The invention concerns a method for the synthesis of chlorinated aniline on the ring and comprising at least a sp3 hybridization carbon atom both perhalogenated and bearing a fluorine atom. Said method is characterized in that it comprises a step which consists in chlorinating a precursor aniline of said chlorinated aniline, said chlorination being carried out in a hydrofluoric medium capable of exchanging chlorine and fluorine in benzyl position. The invention is useful for the synthesis of organofluorinated and/or chlorinated compounds.

The present invention is targeted at a process for the synthesis of an aniline which is chlorinated on the ring and which comprises at least one carbon atom of sp3 hybridization which is both perhalogenated and the carrier of a fluorine atom. It is targeted more particularly at the chlorination in a hydrofluoric acid medium of a precursor aniline of said chlorinated aniline.
Fluorinated molecules are playing an increasing role in pharmaceuticals and in agrochemicals. The synthesis of fluorinated derivatives is often problematic as direct fluorination reactions are generally too violent and too selective to be able to be employed. Consequently, the synthesis of fluorinated derivatives often makes use of exchanges of various substituents with fluorine and in particular exchanges of heavier halogens with fluorine.
The most widely used and the least expensive reactant in carrying out the exchange is unquestionably liquid-phase hydrofluoric acid.
Hydrofluoric acid exhibits various properties which depart from the ordinary and renders the reactions carried out within a hydrofluoric acid medium difficult to predict and in any case different from the results obtained with conventional techniques.
In particular, liquid hydrofluoric acid is a particularly aggressive medium and where numerous combinations by hydrogen bonding take place; moreover, hydrofluoric acid forms, with amines and in particular with weak amines and with aromatic heterocycles, extremely stable complexes which it is difficult to treat and to restore the free amine and the hydrofluoric acid.
Generally, an aniline bonds with four molecules of hydrofluoric acid which it will be necessary to neutralize to release the amine.
This neutralization is particularly expensive and leads to the discharging of hydrofluoric acid salts, the discharge of which is generally strictly regulated.
Currently, the chlorination of anilines takes place on the free aniline, in particular when the ring carrying the amine functional group is depleted in electrons by electron-withdrawing groups.
The hydrochloric acid given off by the chlorination of the aniline subsequently has to be neutralized to release the amine.
The problem is particularly acute in the case of anilines which carry, on a side chain, a perhalogenated and in particular perfluorinated carbon of sp3 hybridization.
For this reason, one of the aims of the present invention is to provide a process which comprises a stage of chlorine/fluorine exchange in a hydrofluoric acid medium (with or without diluent) and which makes it possible to avoid a twofold release of the aniline, once from hydrofluoric acid and another time from hydrochloric acid.
Another aim of the present invention is to provide a process which makes possible good recovery of hydrofluoric acid bonded to anilines.
Another aim of the present invention is to provide a process of the preceding type which makes it possible to limit the saline discharges from the process.
These aims and others which will become apparent subsequently are achieved by means of the process for the synthesis of an aniline which is chlorinated on the ring and which comprises at least one carbon atom of sp3 hybridization which is both perhalogenated and the carrier of a fluorine atom, characterized in that it comprises the stage of chlorination of a precursor aniline of the chlorinated aniline, this reaction being carried out in a hydrofluoric acid medium capable of exchanging chlorine and fluorine in the benzyl position or on a carbon carrying a chalcogen.
The term xe2x80x9cperhalogenated carbonxe2x80x9d should be understood as meaning a carbon of sp3 nature which does not carry hydrogen and which comprises, in addition to its bond with the aryl or with the chalcogen, at most 2, advantageously at most 1, radicals, all the other atoms being halogens; said radicals are advantageously chosen from electron-withdrawing groups, in particular when there are 2 of them.
The present invention is of particular use for anilines which carry an electron-withdrawing group in the position para to the amine functional group. This electron-withdrawing group is advantageously an electron-withdrawing group which exerts its effect via an inductive effect and in particular groups perhalogenated on the carbon bonded to the aromatic ring of the aniline.
The hydrofluoric acid medium can either be liquid hydrofluoric acid or a hydrofluoric acid diluted in a solvent.
This hydrofluoric acid medium can be composed simply of the amine complexed by several molecules of hydrofluoric acid, generally from 2 to 5, most often 4. Generally, the HF/aniline ratio is between 2 and 10, advantageously between 4 and 8. The upper limits have only an economic meaning.
Although the aniline can be prepared in situ by decomposition of carbamoyl fluoride, this implementation is not preferred because of the risks of emission of fluorophosgene (COCl2). According to a preferred implementation, the optional xe2x80x9creleasexe2x80x9d of the amine from its carbamoyl fluoride is carried out before carrying out the chlorination.
The solvents used are advantageously solvents known for making possible ionic chlorination (chlorination by an entity of the C1+ type).
Mention may in particular be made, among the solvents which can be used, of fluorinated derivatives and chlorinated aromatic derivatives, such as, for example, monochlorobenzenes, dichlorobenzenes or trichlorobenzenes.
According to the present invention, it is possible to carry out a monochlorination or especially a dichlorination, the monochlorination occurring ortho and the dichlorination being essentially ortho-orthoxe2x80x2 to the aniline functional group.
The chlorination generally occurs at a temperature of between 0 and 150xc2x0 C., advantageously between 20 and 120xc2x0 C.
The double chlorination occurs at temperatures greater than ambient temperature and gives good results at a temperature of between 70xc2x0 C. and 150xc2x0 C.; the most satisfactory results are obtained between 90xc2x0 C. and 140xc2x0 C.
However, to obtain very good yields, it is desirable to be at a temperature greater than or equal to 100xc2x0 C. (2 significant figures), preferably greater than 100xc2x0 C. To further improve the yield and the selectivity, it is desirable to introduce the substrate into a reaction mass (including solvent) corresponding to the above temperature restrictions. During heating, to avoid the unfavorable effect of the intermediate temperatures below the preferred temperatures, it is even possible to envisage heating the substrate in particular and the reactants in general before introduction.
In addition, it is desirable for the chlorine to be introduced so that the medium always remains chlorinating, in other words the rate of consumption of the chlorinating agent (e.g. chlorine) is at most equal to the rate of introduction into the medium of said chlorinating agent. For example, the fact of introducing chlorine so that it is stoichiometrically in excess with respect to the desired reaction constitutes an operating parameter which improves both the yield and the selectivity. This stoichiometric excess is advantageously produced throughout virtually the entire reaction.
In order to avoid side reactions, it is desirable, as soon as sparging of chlorine ceases, to suddenly cool the reaction mixture. This cooling is advantageously carried out at least partially by the removal of the hydrofluoric acid under reduced pressure.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the reaction, the substrate and the chlorine are introduced gradually and simultaneously over a heel of solvent or of reaction mass, brought to and maintained at the favorable temperature.
The presence of Lewis acid, such as boron trifluoride, although favoring the reaction, is not necessary. The molar amount of optional Lewis acid is advantageously between 10xe2x88x924 and 10xe2x88x921 with respect to the substrate.
The pressure at which the reaction is carried out is advantageously either atmospheric pressure or a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, preferably autogenous pressure.
The chlorinating agent is advantageously chlorine, which is introduced into the reaction medium advantageously in the form of a gas. This introduction is advantageously carried out by sparging into the reaction medium, this introduction preferably being carried out at a flow rate at least equal to that defined by that of the substrate multiplied by the stoichiometry of the targeted reaction (generally 2 mol of chlorine per 1 mol of substrate).
Mention should in particular be made, among the advantages of the present invention, of the saving of a reaction stage and of a neutralization stage.
A significantly lower discharge of salt and thus better respect for the environment may also be pointed out. This is because, in a hydrofluoric acid medium, hydrochloric acid is given off. It can then be used for the regeneration of the chlorine, either by the Deacon process or by electrolysis.
The hydrochloric acid, in particular for small plants, can also be used to regenerate the chlorine by reaction with a hypochlorite. However, in that case, the discharge of saline derivatives is greater than in the case of the Deacon process or of the process by electrolysis.
Another advantage of the present invention is that of making much easier the release of the aniline from its complexes with hydrofluoric acid, thus making possible better recycling of the hydrofluoric acid and an additional saving with respect to saline discharges.
This is because, during the study which led to the present invention, it was shown that a simple distillation of the acid(s) makes it possible to remove the acids bonded to the aniline thus depleted by the chlorination.
Thus, when the reaction is carried out at atmospheric pressure, the hydrochloric acid and the hydrofluoric acid pass into the gas phase from approximately 20xc2x0 C. Under these conditions, the release of the aniline is virtually complete by distillation or any other means of displacing hydrofluoric acid and hydrochloric acid by passage into the vapor phase.
This release can, of course, be carried out under a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, in which case the temperature of release of the aniline takes place at a higher temperature. It can be carried out under reduced pressure, in which case the temperature of release takes place at a lower temperature.
Thus, the chlorination of the anilines which are targeted by the present invention makes possible complete and ready release from aniline-hydrofluoric acid complexes without the production of salts.
This greater facility in releasing the aniline from its complexes with hydrofluoric acid is related, first, to the increase in the boiling point of the chlorinated aniline with respect to the unchlorinated aniline and, secondly, by a reduction in the basicity of the aniline, which, in this case, appears to weaken the hydrofluoric acid-aniline bond.
This release of the aniline is also facilitated by the greater stability of the chlorinated aniline with respect to the starting aniline before chlorination.
These advantages are particularly marked in the case of the precursor of xe2x80x9cFipronilxe2x80x9d, which is para-trifluoromethylaniline (PTFMA) chlorinated ortho-orthoxe2x80x2 to the aniline functional group.
This is because, in the preceding techniques, the chlorination reaction was carried out on para-trifluoromethylaniline freed from its hydrofluoric acid.
Substrates well suited to the present invention are the substrates corresponding to the following general formula.
The substrates which can be used according to the present invention advantageously correspond to the formula:
(R)mxe2x80x94Ar(xe2x80x94Zxe2x80x94(CX2)pxe2x80x94EWG)xe2x80x94NHxe2x80x94COxe2x80x94Fxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(carbamoyl fluoride form)
Or
(R)mxe2x80x94Ar(xe2x80x94Zxe2x80x94(CX2)pxe2x80x94EWG)xe2x80x94NHxe2x80x94COxe2x80x94F(NH2)xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(aniline form)
where:
Ar is an aromatic ring, preferably a homocyclic ring;
the X symbols, which are alike or different, represent a fluorine or a radical of formula CnF2n+1 with n an integer at most equal to 5, preferably to 2;
p represents an integer at most equal to 2;
EWG represents a hydrocarbonaceous group, an electron-withdrawing group, the possible functional groups of which are inert under the reaction conditions, advantageously fluorine or a perfluorinated residue of formula Cn F2n+1 with an integer at most equal to 8, advantageously to 5;
the total number of carbons of xe2x80x94(CX2)pxe2x80x94EWG is advantageously between 1 and 15, preferably between 1 and 10;
m is 0 or an integer chosen within the closed range (that is to say, comprising the limits) 1 to 4;
R is a substituent which is inert under the operating conditions and which is advantageously chosen from halogens, advantageously light halogens (that is to say, chlorine and fluorine), and hydrocarbonaceous radicals, preferably alkyl, aryl, alkylchalcogenyl (such as alkyloxyl) or arylchalcogenyl (such as aryloxyl) radicals;
Z represents a single bond or a chalcogen atom, advantageously a light chalcogen atom (sulfur and oxygen).
In particular, the substrate in the aniline form can correspond to the formula:
where:
Z represents a single bond or a chalcogen atom, where X1, X2 and sometimes X3 represent alike and different halogens, with the condition that at least two halogens are other than fluorine;
R1 and R2 are substituents from halogens, alkyls, aryls or nitriles;
the X3 radical can be an electron-withdrawing group which does not interfere with the reaction and can in particular be a perfluorinated group, denoted generally in the technical field as Rf.
The present invention is particularly advantageous especially for the monochlorination and dichlorination of trifluoromethylanilines and in particular for the mono- and especially dichlorination of para-trifluorochloroaniline.
It is thus particularly advantageous to use the method which has just been described above for the synthesis of ortho, orthoxe2x80x2-dichloro-para-trifluoro-methylaniline.
This technique opens a route to the synthesis of an N-phenylpyrazole, dichlorinated in the position ortho-orthoxe2x80x2 to the pyrazole and carrying, in the para position, an electron-withdrawing group, advantageously a carbon atom of sp3 hybridization which is both perhalogenated and the carrier of a fluorine atom, comprising a stage of chlorination of an aniline according to the,invention. In the case of dichloro-para-trifluoromethylaniline, it should be mentioned that it is used in particular for preparing, by stages known per se, the insecticide known under the name of Fipronil.
The following nonlimiting examples illustrate the invention:

Chlorination of an aniline in a hydrofluoric medium


A step unit that guides a sliding door of a vehicle includes a step member and a rail plate member. The step member includes first and second lower rails. The first lower rail has two ends that face toward each other to form a cutout portion in between. The rail plate member is arranged in the cutout portion. The step member includes an insertion hole and an extended portion. The insertion hole is located at a position corresponding to the cutout portion. The extended portion is extended from at least one of the two ends to support the rail plate member against a load received by the rail plate member from the roller. The rail plate member is inserted through the insertion hole from above the upper side of the step member and fixed by a fastening member to the step member.

A step unit is arranged adjacent to a sliding door in a vehicle body. For example, with reference to NPL 1, the step unit includes a step member and a rail plate member. A lower rail extends in the direction in which a sliding door opens and closes on a lower surface of the step member. The lower rail supports rollers coupled to the sliding door. Thus, the rollers and the sliding door are guided along the lower rail. A cutout portion is formed in part of the lower rail. The rail plate member is coupled to the lower rail in a removable manner at the cutout portion. When the rail plate member is removed from the lower rail, the rollers may be supported by the lower rail or be removed from the lower rail through the cutout portion.


There is provided a method of producing a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film polarizer having an excellent durability, the method comprising dyeing, cross-linking, stretching, and drying, wherein additives containing phosphorus is inputted into one or more of the dyeing, the cross-linking, and the stretching. In this case, the additives containing phosphorus may be selected from a group consisting of a phosphoric acid, potassium phosphate monobasic, potassium phosphate dibasic, magnesium phosphate dibasic, sodium phosphate monobasic, and ammonium phosphate monobasic. An amount of the additives containing phosphorus in an added solution may be 0.01 to 15 wt %. As described above, when inputting the additives containing phosphorus while producing a polarizer, cross-linking between iodine and a polymer matrix becomes strong due to the phosphorus contained in the additives, thereby producing a polarizer having an excellent durability, and particularly, an excellent thermal stability.

Generally, polarizing plates used in image display apparatuses require having both of a high transmittance and a high degree of polarization to provide an image, which is bright, with excellent color reproduction characteristics. In general, such polarizing plates are produced by dyeing a conventional polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based film using dichroic iodine or dichroic dyestuffs and orienting the film by uniaxially stretching.
In the past, image display apparatuses employing a polarizing plate were generally used in small products such as electronic calculators and electronic watches. However, recently, image display apparatuses are used in almost all industrial fields such as televisions, monitors, dashboards, and display boards of all kinds of machines for office or industrial uses. According to increase of an area where image display apparatuses are used, the number of times when using image display apparatuses in a harsh environment such as high temperature and high humidity in a long time becomes increased. Accordingly, to show functions thereof in such harsh environments, it is required to develop a polarizing plate having an excellent thermal stability and durability.
As conventional methods used for improving a durability of a polarizing plate, there are a method of modifying a PVA-based film itself and a method of using dichroic dyestuffs that is not sublimate instead of an iodine-based polarizer that is sublimate.
In the case of the method of modifying a PVA-based film, a degree of polarization may be decreased since iodine or dichroic dyestuffs are not fully adsorbed onto a polymer matrix due to a modification of PVA or transmittance may be decreased due to a modification of a matrix. In the case of the method of using dichroic dyestuffs, a sufficient degree of polarization may not be obtained since it is difficult to control orientation while stretching PVA.
On the other hand, as another method of improving a durability of a polarizing plate, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-35512 discloses a method of producing a polarizer using a PVA film containing an appropriate amount of zinc. According to the method, when producing a polarizer by adding zinc, a durability of a polarizing plate is improved, thereby preventing red discoloration of cross nicols, a polarization defect of a long wavelength light, occurring at high temperature. However, when drying the polarizer, a boric acid is educed, thereby causing external defects.

Polarizer having excellent durability, polarizing plate and methods of producing the polarizer and the polarizing plate


A prosthetic knee joint structure is provided herein. The knee join mainly contains an upper member for connecting to a prosthetic thigh, a lower member for connecting to prosthetic shin and foot, a linking device for connecting the upper and lower members, a cushion element, and a resilient device. During walking, the resilient device prevents the shin from dangling and the knee joint from sudden bending and kneeling-down. The cushion element absorbs the shock when the prosthetic leg is walking on a flat ground or slope.

(a) Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to prosthetic legs, and more particularly to a knee joint for prosthetic legs which confines the bending angle within a range and absorbs the shocks during walking.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
The most important and complicated part of a prosthetic leg is the knee joint. The prosthetic knee joint not only should work like a real human joint, but also should make the user walk in a natural way.
Conventional prosthetic knee joints, as disclosed in R.O.C. Patent No. 549,074, utilize a plurality of joining elements to link a prosthetic thigh and prosthetic shin and foot. The prosthetic knee joint could imitate how a real human joint bends, and a cushion pad is configured on a lower joining element for absorbing the shock from the ground.
The drawbacks of these conventional prosthetic knee joints are as follows. The shock absorbing capability of the cushion pad is only available when the prosthetic thigh and shin are aligned in a straight line when the leg is landed on the ground. This is of no concern for a user walking on a flat ground. However, when the user is walking downhill, the prosthetic leg is bended with a small angle and the cushion pad is therefore unable to absorb the shock. In addition, the joining elements of the conventional prosthetic knee joint are unable to keep the bending of the prosthetic leg within a range. Therefore, when the user is walking on flat ground or on a slope, the shin would dangle from the knee joint when the prosthetic leg is lifted from the ground, causing the user to suddenly kneel down. Accordingly, there is a need for a better structured prosthetic knee joint that could imitate more naturally how real people walk.


