A transistor and a method of fabricating the transistor are provided. The transistor includes a semiconductor material comprising drain regions and source regions formed in alternating rows or columns. The transistor also includes polysilicon chains overlaying the top of the semiconductor material, disconnected from and substantially parallel to one another, and separating the drain regions from the source regions. The method includes providing a semiconductor material, growing a first insulating layer on top of the semiconductor material, depositing a polysilicon layer on top of the first insulating layer, defining a plurality of chains in the polysilicon layer, the plurality of chains being disconnected from and substantially parallel to one another, and forming a plurality of drain regions and a plurality of source regions in the semiconductor material in alternating rows or columns. The plurality of chains separates the plurality of drain regions from the plurality of source regions.

Low on-resistance (RON) metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistors are desirable for their low power loss and ability to conduct high currents. A cellular array of vertical double-diffused MOS (VDMOS) transistors can be made to have a very low [RON*Area] product (Ω mils2). This is partly because no top surface area is used to form drain regions, which allows a high density of transistor to be connected in parallel and a source metal layer to substantially cover the top surface of the transistor structure. The large source metal width provides a low metal resistance, while the high density of the transistors connected in parallel provides a very low transistor on-resistance between the source and drain regions.
For integrated circuit (IC) applications, however, forming N-channel and P-channel VDMOS transistors in the same substrate is impractical. Additionally, it may be desirable to connect the body of a transistor to a separate biasing voltage, which is not possible with cellular VDMOS transistors. Other limitations also exist with VDMOS transistors when formed in an IC, such as a high drain-to-substrate capacitance and a large overhead associated with bringing the drain up to the top surface of the substrate to interconnect the VDMOS transistors with other circuitry on the same substrate. Moreover, a VDMOS transistor formed on a discrete device may require a large overhead to terminate the outer edges, contain a large parasitic junction gate field-effect transistor (JFET), and have a high epitaxial drain resistance.
Problems are also associated with forming P-channel discrete VDMOS transistors. Specifically, it is tough to fabricate a low resistivity P+ substrate, there is a need for a thicker P epitaxial layer to allow for P autodoping by the substrate, and it is difficult to control the resistivity of the P epitaxial layer.
In situations where the drawbacks of a VDMOS transistor prevent its use, lateral MOS transistors have been used. U.S. Pat. No. 5,355,008, entitled "Diamond Shaped Gate Mesh for Cellular MOS Transistor Array," which is hereby incorporated in its entirety for all purposes, discloses a lateral transistor that has a [RON*Area] product comparable to that of vertical transistors. The lateral transistor disclosed employs a polysilicon gate mesh to separate the source and drain regions of the transistor.
Although the gate mesh lateral transistor is ideal under circumstances where a vertical transistor is impractical, it can be even better. For instance, since currents do not flow through the intersections in the gate mesh between two source regions or between two drain regions, those areas of the polysilicon could be put to better use. In addition, as a result of the proximity effect of masking, the length of the channels between a source region and a drain region may be larger than necessary. Further, when the contact of a source or drain region is defective, that region is no longer effective because the region is completely enclosed by the polysilicon gate mesh.
Accordingly, there is a need for a lateral transistor that better utilizes the intersections in the polysilicon gate mesh between two source/drain regions, improves the length of channels between source regions and drain regions, and is capable of using a region even after the contact for the region becomes inoperable without sacrificing the advantages achieved by the gate mesh lateral transistor. The present invention addresses such a need.


An ad hoc network organizational method which is employable with a collection of plural nodes in a setting where there is available a current overall network topology map containing at least the identities of, and the inter-nodal communication link qualities and capabilities associated with, each of the nodes. The method generally involves the steps of (a) examining the topology map to determine the current pattern of possible and not-possible direct communication links between pairs of nodes, thus to detect, from an inter-nodal, inter-communication point of view, hidden nodes and non-hidden nodes, and (b) on the basis of such examining, establishing a proxy networking scheme wherein pairs of nodes which are hidden with respect to one another can nonetheless communicate with one another through at least one, intermediary, selectable proxy node which is non-hidden with respect to each of the two nodes in such a pair.

This invention pertains to a unique ad hoc communication-network self-organizing practice referred to herein as proxy networking, which practice involves, among other things, the identification, establishment (selection), management and control of what are called proxy, or proxy coordinator nodes (PCos). Such nodes, according to the invention, (a) act as intermediaries between a central coordinator node (CCo) and identified hidden nodes (HDEVs) which cannot communicate directly and bidirectionally with the CCo, and also (b) facilitate communication between hidden nodes and other network nodes, all for a purpose of enabling acceptable network participation by hidden nodes.
As will be seen from the discussion presented herein, practice of the various proxy-networking features of the present invention involves, utilizes, and addresses many aspects, both positive and problematic, of hidden node entry into and behavior with a network. Included among these matters are the following:
1. Identifying hidden nodes, per se, through examining network topology information (gathered in any suitable manner);
2. Applying a specifically useful implementable algorithm to analyze such topology information thereby to find an optimal proxy coordinator node (PCo) to aid in managing appropriate network communication involving an identified hidden node;
3. Controlling and managing the allowed entry of a hidden node into and participation in a network, including addressing an appropriate key exchange (security) mechanism, or mechanisms where necessary, in these processes;
4. In relation to this controlling and management activity, preventing any collateral network communication problems from arising due to the presence of a hidden node, the fact of which could affect an entire network;
5. The establishment of a proxy network, per se;
6. Managing the exchange of control messaging between an accepted and entered hidden node and a central coordinator node via a proxy node; an illustration of control messaging (which is also security-related) is messaging including bandwidth request and allocation information; and
7. In the process of selecting the optimal proxy coordinator node, or nodes, doing so (a) in a manner which minimizes the resulting total number of selected proxy nodes, and (b) with the steps of selection being carried out through the activities of a digital processing engine operating on the basis of appropriate relevant control instructions, examples of which are set forth herein in a described, preferred algorithm.
As will become more fully apparent to those skilled in the art, from a study of the disclosure herein of the present invention, implementation of the invention has special utility in a number of readily understandable circumstances. Among these are included (a) a circumstance of initial installation/establishment of network, (b) whenever there is a prospective network change, as by way of a new node, hidden or otherwise, seeking to join the network, and (c) whenever there is some kind of network-functioning discontinuity as, for example, when a new central coordinator node may need to be designated. Other useful circumstances for employment of the invention will certainly come to the minds of those skilled in the art.
All of the invention proxy networking features and considerations set forth above are expressed in more elaborated manners in the detailed description of the invention presented below.
As will be appreciated, the invention is useful in organizing both distributed and centralized communication-networks.
Practice of the invention assumes that there is, in existence, a full-network topology map, or table, which has been created in any suitable manner to provide certain important foundation information about the nodes which are to be appropriately integrated into an established network. Fundamentally, such a map presents nodal information regarding (a) the identities of all nodes intending to participate in a network, (b) the states of existing/possible connectivity between these nodes and the qualities of these connectivities, (c) the identity of ultimately the then most appropriate, selectable CCo (Central Coordinator Node), (d) the identities of so-called hidden nodes (defined below), and (e) the identities of what are referred to herein (later explained) as proxy nodes that serve these hidden nodes. This topology information is necessary if an ad hoc collection of plural nodes is to become self-organized in the most effective manner into a network.
Notwithstanding what has just been said above about a CCo, specific practice of the steps of the invention does not necessarily rely upon the presence or action of a fully pre-established CCo. Proxy networking, according to the invention, may be implemented either by such a CCo armed with topology map knowledge, or in the alternative, by the full collection of nodes per se in a situation where they each are fully armed with independent knowledge of such a map. That this is the case will also become evident to those skilled in the art from a reading of the below detailed description of the invention.
The proxy networking practice of the present invention is described herein in two, different, general network configurations, referred to, on the one hand, as centralized, and on the other, as distributed. In a centralized network, the presence of a CCo is assumed, and such a CCo performs the tasks, based upon knowledge of a full network topology map, of choosing the best-suited PCo(s) to aid communication with hidden nodes. In a distributed network, it is the individual participating nodes which, operating collectively, perform the same functions.
Beyond what has just been stated above, the various features and advantages that are offered by the present invention will become more fully apparent as the detailed description which shortly follows is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Hierarchical ad hoc network organizational method involving with proxy networking


High permeability material plates used to construct the stators and the rotor of a motor are formed of the same material, thus reducing the number of fabrication processes and material cost. Also, the rotor containing permanent magnets is cylindrical and two stators are arranged around the inner circumference and the outer circumference of the permanent magnets, respectively, thereby increasing efficiency.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electric motor using permanent magnets.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view showing one example of a conventional electric motor using brushless-type permanent magnets. A plurality (6 in the drawing) of permanent magnets 51 are fastened by adhesives or the like to the surface of the outer circumference of a shaft member 53 which is rotatably supported at its both ends by bearing or the like so as to form a rotor. A plurality of ring-shaped high permeability material plates 52, having teeth spaced apart on the inner circumference surface thereof and gapped from the outer circumference surface of the rotor, are laminated so as to form a stator. The rotation of the rotor is controlled relative to the stator in accordance with a signal from a detector or the like arranged at one end of the shaft member 53.
In conventional electrical motors, sintered materials such as ferrite or rate earth elements are generally used as materials for permanent magnets. However, these materials are fragile, and when subjected to impact, the possibility of damaging these materials exists, especially during assembly and transportation. In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the permanent magnets are protected by winding a glass fiber or a carbon fiber around the permanent magnets, and further by providing reinforcement thereon using a resin or the like. However, this requires an increase in the number of fabrication processes, and the materials utilized are too costly. Also, since the high permeability material plates are produced by punching, those portions of the high permeability material plates into which a rotor is inserted cannot be used again and are abandoned, thus wasting materials. If the shaft member is formed of a high permeability material, the magnetic flux from the magnets brings about a magneto-resistance when it passes through the shaft member. On the other hand, when the shaft member is formed of a non-high permeability material, the magnetic flux from the magnets brings about a magneto-resistance which has substantially the same magnetic permeability as air. In the former case, a leakage of flux occurs and travels axially in the shaft member, thereby magnetically producing a negative influence upon a detector or a loading device positioned at one end of the shaft. In the latter case, the magnetic force of the permanent magnets is decreased, thus resulting in a reduction in efficiency.


