In an element formation region, a surface of an Nxe2x88x92 epitaxial layer is inclined upward from an end of a field oxide film to a sidewall of an opening. An external base diffusion layer at the surface of the Nxe2x88x92 epitaxial layer is inclined upward from a side of the field oxide film to the sidewall of the opening, and is exposed at the sidewall of the opening. A portion of the sidewall of the opening exposing the external base diffusion layer is tapered. The depth of a lower end of the external base diffusion layer or the sidewall of the opening is substantially equal to or smaller than that of a bottom of the opening. A decrease in breakdown voltage between an emitter and a base is suppressed, and decrease and variation of current gain hFE is suppressed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and, more specifically, to a semiconductor device including a bipolar transistor.
2. Description of the Background Art
A method of manufacturing a conventional semiconductor device including a bipolar transistor will now be described. First, as shown in FIG. 15, an Nxe2x88x92 epitaxial layer 102 is formed on a semiconductor substrate 101. A field oxide film 103 is formed on Nxe2x88x92 epitaxial layer 102.
A polysilicon film (not shown) is formed on semiconductor substrate 101 by CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) covering an element formation region of semiconductor substrate 101 separated by field oxide film 103.
Thereafter, a prescribed impurity to form an external base diffusion layer is implanted into the polysilicon film as shown in FIG. 16. An external base leading electrode 104 is formed by prescribed etching of the polysilicon film.
As shown in FIG. 17, a silicon oxide film 105 is formed on semiconductor substrate 101 by CVD covering external base leading electrode 104. Then, as shown in FIG. 18, a resist pattern 106 is formed on silicon oxide film 105.
An opening 125 to be a base region is formed by anisotropic etching of silicon oxide film 105 and external base leading electrode 104 using resist pattern 106 as a mask. During this step, a surface portion of Nxe2x88x92 epitaxial layer 102 is etched to some extent.
As shown in FIG. 19, by an oxidation, impurity implanted into external base leading electrode 104 is diffused from a surface of Nxe2x88x92 epitaxial layer 102 to the inside, and an external base diffusion layer 108 is formed. In this step, a relatively thin silicon oxide film 107 is formed on a region such as an exposed surface region of Nxe2x88x92 epitaxial layer 102.
Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 20, a prescribed impurity to form an intrinsic base diffusion layer is implanted into Nxe2x88x92 epitaxial layer 102 as an intrinsic base implantation. Then, a silicon oxide film (not shown) is formed on silicon oxide film 105 with the CVD method. By performing anisotropic etching of the silicon oxide film and exposing the surface of Nxe2x88x92 epitaxial layer 102, a sidewall oxide film 109 is formed as shown in FIG. 21.
As shown in FIG. 22, a polysilicon film 110 (or an amorphous silicon film) is formed on silicon oxide film 105 with the CVD method. Then, a prescribed impurity to form an emitter diffusion layer is implanted into polysilicon film 110 as an emitter implantation.
As shown in FIG. 23, an emitter leading electrode 110a is formed by a prescribed patterning of polysilicon film 110. An interlayer silicon oxide film 111 is formed with the CVD method so as to cover emitter leading electrode 110a.
Thereafter, the impurity implanted as the intrinsic base implantation is diffused by a heat treatment to form an intrinsic base diffusion layer 112. The impurity implanted as the emitter implantation is diffused to form an emitter diffusion layer 113.
As shown in FIG. 24, prescribed contact holes 111a-111c are respectively formed by prescribed etching of interlayer silicon oxide film 111. Then, an aluminum film (not shown) is formed with sputtering, for example, to fill contact holes 111a-111c.
As shown in FIG. 25, a collector electrode 116, a base electrode 114 and an emitter electrode 115 are respectively formed by a prescribed patterning of the aluminum film. As a result, a semiconductor device including a bipolar transistor T is formed.
The conventional semiconductor device has, however, problems as follows. Intrinsic base diffusion layer 112 is formed in the step shown in FIG. 23 by a heat treatment of the prescribed impurity which was implanted into Nxe2x88x92 epitaxial layer 102 in the step shown in FIG. 20.
To ensure an electrical connection between intrinsic base diffusion layer 112 formed as such and external base diffusion layer 108, it is necessary to diffuse the impurity for external base diffusion layer 108 to a deeper region of semiconductor substrate 101, and to make the etched amount (removed amount) of the surface portion of Nxe2x88x92 epitaxial layer 102 as small as possible when opening 125 for the base region is formed.
In the step shown in FIG. 19, on the other hand, when the impurity for external base diffusion layer 108 is to be diffused to a deeper region of Nxe2x88x92 epitaxial layer 102 by a heat treatment while making small the removed amount of the surface portion of Nxe2x88x92 epitaxial layer 102 located on the bottom of opening 125, the impurity will also be diffused to a lateral (horizontal) direction.
That is, the impurity will be diffused toward a portion of Nxe2x88x92 epitaxial layer 102 located near a center of the bottom of opening 125, as well as toward a portion of Nxe2x88x92 epitaxial layer 102 located directly below field oxide film 103.
Particularly, when the impurity is diffused toward the portion of Nxe2x88x92 epitaxial layer 102 located near the center of the bottom of opening 125, a distance L between external base diffusion layer 108 and emitter diffusion layer 113 becomes smaller as shown, for example, in FIG. 23. As a result, breakdown voltage between the emitter and base decreases.
In addition, an injection efficiency of the emitter decreases in a portion around emitter diffusion layer 113, and a current gain hFE decreases when the distance L becomes smaller.
Furthermore, an impurity concentration in intrinsic base diffusion layer 112 around emitter diffusion layer 113 is affected by the distance L between external base diffusion layer 108 and emitter diffusion layer 113 depending on the size of the bipolar transistor. Consequently, an injection efficiency of electrons and the current gain hFE vary around emitter diffusion layer 113.
The present invention is made to solve the above-described problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a semiconductor device which suppresses decrease in breakdown voltage between an emitter and a base and suppresses decrease and variation of current gain hFE.
A semiconductor device according to the present invention includes an element formation region formed on a main surface of a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type, an insulator film, an opening, a first conductive material portion, a first impurity region of a first conductivity type, a second conductive material portion, a second impurity region of a second conductivity type, and a third impurity region of a second conductivity type. The element formation region formed on the main surface of the semiconductor substrate is separated by an element isolation insulator film. The insulator film is formed on the semiconductor substrate so as to cover the element formation region. The opening is formed in the insulator film and the element formation region, and has a sidewall and a bottom exposing a region of the semiconductor substrate located approximately on the center portion of the element formation region. The first conductive material portion is formed between the semiconductor substrate and the insulator film, and extends from a side of the element isolation insulator film to the opening and is exposed at the sidewall of the opening. The first impurity region of the first conductivity type is formed on a surface portion of the semiconductor substrate exposed at the bottom of the opening. The second conductive material portion is electrically connected to the first impurity region. The second impurity region of the second conductivity type is formed on the semiconductor substrate so as to enclose the first impurity region from side and bottom, and to include the surface portion of the semiconductor substrate exposed at the bottom of the opening. The third impurity region of the second conductivity type is formed on a surface portion of the semiconductor substrate within the element formation region, extends from a side of the element isolation insulator film to the opening and is exposed at the sidewall of the opening, and is electrically connected with the second impurity region. The surface portion of the semiconductor substrate within the element formation region is inclined substantially upward from the side of the element isolation insulator film to the sidewall of the opening.
In a bipolar transistor having the first impurity region as an emitter, the second and third impurity regions as a base, and the semiconductor substrate of the first conductivity type as a collector according to this structure, because the surface portion of the semiconductor substrate is inclined substantially upward from the side of the element isolation insulator film to the sidewall of the opening, a sufficient distance between the portion of the third impurity region located on the side of the sidewall of the opening and the first impurity region located on the bottom of the opening is ensured, as compared with a conventional semiconductor device without such inclination when the third impurity region is formed by diffusing the impurity of the second conductivity type implanted into the first conductive material portion to the portion of the semiconductor substrate within the element formation region. As a result, sufficient breakdown voltage of the first impurity region (emitter) and the third impurity region (base) can be ensured. In addition, when the second impurity region is formed by diffusing the impurity of the second conductivity type, which impurity is introduced to the surface portion of the semiconductor substrate exposed at the bottom of the opening, toward the third impurity region formed by diffusing the impurity of the second conductivity type, because the surface portion of the semiconductor substrate wherein the third impurity region is formed is inclined substantially upward from the side of the element isolation insulator film to the sidewall of the opening, it is ensured that the impurity diffusing laterally to form the second impurity region reaches the third impurity region, and the second and third impurity regions are electrically connected easily to each other.
In addition, it is preferable that the portion of the sidewall of the opening exposing the third impurity region is tapered to be wider upward.
With this, because the length along the sidewall from the surface (upper surface) position of the semiconductor substrate to the bottom of the opening in the portion of the semiconductor substrate exposed at the sidewall of the opening becomes longer than that in the opening without tapered sidewall, the impurity introduced from the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate to form the third impurity region is less diffused to the portion of the semiconductor substrate located on the bottom of the opening. As a result, the decrease in the breakdown voltage between the first and third impurity regions can certainly be prevented. At the same time, because the impurity concentration of the second impurity region (intrinsic base diffusion layer) located around the first impurity region is not affected by the distance between the third impurity region (external base diffusion layer) and the first impurity region depending on the size of the bipolar transistor, variation in the injection efficiency of electrons in the portion around the first impurity region decreases, and variation in current gain hFE can be suppressed.
Furthermore, as the first and third impurity regions get close to each other if the impurity region to form the third impurity region is diffused to the region of the semiconductor substrate located on the bottom of the opening, it is preferable that a depth of a lower end of the third impurity region on the sidewall of the opening is substantially equal to or smaller than that of the bottom of the opening, to substantially prevent the first and third impurity regions from getting close to each other.
With this, the variation in the injection efficiency of electrons in the portion around the first impurity region can surely be reduced, and the variation in current gain hFE can certainly be suppressed.