A heating blanket for a motorized wheelchair includes: a windproof and waterproof fabric which covers a thermal lining having Velcro fasteners attached to at least one position thereof, has windproof and waterproof functions, and has a zipper and a zipped entrance/exit formed on the front and back sides thereof; at least one heating plate which is inserted into a back side windproof and waterproof fabric via the zipper and is detachably mounted on the thermal lining, wherein the heating plate is woven with carbon yarns so that the heating plate generates heat when electricity is applied; an electric wire, a connection part, an adjustment part, and a connection jack for supplying electricity to the heat plate, wherein the heating blanket is characterized in that the connection jack is connected to the outside to allow the heating plate to be heated.

The present invention relates to a heating blanket for a motorized wheelchair in which a heating plate is detachably mounted to the inside of a blanket, a battery is installed at the motorized wheelchair, and a controller is installed at the front pocket of the blanket to connect the battery with the heating plate, thereby supplying power to the heating plate. In a state that a user sits on the motorized wheelchair or a motorized scooter, he or she can easily control the operation of the heating plate installed at a desired position.

Heating blanket for motorized wheelchair


A method for controlling spread in cookies uses in the cookie dough a shortening comprising geometry-altering triglycerides bearing long C.sub.16 to C.sub.22 saturated fatty acid residues and short C.sub.2 to C.sub.4 acid residues. In a preferred embodiment, the triglycerides have a solid fat index of about 10% to about 70% between 15.degree. and 30.degree. C., and the long residues are a mixture containing at least about 75% stearic acid residues while the short residues are derived from a mixture of acetic and propionic acid, a mixture of acetic and butyric, or a mixture of acetic, propionic, and butyric acid. The method is especially adapted to reducing spread in cookies containing an ingredient that promotes spread such as polydextrose. Cookies prepared with polydextrose and geometry-altering triglyceride compositions are low in calories.

Most cookies are formulated to have a uniform stack height and some, but not excessive, spread. However, some ingredients such as certain flours and sweeteners, shredded coconut and coarse oats or oatmeal without fines, and soft to liquid shortenings increase spread, as does the high moisture content of soft cookies, and the increase can be detrimental to product quality. For example, cookies formulated with desirable polyunsaturated fat, which lowers plasma cholesterol (Surgeon General's Report on Nutrition and Health, Prima Pub. Co., 1988, page 98), yield soft doughs that spread excessively when baked. Cookies formulated with certain sugar substitutes and bulking agents, such as polydextrose, also spread excessively. Cookies that spread too much cannot be filled into standard packages.
Polyunsaturated fats can be hardened by hydrogenation to form a product having more solids that spreads less, but the process yields fats bearing significant amounts of trans-unsaturated fatty acid residues. These have been recently shown to raise low density lipoprotein serum cholesterol levels and to lower high density lipoprotein serum cholesterol levels in adults fed fats having these acids (Mensink, R. P., and Katan, M. B., New Eng. Jour. Med., 323: 439-445 (1990)).
Corn, sorghum, and millet flours have been reported to decrease cookie spread, but the cookies are generally tough, hard and gritty with a mealy texture and taste (U.S. Pat. No. 4,122,206 to Hoseney). The patent suggests that if the flours are hydrated, partially dehydrated and mixed with lecithin, superior results are achieved. The process involves controlled conditions, several steps and considerable time, however. Hydration requires at least 30 minutes, preferably 3 to 15 hours, and afterwards care must be taken during dehydration, which is preferably accomplished by passing dry room temperature or heated air over the grain, so that the grain starch is not gelatinized.
The geometry of reduced-shortening, preferably protein-supplemented, baked products is preserved in U.S. Pat. No. 3,919,434 to Tsen and Hoover, which incorporates from 0.1 to 3% by weight either sodium or calcium salts of acyl lactylates of C.sub.14 to C.sub.22 fatty acids (preferably sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate) in the batter or dough. The compositions require at least one lactylate additive, and, because of its preparative procedure, it can contain, as contaminants, unreacted lactic acid, fatty acids, and other lactylates including polylactylates, and their salts.
Another additive is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,873,098 to Banks, et al., which describes a method for controlling oven spread by including in the cookie dough, in an amount of from about 2 to 20% by weight based upon the weight of the flour, a cold water swelling granular starch material having a cold water solubility of at least 50%, preferably at least 70%. The cold water soluble granular starch material must have specified properties to function properly, and the amount used, which depends upon the amount and type of flour, the amount of moisture, and the amount and type of humectant in the dough, is significant, ranging from about 5 to about 10 parts by weight of the flour in the examples. This adds to preparation costs.
The size and texture of baked cookies have been controlled by adding the required amount and types of sugar in varying portions at different points in the sequence of ingredient addition during dough mixing (U.S. Pat. No. 4,668,522 to Cappel and Cronemiller). One portion of sugar is added with the liquid ingredients, a second portion is added after preparation of a slurry containing shortening and liquid ingredients, and a third portion is added as a final step after all the other liquid and dry ingredients have been combined. The process is quite complicated, and applicable only to baked cookies made from doughs having two types of sugars.
A multi-component leavening system and an edible alkaline agent are used to provide a pleasing open-celled texture and appearance in cookies containing polydextrose, an emulsifier, and a cellulosic bulking agent in a reduced flour, sugar and shortening recipe (U.S. Pat. No. 4,668,519 to Dartey and Biggs). The leavening system comprises specified levels of an edible bicarbonate and/or carbonate salt and a delayed-action acidifier that releases about 50% of the leavening gas during baking. Like the Cappel and Cronemiller disclosure, the Dartey and Biggs formulation and procedure for making the cookies are complicated.
It would be desirable to control cookie geometry when ingredients that can contribute to excessive spread are included in the cookie recipes. It would also be desirable to have methods of modulating cookie geometry without the use of additives or special processing equipment and techniques.


A testing apparatus includes a test controller configured to output a plurality of chip selection signals for selecting chips to be tested from among a plurality of chips, a plurality of first control signals for controlling supply of a power supply voltage to the chips selected by the chip selection signals, and a plurality of second control signals for controlling receiving of test voltages output from the chips supplied with the power supply voltage, and a probe card including one or more test blocks each having a plurality of signal transmitters configured to respectively transfer the power supply voltage to the corresponding chips in response to the different first control signals and respectively apply the test voltages output from the corresponding chips to the test controller in response to the different second control signals.

1. Field
Exemplary embodiments relate to a testing apparatus and method, and more particularly, to a testing apparatus having a probe card capable of reducing a test time and a testing method using the same.
2. Description of Related Art
In general, a semiconductor manufacturing process is broadly divided into a fabrication process, which is an earlier process, and an assembly process, which is a later process. In the fabrication process, an integrated circuit (IC) pattern is formed on a wafer. In the assembly process, the wafer is divided into a plurality of chips. Conductors such as conductive leads or balls come in contact with each of the chips to exchange signals with external devices, and then the chips are molded with, for example, epoxy resin, to be assembled as an IC package.
Before the assembly process, an electrical die sorting (EDS) process for testing electrical characteristics of the respective semiconductor chips on the wafer is performed. In the EDS process, defective chips among the chips formed on the wafer are detected so that a reparable chip is repaired and an irreparable chip is removed to save the time and cost spent in subsequent processes. After the fabrication process, testing for detecting short, open, direct current (DC) and pattern failures is performed.
To determine whether semiconductor chips on a wafer are defective, a separate testing apparatus is used. The testing apparatus includes a probe card that has a plurality of needles electrically contacting pads of the respective chips on the wafer, and a control circuit that exchanges signals with the chips on the wafer through the probe card to determine whether the chips are defective. When the chips on the wafer output internal signals in response to signals of the control circuit transferred through the probe card, the control circuit receives the internal signals, determines whether the chips on the wafer are defective, and sorts the chips. In general, the testing apparatus contacts the probe card with one wafer several times to test the wafer.

Integrated circuit testing apparatus and method


Recovering data from a faulty memory block in a memory system. Various methods include: reading a target word line in a memory block to obtain a first data; determining the first data has an uncorrectable error; and then adjust bias parameters of a first group of neighboring word lines within the memory block, where adjusting bias parameters creates a first adjusted bias parameters; and reading the target word line using the adjusted bias parameters to obtain second data from the target word line. The method also includes determining the second data has a second uncorrectable error; and then adjusting bias parameters of a second group of lines within the memory block, where adjusting the bias parameters of the second group creates second adjusted bias parameters; and reading the target word line using the first and second adjusted bias parameters to obtain a third data from the target word line.