A deposition method for electrochromic WOx films involves cyclic deposition of very thin poisoned and metallic tungsten oxide layers to build up a film with a desired general stoichiometry with x in the range of 3>x>2.75. The method may include: charging a deposition chamber with oxygen gas to poison a tungsten metal target; initiating sputtering of the target while reducing the oxygen partial pressure being supplied to the chamber and pumping the chamber; sputtering target for time t1+t2 to form first and second tungsten oxide layers, where the first layer is deposited during time t1 from a poisoned target and the second layer is deposited during time t2 from a metallic target, and where the stoichiometry of the film comprising the first and second layers is a function of t1 and t2; and, repeating until a desired film thickness is achieved.

Tungsten trioxide (WO3) has been studied for many years. It is one of the best materials for use in the fabrication of electrochromic (EC) devices, such as electrically tintable glass for use in buildings and automobiles. WO3 has the desirable characteristics of transparency, chemical stability—as in the stoichiometry doesn't change with time after deposition—and relatively low cost. Typically, WOx, where 3>x>2.75, is desired for the EC application for the following reasons: (1) in the x>3 region, the oxygen is rich such that the WOx film may not be bleachable after lithium atom insertion; and (2) in the region x<2.75, the film is no longer transparent.
The deposition of WO3 films is of considerably interest, not least because of their electrochromic properties. Physical vapor deposition (PVD) is one of the conventional methods used for depositing EC films. During the Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) WOx deposition, the stoichiometry of the film (value of x) is controlled by the oxygen partial pressure. However, the value of x changes with the oxygen partial pressure too sharply such that it is very hard to control in the range of interest—see FIG. 1; in addition, the deposition rate is very low. See T. J. Vink, E. P. Boonekamp, R. G. F. A. Verbeek and Y. Tamminga, Lithium trapping at excess oxygen in sputter-deposited a-WO3 films, Journal of Applied Physics 85(3), pp. 1540-1544, 1 Feb. 1999. According to Vink et al.'s data, reproduced in FIG. 1, control of the oxygen partial pressure to achieve an O/W ratio (value of x) of around 2.85 is very difficult due to the rapid change of x with oxygen partial pressure—such a process would have a very narrow process window and consequently would likely be a process with poor yield.
The two factors—narrow process window and low deposition rate—make the prior art PVD WOx film deposition process unattractive for use in the EC industry. Clearly, there is a need for improved deposition methods which provide sufficient control of the x value to allow high yield deposition of EC WOx films with x in the desired range of 3>x>2.75. Furthermore, there is a need for a deposition method for these EC films which provides a high enough deposition rate to satisfy manufacturing throughput targets at relatively low cost.

Electrochromic tungsten oxide film deposition


A coating apparatus for coating an object with a coating material in a coating direction includes a holder adapted to be mounted on a controllable support member, a shaft slidably supported in the holder, and a head member mounted on the shaft for angular movement in a direction transverse to the coating direction, the head member having a sliding surface for slidable contact with the object and a coating material outlet positioned forwardly of the sliding surface in the coating direction. In another embodiment, the head member has sliding legs for sliding contact with the object at front and rear positions in the coating direction, at least one of the sliding legs having a recess defined therein to provide a gap between the sliding leg and the object, the gap having a prescribed width in a direction transverse to the coating direction. The head has a coating material outlet defined between the sliding legs and a concave coating material reservoir defined between the sliding legs for temporarily storing the coating material supplied form the coating material outlet and for supplying the stored coating material into the recess.

The present invention relates to a coating apparatus, and more particularly to a coating apparatus for coating a primer to a window glass panel to be mounted in an automobile body, the coating apparatus having a head member slidable along an area of the window glass panel which is to be coated with an adhesive, the head member having a coating material outlet for supplying a primer and slidable to spread the supplied primer over the area.
When installing a window glass panel in an automobile body, for example, an adhesive is coated on the peripheral edge of the window glass panel, and the window glass panel is firmly attached to the automobile body by the bonding strength of the adhesive. For keeping the adhesive firmly bonded to the window glass panel, it is general practice to coat the peripheral edge of the window glass panel, i.e., an area of the window glass pane where the adhesive will be applied, with a primer before the adhesive is coated.
Heretofore, a brush has been used in many instances to coat a primer on a window glass panel. According to one known coating process, for example, a brush is installed on a robot arm and slidably displaced along an area of the window glass panel to be coated, while at the same time a metered amount of primer is supplied to the brush, for thereby automatically coating the primer on the entire area.
The above conventional coating process is however disadvantageous in that since the primer is applied using the brush, it is difficult to apply a primer coating layer of a desired width and a uniform thickness to the area. The coated primer may be applied to a portion of the window glass panel where no primer coating should be applied, and the coated primer layer may not have a sufficient thickness which is thick enough to remain well adhered to an adhesive which will be applied subsequently.
Moreover, after the primer has been coated, the solvent contained in the primer retained in the brush may be evaporated making the surface of the bush hard before the brush will be used in a next coating process. If the brush with the hard surface were used again in the next coating process, it would be impossible to provide a primer coating layer having a uniform layer thickness. As a result, a tedious maintenance procedure is required to keep the brush ready for use at all times.
Another problem with the use of the brush is that the brush is not highly durable and cannot remain usable continuously for a long period of time.


Provided is a removal device for a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment including a reservoir being connectable to a reaction chamber where a film is formed on a substrate and storing a byproduct derived from an exhaust gas exhausted from the reaction chamber, a vacuum generator driven by a driving gas, and a suction pipe having one connected to the reservoir and the other connected to the vacuum generator and suctioning the byproduct.

When a silicon film is formed on a substrate, as a source gas, a gas containing silicon, chlorine, and hydrogen, for example, dichlorosilane (SiH2Cl2) is supplied to the reaction chamber. After the silicon film is formed, an exhaust gas exhausted from the reaction chamber contains an unreacted source gas. Therefore, as a byproduct derived from the exhaust gas, a liquid chlorosilane polymer or the like is attached to an exhaust pipe connected to the reaction chamber. The chlorosilane polymer is also referred to as an oily silane.
Since the chlorosilane polymer has a high viscosity, if the chlorosilane polymer is left as it is, the exhaust pipe is clogged, so that there is a problem in that trouble occurs in the formation of the silicon film. In addition, since the chlorosilane polymer has ignitability, the removal process is accompanied with a risk. For this reason, there is a problem in that the removal process of the chlorosilane polymer takes time and effort.

Removal device for semiconductor manufacturing apparatus and semiconductor manufacturing apparatus


A read head for perpendicular magnetic recording that reduces side reading. The read head includes a read element and a magnetic shield spaced apart from the read element. The magnetic shield at least partially surrounds the read element at an air-bearing surface of the read element. The ratio of an air-bearing surface area of the magnetic shield to an air-bearing surface area of the read element is from about 1:1 to about 40:1.

