A database used by a consumer reporting agency for storing application information data in association with transaction and experience information. A consumer applying for credit submits personal and financial information either verbally or by filling out a form. The application information data submitted verbally or by a form is submitted by an institution along with a request for a credit report on the consumer. The consumer reporting agency receives the request and stores the application information separately from the transaction and experience information. Each time an institution submits application information data related to the consumer, the data is accumulated in successive records and maintained. In response to a request for a report on a consumer, the consumer reporting agency forwards a response based on the application records accumulated.

A substantial percentage of personal and business financial transactions are carried out by the use of credit. When one has established an acceptable line of credit, the use of credit to finance a transaction is a rudimentary procedure. However, in order to grant a person or business credit, a number of factors must be found to be acceptable. These factors are generally gleaned from an accumulation of information about the consumer desiring to establish credit. A database of the accumulated consumer credit information has historically been maintained by the consumer credit reporting industry.
An example of the chain of events that occurs in obtaining credit sufficient for paying for goods and services is as follows. A consumer seeking to establish credit with an institution, such as a retail store, fills out an application for credit. Application forms generally request that the consumer provide all types of personal and historical information concerning his/her finances, employment history, and other information unique to the person. The institution then uses the personal identifying information from the application form and makes a request with a consumer reporting agency to provide a credit report on file for the consumer, if such a file exists. The consumer credit information stored by the consumer reporting agency in relation to the consumer is transferred to the institution for analysis to determine if the consumer is worthy of credit. If the consumer does not have credit considered to be sufficient, then the consumer is denied credit by the institution. On the other hand, if the consumer has a history of sufficiently good credit, then credit may be extended by the institution.
Computer automation in the consumer credit reporting industry began in the 1960's and continued to expand within the industry in the 1970's. This change to the automation or computerization of consumer records and the procedure in the consumer credit reporting industry revolutionized the way information was gathered, processed, and accessed, not only by the consumer reporting agencies, but also by the institutions that purchased the consumer reports and related services.
Prior to this time of automation, the activities of building, maintaining and providing consumer credit information was a manual and labor intensive process. Many of the records were of the paper or documentary form, and thus the generating, updating and correction of the same was an onerous task. Even the early computerized systems were very limited in speed, storage capacity and the number of requests that could be processed per unit of time. As the credit reporting industry evolved, the procedures for obtaining consumer credit information has become more complicated, as has the type and amount of information available. In addition, many safeguards must be built into the consumer reporting database to assure that the data is not only accurate, but that the consumer credit information is provided only to the appropriate institutions or individuals. The fraudulent procurement by one party of another's credit information can lead to substantial monetary losses, as well as damage to the other party's credit.
Building a consumer reporting database required multiple processes to be executed in order to achieve the basic goal of establishing a "file" for each credit active consumer, and to periodically add existing credit account information for each consumer to the consumer's file. One process that was employed to build a consumer reporting database was the solicitation of past and current credit account information from institutions. With each credit account reported by the institution to the consumer reporting agency, either the newly-reported credit account would be added to the database file of an existing consumer, or the newly-reported credit account would be used to build a new file for a consumer who did not previously have a database file.
Another process in building a consumer reporting information database was the gathering of public record data from courthouses. Each segment of a public record associated with consumer credit information would be either added to an existing consumer's file, or would be used to establish a new file when that consumer did not previously have a database file.
As the computer automation of records and procedures began to grow in the consumer credit reporting industry, the basic goals for building a consumer information database remained, but many of the methods changed. Institutions began reporting credit account information by way of computer tapes. Consumer reporting agencies would process the tapes and either add the credit account information to an existing consumer's file in the computerized consumer information database, or created a new file for that consumer if no file previously existed in the computerized consumer information database.
The method for requesting and receiving consumer information from institutions also changed dramatically. Prior to computer automation, the exchange of consumer credit information between the consumer credit reporting industry and the institutions took place verbally by way of telephone conversations. After computer automation, the institutions began to electronically access consumer reports with computer terminals. The computerized consumer reporting systems employed programs that permitted the institutions to data enter information uniquely identifying the consumer. This unique information obtained from a credit application filled out by the consumer was entered into the computer terminal to request and receive a credit report associated with the consumer applying for credit. These computer programs limited the amount of application information that could be provided by the institution in the request for a consumer report. The application information was generally limited to personal identification, such as name, address, date of birth, social security number, telephone number and employment information.
More recently, consumer reports are purchased electronically, but the vast majority are not accessed from computer terminals operated by the computerized consumer reporting systems. Institutions purchasing consumer reports frequently data enter all of the information on the applications into their own computerized application processing systems. The use of such application information is for internal purposes of the institution, and is not reported or made available to consumer reporting agencies.
These computerized application processing systems of the institutions are adapted for electronically transmitting requests to the computerized consumer credit reporting systems for obtaining consumer reports. While the application information is available and accessible by the institution in its computerized application processing systems, only limited information that personally identifies the consumer, and his or her employment information, is transmitted to and integrated into the database of the computerized consumer credit reporting systems.
Application information is personal data about a person consisting of, but not limited to, information such as name, address, phone number, place of employment, marital status, number of dependents, and income. Other types of application information may include additional personal data related to assets, liabilities, personal property, debt, and other contacts the person may have.
Application information is provided to institutions by persons seeking something of value. Institutions use the application information as one of the tools in making positive identification of the person to whom the institution is providing something of value.
However, there are situations that occur where a person's identity information is stolen and used by other persons for fraudulent purposes in order to gain material wealth for themselves.
Identity theft has become one of the fastest growing crimes across the country, according to many law enforcement agencies. In the course of a day, persons fill out applications for home loans, cell phones, credit cards, apartment leases, and a host of other things, so that they can enjoy both the necessities and the luxuries of life. Many do not realize how much personal information is passed on to total strangers who may use and abuse it for their personal gain, that is, steal someone's personal identity information to secure goods and services for themselves and, perhaps, sell the ID to others for their personal gain.
Identity theft started with thieves trying to steal "wallet-type" information, i.e., name, address, social security number, credit cards and more. The thief would use the information to contact a person's credit card issuer and change the mailing address so that charges could be run up and the bills would be sent to a new address and never paid until months had passed and thousands of dollars had been charged to the credit card.
Identity thieves obtain personal information in several other ways also: from trash dumpsters, by posing as someone they are not to get information, by illegally obtaining credit reports on persons, and by buying information from "inside" sources.
Identity protection systems worked to try and provide security for victims whose ID was stolen by using picture IDs and some forms of electronic verification, but it was not enough, as thieves continued to find ways to steal the basic identification information. As a result, persons who have their identities stolen spend months or years, and thousands of dollars, cleaning up the problems created by identity thieves, not to mention the embarrassing phone calls and letters they receive from collectors telling them they owe money and that they are seriously past due.
The effects of identity theft are felt in virtually every industry in the business world—banking, telecommunications, computers, and many others. There is a very large need for a method that would provide even greater protection for both persons and the institutions with which the persons conduct business. One such method would compare application information from a person seeking something of value from an institution, to a database containing application information compiled and stored from other institutions in order to test the validity of new application information. This technique would provide the institutions with a method for establishing positive identification.
From the foregoing, it can be seen that a need exists for a technique to build a computerized consumer credit reporting system that is capable of requesting, receiving and storing all of the information that is available on a consumer's application for credit, insurance or employment. Such application information may be used for, but not limited to, applying for credit, insurance, or employment, and verifying that the consumer is who he or she portrays themselves to be.
There is a further need for a technique to store the application information in a manner such that the application information is retained and maintained as clearly identifiable. In other words, the integration of some of the application information into the account data of the consumer does not compromise the integrity of the application information itself. The application information remains clearly distinctive and is maintained separate from the account data of the consumer.
Yet another need exists for storing in the database of the consumer reporting agency not only all of the application information, but also an indication of when and what institution submitted the application information.
A further need exists for reducing instances in which persons use the database information to steal the identity of another person. The application information stored in the database is not available to the public in general, except for a consumer requesting his/her own credit report, and even then the consumer must submit substantial detailed information that matches the detailed information stored in the consumer's application information file.
An additional need exists for a technique for automatically comparing the information submitted by a consumer in an application, with the corresponding stored application information to determine inconsistencies therebetween. When a number of inconsistencies result from the comparison, then the transaction may be tagged as one in which an identity of a consumer is attempted to be stolen.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Database structure for a consumer reporting agency


A new and improved bonding pad having separate areas for probe needle contact and wire bonding in semiconductor packaging technology. The bonding pad typically has a generally elongated, rectangular configuration with a wire bonding area at one end and a probe needle contact area at the other end of the pad. At least one notch mark may be provided on or adjacent to the bonding pad between the wire bonding area and the probe needle contact area for demarcating these areas during chip production.