Non-volatile memory systems provide a type of computer memory that retains stored information without requiring an external power source. One type of non-volatile memory, flash memory, is widely used in various computing devices and in stand-alone memory devices. For example, flash memory can be found in laptops, digital audio player, digital cameras, smart phones, video games, scientific instruments, industrial robots, medical electronics, solid state drives, USB drives, memory cards, and the like.
Various implementations of flash memory aim to increase storage capacity. For example, the implementation and architecture of flash memory enables single level cell (SLC) devices, where each cell stores one bit of information, and multi-level cell (MLC) devices including triple-level cell (TLC) devices, where each cell can store more than one bit of information. Additional advances in flash memory also include changes in the flash memory architecture that stack memory cells (3D NAND) in order to increase storage capacity at a reduced cost per gigabyte.
As flash memory continues to increase in storage capacity and density, the various memory cells can become increasingly difficult to read. To balance the need for increased density with a desire for accuracy, various solutions include the use of error-correcting code (ECC) and read error handling (REH) that, respectively, encode and decode the data readout and correct errors.


Techniques for managing IoT devices through multi-protocol infrastructure network devices are disclosed. A system utilizing such techniques can include a multi-protocol infrastructure network device and a WAN based IoT device management system and various network device based engines. A method utilizing such techniques can include management according to WAN based IoT device policies and LAN based IoT device policies.

Internet of Things ("IoT") device management is an area of ongoing research and development. Limitations of IoT device management include protocol limitations, limited network durations, ad hoc networking limitations, bandwidth inefficiency, multi-hop transmissions through wireless nodes, and connectivity requirements for management of IoT devices. Ameliorating or eliminating one or more of these problems would likely be considered a desirable improvement over the state of the art.

IoT device management using multi-protocol infrastructure network devices


An assembled air cleaner includes an air blowing box, a plurality of first filter boxes that is stacked in a vertical direction and disposed above the air blowing box, and an air inlet box disposed on top of the topmost first filter box. At least one filter is provided inside the first filter boxes. Each first filter box has a bottom wall and a flange protruding upwardly around a peripheral edge of the bottom wall. The flange is configured to hold against a bottom of the filter in an airtight manner. A plurality of airtight members is provided on each first filter box and can be pressed against the filter, thereby improving filtering and dust collection effects greatly.

In general, in the workplace where gas or dust harmful to the human body is generated, a dust collector is usually used for air purification to reduce the harm to the human body. A conventional dust collector includes an airtight housing and a plurality of filters having a filtering effect disposed inside the air airtight housing. An air blower capable of generating a vacuum suction force is disposed on the bottom of the dust collector. The top of the dust collector is provided with an air inlet for introducing dirty air or dust from the outside. When the air blower is started, its suction force allows dirty air or dust to be introduced into the dust collector from the air inlet. After filtering through the filters, clean air can be discharged to the outside. Although the above dust collector can filter dirty air or dust, the number and type of filters will vary depending on the working conditions. Since the conventional dust collector is an integrated closed design, it cannot be adjusted and changed according to different working conditions. Therefore, a dust collector with an assembled design is developed accordingly.
A conventional assembled dust collector is mainly composed of an air blower, filters, an air inlet, and so on. These components are mounted in boxes with the same size and assembled with each other. The user can select a desired number of first filter boxes to form a large-sized or small-sized dust collector according to different needs. Or, the user selects first filter boxes mounted with different filters to match each other to form a multi-purpose dust collector. The assembled dust collector provides a better filtering effect according to different working conditions. Although the above-mentioned assembled dust collector can be assembled as desired, it still has its disadvantages. That is, when a plurality of first filter boxes are assembled and stacked vertically, there is a gap between every two of the filter boxes. When the dust collector is running, the gas or dust inside the dust collector may overflow and leak to the outside through the gap. As a result, the use of the dust filter is not as expected, not meeting the filtration quality requirements of a high specification. The filtering effect is not as good as the dust collector having the traditional closed housing.
Accordingly, the inventor of the present invention has devoted himself based on his many years of practical experiences to solve these problems.


Systems and methods for operating a hybrid powertrain of a vehicle that includes an engine and a motor/generator are described. The systems and methods may judge whether or not to generate an engine start request when an engine is stopped in response to present vehicle operating conditions and predicted vehicle operating conditions.

A hybrid vehicle may include an engine and an electric motor as propulsion sources. The engine may be stopped from time to time to conserve fuel. For example, if the vehicle is traveling downhill or if driver demand torque is less than a threshold torque, the engine may be stopped to conserve fuel. The engine may be restarted to provide torque if driver demand increases or if battery state of charge is reduced to less than a threshold amount of charge. However, because driving conditions may vary, it may be possible to restart the engine and then stop the engine after a few seconds because driving conditions change. Starting the engine for only a few second and then stopping the engine may degrade fuel economy, increase starting component degradation, and aggravate vehicle occupants. Further, there may be little if any benefit realized for starting the engine. Therefore, it may be desirable to provide a way of improving the engine starting decision process so that engine starting may be avoided if engine starting will provide little benefit, while also allowing engine starting if engine starting is expected to provide useful benefit.
The inventors herein have recognized the above-mentioned issues and have developed a powertrain operating method, comprising: receiving data to a controller; adjusting a state of a first engine start request generated via a first control agent responsive to the data; adjusting a state of a second engine start request generated via a second control agent responsive to predicted vehicle conditions; and starting or not starting an engine responsive to arbitration of the first engine start request and the second engine start request.
By providing two control agents that generate different engine starting requests responsive to present vehicle operating conditions and predicted vehicle operating conditions, it may be possible to provide the technical result of improved engine starting decision making. The engine may not be started or it may be started via the improved decision making process. The engine starting decisions may be made responsive to battery state of charge, propulsion motor torque, driver demand torque, and other conditions. The conditions may be evaluated by first and second control agents and then the control agents may request an engine start. An arbitration logic section makes a final determination as to whether or not an engine start request is issued and the engine is started.
The present description may provide several advantages. For example, the approach may reduce a number of times an engine is started and run for a short period of time. Further, the approach may reduce engine starting component degradation. In addition, the approach may be applied to different conditions that may be the basis for engine starting.
The above advantages and other advantages, and features of the present description will be readily apparent from the following Detailed Description when taken alone or in connection with the accompanying drawings.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.

Methods and system for controlling engine starting


The present invention provides a plasma processing device including a vacuum container that has controllable internal pressure, gas supply means, an electrode that is provided in the vacuum container and has an upper surface on which a substrate is placed, and an antenna that is arranged to face the electrode to form inductive coupling, in which the antenna that is configured to form the inductive coupling includes one end connected to a high-frequency power source via a matching circuit, and the other end that is an open end, a length of the antenna is less than ½λ of a wavelength (λ) of an RF frequency, an impedance adjustment circuit connected in parallel to the antenna is connected to an RF feeding side of the antenna, and a reactance component of a combined impedance by the impedance adjustment circuit is adjustable from a capacitive load to an inductive load with respect to the RF frequency supplied to the antenna.

In recent years, when a Flat Panel Display (FPD), such as a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) or an Organic EL Display (OLED), is manufactured and predetermined plasma processing is performed on a substrate, such as a glass substrate, there is a high need for a plasma processing device capable of processing a large area substrate along with an increase in the size of the substrate. In addition, when processing, such as plasma etching or plasma film formation, is performed on the substrate, the density of plasma to be generated is low in a capacitively coupled plasma processing device according to the related art, and, accordingly, the etching rate and the film forming speed are low, so that there are problems in that processing time becomes long and manufacturing line costs increase due to deterioration in productivity and an increase in the number of devices.
In order to solve the problems, a plasma processing device using an Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) capable of generating high-density plasma is effective. However, along with an increase in the area of the substrate to be processed, in an inductive coupling type plasma processing device, there are the following requirements for the device.
(1) A high-density plasma generation mechanism capable of generating higher density plasma.
(2) A high-density plasma generation mechanism capable of generating uniform plasma over a large area.
(3) A high-density plasma generation mechanism capable of freely adjusting the in-plane distribution of plasma in the large area. (4) A high-density plasma processing device capable of, even in a case where high-frequency power (RF power) becomes high power, suppressing the RF potential of an ICP generation antenna coil to be low, suppressing abrasion due to ion attack from plasma of a dielectric window under the antenna, and reducing the generation amount of foreign matters (particles) generated due to the ion attack of the dielectric window.
(5) A high-density plasma processing device capable of stably discharging with respect to various plasma processing applications and easily adjusting intensity and density distribution of the plasma with respect to various plasma processing conditions.
With respect to the requirements with respect to the plasma processing device, it is difficult for the plasma processing device according to the related art to overcome all of the problems.


A sound absorbing panel is provided above an uppermost of soundproof panels arranged in plural stages in a vertical direction and each having a back surface opposite to a sound source side, the back surface being formed to be a sound insulating surface, the sound absorbing panel including: an outer frame body having therein an acoustic space in which a first acoustic material is provided, the outer frame body allowing formation of a partition wall separating a sound source and a surrounding area from each other, the outer frame body having, at a front and back portions thereof, sound transmitting surfaces each having multiple sound through holes allowing transfer of sound between the acoustic space and outside thereof; and a second acoustic material provided above an upper end of the outer frame body such that a peripheral surface of the second acoustic material except for a corner portion is air-permeable.