The invention relates to perpendicular magnetic recording read heads, and more particularly to such a read head having a magnetic shield to reduce side reading.
Longitudinal magnetic recording heads for use with computer hard disc drives are generally known. Longitudinal magnetic recording in its conventional form has been projected to suffer from superparamagnetic instabilities at densities above approximately 40 Gbit/in2. It is believed that reducing or changing the bit cell aspect ratio will extend this limit up to approximately 100 Gbit/in2. However, for recording densities above 100 Gbit/in2, different approaches may likely be necessary to overcome the limitations of longitudinal magnetic recording.
An alternative to longitudinal magnetic recording is perpendicular magnetic recording. Perpendicular magnetic recording is believed to have the capability of extending recording densities beyond the limits of longitudinal magnetic recording due, for example, to use of a thicker recording layer and/or the use of a soft magnetic underlayer. However, a disadvantage of implementing perpendicular magnetic recording is that there is not a generally acceptable perpendicular reader design. As a result, a conventional longitudinal reader configuration is typically implemented in perpendicular magnetic recording. FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional longitudinal reader 11. The reader 11 includes a first magnetic shield 13 and a second magnetic shield 15, each spaced apart from a reader 17. The first and second magnetic shields 13 and 15 have a shield-to-shield spacing SS. The reader 17 has a stripe height H and a track thickness T. The track-width of the reader 17 is not shown, but is generally perpendicular to the track thickness T.
It has been determined that the conventional longitudinal reader configuration does not optimally suit perpendicular magnetic recording, especially at high recording densities. One reason is that conventional longitudinal reader configurations implemented in perpendicular magnetic recording are going to have significant non-desirable side reading. Side reading generally refers to the reader reading or sensing magnetic fields in tracks adjacent to a track upon which a read operation is being performed.
The purpose of the magnetic shields, such as the magnetic shields 13 and 15 for the conventional longitudinal reader 11 illustrated in FIG. 1, is to define the linear resolution of the reader. In other words, the resolution of the reader in an xe2x80x9calong-the-trackxe2x80x9d direction is roughly determined by the shield-to-shield spacing SS of the magnetic shields 13 and 15. However, for the conventional longitudinal reader 11, there is not generally any effective xe2x80x9cshield-to-shieldxe2x80x9d boundary in an xe2x80x9cacross-the-trackxe2x80x9d direction to prevent the undesirable side reading. The side reading becomes even more problematic when the conventional longitudinal reader 11 is implemented in a perpendicular magnetic recording system because of enhancement of the side reading by use of the soft magnetic underlayer in the perpendicular recording medium.
Another disadvantage of using a conventional longitudinal reader for perpendicular magnetic recording is a relatively degraded resolution of the reader if it is used with perpendicular media. Resolution of a reader is generally defined by the smallest bit size the reader is capable of distinguishing. Therefore, the better the resolution of the reader, the smaller the bit size the reader can distinguish. Consequently, the better the resolution of the reader, the larger the data density than can be read back from a recording medium.
It has been determined that another fundamental disadvantage of implementing a conventional longitudinal reader in perpendicular magnetic recording is the fundamental difference of waveforms generated in the perpendicular and longitudinal recording modes. For example, FIG. 2 schematically illustrates calculated signal responses by the same longitudinal reader, such as reader 11, from a longitudinal 19 and a perpendicular 21 media single transition, wherein a single transition corresponds to the time instance of zero. The calculations were based on the reciprocity principle using a commercial three-dimensional boundary element field solver to calculate the sensitivity functions. From FIG. 2, it can be determined that the longitudinal response 19 is relatively more local than the perpendicular response 21. In other words, the longitudinal signal 19 comes only from the transition while the perpendicular signal 21 spreads significantly from the transition.
FIG. 3 illustrates calculated sensitivity fields used in the reciprocity principle for the longitudinal and perpendicular modes illustrated in FIG. 2. More specifically, FIG. 3 illustrates a longitudinal component 23 (Hx) and a perpendicular component 25 (Hy) of the sensitivity field for the longitudinal reader at the vicinity of the recording layer. It can be seen that the sensitivity function of the longitudinal reader has a bi-polar shape for the longitudinal component 23 and a mono-polar shape for the perpendicular component 25. In other words, the bi-polar shape of the longitudinal component 23 effectively provides a xe2x80x9cdifferentiatingxe2x80x9d of the signal at the transition, and consequently avoids reading far from the transition. Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide a perpendicular read head design with the sensitivity field of the bi-polar shape to reduce or eliminate side reading by the effective xe2x80x9cdifferentiationxe2x80x9d. Ideally, for the purpose of keeping the same signal xe2x80x9cchannelxe2x80x9d properties, i.e. a shape of the waveform of the playback signal directly sensed by a reader and thus methods to analyze this signal, the shapes of the perpendicular and the in-plane field components should be interchanged when transitioned from longitudinal to perpendicular recording.
There is identified, therefore, a need for a read head for a perpendicular magnetic recording system which overcomes disadvantages, limitations, or shortcomings of known read heads, and in particular conventional longitudinal readers, that may be used in a perpendicular magnetic recording system.
Embodiments of the invention meet the identified need, as well as other needs, as will be more fully understood following a review of this specification and drawings.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a read head for perpendicular magnetic recording includes a read element and means for magnetically shielding the read element to reduce side reading. The means for magnetically shielding the read element may include a magnetic shield spaced apart from the read element and at least partially surrounding the read element at an air-bearing surface of the read element. The ratio of an air-bearing surface area of the magnetic shield to an air-bearing surface area of the read element is from about 1:1 to about 40:1. In addition, the magnetic shield may be spaced apart from the read element a distance from about 10 nm to about 50 nm.
In accordance with an additional aspect of the invention, a read head for perpendicular magnetic recording comprises a read element and a magnetic shield spaced apart from the read element. The ratio of an air-bearing surface area of the magnetic shield to an air-bearing area of the read element is from about 1:1 to about 40:1. The magnetic shield at least partially surrounds the read element at an air-bearing surface of the read element.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, a magnetic disc drive storage system includes a housing, a perpendicular magnetic storage medium positioned in the housing and a read head for perpendicular magnetic recording positioned adjacent the perpendicular magnetic storage medium. The read head of the magnetic disc drive storage system is constructed in accordance with the invention as described herein.

Perpendicular magnetic recording head with a magnetic shield to reduce side reading


A method of operating a semiconductor apparatus includes generating, by a droplet generator, a target material droplet; receiving, by a catcher, the target material droplet, wherein the catcher has a first section and a second section, wherein the first section of the catcher is closer to the droplet generator than the second section of the catcher; and heating the second section of the catcher, wherein the first section of the catcher is longer than the second section of the catcher and is free of a heater, and heating the second section of the catcher is performed such that a temperature of the second section of the catcher is higher than a temperature of the first section of the catcher.

The semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) industry has experienced exponential growth. Technological advances in IC materials and design have produced generations of ICs where each generation has smaller and more complex circuits than the previous generation. In the course of IC evolution, functional density (i.e., the number of interconnected devices per chip area) has generally increased while geometry size (i.e., the smallest component (or line) that can be created using a fabrication process) has decreased. This scaling down process generally provides benefits by increasing production efficiency and lowering associated costs. Such scaling down has also increased the complexity of IC processing and manufacturing. For example, higher resolution lithography processes have been developed. One lithography technique is extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL).

Method of operating semiconductor apparatus and semiconductor apparatus

TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.


Grating based plugs and cuts for feature end formation for back end of line (BEOL) interconnects are described. In an example, a method of fabricating an interconnect structure for a semiconductor die includes forming a hardmask layer above an interlayer dielectric (ILD) material layer. A first patterned hardmask layer is formed above the hardmask layer. A second patterned hardmask layer is formed above the first patterned hardmask layer. A lithographic patterning mask is formed above the second patterned hardmask layer. Portions of the second patterned hardmask layer not protected by the regions of the lithographic patterning mask are removed to form a third patterned hardmask layer and then the lithographic patterning mask is removed. A combined pattern of the third patterned hardmask layer and the first patterned hardmask layer is transferred to the hardmask layer and to the ILD material layer.

For the past several decades, the scaling of features in integrated circuits has been a driving force behind an ever-growing semiconductor industry. Scaling to smaller and smaller features enables increased densities of functional units on the limited real estate of semiconductor chips. For example, shrinking transistor size allows for the incorporation of an increased number of memory or logic devices on a chip, lending to the fabrication of products with increased capacity. The drive for ever-more capacity, however, is not without issue. The necessity to optimize the performance of each device becomes increasingly significant.
Integrated circuits commonly include electrically conductive microelectronic structures, which are known in the arts as vias, to electrically connect metal lines or other interconnects above the vias to metal lines or other interconnects below the vias. Vias are typically formed by a lithographic process. Representatively, a photoresist layer may be spin coated over a dielectric layer, the photoresist layer may be exposed to patterned actinic radiation through a patterned mask, and then the exposed layer may be developed in order to form an opening in the photoresist layer. Next, an opening for the via may be etched in the dielectric layer by using the opening in the photoresist layer as an etch mask. This opening is referred to as a via opening. Finally, the via opening may be filled with one or more metals or other conductive materials to form the via.
In the past, the sizes and the spacing of vias has progressively decreased, and it is expected that in the future the sizes and the spacing of the vias will continue to progressively decrease, for at least some types of integrated circuits (e.g., advanced microprocessors, chipset components, graphics chips, etc.). One measure of the size of the vias is the critical dimension of the via opening. One measure of the spacing of the vias is the via pitch. Via pitch represents the center-to-center distance between the closest adjacent vias. It is to be appreciated that with scaling to smaller vias, scaling to smaller non-conductive spaces or interruptions between metals lines (referred to as "line ends," "plugs" or "cuts") connected by vias may also need to be performed.
When patterning extremely small line ends (plugs or cuts) with extremely small pitches by such lithographic processes, several challenges present themselves, especially when the pitches are around 70 nanometers (nm) or less and/or when the critical dimensions of the line ends are around 35 nm or less. Also, as line end pitches scale ever smaller over time, the overlay tolerances tend to scale with them at an even greater rate than lithographic equipment is able to keep up.
Another such challenge is that the critical dimensions of the line ends generally tend to scale faster than the resolution capabilities of the lithographic scanners. Shrink technologies exist to shrink the critical dimensions of the line ends. However, the shrink amount tends to be limited by the minimum line end pitch, as well as by the ability of the shrink process to be sufficiently optical proximity correction (OPC) neutral, and to not significantly compromise line width roughness (LWR) and/or critical dimension uniformity (CDU).
Yet another such challenge is that the LWR and/or CDU characteristics of photoresists generally need to improve as the critical dimensions of the line ends decrease in order to maintain the same overall fraction of the critical dimension budget. However, currently the LWR and/or CDU characteristics of most photoresists are not improving as rapidly as the critical dimensions of the line ends are decreasing.
A further such challenge is that the extremely small via pitches generally tend to be below the resolution capabilities of even extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithographic scanners. As a result, commonly two, three, or more different lithographic masks may be used, which tend to increase the costs. At some point, if pitches continue to decrease, it may not be possible, even with multiple masks, to print line ends for these extremely small pitches using EUV scanners.
Thus, improvements are needed in the area of line end manufacturing technologies.