The present invention relates to packaging of semiconductor integrated circuits. More particularly, the present invention relates to a new and improved bonding pad having separate areas for probe needle contact and wire bonding in semiconductor packaging technology.
One of the last processes in the production of semiconductor integrated circuits (IC) is multi-leveled packaging, which includes expanding the electrode pitch of the IC chips containing the circuits for subsequent levels of packaging; protecting the chip from mechanical and environmental stress; providing proper thermal paths for channeling heat dissipated by the chip; and forming electronic interconnections. The manner in which the IC chips are packaged dictates the overall cost, performance, and reliability of the packaged chips, as well as of the system in which the package is applied.
Package types for IC chips can be broadly classified into two groups: hermetic-ceramic packages and plastic packages. A chip packaged in a hermetic package is isolated from the ambient environment by a vacuum-tight enclosure. The package is typically ceramic and is utilized in high-performance applications. A chip packaged in a plastic package, on the other hand, is not completely isolated from the ambient environment because the package is composed of an epoxy-based resin. Consequently, ambient air is able to penetrate the package and adversely affect the chip over time. Recent advances in plastic packaging, however, has expanded their application and performance capability. Plastic packages are cost-effective due to the fact that the production process is typically facilitated by automated batch-handling.
A recent development in the packaging of IC chips is the ball grid array (BGA) package, which may be utilized with either ceramic packages or plastic packages and involves different types of internal package structures. The BGA package uses multiple solder balls or bumps for electrical and mechanical interconnection of IC chips to other microelectronic devices. The solder bumps serve to both secure the IC chip to a circuit board and electrically interconnect the chip circuitry to a conductor pattern formed on the circuit board. The BGA technique is included under a broader connection technology known as xe2x80x9cControlled Collapse Chip Connection-C4xe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cflip-chipxe2x80x9d technology.
Flip chip technology can be used in conjunction with a variety of circuit board types, including ceramic substrates, printed wiring boards, flexible circuits, and silicon substrates. The solder bumps are typically located at the perimeter of the flip chip on electrically conductive bond pads that are electrically interconnected with the circuitry on the flip chip. Because of the numerous functions typically performed by the microcircuitry of a flip chip, a relatively large number of solder bumps are often required. The size of a flip chip is typically on the order of about thirteen millimeters per side, resulting in crowding of the solder bumps along the perimeter of the flip chip. Consequently, flip chip conductor patterns are typically composed of numerous individual conductors that are often spaced apart about 0.1 millimeter or less.
Wirebonding is the most common technique for establishing electrical connection between the bonding pads on the surface of a chip or die and the inner lead terminals, or posts, on the leadframe or substrate. A section of a typical conventional wirebonded chip 26 is shown schematically in FIG. 1 and may include multiple wire bonding balls 10, each of which is directly bonded to the continuous upper surface of a bonding pad 14, typically rectangular in configuration, as shown in FIG. 1A, and partially covered by a passivation layer 12. A pad opening 13 in the passivation layer 12 exposes the bonding pad 14, through which pad opening 13 the bonding ball 10 extends. The bonding pad 14 is surrounded by a dielectric layer 15 such as an oxide in the chip 26. As further shown in FIG. 1, the bonding pad 14 is provided in electrical contact with an upper conductive layer 16, which is separated from an underlying conductive layer 22 by an insulative layer 18. The conductive layers 16, 22 are disposed in electrical contact with each other through conductive vias 20 that extend through the insulative layers 18. The various insulative layers 18 and conductive layers 22 are sequentially deposited on a silicon substrate 24 throughout semiconductor fabrication, in conventional fashion. Each bonding ball 10 connects a bonding wire 28, through a lead 30, to the terminals (not shown) on the leadframe or substrate (not shown), as shown in FIG. 2.
As further shown in FIG. 2, the bonding pads 14 are typically arranged in rows which extend adjacent to respective edges of the chip 26. Prior to packaging and formation of the bonding balls 10 on the respective bonding pads 14, the chip 26 is subjected to parametric testing which utilizes test structures to assess the electrical characteristics and reliability of the devices on the wafer. Probe cards are typically used as an interface between the devices on the chip and automated test equipment. The probe card typically includes a printed circuit board from which extends multiple probe needles 34, each of which is disposed in electrical contact with the device through the respective bonding pads 14, as shown in FIG. 3. Each probe needle 34 typically contacts the approximate center of the bonding pad 14 at a pressure of typically about 2-3 grams. Consequently, the probe needle 34 typically forms a scrub mark 32 and a hump 33 of pad material in the center of the bonding pad 14, as shown in FIG. 4.
As further shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the probe needle contact area 8, which was contacted by the probe needle 34 in the testing step, substantially overlaps and typically circumscribes the wire bonding area 6 on the bonding pad 14 to which the bonding ball 10 is subsequently bonded in the packaging step. Due to the presence of the probe needle scrub mark 32 and the hump 33 in the surface of the bonding pad 14, such an overlap area between the wire bonding area 6 and the probe needle contact area 8 on the bonding pad 14 reduces the effective bonding area for the bonding ball 10 on the bump pad 14. This decreased bonding area for the bonding ball 10 tends to reduce effective bonding of the bonding ball 10 to the bonding pad 14. Accordingly, there is an established need for a new layout for a bonding pad which provides separate test probing and ball or wire bonding areas on the bonding pad.
An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved layout for a bonding pad for IC (integrated circuit) chips.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method which enhances wafer sort yield and productivity by relaxing probe mark specifications in the testing of chips.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method for providing separate areas for test probing and bonding on a bonding pad and demarcating the areas during chip production.
Another embodiment of the present invention is to provide a new and improved bonding pad which enhances bonding of a solder bump or bond wire to the bump pad.
Still another embodiment of the present invention is to provide a new and improved bonding pad which provides a bonding area which is sufficiently large for effective bonding of a solder bump or bond wire to the bump pad.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved bonding pad which provides an intact bonding area for the bonding of a solder bump or a bond wire to the bonding pad.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved bonding pad which is particularly advantageous for fine pitch pad design applications.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved bonding pad which provides separate areas for probe needle contact and solder bump or wire bonding on the pad.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved bonding pad in which probe needle contact and solder bump or wire bonding areas on the pad are indicated by a visual mark.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved bonding pad provided with one or multiple notch marks for separating an area for probe needle contact from an area for solder bump or wire bonding in the pad.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method which is suitable for both flip chip bumping and wire bonding technologies.
In accordance with these and other objects and advantages, the present invention is generally directed to a new and improved bonding pad having separate areas for probe needle contact and wire bonding in semiconductor packaging technology. The bonding pad typically has a generally elongated, rectangular configuration with a wire bonding area at one end and a probe needle contact area at the other end of the pad. At least one notch mark may be provided on or adjacent to the bonding pad between the wire bonding area and the probe needle contact area for demarcating these areas during chip production.

Bonding pad with separate bonding and probing areas

Taiwan Semiconductor Maunfacturing Co., Ltd.


A zoom lens assembly may enlarge/reduce an image without shifting a position of a lens set. A housing, a zoom lens unit and a drive unit may be provided. The zoom lens unit may include a plurality of lenses stationarily arranged within the housing by being spaced apart in prescribed distance from each other along an optic axis. The plurality of the lenses respectively have variable refractive indexes without a position shift. The drive unit may pressurize a prescribed one of the lenses to vary the refractive index of the prescribed lens. The controller may control the drive unit to change a focal distance of the zoom lens unit to enlarge or reduce an image.

1. Field
Embodiments may relate to a zoom lens assembly and/or a mobile terminal that includes a zoom lens assembly. Embodiments may enlarge/reduce an image without shifting a position (or positions) of a lens set, decreasing a volume of a camera, and/or making better use of space.
2. Background
A mobile terminal is a device that may perform various functions. Examples of such functions may include data and voice communications, capturing images and video via a camera, recording audio, playing music files and outputting music via a speaker system, and/or displaying images and video on a display. Terminals may include additional functionality that supports game playing, while other terminals may also be configured as multimedia players. Mobile terminals may receive broadcast and multicast signals that permit viewing of contents, such as videos and television programs.
Terminals may be classified into mobile terminals and stationary terminals according to a presence or a non-presence of mobility. The mobile terminals may be further classified as handheld terminals and vehicle mount terminals according to availability for hand-carry.
Ongoing efforts may support and increase functionality of mobile terminals. Such efforts may include software and hardware improvements, as well as changes and improvements in structural components that form the mobile terminal.