Conventionally, in general, soundproof wall equipment merely has the soundproof panels arranged in plural stages in the vertical direction, and acoustic materials provided in the acoustic spaces of these soundproof panels are materials having the same acoustic performance with a constant surface density. A sound-source-side front surface portion of each soundproof panel is formed to be a sound transmitting surface, while each soundproof panel has, on the back surface side thereof, a sound insulating surface formed of a rigid plate, to achieve a sound insulating wall function (for example, see Patent Literature 1).
Therefore, there is a great sound pressure difference between the sound source side and the back surface side of the soundproof panels arranged in the vertical direction, and in the vicinity of the upper end edge of the soundproof wall equipment, the energy of accelerated sound (this is referred to as "edge effect") causes a diffraction phenomenon, resulting in a problem that the diffracted sound spreads toward the residential area on the back surface side of the soundproof wall equipment.
Accordingly, in order to solve the above problem, technology referred to as "edge effect suppression technology" is proposed in which a sound absorbing panel having sound transmitting surfaces formed in a sound-source-side front surface portion and a back surface portion is provided further above the uppermost one of the soundproof panels arranged in plural stages in the vertical direction, thereby enabling reduction in the diffraction sound that is to be diffracted in the vicinity of the upper end edge of the uppermost one of the soundproof panels arranged in plural stages in the vertical direction (for example, see Patent Literature 2).

Sound absorbing panel and soundproof wall equipment

NIPPON SHEET GLASS ENVIRONMENT AMENITY CO., LTD.


In a display apparatus provided with an electrophoresis layer, such a display apparatus capable of operating a driving electrode for use in displaying an image as an electrode for use in detecting an input position is provided. A display apparatus includes: a substrate; another substrate that is disposed so as to face the substrate; an electrophoresis layer sandwiched between the substrate and another substrate; a plurality of pixel electrodes formed on the substrate; and a plurality of driving electrodes formed on another substrate. An electric field is formed between each of the plurality of pixel electrodes and each of the plurality of driving electrodes, so that an image is displayed, and an input position is detected based on an electrostatic capacitance of each of the plurality of driving electrodes.

The present invention relates to a display apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a display apparatus provided with an electrophoresis layer.
A display apparatus provided with, for example, an electrophoresis layer containing electrophoretic particles functioning as charging particles as a display layer for displaying an image has been proposed. Such a display apparatus includes: for example, an array substrate; a facing substrate disposed so as to face the array substrate; and an electrophoresis layer sandwiched between the array substrate and the facing substrate. On the array substrate, for example, a thin film transistor (TFT) functioning as a switching element is formed.
In such a display apparatus, an electric field is formed in the electrophoresis layer by, for example, applying a voltage between a pixel electrode formed on each pixel and a driving electrode commonly formed for a plurality of pixels in each of the plurality of the pixels. At this time, the electrophoretic particles functioning as the charged particles are moved in the direction of the electric field or in the direction opposite to the direction of the electric field, so that an image is displayed on each of the plurality of the pixels.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2006-227249 (Patent Document 1), Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2009-258735 (Patent Document 2) and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2014-029546 (Patent Document 3) have described a technique in which a display apparatus is provided with an electrophoresis layer as a display layer for displaying an image.


The present invention relates to a plasma reaction apparatus and a plasma reaction method using the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a plasma reaction apparatus which is applied to the reforming of fuel by generating rotating arc plasma and using the rotating arc being generated, the chemical treatment of a persistent gas, and the apparatus for decreasing NOx by an occlusion catalyst, and a plasma reaction method using the same. For this purpose, a raw material for a reaction is allowed to flow through an inflow hole in a swirl structure so that the raw material forms a rotating flow to progress. Accordingly, the raw material is sufficiently reacted in a plasma reaction space of a restrictive volume, and a high temperature plasma reaction is more promptly performed. Furthermore, a plasma reaction zone is expanded, prior to discharge, by a broad area chamber formed as the width of an upper part of a furnace is expanded, and plasma being generated is expanded and stayed as a pointed end spaced from an electrode at a predetermined interval is formed at an expanded end. Accordingly, the present invention relates to a plasma reaction apparatus and a plasma reaction method using the same, a plasma reaction method of a persistent gas, and an apparatus decreasing NOx by an occlusion catalyst, all of which are capable of excluding the discontinuity of the plasma reaction zone.

In general, states of matters are divided into three states, i.e., a solid, a liquefied and a gas. When energy is applied to a solid, the sold becomes a liquefied, and when the energy is further applied to the liquefied, the liquefied becomes a gas. When the higher energy is applied to the gas, there is generated plasma in a fourth state of matter which consists of electrons and ions having electric polarity. In nature, plasma is observed in the form of lightening, an aurora, and an ion layer in the air. In daily life, artificially produced plasma is included in a fluorescent lamp, a mercury lamp and a neon sign.
When a gas with high kinetic energy is collided at ultra high temperature, electrons with negative electric charges are dissociated from atoms or molecules, thereby making the plasma. The plasma means the gaseous state which is divided into the electrons with negative electric charges and the ions with positive electric charges. Plasma has the degree of ionization of the electric charges which is significantly high. Plasma generally contains the negative electric charges and the positive electric charges in about equal numbers, so that the electric charges are distributed in about equal density. Therefore, plasma is almost in an electrically neutral state.
The plasma is classified as high temperature plasma and low temperature plasma. The high temperature plasma has high temperature like an arc. The low temperature plasma has nearly normally room temperature because the energy of the ions is low whereas the energy of the electrons is high. The plasma is generated by applying the electrical methods, such as direct current, super-high frequency and electron beam, and is maintained by using the magnetic field.
A plasma generating technique and plasma practical use considerably vary depending on the pressure condition at which the plasma is generated. Since the plasma is stably generated on the vacuum condition with low pressure, the plasma generated in this manner is used for chemical reaction, deposition and corrosion in a semiconductor device fabrication process and a new material composition process. The plasma generated on the air pressure condition is used for processing a harmful gas to environment or manufacturing a new matter.
A plasma reaction apparatus for using the plasma needs to have the operability to start a reaction promptly, the high durability, and the efficiency on reaction. Upon the plasma reaction, the forms of an electrode and a furnace and the conditions for reaction (for example, a voltage and an additive) are decisive factors for the plasma reaction. Accordingly, a desirable constitution of the plasma reaction apparatus needs to be presented to correspond with the required performance, and a technique of a plasma reaction method needs to be presented for the optimization of the reaction conditions.

Plasma reaction apparatus, plasma reaction method using the same, plasma reaction method of persistent gas, and apparatus for decreasing NOx by occlusion catalyst

Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials


In a wavelet transform apparatus including a plurality of series of delay units and at least one convolution calculating circuit to form a two-band analysis filter circuit, the two-band analysis filter circuit, i.e., the convolution calculating circuit is operated in multiplicity.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a coder for an audio signal, a video signal, and the like, and more particularly, to a wavelet transform apparatus for a wavelet coding.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, discrete cosine transform (DCT) coding is well known as transform coding, however, this coding has two serious drawbacks, i.e., a blocking effect and a mosquito noise (or corona effect). That is, the blocking effect is mainly derived from the quantization errors in lower frequency coefficients, and the mosquito noise is mainly derived from the quantization errors in higher frequency coefficients. To overcome these two drawbacks, wavelet coding has been developed (see: M. Ohta et al, "Wavelet Picture Coding with Transform Coding Approach", IEICE TRANS. FUNDAMENTALS, Vol. E75-A, No. 7, July 1992).
A prior art wavelet transform apparatus for a one-dimensional signal such as a audio signal includes a plurality of stages of two-band analysis filter circuits, each for performing a two-band analysis filter operation upon a signal to generate a high frequency component signal and a low frequency component signal. In order to carry out such an operation, each of the two-band analysis filter circuits includes a highpass downsampling filter (HPF) and a lowpass downsampling filter (LPF), each having a series of delay units and a convolution calculating circuit. That is, if the number of stages is n, the number of convolution calculating circuits is 2n. This will be explained in detail later.
Similarly, a prior art wavelet transform apparatus for a two-dimensional signal such as a video signal includes a plurality of stages of four-band analysis filter circuits, each for performing a vertical two-band analysis filter operation upon a signal to generate a vertical high frequency component signal and a vertical low frequency component signal, performing a horizontal two-band analysis filter operation upon the vertical high frequency component signal to generate a horizontal high vertical high frequency component signal and a horizontal low vertical high frequency component signal, and performing a horizontal tow-band analysis filter operation upon the vertical low frequency component signal to generate a horizontal high vertical low frequency component signal and a horizontal low vertical low frequency component signal. In order to carry out such operations, each of the four-band analysis filter circuits includes a vertical two-split subband filter formed by a vertical highpass filter (VHPF) and a vertical lowpass filter (VLPF), a horizontal two-split subband filter formed by a horizontal highpass filter (HHPF) and a horizontal lowpass filter (HLPF), and another horizontal two-split subband filter formed by a horizontal highpass filter (HHPF) and a horizontal lowpass filter (HLPF). Also, in this case, each of the filters has a series of delay units and a convolution calculating circuit. That is, if the number of stages is n, the number of convolution calculating circuits is 6n. This will be explained in detail later.
However, the above-mentioned prior art wavelet transform apparatus is large in size, due to the large number of filters (i.e., convolution calculating circuits). Particularly, the large number of multipliers included in the convolution calculating circuits increases the size of the wavelet transform apparatus.