Methods and masks for line end formation for back end of line (BEOL) interconnects and structures resulting therefrom


This invention relates to polyolefin polymer dispersions having a semicrystalline plastic (SP) component and an amorphous elastomer (AE) component. The polymer dispersions of this invention are characterized by a continuous phase containing a discontinuous phase (dispersed phase) as seen by FIG. 2. Embodiments of this invention include either: 1) a discontinuous phase composed of the SP component dispersed within a continuous phase composed of the amorphous elastomer component and/or, 2) a discontinuous phase composed of the amorphous elastomer dispersed within a continuous phase composed of the SP component.

Semicrystalline plastics and amorphous elastomers when mixed are normally immiscible and form a dispersion, i.e. a mixture of the two results in a polymer blend with the tendency of separating into distinct phases of uniform intraphase composition and distinct interphase composition. Physical mixing methods are common for creating such dispersions. An example of a physical method is making a semicrystalline plastic (SP) and amorphous elastomer (AE) separately and mixing the two in the molten state in an intensive, mixer such as a Brabender mixer.
Efforts have been directed at creating an intimate dispersion of SP and AE. "Intimate dispersion" is defined as intermingling of SP and AE components to a level finer than would be expected from mixing the components via physical methods. Intimate mixing is a measure of the surface area of contact between the dissimilar polymers and is related to the inverse of the physical size of the particulate dispersion of the two components of the mixture. Evidence of an intimate dispersion can be determined by a morphological examination of the polymer dispersion and is also apparent in the evaluation of the mechanical, thermal and solubility properties of the mixture. It is well known that the degree of mixing of normally immiscible polyolefin polymers affects the properties of physical blends of polymers. Highly dispersed mixtures give benefits in impact strength, toughness, and the depression in the ductile to brittle transition temperature of the blends. These improvements in the mechanical properties of a blend of polymers on increasing the interfacial surface area of contact and the consequent decrease in the particle size of the dispersion has been described in the book "Polymeric Compatibilizers: Uses and Benefits in Polymers Blends" by Datta, et al., Section 1 published by Hanser Verlag (1996). Because of the many benefits of intimate mixtures, a variety of methods have been used to attain intimate mixing of immicible polyolefin polymers.
One method of making intimate mixtures of SP and AE is disclosed by Yamaguchi, et al. in the Journal of Applied Polymer Science Volume 62, pp. 87-97 (1996) who teach that blends of polypropylene and copolymers of ethylene with alpha olefins containing greater than 3 carbon atoms, specifically butene and hexene, form intimate mixtures in certain specific composition ranges of the alpha olefin. Such a procedure was restricted to certain specific compositions since polymer dispersions composed of ethylene and propylene did not form intimate mixtures and neither did other copolymers of ethylene beyond the specified composition range. A similar set of data has been shown by U.S. Pat. No. 4,966,944, U.S. Pat. No. 4,742,106, U.S. Pat. No. 4,774,292, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,391,618.
A second method of making intimate mixtures comprising SP and AE is the use of vinyl unsaturation in a polymer made in the first reactor as a method to incorporate chemical links between the polymer made in the first and the second reactors and thus obtain an intimate mixture of polymer. Datta, et al., in a publication in the journal Macromolecules v 24, pp. 561-566 (1991) have shown the sequential polymerization of amorphous elastomer followed by a SP component. The polymer dispersion incorporates a diene monomer, vinyl norbornene and 3-butenyl norbornene being exemplified, which leave a pendant vinyl unsaturation on the polymer backbone material being made in the first polymerization reactor. The amount of the vinyl unsaturation is measured by infra red spectroscopic techniques and is estimated to be equivalent to 6 to 10 vinyl groups per polymer chain. The product of this sequential polymerization is intimately mixed only when dienes containing residual vinyl unsaturation are used. Addition of any other type of diene or the generation of a functionality which is not vinyl unsaturation does not lead to the formation of an intimate mixture of polyolefins. The use of such dienes can lead to highly branched structures which are undesirable in many end use applications.
A third method of making intimate mixtures comprising SP and AE is described by Feng et al. in the journal Acta Polymerica Sinica vol. 2, p125 (1987) wherein the AE consists of a broad composition distribution (CD), multicomponent mixture. Detailed analysis of the copolymer shows a continuum of the compositions which cover a range from polypropylene to polyethylene. This feature has been discussed by Simonazzi in a paper in the journal Pure and Applied Chemistry v. 56, p 625 (1984). These intimate blends of SP and AE are different from the blends of the present invention in the broad compositional range of the AE. Also, they are not synthesized in a solution polymerization process.
A fourth method of making intimate mixtures comprising SP and AE is by addition of a polymeric compatibilizer. For example, Datta, et al., in Macromolecules v. 26, p2064 (1993), and Kontos in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,853,969 and 3,378,606, disclose the formation of blends of isotactic polypropylene as an SP component and an AE composed of copolymers of propylene with ethylene and hexene. These polymer blends are intimate mixtures but their formation requires the use of a compatibilizer such as a branched polymer in the case of Datta, et al., or a linear multiblock polymer in the case of Kontos. The blends are not intimately mixed in the absence of the compatibilizer.
A fifth method of making intimate mixtures comprising SP and AE is disclosed by Lynch, et al., in ACS Division of Polymeric Materials: Science and Engineering--Preprints v. 71, 609 (1994) who carefully coprecipitate a solution of AE (an ethylene propylene copolymer) and a SP (polypropylene). However, such a method makes a product which is not thermodynamically stable in the degree of intimate mixing since on heating for a short period of time above the melting point of the polypropylene, the degree of mixing of the phases deteriorates to that corresponding to a simple mixture of preformed polypropylene and amorphous ethylene propylene copolymer.

Product and method for making polyolefin polymer dispersions


A method of manufacturing a split probe tip on a cantilever comprises providing a cantilever having a surface on which is formed a probe that projects outwardly from the surface at one end of the cantilever, irradiating and scanning a tip of the probe with a focused particle beam directed in a direction that is inclined relative to the surface of the cantilever to obtain an image of the probe tip, and determining the center of the probe tip from the image of the probe tip. Then a first channel is formed in the probe tip at the center thereof by irradiating and scanning the center of the probe tip with a focused particle beam to form a split probe tip having two spaced-apart probe tip parts. The forming step comprises using the focused particle beam to form a first channel section that extends radially inwardly from a periphery of the probe tip, and then using the focused particle beam to form a second channel section that extends radially inwardly from the periphery of the probe tip at a location opposite the first channel section and that connects to the first channel section to define therewith the first channel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing split probes used as probes and nano-forceps in scanning of semiconductors.
2. Description of Related Art
A method for manufacturing micro-forceps using a focused ion beam device on the tip of a probe of a microcantilever used as a probe microscope probe has recently drawn attention (refer to patent document 1).
A split probe of the related art is shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 5(a) is a side view of a microcantilever, where numeral 8 is a cantilever probe. FIG. 5(b) is the upper surface of the microcantilever. FIG. 5(c) is an enlarged view of portion 7 of FIG. 5(b). In a typical method taken as a specific procedure for manufacturing microforceps, the whole of a probe 8 is irradiated with a beam that has been finely focused by a focused ion beam device without tilting a sample, an image for the whole of the scanned probe 8 is obtained, and a processing position is decided. A process of forming a channel 9 by making insulating locations on the cantilever that are to be severed face the beam from a center part of the tip of the probe on the microcantilever and then irradiating and scanning just a specific two locations is then carried out. The tip of the probe 8 is then split into a two-electrode structure where each electrode is electrically conductive.
"Patent Document 1"
Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2001-252900 ([0048], FIG. 10, FIG. 11).
However, in the related processing method, 1) The radius of curvature of the cantilever probe tip is small at 100 nm or less. It is therefore difficult to determine the central part of the cantilever probe tip in methods for specifying processing position using an image for the whole tip taken from above, and splitting the true center into two is therefore difficult. 2) Because the whole of the probe is processed using the same focused ion beam current, a relatively large focused ion beam current is used in the processing, and the channel processing width therefore becomes large. A large processing channel means that the distance between the divided electrodes is large, and it is difficult to obtain the desired electrode pitch when using the split probe as microscopic electrodes as is. Further, for example, during the assembly of, for example, carbon nanotubes, gaps open up between fellow carbon nanotubes so that, for example, a voltage applied during electrostatic driving has to be made high. 3) When an extremely narrow range of a cantilever probe is irradiated and scanned in order to decide processing position using the focused ion beam current amount using 2), the etching speed is fast because the ion beam current is large. This causes damage to the tip of the probe of the cantilever greater than that which is tolerated, so as to bring about problems such as, for example, localized peeling of conductive coats and non-uniformity of electric field, and localized increases in electrical resistance.