Zoom lens assembly and mobile terminal that includes a zoom lens assembly


A slip joint includes a structure that prevents a negative pressure situation from occurring within a sealed lubricant chamber during operation thereof. The slip joint includes a male splined member having a plurality of external splines formed thereon that cooperate with a plurality of internal splines formed on a female splined member. The cooperating splines are disposed within a lubricant chamber defined at one end by a seal assembly and at the other end by a pressure regulator assembly that maintains a positive pressure situation within the lubricant chamber during operation thereof (i.e., a situation where the fluid pressure within the lubricant chamber is greater than or equal to than the fluid pressure outside of the lubricant chamber). To accomplish this, the pressure regulator assembly includes a housing having an open end that faces toward the lubricant chamber. A spring urges the pressure compensator assembly toward the lubricant chamber. As a result, the pressure compensator assembly compresses the lubricant disposed within the sealed lubricant chamber and, accordingly, functions to maintain a positive pressure situation within the lubricant chamber. This positive pressure situation deters contaminants from passing through the seal assembly into the region of the cooperating splines.

This invention relates in general to a slip joint, such as is commonly used in a driveshaft assembly for transmitting rotational force or torque from an engine/transmission to an axle assembly in a vehicle drive train system. In particular, this invention relates to a pressure regulator assembly for use with such a slip joint that compresses a volume of lubricant disposed within a sealed lubricant chamber defined within the slip joint so as to maintain a positive pressure situation within the lubricant chamber and thus deter the entry of contaminants therein.
Drive train systems are widely used for generating power from a source and for transferring such power from the source to a driven mechanism. Frequently, the source generates rotational power, and such rotational power is transferred from the source to a rotatably driven mechanism. For example, in most land vehicles in use today, an engine/transmission assembly generates rotational power, and such rotational power is transferred from an output shaft of the engine/transmission assembly through a driveshaft assembly to an input shaft of an axle assembly so as to rotatably drive the wheels of the vehicle. To accomplish this, a typical driveshaft assembly includes a hollow cylindrical driveshaft tube having a pair of end fittings, such as a pair of tube yokes, secured to the front and rear ends thereof. The front end fitting forms a portion of a front universal joint that connects the output shaft of the engine/transmission assembly to the front end of the driveshaft tube. Similarly, the rear end fitting forms a portion of a rear universal joint that connects the rear end of the driveshaft tube to the input shaft of the axle assembly. The front and rear universal joints provide a rotational driving connection from the output shaft of the engine/transmission assembly through the driveshaft tube to the input shaft of the axle assembly, while accommodating a limited amount of angular misalignment between the rotational axes of these three shafts.
Not only must a typical drive train system accommodate a limited amount of angular misalignment between the source of rotational power and the rotatably driven device, but it must also typically accommodate a limited amount of relative axial movement therebetween. For example, in most vehicles, a small amount of relative axial movement frequently occurs between the engine/transmission assembly and the axle assembly when the vehicle is operated. To address this, it is known to provide a slip joint in the driveshaft assembly. A slip joint includes first and second members that have respective structures formed thereon that cooperate with one another for concurrent rotational movement, while permitting a limited amount of axial movement to occur therebetween. A typical sliding spline type of slip joint includes male and female members having respective pluralities of splines formed thereon. The male member is generally cylindrical in shape and has a plurality of outwardly extending splines formed on the outer surface thereof. The male member may be formed integrally with or secured to one of the end fittings described above to form a slip yoke. The female member, on the other hand, is generally hollow and cylindrical in shape and has a plurality of inwardly extending splines formed on the inner surface thereof. The female member may be formed integrally with or secured to an end of the driveshaft tube described above. To assemble the slip joint, the male member is inserted within the female member such that the outwardly extending splines of the male member cooperate with the inwardly extending splines of the female member. As a result, the male and female members are connected together for concurrent rotational movement. However, the outwardly extending splines of the male member can slide relative to the inwardly extending splines of the female member to allow a limited amount of relative axial movement to occur between the engine/transmission assembly and the axle assembly of the drive train system.
Frequently, the cooperating splines of the male and female splined members are disposed within a lubricant chamber that is defined between a pair of sealing structures provided on the slip joint. To accomplish this, the slip joint typically includes both an external sealing structure and an internal sealing structure. The exterior sealing structure is usually supported on the outer surface of the female splined member and extends inwardly into sliding and sealing engagement with the male splined member to prevent contaminants from entering into the region of the cooperating splines from the exterior environment. The interior sealing structure is often supported within the female splined member to prevent contaminants from entering into the region of the cooperating splines from the interior of the female splined member. A variety of such external and internal sealing structures are known in the art. The sealed lubricant chamber is usually filled with a lubricant that not only reduces the amount of sliding friction between the cooperating splines of the male and female splined members, but also substantially fills the volume of the lubricant chamber to further deter the entry of contaminants therein.
Although the use of such external and internal sealing structures has been effective, it has been found that during normal operation of the driveshaft assembly, the axial movement of the male splined member relative to the female splined member causes the volume of the lubricant chamber to vary. Such changes in the volume of the lubricant chamber can, in some instances, result in a pumping action that can discharge lubricant from the lubricant chamber and thereafter create a negative pressure situation within the lubricant chamber (i.e., a situation where the fluid pressure within the lubricant chamber is less than the fluid pressure outside of the lubricant chamber). This negative pressure situation tends to undesirably draw contaminants through either or both of the sealing structures and into the region of the cooperating splines of the male and female splined members. To prevent this from occurring, it is known to form a vent hole through one of the male and female members. The vent hole communicates with the lubricant chamber to prevent this negative pressure situation from occurring. However, the formation of a vent hole has been found to be undesirable for other reasons. Thus, it would be desirable to provide an improved structure for a slip joint that prevents a negative pressure situation from occurring within the lubricant chamber during operation thereof.
This invention relates to an improved structure for a slip joint that includes a structure that prevents a negative pressure situation from occurring within the lubricant chamber during operation thereof. The slip joint includes a male splined member having a plurality of external splines formed thereon and a female splined member having a plurality of internal splines formed thereon. The external splines of the male splined member cooperate with the internal splines of the female splined member to provide a rotational driving connection therebetween, while accommodating a limited amount of relative axial movement. The cooperating splines are disposed within a lubricant chamber defined at one end by a seal assembly and at the other end by a pressure regulator assembly that maintains a positive pressure situation within the lubricant chamber during operation thereof (i.e., a situation where the fluid pressure within the lubricant chamber is greater than or equal to than the fluid pressure outside of the lubricant chamber). To accomplish this, the pressure regulator assembly includes a housing having an open end that faces toward the lubricant chamber. A spring urges the pressure compensator assembly toward the lubricant chamber. As a result, the pressure compensator assembly compresses the lubricant disposed within the sealed lubricant chamber and, accordingly, functions to maintain a positive pressure situation within the lubricant chamber. This positive pressure situation deters contaminants from passing through the seal assembly into the region of the cooperating splines.
Various objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, when read in light of the accompanying drawings.

Pressure regulator assembly for use with a slip joint in a driveshaft assembly


Disclosed is an image display device and an image display method thereof that may generate a plurality of directional lights based on a number of views of an input image by using a variable scattering feature of a variable scattering layer included in a backlight unit, and may output a multi-view image by using the generated plurality of directional lights.

1. Field
One or more embodiments relate to a scheme of displaying a multi-view image or a multi-view image display device.
2. Description of the Related Art
A multi-view image, a stereoscopic image, and the like may be generated by geometrically correcting and spatially processing images recorded by at least two cameras.
The multi-view image and the like relate to a three-dimensional image processing technique that provides an image with various views to a viewer, and particularly to a technique that obtains a same 3D scene by at least two cameras and provides a picture with a more advanced 3D effect, for example.
Recently, various research has been conducted in the areas of super multi-view (SMV), free viewpoint TV (FTV), and the like, as well as the multi-view images.
A multi-view image and the like may be generated through rendering by using a predetermined input image, such as a monocular image and the like, and a depth map with respect to the input image, for example.


A camshaft drive arrangement for a V type engine having a pair of flexible transmitters that drive intermediate shafts which, in turn, drive respective camshafts associated with the respective cylinder banks. A combined flexible transmitter and guide member is disposed between the flexible transmitters that drive the intermediate shafts for tensioning one of these flexible transmitters and acting as a guide for the other of them.

