The amplification of target overlay errors of interleaved arrays in semiconductor fabrication is achieved by calculating the synthesized beat signal on a set of targets that are imaged using conventional microscopy and measured using a geometrical image processing algorithm. The interleaved arrays have differing periodicities resulting in a phase shift. The difference in periodicity distinguishes the arrays and amplifies the sensitivity to the overlay error. The phase-shift ensures that the elements of the arrays are interleaved and not overlapped. The beat signal has a zero crossing location that is proportional to the overlay error between the interleaved arrays, with a proportionality constant much greater than one. The overlay error is amplified by this proportionality constant.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a structure and method for measuring misalignments or overlay error between patterns created on a wafer during the fabrication process of an integrated circuit chip, and more specifically to measuring and controlling single nanometer alignment and overlay error components.
2. Description of Related Art
As the total alignment and overlay budget in the fabrication of advanced semiconductor circuits approach the nanometer regime, there is a concomitant need to measure and control single nanometer alignment and overlay error components. Current alignment and overlay techniques have not been shown to be adequate for the state-of-the-art small scale designs.
During the integrated circuit fabrication process, a number of patterned layers are formed on each other, typically using a photolithographic technique. The placement accuracy of each successive layer must be assessed and its precision controlled, otherwise misalignments will induce errors in the final product. The ultimate placement precision, or cumulative difference between patterns from various mask levels, is commonly referred to as xe2x80x9coverlay error.xe2x80x9d
Prior art techniques used to measure the amount of misalignment include using alignment marks which are typically box-shaped or cross-shaped, and matching subsequent mask layer alignment marks with the alignment mark of the first layer, or using a moiŕe fringe technique where the alignment marks are large areas filled with a regular pattern of small lines or dots. Two major contributors to overlay misalignment are related to the failures of symmetry of the overlay measurement tool and of the mark.
Errors in overlay measurements include tool induced shift (TIS) errors attributed to the metrology tool being utilized. Errors of this kind can be traced to asymmetries of tool components, e.g., camera, illumination misalignment, residual asymmetric aberrations, and the like. Tool asymmetry leads to biased overlay estimates, even on symmetric overlay measurement marks.
Another major source of overlay errors is traceable to asymmetries in the mark structure itself. Asymmetry in the mark definition has been shown to result in overlay inaccuracies averaging in excess of 70 to 200 nm.
The instant invention overcomes the major problems associated with current overlay and alignment structures and metrology, including the following: 1) insensitivity to alignment and overlay errorxe2x80x94Current practice measures the relative position of isolated pattern edges where only unity amplification is possible; 2) inefficient use of spacexe2x80x94Isolated patterns used in current practice make very inefficient use of the available space, resulting in large targets and inadequate signal to noise; 3) susceptibility to noisexe2x80x94The isolated patterns of conventional targets result in signals that are not conducive to spatial filtering; and, 4) incompatibility with product designsxe2x80x94The pattern density and feature size incompatibility of conventional targets with the active chip area makes it susceptible to process anomalies that introduce measurement error (commonly referred to as wafer induced shift or WIS).
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,061,606, entitled xe2x80x9cGEOMETRIC PHASE ANALYSIS FOR MARK ALIGNMENT,xe2x80x9d issued to Ross on May 9, 2000, a method of measuring overlay error using pairs of arrays having identical periodicity is disclosed. The spatial offset between the arrays is determined by Fourier Transform techniques. In this method, the combination of alignment arrays is digitized and Fourier Transformations are performed on the digital array pattern. Subsequent mathematical shifting and averaging is then used as a means of measuring the overlay error in two dimensions. Importantly, a Fourier Transform of the stored image of a combined alignment array must be calculated. The Fourier Transform is manipulated mathematically in order to determine the overlay error. This is achieved because information about the overlay error is represented within the Fourier Transform. While the use of arrays enables the application of Fourier Transform techniques, the use of a single periodicity limits the ability to distinguish the arrays, forcing the use of a side-by-side mark design that is inherently asymmetric and susceptible to TIS error, and constrains the sensitivity to overlay error to unity amplification. By using arrays of differing periodicity, however, the instant invention enables a symmetric interleaved mark design that greatly amplifies sensitivity to overlay error. Furthermore, the measurement of this mark does not require the complexity of Fourier analysis.
The invention described below is significantly different from the Ross invention, the moiŕe technique, and other conventional techniques, in that it uses a unique alignment mark combined with mathematical analysis that are not necessarily based on Fourier Transform applications to amplify the overlay error measurement.
Bearing in mind the problems and deficiencies of the prior art, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method and structure for measuring the alignment error between a mask and wafer and the overlay error between a plurality of masks.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method and structure for measuring the overlay error using a more efficient and less complex image processing algorithm.
A further object of the invention is to provide a method and structure for measuring the relative position of interleaved arrays of differing periodicity and known geometric phase-shift, and amplifying the measured sensitivity.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method and structure for measuring the overlay error and simultaneously maximizing space utilization and signal-to-noise ratio.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method and structure for measuring the overlay error while enabling both analog and digital spatial filtering for noise suppression.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a method and structure for measuring the overlay error that enables target designs that closely mimic the density and feature size of the product.
Still other advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification.
The above and other objects and advantages, which will be apparent to one of skill in the art, are achieved in the present invention which is directed to, in a first aspect, a method for measuring and amplifying an overlay error between masked array patterns on a wafer during semiconductor fabrication, comprising: digitizing the array patterns to form a digitized image of the array patterns; interleaving the digitized image; determining a beat signal from the digitized image; calculating a zero-crossing of the beat signal; and, deriving overlay error using a proportionality constant of the zero-crossing calculation as an amplifying factor. The array patterns comprise different geometric periodicities and are phase shifted with respect to one another. The method further comprises calculating the proportionality constant as a function of the zero crossing of the beat signal and the geometric periodicities.
In a second aspect, the instant invention is directed to a method for measuring and amplifying overlay error between array patterns in a semiconductor wafer process, each of the array patterns having a pitch and a fundamental spatial frequency, the method comprising: applying the overlays as masks in subsequent layers in the process; forming a digital image of the array patterns, the digital image having intensity information in at least two-dimensions; integrating the intensity information; calculating a reference location of the integrated intensity information; obtaining the synthetic beat frequency zero-crossing from the reference location; and, calculating and analytically amplifying the overlay error using the zero-crossing. The array patterns are two dimensional, having different geometric periodicity, and are phase shifted with respect to one another, the geometric periodicity of each of the array patterns being inversely related to the fundamental spatial frequency. The digital image may be acquired by conventional microscopy and digitally captured by an electronic camera. The integrated intensity is determined separately in each axis orientation of the two-dimensional array pattern, and summed separately along each of the axis. The zero-crossing of the synthetic beat frequency is a function of the fundamental spatial frequencies of the arrays and the overlay error, such that the zero-crossing relates to an amplification of the overlay error. The method further comprises the amplification of the overlay error expressed as a fraction having a numerator and a denominator, the numerator represented by the spatial frequency of one of the arrays, and the denominator represented by a difference between the spatial frequencies of the arrays. Also, spatial filtering may be employed on the intensity information, such that fundamental frequencies and higher order harmonics of the intensity information may be calculated and eliminated.
In a third aspect, the instant invention is directed to an apparatus for measuring overlay error on a semiconductor wafer, comprising: a first alignment array having a first periodicity and a first spatial frequency, for masking on the semiconductor wafer; a second alignment array having a second periodicity and a second spatial frequency, for masking over the first alignment array on the semiconductor wafer; a conventional microscopy system adapted to optically image the first and second arrays; an electronic camera adapted to digitize the optical image; and, a microprocessor based system adapted to receive the digitized optical image and adapted to perform mathematical manipulations on the digitized optical image, the mathematical manipulations including calculating a synthetic beat frequency zero-crossing and a proportionality constant related to the overlay error.
In a fourth aspect, the instant invention is directed to a program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform the method steps for calculating and amplifying overlay error between aligned array patterns during semiconductor fabrication, the method steps comprising: digitizing the array patterns to form a digitized image of the array patterns; interleaving the digitized image; calculating a phase shift from the digitized image; determining a beat signal from the digitized image; calculating a zero-crossing of the beat signal; and, amplifying the overlay error using a proportionality constant of the zero-crossing calculation as an amplifying factor.
In a fifth aspect, the instant invention is directed to a program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform the method steps for calculating and amplifying overlay error between aligned array patterns during a semiconductor process, each of the array patterns having a pitch and a fundamental spatial frequency, the method steps comprising: applying the overlays as two dimensional array patterns in subsequent layers in the process; forming a digital image of the array patterns, the digital image having intensity information in at least two-dimensions; integrating the intensity information; calculating a reference location of the integrated intensity information; obtaining the synthetic beat frequency zero-crossing from the reference location; and, calculating and analytically amplifying the overlay error using the zero-crossing.
In a sixth aspect, the present invention is directed to a computer program product comprising: a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing calculation and amplification of overlay error between aligned array patterns during semiconductor fabrication, the computer readable program code means in the computer program product comprising: computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect digitizing the array patterns to form a digitized image of the array patterns; computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect interleaving the digitized image; computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect calculating a phase shift from the digitized image; computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect determining a beat signal from the digitized image; computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect calculating a zero-crossing of the beat signal; and, computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect amplifying the overlay error using a proportionality constant of the zero-crossing calculation as an amplifying factor.
In a seventh aspect, the present invention is directed to a computer program product comprising: a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing calculation and amplification of overlay error between aligned array patterns during a semiconductor process, each of the array patterns having a pitch and a fundamental spatial frequency, the computer readable program code means in the computer program product comprising: computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect applying the overlays as two dimensional array patterns in subsequent layers in the process; computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect forming a digital image of the array patterns, the digital image having intensity information in at least two-dimensions; computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect integrating the intensity information; computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect calculating a reference location of the integrated intensity information; computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect obtaining the synthetic beat frequency zero-crossing from the reference location; and, computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect calculating and analytically amplifying the overlay error using the zero-crossing.