Techniques described herein include a system and method for aggregating multiple data streams related to a drone mission event into a single data stream. In this disclosure, a service provider may receive multiple data streams from various data sources in either real time, post facto, or a combination of the two. The data streams may be synchronized and combined using multiplexing techniques. Additionally, one or more observers are provided with the capability to append log entries to the data streams at particular time markers. In some embodiments, the time markers associated with a log entry may be updated at a later time to more accurately reflect events.

Along with the increasing use of, and interest in flying drone technology, there is an increasing demand for alternative technology solutions. For example, flight-related data for a vast majority of aircraft are typically recorded on a flight recorder (or black box) device. However, these flight recorder devices (as well as the additional sensors needed to provide the input necessary for the device) tend to add weight to the aircraft. Although this is not problematic for most aircraft, this is a critical issue for smaller aircraft, such as drones, that are able to carry less weight to begin with.
Additionally, data necessary for a thorough analysis of a drone flight may be scattered across multiple sources and may not be readily accessible. A technician attempting to discern the cause of an accident or malfunction is often not presented with the whole picture.


Systems, methods and computer software are disclosed for predicting streaming media Quality of Experience (QoE) for network slice selection in 5G networks. In one embodiment, a method includes developing a mathematical model of QoE parameters at base station transmitters; providing feedback from the models to a Quality of Service (QoS) manager; and selecting, by the QoS manager based on the feedback from the models, a 5G network slice that meets QoS requirements for allocation to a user.

A conventional mobile core network delivers contents in accordance with a fixed Quality of Service (QoS) level assigned to the content. On the other hand, future 5G networks are expected to provide support for a variety of services. The challenge of 5G is to assure the network performance and QoS requirements of different services such as Machine Type Communication (MTC), enhanced Mobile Broadband(eMBB) and Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communication (URLLC). To meet the requirements of complex QoS of different applications and services, 5G networks therefore should support various QoS capabilities including the accurate detection of current QoS related events to trigger immediate actions and prediction of future QoS related events with high degree of accuracy.
Network slicing in 5G network provides dynamic programming capabilities for QoS assurance. It is difficult to develop traditional software to schedule network resources amongst the slices, especially when there is no established causal relationship between network events and QoS. Hence it has been proposed to include a machine learning/analytics engine which will use historical data to help make predictions of QoE and aid in QoS selections through slicing.

Streaming media quality of experience prediction for network slice selection in 5G networks


Access is controlled to wireless access points connected in a wireless local area network (WLAN) providing telecommunications service for authorized users with wireless handsets. Identities of priority users are configured for a predetermined access point. Wireless users within range are associated to the predetermined access point. Bandwidth consumption data is aggregated corresponding to the associated wireless users. The aggregated consumption data is compared with a predetermined bandwidth capacity of the predetermined access point. If the aggregated consumption data is not less than the predetermined bandwidth capacity then use of the access point by a non-priority associated user having an identity that is not configured as one of the priority users is limited.

The present invention relates in general to dual mode WLAN/WWAN telecommunication systems, and, more specifically, to maintaining Quality of Service (QoS) in the WLAN.
Wireless local area network (WLAN) telecommunication systems are being used in many workplace/office settings as an alternative to traditional, hardwired private branch exchange (PBX) and Centrex systems. WLAN systems comprise an array of wireless access points (AP's) deployed within a building connected by a wired LAN and communicating wirelessly with telephone appliances carried by individual system users. Each access point provides a respective coverage area such that coverage areas overlap and users can maintain a constant network connection as they move (i.e., roam) throughout the building.
WLAN systems provide many benefits over wired systems such as lower installation, upgrading, and maintenance costs. They provide a wide array of telephone features, which are easy to add and modify for new and existing users. Voice calls between users of the WLAN system are free of airtime or other charges. Gateways are used to interface the WLAN system with wireless wide area network (WWAN) systems such as cellular networks and with the public switched telephone network (PSTN) for establishing voice calls between WLAN users and conventional phone customers.
In dual mode WLAN/WWAN systems, a user's phone call is carried by the WLAN while in the workplace and is then handed off to the WWAN when the user moves out of range of the WLAN. Migration of active calls between the two networks is shown, for example, by United States Publication 2002/0085516A1, entitled "Automatic and Seamless Vertical Roaming Between Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) and Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) While Maintaining an Active Voice or Streaming Data Connection: Systems, Methods and Program Products". Preferably, a single phone appliance incorporates transceivers for operating with both networks so that the handoff between the two systems is transparent to the user.
Each wireless access point connected within a WLAN has a certain throughput capacity or bandwidth. Consumption of the bandwidth depends upon the number of users associated with the AP and their level of activity at any one time. When the aggregated traffic of all users approaches the bandwidth capacity of the AP, then issues of quality of service provided to the users arises. Typical mechanisms for controlling QoS give priority to one type of traffic over another or one class of subscribers over another. For example, it is known in WLAN systems to give priority to all voice traffic over any data services being accessed over the network.
The coverage area of any particular wireless access point may include workplace areas subject to different typical uses. For example, primary workstations such as an office desk of a user may be covered as well as transient or secondary work areas for all employees in a building such as conference rooms, file rooms, lunch rooms, or others. Consequently, the priority of voice over data traffic may not always be desirable. For example, a user at their desk may be accessing a data service via a particular access point, while a voice user who is roaming enters the particular access point coverage area. It may undesirable disrupt the data traffic of the user at their desk, especially when the voice call of the roaming user could be migrated to the WWAN system.

Wireless LAN communication system with in-zone user preferences


Examples provide mechanisms for detecting an object disposed between a display of a computing device and a base of the computing device. In response to detection of the object between the display of the computing device and the base of the computing device, the computing device may output an alert via a speaker.