The present invention provides a human-computer interface. The interface includes provision of an application domain, for example corresponding to a three-dimensional application. The user is allowed to navigate and interact with the application domain. The interface also includes a personal domain, offering the user controls and interaction distinct from the application domain. The separation into two domains allows the most suitable interface methods in each: for example, three-dimensional navigation in the application domain, and two- or three-dimensional controls in the personal domain. Transitions between the application domain and the personal domain are under control of the user, and the transition method is substantially independent of the navigation in the application domain. For example, the user can fly through a three-dimensional application domain, and always move to the personal domain by moving a cursor near one extreme of the display.

This invention relates to the field of human-computer interfaces, specifically those relating to haptics, multidimensional displays and navigation; interaction with multidimensional environments and objects, and methods of intuitively interfacing therewith.
Computing technology has seen a many-fold increase in capability in recent years. Processors work at ever higher rates; memories are ever larger and always faster; mass storage is larger and cheaper every year. Computers now are essential elements in many aspects of life, and are often used to present three dimensional worlds to users, in everything from games to scientific visualization.
The interface between the user and the computer has not seen the same rate of change. Screen windows, keyboard, monitor, and mouse are the standard, and have seen little change since their introduction. Many computers are purchased with great study as to processor speed, memory size, and disk space. Often, little thought is given to the human-computer interface, although most of the user""s experience with the computer will be dominated by the interface (rarely does a user spend significant time waiting for a computer to calculate, while every interaction must use the human-computer interface).
As computers continue to increase in capability, the human-computer interface will become increasingly important. The effective bandwidth of communication with the user will not be sufficient using only the traditional mouse and keyboard for input and monitor and speakers for output. More capable interface support will be desired to accommodate more complex and demanding applications. For example, six degree of freedom input devices, force and tactile feedback devices, three dimensional sound, and stereo or holographic displays can improve the human-computer interface.
As these new interface capabilities become available, new interface methods are needed to fully utilize the new modes of human-computer communication enabled. Preferably, such new methods can build on interface methods learned by users in real-world situations and in two-dimensional computer interfaces. Specifically, users have become accustomed to two-dimensional computer interfaces, with control panels, menus, and buttons. Users are also accustomed to three-dimensional interfaces in real-world situations, visual and tactile depth perception aid in finding and manipulating such controls. For example, the controls of a car radio are always in some understandable relationship to the usual position of the driver. Such simplistic relationship can be undesirable in a three-dimensional computer environment, however, where the user can desire that controls be available during three-dimensional navigation free of the requirement of experiencing the environment through a windshield.
Fuller realization of the entertainment and productivity benefits possible from computer technology requires more improved interfaces. Accordingly, there is a need for improved human-computer interfaces that offer more intuitive navigation and control of the computer.
The present invention provides a human-computer interface. The interface includes provision of an application domain, for example corresponding to a three-dimensional application. The user is allowed to navigate and interact with the application domain. The interface also includes a personal domain, offering the user controls and interaction distinct from the application domain. The separation into two domains allows the most suitable interface methods in each: for example, three-dimensional navigation in the application domain, and two- or three-dimensional controls in the personal domain. Transitions between the application domain and the personal domain are under control of the user, and the transition method is substantially independent of the navigation in the application domain. For example, the user can fly through a three-dimensional application domain, and always move to the personal domain by moving a cursor near one extreme of the display.
The arrangement of domains, the method of controlling transitions between domains, and the method of communicating when a transition occurs can all have significant effect on the overall effectiveness of the human-computer interface. Accordingly, the present invention comprises various arrangements of personal domains and application domains, corresponding to various desirable human-computer interface characteristics. The present invention further comprises various techniques for allowing a user to control transition between domains, and for communicating to the user when a transition occurs.
Advantages and novel features will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following description or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Human-computer interface incorporating personal and application domains


A hermetic scroll compressor is disclosed including within a hermetically sealed housing a fixed scroll member, an orbiting scroll member, and rotatable crankshaft operably coupled to the orbiting scroll member by an eccentric crank mechanism. The crank mechanism includes an eccentric crankpin on the end of the crankshaft, a cylindrical roller having an off-center bore in which the crankpin is received, and a cylindrical well formed on the bottom of the orbiting scroll member into which the roller and crankpin assembly are received. An axial oil passageway in the crankshaft delivers oil from an oil sump directly to the interfaces between bearing surfaces of the crankpin, roller, and orbiting scroll member by means of radial oil passages in both the crankpin and roller. The radial passages are located at a central location along the axial length of the interfaces, and are either in line at the interface between the crankpin and roller, or are staggered 180 degrees.

The present invention relates generally to a hermetic scroll-type compressor and, more particularly, to such a compressor including an eccentric drive mechanism for drivingly engaging the orbiting scroll member, wherein the drive mechanism includes a crankpin and roller assembly coupled to the orbiting scroll member.
A typical scroll compressor comprises two mutually facing scroll members, each having an involute wrap, wherein the respective wraps interfit to define a plurality of compression pockets. When one of the scroll members is orbited relative to the other, the pockets travel in a radial direction, e.g., from a radially outer suction port to a radially inner discharge port, to convey and compress a refrigerant fluid.
The orbiting scroll member is drivingly engaged by an eccentric crank mechanism to impart orbiting motion thereto. Generally, the crank mechanism is associated with a rotating crankshaft driven by an electric drive motor. More specifically, in a crank mechanism to which the present invention is applicable, the upper end of the rotating crankshaft includes an eccentric crankpin that is drivingly coupled to the bottom surface of the orbiting scroll member. The orbiting scroll member is prevented from rotating about its own axis by a conventional Oldham ring assembly cooperating between the scroll member and a stationary frame member.
During operation of a scroll-type compressor, the pressure of compressed refrigerant at the interface between the scroll members tends to force the scroll members axially and radially apart, thereby permitting high-to-low pressure leakage between compression pockets that reduces the operating efficiency of the compressor. Consequently, axial and radial compliance of the orbiting scroll member toward the fixed scroll member is required in order to maintain the scroll members in sealing contact with one another. Various methods for achieving such axial and radial compliance have been developed, and are widely used in scroll-type compressors.
In the aforementioned eccentric crank mechanism to which the present invention pertains, a swing-link radial compliance mechanism is incorporated. Specifically, the eccentric crankpin on the crankshaft is received within an axial bore extending through a cylindrical roller at an off-center location thereof, whereby the roller is eccentrically journalled about the eccentric crankpin. The roller and crankpin assembly is then received within a cylindrical well formed on the bottom surface of the orbiting scroll member, whereby upon rotation of the crankshaft the orbiting scroll member is caused to orbit. The roller pivots slightly about the crankpin so that the crank mechanism functions as a radial compliance mechanism to promote sealing engagement between the involute wraps of the scroll members.
In the aforementioned eccentric crank mechanisms, and particularly those incorporating a crankpin and roller swing-link radial compliance mechanism, it is desirable to minimize friction at the interfaces between the crankpin, roller, and orbiting scroll member bearing surfaces in order to reduce power losses in the compressor and to prevent overheating and failure of the bearings.
Presently, the bearing surfaces of the crankpin, roller, and orbiting scroll member are lubricated with oil from the oil sump of the hermetic compressor by splashing the oil onto the top axial end of the interfaces between the members. Consequently, oil flows by gravity into the respective interfaces. In the aforementioned crank mechanism wherein the crankpin and roller assembly are received within a well in the bottom surface of the orbiting scroll member, an axial oil passageway extends through the crankpin and has an opening on the axial end of the crankpin adjacent the bottom surface of the well. Oil is delivered into the well and then flows into the previously described interfaces, aided in some instances by flats on the bearing surfaces.
Several problems are possible in the aforementioned lubrication system relating to an eccentric drive mechanism incorporating a swing-link radial compliance mechanism. For instance, oil supplied to the axial end of the bearing surface interfaces may be otherwise vented away without entering the interface. Also, oil entering an axial end of the bearing interfaces may not travel the full axial distance, or may increase in temperature over the axial distance, thereby affecting the quality of lubrication over the axial distance of the bearing interface.

Lubrication system for the crank mechanism of a scroll compressor


A method of forming a buried strap comprising the following sequential steps. A substrate having a pad oxide layer formed thereover is provided. A masking layer is formed over the pad oxide layer. The masking layer, pad oxide layer and substrate are etched to form a trench within the substrate. The trench having an outer sidewall and an upper portion. The upper portion of the trench is lined with a collar. A poly plate is formed within the trench. The poly plate and collar are etched below the substrate to form a recessed poly plate and a recessed collar and exposing a portion of outer sidewall of trench. Ions are implanted into the substrate through exposed outer sidewall of trench by gas phase doping. A SiN sidewall layer is formed over the exposed outer sidewall of trench at a temperature sufficient to diffuse the implanted ions further into the substrate to form the buried strap.