Bipolar transistor with inclined epitaxial layer


An instantaneous phase error detector (IPED) and method includes a first gate configured to logically OR output phase error signals as data to a first latch, and a second gate configured to logically combine the output phase error signals to clock the first latch. A delay element delays to the data to the first latch where the output of the first latch provides instantaneous phase error change information. A second latch is coupled to the output phase error signals to output a lead/lag signal to indicate which of the output phase error signals is leading. A phase-locked loop employing the output of the IPED is also disclosed along with static phase measurement and jitter optimization features.

1. Technical Field
The present invention generally relates to performance enhancement in phase-locked loop (PLL) circuits, and more particularly to automatic static phase error and jitter compensation in PLL circuits.
2. Description of the Related Art
As integrated circuit technology advances, it becomes more and more difficult to predict and to control, within tight tolerances, the behavior of integrated circuit elements. These integrated circuit elements may include transistors as well as passive elements such as resistors and capacitors. In addition, non-idealities in the performance of key circuit elements such as current mirrors also tend become more and more pronounced with each ensuing technology generation.
As the variability in individual devices grows and as device performance departs further and further from the ideal, it becomes increasingly important to identify efficient ways to compensate for process, voltage, temperature, and aging effects in integrated circuits.
One broad approach to addressing these problems is to convert aspects of circuits that are implemented in an open loop, and correct them by designs with blocks implemented using closed loop feedback techniques. Such a transition needs a sensor that can measure performance of the circuit block against a specification, an actuator that can effect a change in the performance of the circuit block, and a control loop that ensures that the actuator is controlled in such a way that circuit block performance is brought closer to the target when the loop is active.
The problems associated with advancing integrated circuit technology strongly affect analog circuits, and particularly phase-locked loop (PLL) circuits. One key metric of PLL performance is static phase error. The static phase error is a long-term value of a time difference between an arrival time of an input reference clock and a PLL feedback clock at the input of the PLL's phase and frequency detector block. While it is typically desirable to minimize this quantity, there may also be cases in which it is desirable to drive this quantity to a known, pre-set value.
Another key metric of PLL performance is its output jitter. Again, while it is typically desirable to minimize this quantity, there may also be cases in which it is desirable to drive characteristics of this quantity to a known value, as in multi-PLL systems where the matching of jitter characteristics is important.
Static phase error minimization described in the art has typically relied upon open-loop techniques that improve the underlying baseline performance of PLL sub-circuits. Such approaches do not treat static phase error directly as a quantity to be measured and then compensated. Furthermore, these techniques do not allow for the achievement of a target non-minimum static phase error. Similarly, approaches to jitter minimization have focused on open-loop techniques that improve the underlying baseline jitter behavior of the overall PLL, Such approaches do not enable optimization of the PLL as a function of the noise content of the input reference signal, for example.

Automatic static phase error and jitter compensation in PLL circuits

International Business Machines Corporation


A backlight driving circuit is controlled by a timing controller and executes on/off control of the backlights. The timing controller detects, using a synchronous signal, a change in a blank period which is of one frame period for display of one screen, during which the image signal is not transmitted. Upon detecting the change in the blank period, the timing controller adjusts the on-periods of the backlights in order to make the brightness of the backlights equal to one another. Consequently, the backlights have an equal brightness with one another in spite of the change in the blank period. This makes the lives of the backlights equal to one another. In a case where the plural backlights constitute a backlight unit, a reduction in life of the backlight unit is prevented. Further, it is also possible to prevent the brightness of the backlights from being differentiated even through a long-term use.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device having backlights.
2. Description of the Related Art
Liquid crystal display devices are in wide use for display devices of notebook personal computers and desktop personal computers since their power consumption is small and they require only small installation space. In recent years, liquid crystal display devices for television have been developed and are increasing their share of the market. Further, personal computers usable for viewing television broadcasting are being developed.
When they are used for television, improvement in display quality of moving images is especially demanded. As a method for improving display quality of moving images, a driving method of increasing response speed of liquid crystal, a method of on/off driving of backlights, and so on have been proposed. Devising on/off driving of backlights reduces blur of moving images occurring by so-called hold driving (disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. 2002-6815).
FIG. 1 shows a display system constituted of a typical liquid crystal display device having backlights and a control device for controlling the display of an image on the liquid crystal display device. The liquid crystal display device has a timing controller, a liquid crystal panel, and a backlight unit. The backlight unit is constituted of a plurality of backlights BL1 to BL4 and is disposed on a rear face of the liquid crystal panel. The timing controller receives a clock signal, a control signal, an image signal, and so on from the external control device and outputs a driving signal for display of an image on the liquid crystal panel, an image signal, and backlight control signals BLCON1 to BLCON4 for turning on and off the backlights BL1 to BL4 in sequence.
When the display system is a personal computer system, the control device is constituted of a control board mounted in a personal computer. This kind of control device has a function of converting image sources (video, DVD, television signals and so on) to signals with various resolutions and frequencies. The control device temporarily stores the image signal in a not-shown line memory or frame memory, so that it is capable of freely setting the output timing of the image signal and the control signal.
FIG. 2 shows one example of on/off control of the backlights in FIG. 1. In this example, the number of horizontal lines of the liquid crystal panel is 768. Therefore, each of the backlights BL1, BL2, BL3, BL4 is disposed for every 192 horizontal lines of the liquid crystal panel. One frame period for displaying one screen is constituted of a period for transmission of the image signal and a blank period BLANK that is a period up to the head of a subsequent frame from the transmission of the image signal. The control device selects not-shown 192 scanning lines in sequence to write the image signal to liquid crystal cells of each horizontal line. Further, the control device lights the backlights BL1, BL2, BL3, BL4 in sequence in synchronization with the write of the image signal to the scanning lines 1 to 192, 193 to 384, 385 to 576, 577 to 768. In this example, the backlight BL1 (or BL2, BL3, BL4) illuminates for a predetermined period immediately before an image signal of a subsequent frame is written to the corresponding scanning lines 1 to 192 (or 193 to 384, 385 to 576, 577 to 768).
The timing controller starts turning on the backlights BL1 to BL4 in synchronization with the driving of predetermined horizontal lines (L1 to L4) so that lighting periods ON of the backlights BL1 to BL4 are equal to one another. Specifically, the timing controller asserts the backlight control signal BLCON1 low in synchronization with the driving of the horizontal line L1. Similarly, the timing controller asserts the backlight control signals BLCON2 to BLCON4 low in synchronization with the driving of the horizontal lines L1, L2, L3, respectively. The backlights BL1 to BL4 illuminate during low level periods of the backlight control signals BLCON1 to BLCON4 respectively.
The backlights BL1 to BL4 are turned off immediately before a subsequent frame image is displayed as described above. Specifically, the timing controller negates the backlight control signals BLCON1 to BLCON4 high in order to turn off the backlights BL1 to BL4 when the driven horizontal lines are 1, 193, 385, 577, respectively. Thus, the turning-on timing and turning-off timing of each of the backlights BL1 to BL4 are determined by the horizontal line numbers set in advance.
When the display system is a personal computer system, the output timings of the image signal and the control signal are generally changeable by the design of a personal computer manufacturer, users options, and so on. For example, when the output repetition rate of the image signal is to be made higher, the blank period BLANK becomes longer even with the same one frame period.
FIG. 3 shows another example of the on/off control of the backlights in FIG. 1. One frame period is the same as that in FIG. 2, but due to the higher output repetition rate of the image signal, the blank period BLANK is longer than that in FIG. 2. Transition edges of the backlight control signals BLCON1 to BLCON4 are generated in synchronization with the driving timings of the horizontal lines set in advance. Consequently, lighting periods ON of the backlight control signals BLCON1, BLCON2 whose lighting periods ON overlap the blank period BLANK is longer. On the other hand, the lighting periods ON of the backlight control signals BLCON3, BLCON4 whose lighting periods ON do not overlap the blank period BLANK become shorter. As a result, an upper half of the liquid crystal panel facing the backlights BL1, BL2 has higher brightness and a lower half of the liquid crystal panel facing the backlights BL3, BL4 has lower brightness.
Further, the life of the backlights BL1 to BL4 depends on how long they illuminate. Therefore, the life of the backlights BL1, BL2 having longer lighting periods ON is shorter compared with the life of the backlights BL3, BL4 having shorter lighting periods ON. The backlights BL1 to BL4 are not replaceable individually since they are integrally structured as the backlight unit. Therefore, if any one of the backlights BL1 to BL4 is of no use, the entire backlight unit needs to be replaced. This means that the life of the backlight unit depends on the backlight having a longer lighting period ON, and the longer the period, the shorter the life. Further, brightness of the backlights BL1 to BL4 while they are on slightly lowers depending on the length of the lighting period ON thereof. Therefore, if the backlights BL1 to BL4 have different lighting periods ON, brightness of the backlights BL1 to BL4 while they are on will be differentiated through the long-term use.
FIG. 4 shows change in brightness of the backlights BL1 to BL4. The backlight BL (one of BL1 to BL4) turns on in synchronization with a falling edge of the backlight control signal BLCON (one of BLCON1 to BLCON4). At this time, there is a transition period TP1 before the brightness increases to its maximum value. Similarly, there is a transition period TP2 that is from a rising edge of the backlight control signal BLCON to an instant when the backlight BL turns off completely and brightness turns to zero.
The transition periods TP1, TP2 are characteristics peculiar to the backlight BL and they are constant irrespective of a refresh rate signifying one frame period and. Therefore, when the refresh rate is higher, a ratio of a stable period SP to a low level period (ON period in the drawing) of the backlight control signal BLCON is relatively low. In other words, even when the sum of the low level periods of the backlight control signal BLCON in a predetermined period is independent from the refresh rate and is constant, the brightness of the backlight BL (an integral value of the waveform in the drawing) is lower as the refresh rate is higher. As a result, for example, if a user of a personal computer manually sets a higher refresh rate, a screen of the liquid crystal display device becomes darker.
Further, a liquid crystal display device adopting a technique of on/off driving the backlights BL has a problem that the on/off period appears as flicker. The flicker is not conspicuous when an image in various colors displayed. But when an image with small motion is displayed (such as a case where a single color images over a plurality of frames is displayed on a part of a screen, the flicker is conspicuous.


Techniques are described that enable local caching of content data within metro transport networks for delivery to subscribers of ISPs that are connected to metro transport networks. Routers within the metro transport network, including an access router, ISP-facing provider edge routers and one or more caching routers, establish an EVPN within the metro transport network. The access router outputs, within the EVPN and to the caching routers, EVPN route advertisements that advertise network address reachability information of the subscriber devices on behalf of the ISPs. Responsive to subscriber content requests that have been redirected from the ISPs and based on the EVPN route advertisements from the access routers, the caching routers of the metro transport network forward, by the EVPN, content from the local content cache to the access routers for efficient delivery to the one or more of the subscribers.

Many metropolitan regions have installed metropolitan (metro) transport networks to provide high-bandwidth connectivity between local subscribers and their ISPs, onwards to a larger packet-based service network, such as the Internet. Each subscriber typically contracts with any of a number of Internet service provider (ISP) networks connected to the metro transport network, and each ISP network provides an anchor for communication sessions for the subscribers and manages network services for the subscribers such as authentication, accounting and billing. In this way, the metro transport network typically operates as an access network that provides high-speed layer two (L2) transport, such as Ethernet connectivity, between subscribers and their Internet service provider networks.
The subscribers may utilize a wide variety of devices to connect to the ISP networks to access resources and services provided by the Internet. For example, subscribers typically utilize desktop computers, laptop computers, mobile smart phones and feature phones, tablet computers, Smart TVs and the like. The metro transport network typically provides layer two (L2) switching mechanisms for transporting packet-based data between the subscribers and their respective ISPs such that IP (layer three—L3) communication sessions can be established for the subscribers at the ISPs for communicating with resources beyond the ISP, such as content data networks or the Internet.

Content caching in metro access networks


The present invention relates to a peptide for anti-angiogenesis and use thereof, in particular, to a peptide useful for treating angiogenesis diseases; a polynucleotide coding the peptide; a vector and a cell comprising the polynucleotide; a pharmaceutical composition comprising the peptide, the fused peptide or the fused protein, the polynucleotide, the vector and/or the cell. The peptide, the fused peptide or the fused protein, the polynucleotide, the vector, the cell and/or the pharmaceutical composition can be used for treatment of associated diseases such as tumor by anti-angiogenesis.

Tumor is one of the tough diseases threatening human health, and presently there are numerous methods for treating tumor. Anti-angiogenesis therapy developed on basis of the relationship between angiogenesis, and tumor growth and metastasis is a promising process, representing a new hope for tumor treatment. As early as 1970s, Folkman proposed that angiogenesis is the biological basis and an important scenario of malignant transformation, growth and metastasis of tumor and that angiogenesis inhibitors could become a new and valuable means to treat tumor. Malignant tumors without angiogenesis tend to be in a semi-dormant state, and are restricted to primary site, grow slowly and thus are unlikely to be too large. Tumors of a size over 2 mm3˜3 mm3 require new blood vessels not only to maintain nutrition supply and excrete metabolites but also to provide favorable channels for their metastasis. With the proliferation of tumor cells, the enlargement of volume of tumor mass, and the change of the microcirculation of tumor mass, tumor cells and host cells are stimulated to produce pro-angiogenesis factors, the production of angiogenesis inhibitor is down-regulated, the balance therebetween in local tissue of tumor is broken, and angiogenesis is initiated, which represents the precondition of rapid proliferation of tumor. Once the new blood vessels formed, the tumor will grow logarithmically, and at the same time massive tumor cells transfer distally by means of the vessels, which have especially adverse effects on the condition and prognosis of patients. It was proved that the 5 years survival rate can be increased notably by using medicament to depress development of tumor and new blood vessels at the edges of tumor.
Based on many years of research on angiogenesis, O'Reilly and Folkman et. al. considered that there must exist pro-angiogenesis factors and angiogenesis inhibitors simultaneously in serums of tumor patients or of animals bearing tumor. These endogenous pro-angiogenesis factors and angiogenesis inhibitors act directly on the vascular endothelial cell in manners such as autocrine, paracrine or the like, influencing their proliferation, migration and formation of tubular structure, and the balance therebetween determines directly the initiation of tumor blood vessels and their developmental orientation, thus being the most important factor regulating tumor blood vessels. Among these, as a part of human endogenous proteins, endogenous inhibitors against tumor angiogenesis play a key role in controlling tumor growth and metastasis, thus represent a good perspective for cancer-resistance. Compared to other anti-tumor medicaments, the endogenous inhibitors against tumor angiogenesis possess many advantages as a medicament: (1) a treatment with the endogenous inhibitors against tumor angiogenesis has good specificity since the angiogenesis has already been initiated when the treatment is performed; (2) have a broad applications because the growth and the metastasis of all kinds of solid tumors depend on the angiogenesis; (3) the medicament can exert directly its effects since vascular endothelial cells expose to blood stream, which allows small dosage and high curative efficacy; (4) gene expressions are relatively stable in the endothelial cells, and it is unlikely to cause a resistance; (5) there is neither resistance caused by repeated administration and nor severe toxic side effect by the cytotoxic medicament. For example, endogenous anti-angiogenesis substances (endostatin) have made a success on the market in China. Many endogenous anti-angiogenesis formulations such as angiostatin and the like have also been in their clinical trials at various stages. Thus it can be seen that they represent a good perspective as candidate for medicament for treating tumors.
However, a long-term administration of the aforementioned endogenous anti-angiogenesis proteins will cause a resistance reaction due to its large molecular weight, low activity, inconvenience of synthesis, and weak immunogenicity for a formulation obtained via purification. In recent years, there is a tremendous development of the researches on endogenous anti-tumor peptide medicaments and derivative peptide medicaments thereof. The endogenous anti-tumor peptide medicaments and derivative peptide medicaments thereof have remarkable advantages over conventional anti-tumor medicaments: as messenger molecules they specifically kill or inhibit tumor cells in different scenarios of the growth and development of tumor cells. Furthermore, the peptides are easy to be synthesized due to their small molecular weight and simple structure, and have established and specific function with high activity, low toxic side effect and no immunogenicity, and thus are safe to be used as a medicament. In recent years, therefore, increasing attentions are drawn to the researches and developments of anti-tumor medicaments with the endogenous peptides and derivative peptides medicaments thereof as subjects.
Thus it can be seen that the endogenous anti-tumor angiogenesis inhibitor peptides have a great potential to be used as a candidate medicament for treating tumor as well as preventing postoperative tumor recurrence and metastasis.

Peptide for anti-angiogenesis and use thereof


An electrical energy storage system includes a battery configured to store electrical energy and discharge the stored electrical energy to an external system, a switch electrically connected to the battery and operable to connect the battery to the external system and disconnect the battery from the external system, a sensor configured to measure an open circuit voltage of the battery while the battery is disconnected from the external system, and a controller. The controller is configured to predict usage of the battery at a plurality of future times, schedule a time to disconnect the battery from the external system based on the predicted usage of the battery at the plurality of future times, operate the switch to disconnect the battery at the scheduled time, and obtain a measurement of the open circuit voltage of the battery while the battery is disconnected.

The present disclosure relates generally to an electrical energy storage system. The present disclosure relates more particularly to an electrical energy storage system which estimates the state-of-charge of batteries used to store electrical energy.
Electrical energy storage (e.g., batteries) can be used for several applications, two of which are ramp rate control and frequency regulation. Ramp rate control is the process of offsetting ramp rates (i.e., increases or decreases in the power output of an energy system such as a photovoltaic energy system) that fall outside of compliance limits determined by the electric power authority overseeing the energy grid. Ramp rate control typically requires the use of an energy source that allows for offsetting ramp rates by either supplying additional power to the grid or consuming more power from the grid. In some instances, a facility is penalized for failing to comply with ramp rate requirements.
Frequency regulation (also referred to as frequency response) is the process of maintaining the grid frequency at a desired value (e.g. 60 Hz in the United States) by adding or removing energy from the grid as needed. During a fluctuation of the grid frequency, a frequency regulation system may offset the fluctuation by either drawing more energy from the energy grid (e.g., if the grid frequency is too high) or by providing energy to the energy grid (e.g., if the grid frequency is too low). A facility participating in a frequency regulation program may receive a regulation signal from a utility or other entity responsible for regulating the frequency of the energy grid. In response to the regulation signal, the facility adds or removes energy from the energy grid. The facility may be provided with monetary incentives or awards in exchange for participating in the frequency regulation program.
Storing electrical energy in a battery may allow a facility to perform frequency regulation and/or ramp rate control. However, repeatedly charging and discharging the battery may cause battery degradation and reduce battery life. Battery degradation can affect various operating parameters such as the battery's maximum state-of-charge and charging/discharging power. Changes in these parameters can decrease the battery's ability to store and discharge energy and can reduce the potential for participating in frequency regulation programs. Optimal battery control often relies upon accurate values for these operating parameters. However, it can be difficult to measure battery degradation and predict the resultant change in battery operating parameters.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Electrical energy storage system with battery state-of-charge estimation


In an embodiment, a method for measuring an average frequency of an AC signal includes receiving the AC signal, triggering a first counter that is clocked at a first frequency, detecting each zero crossing of the AC signal in a predetermined crossing direction, recording a value of the first counter at each detected zero crossing, incrementing a second counter at each detected zero crossing, and calculating the average frequency of the AC signal based on the first frequency, a last recorded value of the first counter, and a last value of the second counter.

A conventional ambient light sensor (ALS) generally comprises at least one photodiode. The decrease in the voltage across the terminals of each photodiode is dependent on the amount of light received by this photodiode.
It is generally possible to deduce an ambient light level by measuring the voltage across the terminals of each photodiode at the end of an integration period before and after which the sensor is reset through recharging of the corresponding photodiode.
However, such a light level detection is generally sensitive to the flicker of artificial light sources that are powered with alternating current (AC) and that illuminate the photodiode.
Such flicker may in particular negatively affect the results of the ambient light level detection, for example through the appearance of moiré patterns on images taken by an image-capturing device coupled to the sensor.
In a case where the artificial light sources are powered by the mains voltage at 50 Hz/60 Hz, one solution for solving this flicker problem consists in choosing an integration period for the photodiode that is a multiple of the half-period of the mains voltage. That is to say a multiple of 10 ms for an AC voltage at 50 Hz or a multiple of 8.33 ms for an AC voltage at 60 Hz. Such a solution is described in French patent document FR 2 997 496 and corresponding U.S. patent publication US20140117214.
In recent years, the widespread use of artificial light sources based in particular on light-emitting diode (LED) technology and on energy-saving lights has led to flicker sources that are based on AC frequencies other than the conventional frequencies, i.e. 50 Hz or 60 Hz.
In addition, a conventional ambient light sensor is generally designed to generate only DC output signals that do not, unfortunately, contain information relating to the random frequency or frequencies of the flicker sources.
Once AC output signals corresponding to the variation of the ambient light level in the proximity of each photodiode of an ambient light sensor have been obtained, as is conventional, it is then necessary to provide a complex signal processing operation of fast Fourier transform (FFT) type to the output signals.
There is thus a need to propose a technical solution with low complexity and a small silicon footprint that makes it possible to generate AC output signals corresponding to the variation of the ambient light level in the proximity of each photodiode of an ambient light sensor.
These AC output signals are intended to be delivered to what is termed a host processor, for example a microcontroller, that is able to calculate flicker frequencies of the light sources on the basis of these AC output signals by using for example a complex signal processing operation of fast Fourier transform (FFT) type.
However, such a complex signal processing operation generally requires a high computing power and a significant computing time, these not being desirable in the context of the overall performance of the sensor and in particular in the context of user experience.
Furthermore, although such a complex signal processing operation may make it possible to obtain a plurality of different flicker frequencies of the light sources, it is only possible to use an average flicker frequency as a basis for choosing an exposure time that is tailored in such a way as to attenuate or even to prevent such a flicker problem at variable frequencies.
In other words, it is not really necessary to obtain all of the different flicker frequencies of the light sources in order to improve the performance of the ambient light sensor.
In this respect, there is therefore a need to propose a low-complexity and inexpensive technical solution that makes it possible, quickly and accurately, to obtain the average flicker frequency of the light sources on the basis of the AC output signals.
More generally, there is a need to propose a technically simple solution for determining the average frequency of an AC signal.

Measuring process of the average frequency of an alternating signal, and corresponding electronic circuit


A multicolor image forming apparatus which includes an image forming drum which has a gap or though in its periphery used for securing the ends of a photoconductive sheet. A transfer roller engages the drum to receive a series of different color toner images in registration to form a multicolor image. The transfer roller is driven by engagement with the periphery of the drum in a pressure nip between the drum and roller. When the gap in the drum passes through the nip, an independent motor rotates the transfer roller to a home position, thereby reindexing the roller between each series of images.

In conventional color electrophotography, a series of electrostatic images are created on an image member. For example, a charged photoconductive drum is imagewise exposed with an electronic flash, an electronic printhead or optical scanner. The electrostatic images are toned with different colors to create a series of different color toner images. The toner images are then transferred in registration to a receiving sheet which is repeatedly presented to the image member. Conventionally, the receiving sheet is fixed to the periphery of a transfer roller which engages the image member and rotates the receiving sheet repeatedly into transfer relation with the images as they are presented.
As dry toners are successfully made smaller, higher quality images can be formed on the image member.
Transfer of images made up of extremely fine toner particles is more difficult than transfer of more coarse toner. Ordinary electrostatic transfer has not proven as effective as has transfer involving a combination of pressure and heat.
Pressures in excess of 40 pounds per square inch, preferably pressures substantially in excess of 100 pounds per square inch, have been found to be effective in transferring small particle toners which have been heated to either their softening or sintering point. Although such a transfer process is effective with ordinary paper receivers, it is especially effective with receivers having a surface coating of a heat softenable thermoplastic. The heat softenable thermoplastic is heated to its softening point which in turn heats the toner in the nip between the receiving sheet and the toner image. The toner softens or sinters and portions of it embed in the thermoplastic material, while other portions cling to the toner so embedded. This process is most effective with much higher pressures than those used in conventional color electrophotography.
A principle limiting aspect of such systems is the ability to transfer the three or four color images in extremely accurate registration. Such registration requires that a receiving sheet carried by the transfer roller accurately present itself to each consecutive image on the image member. U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,037 shows an approach to precision in systems in which a photoconductive drum and a transfer roller are each independently driven by servo motors with the location of the transfer drum periodically monitored. A computer controls the speed of the transfer roller to assure registration of the images. With such an approach, it may be possible to accurately superimpose images in systems in which no or a light pressure is required between the image bearing member and the receiving sheet. If an independently driven drum and roller were used with substantial pressures as required in the transfer process described above, substantial wear to the image member, generally having a photoconductive surface, would result.
A solution to this problem is to allow the transfer roller to be driven by the image member. With such an approach, excessive wear between the members is not a problem. However, as multiple copies are made, registration between the transfer roller and image member has a tendency to drift. Such drift is especially prevalent if heat is used to assist transfer because of expansion of the transfer roller. Variations in thickness of the receiving sheet also can cause drift. Such drift will cause the means for securing the receiving sheet to the transfer roller, for example vacuum holes or gripping fingers, to face a different portion of the image member. If the image member is discontinuous and therefore requires that the images be formed on a particular portion, such drift is not acceptable.

Multicolor image forming apparatus and transfer roller reindexing mechanism


The fluorescent film includes a transparent base layer and an adhesive layer bonded to the one surface of the transparent base layer, and a fluorescent powder uniformly dispersed in an adhesive of the adhesive layer.

With the continuous development in the display technology, the requirement of the display of a picture is higher and higher. The main trends include a high color gamut, a super big size, and flexible character, etc. Among them, the important target of display technology is a constantly improved color gamut because the display device with a higher color gamut can display the picture more brightly and lively. At present, the OLED or quantum-dot film technology is usually used to improve the color gamut and the color gamut may be over 100%. However, the bottleneck of the OLED and quantum-dot film technology is obvious. For example, the OLED technology is not mature enough and is limited due to its high cost and short working life; and it is very difficult to produce an OLED of a big size. On the other hand, the quantum-dot film is very expensive and the quantum-dot material is not stable enough, which hinders its extensive use.

Adhesive fluorescent films having prismatic layer

Ningbo Jiangbei Exciton New Material Technology Co., Ltd.


An apparatus for measuring the shoulder joint position of continuously conveyed poultry bodies has a measuring station, arranged along a conveying line, which is adapted to detect the shoulder joint position. Also provided is an arrangement for filleting poultry bodies having such an apparatus for measuring, and to corresponding methods.

Such apparatuses, arrangements and methods are used in particular in the automated filleting of poultry bodies. Such an apparatus and a method is known, for example, from document DE 198 48 498 A1. By means of at least one measuring apparatus, the individual body dimensions of the poultry bodies are acquired and, on the basis of these measurements, at least one scraping apparatus is controlled by means of a control unit. A plurality of measuring elements is used for detecting the poultry body geometry. The measuring elements come into mechanical contact with the poultry body and are controlled in accordance with the poultry body geometry.
It is a disadvantage that the measuring elements, after deflection has taken place, must first move back into a rest position before the measuring operation can be carried out on a subsequent poultry body. This results in downtimes, during which no measuring operation is possible. These downtimes largely determine the maximum throughput rate of processable poultry bodies per unit time. The known measuring apparatuses and measuring methods thus no longer meet today's requirements for as high a throughput rate as possible.

Device for measuring the shoulder joint position of continuously conveyed poultry carcasses, arrangements for filleting poultry carcasses and corresponding methods

Nordischer Maschinenbau Rud. Baader GmbH + Co. KG


A transmission device of the disclosure includes: a plurality of delay sections having changeable delay amounts; a driver section that includes a plurality of drivers and transmits a data signal indicating a sequence of symbols using the plurality of drivers, the plurality of drivers being provided to correspond to the plurality of delay sections and setting a voltage at a corresponding output terminal to a mutually different voltage on the basis of a signal delayed by a corresponding delay section of the plurality of delay sections; and a controller that sets the respective delay amounts of the plurality of delay sections on the basis of a transition of a symbol in the sequence of symbols.

With high-functionality and multi-functionality of electronic apparatuses in recent years, electronic apparatuses are equipped with various devices such as a semiconductor chip, a sensor, and a display device. A lot of pieces of data are exchanged between these devices, and the amount of such data has been increased in accordance with the high-functionality and multi-functionality of electronic apparatuses. Accordingly, the data are often exchanged with use of a high-speed interface. The high-speed interface is able to transmit and receive data at several Gbps, for example.
To improve communication performance of the high-speed interface, various technologies have been disclosed. For example, PTLs 1 and 2 disclose a communication system that uses three transmission paths to transmit three differential signals.

Transmission device, transmission method, and communication system

Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation


A system and method for extracting seized components is disclosed. The method further grasping a seized component with a gripping mechanism and securing the gripping mechanism to the seized component by turning a camlock mechanism. A force is applied to a power transfer mechanism that moves a threaded axis that is threaded through the power transfer mechanism. The method additionally includes attaching the threaded axis to the gripping mechanism, which extracts the seized component. To facilitate extraction, the method also includes generating vibrations by a vibration mechanism, which may include a vibration mechanism rotating a rotary plate about a shaft. The method may also include generating vibrations by a cam attached to the rotary plate contacting one or more spring-loaded hammers. The spring-loaded hammers may be capable of impacting a strike plate, generating vibrations.

In electro-mechanical systems that contain subcomponents, exposure to weather elements can cause various subcomponents to seize to their housings. Particularly problematic are antenna arrays consisting of antenna elements. Antenna arrays are typically exposed to the environment with relatively little protection. Antenna elements and their housings can both be constructed of an aluminum alloy that, when placed in close proximity and exposed to a salt-water atmosphere, can create an aluminum oxide between the element and its housing. This oxidation, combined with natural build-up of particulate matter makes successful damage-free extraction of the antenna elements difficult. Although a protective weather seal may be used to keep moisture and particulate matter out of the interfaces of the elements and housings, the weather seal may break down over time and further contributes to the problem of trapping grime and oxidation. There currently does not exist a reliable, repeatable, quick, simple and effective tool for successful extraction of seized mechanical components.


In the recordable type multilayer optical disk, locations of an information recording unit region and of ID or address data of adjacent plural tracks on a recording medium are configured so as to be shifted in the circumferential direction by 5 xcexcm or more. Since an effect from a layer that is not selected can be remarkably reduced, multilayer recording/reproducing can be realized. Moreover, ID or address data do not center at the same position in reference to the circumferential direction, the effect of distortion that is generated on the disk substrate and the recording layer at the time of optical disk formation or multiple overwriting can be minimized, and design and fabrication tolerances of the optical disk are extended, and, as a result, the media can be provided with a low cost.

The present invention relates to a recording format of a large-capacity recordable type optical disk; and, more specifically, the invention relates to a multilayer large-capacity optical disk that is capable of performing random recording and which has more than one information recording layer.
One example of the track configuration of a conventional optical disk will be described with reference to FIG. 11. A plurality of groove tracks 11 and land tracks 12 are arranged alternately in a radial direction of a disk-shaped recording medium. Each track is wobbled in a radial direction by a relatively small amount. Further, each track is divided into a plurality of arc sectors aligned in a radial direction; and, at a beginning end of each arc sector, a header 6 containing address information is arranged, whereby a recorded region in the arc sector is identified. Therefore, the headers 6 are aligned in a radial direction, that is, they are arranged on plural radials. In this example, the width of each track is approximately 0.6 xcexcm and the groove depth of the groove is approximately 60 nm. In this example, the length of the sector is approximately 6 mm, which corresponds to a user capacity of 2048 bytes. The groove and the land are wobbled in a radial direction by an amplitude of approximately 20 nm. The wobble period is set to 1/232 times the sector length, namely approximately 25 xcexcm. This ratio of 1:232 is chosen so as to fulfil the need for a wobble period to be an integer multiple of the length of the recorded data (channel bit length). The reason for this is to make it possible to generate a recording clock from the wobble easily.
FIG. 11 is a view showing details of the header part at the top end of the track, namely an ID or address data part. In FIG. 11, pieces of the ID or address data are arranged so as to be aligned in a radial direction at a first location 631 and at a second location 632. A track and its neighboring tracks are connected in such a way that the track on the groove 11 connects to such and the track on the land 12 connects to such. In the example of this figure, each ID or address data shown in the figure corresponds to the recorded region that is located on the right side thereof. Further, the ID or address data corresponding to a groove information track 3 on the right side of the figure is arranged at the first location 631; the ID or address data corresponding to a land information track 4 is arranged at the second location 632. That is, the arrangement is such that, for adjacent tracks, locations of the ID or address data are different from each other in a direction along the information track, and for adjacent-but-one tracks, locations of the ID or address data agree with each other in that direction. That is, looking at the configuration on a boundary line between a land track and a groove track, the configuration is such that the location for the ID or address data is divided into first and second regions, and either the first or second ID or address data region is arranged alternately, the same ID or address data region for every other track.
By virtue of this configuration, for example, when the light spot 21 scans the groove 11, either pits of the first or second ID or address data are reproduced and there isn""t a fear that crosstalk from the adjacent tracks would be generated. Therefore, it becomes possible to reproduce the address data allocated in prepits excellently without generating crosstalk. In this example, the address information of the prepits is recorded by means of the 8/16 modulation code (channel bit length: 0.14 xcexcm).
The ID or address data of the header part is formed with small hollows (pits), and these are formed as an unevenness of the substrate or other features together with the groove etc. during the manufacture of the disk.
A phase change type recording layer (GeSbTe) is used as the recording layer, and the recorded mark is formed in the form of a non-crystalline region.
Regarding the foregoing conventional examples, for example, JP-C-2856390 gives a detailed description.
With an arrangement of the ID or address data are provided in the above-mentioned conventional example, the effect of crosstalk arising from the ID or address data of the adjacent tracks can be eliminated. However, there is a problem in that, when the data is reproduced, for example, under a condition such that the ID or address data of a certain track and that of an adjacent-but-one track are both covered with a single light spot, there occurs the effect of crosstalk to a large degree. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, when the light spot is focused on one layer 16 of two recording layers in an optical disk having two layers therein and the reproducing is performed there, a condition may occur as a result of the light spot intercepting the other layer 15. The reason for this is that, since the light spot is not focused on the layer 15, the light spot is out of focus and becomes considerably large; and, therefore, the reading operation is affected by the plural tracks simultaneously. In this case, the ID or address data part aligned in a radial direction will come under a single light spot simultaneously and the effect of the ID or address part data becomes extremely large. Therefore, the extension of the technology to a two-layer recording medium has been substantially impossible.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording format for an optical disk that solves the above-mentioned problem and that can easily be applied to a two-layer recording medium.
The following means (or configurations) are used to achieve the object of this invention.
(1) An optical disk having at least one or more information recording layers therein is configured in such a way that there are provided at least a plurality of spiral information tracks each corresponding to one rotation of the disk on the information recording layer, a plurality of information recording units are arranged on the said plurality of tracks, any two of the information recording units that are arranged on all the tracks located in a doughnut region demarcated by two concentric circles with a spacing of 5 xcexcm in a radial direction are arranged such that their top ends are separated by at least 5 xcexcm or more in the circumferential direction. In this configuration, the information tracks, each specified as being wobbled in a radial direction with an almost constant frequency, are used and the amplitude of the wobble is specified to be constant in a radial direction. More preferably, the wobble and the recording unit are arranged in synchronization with each other.
Thanks to this format, even when the recorded region and unrecorded region exist together on the recording layer, any recording units existing in the tracks located in the doughnut region demarcated by the concentric circles with a spacing of 5 xcexcm do not come into alignment to each other in the circumferential direction; and, therefore, when the defocussed light spot moves in the circumferential direction, the light spot will not move from the recorded regions to non-recorded regions or vice versa over a plurality of tracks simultaneously. Therefore, the reproduced signal and the servo signal, which are obtained by the reflected light of the light spot, do not suffer abrupt changes.
In an optical disk having therein a plurality of recording layers that can be accessed from one side of the disk, when one of the layers (a first layer) is being recorded/reproduced, the light spot is defocused (out of focus) on the second layer (with a recording format according to the present invention) to a degree corresponding to the amount of the layer spacing. The size of this defocused light spot is proportional to the layer spacing, and it is common that the size is set to be, for example, 10 times the spot size (0.5-1 xcexcm) that was focused to the diffraction limit of light or more, in consideration of the effect of the inter-layer crosstalk. Therefore, the size of the light spot on the second layer that is not a target layer of recording/reproducing becomes 5 xcexcm or more. Therefore, according to the present invention, the recording unit regions in the tracks located in the doughnut region demarcated by the two concentric circles with a spacing of 5 xcexcm are arranged such that their top ends are shifted by 5 xcexcm or more. This configuration eliminates a fear that the second layer would exert the effect of rapid change on the reflected light and the transmitted light of the light spot.
This mechanism will be described with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B. FIG. 5A shows the conventional example where the top ends of the recording unit regions (recording units) are aligned in the circumferential direction over a plurality of tracks 11; FIG. 5B shows an example according to the present invention where the top ends of the recording unit regions (recording units) are not aligned in the circumferential direction. Therefore, in the conventional example of FIG. 5A, when the light spot 21 moves from an area where there exist many recording unit regions 13 on which data has been recorded to an area where non-recorded parts are the great majority, there occurs a large change in the reflectance and the transmittance for the whole of the light spot. On the other hand, in the example of FIG. 5B, since there is no occurrence of simultaneous transitions from the recorded regions to unrecorded regions on the tracks under the light spot when the whole of the light spot is considered, the reflectance and the transmittance hardly shows any changes at all. Therefore, a fear that this second layer would exert the effect of rapid change on the reflected light and the transmitted light of the light spot is eliminated, and, consequently, a fear that, due to the inter-layer effect in the multilayer recordable type disk, the quality of the reproduced signal would deteriorate is also eliminated.
The effect of this technique is not limited to a two-layer recording medium. In the single-layer disk as well, the reproducing is conducted with a defocused light spot before the focusing servo unit is in operation. Based on the reflected light of this defocused light spot, an error signal for the auto focusing is obtained, but if there occurs a rapid change, as in the case of FIG. 5A, the focusing servo unit cannot perform well in finding a best focus or it may give a focus offset, hence causing instability in the servo control. According to the present invention, stabilization of a servomechanism is achieved. This stabilizing effect in the servomechanism is effective with respect to a multilayer disk as well.
In this case, by forming the wobble in the information tracks, the timing of reproducing the recorded region can be obtained accurately, and, therefore, when accessing the recorded region, the top end of the recorded region that is shifted in the circumferential direction can be found easily and synchronization therewith can be achieved in a very short time. By setting the wobbles that are adjacent to one another in a radial direction such that their phases are almost equal to one another, even when the recorded region is accessed over the tracks in a radial direction, it is not necessary to achieve synchronization with the wobble or resynchronization can be achieved very quickly. Further, since the frequency of the wobble is almost constant and the geometric loci of the wobbles are in-phase/in-phase in a radial direction, the distance between the information tracks in a radial direction are kept almost constant; therefore, a fear that the wobble would affect the recording/reproducing characteristics is eliminated.
As an additional effect, there is an improvement of the multiple overwriting characteristics. In this regard, it is commonly known that, when overwriting is repeated a number of times in an overwritable type disk, distortion is accumulated at a leader and a trailer of the recorded region. With a format in which the top ends of the recording unit regions are not aligned over a plurality of tracks as specified by the present invention, the effects of the distortion in the leader and the trailer do not center at a single position, but are dispersed and averaged, and therefore, the multiple overwriting characteristics are improved.
(2) An optical disk having at least one or more information recording layers therein is configured in such a way that there are provided at least a plurality of spiral information tracks, each corresponding to one rotation of the disk on the said information recording layer, a plurality of information recording units are arranged on the said plurality of tracks, and an integer multiple of the length of the said information recording unit is different from the length of the track corresponding to one rotation of the optical disk by at least 5 xcexcm or more.
Since the information tracks are configured in a spiral form, a point that moves from the top end of a certain track (referred to as a first track) by the amount corresponding to one rotation of the disk will reach the top end of another track (referred to as a second track). Needless to say, the first and second tracks are close to each other by within 5 xcexcm in a radial direction. Note that the first and second tracks are not necessarily adjacent tracks. For example, in the case where the information tracks are composed of groove tracks and land tracks (land-and-groove structure) as indicated in the later-described section (7) and thereafter, a continues spiral structure that is made up of contiguous tracks is not necessarily a single spiral. More particularly, if the groove tracks are configured such that one groove track is connected to the next groove track after one rotation of the disk and the land tracks are configured such that one land track is connected to the next land track after one rotation of the disk, the disk has a structure of two spirals that consists of one spiral made up of a series of tracks on the land and another spiral made up of a series of tracks on the groove. This particular structure is generally called a double spiral. In this case, if the above-mentioned first track is on the groove, the second track is also on the groove, but there is a land track between these two groove tracks, and, therefore, the first and second tracks are not the adjacent tracks. The recording unit regions are arranged without spacing from the first track to the second track and so on. Since an integer multiple of this recording unit region does not agree with the length of the track, the locations of the top ends of the information recording units on the first track and on the second track are shifted in the circumferential direction. Because of this mechanism, virtually the same arrangement of the recording unit regions as that of the above-mentioned section (1) is realized and the same effect is achieved.
(3) An optical disk is configured in such a way that, among a combination of two integers N and M, such that the integer N times the length of the above-mentioned information recording unit agrees with the integer M times the length of the above-mentioned track, a minimum combination of N and M (referred to as xe2x80x9cn and mxe2x80x9d) is found and the integer m is more than 5.
By this configuration, the top ends of the information recording units on the tracks that are formed continuously in the form of a spiral, similarly to that of the above-mentioned section (2) do not coincide with one another in the circumferential direction for m tracks. Here, assuming that the tracks are of the land and groove structure and the width of the track is approximately 0.5 xcexcm, a fact that m is 5 or more indicates that the disk can be configured such that the top ends of the recording units do not agree with one another in the circumferential direction over a radial range of 0.5xc3x972xc3x975=5 xcexcm or more. (In this case, it is necessary to configure the recording unit regions on the land track and the recording units on the groove track so that they are shifted from each other.) Therefore, as a result, the configuration is the same as that of section (1) and the effect is also the same.
(4) An optical disk that has at least one or more information recording layers and has a plurality of spiral tracks, each consisting of a groove and/or a land, and each corresponding to one rotation of the disk on the said information recording layer, is configured in such a way that the said track is formed so as to be wobbled in a radial direction, there exists an integer j such that the integer j times the length of the said wobble agrees with the length of one track, the length of the information recording unit arranged on the track is equal to k times the period of the said wobble, and representing a least a common multiple of the integers j and k as L, the integer L is set to 5 times the integer j or more.
This agrees with the feature of above-mentioned section (3) and, consequentially, with respect to a relation between the information recording unit and the track. That is, since the least common multiple of the integers j and k is L, L=kxc3x97n and L=jxc3x97m and the integers n and m are coprime to each other. In other words, the integers n and m are a minimum combination of a combination of N and M such that integer N times the length k of the information recording unit agrees with integer M times the length j of the track.
Since in this means the information tracks are constructed so as to be wobbled and the length of the information recording unit and the length of the track are each specified so as to be an integer multiple of the wobble in addition to the feature of above-mentioned section (3), it becomes easy to achieve synchronization with the information recording unit, the track, and finally the recording information itself using the periodic signal obtained from the wobble. Moreover, since one rotation of the track is composed of integer pieces of wobbles, the wobbles are in phase between the adjacent tracks; and, therefore, a stable wobble signal can be obtained, and there is no adverse effect against the reproduced signal.
(5) An optical disk having at least one or more information recording layers therein is configured in such a way that there are provided at least a plurality of spiral information tracks, each corresponding to one rotation of the disk on the said information recording layer. There are provided plural pieces of address data on the said track, any two of pieces of the ID or address data that are arranged on all the tracks located in a doughnut region demarcated by two concentric circles with a spacing of 5 xcexcm in a radial direction are arranged such that their top ends are separated by 5 xcexcm or more in the circumferential direction.
By virtue of this configuration, since pieces of the recording address data are not aligned mutually in the circumferential direction for tracks existing in the range of a radial increment of 5 xcexcm, the effects of defocused pieces of address data for a plurality of the tracks are not received simultaneously; and, consequently, the reproduced signal and the servo signal both obtained from the reflected light of the light spot, do not suffer abrupt changes.
In the optical disk having a plurality of recording layers that can be accessed from one side of the disk, when one of the layers (a first layer) is being recorded/reproduced, the light spot is defocused (out of focus) on the second layer (with a format according to the present invention), to a degree corresponding to the spacing between the layers. The size of this defocused light spot is proportional to the spacing between the layers, and it is common that the size of the defocused light spot is set to be 10 times the spot size (0.5-1 xcexcm) or more that is focused to the diffraction limit of light. Therefore, the size of the light spot on the second layer that is not a target layer of recording/reproducing becomes 5 xcexcm or more. Therefore, by shifting the top ends of pieces of the address data on the track by 5 xcexcm or more for tracks located in the range of a radial increment of 5 xcexcm as specified by the present invention, a fear that this second layer would exert the effect of rapid change on the reflected light and the transmitted light is eliminated.
The effect of this feature is not limited to a two-layer recording medium. In the single-layer disk as well, the reproducing is performed with a defocused light spot before the focusing servo unit is in operation. Based on the reflected light of this defocused light spot, an error signal for the auto focusing is obtained, but if there occurs a rapid change as in the case of FIG. 5A, the focusing servo unit cannot perform well in finding a best focus or it may give a focus offset, hence causing instability in the servo operation. According to the present invention, stabilization of a servomechanism is achieved. This stabilizing effect in the servomechanism is effective with respect to a multilayer disk as well.
As an additional effect, the disk forming characteristics are improved. It is known that the disk substrate is normally formed by molding a thermoplastic resin, such as polycarbonate, in a mold, and that, if the embossed marks of the address data center in a part of the disk in the circumferential direction, the embossed marks cause adverse effect on a flow of the resin during molding. Therefore, there may exist a phenomena in which a molded track deforms or birefringency increases locally. If pieces of the address data are arranged so as not to be aligned for a plurality of tracks, as called for by the present invention, the effects of their distortions do not center at a single position, but are dispersed and averaged; consequently, the molding characteristics are improved and the tolerances of molding conditions are widened, and, accordingly, the manufacture of the disk becomes easy.
(6) An optical disk that has at least one or more information recording layers and has a plurality of spiral tracks, each consisting of a groove and/or a land and each corresponding to one rotation of the disk on the said information recording layer, is configured in such a way that the said tracks are wobbled in a radial direction. The address data arranged on the track is arranged so as to be separated from the address data of the adjacent track in the circumferential direction by the amount of an integer multiple of the wobble period.
Because of this configuration, pieces of the address data do not center at the same position in reference to the circumferential direction as is the case of the feature of the above-mentioned section (5), and therefore the same effect as the above-mentioned section (5) can be achieved.
Further, since the amount of the separation is an integer multiple of the wobble period, the top end of the recorded region that is shifted in the circumferential direction can be found easily, and synchronization can be achieved in a very short time. By setting the phases of the wobbles that are adjacent to each other in a radial direction, even when the recorded region is accessed over the tracks in a radial direction, it is not necessary to achieve synchronization with the wobble again, or resynchronization can be achieved very quickly. Further, since the frequency of the wobble is almost constant and the wobbles are in-phase in-phase in a radial direction or radially ajacent wobbles are in-phase, the distance between the information tracks in a radial direction is kept almost constant; and, consequently, a fear that the wobble would affect the recording/reproducing characteristics is eliminated.
Note that the phase of the wobble and the (top end) location of the recording unit region are in synchronization with each other, which is evident from the fact that the phase of the wobbles having approximately constant frequency are in-phase in-phase in a radial direction and the fact that the amount of the separation between the recording unit regions in the circumferential direction is an integer multiple of the wobble period.
Moreover, since the reproducing of the address data and the timing generation of the recording/reproducing can be performed using the wobble, reliable recording/reproducing can be performed stably. If the number of wobbles for one rotation of the track is chosen to be an integer number xc3xcian integer multiple of the wobble period being the length of one round of the trackuj, the phases of the wobbles are in-phase between the adjacent tracks, which is more preferable.
(7) Further, an optical disk is configured in such a way that the above-mentioned address data is formed in the form of embossed pits, and the embossed pits are arranged on an extension line of the boundary line between the groove track and the land track. A groove interrupted part is arranged on the embossed pit parts that are on four most adjacent tracks, including two tracks on whose boundary the embossed pits are arranged, in order that the groove does not exist there.
Because of this, the reproduction signal of the embossed pits of the ID or address data part can be reproduced free from the effect of the adjacent tracks, in addition to the effects of the above-mentioned sections (5) and (6); therefore, the quality of the reproduced signal of the embossed pits signal is improved, and this scheme is suitable for high-density recording. Moreover, since the embossed part and the groove can be made to not exist simultaneously, mastering can be carried out using a single beam in manufacturing a master (original record) for manufacturing a substrate; and, therefore, adjustment of the mastering apparatus is made easy. An example of application of this feature is shown in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 2A, 2B.
(8) An optical disk is, in addition to the feature of section (6), specified such that a region exists in which the groove is interrupted, the ID or address data is formed in the form of the embossed pits, and the embossed pits are arranged on the center line of the groove track at the interrupted part of the groove.
By this configuration, the quality of the reproduced signal of the embossed pits is improved in addition to the effects of the above-mentioned sections (5) and (6), and this configuration is suitable for high-density recording. Moreover, since the embossed part is on the extension line of the groove, the embossed pits can be formed as the presence and the absence of a groove; hence, a single beam is used to do the mastering in manufacturing the master (original disk) for manufacturing a substrate, and, consequently, adjustment of a mastering apparatus becomes easy and the disk manufacturing cost can be reduced. An example of application of this feature is shown in FIG. 13C.
(9) An optical disk is configured in such a way that the embossed pits are arranged also on the centerline of the land track; and, at a part of the groove track adjacent to a part of the land track where the embossed pits are arranged, the groove is interrupted.
By this configuration, the present invention can be applied to a land-and-groove type track, and, therefore, the configuration is suitable for high-density recording. An example of application of this feature is shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B.
(10) An optical disk is configured in such a way that the information recording units are arranged so as to be separated between the adjacent tracks in the circumferential direction, and the embossed pits representing all of or part of the address data are arranged so as to be aligned in a radial direction (at the same location with respect to the circumferential direction).
By this configuration, pieces of the ID or address data are arranged at the same location in the circumferential direction, and, therefore, rapid access to the recorded region is made easy. The information recording units are arranged so as to be separated from one another in the circumferential direction; and, therefore, the same effect as described in the above-mentioned section (1) can be obtained. When applying this feature, it is preferable that the length of the address data in the circumferential direction is not more than 3 xcexcm or so and that the spacing of the address data is smaller than the length of the information recording unit.
More preferably the address data is divided into pieces of partial information whose length is not more than 3 xcexcm or so, which are arranged so as to be dispersed in the circumferential direction with a spacing not less than 50 xcexcm and not more than 1 mm. In this case, for example, one piece of partial information is chosen to represent information of one bit, and about 50 pieces of partial information are arranged so that one address data is composed thereof. By involving redundant information in the above-mentioned 50 pieces of partial information, the address data can be reproduced reliably and surely even when some of the pieces of the address data can not be reproduced due to defects etc. It is recommendable that the top end location of the information recording unit is arranged so as to be separated from that of the adjacent track in the circumferential direction by the amount of, for example, an integer multiple of the arrangement spacing of the above-mentioned partial ID or address data. Moreover, it is preferable that the track is wobbled as in the above-mentioned example to obtain timing of reproducing the ID or address data more surely. In that case, more preferably, the number of wobbles for one rotation of the track is chosen to be an integer multiple (an integer multiple of the wobble period being the length of one rotation of the track), because the the wobbles are in-phase/in-phase/in-phase between the adjacent tracks. An example of application of this feature is shown in FIG. 7 through FIG. 9.
(11) Moreover, an optical disk is configured in such a way that the optical disk has at least two or more information recording layers that can be accessed from one side of the disk, to which the features of the above-mentioned sections (1) through (10) are applied, and at least one recording layer is chosen to be a recordable type layer or an overwrite type layer.
By this configuration, a single sheet of the disk can store mass information as much as two times the information of the single-layer disk or more, and the signal crosstalk and disturbance between the signals from the information recording layers can be prevented by virtue of the effects described in sections (1) through (10). Therefore, a large-capacity optical disk that is surely a recordable type and has a multiple recording layers therein can be provided.
Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear more fully from the following description.