Computing systems such as notebook computers utilize displays generally housed within a display panel and computing components generally housed within a base. The computing system may attach the display panel to the base with a hinge such that the display may be opened and closed in a clamshell-like manner. The opening and closing of the computer system may occur in various power states, including but not limited to states when the operating system is active or hibernating.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A speaker system includes a first speaker; a second speaker; and a first spacer for separating the first speaker and the second speaker from each other so that the first speaker and the second speaker face each other. The first speaker and the second speaker are located so that opposing faces of the first speaker and the second speaker output sounds of an identical phase. The first speaker, the second speaker and the first spacer form a first sound path through which the sounds output from the opposing faces of the first speaker and the second speaker pass. The speaker system according to the present invention includes n number speakers and (nxe2x88x921) number of spacers and can be arranged so that the opposing faces of even-numbered speakers and odd-numbered speakers output sounds of an identical phase.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a speaker system used for, for example, audio equipment.
2. Description of the Related Art
A speaker outputs sound by vibrating a vibrating plate and thus changing the pressure of the surrounding air (sound pressure).
In the case where a single speaker does not provide a sufficient sound pressure, a desired sound pressure can be obtained by synthesizing sounds output from a plurality of speakers.
FIG. 12 is a plan view of a conventional speaker system 1200 including four speakers. The speaker system 1200 includes a first speaker 1201, a second speaker 1202, a third speaker 1203 and a fourth speaker 1204 which are provided on a planar baffle plate 1210.
FIG. 13 is a graph illustrating the relationship between the number of speakers and an increase in sound pressure. The increase in sound pressure is defined as a difference between a synthesized sound pressure from an arbitrary number of speakers and sound pressure output from a single speaker, and is represented in units of dB. The graph shown in FIG. 13 is given by the following theoretical expression, where L is assumed to be 70 dB.             L      p                  (      a      )        :=            20      ·              log                          (                      a            ·                          10                              L                20                                              )                      -    L
a:=1 . . . 10
L:=70 dB
Table 1 shows specific values given by the above theoretical expression.
As shown in FIG. 13 and Table 1, as the number of speakers increases, the sound pressure increases.
The conventional speaker system 1200 including a plurality of speakers on a planar area has the following problem. When the speaker system is located in a space, for example, in a space within a vehicle, on a wall of a room or on a table, which has a limited surface area, the number of speakers which can be located is limited. As a result, the sound pressure cannot be increased as desired.
A speaker system according to the present invention includes a first speaker; a second speaker; and a first spacer for separating the first speaker and the second speaker from each other so that the first speaker and the second speaker face each other. The first speaker and the second speaker are located so that opposing faces of the first speaker and the second speaker output sounds of an identical phase. The first speaker, the second speaker and the first spacer form a first sound path through which the sounds output from the opposing faces of the first speaker and the second speaker pass.
In one embodiment of the invention, the first sound path is formed so that a transfer direction of the sounds passing through the first sound path is perpendicular to amplitude direction of vibrations of the first speaker and the second speaker.
In one embodiment of the invention, the speaker system further includes at least one baffle plate, which is provided so that the sounds passing through the first sound path is directed to a direction parallel to the amplitude direction of vibrations of the first speaker and the second speaker.
In one embodiment of the invention, the speaker system further includes at least one baffle plate, which is provided so that the sounds passing through the first sound path is directed to a direction perpendicular to the amplitude direction of vibrations of the first speaker and the second speaker.
In one embodiment of the invention, the speaker system further includes a third speaker; and a second spacer for separating the second speaker and the third speaker from each other so that the second speaker and the third speaker face each other. The second speaker and the third speaker are located so that opposing faces of the second speaker and the third speaker output sounds of an identical phase. The second speaker, the third speaker and the second spacer form a second sound path through which the sounds output from the opposing faces of the second speaker and the third is speaker pass.
In one embodiment of the invention, the second sound path is formed so that a transfer direction of the sounds passing through the second sound path is perpendicular to amplitude direction of vibrations of the second speaker and the third speaker.
In one embodiment of the invention, the speaker system further includes at least one baffle plate, which is provided so that the sounds passing through the second sound path is directed to a direction parallel to the amplitude direction of vibrations of the second speaker and the third speaker.
In one embodiment of the invention, the speaker system further includes at least one baffle plate, which is provided so that the sounds passing through the second sound path is directed to a direction perpendicular to the amplitude direction of vibrations of the second speaker and the third speaker.
In one embodiment of the invention, the first sound path and the second sound path are formed so that the transfer direction of the sounds passing through the first sound path and the transfer direction of the sounds passing through the second sound path are opposite to each other.
In one embodiment of the invention, the first speaker and the second speaker have an identical structure; the first speaker and the second speaker are located so that a front face of the first speaker and a front face of the second speaker face each other or so that a rear face of the first speaker and a rear face of the second speaker face each other; and the first speaker and the second speaker are vibrated with an identical phase.
In one embodiment of the invention, the first speaker and the second speaker have an identical structure; the first speaker and the second speaker are located so that a front face of the first speaker and a rear face of the second speaker face each other or so that a rear face of the first speaker and a front face of the second speaker face each other; and the first speaker and the second speaker are vibrated with opposite phase.
In one embodiment of the invention, the first speaker and the second speaker are each a piezoelectric speaker including a piezoelectric element; a polarization direction of the piezoelectric element of the first speaker is opposite to a polarization direction of the piezoelectric element of the second speaker; and a phase of an electric signal input to the first speaker is identical with a phase of an electric signal input to the second speaker.
In one embodiment of the invention, a phase of an electric signal input to the first speaker is opposite to a phase of an electric signal input to the second speaker.
In one embodiment of the invention, the first speaker and the second speaker each include a frame; a vibrating plate; a piezoelectric element provided on the vibrating plate; a damper connected to the frame and the vibrating plate for supporting the vibrating plate so that the vibrating plate is linearly vibratile; and an edge provided so as to fill a gap between the vibrating plate and the frame. The damper acts as an electrode.
In one embodiment of the invention, the first speaker and the second speaker are each a dynamic speaker.
Thus, the invention described herein makes possible the advantages of providing a speaker system for increasing the sound pressure using a plurality of speakers while maintaining the same surface area as that of a single speaker.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


To considerably reduce the cell layout change after timing optimization to reduce the term of layout design by estimating timing and an area after the timing optimization. During the period of initial layout processing using a net list, a timing constraint, a floor plan, a layout library, a timing library, etc., a library for estimating timing/area for estimating the timing and area after the timing optimization is created in advance and whether the timing constraint can be met is estimated. A cell in a path that hardly meets the timing constraint is placed in proximity and conversely, a cell that easily meets the timing constraint is placed at a distance. At this time, an area increase is also estimated so that wiring congestion does not occur.

The present invention relates to design technology of a semiconductor integrated circuit device and particularly, to technology effective for optimization processing of layout processing in a semiconductor integrated circuit device.
As layout design technology of a semiconductor integrated circuit device, for example, the use of an automatic layout design tool for automatically designing a layout, that is, a so-called electronic design automation (EDA) tool is widely known.
Upon receipt of coupling information (net list=logic circuit design result) of cells or macro cells, the automatic layout design tool automatically determines the positions of cells or macro cells over a semiconductor chip and places them and performs processing to automatically couple them etc.
As optimization technology of cell layout using this kind of EDA tool, for example, that which, as shown in FIG. 19, does not take into consideration the timing in an initial layout but improves the layout position or changes the floor plan based on the timing optimization result after the layout, or that which, as shown in FIG. 20, calculates timing in an initial state, places a critical timing path in the initial state in proximity and after optimization, changes the floor plan etc. if the timing does not converge, is known.
In the optimization technology of the cell layout shown in FIG. 19 and FIG. 20, a circuit to be given is a circuit (shown on the left side in FIG. 21 and on the left side in FIG. 22, respectively) configured by flip-flops and paths. Here, the path indicates a signal path configured by combined circuits. Elements configuring the flip-flop and the combined circuit are referred to as cells.
Optimization of cell layout is to determine cell positions so that wiring is possible with the minimum wiring length and a timing constraint given between flip-flops connected by a path in the timing optimization in the next step can be met.

Method of semiconductor integrated circuit device using library for estimating timing/area to place cells


Systems and methods are provided for worker protection system with ultra-wideband (UWB) based anchors. One or more wayside units placed on or near a track may be configured to form a work zone network, based on ultra-wideband (UWB) communications, corresponding to a work zone in an area surrounding or in proximity to the one or more wayside units. When the work zone network is formed, at least one wayside unit of the one or more wayside units may be configured to obtain ranging information to a train traversing the track, based on communications of UWB signals with at least one train-mounted unit deployed on the train, and the one or more wayside units are configured to generate, based on the ranging information, notifications relating to the train and/or the work zone.

Various issues may exist with conventional approaches for worker protection in conjunction with railway systems. In this regard, conventional systems and methods, if any existed, for worker protection in conjunction with dangers posed by work on or near tracks, may be costly, inefficient, and/or ineffective.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such approaches with some aspects of various example methods and systems as set forth in the remainder of this disclosure with reference to the drawings.

Methods and systems for worker protection system with ultra-wideband (UWB) based anchor network


In a peppermill, which is designed as a disposable container for contained peppercorns, a cylindrical body is provided with a grooved section at one end to comprise the female element of the grinding mechanism. The grooved section includes a conical inwardly directed fact which mates with a conical surface on a male grinding element which closes one end of the cylinder. The other end of the cylinder is closed by a turning knob, which is rotatably mounted on the cylinder. A connecting rod is molded in one piece with the turning knob and is permanently connected to the male grinding element so that the peppermill cannot be refilled.

In present day peppermills, the grinder mechanism comprises a tapered male grooved element which coacts with a grooved female element. The rotation of the male element in the female element forces he peppercorns between the two elements to crush the peppercorns and dispense the crushed particles. The female element is mounted in the bottom floor of a body which serves to contain the peppercorns prior to being ground. A rod connects the male element of the grinding mechanism to an external actuating knob by which the rod and male element can be turned in the female element. Additional hardware is required to hold the female element in the grinder body as well as hold the male element in place with respect to the female element. Typically, nine different parts are required to be assembled together into a complete peppermill.


A display fixture assembly includes spaced apart horizontally arranged base and top members with a plurality of spaced apart vertical standards welded thereto. Each standard has vertically arranged notches formed on its side edges and a vertical column of elongated slots formed in its center portion. A plurality of sheet metal panels form the skin of the unit. Each panel carries hooks on its side edges which secure the panel to a pair of adjacent standards. With the panels assembled, support brackets can be attached to the slots in the brackets through the narrow space remaining between adjacent panels.

The present invention is directed toward a display fixture assembly and more particularly toward such an assembly which is extremely attractive and flexible in arrangement but which is extremely structurally rigid.
Display fixtures are widely used in various areas of business and industry for displaying products or for advertising or promoting the same. Such displays are used, for example, in retail stores for storing and displaying the merchandise being sold.
It is normally desirable, particularly in higher priced stores, to have the display fixtures be as attractive as possible so as to better promote the sale of the products being offered. For this reason, the fixtures are frequently covered or otherwise finished with decorative panels or other coverings. In addition, many store fixtures must be custom designed and constructed in order to accommodate the particular floor space available in the store and also to properly display the goods being offered for sale. All of the foregoing have caused conventional display fixtures to be relatively expensive.
Many display fixtures have brackets or the like secured thereto which may be used to support the fixture, to support shelves carried by the main portion of the fixture or to attach other accessories or the like. In custom installations, these brackets may be permanently secured to a portion of the fixture. However, it is frequently desirable to have the flexibility of being able to move the brackets from one place to another. This would be desirable, for example, if one wished to be able to adjust the height of a shelf or to vary the number of shelves of a store display fixture.
A conventional way of providing adjustable shelves is to attach a vertical, metal standard having a plurality of slots therein to the main portion of the display fixture. Shelf brackets can then be inserted into the desired slots in order to locate a shelf at a desired position. With such conventional systems, the shelf standard with all of the slotted openings therein is normally readily visible and detracts from the appearance of the overall display fixture.
To Applicants' knowledge, no one prior to their invention has designed a display fixture which allows for flexibility in construction and arrangement yet which is extremely structurally strong while being attractive and further being capable of being produced at a relatively low cost. Prior art display fixtures lack one or more of these attributes.