The present invention relates generally to semiconductor fabrication and more specifically to formation of buried straps.
As semiconductor device length shrinks, a shallow junction is desired to satisfy circuit operation. Buried strap out-diffusion serves as a path for the connect trench active area (AA). The current method to form the buried strap out-diffusion is to perform an angle ion implantation into silicon into the buried strap polysilicon (poly) and then to do a drive-in anneal.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,200,873 B1 to Schrems et al. describes a production method for a trench capacitor with an insulation collar and a buried strap process.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,156,606 to Michaelis describes a buried strap process and uses gas phase doping (GPD) for a capacitor doping step.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,018,174 to Schrems et al. describes a buried strap process that uses GPD to dope trench sidewalls.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,211,020 B1 to Tripsas et al. describes a plasma doping process that is used to dope high aspect sidewalls.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,945,704 to Schrems et al. describes a trench capacitor with an epitaxial silicon (EPI) buried layer.
Accordingly, it is an object of one or more embodiments of the present invention to provide an improved method of forming buried strap out-diffusion areas.
Other objects will appear hereinafter.
It has now been discovered that the above and other objects of the present invention may be accomplished in the following manner. Specifically, a substrate having a pad oxide layer formed thereover is provided. A masking layer is formed over the pad oxide layer. The masking layer, pad oxide layer and substrate are etched to form a trench within the substrate. The trench having an outer sidewall and an upper portion. The upper portion of the trench is lined with a collar. A poly plate is formed within the trench. The poly plate and collar are etched below the substrate to form a recessed poly plate and a recessed collar and exposing a portion of outer sidewall of trench. Ions are implanted into the substrate through exposed outer sidewall of trench by gas phase doping. An SiN sidewall layer is formed over the exposed outer sidewall of trench at a temperature sufficient to diffuse the implanted ions further into the substrate to form the buried strap.

Method of buried strap out-diffusion formation by gas phase doping


A multi-directional roller assembly for an input device includes a housing and a carrier supported within the housing. The carrier has a roller that can be rotated so as to scroll an image vertically on a display. The carrier can also be tilted left and right so as to execute a command or scroll the image on the display in a horizontal direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an input device, and in particular, to an input device with a multi-directional roller assembly for executing a command or scrolling an image on a display of a computer.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An input device, such as a computer mouse, usually has a left button to execute a command when locating the cursor at a specific position, and a right button to activate an extra function block on the screen. In addition, many peripheral devices, including computer mouses, keyboards, trackballs, game controllers, and so forth, have an additional scrolling roller for scrolling images on a display without the need to position a cursor. However, the progressive price reductions of such devices in recent years has made it extremely difficult to make a profit on such devices, and therefore control of costs has become critical. The invention proposes to control costs by eliminating the buttons, and instead providing a roller assembly that carries out the functions of the button and in addition serves as a scroll wheel, and yet has a very simple structure.
The most known related skill for scrolling images in WINDOWS™ applications is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,530,455, which shows a roller on the top of a mouse for vertically scrolling a content of a WINDOWS™ application. This roller is used solely for scrolling and cannot replace the conventional buttons used for executing commands or activating extra function blocks. Furthermore, use of the scroll wheel is limited to vertical scrolling if a user wishes to scroll the content differently, the user has to additionally press a Shift key on a keyboard and then rotate the roller to scroll the content horizontally. Alternatively, if the user is willing to spend more energy of movement to move the cursor to the horizontal scrolling bar and rotate the roller or draw the scrolling bar, then the user can scroll the image horizontally without using the shift key on the keyboard.
In order eliminate the need to press the shift key to achieve horizontal and vertical scrolling, U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2003/0025673 discloses a roller assembly which can be rotated for scrolling the image vertically (in an x-axis direction), or tilted to scroll the image horizontally (in a y-axis direction). This type of roller has the disadvantage that an optical encoder must be positioned within the roller assembly so as to detect the rotation of the roller in order to scroll the image in the y-axis direction. Due to the complex structure disclosed in the patent publication, the roller assembly has a very high cost, not only due to the need for precisely produced components, but also because of the difficulty of assembling the components of the roller.

Input device with multi-directional roller assembly


A power tool has a base assembly and a housing which is vertically movable relative to the base. The housing has a plurality of positioning components. A cutting depth adjustment mechanism is mounted on the base assembly and includes a support bracket and a sliding piece. The sliding piece is horizontally movable relative to the support bracket between a first position and a second position. When in the first position, the sliding piece is engaged with one of the positioning components and, when in the second position, the sliding piece is disengaged with the positioning components.

The present disclosure relates to a power tool which has an adjustable cutting depth, and more particularly, relates to a quickly adjustable cutting depth adjustment mechanism for the power tool.
A router generally comprises a base and a cutting unit which has a cutting bit mounted thereon. The cutting unit is movable relative to the base. In order to adjust the height of the bit relative to the workpiece, a depth adjustment mechanism is arranged between the base and the cutting unit.
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,853,274 discloses a router which comprises: (A) a base assembly which includes an annular base member and a cylindrical base member supported on the annular base member; (B) a cylindrical housing received within the cylindrical base member, wherein the cylindrical housing includes a plurality of vertically aligned first components; and (C) an adjustment mechanism supported on the base assembly, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a lever and an adjustment device for moving the lever vertically with respect to the base assembly, and the lever has a second component which is movable between a first position and a second position. When at the first position, the second component is selectively engaged with one of the first components to prevent vertical sliding of the housing relative to the lever; when at the second position, the second component is disengaged with the first component so as to permit vertical sliding of the housing relative to the lever.
The adjustment mechanism disclosed hereinabove has several disadvantages. Firstly, the thickness of the first components is limited by the radial size of the cylindrical housing, so the distance between the first position and the second position is short, and thereby misoperation may happen. Secondly, the quick adjustment mechanism and the fine adjustment means move about the same axis, so interference may occur therebetween.

Power tool with cutting depth adjustment mechanism


A liquid ejection head including: a head main body including: a cavity unit including a passage forming base plate forming a liquid passage from a common liquid chamber to a nozzle opening via a pressure chamber; and a pressure generating source generating a change of pressure of liquid in the pressure chamber to eject the liquid in the pressure chamber as a liquid droplet from the nozzle opening; and a case member to which the head main body is attached and which includes: a first member provided with a first atmosphere opening passage; and a second member laminated on the first member and provided with a second atmosphere opening passage, wherein the first and second atmosphere opening passages communicate with each other under the laminated state and are opened to atmosphere.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid ejection head such as an ink jet type recording head, and more particularly to a liquid ejection head in which the evaporation of liquid in a liquid passage is suppressed and the viscosity of the liquid is prevented from rising.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a liquid ejection head for generating the variation of pressure in liquid in a pressure chamber to eject the liquid from nozzle openings as droplets, for instance, exemplified are an ink jet type recording head (simply refer it to as a recording head, hereinafter) used for an image recording device such as an ink jet type printer, a color material ejection head used for producing a color filter of a liquid crystal display or the like, an electrode material ejection head used for forming an electrode of an organic EL (Electro Luminescence), an FED (face light emitting display) or the like, a biological organic material ejection head used for producing a bio-chip (a biochemical element), etc.
As one example of the recording head, there is a recording head including a nozzle forming base plate on which rows of nozzles having a plurality of nozzle openings formed are arranged, a passage forming base plate for forming a consecutive passage from a common liquid chamber (reservoir) to the nozzle openings via a pressure chamber, a cavity unit having a seal plate for sealing the openings of the pressure chamber and the common liquid chamber, a piezoelectric element as a pressure generating source capable of generating the variation of pressure in ink in the pressure chamber and a case member to which the piezoelectric element and the cavity unit are attached.
The sealing plate is composed of a composite plate material formed by laminating a PPS (polyphenylene sulfide) resin film as an elastic thin film part on the surface of a metallic support plate such as stainless steel. In the sealing plate, a compliance part for sealing a part of the reservoir is provided. The compliance part is composed only of the elastic thin film part by removing the support plate of an area opposed to the opening surface of the reservoir by, for instance, an etching process. Then, the compliance part functions as a damper for absorbing the variation of pressure in the reservoir when the piezoelectric element is driven.
In the case member, in a part corresponding to the reservoir (the compliance part) on a connecting surface to the cavity unit, a relief recessed part is formed for allowing the deformation of the elastic thin film part due to the variation of pressure in the reservoir. Further, in the case member, atmosphere opening passages are provided through which the relief recessed part communicates with an external part of the head. The atmosphere opening passages are passages for air that allow air in the relief recessed part to be discharged outside or outside air to be introduced to the relief recessed part in accordance with the operation (the deformation of the elastic thin film part) of the compliance part.
When the recording head having the above-described structure is not continuously used for a long period of time, a solvent of ink in the reservoir gradually becomes steam and the steam passes through the elastic thin film and is discharged to an external part through the atmosphere opening passages. Thus, the viscosity of the ink may be possibly increased. The increased viscosity of the ink may possibly cause an inconvenience such as an insufficient discharge.
Thus, to prevent such an inconvenience, a recording head is proposed in which extremely narrow and small control passages that are set to such a passage resistance as to suppress the diffusion of steam are provided between a relief recessed part (a recessed part for a damper) and atmosphere opening passages to allow them to mutually communicate (for instance, see JP-A-2004-148509 (FIG. 4)). The control passage is set to have the transmittance of steam lower than the transmittance of steam of an elastic thin film part by increasing the passage resistance and the passage resistance of the control passage allows the diffusion of the steam of a solvent of ink in a reservoir to be suppressed, so that the viscosity of the ink is prevented from increasing.
In JP-A-2004-148509, the control passages are provided as grooves extending in the planar direction of the sealing plate in an area located outside the ink passages of the pressure chamber or the reservoir (the compliance part) on a connecting surface of the sealing plate to the case member. However, to ensure the length of the control passages necessary for completely exhibiting the transmitting characteristics of the steam, a surplus area for that purpose needs to be provided in the sealing plate. Therefore, the provision of the control passages in the sealing plate restrains the recording head from being miniaturized. Further, when the control passages are provided in a previously limited area, the necessary length of the control passages is hardly ensured.
Further, in the recording head having the above-described structure, a synthetic resin is ordinarily preferably used as a material of the case member in view of easy moldability. On the other hand, the sealing plate of the cavity unit connected to the case member is formed with metal such as stainless steel. Accordingly, a differential thermal expansion exists between these members and a stress is generated in the connecting part owing to the change of temperature or humidity, so that there is a fear that a distortion or separation may possibly arise between the members. Thus, as an adhesive agent for connecting the case member to the cavity unit (sealing plate), a silicon type adhesive agent is preferably employed. Since the silicon type adhesive agent exhibits a flexibility under a connected state, a stress generated in the connecting part can be absorbed and mitigated by the flexibility of the silicon type adhesive agent. Thus, the distortion or the separation between the members can be prevented.
However, in the case of the structure in which the control passages are formed on the connecting surface of the sealing plate to the case member as in JP-A-2004-148509, when the silicon type adhesive agent is used to connect the members respectively, since the adhesive agent has a relatively high fluidity, the adhesive agent may possibly enter the control passages to prevent the functions of the control passages. Therefore, in the invention disclosed in the Patent Document 1, a selectable connecting unit is limited to a connection by transferring, for instance, an epoxy based sheet type adhesive agent. However, the sheet type adhesive agent is not suitable for absorbing and mitigating the stress generated in the connecting part between the members in view of thickness or flexibility.