Structure and method for amplifying target overlay errors using the synthesized beat signal between interleaved arrays of differing periodicity

Abstract: In an alternative embodiment, the geometrical image processing algorithm is first digitally filtered prior to obtaining the overlay error. This spatial filtering allows for noise suppression. A bandpass filter algorithm is employed to eliminate all frequencies other than the fundamental spatial frequencies of the arrays from the remainder of the overlay error calculation.

International Business Machines Corporation


A bottoming cycle power system includes an expander disposed on a crankshaft. The expander being operable to receive a flow of exhaust gas from a combustion process and to rotate the crankshaft as the exhaust gas passes through. An absorption chiller system has a generator section having a first heat exchanger to receive the flow of exhaust gas from the expander and to remove heat from the exhaust gas after the exhaust gas has passed through the expander. An evaporator section has a second heat exchanger to receive the flow of exhaust gas from the generator section and to remove heat from the exhaust gas after the exhaust gas has passed through the generator section. A compressor is disposed on the crankshaft and connected to the flow of exhaust gas. The compressor is operable to compress the exhaust gas after the exhaust gas has passed through the second heat exchanger.

One of the most challenging aspects of today's energy technologies is to effectively convert waste heat from a combustion process of an internal combustion engine into useable power. Such power can be in the form of electrical or mechanical power for use in stationary and/or mobile applications.
Methods of converting waste heat into useful forms of energy are commonly referred to as bottoming cycles. Systems that utilize a bottoming cycle to provide power are referred to herein as bottoming cycle power systems.
Systems that utilize a fuel combustion process in an internal combustion engine (such as a piston engine or a turbine engine) as the motive force to drive a crankshaft for providing power are referred to herein as primary power systems. In most primary power systems the efficiency of the system ranges from below 30% to a high of almost 50%. This means that the majority of energy contained in the fuel is lost in the form of heat to the atmosphere through either the cooling circuit or exhaust of the internal combustion engine.
However, the waste energy or exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine of a primary power system may be utilized as the energy input for a bottoming cycle power system. If enough useful work can be recovered from such a bottoming cycle power system, the bottoming cycle power system could then be used to supplement the output of the primary power system for a more efficient overall system output.
One type of bottoming cycle is known as an inverted Brayton cycle. The inverted Brayton cycle typically includes an expansion turbine that receives a flow of exhaust gas from a combustion process of an internal combustion engine. The exhaust gas carries a significant amount of energy. However the flow of exhaust gas is typically only at, or slightly above, atmospheric pressure. For example, the exhaust pressure may only a few pounds per square inch (psi) above atmospheric pressure. This makes recovering useful work difficult.
In the inverted Brayton cycle, the exhaust gas flows through an expansion turbine (or expander) where it typically exits the expander at below atmospheric pressures (or vacuum pressures). The vacuum pressures are caused by a compression turbine (or compressor), which is the final step in the inverted Brayton cycle. That is, the exhaust gas enters the compressor where it is pumped back to atmospheric pressure. The amount of energy recovered from an inverted Brayton cycle is the energy produced by the expander minus the energy consumed by the compressor. Therefore, the less work needed by the compressor to compress the expanded volume of exhaust gas the higher the net-work produced from the inverted Brayton cycle.
Various prior art cooling systems can be utilized to reduce the volume of exhaust gas prior to entering the compressor in an inverted Brayton cycle and therefore, reduce the amount of work required by the compressor to compress the exhaust gas. Problematically however, these cooling systems consume a significant amount of energy due to pumps and/or other energy consuming devices needed to circulate coolants through the cooling system.
Further, the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine contains a significant amount of water vapor as a naturally occurring by-product of the combustion process. Problematically, the water vapor has a relatively high specific volume and mass, which causes an unwanted burden on the compression work of the compressor in the inverted Brayton cycle.
Accordingly, there is a need for an inverted Brayton bottoming cycle wherein the volume of flow of exhaust gas is significantly and efficiently reduced after exiting the expander and prior to entering the compressor. More specifically, there is a need to reduce the work required of the compressor in an inverted Brayton bottoming cycle power system to increase the overall efficiency of that bottoming cycle power system. Further there is a need to efficiently decrease the volume and mass of water vapor in a flow of exhaust gas prior to entering the compressor of an inverted Brayton bottoming cycle power system.


Method and systems provide growth of polymer structures at a high rate in a selective manner. In various embodiments, the method or system can expose the growth site to a polymer source and growing a polymer tube at a rate of at least 80 micrometer per hour at the growth site. The method or system can provide selectivity by providing a growth site on a substrate by patterning a metal, such as copper, that provides a seed site for the polymer. Non-selected sites can be coated with a polymer growth inhibitor, such as polyimide or silicon nitride.

Growth of polymers for use in integrated circuit fabrication requires selective growth at a sufficient rate to be economically feasible for fabrication.
It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements illustrated in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Selective polymer growth on a semiconductor substrate


A remote terminal for a subscriber loop carrier network operates by flow from one to another of units in the terminal of time division multiplexer data streams of binary valued digital bits. Each stream has the format of periodic frames of time slots of which each frame consists of (a) a service time slot containing only service bits, and (b) a plurality of customer slots which contain mostly bits coded with data from customers of the network, but which also include a less number of service bits. Each unit includes encoding means responsive to local synchronizing and clock pulses derived from data incoming to the unit to encode on each frame of the outgoing data stream synchronizing information consisting of (c) a synchronizing pattern comprising a coded sequence of service bits localized in the frame's service slot and (d) a spoiler pattern formed of service bits distributed over customer slots in the frame. The spoiler pattern is interrelated with the synchronizing pattern so that no fortuitous bit sequence occurring in the stream and including any bit beating customer data can falsely duplicate the synchronizing pattern. Each unit also includes decoding means responsive to the presence of synchronizing patterns in an incoming data stream to produce signals for synchronizing the operation of that unit with the pre-established timing of the incoming stream. Such units may be circuit cards having mounted thereon encoding and decoding means in the form of semiconductive integrated circuits and including binary counters used to implement the encoding and decoding functions.

A synchronizing technique used with data streams with periodically recurring bits and equal length bytes is to provide a fixed start of frame pattern and insert into certain of these bytes as required additional "stuffing" bits to prevent the payload from reproducing the synchronizing pattern. Disadvantages in the employment of that technique is that it introduces into the stream inequality of byte length and lack of periodicity in the rate of frame recurrence so as to possibly cause difficulties and adverse consequences downstream.
Another synchronizing technique is to generate at each of successive positions in the stream, separated by time intervals, a single localized synchronizing pattern constituted of the binary values of bits reserved for the pattern, the same pattern being produced at all such positions, and such pattern being distinctive and uncommon in character in relation to other bit patterns normally occurring in the stream. The disadvantage of such latter technique is that it fails to be wholly deterministic in its identification of information in the stream as being synchronizing information. That is so because, no matter how distinctive such synchronization pattern is, there is always, from the statistical viewpoint a finite probability that a sequence of bits in the stream including other than such reserved bits will generate a binary valued pattern not the true synchronization pattern but exactly duplicating it so as to be indistinguishable from it.