A subscriber to a service will have the ability to order or request additional information on products that are being advertised. The service will have the ability to know which commercial is being aired in which subscriber initiated the request. The subscriber to the service upon viewing a commercial on a display terminal can click on the advertisement to alert the advertiser that the customer is interested in the item that is being advertised. Such interest may include, receiving an information pamphlet, receiving a coupon, and ordering the product directly from the manufacturer or distributor through a requisition request.

As deregulation of the telephone industry continues and as companies prepare to enter the local telephone access market, there is a need to offer new and innovative services that distinguish common carriers from their competitors. This cannot be accomplished without introducing new local access network architectures that will be able to support these new and innovative services.
Conventionally, customer premises telephone and/or data connections contain splitters for separating analog voice calls from other data services such as Ethernet transported over digital subscriber line (DSL) modems. Voice band data and voice signals are sent through a communications switch in a central or local office to an interexchange carrier or Internet service provider. DSL data is sent through a digital subscriber loop asynchronous mode (DSLAM) switch which may include a router. The DSLAM switch connects many lines and routes the digital data to a telephone company's digital switch.
A major problem with this configuration is that interexchange carriers attempting to penetrate the local telephone company's territory must lease trunk lines from the local telephone company switch to the interexchange company's network for digital traffic. Furthermore, the Internet service provider must lease a modem from the local phone company in the DSLAM switch and route its data through the local phone company's digital switch. Thus, the local phone company leases and/or provides a significant amount of equipment, driving up the cost of entry for any other company trying to provide local telephone services and making it difficult for the interexchange companies to differentiate their services. Furthermore, since DSL modem technology is not standardized, in order to ensure compatibility, the DSL modem provided by the local telephone company must also be provided to the end user in the customer premises equipment (CPE). Additionally, since the network is not completely controlled by the interexchange companies, it is difficult for the interexchange companies to provide data at committed delivery rates. Any performance improvements implemented by the interexchange companies may not be realized by their customers, because the capabilities of the local telephone company equipment may or may not meet their performance needs. Thus, it is difficult for the interexchange companies to convince potential customers to switch to their equipment or to use their services. These factors ensure the continued market presence of the local telephone company.
As part of this system, there is a need for improved architectures, services and equipment utilized to distinguish the interexchange companies' products and services.
One innovative service is for interactive commercials. Interactive commercials are commercials which allow consumers who are watching the commercial to either order the service or merchandise described in the commercial or obtain more information about the product or service. In order for interactive commercials to work, a system is needed which can determine what commercial the consumer is watching and then to match that consumer to that product so as to allow, for example, a manufacturer or retailer to contact the consumer regarding the product or service. It is an object of the present invention to provide such a system to facilitate interactive commercial services.

Method and system for supporting interactive commercials displayed on a display device using a telephone network


A cable guide, drawer and terminal device are provided. The terminal device has a casing. The drawer is moveable between open and closed positions into and out of the casing, respectively. The drawer has a front and a body, the front having a lip extending beyond the body. The cable guide has a guide part attached to the side of the drawer. The guide part has first and second ends. The first end is positioned toward the front of the drawer. The first end extends further beyond the body of the drawer than the second end. The guide part becomes progressively thinner from the first end to the second end so that a cable draped over the drawer is pushed away from the body of the drawer as the drawer is closed. The guide part may have a curved surface portion from the first end to the second end. The guide part may be shaped so that it does not interfere with a member attached to a side surface of the drawer. The guide part may have an attachment portion attached to the side surface of the drawer. In this case, The front of the drawer may extend above the top of the body and the attachment portion may have a notch. The notch may be formed into the attachment portion to extend toward the front of the drawer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to devices that can be attached to drawers. More specifically, the present invention relates to a device which prevent cables and the like from becoming caught in a drawer.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, there have been a large number of point of sale ("POS") terminals/electronic cash registers ("ECRs") to which bar code scanners are attached to read bar codes. Bar code scanners are generally classified as fixed, which may be fixed to the top of a counter, and hand-held, which are manipulated by a store clerk.
Although some hand-held bar code scanners are wireless, transmitting information without wires, the type which is connected to a POS terminal with a cable/wire is more common. The cable transmits bar code signals read from the bar code scanner to the POS terminal, and at the same time, supplies power to the bar code scanner to drive the bar code scanner.
When this type of hand-held bar code scanner is placed on the top of the POS terminal, the cable usually hangs down over the edge of the POS terminal. If the cable hangs down in front of a drawer (perhaps used for holding cash) of the POS terminal, the cable may become caught between the drawer and the body of the POS terminal when the drawer is closed. In this case, it is quite likely that the sheath of the cable or the cable itself will be broken, eventually resulting in a short or open circuit.
In particular, since the drawer of the POS terminal is biased away from the terminal by a strong spring, a certain amount of force must be exerted to close the drawer to oppose the force of the spring. With excessive force, chance of breaking the bar code scanner cable increases.
When the touch scanner cable is broken, it is impossible to read bar codes with the touch scanner. As a result, the product cannot be registered, and the check-out process is delayed when the data is manually entered. In addition, the body (frame and the like) of the POS terminal may be made of metal, and if the body or frame comes into contact with the scanner cable having a broken sheath, current intended to power the bar-code scanner may flow through the POS terminal.

Cable guide, drawer structure and terminal device


Systems, methods, and devices are provided for memory management. One method embodiment includes providing an operating system capable of supporting variable page sizes. The method includes providing a virtual memory address, translating the virtual memory address to a virtual memory page, and mapping the virtual memory page to a physical memory page by using a multilevel page table whose depth and/or order corresponds to page sizes that are supported by an operating system and/or hardware.

In an operating system parlance, the kernel is the set of modules forming the core of the operating system. The kernel is loaded into main memory first on startup of a computer and remains in main memory providing services such as memory management, process and task management, and disk management. The kernel also handles such issues as startup and initialization of the computer system.
Before a computing device such as a desktop computer, laptop, server workstation, etc., may accomplish a desired task, it receives an appropriate set of executable instructions. Executed by a processor, these executable instructions can be used to direct the operation of the device. These instructions can be stored in a memory of the computing device.
In some systems, virtual memory is used to locate data in physical memory. Virtual memory is a technique within the memory management subsystem to allow the processor to access a larger memory address space than the physical memory space that actually exists in the processor system of a computing device. In particular, the operating system can implement a virtual memory system to map a virtual address associated with a process from a large virtual address space to a physical address of a physical memory, which is typically random access memory (RAM).
The translation can be transparent to the program. The memory management system of the operating system tracks both assigning and releasing memory in connection with the multiple processes and threads. A computer system is not limited to a single virtual address space. Indeed, it may implement as many virtual address spaces as its operating system is capable of supporting. For example, modern operating systems often support multiple processors and multiple threads of execution, thereby allowing the sharing of the system resources and further providing multiple concurrent processes and threads that execute simultaneously. The virtual address spaces are usually separate from each other to prevent overlapping processes and/or data.
To aid the mapping process, the virtual address memory space can be divided into chunks of memory space called pages which correspond to chunks of physical address memory space called frames, or physical pages. Some systems use pages that are uniform in size, however, some systems can support multiple page sizes and, in such systems, organization of such pages has typically been handled as if the pages were uniform.
Operating systems can store maps of virtual to physical pages in data structures known as page tables. In systems using non-uniform page sizes, page sizes can range, for example, from below 4 KB to over 4 GB. Typically, page tables reference individual pages by using a separate data structure for each page in a page table. In such systems, larger pages can be represented as collections of smaller sized pages. For example, if a typical page size in a system is 4 KB, a larger 1 MB page may be broken into 4 KB segments when referenced in the page table. Using a separate data structure to reference each smaller page, within a larger page, results in inefficient memory use.
Typically, an operating system maintains a separate page table for each process (i.e., each running instance of a program). These page tables can exist in a main memory location (e.g., volatile memory such as RAM) and can occupy significant portions of this main memory.
Therefore, many operating systems have to provide the ability to page their page tables. This involves writing kernel memory and data structures (e.g., page tables), which describe application memory, to secondary memory (i.e., to non-volatile memory or to a storage device), when main memory is low. Paging the page table can result in implementation of complicated logic and it can slow the operation of application processes by utilizing additional access to secondary memory.
Furthermore, many systems that may use multilevel page tables do not match the order of the page table levels and the depth of the page tables to the various page sizes supported by the OS and/or hardware, but rather use arbitrary page sizes and/or do not provide a useful granularity that reduces processor and memory resource usage.


