A sequential lateral solidification mask having a first region with a plurality of first stripes that are separated by a plurality of first slits. The mask further includes a second region having a plurality of second stripes separated by a plurality of second slits. The second stripes are perpendicular to the first stripes. A third region having a plurality of third stripes separated by a plurality of third slits, with the third stripes being transversely arranged relative to the first stripes. A fourth region having a plurality of fourth stripes and a plurality of fourth slits between the fourth stripes, with the fourth stripes being transversely arranged relative to the second stripes. Sequential lateral solidification is performed using the mask by multiple movements of the mask and multiple, overlapping irradiations.

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2001-29913, filed in Korea on May 30, 2001, which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of crystallizing amorphous silicon. More particularly, the present invention relates to a sequential lateral solidification (SLS) crystallizing method suitable for forming polycrystalline silicon having uniform grains.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Due to a rapid development in information technology, display devices have evolved into instruments that can process and display a great deal of information. While cathode ray tubes (CRT) have served as mainstream display devices, to meet current needs flat panel display devices that are small, light weight, and consume low power, such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs), are becoming increasing important.
LCD devices are typically comprised of two substrates and a liquid crystal layer that is interposed between those substrates. LCD devices produce an image by controlling light transmissivity by varying the arrangement of liquid crystal molecules that are arranged by an electric field.
One LCD substrate includes thin film transistors (TFTs) that act as switching devices. Those TFTs are often formed using an amorphous silicon active layer. On reason for this is that amorphous silicon can be formed on a large, low cost substrate such as glass.
LCD devices also include drive integrated circuits (drive ICs) that control the TFTs. Unfortunately, amorphous silicon does not form a suitable active layer for drive ICs, which are usually CMOS (complementary metal-oxidesemiconductor) devices that require crystalline silicon active layers. Because of this, drive ICs are usually connected to a TFT substrate using a TAB (tape automated bonding) system. This adds significant cost to LCD devices.
Because of limitations of amorphous silicon, LCD devices that incorporate polycrystalline TFT active layers are undergoing research and development. Polycrystalline silicon is highly beneficial because it better suited for use in drive IC devices than amorphous silicon. Polycrystalline silicon thus has the advantage that the number of fabrication steps could be reduced because thin film transistors and drive IC could be formed on the same substrate, eliminating the need for TAB bonding. Furthermore, the field effect mobility of polycrystalline silicon is 100 to 200 times greater than that of amorphous silicon. Polycrystalline silicon is also optically and thermally stable.
Polycrystalline silicon can be formed by depositing amorphous silicon on a substrate, such as by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) or low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD), and then crystallizing that amorphous silicon into polycrystalline silicon. There are a number of different methods of crystallizing amorphous silicon into polycrystalline silicon, including solid crystallization (SPC), metal induced crystallization (MIC), and laser annealing.
In SPC, a buffer layer is formed on a quartz substrate. Then, amorphous silicon is deposited on the buffer layer. The amorphous silicon is then heated at a high temperature, over 600 degrees Celsius, for a relatively long time. The buffer layer prevents impurities from diffusing into the amorphous silicon. The high temperature causes the amorphous silicon to crystallize. However, the SPC method results in irregular grain growth and non-uniform grain size. Therefore, gate insulators grow irregularly on SPC-formed polycrystalline. This decreases the breakdown voltage of the resulting TFTs. Moreover, the electric properties of the TFTs are reduced because of the irregular grain sizes. Additionally, quartz substrates are expensive.
In MIC, a metal deposited on amorphous silicon induces crystallization at a relatively low temperature. This has the advantage that lower cost glass substrates can be used. However, the deposited metals remain in the silicon layer act as detrimental impurities.
In laser annealing, an excimer laser irradiates an amorphous silicon layer on a substrate for several tens to several hundreds of nanoseconds. This causes the amorphous silicon layer to melt. The melted silicon subsequently solidifies into polycrystalline silicon. In the laser annealing method, crystallization can be accomplished at less than 400 degrees Celsius. Unfortunately, crystallization is relatively poor, particularly if the silicon layer is crystallized using a single laser shot. In practice, re-crystallization is usually performed by irradiating the laser beam about 10 times or so to increase the grain size. Therefore, laser annealing suffers from low productivity. Furthermore, laser irradiation can heat the silicon layer to about 1400 degrees Celsius. Because such temperatures would readily oxidize the silicon layer to produce silicon dioxide (SiO2), laser annealing is usually performed under a high vacuum of 10xe2x88x927 to 10xe2x88x926 torr.
Recently, a new method of crystallization, often referred to as sequential lateral solidification (SLS), has become of interest. The SLS method takes advantage of the fact that silicon grains grow laterally from the boundary between liquid silicon and solid phase silicon. The SLS method can increase the size of the silicon grains that grow by controlling the energy intensity of a laser beam and the irradiation range of the laser beam (reference, Robert S. Sposilli, M. A. Crowder, and James S. Im, Mat. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. Vol. 452, 956xcx9c957, 1997). This enables TFTs having channel areas of single crystalline silicon.
A conventional SLS method will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional SLS apparatus. In FIG. 1, the conventional SLS apparatus includes a light source 1, an attenuator 2, a focusing lens 5, a mask 6, an imaging lens 7, and a translation stage 10, on which a sample 9 having an amorphous silicon layer (element 20 of FIG. 2A) is situated. The SLS apparatus also includes reflective mirrors 3, 4, and 8 to change the direction of the light. The reflective mirrors 3 and 4 are disposed between the attenuator 2 and the focusing lens 5, and the reflective mirror 8 is disposed between the imaging lens 7 and the translation stage 10.
The light source 1 is beneficially a XeCl excimer laser having a wavelength of 308 nm, or a KrF laser having a wavelength of 248 nm. The attenuator 2 controls the energy of the laser beam through the system. The focusing lens 5 and the imaging lens 7 condense the laser beam, while the focusing lens 5 makes the intensity of the laser beam more uniform The mask 6 forms the laser beam into a predetermined shape.
Therefore, the laser beam from the light source 1 is transmitted through the attenuator 2 and is reflected by the reflective mirrors 3 and 4. The laser beam is then condensed by the focusing lens 5, shaped by the mask 6, and passed through the imaging lens 7. Next, the laser beam is reflected by the reflective mirror 8 onto the sample 9. The translation stage 10 then moves the sample 9 and irradiation is repeated.
FIGS. 2A to 2C illustrate a process of crystallizing an amorphous silicon film using the SLS apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 2A illustrates an initial step of crystallizing the silicon film wherein a first laser beam irradiation is carried out at a region xe2x80x9cAxe2x80x9d of the amorphous silicon film 20. As stated above, because the grains of silicon grow laterally from the boundary between liquid phase silicon and solid phase silicon, grains 22a and 22b of the region xe2x80x9cAxe2x80x9d grow from both sides of the xe2x80x9cAxe2x80x9d region. Growth of the grains 22a and 22b stops at the line xe2x80x9cIIaxe2x80x9d where the grains 22a and 22b meet.
FIG. 2B illustrate crystallizing the silicon film when a second laser beam irradiation is carried out at a region xe2x80x9cBxe2x80x9d of the amorphous silicon film 20. The region xe2x80x9cBxe2x80x9d includes part of the region xe2x80x9cA.xe2x80x9d The grains 23a and 23b grow from the boundaries of the region xe2x80x9cBxe2x80x9d. In an xe2x80x9cABxe2x80x9d region, where the region xe2x80x9cAxe2x80x9d and the region xe2x80x9cBxe2x80x9d overlap, the grains 22a of FIG. 2A act as crystallization seeds. The growth of the grains 23a and 23b stop at the xe2x80x9cIIbxe2x80x9d line where the grains 23a and 23b meet. The grains 23a are larger than the grains 22a and 22b, which were formed after the first laser beam irradiation.
In FIG. 2C, a third laser beam irradiation is accomplished at a region xe2x80x9cCxe2x80x9d of the amorphous silicon film 20. Grains 24a and 24b of FIG. 2C grow from boundaries of the region xe2x80x9cCxe2x80x9d. The region xe2x80x9cCxe2x80x9d includes part of the region xe2x80x9cB.xe2x80x9d In the region xe2x80x9cBC,xe2x80x9d where the region xe2x80x9cBxe2x80x9d and the xe2x80x9cCxe2x80x9d region overlap, the grains 23a of FIG. 2B act as crystallization seeds. Therefore, the grains 24a of FIG. 2C are much larger than the grains 23a of FIG. 2B.
The whole amorphous silicon film 20 is scanned by repeated laser beam irradiation. Therefore, polycrystalline silicon with large grains is created. Furthermore, crystallization productivity is high because the number of times the same point is irradiated is small.
However, SLS-grown polycrystalline silicon film tends to have different-sized grains and irregular growing directions. Thus, TFTs fabricated from SLS-grown polycrystalline silicon also has properties that depend on the grain-growth.
FIG. 3 shows a current vs. voltage graph of a TFT made with polycrystalline silicon. Here, the x-axis indicates the TFT gate voltage (Vg) and the y-axis indicates the TFT drain current (Id). Also, each line shows a case (solid lines) in which the direction of the channel passed current and the grain-growth are parallel, a case (short dotted lines) which the direction of the channel passed current and the grain-growth direction form an angle of 45 degrees, and a case (long dotted lines) which the direction of the channel passed current and the grain-growth have an angle of 90 degrees. Those lines are established at drain voltages (Vd) of 0.1 V and 10 V.
As shown in FIG. 3, the smaller the angle between the channel direction and the grain-growth direction, the fewer a number of the grain boundaries there are. This improves the current-voltage characteristics. Therefore, if the channel direction of a TFT is parallel with the grain-growth direction, the TFT properties are enhanced. But, if the channel direction of a TFT and the grain-growth direction are at an angle of 90 degrees, the properties of TFT are minimized.
Because SLS-grown polycrystalline silicon has irregular grain-growth directions it is difficult to maximize the properties of TFT formed on SLS-grown polycrystalline silicon. Indeed, it is even difficult to produce TFTs with uniform properties.
Therefore, a technique that improves the grain-growth properties would be beneficial.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a method of manufacturing polycrystalline silicon using a mask that substantially obviates one or more of problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
An advantage of the present invention is that it provides for polycrystalline silicon having large grains.
Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides for a method of manufacturing polycrystalline silicon with more uniform sized-grains.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and in the claims and appended drawings.
To achieve these and other advantages, and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, a sequential lateral solidification mask includes a first region having a plurality of first stripes and a plurality of first slits that are located between the first stripes. Additionally, the mask includes a second region having a plurality of second stripes and a plurality of second slits located between the second stripes. The plurality of second stripes is perpendicular to the plurality of first stripes. Additionally, a third region has a plurality of third stripes and a plurality of third slits located between the third stripes. The third stripes and the third slits correspond to the first slits and the first stripes, respectively. A fourth region has a plurality of fourth stripes and a plurality of fourth slits located between the fourth stripes. The fourth stripes and the fourth slits correspond to the second slits and the second stripes, respectively.
In the above mask, the stripes of the first region to the fourth region are made of a light shielding film, and the width of each stripe is smaller than or equal to the width of each slit. Also, the mask can be subsequently arranged in order of the first region to the fourth region, or arranged in order of the first, third, second, and fourth regions.
In another aspect, a method of crystallizing a silicon film uses a mask having a first region having a plurality of first stripes and a plurality of first slits that are located between the first stripes, and a second region having a plurality of second stripes and a plurality of second slits that are located between the second stripes, wherein the plurality of second stripes are perpendicular to the plurality of first stripes. Additionally, the mask used in the method includes a third region having a plurality of third stripes and a plurality of third slits that are located between the third stripes, wherein the third stripes and the third slits correspond to the first slits and the first stripes, respectively. Furthermore, that mask includes a fourth region having a plurality of fourth stripes and a plurality of fourth slits that are located between the fourth stripes, wherein the fourth stripes and the fourth slits correspond to the second slits and the second stripes, respectively. The method includes a step of setting the mask relative to a substrate having an amorphous silicon film, applying a first laser shot to the silicon film through the mask, thereby first portions that correspond to the slits are crystallized, moving the substrate having the crystallized first portions by a quarter width of the mask; and applying a second laser shot to the silicon film. The process continues by moving the substrate by quarter mask widths and irradiating the silicon film.
In the above-mentioned method, the laser beam is irradiated four times at one region of the silicon film. Additionally, the stripes of the first region to the fourth region of the mask are made of a light shielding film, and a width of each stripe of the mask is smaller than or equal to that of each slit. Also, the mask can be arranged subsequently in order of the first region to the fourth region, or arranged in order of the first, third, second, and fourth regions.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

Method of crystallizing amorphous silicon using a mask


The present invention relates to a catalyst for a solid polymer fuel cell that includes catalyst particles supported on a carbon powder carrier, the catalyst particles containing platinum, cobalt, and manganese. In the catalyst particles of the catalyst, the component ratio of platinum, cobalt, and manganese is Pt:Co:Mn=1:0.25 to 0.28:0.07 to 0.10 in a molar ratio, the average particle size is 3.4 to 5.0 nm, and further, in the particle size distribution of the catalyst particles, the proportion of catalyst particles having a particle size of 3.0 nm or less in the entire catalyst particles is 37% or less on a particle number basis. Then, a fluorine compound having a C—F bond is supported at least on the surface of the catalyst particles. The present invention is, with respect to the above ternary alloy catalyst, an invention particularly effective in improving the durability.

Fuel cells were once called next-generation power generation systems. In order to meet the expectations, it has become realistic to put such fuel cells in practical use, and, at present in the stage to promote their spread has been reached. There are some forms of fuel cells. Among them, solid polymer fuel cells are particularly advantageous in that they have a low operative temperature and are compact. Then, because of these merits, solid polymer fuel cells are considered promising as automotive power sources or household power sources. A solid polymer fuel cell has a laminate structure in which a solid polymer electrolyte membrane is sandwiched between a hydrogen electrode (anode) and an air electrode (cathode). Then, a hydrogen-containing fuel is supplied to the hydrogen electrode, while oxygen or air is supplied to the air electrode, and the oxidation and reduction reactions that occur at the respective electrodes is utilized to extract electricity. In addition, in each of the electrodes, a mixture of a catalyst for promoting electrochemical reactions and a solid electrolyte is generally applied.
As such a catalyst to constitute an electrode, conventionally, a catalyst having supported thereon a precious metal as a catalytic metal, particularly a platinum catalyst having supported thereon platinum, has been widely used. This is because platinum as a catalytic metal is highly active in promoting electrode reactions in both the fuel electrode and the hydrogen electrode.
The present applicant for this application has conventionally studied catalysts for a solid polymer fuel cell and provided a large number of results. For example, they have reported a ternary alloy catalyst based on the platinum catalyst described above, in which a transition metal, such as cobalt or manganese, is alloyed in addition to platinum (Patent Document 1). In addition, they have also improved this ternary alloy catalyst and also developed a catalyst additionally containing a fluorine compound (Patent Document 2).

Catalyst for solid polymer fuel cells and method for producing the same


An electrode assembly (10) for a portable ECG signaling device, comprises a thin, flexible electrode support (11) supporting thereon a plurality of electrodes in spaced relationship. The electrodes (V1, V2, V3, V4, V5 and V6, LA, RA, LL) are configured for producing a twelve-lead electrocardiogram, and the electrode assembly is foldable into a compact assembly when not in use.

Patients having a history of medical ailments not infrequently subscribe to a medical monitoring service on an ambulatory basis. Upon effecting communication with a monitoring unit, the patient is frequently required to undertake an interactive dialog with medical personnel at the monitoring unit so as to enable the medical personnel to diagnose the patient's medical symptoms. Since many of those who are particularly at risk suffer from heart-disease, an ECG is usually one of the first tests which should be carried out. To this end, much effort has been directed to the provision of portable instruments for allowing a patient to carry out an ECG on himself. At their most rudimentary, such instruments comprises a pair of electrodes, which are held against a patient's body, usually near his chest to detect an electrical voltage indicative of the electrical activity of the heart. The resulting current waveform response permits partial determination of the patient's cardiac health. A more detailed determination may be realized by using more than two electrodes and portable devices are known having, for example, ten electrodes mounted on a common carrier and amenable to placement on a patient's chest area by the patient with minimum effort.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,339,823 (Reinhold, Jr.) discloses a method and device for obtaining electrical heart activity of an individual in a form capable of producing a twelve-lead electrocardiogram of an individual. The device includes a portable electrode support having an array of six non-adhesive precordial electrodes fixed thereon at predetermined positions within the array which correspond with the Wilson precordial leads for the individual. The device also includes a right arm electrode, a left arm electrode, a left leg electrode and circuitry for converting the electrical heart activity of the individual obtained by said electrodes into a form capable of producing a twelve-lead electrocardiogram. The method includes the steps of applying the left leg, left arm and right arm electrode to the skin of the individual at locations such that the circuitry can be electrically operable to obtain leads I, II, III, AVR, AVL, and AVF therefrom. Huma pressure is applied to engage the array of six precordial electrodes with the skin of the chest of the individual in an operative relation, and circuitry is operated for a time sufficient to obtain electrical heart activity of the individual in a form capable of producing an electrocardiogram.
It will be appreciated that no less important than the technical suitability of such ECG transmitters, is that they must be instantly accessible in a moment of crisis. In the first instance, the required accessibility can only be realized by a portable device. However, experience indicates that this in itself is often not enough. Most people find it difficult to function and to preserve their mental health if they live in constant fear of their mortality. Particularly, those who have a history of heart disease or other serious illness can do without constant reminders that they might need to perform an instant ECG in the street or elsewhere remote from hospital or home. As a result, there are many who consign the thought to their subconscious and it is then but a small step to relegating it to their unconscious altogether.
Such a likelihood would be reduced if the ECG transmitter were not only portable but were so disguised as to be indistinguishable from an everyday item which, in any case, the patient would carry on his or her person. Our co-pending International publication no. WO 99/45516 discloses fixedly embedding the ECG electrodes within a wallet containing a microphone, transceiver and processing circuit. However, such an arrangement is limited in size by virtue of the compactness of the wallet, which must be preserved. This requires, in practice, that only two ECG leads are provided, these being sewn into the inside fabric of the wallet and militates against the provision of a full ECG monitoring capability requiring an array of displaced electrodes spanning a patient's chest area.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,724,984 discloses a multi-segment ECG electrode including a flexible basepad, a central segment defined on a surface of the basepad, and exterior segments defined on the surface of the basepad. The exterior segments may be sized, shaped and positioned relative to the central segment so that an average position of the exterior segments approximates a position of the central segment.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,763,660 discloses a flexible and disposable electrode belt device for receiving and transmitting electric current or voltage for use on the body of a patient. The belt has a unitary layered body structure that is releasably secured to the patient. The belt device body structure has a terminal end that is connectable for communication with medical therapeutic and diagnostic apparatus. The layered body structure further includes a plurality of flexible non-conductive and conductive layers, a conductive network having electrode contact areas at predetermined positions and conductive adhesive members to removably hold the device to a patient and to, thereby, transfer electrical signals between predetermined patient body locations and the medical therapeutic and diagnostic apparatus.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,082,087 discloses a body contact electrode structure for deriving electrical signals due to physiological activity, comprising a thin, flexible body of non-conductive material having one or more wells therein. A flexible conductive member which provides an electrode is disposed at the bottom of each well. The spacing between a plurality of electrodes, which can provide bipolar and ground inputs to the medical electronic instrument, is precisely determined by virtue of the disposition of the electrodes in the wells. The electrode structure provides contact with a body surface, usually the skin. To facilitate the contact a conductive jelly is used. This conductive jelly is received in the wells. It makes contact with the electrodes. Ribs are provided in the regions between the electrodes, which form a seal at the skin so as to prevent the flow of conductive fluid between electrodes; thus preventing short circuits. The flexibility of the structure provides for comfort and reliable long term attachment and also for maintaining the contact of the electrodes and sealing ribs with the skin as the skin and muscle beneath, flex.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,004,578 discloses an expendable electro-cardiograph electrode comprising a thin metallic carrier member coated on the surface to be applied to the skin with an adhesive and having a plurality of metallic contact spikes projecting from the coated surface which spikes are devised to penetrate into the skin. The coated and spiked surface is covered by at least one pull-off foil protecting same together with the spikes against environmental influences. On the carrier member, a transverse upwardly directed flange is, provided for attachment to an electrocardiographic apparatus.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,305,746 discloses a disposable, pre-gelled, self-prepping electrode having an array or mat of flexile tines which serve to part the high impedance outer layers of skin to expose the low impedance, blood enriched layers without scratching or abrading. The tines are preferably imbedded in a conductive gel layer. In an alternative embodiment, a self prepping layer of flexile tines embedded in gel may be a single disposable self-prepping layer that is mounted over a permanent electrode.
GB 2 287 882 discloses a flexible sheet having ECG connecting leads enclosed within the sheet to a point close to their desired anatomical destination and that can be rolled up for storage. Essentially, this reference teaches a device that eliminates the tangling of wires which is perceived to be a problem with standard ECG leads, although no specific mention is made that the device disclosed therein is suitable for a 12 lead electrode assembly. In any event, whilst suggestion is made in GB 2 287 882 to direct the ECG leads to a point close to their desired anatomical destination, all that is meant thereby is that the wires constituting the ECG leads protrude from appropriate edges of the electrode support so as to most easily directed to appropriate parts of the body. GB 2 287 882 does not teach a flexible electrode support for supporting on the electrode support itself clinically pre-positioned electrodes in proper spaced relationship for placing directly against a patient's chest so as to produce an electrocardiogram.
It thus emerges that the prior art relates to disposable electrodes that are flexible but that the issues of compactness and especially the ability to fold the electrode are not addressed in the prior art.

Compact electrode assembly for a portable ECG signaling device


A lithium ion indicator material for a lithium ion battery is provided, the material comprising a lithium ion battery material and Li+ profluorophore dispersed within or on the lithium ion battery material, wherein the Li+ profluorophore comprises a 2-(naphtho[2,3-d]oxazol-2-yl)phenolate moiety or a derivative thereof, or a 2-(naphtho[2,3-d]oxazol-2-yl)phenol moiety or a derivative thereof. Lithium ion batteries comprising the lithium ion indicator material are also provided.

Batteries can provide robust and dependable power storage, can be reusable, and can act as a multiplier of effectiveness for intermittent sources of in situ power generation, such as solar or wind power. Lithium-ion batteries have emerged as a leading technology due to their high energy density and low rates of self-discharge. However, the demand for batteries to possess increasingly higher power densities, fast charging times, lighter weights, and safer operation, puts a tremendous strain on the active materials that comprise the battery. This strain, often originating from the high electrical and chemical potentials that are maintained inside the device, can result in a number of different failure modes. Battery ageing can result in a slow decrease of battery performance, frequently manifested as capacity fade and increase of self-discharge rates. In other cases, battery failure can be much more acute and violent, and constitutes a significant fire and safety hazard. These catastrophic failures can result from some physical trauma inflicted upon the battery, or can happen as a result of typical use and may present little or no warning signs before failure.
New generations of lithium-ion batteries that can offer increased capacity and other performance metrics without compromising safety or reliability are required. Research into the mechanism of typical battery usage and how those mechanisms evolve in time may lead to those new generations. Methods which have been used to characterize the physical and chemical properties of lithium ion batteries and subsystems include electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS); scanning probe microscopy (SPM); X-ray absorption spectroscopies such as X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES), X-ray absorption fine-structure (EXAFS) and X-ray tomography; electron microscopies and spectroscopies such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS); and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR).

Fluorescent indicator of lithium ions and related methods


A solar cell array is formed by connecting an n-type electrode of a first solar cell included in a plurality of solar cells and a p-type electrode of a second solar cell with each other. An n-type electrode of a protective diode is connected to the p-type electrode of the first solar cell, while a p-type electrode of the protective diode is connected to the p-type electrode of the second solar cell. According to this structure, a solar cell array capable of reducing the number of welded points with respect to bonded portions of the solar cells as well as a process time and a solar cell module including the same can be provided.

1. Field of the Technology
The present technology relates to a solar cell array and a solar cell module employing the solar cell array, and more particularly, it relates to a solar cell array having a protective diode and allowing simple connection between solar cells and a solar cell module employing this solar cell array.
2. Description of the Background Art
FIGS. 9 to 12 show exemplary conventional flexible solar cells. In one of the conventional solar cells, an n-type electrode 52 is formed on the surface of a single-crystalline thin film layer 51, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. Single-crystalline thin film layer 51 is formed by epitaxially growing an element layer on a semiconductor substrate and thereafter separating the semiconductor substrate and the epitaxially grown element layer from each other. A metal thin film 53 having a thickness of not more than 100 μm is formed on the lower surface of single-crystalline thin film layer 51 as a holding material for supporting electrode 52 or the semiconductor layer. Single-crystalline thin film layer 51 has a thickness of not more than 50 μm, for example, and includes at least one p-n junction. On metal thin film 53, a p-type electrode pad 54 is formed on the same surface as electrode 52. In order to serially or parallelly electrically connect such solar cells with each other, interconnectors 56 are electrically connected to electrode 52 and electrode pad 54 by parallel gap welding or the like.
This solar cell is abundant in flexibility, due to the extremely thin semiconductor layer. A protective resin film of polyimide or the like may be bonded to the back surface of this solar cell. In order to prepare a solar cell array, a plurality of such solar cells are serially or parallelly connected with each other, a diode serving as a protective element is parallelly connected to the solar cells, and sealed with adhesives such as transparent resin films 57 and silicone resin films 56.
On the other hand, a connecting structure shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 is known as a general technique of connecting a diode to a solar cell in order to protect the device (refer to U.S. Pat. No. 6,034,322, for example). This solar cell is formed on a substrate, and has no flexibility. In the connecting structure shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a diode 59 in the form of a triangular flat plate is set on a corner 58a provided on a solar cell 58 in order to effectively utilize a circular crystalline substrate. At least one corner of solar cell 58 is partially removed to form a beveled edge, so that diode 59 is set on corner 58a.
In solar cell 58 having built-in diode 59, a diode connector 60 is bonded to a front electrode 61 of solar cell 58 and that of diode 59 by a method such as parallel gap welding or the like respectively, while another diode connector 62 is bonded to a rear electrode 63 of solar cell 58 and that of diode 59 by a method such as parallel gap welding or the like respectively. Thus, solar cell 58 and diode 59 are electrically parallelly connected with each other, so that solar cell 58 can be prevented from breakage even if a reverse voltage is applied to solar cell 58.
Conventional solar cell 58 having built-in protective diode 59 is connected with protective diode 59 by diode connectors 60 and 62 having specific shapes for the connection between solar cell 58 and protective diode 59, and hence the number of bonded points is increased, the time (assembly time) for building protective diode 59 into solar cell 58 is increased, and reliability is reduced. Particularly on the surface of solar cell 58, rectangular front electrode 61 is provided around the outer periphery of solar cell 58, and it is difficult to bond diode 59 by welding or the like in response to the position of front electrode 61, and the assembly time is increased due to the increased number of bonded points.
Further, the front and rear sides of protective diode 59 and solar cell 58 are simultaneously connected with each other by connectors 60 and 62, and hence the process time is disadvantageously increased. If a diode is connected to the back surface of the flexible solar cell with a connector, on the other hand, a step is caused due to connectors provided on both surfaces of the solar cell. Therefore, the solar cell may be broken due to this step, and the process time for handling the solar cell in welding is increased as compared with that for a rigid solar cell formed on a substrate.


Provided is a communication method of a base station and a target terminal. Resources used for a channel feedback may be reduced by determining a wireless resource based on information about a channel and information about a mobility of the target terminal in each of at least one route, and by feeding back channel state information.

1. Field
The following description relates to a communication method of a base station and a target terminal.
2. Description of Related Art
In a mobile telecommunication system, a target terminal may be a vehicular mobile terminal. As a velocity of a vehicular mobile terminal increases, a coherence time may become relatively small. Thus, the vehicular mobile terminal may use a large amount of overhead for communicating channel feedback information. Even if channel quality is relatively high, scheduling may not frequently occur. Thus, when a channel feedback interval becomes shorter as a channel quality becomes higher, redundant feedback may occur. Specific information for forming a feedback interval of channel information according to a channel quality may also be applied.

Communication method of base station and target terminal

Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology


The present technology provides a sophisticated level of control of the spatial pattern of an acoustic field which can overcome or substantially alleviate problems associated with transmitting an acoustic signal within the near-end acoustic environment. The spatial pattern is produced by utilizing an array of audio transducers which generate a plurality of acoustic waves forming an acoustic interference pattern, such that the resultant acoustic energy is constrained (e.g. limited to an acoustic energy level at or below a predetermined threshold level) in one or more regions of the spatial pattern. In doing so, listeners in these region(s) may not receive sufficient acoustic energy to hear the associated acoustic signal, while listeners in other regions can. Similarly, these techniques can suppress echo paths within those region(s).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention related generally to audio processing, and more particularly to producing an acoustic field having a target spatial pattern.
2. Description of Related Art
Various types of audio devices such as cellular phones, laptop computers and conferencing systems present an acoustic signal through one or more speakers of the audio device, so that one or more acoustic waves are generated, which when superimposed form an acoustic field proximate to the audio device. The acoustic field formed by the generated acoustic waves can then be received by an ear of a person who is an intended listener, so that the acoustic signal is heard.
However, typically the acoustic waves originating from the audio device will also travel in other directions within the near-end acoustic environment than toward the intended listener, and may combine to form an acoustic field having significant energy in regions other than where the intended listener is situated. This can be undesirable for a number of reasons. For example, other people within the near-end acoustic environment may also hear the acoustic signal, which can be annoying to them. In addition, in some instances the acoustic signal may contain information intended to be heard only by the intended listener, such as a user of the audio device. Thus, transmitting the acoustic wave throughout the near-end acoustic environment may limit the usefulness of such audio devices in certain instances.
In addition, transmitting the acoustic wave throughout the near-end acoustic environment can result in the problem of acoustic echo, which is a delayed and distorted version of an original sound reflected back to its source. In a typical conversation, a far-end acoustic signal of a remote person speaking at the "far-end" is transmitted over a network to an audio device of a person listening at the "near-end." When the far-end acoustic signal is presented through the loudspeaker of the audio device, part of this acoustic wave may be reflected via an echo path to a microphone or other acoustic sensor of the audio device. This reflected signal may then be processed by the audio device and transmitted back to the remote person, resulting in echo. As such, the remote person will hear a delayed and distorted version of their own speech, which can interfere with normal communication and is annoying.
It is therefore desirable to provide systems and methods for producing an acoustic field which can overcome or substantially alleviate problems associated with transmitting the acoustic signal to the intended listener, such as those described above.

Systems and methods for producing an acoustic field having a target spatial pattern


Described herein are apparatus and methods for realization of time interleaved digital-to-analog converters (DACs) by detecting and aligning phase mismatches. In an implementation, a N-time interleaved DAC includes N DACs and N replica DACs, where a first set of N/2 DACs operate at a clock A and a second set of N/2 DACs operate at a clock B, and where N is at least two. The phase detector generates a phase detection output by comparing outputs of the first and second set of N/2 replica DACs with a multiplexor (MUX) clock, where the MUX clock is a multiple of a frequency of the clock A or the clock B. The clock A and the clock B are aligned with the MUX clock by advancing a phase of the clock A and the clock B until the phase detection output achieves a zero crossing.

Modern optical systems increasingly rely on digital signal processor (DSP) Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) application-specific integrated circuit (ASICs) for reliable data transmission. These systems use digital-to-analog converters (DACs) to convert digital values to analog signals. An ongoing challenge towards DAC integration in CMOS technology is a requirement to operate with increased sampling rates in each new generation of systems. For example, a recent requirement is to operate above 100 Gs/s with 8-b resolution. Presently, these requirements are beyond the feasibility of modern CMOS technologies unless an interleaving approach is used.
A time interleaved DAC architecture allows, with an interleaving ratio of at least two, extension of the sampling rate limit by a factor of two if each DAC operates close to its technology limit. However, additional issues arise. These issues are related to, for example, accurate timing alignment between the DACs and with the CMOS analog block that does time interleaving. Factors like voltage, temperature, and process variations may result in phase mismatches and performance degradation.

Apparatus and methods for realization of N time interleaved digital-to-analog converters


A method and apparatus for efficiently encoding images using a set of non-orthogonal basis functions, thereby allowing reduction of file size, shorter transmission time, and improved accuracy. The non-orthogonal basis functions include homogenous color basis functions, luminance-encoding basis functions that have luminance edges and chromatic basis functions that exhibit color opponency. Some of the basis functions are non-orthogonal with respect to each other. Using these basis functions, a source vector is calculated to provide a number of coefficients, each coefficient associated with one basis function. The source vector is compressed by selecting a subset of the calculated coefficients, thereby providing an encoded vector. Because the method is highly efficient, the image data is substantially represented by a small number of coefficients. In some embodiments, the non-orthogonal basis functions include two or more classes. A wavelet approach can also be utilized.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to computer-implemented systems and methods for encoding, compressing, and decoding images.
2. Description of Related Art
Image compression techniques are widely used to store images in digital form in computers, and to transmit the images over networks such as the Internet. Image compression techniques utilize the principle that images contain a great deal of redundant data. By reducing the redundancy, image compression processes achieve a smaller file size, which can be very useful. For example, a small file size reduces the storage requirements for the image. Also, smaller files transfer more quickly over a network.
Over time, standards have evolved for image compression and file format storage. One particular standard commonly referred to as JPEG (which is an acronym for Joint Photographic Experts Group) is widely used to transfer still images over the Internet. This JPEG standard specifies a type of lossy data compression that does not exactly reproduce the original image but provides acceptable image quality. For example, the reduction in image quality may be barely perceptible, or even if perceptible, the smaller file size compensates for the reduced image quality for most uses. As part of the JPEG standard, a quality factor can be chosen when the image is compressed, which determines how much compression versus how much loss in image detail is desired. Although some types of images can be compressed with little loss, in many instances the greater the amount of compression, the greater the corresponding loss of image quality.
To compress an image according to the JPEG standard, the image is first divided up into 8×8 patches, each patch containing 64 pixels. Based upon the pixel values in this patch (typically a red value, a green value, and a blue value are associated with each pixel), certain values are calculated using basis functions predetermined by the JPEG standard. These calculated values then represent the image. To reconstruct the image, the calculated values are decoded using the predetermined basis functions to recreate the image.
JPEG 2000 is new standard proposed by JPEG that uses a wavelet approach to more accurately encode an image. In the wavelet approach, a large patch (possibly the entire image at the top level) is encoded, then the patch is processed which includes subdividing the large patch into smaller patches. The smaller, subdivided patches are then encoded, and these patches are re-subdivided and encoded. This process is repeated-subdividing and encoding progressively smaller patches—until a predetermined patch size (or other criteria), has been met. To decode an image encoded according to the wavelet approach, each of the encoded patches is sequentially decoded and displayed.
Even with a great deal of compression, JPEG files are large. It would be an advantage to provide a system that can significantly reduce the size of compressed files while retaining high image quality, thereby occupying less storage space, and reducing transmission time.

Method and apparatus for efficiently encoding chromatic images using non-orthogonal basis functions

The Salk Institute for Biological Studies


A pachinko machine board includes a game board on which nails, a start chucker, a big prize winning port and prize winning ports are fixed and a projection mechanism formed for projecting projection light from the rear surface of the game board to display images for a game on the game board. The game board includes a game board main body made of a light transmitting material so as to display the images for a game and nail fixing parts formed separately from the game board main body and attached to the game board main body. The nails, start chucker, big prize winning port and prize winning ports can be fixed to the nail fixing parts.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a game machine comprising a game board and a projection mechanism formed so as to display images for a game by projecting projection light from the rear surface of the game board.
2. Related Art
As one type of a pachinko machine (game machine), JP-UM-A-7-24381 discloses a pachinko machine (pachinko machine board) which can project images for a game on a light transmitting optical image display part of a front panel (game board) by using a projector of a rear projection type (rear projection system). In this case, the projector includes components such as a liquid crystal display element and a light source and a projection lens is disposed between the projector and the game board. In this pachinko machine board, the projector firstly allows light emitted from the light source to pass through the liquid crystal display element and thus modulates the light to an optical image (projection light) and output the optical image. Then, the projection lens enlarges the projection light projected by the projector to project the enlarged projection light on the light transmitting optical image display part of the game board. Thus, an image for a game is displayed on the light transmitting optical image display part. In this case, the projection lens is operated so that the position or the area of the light transmitting optical image display part (that is, an area on which the image for a game is displayed) in the game board can be freely changed. Accordingly, the image for a game can be displayed over all the game board.
However, the rear projection type pachinko machine board has some problems as described below. That is, in the pachinko machine board, in order to visually recognize from a front surface the image for a game projected on the rear surface, all of the game board is formed of a light transmitting resin. A plurality of nails need to be fixed to the front surface of the game board. In this case, these nails are driven in from the front surface side of the game board by, for instance, a nailing machine. However, since the light transmitting resin is weak in withstanding impacts, there is a problem that the game board may be possibly broken due to the impact exerted upon driving the nails. Further, since the driven nails cannot be held with an adequate retaining force by the light transmitting resin, there is also a problem that the driven nails may become loose or slip due to an impact upon collision of game balls during a game or upon adjusting the nails. In this case, a method may be proposed that holes are formed on the game board and the nails are inserted into the holes and fixed thereto by, for example, an adhesive material. Even by using this fixing method, for instance, when a strong impact is exerted upon the nails, for example when adjusting the nails, the game board may be possibly still broken. Further, on the surface of the game board, various kinds of accessories (parts for a game) need to be fixed. In this case, these accessories are fixed by screwing (fastening), for instance, fixing screws to the game board. However, since the light transmitting resin is low in flexibility, when the fixing screws are tightly fastened, the game board may be possibly broken due to the fastening operation. Further, since the thus screwed fixing screws cannot be held with an adequate retaining force by the light transmitting resin, the fixed accessories (screwed fixing screws) may become loose due to an impact upon collision of game balls during a game. Therefore, means for preventing the breakage of the game board resulting from the impact exerted when driving the nails or adjusting the nails, and the fastening operation of the fixing screws is preferably provided. Further, means capable of preventing the loosening or slipping of the driven nails and the loosening of the fixed accessories is preferably provided.
The present invention is proposed by taking these problems into consideration. It is one object of the present invention to provide a game machine in which while a projected image for a game can be visually recognized, the breakage of a game board resulting from an impact exerted through nails and a fastening operation of fixing screws can be prevented. It is another object of the present invention to provide a game machine capable of preventing the loosening or slipping of nails and the loosening of fixed accessories due to an impact.


Methods and systems for capturing a three dimensional image are described. An image capture process is performed while moving a lens to capture image data across a range of focal depths, and a three dimensional image reconstruction process generates a three dimensional image based on the image data. A two-dimensional image is also rendered including focused image data from across the range of focal depths. The two dimensional image and the three dimensional image are fused to generate a focused three dimensional model.

Three dimensional image capture has a variety of uses, including in areas such as virtual reality, object modeling, and/or general image capture fields. To perform such three dimensional image capture, there are a number of possible solutions, including time of flight based image capture, structured light based image capture, and stereo vision. Each of these processes vary in terms of computational complexity, number of sensors required, available resolution (e.g., image quality), whether color images are available, and whether an additional light source is required.
For example, in the case of a time of flight image capture process, a light travel distance is used, and by measuring time of flight, a depth distance in an image can be calculated. With increased time granularity, finer depth calculations can be made. However, to achieve depth accuracy to within a millimeter, typically measurement must be made at the picosecond level, which requires substantial computational resources. Additionally, a special-purpose sensor may be needed (e.g., an SPAD array). In such cases, a larger pitch of such a special sensor may limit the X-Y direction resolution, limiting image quality. Still further, in some cases, a special purpose light source, such as a VCSEL (Laser array) or LED array (e.g., NIR LED) may be required.
In the case of structured light based image capture, a pattern of light is projected on a subject, and deformation of the light pattern by the subject is observed to detect a shape of the object. A camera offset from the pattern projector can review the shape of the pattern and calculate a distance/depth for each point within a field of view. Such systems are generally fast and relatively accurate since they can scan multiple points or an entire field of view at once; however, such systems require a very specific illumination source to accomplish depth calculations.
As such, many optical depth detection systems employ stereo vision techniques. Such systems typically employ two or more video cameras spaced from each other. By analyzing slight differences between images captured by each camera, a distance at each point in the images is possible. Although this does not require an additional light source (as in the case of a structured light based image capture process), it does require two sensors and significant computation to identify a matching point at which the two or more cameras can be focused. Matching points may be difficult to identify for objects with little or no texture.
As seen above, where additional light sources or sensors are required, cost, power, and computational complexity are all generally increased. However, in typical scenarios, such additional light sources or sensors are required for improved image quality.

Phase detect auto-focus three dimensional image capture system

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


Embodiments described herein are directed to oligomeric phosphonates and polyphosphonates that have non-reactive end groups, methods for making such oligomeric phosphonates and polyphosphonates, and compositions containing such oligomeric phosphonates and polyphosphonates. The oligomeric phosphonates and polyphosphonates of such embodiments may be incorporated into engineering polymeric into which they are mixed to make polymer compositions having good flame retardancy and mechanical properties.

The state-of-the-art approach to rendering polymers flame retardant is to use additives such as brominated compounds or compounds containing aluminum and/or phosphorus. Use of the additives with polymer can have a deleterious effect on the processing characteristics and/or the mechanical performance of articles produced from them. In addition, some of these compounds are toxic, and can leach into the environment over time making their use less desirable. In some countries, certain brominated additives are being phased-out of use because of environmental concerns. Disclosed herein are improved approaches for rendering polymers flame retardant.

Curing of epoxy resins with phosphonate oligomers


A bed board includes a plurality of distance bars each having a xe2x80x9c]xe2x80x9d or generally xe2x80x9cCxe2x80x9d-shaped configuration with two ends, each end having a distance bar rabbet; a plurality of trips each having a xe2x80x9cVxe2x80x9d shape with an outer flank having a groove and an inner flank having a protrusion configured for engaging a corresponding one of the ends of the distance bars; and a plurality of side pillars each having a plurality of side pillar rabbets, each of the side pillar rabbets is configured for receiving a corresponding one of the plurality of trips and one of the ends of the distance bars.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to an improved bed board, featuring a construction which may be shipped in a reduced size format.
2. Background of Related Art
With the spread of globalization and integration of the global economy, manufacturing volume has increased, and at the same time the transportation fees are on the increase, sometimes, the transportation fees are equal to cost of the product. Therefore, an important issue for manufacturers is how to reduce storage and shipping volume products having relatively large volumes.
The main objective of the invention is to disassemble the bed board, forming the main bulk section of a bed, and to reduce the volume of the product in transport and storage. The present bed board includes distance bars, side pillars and trips. The distance bars are connected to the side pillars by the trips which are mounted on the side pillars. The side pillars each have rabbets into which the trips are inserted The trips have a xe2x80x9cVxe2x80x9d shape when viewed in section, the outer flank of the sections each have a groove and an inner flank of the sections have a protrusion. The distance bars have a xe2x80x9c]xe2x80x9d or generally xe2x80x9cCxe2x80x9d-shaped configuration, wherein two sides of the shape are inserted in the trips. The sides each have a rabbet associated with a corresponding protrusion.
A major drawback of the present bed boards is their side pillars being welded to distance bars, so the board occupies a large volume in storage and transport, and incurs increased transport fees. The distance bars and side pillars of the present utility bed board can be divided, and the present board is very convenient to assemble, the side pillars and distance bars occupy small bulk in packing transport, and more finished products can be stored in the space or package of an assembled board.

No. 139, Fanghu West Road Fanghu Industry District


In an optical storage system, a non-signal radiation component from a laser unit which is leaves the optical path as a result of selection of a signal polarization component for interaction with the optical storage medium is applied to a first detector. The output electrical signal from the first detector is combined with the output electrical signal from the second detector to which the radiation component, which has interacted with the storage medium, is applied. The two electrical signals are combined in a manner to reduce the noise from the laser unit which is superimposed on the signal from the second detector. In the typical read/write head, the non-signal beam can be the deflected radiation from the beam splitter.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates generally to optical storage systems and, more particularly, to the detection apparatus associated with a write-once system by which the change in reflectivity of an irradiated region of a storage region, and hence the binary state represented by the region, is identified.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the write-once optical storage system, noise can be introduced into the system by several mechanisms. For example, the radiation detectors can introduce shot noise and thermal (Johnson) noise into the signal. The effect of the shot noise and the thermal noise can not be reduced by differential detection systems. However, one of the largest sources of noise are the instabilities in the laser radiation unit. In certain applications in which a differential detection system is employed, a reduction in noise can automatically be achieved.
Referring to FIG. 1, a write once-optical information storage system is illustrated. A radiation beam is generated by means of a laser diode 11. The radiation beam is collimated by collimating lens 12 and applied to beam splitter 13. The portion of the radiation beam with a polarization determined by the characteristics of the beam splitter 13 is transmitted by the beam splitter 13 and applied to quarter wave plate 14. The portion of the radiation beam which is not transmitted by the beam splitter 13 is reflected thereby and leaves the optical path of the storage system. The portion of the radiation beam transmitted by the quarter wave plate 14 is applied to objective lens 15. The objective lens focuses the radiation beam through a protective layer 5B and onto an information bearing surface 5A of the storage medium 5. The radiation beam is reflected from the storage medium surface 5A and is recollimated by objective lens 15 The recollimated radiation beam is transmitted through the quarter-wave plate 14, and applied to polarization beam splitter 13. The portion of the reflected radiation beam which has been rotated by interaction with the storage medium and the quarter wave plate will have a linearly polarized radiation component rotated by an angle of 90.degree. from the polarized radiation component transmitted by the beam splitter 13. The rotated radiation component will be reflected by the beam splitter 13 and applied to radiation detector 16. The portion of the radiation beam which has not been rotated by interaction with the storage medium will be transmitted through the polarization beam splitter 13. This radiation component transmitted by the beam splitter will remain as part of the laser cavity radiation. The output signal from radiation detector 16 is applied to amplifier 17. The output signal from the amplifier can be processed to determine the information stored on the storage medium.
The operation of the write once information storage system can be understood in the following manner. The memory layer 5A of the storage medium is fabricated so that the reflectivity of selected regions of the storage medium can be altered with respect to the surrounding region. When information is stored on the memory layer, the reflectivity of the selected regions, establishes along a predetermined path or track the interpretation of selected regions as a sequence of logical signals. The quarter wave plate converts the linearly polarized radiation into a circularly polarized radiation beam. When the circularly polarized radiation is reflected from the storage layer, the differential absorption between the two orientation states of the storage layer will provide a detectable difference in the signal amplitude. Therefore, the reflectivity state of the currently illuminated portion of the storage layer can be determined from the output signal of amplifier 17. The determination of the reflectivity of the illuminated selected region permits the correlation of the illuminated region of the storage layer with a logic state and, consequently, the retrieval of information stored on the storage layer.
As will be clear to those skilled in the art, the differential absorption can be relatively small. Therefore, the signal or modulated components of the radiation beam can be relatively small and a carrier signal to noise ratio (CNR) can be small. One of the principal contributions to the noise is the result of instabilities in the laser unit. In order to compensate for laser unit instabilities, one technique has been to extract a portion of the laser radiation from the radiation source and compensate for noise in the signal-bearing radiation beam by combining the extracted radiation portion with the signal-bearing radiation source. An example of this compensation is found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,896,222 issued in the name of Fukai. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,150,402 issued in the name of Tietze et al., a portion of the radiation beam is used to determine a general level of the laser radiation, thereby permitting a calibration for a signal-bearing or modulated beam. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,413 issued in the name of Bakx, a technique for dividing a reflected radiation from a recording media to remove the effects of write modulation is disclosed. However, none of the references disclose a technique for reducing the laser noise in an optical recording head.

Apparatus and method for laser noise cancellation in an optical storage system using a front facet monitor signal


This disclosure relates to binding agents with specificity for HIV and to methods for using the same to treat, prevent and/or ameliorate HIV infection and/or AIDS.

As we enter the fourth decade of the HIV epidemic, significant advances have been made in the understanding of HIV pathogenesis and in the development of potent and safe antiviral drugs. More than 30 antiviral drugs have been registered and the impact of combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) on both morbidity and mortality has been remarkable. However, despite the long-term suppression of HIV replication achieved in patients with optimal adherence to ART, HIV invariably rebounds after interruption of therapy. Furthermore, successful therapy does not induce or allow restoration/development of virus-specific immune responses capable of controlling HIV replication in the absence of ART. Thus, life-long ART is needed to control HIV replication and associated disease in the large majority of HIV infected subjects.
A number of immunological interventions have been investigated in the past and currently being further developed with the goal to achieve HIV functional cure, wherein viral replication is suppressed without sustained antiviral therapy. Therapeutic vaccine strategies have been the primary intervention strategy investigated but the results have shown modest efficacy in experimental animal models and patients with the exception of a CMV-based vector HIV vaccine (50% efficacy in the NHP model). Recent studies have generated interesting results on the possibility of using anti-envelope broad neutralizing antibodies (bNabs) as therapeutic agents in HIV infection.
There is a need in the art for additional reagents for targeting HIV, especially neutralizing antibodies, and methods for using the same. This disclosure addresses those needs by providing reagents and methods that may be used to target HIV and cells and/or tissues infected by and/or harboring the same.

Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois


A temperature compensation system comprises a laser driver having a first potentiometer, the laser driver configured to provide a first signal to a laser based on a value of the first potentiometer and an optical communication analyzer configured to provide a second signal indicative of a first output parameter of the laser. The temperature compensation system comprises a computer system configured to drive the first signal and receive the second signal and determine a first updated value for the first potentiometer to obtain a first desired laser output parameter value based on a first known value of the first potentiometer, the second signal, and the first desired laser output parameter value.

Fiber optic transceivers are used in a variety of applications, including storage area networks (SANs), local area networks (LANs), Fibre Channel, Gigabit Ethernet, and synchronous optical network (SONET) applications. Fiber optic transceivers can be used as the network interface in mainframe computers, workstations, servers, and storage devices. Fiber optic transceivers can also be used in a broad range of network devices, such as bridges, routers, hubs, and local and wide area switches.
Fiber optic transceivers include a fiber optic receiver and a fiber optic transmitter. The fiber optic receiver converts optical serial data to electrical serial data and the fiber optic transmitter converts electrical serial data to optical serial data. A majority of fiber optic transceivers include power control circuits, diagnostic circuits, and other circuits for enhancing the functionality of the fiber optic transceivers.
Fiber optic transmitters include a transmitter optical subassembly (TOSA). Typically, TOSAs include a laser diode and a monitor diode. Temperature variations during operation of TOSAs affect the tracking error (TE) and the slope efficiency (SE) of the TOSAs. These variations may vary from TOSA to TOSA. This may require an individual temperature compensation of each TOSA for each fiber optic transceiver.
Average power (Pave) and extinction ration (ER) vary with temperature due to laser parameter changes over temperature. Pave can be controlled by varying the setting of a first potentiometer that changes the bias current to the laser diode as the temperature changes. ER can also be controlled over temperature by varying the setting of a second potentiometer that changes the modulation current as the temperature changes.
All lasers do not behave identically; therefore one temperature compensation curve for the first potentiometer and a one temperature compensation curve for the second potentiometer cannot be used to compensate for all lasers. Typically, the values for the first potentiometer and the second potentiometer are found by iteratively searching for values to provide the desired Pave and ER at every few degrees within the operating temperature range of the laser. Interpolation between the values is used to create a profile or curve for the first potentiometer and the second potentiometer that can be determined to keep Pave and ER within specification.

Temperature compensation for fiber optic transceivers using optimized convergence algorithms


The invention relates to a gene isolated from E. coli, dep, which confers resistance to the antibacterial activity of 4,5-dihydroxy-2-cyclopenten-1-one (DHCP). The invention further relates to the putative protein encoded by dep, which is a hydrophobic, transmembrane efflux protein specific for DHCP. The invention further relates to plasmids containing the dep gene, and to bacterial cells expressing dep. Furthermore, the invention provides applications for use in conferring resistance to antibacterial activity in organisms. The dep gene can be used to identify compounds which inhibit the efflux activity responsible for the resistance to DHCP or to compounds which are functionally equivalent to DHCP.

In spite of the number of antibiotics available against a variety of bacteria, due to emergence of multiple drug resistant strains, the search for never and more effective antibacterial compounds has continued. 4,5-dihydroxy-2-cyclopenten-1-one (DHCP) (see FIG. 1) is a compound having antibacterial activity against a variety of gram-positive and -negative bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, Bacillu, Salmonella, Staphylococcus etc. The process for manufacture and the propeties of DHCP have been patented (Koyama et al. 1999). It is prepared by the heat-treatment of uronic acid or its derivatives, wherein uronic acid is galacturonic acid, glucuronic acid, mannuronic acid, or iduronic acid. It is also produced from roasted or parched vegetables, fruits, cereals, mushrooms, sea algae, cortex, or cartilage. It has been demonstrated that this compound induces cancer cell differentiation and apoptosis. It has potential application as therapeutic or preventative agent against cancer and also as an antibacterial agent in antiseptics, dentrifices, cosmetics, and bathing agaents (Koyama et al. 1999).
We have isolated a multicopy suppressor from an E. coli genomic library for the DHCP toxicity. The putative protein encoded by this gene showed high homology to known efflux proteins conferring resistance to a number of antibiotics including chloramphenicol, bicyclomycin, and tetracycline. The gene was mapped at 37.5 min on the E. coli chromosome. It is designated as dep for DHCP-efflux protein. However, the Dep protein does not confer cross-resistance to any of the antibiotics tested.

Method of using a gene conferring resistance to 4,5-dihydroxy-2-cyclopenten-1-one (DHCP) and identifying inhibitors of a polypeptide encoded by the gene


A ballistic logic gate is disclosed. The ballistic logic gate may include an etched silicon substrate with a pair of etched silicon triangular baffles defining input channels. An electron may travel through the input channels toward a nano-deflector with a parabolic deflection surface. The parabolic deflection surface may guide electrons into a fixed path of an output channel toward an output terminal for performing a logic function.

The present invention generally relates to high frequency semiconductor devices and more particularly to logic gates which utilize ballistic electron phenomena.
Some in the art have sought to design logic gates for manufacture in smaller packages yet capable of producing faster computing power. For example, some have turned to using transistors in logic gates for performing logical operations in a digital circuit. As transistors become both smaller and more powerful, some researchers have sought solutions to deal with the inherent problems that come with the small sizes demanded by some of today's applications. As researchers continue to scale down the sizes and ramp up the speed of electrical components, heat generation and electrical leaking become larger and larger problems.
Some transistors may be designed to actively control the flow of electrons. It is known to manufacture transistors by forming a sandwich of two materials; the center material is controlled via current/voltage so as to either permit electrons to flow across the sandwich, or to halt their flow across the sandwich. It is the starting and stopping of electrons that causes great amounts of energy, typically in the form of heat, to be released.
A prior art transistor may register a "one" as a collection of electrons on a capacitor, and a "zero" when those electrons are removed. One drawback to this method is that it takes time move the electrons on and off the capacitor (refill time) limiting the speed of the transistor and the output for the circuit. A second drawback is that these prior art transistors may produce immense amounts of heat when that energy is emptied.
It is known in the art to form logic gates by chaining transistors together. However, such designs may suffer from undesirable heating and leakage problems. Additionally, some chained transistor designs amplify the drawbacks of single transistors and may provide undesirably slow operating performance in unnecessarily large packaging.
As can be seen, there is a need for a high frequency logic gate using ballistic phenomena.

Structure for logical “OR” using ballistics transistor technology

International Business Machines Corporation


A system for connecting at least two receivers to a common antenna is proposed, antenna signal lines being supplied to the receivers, which stands out in that the input impedances of the at least two receivers are matched only in a narrow-band fashion in the range of their current reception frequencies to the impedances of the antenna signal lines supplied to them. An antenna signal splitter is also proposed. Finally, a method for controlling the reception frequencies of at least two receivers connected to a common receiving antenna is proposed, which is distinguished by the fact that the reception frequencies of the at least two receivers are set in such a way that they maintain a predefined minimum frequency distance from one another. A reduction of an antenna signal attenuation in an antenna signal splitter for multiple receiver systems is thereby possible, provided the receivers are tuned to different reception frequencies.

In a radio receiver, especially a broadcasting radio receiver, if several signals are to be evaluated simultaneously, e.g., broadcast signals of a broadcasting station broadcasting a music program, and additional broadcast signals of a further transmitter transmitting, for example, digitally coded traffic radio information, then the broadcast frequency mixture received by a receiving antenna, in which the broadcast frequencies of the stations of interest are also included, are split by an antenna signal splitter to the various receivers tuned to the broadcast frequencies of the stations that are of interest.
For this, an antenna signal splitter 120 such as that shown in FIG. 1 is often used, which is made up of a transformer 121 having several windings and a center tap for supplying the antenna signal of receiving antenna 100 and of terminals 125, 126 for coupling out the split antenna signals by the connected receivers and over and above that, resistors 122 shunting the output connectors. By the suitable choice of the resistance value of the resistor(s) 122, namely, for example, in the case of a splitter having two outputs, ideally twice the input impedance of the receiving series, connected to output terminals 125, 126 of splitter 120, which ideally corresponds to the impedance of the antenna signal line, a bidirectional matching of the antenna signal splitter outputs 125 and 126 to the impedance of the system or the respective receiver is achieved. An additional input transformer 123 matches the impedance of antenna 100 or the antenna line to the input impedance of splitting transformer 121.
This circuit is usable in a broadband manner and insensitive to mismatch at individual antenna signal splitter outputs 125, 126. The disadvantage is the attenuation acting in the entire usable frequency range, which of necessity is created by the broadband signal splitting.
Great Britain Patent No. 613927 describes a receiver system having at least two receivers. The receivers are connected to a common antenna via antennal signal lines. Each of the receivers has available a fixed prefilter having bandpass characteristics, so that it has an impedance matching to the antenna signal lines, supplied to them, only in the range of their pass bands lying in different frequency ranges. Each of the receivers is limited to a certain working frequency or a certain narrow working frequency range, in which, as a result of the narrow bandwidths of the prefilters, it has available to it a maximum antenna signal power. Outside the working frequency range, as a result of the narrow bandwidths of the prefilters, practically a total reflection of the antenna signal is present. It is thereby achieved that the antenna signal is available almost loss free to each of the receivers in the frequency range utilized by it.

Antenna connection device, antenna signal splitter and method for reception frequency control


An application running on portable information handling system automatically inventories the portable information handling system to identify one or more components that perform one or more functions based upon information embedded in a barcode. For example, a barcode affixed to an information handling system identifies the information handling system as having a near field communication (NFC) device. The application searches the portable information handling system to determine if the portable information handling system has a NFC device and, if so, presents an activator at a display to use the NFC device to communicate with the information handling system NFC device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to the field of information handling system processing, and more particularly to an automated information handling component compatibility.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
Information handling systems are built from a wide variety of components that provide a variety of different functions with a variety of different capabilities. Enterprises and individuals leverage this flexibility by selecting information handling systems on a cost and performance basis. For example, an individual who uses an information handling system for web browsing and multimedia viewing may purchase a system with more expensive graphics components, while an individual who uses an information handling system for word processing and spreadsheet analysis may purchase a system with more expensive processing and memory components and only a basic graphics system. As another example, enterprises purchase server information handling systems with similar considerations that balance network and storage capabilities. For instance, an enterprise might purchase basic server systems to work in tandem to support an e-commerce website and a more expensive server system to manage and administer the e-commerce website resources. The more expensive server system typically includes more processing capabilities and built-in redundancy to protect against system outages.
Often, more expensive information handling systems include "bells and whistles" that provide additional functionality. One example is extra wireless networking capabilities to support peripherals through wireless communications. For instance, wireless display interfaces are found in some portable information handling systems. As another example, Bluetooth and other wireless personal area networking interfaces support wireless communications with keyboard, mouse and other peripheral devices. Another close range communication device is a near field communication (NFC) device that provides "tap" communications with radio communications. NFC devices have found their way into mobile telephone information handling systems as a convenient way to transfer information over short distances, such as business cards, phone numbers or music playlists. NFC devices have also found their way into a variety of peripheral devices to store configuration and networking information for the peripheral devices. For instance, an enterprise might put wireless local area network information for a projector display on an NFC device disposed in a display so that an end user can retrieve the configuration information with an NFC communication and apply the configuration information to use the projector display. Although wireless communications capabilities simplify an end user's interaction with information handling systems and peripherals, these wireless capabilities too often go unused because end users either do not know that the capabilities are present or do not understand how to use the wireless capabilities.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Automated information handling system component compatibility