Apparatus, method and computer readable medium associated with autonomous/semi-autonomous driving are disclosed herein. In embodiments, an apparatus for autonomous/semi-autonomous driving may comprise a management system to be disposed in an autonomous/semi-autonomous vehicle. The management system may include a reservation subsystem to receive, from a cloud server, a reservation of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle for a passenger or a driver, and an access control subsystem to control access to the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle that includes a trust function to gain trust of the passenger or driver with respect to the passenger or driver's data privacy requirements will be met, when the passenger or driver attempts to exercise the reservation. Other embodiments may be disclosed or claimed.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
A key value proposal of autonomous/semi-autonomous vehicles is to enable the benefits of a personalized commute experience as a service without the need of vehicle ownership. For companies to offer this service at affordable costs, they will likely want to collect a comprehensive amount of data related to the passengers and/or the drivers both for their own use as well as for selling it to third parties, such as insurance companies (e.g., to adjust premium payments to reward good drivers), transportation agencies (e.g., to identify route usage of drivers and passengers to plan maintenance and infrastructure planning) and vehicle manufacturers (e.g., to identify infotainment features preferred by the driver and the passengers etc.). The collected data may include location information, points of interest, routes, time of use, etc.
Because the shared data is sensitive and personal to the passenger or driver, for this model to work, the passenger or driver will likely need reassurance on some or all of the following key concerns:
1—Is the company collecting my personal data trustworthy?
2—What type of data will be captured?
3—Who will have access to my data?
4—How long will my data persist once I share it?
If the above data privacy concerns are not addressed, "personalized commute as a service" model using autonomous/semi-autonomous vehicles of the future will not be as disruptive, as a result of which the transportation industry, the public and the environment will not be able to fully benefit.

Autonomous/semi-autonomous driving method and apparatus with trusted data collection, retention and/or sharing


The present invention relates generally to a process for determining optimized communication rate plans for one or more communications devices across one or more communications networks. The present invention provides for determining an intelligent rate plan for a user having one or more devices operative on a communications network with one or more rate plans. The present invention, in one or more embodiments provides a user of communication devices with a cost-effective rate plan solution in relation to the user's use of their devices and available cost-savings programs available to the user.

Communications devices are used throughout most of the world and are often designed and developed to operate with at least one, if not more than one, communications network. Each communications device is uniquely identified within a network and is often uniquely identified within the network, thereby enabling a communications source device to contact the receiving device through connection points across the network. Similarly, each communications device is tracked on a network for its use of bandwidth in operation on one or more networks.
These communications devices are often in the form cellular phones, smartphones, or other telephonic-based equipment but may also include devices such as tablets, pads, and displays which are capable of connecting with and using a communications network's resources for communicating. Still other devices may include one-way communicating equipment, such as medical emergency or alarm-based equipment that contacts a receiving device or system across a network. The use of the term communications device or "device" herein is not intended to be limited to examples set forth, but rather incorporates and includes any device capable of communicating on, with, and/or across a communications network, wired or wireless, and thereby uses network resources of bandwidth to upload, download, transmit, receive, or transceive data. Examples of devices may include: laptops with 3G or WIFI capability; smartphones with 3G, 4G or CDMA/GSM; alarm systems across a publicly switched telephone network (PSTN) line; texting equipment; a machine-to-machine (M2M) environment; and similar.
In many applications, a communications device may not be physically connected with a communications network and may be able to connect with multiple communications networks owned by different entities. Tracking the use of a particular device on various networks is an important activity as the use of a network's bandwidth is typically the primary source of monetization for operators of a network.
FIG. 1 depicts a basic M2M communication network 100 having typical sensor-type devices 120, 130 and 140. Cell phones at 145 and 155 are also provided. In FIG. 1, the M2M network 100 has a central communication gateway 110 in which communications from devices 120, 130, 140, and 145 are linked with a service provider network 150. The linkage may be wired or wireless, and is depicted as the security camera 120 and the water alarm sensor 130 are in wireless communication with the gateway 110. Similarly, the traffic camera sensor 140 is in wired communication with the gateway, though one will appreciate that there are many variations to the type and protocol of communication for FIG. 1. As one can appreciate, there may be many variations for a M2M communication network and devices thereon. Further, smartphones and varied other devices may also be part of the network and communicate via varied means.
From FIG. 1, data sensed and obtained by the devices is transmitted across the M2M network to the service provider network 150 where the data may be shared as raw data or converted to information, often though software applications. Notification equipment 160 wirelessly receives the data from the service provider network 150, as may the cell phone 155, and acts in accordance with the received data for the specific event. For instance where the notification equipment is an alert system to send a text to a building owner in the event of a water leak, and the water sensor has sent data indicating a water leak, the notification equipment will then trigger an event to notify the building owner. Similarly, from FIG. 1, where the user 170 receives a suite of rolling historical data as to traffic camera operation cycles, the user may then act accordingly based on the received cumulative information. The transmission and receipt of data across the network from varied devices can be tracked on a per device basis, a per grouping of device basis, and across the network. The usage of data by a device is often then billed to a device-owning consumer (or user) based on a consumption rate plan that provides for a certain amount of time and/or use of data by a device owned by the user.
Unfortunately, usage plans are often determined or selected based upon a user's expected use of the device across a network, which is often difficult to accurately track with ease. Typically a device owner estimates an intended use amount, in time and/or bandwidth, and then begins to use the device and may not develop a routine cadence to routinely check daily usage amounts or similar. As a result, often a user may receive a billing from a network operator for the prior period of time (monthly or quarterly) where the user's use of the device on the network has exceeded the intended use, resulting in overages and network use costs that exceed the anticipated amount.
Operator networks are known to provide a historical review of a user's use on a network and make recommendations for a preferred rate plan to use for the following month. Similarly, a user may switch plans, choosing one operator's rate plan over another's for perceived benefits of costs, rate allowances, overages, credits, etc. These efforts to undertake a rate plan change require either the operator or the user to overtly recognize that another rate plan may be available or that the user's actual use exceeded his intended use and a change is needed, based on historical information.
However, undertaking such an effort is contradistinctive to a network operator's monetization model and is also an activity that a user may not recognize is available, particular as the user has already committed to a rate plan, likely as a subscription with the purchase of a device, and is likely not current on available rate plan options or offerings.
The situation is compounded where a user is the owner of many devices, such as a smartphone, laptop, tablet and alarm system, all on the same operator network and under one rate plan based on a capped use amount. The situation is further compounded where a user is the owner of hundreds of devices, each possibly on a varied rate plan and differing network, and each being operated by one of a hundred different user types each having their own particular communication need (time, bandwidth, location, etc.). Such a situation may exist at an equipment leasing company or corporate entity, for instance.
It is therefore desirable to provide for determining a smart rate plan in relation to a user's profile and use characteristics which provides for a cost-effective rate plan for the user independent of the number of devices or rate plans the user may have.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.