The antitheft device (1) for articles having at least an arm element (2), in particular spectacles (3) comprises a pair of box-like bodies (4,5) which are pivoted to one another (at 6) adapted to clamp the arm element (2) therebetween. One of these bodies (5) is provided with an element 10, pivoted at (9) provided with a clawed lip (11), the other body (4) having a first window (12) therethrough the pivoted element can outward extend and a second window (12') therethrough the clawed lip (11) can inward extend, the device further comprising locking means (18) adapted to engage the clawed lip (11), as well as key means (14) operating on the locking means (18) so as to cause the clawed lip to be disengaged.

The present invention relates to an antitheft device for articles including at least an arm element, in particular spectacles.
As is known, in big stores goods are usually arranged on counters which can be freely accessed by the buyers in order to ascertain the articles quality and size, and for allowing for a clerk to perform all of the required operations, the selected articles being sent to a payment desk to be paid by the buyers.
Though such a buying system is rather practical, it has the drawback that ill intentioned persons can access the good exhibition tables and remove articles therefrom, such as spectacles which are put on so as to be not declared at the payment desk.
Spectacles antitheft devices are already known which comprise parts which must be removed by a payment clerk by systems which generally provide for breaking these antitheft devices, which negatively affects the buying cost.
The main object of the present invention is to provide such an antitheft device, in particular though not exclusively for spectacles, which is so designed and arranged as to be easily removed by a payment clerk, by means of simple key means and without any breaking or buckling of the antitheft device.
Another object of the invention is to provide such an antitheft device which allows for spectacles to be exhibited either in an open arm or closed arm condition.
These and yet other objects of the invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art from the following disclosure.
The antitheft device for articles having at least an arm element, in particular spectacles, is essentially characterized in that said device comprises a pair of pivoted bodies adapted to clamp said arm element therebetween, means associated with said bodies for locking them at a closed condition, as well as key means for allowing for an authorized person to unlock said bodies.

Antitheft device for articles having at least an arm element, in particular spectacles


A squeeze bottle foam dispenser with improved foam consistency throughout the range of manual squeeze conditions. The foamer includes a pressure operated valve for simultaneously restricting flow of the compressible and incompressible fluids until a predetermined threshold pressure is developed within the bottle by manual deformation thereof. Thus, foam is not dispensed from the container until a pressure is developed within the bottle sufficient to produce a desirable foam. The disclosed foamer is for storage and operation in the inverted orientation. This avoids the necessity of an extended spout and its concomitant problems.

Foam may be technically defined as a physical mixture of a compressible fluid and an incompressible fluid in such a manner that bubbles are formed. The degree of mixing and work put into the system determines the size and dispersion of bubbles. A lather is a specific form of foam with uniformly small bubbles that is recognized for its penetration and cleaning ability on soiled surfaces. Lathering generally requires considerable mechanical working of a foamable material. For example, a bar of soap or liquid soap can be mixed with water in the hands and worked for 10 seconds or so to produce an effective lather.
Alternatives to manually working bar and liquid soaps may become popular because of the convenience offered in reducing the time and energy required to generate a lather. Aerosol foam generators, for example, mix a propellant with a foamable liquid to produce a rich foam. However, aerosols are increasingly unpopular because of their cost and negative environmental impact.
Another, more cost effective, alternative to generating and dispensing a foam is to use hand held squeeze bottle dispensers. Inexpensive squeeze bottle foam dispensers have been developed by a number of individuals. Squeeze-bottle foamers, such as those described in Boehm et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,422,993, Wright U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,937,364, 4,018,364, and 4,531,659, use hand squeezing force and a deformable squeeze bottle to mix air with a foamable liquid inside the bottle and then force the mixture through a porous homogenizer to generate small bubbles.
Unfortunately, currently existing squeeze bottle foam dispensers have several drawbacks. The most troubling drawback involves inconsistency in the foam's characteristics. One reason for foam inconsistency is that some individuals squeeze the foam dispensers with a great deal of force which results in a high squeeze rate and high bottle pressure while others squeeze more gingerly resulting in a relatively low squeeze rate and bottle pressure. This variation in the squeeze rate and the pressure developed within the bottle results in variation in the consistency and overall quality of the foam dispensed. As a result a poor runny foam is frequently produced rather than the desired lather.
Additionally, there are several drawbacks which are a direct result of the storage and operation of current squeeze bottle foam dispensers in an upright orientation. The upright orientation necessitates spouts which extend horizontally or downwardly because foam is normally dispensed into an upward-facing palm. These spouts have a certain length. Often a considerable amount of foam remains throughout the length of the spout after dispensing and condenses in time. This condensate either drips out of the spout as a liquid or forms a residue which gradually plugs up the spout. Other problems which result from the upright operating and storage orientation include the inability to dispense a foam if the bottle is tilted such that the diptube is no longer submerged, and the difficulty in dispensing any foamable liquid located below the diptube as the bottle becomes empty.

Squeeze bottle foam dispenser with threshold pressure valve


A copper alloy comprising:. (A) 0.15-1.0 wt % Fe, PA0 (B) 0.05-0.3 wt % P, and PA0 (C). (1) 0.01-0.1 wt % Ni and 0.01-0.05 wt % Si or PA1 (2) 0.01-0.1 wt % Ni and 0.005-0.05 wt % b or PA1 (3) 0.05-0.3 wt % Mg and 0.05-0.3 wt % Pb or PA1 (4) 0.01-0.1 wt % Mn and 0.005-0.05 wt % Si,. with the balance being essentially composed of Cu.

Automobiles are generally classified as two types depending on whether the power transmission is manual or automatic. Soft copper wires are predominantly used as electrical conductors in an automotive wire harness Because automobiles with an automatic transmission system are gaining wider acceptance today, there has been a shift from use of a carburetor to an electronic fuel injection system and a corresponding increase in the number of electronic instruments and other devices aboard vehicles. As a result, the number of electric and electronic wiring circuits in an automobile has increased so markedly that an increase not only in the space of the automobile occupied by the wire harness but also in the vehicle harness weight has occurred. From the viewpoint of fuel economy, the vehicle weight is desirably as light as possible and the increase in the volume of the automotive wire harness is not consistent with this objective. Hence, a need has arisen to reduce the automotive harness weight and space for the principal purpose of reducing the vehicle weight.
Theoretically, a very thin wire such as a lead will suffice for use in small-current circuits such as those including micro-computers in an automotive harness. In practice, however, the vibrational impact that develops while the car is running is so great that in the absence of high mechanical strength, disconnection of the joints or wire breakage might occur to impede smooth running of the car. Therefore, in order to insure sufficient mechanical strength, it has been necessary to use conductors thicker than the diameter theoretically required in electrical terms.
To realize lighter electric wires, hard copper wires that are capable of insuring mechanical strength with small conductor diameter have been considered. However, the elongation of hard copper is so small that even if two terminals of hard copper wires are joined by thermocompression, the joint may be damaged under an externally exerted mechanical load. Thus, the area at which the terminals are thermocompressed becomes a mechanical weak point, which will readily break upon external impact and hence has low reliability.
The automotive harness weight could be reduced by employing smaller-diameter conductors but with conventional soft copper wires, the outside diameter of a conductor cannot be reduced without loss of mechanical strength. Under these circumstances, Cu-Sn alloys Cu-Fe-P alloys useful as lead materials, Cu-Fe-P-Ni-Sn alloys, etc. have been designed as copper alloys that have high strength, improved cyclic bending strength and good electric conductivity and which, as a result, insure the production of conductors having satisfactory mechanical strength even if their outside diameter is reduced.
As shown in JP-B-60-30043 (the term "JP-B" as used herein means an "examined Japanese patent publication"). Cu-Sn alloys have satisfactory elongation and cyclic bending strength. Although their tensile strength is improved by forming a solid solution of Sn, the improvement is still insufficient. Another disadvantage of Cu-Sn alloys is their low conductivity. Cu-Fe-P alloys are designed to provide improved conductivity and tensile strength by dispersing and/or precipitating an Fe-P compound therein. However, the elongation and cyclic bending strength of Cu-Fe-P alloys are too small to justify their use as conductor materials. Cu-Fe-P-Ni-Sn alloys are intended to provide improved tensile strength by dispersing and/or precipitating an Fe-P compound and by forming a solid solution of Sn. Although Cu-Fe-P-Ni-Sn alloys have excellent elongation and cyclic bending strength, they have the disadvantage that Sn is dissolved in such a great amount that a marked drop in electric conductivity occurs.


Target tracking methods and apparatuses, electronic devices, and storage media are provided. The method includes: obtaining features of a plurality of reference images of a target image; determining a plurality of initial predicted positions of a tracking target in the target image based on the features of the plurality of reference images; and determining a final position of the tracking target in the target image based on the plurality of initial predicted positions.

The target tracking issue generally refers to predicting, in condition that the position information of a target object in the first frame of a video sequence is given, subsequent positions of the object in the video. The target tracking technologies are widely used in application scenarios such as video surveillance, self-driving, and human-computer interaction. Since the detection technology and the segmentation technology of a single frame are relatively time-consuming, the target tracking technology is usually used together with the detection/segmentation technology to improve the information processing speed, thereby ensuring a better real-time performance.

BEIJING SENSETIME TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD.