning the representation of the content's audio to the content's audio to synchronize the ancillary data pegged to the instants in the representation of the content's audio to the content.

Media content is produced, processed, and then transmitted to consumers. In addition to traditional media content, the proliferation of electronic communications technologies has allowed for mass delivery of ancillary data related to or enhancing the content. For example, technologies such as instant messaging provide a medium by which to deliver electronic information to a large number of people very quickly. Electronic devices including, for example, personal computers, mobile phones, personal digital assistants, smart phones, and television set-top boxes (e.g., cable set top boxes, satellite set top boxes, etc.), provide ready access to consumers of information. The type and content of ancillary data that may be delivered via modern communication technologies varies greatly and comprises everything from personal information to advertisement. Ancillary data can take on various forms from simple text, to graphics, to video, to content containing numerous layers of data.
But current technologies are deficient in extracting such ancillary data for subsequent processing. Current methods of synchronization of content and ancillary data, for example, may require an explicit data connection between the source and the target or consumer and are often unidirectional. Other current methods of synchronization may rely on metadata which may or may not be present all the way through the signal chain as different facilities will use various workflows which may or may not support metadata.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An automobile including an exercise apparatus for use by the driver while driving is described. The apparatus may integrate the user's exercise performance into control of the vehicle's speed, acceleration and braking.

The automobile has long been a staple of daily life. While it provides comfort and easy access to remote locations in all weather conditions, time spent commuting behind a steering wheel is largely time taken from other activities. One activity most individuals could use more of is exercise. The demands of a working schedule and fatigue at the end of a workday rob many of the opportunity to exercise. Twenty-first century vehicles now provide features that make exercise while driving a possibility. Features such as drive by wire and autonomous driving allow the driver to use an exercise device safely and offer the possibility of engaging the driver's exercise level with the vehicle's motion control.

Motorized vehicle incorporating exercise apparatus


A thermostatic mixer device for sanitary appliances, includes: a cartridge envelope; a distributor bottom member with intake openings for cold and hot water, a delivery opening for mixed water, and elements for controlling and intercepting the delivered flow rate; a mixing member located inside the envelope, forming a cylinder, control openings and passageways for directing hot water and cold water from the intake openings to the respective control openings; a distribution slide valve, sealingly sliding in the axial direction within the cylinder of the mixing member, and cooperating with the control openings in order to partially shut the control openings in opposite senses; a thermometric element for displacing the distributing slide valve against the action of a return spring; and control elements for establishing the temperature desired for the delivered mixed water. The envelope and mixing member form, in a single piece, a sole containment and mixing member which, with its outer portions, forms the envelope containing the mixer device, with its inner portions forms the cylinder cooperating with the distribution slide valve and the control openings, and by cooperation of the outer and inner portions determines the passageways.

In the known embodiments of these types of thermostatic mixer devices, said mixing member located inside the envelope forms a member separated from the envelope shaped as a skirt. As a consequence it is needed to separately manufacture these two members and to assemble the same before they are connected to the other component parts of the mixer device. Therefore, this structure involves complications in manufacturing and assembling the device, which have a negative influence both on the manufacturing costs and on the organization of the production.

Studio Tecnico Sviluppo e Ricerche S.T.S.R. S.R.L.