A turn signal apparatus for returning a turn lever to its neutral position by the rotation of a steering shaft in a return direction as the turn lever is rotated at the time of making a change in the forward direction of a vehicle. A ratchet which is brought into a rotating path of a cancellation cam of the steering shaft by the manipulation of a turn lever is interposed between the turn lever and the steering shaft. The ratchet and a pair of arms are oppositely urged by an urging spring. The ratchet which is rotated by the cancellation cam at the time of rotation of the steering shaft in the returning direction imparts its rotating force to the turn lever via one of the arms urged by the urging spring. Since the arm boosts the rotating force of the ratchet in transmitting the rotating force to the turn lever, a steering shaft rotating force required for returning the turn lever is minimized.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a turn signal apparatus having a turn lever operable for indicating a change in direction of a forward moving vehicle and which is adapted to automatically return to its neutral position when a steering shaft is rotated in an opposite direction.
2. Background Information
Self-cancelling devices for turn signal switches are generally arranged such that a bracket formed in such a manner as to surround a steering shaft is swingably supported on a base. A turn lever is fixed to one side portion of the bracket, and a ratchet of a self-cancelling device is disposed on an opposing side thereof. When the bracket is displaced by a turn lever to the left-turn indicating position or right-turn indicating position, a ratchet pawl is positioned in a rotating path of a projectin of a cancellation cam. Then, when the cancellation cam is rotated in an opposite direction to the direction of the turn lever by the operation of the steering wheel in a returning direction, the cancellation cam presses the ratchet pawl, thereby allowing the bracket and, hence, the turn lever, to be returned to their neutral positions. In the above-described arrangement, however, since the bracket is formed in such a manner as to surround the steering shaft, there is a problem in that the apparatus becomes large in size.
A conventional apparatus disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 199146/1982 is known in which improvements were made on this aspect (see FIG. 6). A bracket 3 formed of a plastic is swingably supported about a shaft 2 so that the bracket 3 is located on one side of the steering shaft 1. The arrangement is such that the bracket 3 is rotated from the neutral position to the right-turn indicating position or the left-turn indicating position by means of a turn lever 4 secured to the side of the bracket 3 most distant from the side where the steering shaft 1 is located. In addition, an engaging member 5 having an end 5a oriented toward the steering shaft 1 side is movably provided on the bracket 3 at a position on the steering shaft 1 side. A pair of elastic deformable engaging arms 6 are integrally provided on the bracket 3. These engaging arms 6 are opposed to the other end 5b of the engaging member 5. The arrangement is such that when the bracket 3 is rotated from the neutral position to the right-turn indicating position or the left-turn indicating position, one end 5a of the engaging member 5 is located in the rotating path of the projection 1a of the steering shaft 1. When the steering shaft 1 is rotated in the same direction as the turning direction, the other end 5b of the engaging member 5 is swung between the engaging arms 6, 6. When the steering shaft 1 is rotated in the opposite direction to the turning direction, the projection 1a is brought into contact with one end 5a of the engaging member 5, thereby allowing the other end 5b to be engaged with either of the engaging arms 6. Hence, the bracket 3 is returned to its neutral position.
In the above-described arrangement, however, when the turn lever 4 is self-canceled, the other end 5b of the engaging member 5 is arranged to move the engaging arm 6 of the bracket 3. For this reason, a large load weighing, for example, 8 kg is required for rotating the engaging member 5, so that a large frictional force acts between the engaging member 5 on the one hand, and the projection 1a and the engaging arm 6 on the other, with the result that the engaging member 5 is liable to undergo abrasion and is therefore inferior in terms of durability. In addition, there has been another drawback in that a large manipulating force for returning the steering wheel is required.


A multiple-terminal communication equipment comprises a data communication unit, an information processing unit, and a data input/output unit, for realizing radio communication between at least two terminals. The multiple-terminal communication equipment transmits, before transmitting data from one terminal, a transmission disabling code for disabling data transmission of the other terminals, and after completely transmitting the data from the one terminal, a transmission enabling code for canceling the transmission disabled states of the other terminals. This arrangement is capable of smoothly and correctly communicating data between a plurality of terminal equipments.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multiple-terminal communication system, and more particularly, to a multiple-terminal communication system for realizing radio communication between a plurality of radio terminal equipment such as personal computers.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, two-way communication is frequently carried out between a plurality of terminal equipment such as personal computers. The two-way communication with personal computers can realize a teleconference. Under these circumstances, it is required to provide a multiple-terminal communication system that can smoothly and correctly communicate data between the personal computers (terminal equipment).
Further, data communication between terminal equipments such as personal computers is carried out through a wired network such as a LAN (Local Area Network), or a radio network. In any case, each terminal equipment unit must have transmission and reception frequencies, so that the number of frequency channels required for terminal communications will be at least twice the number of the terminal equipment. To form a teleconference system with terminal equipment such as personal computers, RS-232C interfaces are usually employed. Further, a module (a radio control module) may be attached to the RS-232C interface of a communication terminal equipment unit such as a personal computer, to provide the terminal equipment unit with a radio communication function.
Generally, a pair of such radio communication terminals carries out full-duplex communication with the use of two different frequencies because the RS-232C interface is constituted for one-to-one communication. In an exceptional case, however, a specific terminal may be used exclusively as a transmission terminal, and another or more terminals as reception-only terminals, to carry out one-way communication without interface control. This may be the case of a broadcasting station that transmits information to many domestic receivers. In this case, each receiver cannot transmit data because it will be uncontrollable if a plurality of receivers simultaneously transmit data.
As described above, the conventional wired technique such as the LAN for communicating data between terminal equipment requires enormous costs for laying circuits and cables for connecting the equipment. This is the reason why the wired technique is not widely used. Further, on the other hand, the conventional wireless technique for communicating data between terminal equipment requires, for example, radio frequency channels of more than twice the number of the terminal equipment units. In addition, the number of the terminal equipment is not easily expanded because frequencies handled by a repeater are limited. Since usable radio frequencies are limited, it is not economical to employ many frequencies for communications within one group.

Multi-terminal communication equipment for smoothly and correctly communicating data between a plurality of terminal equipments


The covering element has a visible face and an invisible face opposite the visible face. It includes a weakening line which is formed on the invisible face and defines a gate zone which is to open under the pressure of the deployment of the airbag when the motor vehicle is subjected to an impact. The weakening line includes a groove which has a given total length and is delimited by a bottom and at least one transverse rib which projects relative to the bottom and closes the groove at least partially. The covering element has a thickness of material between the visible face and the bottom which is between predetermined minimum and maximum limits over most of the total length of the groove. The groove includes at least one zone of lesser strength in which the thickness of material between the visible face and the bottom is less than the minimum limit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a covering element for the interior of a motor vehicle.
2. Description tf the Related Art
More precisely, the invention relates to a covering element for the interior of a motor vehicle of the type having a visible face and an invisible face opposite the visible face, the covering element comprising a weakening line which is formed on the invisible face and defines a gate zone which is to open under the pressure of the deployment of an airbag when the motor vehicle is subjected to an impact, the weakening line comprising a groove which has a given total length and is delimited by a bottom and at least one transverse rib projecting relative to the bottom and closing the groove at least partially, the covering element having a thickness of material between the visible face and the bottom which is between predetermined minimum and maximum limits over most of the total length of the groove.
Such a covering element is known from JP-2006-315115, which describes that the groove is divided into a plurality of segments of identical length by ribs which are disposed at regular intervals along said groove.
Such a covering element does not comply with the demand made by motor vehicle constructors that the weakening line must remain invisible to the passengers in the vehicle despite ageing of the covering element, due especially to exposure to the sun, and also despite the subsequent steps of production of the covering element, such as, for example, the fixing of the covering element to the structure of the motor vehicle and/or the assembly of additional elements to the covering element by vibration welding, especially the duct which connects the airbag module and the covering element.
Nor does the covering element of the Japanese document meet the demand that the gate zone must permit satisfactory deployment of the airbag at low temperatures, typically at −30° C.

Covering element for the interior of a motor vehicle


Text profiles can be leveraged to select and configure models according to some examples described herein. In one example, a system can analyze a reference textual dataset and a target textual dataset using text-mining techniques to generate a first text profile and a second text profile, respectively. The first text profile can contain first metrics characterizing the reference textual dataset and the second text profile can contain second metrics characterizing the target textual dataset. The system can determine a similarity value by comparing the first text profile to the second text profile. The system can also receive a user selection of a model that is to be applied to the target textual dataset. The system can then generate an insight relating to an anticipated accuracy of the model on the target textual dataset based on the similarity value. The system can output the insight to the user.

Textual datasets are commonly analyzed in a variety of industries. Textual datasets may include unstructured text, such as social media posts (e.g., tweets), product reviews, service reviews, books, e-mails, word processing documents, etc. Unstructured text refers to natural language text that includes written human language, such as the free-form text humans type on their keyboards or touch screens. Unstructured text is different from structured data, which is organized in a pre-defined format from which well-defined semantics can be inferred. Unstructured text is now one of the most common types of data generated by humans, and it is growing at an exponential rate.
To derive relevant information from the textual datasets, particularly those with unstructured text, natural language processing (NLP) techniques can be applied. Some NLP techniques may involve models, such as rule-driven models, machine-learning models, or hybrids of the two. The machine-learning models may be trained using training data that contains annotated (i.e., labeled) textual datasets, such as a labeled corpus of documents. During training, the machine-learning models learn patterns found in that training data. As a result, the trained models frequently cannot be reliably or robustly applied to other textual datasets that have significantly different textual characteristics than the training data, such as textual datasets involving different genres, domains, or languages from the ones in the training data. Likewise, rule-driven models are typically configured for use with textual datasets having certain textual characteristics, such as specific domains, genres, or languages. As a result, the rule-driven models often cannot be reliably or robustly applied to textual datasets with significantly different characteristics than the ones for which the rule-driven models are designed.

Leveraging text profiles to select and configure models for use with textual datasets


A permutation lock chamber has a chamber shaft extending therethrough which is held against rotation when the chamber is in a locked condition and which is rotatable when the chamber is in an unlocked condition. The chamber shaft is connected to the shaft of an outer door handle through a clutch. When the chamber is in its unlock condition and the outer door handle is rotated, the clutch engages and the chamber shaft rotates with the outer door handle shaft. When the chamber is in its locked condition and the outer door handle is rotated, the clutch slips to permit rotation of the outer door handle shaft without rotation of the chamber shaft.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to improvements in cylindrical lock arrangements. The invention also relates to improvements in permutation lock arrangements.
Some of the uses of such cylindrical lock arrangements provide privacy lock-out systems. With a cylindrical lock arrangement, this can be provided by a mechanism which is activated by a push-button on the inside door knob as will be further described below. The present application is partially directed at novel lock-out systems.
2. Description of Prior Art
With permutation lock arrangements, of the type as described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 3,040,536, Rosenhagen, June 26, 1962, the shaft of the outside door knob is connected to the shaft of the permutation lock chamber. The shaft of the chamber will rotate, thereby permitting rotation of the outside door knob, only when the correct combination of the permutation lock has been punched in. Often, when the incorrect combination is inserted, so that the knob will not rotate, the user will apply excess force to the outside door knob to force the chamber shaft to rotate. This can cause damage to the chamber. It would therefore be desirable to provide means for permitting the outside door knob to rotate, under such conditions, without transmitting the rotating force to the chamber shaft.
With permutation locks, it becomes necessary, from time to time, to change the combination. It would therefore be desirable to provide a cover which is easily removable by an adult, but which would present difficulty for a child to remove.

Cylindrical and permutation lock arrangements with clutch


A shift control device of an automatic transmission comprising detection means for detecting a shift from a non-drive to a drive position; output means for outputting a command to execute an engine output lowering; detection means for detecting a transmission input revolution number and control means for engaging the friction engagement element by direct pressure control in response to a detection of said transmission input revolution number having been decreased to a predetermined value.

Automatic transmissions mounted to vehicles are roughly divided into two types, geared and gearless. The geared automatic transmission is formed of a fluid coupling such as a torque converter and a gear transmission mechanism.
The geared automatic transmission is connected to an engine via the fluid coupling such as a torque converter. The geared automatic transmission is formed of a transmission mechanism (planetary gear deceleration mechanism) having a plurality of power transmission paths, and is configured to automatically switch the power transmission paths in accordance with accelerator opening and vehicle speed, for example, or to automatically switch the gear ratios (forward driving position). In the geared automatic transmission, clutch, brake and one-way clutch elements as friction elements are engaged or disengaged (released) as prescribed, to determine the gear levels.
A vehicle having such an automatic transmission is usually provided with a shift lever operated by a driver. Operating the shift lever can set a shift position (e.g., reverse drive position, neutral position, or forward drive position).
When the vehicle having the automatic transmission configured as described above is let out of a garage before driving or put into a garage after driving, a so-called garage shift is effected, from the parking (P) position to the reverse drive (R) position for moving backward, or from the neutral (N) position to the forward drive (D) position or the reverse drive (R) position to start driving.
The garage shift includes the case where the state of the automatic transmission is changed from a non-drive position (neutral (N) position) to a drive position (forward drive (D) position). Techniques to solve various problems arising in such a case have conventionally been disclosed.
For example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2-190660 discloses a shift control device for an automatic transmission that compensates for oil pressure necessary to surely fasten a friction engagement element at the time of stall start, while preventing an excessive shock at the time of racing select start, upon shift from the neutral (N) position to the forward drive (D) position with an engine rotating at high speed. The shift control device of the automatic transmission includes range transfer detecting means for detecting a select from a power cutoff range to a forward or reverse drive range, rotating speed detecting means for detecting the rotating speed of the engine at the power cutoff range, rotating state determining means for determining, when the range transfer detecting means detects a select signal from the power cutoff range to the forward or reverse drive range, whether the engine rotating speed detected by the rotating speed detecting means is a preset value or above indicating the racing select start, and liquid pressure lowering means for lowering the fastening pressure of the friction element than a value set in a normal control when the rotating state determining means determines that the engine rotating speed is the preset value or above.
With this control shift device of the automatic transmission, when the select to the drive range is detected by the range transfer detecting means, the fastening pressure is decreased by the liquid pressure lowering means only if the engine rotating speed at the power cutoff range detected by the rotating speed detecting means is a preset value or above. Thus, it is possible to mitigate the excessive fastening shock by lowering the fastening pressure at the time of racing select start when the engine rotating speed is increased in the power cutoff range for start. On the other hand, at the time of normal stall start when the engine rotating speed is increased after the range is switched to the running range, the engine rotating speed detected by the rotating speed detecting means is low, with which the liquid pressure lowering means is not operated. As such, the ordinary high fastening pressure is secured, thereby ensuring fastening of the friction engagement element.
With the shift control device of an automatic transmission disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2-190660, however, only the fastening pressure of the friction element is decreased from a value set in the normal control when the rotating state determining means determines that the engine rotating speed is a preset value or above. As such, the friction engagement element is engaged while the engine rotating speed is high, although the engagement pressure is lowered with the liquid pressure lowering means.
That is, the friction engagement member should be engaged while the input revolution number to the automatic transmission is high, which requires enhancement in strength, heat resistance and the like of the friction engagement element. As a result, the friction engagement element suffers the following problems:
1) cost increase (increase in number of the friction member sets, increase in thickness of the separator plates);
2) weight increase (increase in number of the friction member sets, change in quality of the friction members, increase in thickness of the separator plates); and
3) occurrence of shift shock (increase of torque gain with respect to oil pressure due to increase in number of the friction member sets, increase of peak torque due to increase of engagement oil pressure and reduction of gear change time).

Shift control device of automatic transmission


A new and distinct Stokesia plant named ‘Mega Mels’ which is characterized by the combination of a large plant size, globular habit, large light purple flowers with yellow centers, and the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation.

Parentage: 'Mega Mels' is a seedling selection resulting from the controlled pollination of the seed parent, Stokesia laevis 'Mels Blue' (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,090), with an unnamed Stokesia laevis plant (not patented), the pollen parent. The crossing was made by the inventor in April of 2014 at a commercial greenhouse in Rijsbergen, the Netherlands. In August of 2015, one seedling from said cross was observed which exhibited large, light purple flowers. The seedling was isolated for further evaluation in order to confirm the distinctness and stability of the characteristics first observed. Upon confirmation of distinctness and stability, 'Mega Mels' was selected for commercialization.
Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of 'Mega Mels', by way of softwood stem cuttings, was first performed in August of 2015 in Rijsbergen, the Netherlands. Through five subsequent generations, the unique features of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true to type.


A system for managing a fleet of vehicles having autonomous or semi-autonomous control based upon real-time data analysis of live driving conditions including traffic conditions, weather conditions, pollution conditions, vehicle operations, vehicle emissions, legal restrictions, and fleet conditions. Older vehicles may be retrofitted with partial or total compatibility with the system via an aftermarket dongle that connects to the vehicle through a diagnostic port.

Driver assisted vehicles may comprise autonomous or partially-autonomous functions to increase the safety and reliability of the vehicle's performance. Commercial vehicles may also benefit from autonomous or partially-autonomous functions for the same reasons, especially if the autonomous or partially-autonomous functions increased compliance with legal regulations. Vehicles having different functional purpose (e.g., passenger delivery, courier, etc.) may have different requirements or desirable functional behavior. Thus a system for controlling the autonomous or partially-autonomous functions of a commercial vehicle or fleet of vehicles in order to best comply with the desired functional behavior and legal regulations applicable to the vehicle or fleet is desired.

Vehicle fleet management having a hierarchy of priority factors


The present invention provides an EGFR kinase inhibitor and a preparation method and use thereof. Specifically, the present invention provides a compound as shown in formula (I), the definition of each group therein being as described in the description. Said compound is an efficient EGFR inhibitor.

EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor, referred to as EGFR, HER1 or ErbB-1) is a member of the epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) family, which play an important role in cell physiology. EGFR is a tyrosine kinase receptor, whose signal pathway plays an important regulatory role in cell proliferation, growth, differentiation, etc., and of which the abnormal expression or mutation usually leads to tumor.
Small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors prevent the interaction of ATP and receptor kinases, block the induction of intracellular kinase autophosphorylation led by ligand-receptor binding, and block the cross-phosphorylation triggered by dimerization of EGFR receptors, thereby block downstream signaling pathways, and is highly efficient and specific by the competitive binding of tyrosine kinase phosphorylation sites in the intracellular domain of EGFR.
The use of first-generation reversibly binding tyrosine kinase inhibitors, such as Gefitinib and Erlotinib, are susceptible to acquired resistance. Michael J. Eck et al. has found that this resistance is mainly due to the T790M mutation occurred in the gatekeeper residue of ErbB1, and this mutation produces resistance by enhancing the affinity of ATP and EGFR tyrosine kinases.
In 2009, Wenjun Zhou et al. discovered novel mutant selective small molecule inhibitors, such as WZ4002 and WZ8040:

Emily J. Hanan et al. obtained new kinase inhibitors through the cyclization strategy:

Kwangho Lee et al. also developed a series of EGFR kinase inhibitors (US2012157426) based on this and found that I-1 has very good inhibitory activity:

They further designed compound I-4 (KR20130133202, CN103269704):

Since EGFR inhibitors have important applications in the treatment of tumors, there is an urgent need in the art to develop drugs having tyrosine kinase inhibitory activity.

EGFR kinase inhibitor and preparation method and use thereof


A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Mona Lisa Sunny’, characterized by its decorative anemone-type inflorescences with elliptic-shaped, dark yellow-colored ray florets and enlarged disc florets; strong and upright flowering stems; freely flowering habit; early and uniform flowering response; and good postproduction longevity.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium, commercially grown as a cut flower and hereinafter referred to by the name 'Mona Lisa Sunny'.
The new Chrysanthemum is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of the Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar Mona Lisa Yellow, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,136. The new Chrysanthemum was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within a population of plants of the cultivar Mona Lisa Yellow on Oct. 4, 2005, in Hensbroek, The Netherlands. The selection of this plant was based on its attractive ray floret color and good inflorescence form.
Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in a greenhouse in Hensbroek, The Netherlands since Oct. 27, 2005, has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.


The present invention relates to a method for preparing graphene, and more particularly to a method of preparing graphene sheets, which can prepare graphene sheets from a turbostratic graphitic structure such as carbon fiber in higher yield without using a strong oxidizing agent, and to graphene sheets prepared thereby.

Graphene is a monolayer of carbon atoms densely packed in a benzene ring structure and forms blocks of various structures, such as carbon black, carbon fiber, carbon nanotubes and fullerene.
Such graphene is an intriguing 2D flat material consisting of monolayer carbon atoms, and the free and fixed individual graphene sheets possess distinct properties and have promising applications in nanoscale engineering and the fabrication of nanoscale systems.
Namely, the distinct properties of graphene make it very promising in various applications such as field-effect transistors, lithium-ion batteries, hydrogen storage, molecular sensors, actuators, and reinforcing fillers in high-performance polymer nanocomposites.
Since producing graphene by mechanical exfoliation (peeling off method) was first reported, a wide range of techniques for synthesizing graphene, which can be divided into top-down and bottom-up processes, have been developed.
In bottom-up methods such as thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD), graphene is synthesized by allowing graphene precursor particles to gradually grow in size, that is, graphene grows because of epitaxial growth on substrates or graphene platelets are grown by CVD. Theoretically, it is possible to control the size, shape, size distribution and agglomeration using the bottom-up processes, but it is actually very difficult to realize this control. Although CVD allows high-quality graphenes to be produced, it causes environmental concerns about the emission of PAH (polyaromatic hydrocarbons) (see the instructions of the California Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)).
The more common top-down process includes stripping individual graphene sheets off of graphitic structures such as expanded graphite and carbon nanotubes. Many techniques for obtaining monolayers have been developed, including physical methods of hand-stripping individual graphene layers using Scotch tape, electrochemical methods using an ionic liquid as a solvent, and the thermal and chemical exfoliation of expanded graphite oxide.
In such top-down processes, graphitic microstructures such as graphite, carbon fibers and carbon nanotubes are used as starting materials, individual graphene layers are extracted or peeled either by physical, electrochemical or chemical methods.
Particularly, exfoliation of individual graphene sheets from graphene oxide is the most common method, and many techniques capable of successfully obtaining monolayered graphenes have been reported, but such methods for producing graphene platelets from graphite are carried out using oxidizing agents such as sulfuric acid/potassium permanganate (KMnO4) and are followed by a reduction reaction with any one of hydrazine and alkali or solvent etching.
Very excellent methods for the production of graphene that have most recently become known are based on the longitudinal unzipping of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) by physical or chemical methods. These novel techniques are attractive because of their convenience and can provide graphene sheets having a previously defined shape, but have a problem in that a number of nanoholes can occur in graphene layers due to excessive, localized oxidation.
Most chemical methods known to date extensively rely on the usage of strong oxidizing agents such as sulfuric acid/potassium permanganate (KMnO4), carboxylic acid or formic acid and on the excessive use of environmentally harmful organic solvents to create additional exfoliation.
In addition, the above-described techniques based on longitudinal unzipping are based on the extraction of graphene from carbon structures, in which the graphene layers are arranged in a perfect AB stacking structure. However, there are many carbon structures in which the packing of graphene layers is not perfect AB stacking. Rather, the structures are fundamentally composed of graphene crystallites which are slightly randomly arranged with respect to their common vertical axis without an almost perfect orientation. Biscoe and Warren proposed the term "turbostratic structure". Carbon black, carbon fibers and vapor growth carbon nanofibers (VGCNFs) all have the turbostratic structure. In graphitic structures having this turbostratic structure, the graphite crystallite layers are randomly rotated with respect to each other, even though they still have c-direction orientation.
Accordingly, there has also been a need for a method of preparing graphene sheets from graphene layers constituting a turbostratic graphitic structure.

Method for preparing graphene sheets from turbostratic graphitic structure and graphene sheets prepared thereby

Industry Foundation of Chonnam National University


Disclosed is a process for producing sulfonyl amide salts useful as imidizing agents in the preparation of sulfonyl imides.

The present invention is directed to a high yield process for producing dimetal sulfonyl amide salts which are highly useful as imidizing agents in the preparation of sulfonyl imides, which are in turn useful as strong acid catalysts, as electrolyte salts in electrochemical cells, and as monomers suitable for incorporation into ionomers. The products disclosed are useful in electrochemical applications such as batteries, fuel cells, electrolysis cells, ion exchange membranes, sensors and electrochemical capacitors.
Methods for imidizing chemical compositions containing sulfonyl fluorides particularly fluorinated sulfonyl fluorides are known in the art. For example, DesMarteau, U.S. Pat. No. 5,463,005, discloses substituted perfluoro-olefins of the formula
where Xxe2x95x90CH or N, Zxe2x95x90H, K, Na, or Group I or II metal, R=one or more fluorocarbon groups including fluorocarbon ethers and/or sulfonyl groups and/or perfluoro non-oxy acid groups, Y=perfluoroalkyl or F, and m=0 or 1.
Xue, Ph.D. thesis, Clemson University, 1996, discloses the formation of the monomer
CF2xe2x95x90CFxe2x80x94OCF2CF2SO2N(Na)SO2CF3
by reaction of CF2xe2x95x90CFxe2x80x94OCF2CF2SO2Cl with CF3SO2NHNa in the presence of Na2CO3 in acetonitrile
Further disclosed by Xue, op.cit,, is CF3SO2NNa2 made by reacting a mixture of CF3SO2NHNa and NaH in THF for four hours at room temperature. Xue""s CF3SO2NNa2 composition is reacted with a cyclic sulfone of the formula
to produce the vinyl ether monomer, CF2xe2x95x90CFxe2x80x94OCF2CF2SO2N(Na)SO2CF3 at a yield of 4%, the remainder of the product being two saturated species, both present in larger quantities.
Behrend and Haas, J. Fluorine Chem. 4 (1974) 99-106, disclose the synthesis of CF3SO2NAg2 made from CF3SO2NAg2.NH3 at 200xc2x0 C. CF3SO2NAg2.NH3 is formed from CF3SO2NH2 and AgNO3 in aqueous solution while adding an aqueous solution of ammonia dropwise.
Meuxcex2doerffer et al, Chemiker Zeitung, 96. Jahrgang (1972) No. 10, 582-583 disclose a method for synthesizing RSO2NH2 where R is perfluoroalkyl.
The present invention is a composition comprising sulfonyl amide salts, of which at least 50 mol-% of said salts are dimetal sulfonyl amide salts represented by the formula
(RSO2NMb)3-bMxe2x80x2c xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(I)
wherein R is aryl, fluoro-aryl, or XCF2xe2x80x94 where X is H, halogen, fluorinated or non-fluorinated linear or cyclic alkyl radicals having 1-10 carbon, optionally substituted by one or more ether oxygens, Mxe2x80x2 is an alkaline earth metal, b=1 or 2, c=0 or 1, M is alkaline earth or alkali metal when b is 1 or 2 respectively and c=0, and M is alkali metal when b=1 and c=1, with the proviso that c≢1 when b=2.
The present invention further provides for a process for forming a dimetal sulfonyl amide salt comprising:
contacting in an atmosphere having a water vapor concentration of less than 50 parts per million,
at least one alkali or alkaline earth hydride,
a sulfonyl amide or monometal sulfonyl amide salt thereof having the formula
(RSO2NH)3-aMxe2x80x3xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(II)
wherein a=1 or 2, Mxe2x80x3 is alkaline earth metal when a=1, Mxe2x80x3 is alkali metal or hydrogen when a=2, and R is aryl, fluoro-aryl, or XCF2xe2x80x94 where X is H, halogen, or a fluorinated or non-fluorinated linear or cyclic alkyl radical having 1-10 carbons, optionally substituted by one or more ether oxygens;
and,
at least one aprotic liquid substantially free of water, thereby forming a reaction mixture; and,
reacting said reaction mixture forming a precipitate of (RSO2NMb)3-bMxe2x80x2c;
and separating said precipitate from said liquid.
As used herein, the term xe2x80x9creactingxe2x80x9d is intended to mean allowing at least two components in a reaction mixture to react to form at least one product. xe2x80x9cReactingxe2x80x9d may optionally include stirring and/or heating or cooling.

Method for preparing dimetal sulfonyl amide salts


An electro-optical subassembly generally includes a base supporting at least one lead and a lens unit having a lens. The lead supports an electro-optical component. The lens unit is through transmission laser welded to the base such that the lens is aligned with the electro-optical component.

Electro-Optical (EO) components, like single mode transmitter/receiver optical sub-assemblies used in transmitters and receivers in fiber communication, are usually packaged utilizing transistor outline construction (sometimes referred to as a "TO can"). The EO components inside a TO can are wire-bonded to a number of leads that protrude through the package and allow signals to be routed to the EO components. These leads are bent and soldered onto a PCB board that contains the electronic components and circuitry to drive the EO components.
A TO can has several disadvantages. The packaging process requires significant human labor with multiple alignment processes. Current methods are very much cottage industry like—often described a being akin to building a ship in a bottle. A large fraction of the cost of single mode transmitter/receiver optical subassemblies is associated with the packaging process.
The leads on known TO can structures are typically a few millimeters in length and can cause a degradation of the frequency response of the subassembly. The leads also have to be bent and soldered onto the PCB board. This process is difficult to automate and is typically performed by hand. Yet another disadvantage is the mechanical tolerances stack up, e.g. the tolerance for the lens placement is affected by die placement. This requires that each component be positioned using a dedicated three—alignment system: one for die placement; one for lens placement; and one for the receptacle.
The present inventors have recognized a need for an electro-optical subassembly wherein the packaging process can be automated while avoiding at least some of the disadvantages of known TO cans.

Electro-optical subassemblies and method for assembly thereof

Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.


A method for controlling processing of overlay requests is disclosed. The method comprises the step of disabling an overlay request to a memory. The overlay request to system memory has expedited processing priority over requests to a system memory by other devices. The overlay request is disabled for a predetermined time period and enabled after the predetermined time period has elapsed.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention is in the field of memory access; more specifically, the present invention is related to a method and apparatus for an overlay counter for an accelerated graphics port.
(2) Related Art
A typical graphics device in a computer system has expedited priority in accessing a system memory over other system devices. In currently available systems, lower priority devices must wait their turn to access the system memory. Because a graphics device is assigned expedited priority, a graphics device may indirectly cause other devices vying for access to the system memory to fail by depriving them of access time. However, in order to output graphics information to a user in a timely fashion, it is imperative for the graphics device to maintain its expedited priority status.
It is therefore desirable to provide a method and an apparatus to allow system memory access requests by other devices to be honored without jeopardizing expedited priority status of a graphics device.

Overlay counter for accelerated graphics port


In an amplitude conversion circuit that converts an input signal having a small amplitude into an output signal having a large amplitude, the input signal is supplied to a gate of a transistor that discharges an output terminal through a capacitance element. A charging/discharging circuit causes a gate voltage of the transistor to be substantially equal to a threshold voltage during an inactive period of the input signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an amplitude conversion circuit for converting an amplitude of a signal, and more particularly, to an amplitude conversion circuit including transistors that have the same conductivity type.
2. Description of the Background Art
There is widely known an amplitude conversion circuit (level converting circuit) for converting a voltage level and an amplitude of a signal. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-12356 discloses the level converting circuit including transistors that have the same conductivity type. The transistors of a single conductivity type are used in this manner, which leads to a simplification of the manufacturing process as well as a cost reduction.
For example, in the level converting circuit of FIG. 1 of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-12356, an input signal IN is supplied to a gate of an input transistor 6 through capacitive coupling of a capacitance element Cc. A source of the input transistor 6 is fixed at a constant power supply potential −VL, and thus a gate-source voltage of the input transistor 6 changes with the amplitude equal to that of the input signal IN. Further, in the level converting circuit, a resistance element 7 is connected between the gate and the source of the input transistor 6, whereby the gate-source voltage becomes zero when the input signal IN is at the inactive level in a steady state. Accordingly, in the level converting circuit, the amplitude of the input signal IN needs to be equal to or larger than a threshold voltage of the input transistor 6 in order that the input transistor 6 turns on/off in accordance with a level of the input signal IN.
Nowadays, display devices have come into use, which have a configuration in which pixels composed of display elements such as liquid crystal elements and organic electroluminescence (EL) elements and drive circuits thereof are formed on the same insulating substrate, to thereby achieve a cost reduction of a display device. In the formation of the transistors used in the above-mentioned pixels and drive circuits, a manufacturing process for, for example, low temperature poly-silicon or amorphous silicon is used. A threshold voltage of a transistor formed through the above-mentioned manufacturing process is approximately 3 V to 5 V, including variations. On the other hand, a control signal input to the display device is generated by a semiconductor integrated circuit, and a level thereof is typically from 3 V to 3.3 V.
When the threshold voltage of the transistor used in the display device is equal to an amplitude of the control signal as described above, it is difficult to cause the drive circuit to operate in response to a control signal thereof. Therefore, an amplitude conversion circuit composed of a semiconductor integrated circuit is provided in a conventional display device, which amplifies control signals. This enables normal operation of the drive circuit, but a cost increase of a display device is caused due to the addition of an amplitude conversion circuit composed of a semiconductor integrated circuit.
In the case of the amplitude conversion circuit configured with only transistors of a single conductivity type, such as the level converting circuit of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-12356, costs may be reduced because the amplitude conversion circuit can be formed on the same insulating substrate as the pixels and drive circuits. However, an input signal having a threshold voltage of its input transistor or higher voltage is required, which makes it difficult to use the amplification conversion circuit for amplifying control signals generated by the semiconductor integrated circuit.


The registration of an individual for a service while providing protection against unintentional duplication of registration for the same organization. Upon receiving a request to register for a service from an individual over a network, it is automatically estimated as to whether the individual requesting registration belongs to the same organization as a prior registrant for the service. If so, the service notifies the individual requesting registration that they might belong to the same organization as a prior registrant. In one embodiment, it is then left to the individual as to whether they want to continue registering for the service.

A wide variety of services are offered over the Internet. In order to obtain such services, it is often required to register or otherwise sign up for the service. The service consumer may be an individual, or an individual may register for the service on behalf of an organization that is to consume the service. Sometimes, an organization may be large enough that multiple individuals may register for the service on behalf of different parts of the organization. Occasionally, multiple individuals from an organization may inadvertently register for a service on behalf of an organization, where multiple registrations were not helpful. In that case, one of the registrations might be later revoked. This causes work for the individual making the registration, and also causes some administrative burden on the service provider. It may also involve synchronization between the registrations such that data associated with the service being offered through one registration is made compatible with data associated with the service being offered through the other registration.

Common organization estimation at registration


[Problem]

A need exists from an environmental preservation viewpoint for further reduction in the amount of NOx in exhaust gas of gas turbines. One known combustion method of the gas turbine combustor is premixed combustion that premixes fuel with air before combustion. This can achieve a considerable reduction in the amount of NOx emissions compared with diffusion combustion in which fuel is directly injected into a combustion chamber for combustion. The premixed combustion, however, involves a higher likelihood of a backfire in which flames enter an unburned side of a fuel supply portion as a flame temperature increases. Thus, a need exists for a combustor that can reduce the amount of NOx emissions and offer backfire resistance.
A known combustor has a configuration that includes a plurality of fuel nozzles that jet fuel and an air hole plate having through holes formed therein to be associated with respective fuel nozzles. The combustor is a multi-hole coaxial jet type that achieves both backfire resistance and low NOx by forming a fuel jet spurted from the fuel nozzle and an air jet spurted from the air hole into a coaxial jet to thereby uniformly mix fuel with air for combustion.
As known art, a technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known. Patent Document 1 discloses a "gas turbine combustor including a fuel nozzle and a fuel nozzle header that form a coaxial jet of fuel and air, in which an air layer is provided between the fuel nozzle and the fuel nozzle header to insulate the fuel nozzle from the fuel nozzle header; the gas turbine combustor thereby reduces thermal stress produced on the thermal nozzle header and improves a service life of the thermal nozzle header.

Fuel nozzle of gas turbine combustor and manufacturing method thereof, and gas turbine combustor

Abstract: [Problem]

Abstract: To provide a fuel nozzle for a gas turbine combustor, offering favorable durability and strength reliability.

Abstract: [Solving Means]

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a fuel nozzle for a gas turbine combustor, the method comprising: (a) fitting a fuel nozzle having an internal through hole into a through hole or a recess provided in a base plate; (b) bonding, by a fusion joint or a brazing joint, the fuel nozzle to the base plate in an interface therebetween on a surface of the base plate; and (c) following the step of (b), subjecting the fuel nozzle and the base plate to a pressure bonding process to thereby pressure bond the fuel nozzle and the base plate in the interface therebetween.


A multifaceted capillary that can be used in a wire-bonding machine to create a multi-segment wire-bond is disclosed. The multifaceted capillary is shaped to apply added pressure and thickness to an outer segment of the multi-segment wire-bond that is closest to the wire loop. The added pressure eliminates a gap under a heel portion of the multi-segment wire-bond and the added thickness increases a mechanical strength of the heel portion. As a result, a pull test of the multi-segment wire-bond may be higher than a single-segment wire-bond and the multi-segment wire-bond may resist cracking, lifting, or breaking.

Semiconductor manufacturing (e.g., packaging) can require the bonding of wires (i.e., wire-bonding) to a bond pad of a semiconductor die and/or to a lead post of a semiconductor package (i.e., lead frame). A wire-bond can include a heel portion that transition between a bonded portion and a wire portion that may be weaker than the other portions. As a result, cracks can form in the heel portion of the wire-bond. Heel cracks are undesirable because they negatively affect electrical performance and/or operation of the semiconductor device.

SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC


A protective control system includes an IED (Intelligent Electric Device) and a merging unit. The merging unit receives a current/voltage waveform signal of a power system, and outputs a digitally converted analog data to a process bus via a communication line as a serial signal. The IED is configured to be capable of transmitting a trip instruction to the merging unit using both the process bus and a station bus. The trip instruction is for outputting the trip signal. Preferably, each of the merging unit and the IED includes a switching circuit that makes switching to the station bus when an error is detected in the process bus communication. In the event of the process bus error, communication made by the process bus is switched to communication made by the station bus. Accordingly, reliability of the process bus can be improved.

Conventionally, a protective relay device has been used to collect information such as current or voltage from a power system and detect and cut off failure from the power system in the event of failure in the power system or power facility.
For example, a conventional digital type protective relay device detects occurrence of system fault by performing A/D (Analog to Digital) conversion onto input current signal or voltage signal (analog signal) and using resulting digital waveform data to perform necessary calculation such as protective relay calculation.
Meanwhile, due to progress in information and communication technology in recent years, networks for facilities associated with the power system have been established. For such an exemplary network, a distributed type protective control system has been in practical use. In the distributed type protective control system, functions of the conventional protective relay device are distributed and one or more merging units are typically provided to collect information such as current or voltage from the power system.
A merging unit generates a digital signal through A/D conversion of an input current signal or voltage signal (analog signal), converts the generated digital signal into serial data, and outputs it via a communication line. Based on the serial data, determination as to occurrence of system fault or the like is performed by an intelligent electric device (hereinafter, also referred to as IED), which is a calculation device connected thereto through the communication line.
A protocol of telecommunications standard for serial data transmitted to an IED by a merging unit is defined in IEC61850-9-2. Also, it is defined that a signal employing an operation signal of an IED for control of another device is transmitted in the form of a message type GOOSE (Generic Object Oriented System Event) signal, which is a general object oriented system event.
In other words, it is premised to use the GOOSE signal as a control signal for controlling opening and closing of a circuit breaker provided in a substation in accordance with the output signal of the IED. In order to control devices such as the circuit breaker, the following methods are employed: a method in which a current/voltage signal is received from a merging unit, calculation for protection and control is performed by an IED, and a device is directly controlled by a contact point signal from the IED in accordance with the result thereof; and a method in which the signal is transmitted to the merging unit in the form of GOOSE signal and the device is controlled from the merging unit.
The former is a method that is based on the method of the conventional system. The latter is a method employed to reduce cost of wiring a cable to couple the control signal from the IED to the device by controlling it from the merging unit provided near the device.
A prior art employing the latter method to improve reliability in transmission circuit is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2002-315233 (Patent Document 1). This prior art is directed to a system capable of protective interruption even in the event of fault in a process bus or the like by providing two redundant integrated units or merging units, referred to as sensor units, together with transmission paths.

Process bus associated protective control system, merging unit, and calculation device


System, methods and apparatus are provided for securing one or more transducers to a patient. According to one illustrative embodiment, a transducer holder is provided that includes a base, one or more fasteners for securing one or more transducers, respectively, at least one strap attached to the base for securing the base to the patient, wherein at least two of the fasteners have a different color from one another.

Hemodynamic monitoring allows the clinician to have access to information that is not available from a standard assessment of the cardiovascular system. Parameters such as cardiac output (CO) and intracardiac pressures can be directly measured and monitored through an indwelling catheter connected to pressure monitoring equipment. Intracardiac pressures include, among others, pulmonary artery (PA) pressure, radial artery (RA) pressure, and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP).
Hemodynamic monitoring systems include one or more indwelling catheters, each connected to a pressure transducer, a flush system, and a bedside monitor. For example, the PA catheter is a multilumen catheter inserted into the pulmonary artery. The arterial catheter, or "A-line," has only one lumen which is used to directly measure arterial blood pressure. Transducers are used to sense vascular pressure in the catheters. A pressure transducer is a small electronic sensor which converts a mechanical pressure (i.e., vascular pressure) into an electrical signal which is displayed on the pressure amplifier or bedside monitor as a continuous waveform with corresponding numerical displays of measurement.
The transducer is typically housed in a plastic connector that also includes a port for connection to an IV solution which is placed in a pressure bag. This allows a slow, continuous infusion of fluid through the vascular catheter. For the transducer to work accurately, the transducer generally must be leveled to the catheter tip. Leveling is the process of aligning the tip of the vascular catheter horizontal to a zero reference position using a stopcock in the pressure tubing close to the transducer. The leveling location is the phlebostatic axis which is located horizontal to the 4th intercostal space at the midaxillary line. This coincides most accurately with the atria of the heart.
There are two basic methods for leveling. When the transducer and stopcocks are mounted on a pole close to the bed, the pole height is adjusted to have the stopcock opening level with the catheter tip. To ensure horizontal positioning, a carpenter's level is typically used. The transducer is then "zeroed" to compensate for any distortion by using the stopcock to expose the transducer to air and setting a zero button on the bedside monitor. Each time the bed height or patient position is altered, this leveling procedure is repeated.
Another method for leveling places the transducer and stopcock at the desired location on the chest wall or arm. Ordinary medical tape is used to strap the transducer to the appropriate location on the body to help eliminate the need for repeating the leveling procedure when bed heights are changed. Medical tape, however, can be uncomfortable for the patient, awkward for the caregiver to use, difficult to remove and reapply, can tend to become undone, and increases the likelihood that the caregiver will inaccurately locate the transducer, leading to inaccurate pressure readings.


The present invention discloses a dual-lens hybrid diffractive/refractive imaging system comprising: a first lens including a concave surface and a convex surface; and the second lens including a convex surface and a concave surface. The concave surface of the first lens is an objective surface facing the object. The convex surface faces the convex surface of the second lens, while the concave surface of the second lens faces the charge-coupled device (CCD) through a filter. Any surface of the first lens and the second lens is spheric or aspheric. Moreover, the imaging system comprises at least one diffractive surface, referred to as a hybrid diffractive/refractive surface, formed on any surface of the two lenses. Therefore, aberration is eliminated and image quality is improved without increasing the number of lenses.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a dual-lens hybrid diffractive/refractive imaging system and, more particularly, to an imaging system composed of a first lens and a second lens, in which an objective surface of the first lens is concave and any surface of the first lens and the second lens is spheric or aspheric. Moreover, the imaging system comprises at least one diffractive surface, referred to as a hybrid diffractive/refractive surface, formed on any surface of the two lenses. Therefore, aberration is eliminated and image quality is improved without increasing the number of lenses.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A conventional imaging system generally includes a plurality of refractive elements so as to achieve better image quality. For example, Taiwan Patent Publication No. 442685 entitled xe2x80x9cImaging lens systemxe2x80x9d discloses a imaging system comprising five lens elements, and Taiwan Patent Publication No. 432241 entitled xe2x80x9cHybrid lens systemxe2x80x9d discloses a imaging system comprising three lens elements. As a result, both the volume and the weight increase, which goes against the tendency towards size minimization of any consumer electronic product. However, with the rapid development in optics, there have been provided various diffractive elements, whereby multi-focusing, ring-shaped focusing and wavelength dividing can be achieved. Thus, by combining a diffractive element and a refractive element, better image quality is obtained without increasing the number of lenses.
Please refer to FIG. 1, which is a schematic diagram showing a prior art xe2x80x9cLENSES FOR ELECTRONIC IMAGING SYSTEMSxe2x80x9d disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,097,551. The imaging system comprises a first lens 1 including a convex surface 11 and a concave surface 12, and a second lens 2 including a convex surface 21 and a concave surface 22. The convex surface 11 is an objective surface. The convex surface 21 facing the first lens 1 is a hybrid diffractive/refractive surface, while the concave surface 22 faces a charge-coupled device (CCD) 6. Even though better image quality can be obtained by using the convex surface 21 without increasing the number of lenses, the curvature of the first lens is large enough to make fabrication difficult. In addition, the convex surface 11 is an objective surface such that the field of view is limited, resulting in large size, large thickness, heavy weight and high cost of the first lens 1.
In view of the aforementioned issue, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a dual-lens hybrid diffractive/refractive imaging system, characterized in that a diffractive element is profiled on a surface of a refractive lens such that aberration is eliminated and image quality is improved without increasing the number of lenses.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a dual-lens hybrid diffractive/refractive imaging system, in which a first lens has a small curvature that makes fabrication simple.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a dual-lens hybrid diffractive/refractive imaging system, in which an objective surface of the imaging system is concave, resulting in a large field of view.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a dual-lens hybrid diffractive/refractive imaging system, in which the parameters used in the imaging system are easily obtained according to practical cases.

Dual-lens hybrid diffractive/refractive imaging system

Industrial Technologies Research Institute


This invention is based, at least in part, on the finding that certain microRNAs (miRNAs) are expressed at higher or lower levels in circulating exosonies or peripheral blood of subjects with hematological malignancies compared to the level of expression in subjects who do not have the hematological malignancy. In addition, this invention is based, at least in part, on the finding that certain miRNAs are differentially expressed at different stages of a hematological malignancy permitting identification of the stage of the hematological malignancy in a subject. The differential expression of miRNAs at different stages of a hematological malignancy also permits determination of the effectiveness of treatments administered to a subject at the particular stage of the hematological malignancy.

Hematological malignancies are types of cancers that affect the blood, the bone marrow, and the lymph nodes. They derive from either of the two major blood cell lineages namely, the myeloid and lymphoid lineages. The myeloid lineage normally produces granulocytes, erythrocytes, thrombocytes, macrophages and mast cells; whereas, the lymphoid lineage produces B, T, Natural Killer (NK), and plasma cells. Acute and chronic myelogenous leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes and myeloproliferative diseases are examples of hematological malignancies of myeloid origin, while lymphomas, lymphocytic leukemias, and myeloma are examples of hematological malignancies of the lymphoid lineage.
Multiple myeloma is a form of cancer that affects a type of white blood cell called the plasma cell. Multiple myeloma appears in the bone marrow, which is the soft tissue inside the bones that makes stem cells. In multiple myeloma, plasma cells, which mature from stem cells and typically produce antibodies to fight germs and other harmful substances, become abnormal. These abnormal cells are called myeloma cells. In 2009, an estimated 20,580 cases of multiple myeloma were diagnosed in the United States. As the most common type of plasma cell cancer, effective treatment requires an accurate diagnosis and precise treatment.
Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) is a rare, slow-growing, non-Hodgkin lymphoma (i.e., a cancer that begins in the cells of the immune system). WM is also called lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma. Lymphoplasmacytic cells are cells that are in the process of maturing from B cells to plasma cells. In WM, abnormal lymphoplasmacytic cells multiply out of control, producing large amounts of a protein called monoclonal immunoglobulin M (IgM or "macroglobulin") antibody. High levels of IgM in the blood cause hyperviscosity (thickness or gumminess), which leads to many of the symptoms of WM. WM is a rare cancer; about 1,500 new cases occur annually in the United States.
B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL), also known as chronic lymphoid leukemia (CLL), is the most common type of leukemia. It is a blood and bone marrow disease that usually gets worse slowly. It often occurs during or after middle age; it rarely occurs in children.
Small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma characterized by an excess of white blood cells in the lymph nodes. SLL accounts for about 4-5% of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. In SLL the patients are elderly (median age 60 years) and usually present with diffuse lymphadenopathy and some degree of marrow and peripheral blood involvement. Men and women appear to develop the disease equally.
While there are existing methods to diagnose, predict, and treat hematological malignancies, improved methods are urgently needed.

Compositions and methods for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of hematological malignancies


A car stereo has a detachable grille attached to a body of the car stereo. The grille has a power input terminal connected to a power supply terminal of the body, a data input terminal connected to a data output terminal of the body, a display, and a microcomputer for operating the display to display data in accordance with data signal applied from the body through the data terminals. Disconnection of the data input terminal from the data output terminal under the condition of the connection between the power input terminal and the power output terminal is detected. At the disconnection, the microcomputer stops the operation of the display.

The present invention relates to a car stereo provided with a detachable grille, and more particularly to a system for preventing the erroneous operation of a display when detaching the grille.
Increase in the use of sophisticated car stereo in recent years has caused an increase in the amount of theft of these stereos. In order to prevent the theft of the stereo, there has been many proposals. In accordance with one of the proposals, a detachable grille having a plurality of push buttons for control of the stereo is attached to the body of the stereo.
FIG. 1 shows the above described prior art. The car stereo comprises a car stereo body 10 and a detachable grille 20 attached to the body 10. The body 10 has recessed panel 11 mounted at the front thereof. The panel 11 has a cassette opening 14. A detector switch 15 is provided on an upper left hand side of the grille 20 to mechanically detect the attachment of the grille 20 on the body 10. A connector 12 which is connected to a connector 21 (FIG. 2) provided at the back of the grille 20 when the grille is attached, are formed on the panel 11. The grille 20 has a cassette opening 24 which coincides with the cassette opening 14 of the body 10 and various operation keys 22. A display 23 is disposed at a central portion of the grille 20 so as to indicate information such as current time and the received frequency of the stereo.
Referring to FIGS. 2 the connector 12 of the body 10 has a 5 V supply terminal 12a, data input/output terminal 12b, 8 V supply terminal 12c, and ground terminal 12d. The terminals 12a and 12c are connected to a 5 V supply circuit 17 and an 8 V supply circuit 18, respectively, through a protection circuit 16. The data input/output terminal 12b is connected to a microcomputer 19. The microcomputer 19 is connected to the detector switch 15 so as to operate the protection circuit 16 in accordance with the operating state of the switch 15. More particularly, when the grille 20 is detached, the switch 15 is opened, so that the protection circuit 16 stops the supply of voltage from the 5 V supply circuit 17 and 8 V supply circuit 18 to the terminals 12a and 12c. Thus, the car stereo circuitry provided in the body 10 is protected from damage which is caused by either the short-circuiting of the exposed terminals 12a to 12 d or by static applied to the terminals.
The connector 21 of the grille 20 has terminals which correspond to the terminals 12a to 12d of the connector 12. Namely, there is provided a 5 V input terminal 21a, data input/output terminal 21b, 8 V input terminal 21c, and ground terminal 21d. The terminal 21a is connected to a microcomputer 25 so as to supply a 5 V voltage thereto. The microcomputer 25 receives data from the microcomputer 19 through the data input/output terminals 12b and 21b dependent on the operation of the operation keys 22 on the grille 20, such as the time and the frequency of the radio. The microcomputer 25 applies a control signal to a display driver 26 to indicate the received data on the display 23. The 8 V input terminal 21c is connected to a lamp 27 for lighting the display 23.
When the grille 20 is attached to the body 10, the terminals 21a to 21d of the connector 21 are connected to the respective terminals 12a to 12d of the connector 12. At the same time, the detector switch 15 is closed, so that the microcomputer 19 operates to release the operation of the protection circuit 16. Accordingly, the 5 V supply circuit 17 and the 8 V supply circuit 18 are connected to the microcomputer 25 and the lamp 27, respectively, thereby operating them. The microcomputer 25 is applied with various data from the microcomputer 19 through the terminals 12b and 21b, so that, the microcomputer 25 operates to drive the display 23, thereby indicating information on the display 23.
On the contrary, when the grille 20 is detached, the detector switch 15 is opened. As a result, the microcomputer 19 renders the protection circuit 16 operative, so that the supply of the voltage to the terminals 12a and 12c is stopped. The microcomputer 19 also stops feeding the data to the microcomputer 25. Thus the display 23 of the grille 20 does not show information.
In such a device, it may occur that the contacts of the terminals 21a to 21d with the terminals 12a to 12d chatter when the grille is detached. If the detector switch 15 is opened before the contact chattering, or the power input terminal 21a is removed from the terminal 12a before the chattering of the contacts between terminals 21b and 12b, there is no trouble, because of the reset of the microcomputer 19 or 25 due to the stop of the power supply. However, if the contact of the terminal 21b with the terminal 12b chatters under the connection between the terminals 12a and 21a, random signals are supplied to the microcomputer 25, which may cause an erroneous display or flickering of the display 23.

System for controlling a display provided on a car stereo