This invention relates to a V type engine and more particularly to an improved camshaft drive arrangement for a V type engine.
There are many advantages to the use of engines having their cylinders arranged in banks that are disposed at angular relationship to each other to provide a V shaped configuration for the engine. Normally, such constructions permit an overall shortening of the length of the engine for a given number of cylinders and to provide an otherwise more compact assembly. However, the compact assemblage of such V type engines give rise to certain problems in connection with their construction and design. Specifically, because of the compact arrangement the drive of the camshafts for such an engine can present some problems, particularly if one or more overhead camshafts are employed for the engine.
As is well known, it is necessary for four cycle engines to drive the camshafts at one half the speed of the engine output shaft so as to afford the proper timing relationship. However, when such a two to one ratio is achieved in a single pass, then the size of the individual sprockets on the camshafts can become quite large and can make placement a problem. In order to overcome these difficulties, it has been proposed to provide the reduction ratio in two passes between the crankshaft and the camshaft. In addition to this reason, there are other reasons why it may be desirable to drive the camshafts rather than directly from the engine crankshaft from an intermediate shaft that is disposed between the camshafts and the crankshaft. Of course, if such intermediate shaft drives are employed, this can further complicate the drive mechanism in the area of the engine where the camshafts are driven.
It is also desirable to employ flexible transmitters such as chains for driving the camshafts and the intermediate shafts. However, with flexible transmitters, if not essential, it is at least desirable to insure a tensioning mechanism for the transmitter and also some form of guide that will insure that the transmitter cannot become displaced from the driving and driven sprockets. Of course, when such an arrangement is employed with a V type engine, this can present considerable problems due to the compact construction in the area where the transmitters lie.
It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide an improved arrangement for driving the flexible transmitters of a V type engine for a camshaft drive and for tensioning and guiding these transmitters.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved, compact tensioner and guide arrangement that can be positioned in the area between the cylinder banks for operating with the flexible transmitters in this area.


To provide an exposure device and an image forming apparatus using the same, in which the exposure device can detect light intensity with improved reliability and thereby controls the light intensity with high precision, the exposure device includes an EL (electro-luminescence) element having a first electrode (an anode), a second electrode (a cathode), and a light emitting layer disposed between the first and second electrodes, thereby forming a light emitting unit, and a light detecting element detecting light emitted from the EL element, in which the EL element and the light detecting element are stacked onto each other. The light detecting element is provided at an inner side of a principal surface of the electrode (the anode) which is disposed closer to the light detecting element than the other electrode. A light emitting area of the EL element is provided at an inner side of a principal surface of the light detecting element.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an exposure device and an image forming apparatus using the same, and more particularly, to an exposure device and an image forming apparatus using the exposure device in which light emitting elements are aligned in an array configuration.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the recent trend toward a smaller and cheaper image forming apparatus such as a facsimile machine or a printer, there have been many attempts to make smaller and cheaper components of the image forming apparatus.
In an image forming apparatus employing an electro-photographic process, a photosensitive member is exposed to light by irradiating light modulated with image data onto the photosensitive member, and a toner adhering to the photosensitive member by the electrostatic force is transferred onto a printing medium such as a recording paper, thereby forming an image on the printing medium. As a method of controlling the light irradiated onto the photosensitive member, there have been known a method of introducing light emitted from a semiconductor laser onto the photosensitive member using a rotating polygonal mirror, and a method of achieving the same effect by using an exposure device known as an optical head having a plurality of very-small light sources. The optical head includes a light source and a circuit for controlling driving of the light source, and a light emitting diode is commonly used as the light source.
As a means for downsizing the light source while reducing the manufacturing cost, there has been proposed an optical head using an EL (electro-luminescence) element as its light source.
Examples of the optical head using an organic EL element as the light source are disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2. Patent Document 1 describes the configuration of the optical head with a focus on light emitting and detecting elements, and Patent Document 2 describes the configuration with a focus on pixels. The light emitting units disclosed in both Patent Documents have substantially the same configuration and are configured as a stacked layer structure including a light emitting layer constituting the organic EL element, a thin-film transistor serving as the light detecting element for use in light intensity correction and as a circuit for controlling the driving of the light emitting layer, and the like.
The light detecting elements disclosed in both Patent Documents have a light receiving area smaller than the light emitting area of the light emitting layer to prevent the light output from the bottom surface of the stacked layer structure from being blocked at the light receiving area.
Patent Document 1: JP-A-2002-144634
Patent Document 2: JP-A-2002-178560
FIG. 33 is a cross-sectional diagram of a configuration of an optical head, and more particularly, of a peripheral configuration of an light emitting element provided in the optical head, in accordance with the related art.
As shown in FIG. 33, a light emitting element (an EL element 110) serving as a light source of an optical head is configured as a stacked layer structure including a plurality of layers made of various kinds of materials. In the optical head, a base coating layer 101 is prepared on a glass substrate 100, the EL element 110 and its driving circuit serving as the light source and the driving circuit are formed thereon, and a light detecting element 120 constituted, for example, by a thin-film transistor is formed on a portion of the base coating layer 101.
Next, an interlayer insulating film 103 made, for example, of a silicon oxide film is formed on the stacked layer structure. In addition, an anode 111, a light emitting layer 112, and a cathode 113 are formed thereon. In this state, when an electric voltage is applied between the anode 111 and the cathode 113, electric potential difference is provided across the light emitting layer 112 and thus the light emitting layer 112 is caused to emit light.
As shown in FIG. 33, the optical head known in the art is provided with a light detecting element 120 which has a light receiving area Ar smaller than a light emitting area ALE of the light emitting layer to prevent the light output from the bottom surface of the stacked layer structure from being blocked at the light receiving area.
Therefore, at this moment, a bump area resulting from the light detecting element 120 is present on the surface of the stacked layer structure. Next, an interlayer insulating film 103 made of a insulating film such as an silicon oxide film is formed on the stacked layer structure. However, it is difficult to form the interlayer insulating film 103 with a uniform thickness due to the above-described bump area resulting from the light detecting element 120. Thus, the surface of the interlayer insulating film 103 is formed into a convex curved surface corresponding to the shape of the light detecting element 120. Therefore, the surfaces of layers formed on the interlayer insulating film 103 are also formed into the convex curved surface corresponding to the light detecting element 120, and the light emitting layer 112 may have a small thickness at areas such as the convex portion or its edge portions. Accordingly, the thickness of the light emitting layer 112 is not maintained at a constant level over a light exiting area ALE. In addition, the brightness of the light emitting layer 112 at the surfaces of the small-thickness areas may be greater than that of other surfaces. Accordingly, the intensity distribution (i.e., in-plane distribution) of light emitted from a single EL element 110 may become irregular.
The thin-film transistor constituting the light detecting element 120 faces the anode 111 of the EL element 110 via the interlayer insulating film 103. As a result of many experiments, it has been found that the light detecting element 120 is greatly influenced by the electric potential of the anode 111 and functions as a thin-film transistor having, as its gate electrode, the anode 111 of the EL element 110.
In the optical head known in the art, it is not considered that the light detection precision of the light detecting element 120 is greatly influenced by the electric potential of the anode 111, and more particularly, it does not suggest the layout and size of the light detecting element 120 with respect to the anode 111 of the EL element 110.

Exposure device and image forming apparatus using the same


A package component includes a metal trace on a top surface of the package component, and an anchor via underlying and in contact with the metal trace. The anchor via is configured not to conduct currents flowing through the metal trace.

Bump-on-Trace (BOT) structures are used in flip chip packages, wherein metal bumps are bonded onto narrow metal traces in package substrates directly, rather than bonded onto metal pads that have greater widths than the respective connecting metal traces. The BOT structures require smaller chip areas, and the manufacturing cost of the BOT structures is low. The BOT structures may achieve the same reliability as the conventional bond structures that are based on metal pads.
BOT structures may sometimes suffer from peeling-off. For example, when a device die is bonded to a package substrate through the BOT structures, since there is a significant mismatch between the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the device die and the CTE of the package substrate, stress may be generated in the resulting package. The stress is applied on the metal traces in the BOT structures, causing the metal traces to peel off from the adjoining dielectric layer in the package substrate.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


A method for manufacturing a composite preform is provided, including preparing a preform that is formed from a plastic material, preparing a tubular heat shrinkable plastic member that is longer than the preform and has a margin for thermocompression bonding at one end, inserting the preform into the plastic member having the plastic member undergo thermal shrinkage by heating the preform and the plastic member, and bonding the margin of the plastic member by thermocompression.

Nowadays, plastic bottles are widely used as bottles accommodating content liquids such as foods and beverages, and such plastic bottles accommodate content liquids.
A plastic bottle accommodating such content liquids is manufactured by a preform being inserted into a mold and biaxial stretch blow molding being performed.
In the conventional biaxial stretch blow molding method, molding into a container shape is performed by means of a preform including, for example, a single layer material such as PET or PP, a multilayer material, or a blended material. In the conventional biaxial stretch blow molding method, it is common to simply mold a preform into a container shape. Accordingly, means for imparting various functions and characteristics (such as barrier properties and heat retention properties) to a container is limited, examples of which include a change in preform-constituting material. In particular, it is difficult to have different functions and characteristics depending on container parts (such as body and bottom portions).
In order to solve the above problems, the inventors of the present invention have proposed a composite container provided with various functions and characteristics such as light shielding properties, a composite preform used for composite container production, and methods for manufacturing the composite container and the composite preform (see WO2014/208746A). When such composite containers are manufactured, a heat shrinkable plastic member can be used as a plastic member. When the heat shrinkable plastic member is used, the appearance and the light shielding properties of especially the bottom portion of a composite container need to be improved.
In addition, the present applicant has proposed a composite container capable of imparting various functions and characteristics to a container in an earlier application (JP2015-128858A).

Composite preform, method for manufacturing same, composite container, method for manufacturing said composite container, and heat shrinkable plastic member


A handlebar vibration damping assembly (HVDA) (10) that is used in combination with a conventional two-wheeled vehicle's handlebar (80) assembly having a right grip (82), a left grip (84) and a center section (86). The HVDA (10) is comprised of a weight (12) having a first end (14), a second end (16), an outer surface (18) and a cavity (20) that extends into the second end (16). A spring (22) has a first end (24) and a second end (26), with the first end (24) inserted into the cavity (20) on the weight's second end (16). In order to maintain the HVDA (10) within the handlebar, a bolt (32) having a head (34) and a tip (36) along with an insert (38) having a bore (40), an insert nut (44) and a second nut (48) are utilized. The second end (26) of the spring (22) extends into the insert bore (40). Once the HVDA (10) is securely placed within the handlebar (80) the weight (12) can vibrate in any excitable direction 90-degrees of the centerline of the handlebar and can oscillate at different frequencies.

There are many vehicles that utilize handlebars for control. Some examples of these vehicles are motorcycles including dirtbikes and three-wheeled versions, all terrain vehicles (ATVs), personal watercraft such as jetskis, snowmobiles and bicycles. All of these vehicles can provide a common problem: A significant vibration that is felt by a person through the handlebar.
The vibration is primarily caused by the constant engine vibration, although road and suspension inputs also contribute to a lesser degree. A similar problem exits in helicopter rotorheads, which also experience a constant vibratory input, and therefore must utilize a tuned mass damper
Vibrations cause involuntary muscle firing at the same frequently as the vibration input. A person's nervous system vibration reflex typically requires one vibration to "lock onto". The one vibration would be the resonant frequency of the handlebar. The result is the person experiencing significant hand numbness and tingling. Unfortunately, for most people who routinely experience these effects, it is simply accepted as a result that can not be alleviated. Even when it becomes a dangerous effect, such as for professional motorcycle/dirtbike or bicycle riders, there is no solution to the problem. There have been attempts to provide some type of vibration damping, but most of these have not been very successful.
Obviously, there is a need to provide an effective means of vibration damping that can be easily implemented. By reducing or eliminating the level of harmonic resonance in handlebars, the effectiveness, comfort and duration of a person holding the handlebars is greatly increased.
A search of the prior art did not disclose literature or patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention. However, the following U.S. patents are considered related.
Pat. No.INVENTORISSUED5,814,963Girard, et al29 Sep. 19986,009,986Bansemir, et al4 Jan. 20006,954,686B2Bourg, et al11 Oct. 2005
The U.S. Pat. No. 5,814,963 discloses a device for damping the vibrations of a structure subjected to dynamic stresses. The invention includes a main mass mounted on an elastic plate which is itself fitted into the structure whose vibrations are to be damped. The damping device additionally comprises at least one auxiliary mass that is connected to the main mass and is capable of being moved at least substantially parallel to the elastic plate as a function of the control pulses which are received from a computer.
The U.S. Pat. No. 6,009,986 discloses a mass damper for a dynamically excited part including a housing connected in a vibration-free manner with the part and a spring-mass system that can vibrate in the direction of the excitation of the part. The spring-mass system comprises a leaf-spring arrangement tensioned firmly to the housing on one side and provided on the other side at the free spring end with an inertial mass. Resonance adjustment is performed in a structurally simple and problem-free manner, solely by control interventions on the housing side and without mass shifts in the spring-mass system.
The U.S. Pat. No. 6,954,686 discloses a method of tuning a vibration absorber on a driving frequency, in which the absorber includes a damper block secured to a support having one end fixedly mounted in an orifice. The invention includes a measurement step for estimating the offset between the tuned frequency of the absorber and the driving frequency in order to produce a reference value; and an adjustment step of adjusting at least one adjustment value of the absorber to the reference value.
For background purposes and as indicative of the art to which the invention relates, reference may be made to the following remaining patents found in the search.
Pat. No.INVENTORISSUED3,767,181Van Der Burgt, et alOctober 19734,494,634KatoJanuary 19854,744,547HartelMay 19885,022,201Kobori, et alJune 19915,410,845Sakamoto, et alMay 19975,620,068Garnjost, et alApril 19975,906,254Schmidt, et alMay 19996,101,453Suwa, et alAugust 20006,427,815ZellerAugust 2002


Provided is a capacitance detection circuit, which has better detection performance. The capacitance detection circuit includes: a first charging and discharging circuit configured to perform charging or discharging on a capacitor to be detected; a second charging and discharging circuit configured to perform charging or discharging on a calibration capacitor; an analog-to-digital conversion circuit configured to continuously sample a voltage difference between the capacitor to be detected and the calibration capacitor in a charging or discharging process to obtain sampled data; and a digital processing circuit configured to detect a capacitance of the capacitor to be detected according to the sampled data.

Capacitive sensors are widely used in the field of human-machine interaction of electronic products. Specifically, a capacitor is formed between a detection electrode and ground, when a conductor (such as a finger) approaches or touches the detection electrode, a capacitance between the detection electrode and the ground changes. By detecting a variation of the capacitance, information that the conductor approaches or touches the detection electrode is acquired, so as to determine user operation. The performance of a capacitance detection circuit has a direct impact on user operation experience, and therefore, it is urgent to solve a problem of how to improve detection performance of the capacitance detection circuit.

Capacitance detection circuit, touch detection apparatus and electronic device


An elongatable conveyor belt having an internal stretch limiter is disclosed. The conveyor belt includes a lower layer of transverse reinforcing cords and an upper layer of transverse reinforcing cords disposed at opposing angles relative to the transverse axis of the conveyor belt. Preferably, depressions are formed in the upper transverse reinforcing cords to facilitate troughing of the conveyor belt. An internal stretch limiter such as an angularly woven fabric, sinusoidally disposed cords or stretchable cords are provided only in the central region of the belt. Because stretch limiting devices are only provided in the center of the conveyor belt, the belt remains in tension to retain material thereon during horizontal curves while enabling the outer edge to elongate to negotiate the curve.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to conveyor belts and, in particular, to a conveyor belt having an internal stretch limiting means disposed only in the center portion of the belt to allow a controlled amount of tension in the belt while permitting the belt edges to remain in tension when traversing horizontal curves.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As is known, conveyor belts have been developed for travelling through an orbit with a generally horizontally extending conveying run overlying a generally horizontally extending return run with the conveying and return runs being stretched or elongated to provide tension in the sides of the conveying run so that such sides remain in tension as the conveying run traverses a horizontal curve. A description of such a tensioned conveyor belt is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,387,801 wherein one embodiment of a conveyor belt is disclosed and described having a selected limited elongation for establishing the overall length of an orbital conveyor belt. Such conveyor belt elongation is obtained by fastening an orbital drive chain to the resilient conveyor belt with the belt in its relaxed or slacked condition, i.e., without any longitudinal tension being applied to the belt runs, with a specific spatial relationship between adjacent links of the chain. When such a chain is longitudinally tensioned, as is the case when supported for travel through an orbital path, the slack between adjacent links of the chain is eliminated or taken up and the chain becomes taut. The slack eliminating tension of the chain also simultaneously elongates the conveyor belt to the same linear extent as the chain is elongated when moving from a slack to a taut condition. Thus, a preselected elongation is achieved in the conveyor belt as determined by the total slack between adjacent links of the chain.
A somewhat similarly functioning conveyor belt is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,474,289. In such patent, a control member is provided to allow for a uniform longitudinal tension in a conveyor belt. Specifically, the control member comprises an elongated endless multi-section strap consisting of bowed portions located between anchored or fixed portions which fixed portions are secured to the underside of an orbital elongatable conveyor belt. The bowed sections of the strap form a series of bowed portions throughout the length of the conveyor belt such that upon proper tensioning, stretching or elongation of the belt and strap assembly for orbital movement, the longitudinal movement of the strap causes each of the bowed portions to flatten and extend longitudinally between adjacent fixed portions with the maximum orbit length of the conveyor belt being determined by the length of the so-flattened strap.
An alternative form of conveyor belt is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,410,082. In certain embodiments of the conveyor belts disclosed in such patent, there is provided across the belt cross section a layer of square woven stretch fabric. Such layer extends from one edge of the belt to the other and has the property of stretching a predetermined distance when subject to tension during the initial stretching of the belt and then its resistance to further elongation increases rapidly to resist any appreciable stretching of the belt in operation.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,770,290, there is disclosed an apparatus and method that produces a conveyor belt made of polyurethane wherein longitudinal reinforcement strands are disposed across the entire width of the belt body proper to allow for a limited stretching of the belt. The strands are given a wavy or serpentine preform which allows the desired stretch of the conveyor belt. As an alternative, a single ply fabric with sufficient wavy resiliency in its weave may be cast within the body of the polyurethane belt to provide for limited stretching of the conveyor belt. However, in such embodiment, the fabric is disclosed as having a square weave and traverses the entirety of the belt cross section. A suggested modification of the wavy strands is to provide strands of fibers that are linear in disposition but have limited stretch in the longitudinal direction and are embedded in the polyurethane to control the stretch. However, in each embodiment of the invention disclosed in such patent, the stretch limiting means is provided across the entire cross section of the belt.
I have discovered, however, that if a stretch limiting means is provided across the entire width of a conveyor belt and the belt is tensioned to the predetermined limit, the belt cannot traverse horizontal curved because the outer edge of the belt in the curve cannot elongate to the extent necessary to traverse the curve.
The subject invention is directed toward an improved conveyor belt having an internal stretch limiting means disposed only in the center portion of the belt to allow for sufficient tensioning thereof to a predetermined extent while allowing the belt edges to elongate sufficiently to traverse horizontal curves.


Provided is a process for preparing a gaseous stream of chlorine dioxide. The process comprises first providing an aqueous stream of chlorine dioxide. The chlorine dioxide stream can be provided, for example, by reacting an alkali metal chlorite such as sodium chlorite with an alkali metal hypochlorite such as sodium hypochlorite and an inorganic acid such as hydrochloric acid, or by reacting chlorine gas and an alkali metal chlorite such as sodium chlorite. The resulting aqueous stream is then contacted in countercurrent fashion with a stream of inert gas or air, resulting in chlorine dioxide being stripped from the aqueous stream. A chlorine dioxide containing gaseous stream is then recovered, which is suitable for further use. The process thereby safely and efficiently generates a gaseous stream of chlorine dioxide for subsequent use.

The present invention relates to the production of a stream of chlorine dioxide. More particularly, the present invention relates to a process for efficiently generating a gaseous stream of chlorine dioxide, which stream is preferably essentially free of chlorine and inorganic salts.
Chlorine dioxide is utilized in a variety of processes including a large number of bacteriocidal applications, especially in the fields of decolorization, water treatment and odor abatement. Its usage is continuing to grow for many reasons. Due to the unstable nature of gaseous chlorine dioxide when compressed, however, it is necessary to produce chlorine dioxide on site rather than to produce it at a plant and ship it for usage when needed.
Many different methods and systems can be and have been used in the production of chlorine dioxide. For example, chlorine dioxide can be produced by the reduction of a chlorate salt by a chloride salt in an acidic medium. The chlorate salt is generally sodium chlorate, and the chloride salt is generally sodium chloride. Operable acids include hydrochloric acid, perchloric acid, phosphoric acid, and sulfuric acid. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,137,296 and 3,733,395. In the production of chlorine dioxide from chlorate, however, large amounts of chlorine are also generated. This chlorine must generally be removed from the product downstream of the reaction in order to provide a usable product.
The production of chlorine dioxide from chlorite is also well known. For example, see German Patent No. 1,467,024. Therein, sodium chlorite is reacted with a chlorine solution to provide chlorine dioxide product. A by-product of the reaction is an inorganic salt, i.e., sodium chloride. Removal of the inorganic salt from the chlorine dioxide product is generally required before any subsequent use of the chlorine dioxide, which removal can be costly and inefficient.
The generation of chlorine dioxide is generally carried out in an aqueous stream, thereby providing a chlorine dioxide solution as the product. If the reaction product is in the form of a gas, the chlorine dioxide is ultimately placed in solution. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,137,296. Yet, there are occasions when it would be most beneficial to employ and/or administer the chlorine dioxide as a gaseous stream. Because of the problems which can arise due to the explosiveness of chlorine dioxide in air, however, chlorine dioxide has generally been produced and maintained in an aqueous solution as a safeguard. A method and system which would allow one to generate a gaseous stream of chlorine dioxide (ClO.sub.2) in an efficient and safe manner would certainly be of great benefit to the industry. Moreover, the generation of a clean chlorine dioxide gaseous stream, i.e., a gaseous chlorine dioxide stream free of chlorine, acids, inorganic salts or any chlorite ion, would be particularly beneficial, as such a clean gaseous stream would be eligible for many additional applications.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for efficiently and safely generating a gaseous stream of chlorine dioxide for subsequent utilization and application.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an efficient method for generating a gaseous stream of chlorine dioxide, which stream of chlorine dioxide is substantially clean. More specifically, the gaseous stream of chlorine dioxide would be substantially free of chlorine, inorganic salts, chlorite ion and acids.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method and system for generating a clean gaseous stream of chloride dioxide which is simple and efficient, yet safe.
These and other objects, as well as the scope, nature and utilization of the invention, will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description, the drawing, and the appended claims.

Gaseous generator system for preparing chlorine dioxide


An overhead projector comprises a hollow base comprising a writing plate and a reflective Fresnel lens below the writing plate and an air space below the Fresnel lens. A hollow support arm projecting up from one side of the base carries a projection head having an objective lens and deflection mirror. A lamp mounted in the transition between the support arm and the projection head directs light on the writing plate. The hollow support arm is in communication with the interior of the base to provide a cooling air flow path between openings in the base at the side opposite the support arm and openings in the support arm adjacent the projection head, behind which latter openings a blower is mounted. Ribs in the hollow base define air flow distributors for effectively cooling the Fresnel lens and electronic circuit components mounted in the hollow base.

There is known an overhead projector of which the support arm is bent and has at the bend a blower which produces a flow of cooling air through the support arm in which a part of the electronic power supply circuitry is accommodated and which at the same time produces a flow of cooling air in a second flow path past the objective in the projection head and light source in the projection head or horizontal portion of the support arm.
There is also known another overhead projector in which, for cooling of the Fresnel lens below the writing plate, the base plate is made hollow and a ventilator produces a flow of cooling air through the base plate beneath the Fresnel lens.
The accommodation of long, straight circuit boards on which the electronic components of the power supply circuitry are mounted in a wide straight support arm, presents no difficulty. However, if the support arm is bent and/or of such small cross section that the circuit boards of the electronic components cannot be accommodated in the support arm, there is difficulity in accommodating the power supply circuitry.
In another known embodiment of an overhead projector, the power supply circuitry is arranged in a rear part of the base plate in a region beyond the writing plate and directly adjacent the support arm. However, this arrangement requires a special housing for the power supply circuitry. This arrangement of the power supply circuitry has been found to be unsightly. Moreover, the power supply circuitry occupies space which could well be used as a storage surface for objects that are to be successively projected. Also, this arrangement of the power supply circuitry deprives the user of the overhead projector of a part of his viewing surface.


An interface is provided to couple an input/output device (e.g., a network interface unit) to one or more different host system buses without altering the configuration of the device (e.g., to include logic specific to the host buses). Functionality of the device (e.g., MTU size, error detection) is therefore independent of the host bus. Host bus logic for managing operation of the host bus is augmented with logic for translating between semantics of the interface and the host bus. Also, end-to-end verification of a complex ASIC in multiple configurations or environments can be performed over the interface without probing into the ASIC.

This invention relates to the field of computer systems. More particularly, an interface is provided for coupling an input/output device to any of multiple types of host buses.
Many computer system devices or components, such as network interface units or adapters, storage devices, peripheral devices, and so on, initiate input/output operations using DMA (Direct Memory Access) over a host computer's system bus. Split transactions are often enabled to allow improved access to the bus by bus clients.
When split transactions are enabled for read operations, a single read transaction from the device generates two separate system bus transactions: one to issue the read request, and one to return the requested data. In between the two transactions, the system bus is released for use by other devices. If split transactions are not enabled for read operations, the system bus is not relinquished by a component that issued a read request until the requested data were returned.
When split transactions are enabled for write operations, a device that issues a non-posted write operation releases the system bus once the operation has been transferred to the DMA bridge. If split transactions are not enabled for writes, the system bus is not released until acknowledgement of completion of the non-posted write.
Characteristics of read and non-posted write transactions differ, depending on the architecture of the computer system. For example, different types of system buses, such as PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) and HT (Hyper Transport), allow data transfers of different maximum sizes, may involve different expected or allowable latencies, etc. Some systems do not even allow or support non-posted writes.
Because each system bus transaction is relatively low-level, usually involving the transfer of a small amount of data, one read operation (e.g., to retrieve data to be transmitted in one packet over a network) or one write operation (e.g., to write the contents of one packet received from a network) may require a number of system bus transactions. If the device is only capable of tracking the statuses of a limited number of system bus transactions, the device may stall whenever the total number of transactions in-flight reaches that number.
Traditionally, a device configured to generate read or write transactions over a system bus has contained built-in logic for detecting and possibly handling errors that occur during the transactions. Typically, different versions of the device would be designed and produced for each type of system bus. Attempting to configure the device to work with any of multiple different system buses would require the device to include logic capable of tracking transactions for each type of system bus, and would make the design too complex and/or inefficient.
In addition, verification strategies for verifying correct operation of an input/output device have generally be tightly coupled to the design of the device. For example, to verify a complex ASIC, each module of the ASIC is usually verified separately with a testbench tailored to the module. Any change to a module would require a corresponding change to the testbench. And, the correctness of the verification is highly dependent on the accurate modeling of the behavior of other modules that interact with the module being tested.
Further, complex chips such as ASICs and input/output interfaces are typically designed for use in a specific architecture (e.g., with one type of host bus). Because such a chip connects only to a single bus, a simplified verification strategy is often implemented to verify the chip with that architecture. Even if such a chip could be designed for use with multiple different architectures or host buses, conventional wisdom would call for a separate verification strategy for each architecture. This would significantly increase the complexity and require substantial time to verify the chip.

Abstracted host bus interface for complex high performance ASICs


A method of and apparatus for automatically generating a program for controlling a computer controlled system such as a plant. A number of general and standard program modules 49, 51 are prepared beforehand. A standard module is selectively displayed on a display device 21 as a graphics information image. Standard modules are combined as desired in accordance with a system operation procedure to generate customized program modules 50, 52 which are stored as graphics information images in stackers 155. A number of customized modules are generated for respective program functions. Customized modules are compiled to generate source programs, and thereafter assembled to generate intermediate level modules not addressed which are then combined and edited to generate a load module program.

Various types of plants such as rolling plants and power plants are controlled in practice directly and digitally by using computers. In such a case, it becomes necessary to provide computer programs in accordance with a plant operation procedure. In generating computer programs for controlling a plant, an operation procedure for a driving machine has been conventionally determined at a meeting arranged between system engineers and users, in accordance with a plant operation procedure (provided in the form of a plant operation function specification). In accordance with the driving machine operation procedure, program engineers of a maker side generate programs. Although system engineers and program engineers consult each other beforehand for providing appropriate programs, system engineers cannot check whether or not the resultant programs can execute the driving machine operation procedure as desired. In addition, the contents of programs vary with the ability of program engineers. In order to solve such problems, it has been proposed that regular programs frequently used are prepared in the form of modules and these program modules are coupled together to automatically provide necessary programs. Such automatic program generation is described, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication JP-A-62-12335.
In an automatic program generating method heretofore proposed, a program engineer compiles program modules and forms a source program which is in turn assembled into a load module written in machine language. Accordingly, a system engineer cannot check the quality of the function of programs as to whether or not they conform with the driving machine operation procedure, until the plant is caused to run actually. There is also associated with a problem that a system engineer alone cannot modify programs even if the plant operation procedure is changed. On the user side, there is also associated with a problem that it is not possible to check the function of programs and modify them because of a difficulty of having program engineers on the user side.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of automatically generating control programs for a computer controlled system capable of readily checking and modifying the function of automatically generated programs even by computer programming novices.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of automatically generating control programs for a computer controlled system capable of readily checking the execution contents of programs before a plant is caused to run actually.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of automatically generating control programs for a computer controlled system capable of readily testing generated program modules.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for automatically generating control programs for a computer controlled system capable of readily confirming and modifying the function of automatically generated programs even by computer programming novices.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for automatically generating control programs for a computer controlled system capable of readily checking the execution contents of programs before a plant is caused to run actually.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for automatically generating control programs for a computer controlled system capable of readily testing generated program modules.
The other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following description.

Method of and apparatus for automatically generating control programs for computer controlled systems


A system for creating three-dimensional models includes a processing device operated by a user, having a control unit, a storage unit for storing photographic images, and a storage unit for storing 3D models. The system further includes a device for acquiring photographic images of a reference solid object. The processing device and the acquisition device are mutually connected and in communication. The processing device is configured to create a 3D model that corresponds to the reference solid object based on the photographic images of the reference solid object, which are acquired by the acquisition device and saved in the photographic image storage unit.

Three-dimensional models or 3D are sets of digital data, i.e. computer databases, that contain the necessary data to virtually represent solid objects of the real world by way of 3D modeling software applications (such as for example Maya, 3ds Max, MODO, SketchUp, and so on) or other types of 3D graphics software applications (videogames, simulations and so on).
Typically, a 3D model is represented on a screen using triangles, or more generally polygons, which are mutually joined so as to form a virtual solid object that is more faithful to the corresponding reference real solid object, which was modeled previously. The set of such polygons is called a "polygonal mesh", or more simply "mesh".
The polygons are defined by three-dimensional spatial coordinates (x, y, z), two-dimensional mapping coordinates for the texture (a texture image used to cover the external surface of a virtual solid object), and material characteristics that define its graphical rendering (roughness, opacity, transparency, and so on). The set of points defined by the spatial coordinates (x, y, z) is called a "point cloud". All the above mentioned data are then entered in the 3D model, which is saved as a file on adapted storage means.
Currently, 3D models can be obtained manually by expert graphics technicians using 3D modeling software applications; alternatively, the 3D models can be obtained semi-automatically by way of suitable scanners or laser pens, which detect the spatial position, or by using software applications for point interpolation starting from sequences of photographs.
However, these conventional solutions for creating 3D models are not devoid of drawbacks, among which is the fact that the manual methods, despite the use of expert graphics technicians, have the disadvantage of requiring a lot of time in order to obtain a 3D model that is faithful to the reference real solid object.
The semi-automatic methods that use scanners or laser pens, or the methods that use software applications for point interpolation, have the disadvantage that they create point clouds that are very dense, and not suitable for use in software applications that render the models in real time. For this reason, semi-automatic methods require an additional manual intervention for cleanup, i.e. reducing the number of points, and to correct artifacts (errors in an image) which are due to inaccuracies of the scanning or of the interpolation; further it is necessary to manually map the texture.
Note that the above-mentioned drawbacks become more significant the more real solid objects there are to be modeled, since the associated modeling operations translate to increasingly long times and increasingly high costs.

System, device and method for creating three-dimensional models


A microelectronic device containing one or more dies bonded to a substrate 0.5-8 mil thick thermoplastic adhesive film is disclosed. The adhesive's main constituent is a thermoplastic organic high polymer containing the elements of carbon and hydrogen, and one or more of the elements oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, halogen in its repeating unit. The polymer's Vicat softening temperature is 30.degree.280.degree. C., preferably 70.degree.-230.degree. C. The adhesive may also contain up to 45 volume percent of a thermally conductive inorganic filler of 0.5-20 micrometer particle size. The attachment process simply consists of heating and pressing the film, sandwiched between the adherent surfaces, above the melting temperature and cooling to ambient.

Electronic devices, such as transistors, diodes, resistors, capacitors, transducers, monolithic packages, hybrid microcircuits, contain one or several dies or chips bonded onto a rigid substrate with an adhesive.
The die is a semiconductor on which all the active and passive microcircuit elements have been fabricated using one or all of the techniques of diffusion, passivation, masking, photoresist and epitaxial growth. They are usually made of doped Silicon or Gallium arsenide (Gas) and cut out with a diamond saw from wafer discs into individual dies.
The substrate provides mechanical support but may also serve useful thermal and electrical functions. It may be a ceramic, glass, sapphire, metal, quartz, epoxy, polyimide, etc. They may be bonded to a larger, rigid plate, board or case usually made of metal, ceramic, glass or high temperature plastic, providing protection, mechanical support and hermeticity. Alternatively, the substrate itself may provide, by its design, these functions.
Dies are usually fixed to the substrate with an epoxy adhesive. It is often necessary to provide thermal and electrical conductivity to the adhesive bond thus formed by the use of conductive adhesives. These are currently available as B-stage epoxy sheets coated on both sides of glass fabric for support. The epoxy adhesive presents a great number of disadvantages:
Since the epoxy is of a tacky, semi-solid consistency, it must have a glass fabric carrier in the middle and a release-coated plastic film on both sides of the sheet; PA1 It requires freezing or refrigeration for storage; PA1 It has to be cured or polymerized for 1-24 hours at 90.degree.-200.degree.; PA1 It usually contains large quantities of ionic impurities, often up to 400 ppm Cl.sup.- and Na.sup.+, which are conducive to corrosivity and hence decreased reliability of the circuit; PA1 Once the die is bonded with the epoxy thermosetting adhesive, it is very difficult to remove them it if rework is required for some reason. PA1 The adhesive is sandwiched between the die and the substrate or other support; PA1 The film is heated to its melt and pressed between the preheated die and substrate for 0.001-60 minutes; PA1 The pressure is released and the bonded assembly is cooled to ambient temperature. PA1 The adhesive is self-supporting, non-tacky solid film needing no glass fabric support and release liner; PA1 It has long shelf life at room temperature requiring no refrigeration; PA1 Only short processing times are necessary since there is no long reaction type curing; PA1 The adhesive of the present invention has generally considerably better ionic purity then epoxies; PA1 Because of the adhesive's thermoplastic nature reworking is easy. One has only to apply heat and remove the die with a pair of tweezers. PA1 Sulfone polymers, (PSO) , such as polysulfone, polyethersulfone, polyarylsulfone, and modified polysulfone. Many of these polymers may be represented by the formulas of their repeating units--O--C.sub.6 H.sub.4 --SO.sub.2 --C.sub.6 H.sub.4 -- and C.sub.6 H.sub.4 --SO.sub.2 --C.sub.6 H.sub.4 --O--C.sub.6 H.sub.4 --C(CH.sub.3).sub.2 --C.sub.6 H.sub.4 -- PA1 Polycarbonates, (PCT), such as --COO--C.sub.6 H.sub.4 --C (CH.sub.3).sub.2 --C.sub.6 H.sub.4 --O-- PA1 Polyesters, such as polybutylenetherepthalate (PBT), aliphatic polyesters (APES); PA1 Polyetherimides, (PEI), such as ##STR1## Polyarylates, (PAR), such as the bisphenol A ester of terephthalic acid; Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF); PA1 Copolymers of ethylene (ECOP) with minor amounts (less than about 1/3) of maleic anhydride, methyl or ethyl acrylate, 10-35 weight percent vinyl acetate, or 3-10 weight percent of a carboxylic acid containing monomer optionally neutralized with a metal. PA1 Polyamides of nylons; PA1 Cellulose esters such as cellulose acetate, propionate, nitrate, and ethers, such as ethyl cellulose (CELL); PA1 Linear phenoxy resins such as (CH.sub.2 --CHOH--CH.sub.2 --O--Ar--O--).sub.n ; PA1 Acrylic polymers (PAC), which are homo or block copolymers of alkyl esters of acrylic and methacrylic acid, optionally with up to 10% of acrylic and methacrylic acid and up to 305 styrene or vinyl acetate; PA1 Polyurethanes, (PUR), prepared from diisocyanates and glycols, such as polyesterglycols or polyetherglycols. PA1 Antifoam, 0-0.5 weight percent, based on solvent; PA1 Wetting agent, 0-2 weight percent, based on filler; PA1 Filler of this invention, 0-45 volume percent of the adhesive; PA1 Antioxidant, 0-2 weight percent of the polymer. PA1 Positioning the adhesive film between the die and substrate. More than one layer of film may be used and more than one die may be bonded to a substrate. PA1 Heating the film to its melt and pressing it between the die and substrate. Heat may be applied with a hot plate, oven, or induction heating. The temperature of the molten film depends on the polymer, but should be, in general, at least 50.degree. C. higher than the Vicat softening temperature such as to obtain good flow to wet the adhering surfaces. PA1 Pressure to the die or substrate may be applied by hand or a machine with scrubbing action. The pressure ought to be great enough and the time for pressing long enough for the adhesive to contact and wet the bonding surfaces without squeezing the adhesive out of the bond line. The higher the pressure, the lower the temperature may be for bonding, for less time. Useful pressure and time parameters are 0.0-100 pounds per square inch and 0.001 seconds to 60 minutes. If the time and temperature are adequate the weight of the die itself may be sufficient pressure. PA1 The pressure is then released and the bonded assembly is cooled to ambient temperature to form a strong bond between the substrate and its support.
The object of this invention is to overcome these difficulties.

Die attach adhesive film, application method and devices incorporating the same


A method of controlling a printer using a dc motor as a drive source thereof, comprises the steps of: setting a predetermined prohibition period of time during which print and sheet-forward operations are prohibited, the predetermined prohibition period of time corresponding to a period of time until the motor arrives at a predetermined speed since the motor starts to be energized; measuring a motor power turn-off period of time until the motor starts to be energized since the motor is turned off; comparing the motor power turn-off period of time with a predetermined value; if the motor power turn-off period of time is within the predetermined value, making the prohibition period of time invalid; and if the motor power turn-off period of time exceeds the predetermined value, making the prohibition period of time valid.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method of controlling a printer using a dc motor as a drive source.
2. Prior Art
A conventional printer of this type employs a control method in which a time is set so that a stopped dc motor is started to reach a predetermined speed irrespective of the length of time the motor power was turned off after the motor power is turned on again to perform the print/sheet-forward (printing and sheet forwarding) operations for a succeeding line after the motor power was turned off upon the end of the print/sheet-forward operations for the last line. The print/sheet-forward operations for the succeeding line are started after such set time elapses.
FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing an operation method of an ordinary conventional printer. After a motor has been started by a motor drive signal 50, a timing signal 51 or the like is detected. Based on the detected timing signal, a printing operation 53 is performed at a predetermined position and sheet forwarding operation 54 is then performed. The print/sheet-forward operatings are repeated for a required number of lines. The motor drive signal 50 is then turned off to stop the dc motor.
A method of controlling the conventional printer will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 8 and the timing chart shown in FIG. 9. In Step 11 the stopped dc motor is started by applying the motor drive signal 50, and in Step 12 a timer for regulating a start time A within which the motor reaches a predetermined speed E is started. After the start time A, as marked by a timer output signal 55, has elapsed in Step 13, the print/sheet-forward operations are performed in Step 14. When the print/sheet-forward operations have been completed in Step 14, it is judged in Step 15 whether the print/sheet-forward operations are to be stopped or to be continuously performed. If the print/sheet-forward operations are to be continuously performed, the processing returns to Step 14. If the operation is to be stopped, the motor drive signal 50 is turned off to stop the dc motor in Step 16.
FIG. 7 shows a waveform of the motor current between the start and stop of the printer as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. The vertical axis indicates a motor current I and the horizontal axis indicates a time T. A large current G flows when the motor is started since the motor has been stopped. As the motor is accelerated, the current G is gradually decreased. The current value increases during the print operation portion H and the sheet-forward operation portion J due to increases in mechanical loads, and the motor is shut off thereafter. If large loads at a print operation portion H and a sheet-forward operation portion J shown in FIG. 7 are applied to the dc motor before the dc motor reaches the predetermined speed, the motor cannot overcome the loads. As a result, the dc motor is stopped, and the printer is also stopped during the operation. To prevent such accidental stoppage of the printer, the print/sheet-forward operations are performed in Step 14 of FIG. 8 after the start time A, marked by the timer output signal 55 shown in FIG. 9, has elapsed.
FIG. 6 shows waveforms indicating motor speeds between the start and stop of the printer shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. The vertical axis indicates a motor speed V and the horizontal axis indicates a time T. Since the dc motor is shut off at a start portion D, the motor speed starts from zero. The motor speed is gradually increased, and reaches a predetermined value E after a start time A has elapsed. When the motor speed has reached the predetermined value E, the print/sheet-forward operations are performed, and thereafter the motor power is turned off. As a result, the motor is decelerated and stopped as shown by the solid line in portion F. The time required for the dc motor to come to a complete stop is usually several times the start time A, within which the dc motor reaches the predetermined speed E from zero, due to inertia in the rotor section of the dc motor. When the motor power is turned on again to perform the print/sheet-forward operations for a succeeding line during this stop operation F, the motor speed reaches the predetermined value E within a short period of time, as shown by the broken line in portion M, unless the motor speed V is zeroed.
However, the above-mentioned conventional printer has addressed the following shortcomings.
(1) When the motor power is turned on again to perform the print/sheet-forward operations for a succeeding line, even if the dc motor continues to rotate due to inertia in the rotor immediately after the motor power has been turned off upon completion of the last print/sheet-forward operations, it is necessary to set a timer for a predetermined time within which the dc motor reaches a predetermined speed from the stopped state, thereby waiting for such predetermined time to expire before starting the print/sheet-forward operations for the succeeding line. Thus, as long as the time required for the print/sheet-forward operations are concerned, the speed for the intermittently-driven print/sheet-forward operations for single lines is slower than speed for the continuous print/sheet-forward operations.
(2) If the dc motor speed is increased to reduce the delay in the print/sheet-forward speed during the print/sheet-forward operations, the print/sheet-forward mechanism is subjected to large loads. As a result, increased cost due to increased power consumption and use of heavy-duty parts capable of accommodating high speed operations are encountered.
(3) To prepare print data and the like for a succeeding line within the print/sheet-forward time to allow continuous printing, an LSI chip including a high-speed processing CPU must be provided, which entails large costs also in designing control circuits.