Optical disk having a plurality of information recording units


A health monitoring garment is provided. The health monitoring garment includes an article of clothing comprising at least one compression section to provide a snug fit against a person wearing the article of clothing and a sensor island. The sensor island includes stretchable circuitry, two or more sensors, one or more power supplies, and optionally one or more wireless communication modules within a self-contained unit. At least one of the sensors comprises a stretchable sensor which may be a respiration sensor. The sensor unit may be provided independent of the health monitoring garment or as a complete system. The sensor island and compression section of the article of clothing also include fasteners of complementary geometries for reversible attachment and disengagement of the sensor island from the compression section.

Workers in arduous field conditions such as fire crews, chemical disposal groups, or soldiers in theatre or training missions often endure adverse health effects due to greater exposure to heat strain threats. Data from measured vital signs and physiological conditions can be compiled to ascertain health status and provide actionable insights into a patient's well-being, thus enabling proactive intervention as needed in hospital, healthcare and home care environments.
Presently available health monitoring equipment is lacking. Commercially available body-worn systems provide monitoring, but struggle to provide both accuracy and comfort. Adhesive systems for attaching monitoring devices to a subject's body initially appear convenient, but require skin surface preparation and may cause skin irritation. Wrist-worn devices are convenient to use, but suffer from poor accuracy. Chest straps are more accurate, but have bulky electronic modules and are often uncomfortable to wear due to their extremely tight fitting to mitigate shifting of sensors during active physical motion. Current clothing type systems typically contain large electronic modules that are too bulky and intrusive to be comfortably worn under protective clothing, thus negating any realized benefits.


An antenna apparatus, an electronic apparatus having an antenna apparatus, and a method of manufacturing the same. The antenna apparatus includes a window, an antenna pattern, a first contact structure, a substrate and a second contact structure. The antenna pattern is embedded in the window. The first contact structure is electrically connected to the antenna pattern. The substrate is disposed under the window. The second contact structure is disposed on the substrate and is electrically connected to the first contact structure. The second contact structure includes a first contact, a second contact spaced apart from the first contact in a direction substantially perpendicular to the top surface of the substrate and a buffer member having a predetermined elasticity and electrically connecting the first contact with the second contact.

1. Field of the Invention
Example embodiments relate to antenna apparatuses, electronic apparatuses including antenna apparatuses and methods of manufacturing electronic apparatuses.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electronic apparatuses such as a computer monitor, a laptop, a digital camera, a cellular phone, a smart phone, a smart pad, a television, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable multimedia player (PMP), a MP3 player, a navigation system, a game console and a video phone have been widely used. The electronic apparatus also includes an antenna apparatus for a wireless communication.
Recently, the size of the display screen of the electronic apparatus increases, while the volume and the thickness of the electronic apparatus decrease gradually. So it may be hard to receive various components such as an antenna pattern in the limited space of the electronic apparatus.

Antenna apparatus, electronic apparatus having an antenna apparatus, and method of manufacturing the same


The disclosure discloses an authentication routing system and method for a cloud computing service and an authentication router. The method comprises the following steps: an authentication router registers a cloud computing service and saves the registration information of a cloud computing service registered successfully, wherein the registration information includes but is not limited to: an index number of a cloud computing service, an authentication mechanism chosen by the cloud computing service, an address of an authentication server address providing the authentication mechanism and a routing strategy of the authentication server; when a user terminal requests a cloud computing service, the authentication router receives an authentication request for the user terminal from the requested cloud computing service; and the authentication router routes the authentication request for the user terminal to a corresponding authentication server for authentication according to the saved registration information corresponding to the cloud computing service. Through the disclosure, a cloud computing service can provide a consistent user authentication experience and a relatively high authentication security level and effectively ensures the privacy security of the user when being used by the user.

The cloud computing is becoming an increasing concern along with the rapid development of computer technology, and gains much attention no matter from the internet manufacturers or operators, the communication manufacturers or the basic network operators.
In a narrow sense, the cloud computing refers to a delivery and using mode of an Internet Technology (IT) infrastructure to acquire required resources by a network in an on-demand and easily-extensible way; and in a broad sense, the cloud computing refers to a delivery and using mode of a service to acquire required resources by a network in an on-demand and easily-extensible way. This service can be one related to IT, software and internet, or any other service; and the cloud computing has the advantages of super-large scale, virtualization, reliability and security and the like. The cloud computing can reduce the operating cost and maintenance cost greatly for a network operator to achieve the aim of energy conservation and emission reduction; and in addition, the cloud computing can further expand the operating range so as not to be only limited to pipeline operation. In a cloud computing environment, all resources are operable and can be provided as a service, including application, software, platform, processing capacity, storage, network, computing resources, other infrastructures and the like. Users can consume at any place and any time due to the cloud computing, and can further acquire the IT resources required by an operation service without a heavy investment and rent the resources completely according to their requirements. The IT resources are acquired and charged on demand like water, power and gas.
The cloud computing mainly has three service modes: Infrastructure as a Service (Iaas), Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Software as a Servcie (SaaS).
In a cloud computing scenario, a lot of user information is concentrated in a cloud computing provider, and the cloud computing is more concentrated in information and higher in information asset value and faces more attacks than a conventional internet service, which requires that the cloud computing service provider should have a more powerful user authentication mechanism to ensure that only a valid user can access the authorized resources.
The conventional solution for this is that: each cloud computing service provider has its own user authentication system, which is generally called a local authentication server, such as a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) directory server or an Authentication Authorization Accounting (AAA) server, which is used for authenticating user access to a cloud computing service. The method has the following defects: the cloud computing generally has a great number of users, so as to result in great increase in the authentication overhead of the cloud computing service providers; a user needs to be registered in different cloud computing service providers, so that the user experience is poor and the risk of privacy leakage increases; and in addition, different cloud computing service providers have different authentication solutions and different security levels, and according to the cask principle, once an authentication system of a cloud computing service provider with the lowest security level is compromised, the user authentications of other cloud computing service providers are very likely to be under threat, this is because general users always utilize the same or similar authentication credential in order to remember it easily.

Authentication routing system and method for cloud computing service and authentication router


Methods and apparatuses are disclosed that automatically generate relative placement rules. Constructs at the register transfer language-level result in relative placement rules specified at the register transfer language-level.

1. Field
The technology relates to integrated circuit fabrication, and more particularly to placement, routing, and optimization of an integrated circuit design that obeys rules that specify the relative placement of circuit elements.
2. Description of Related Art
An integrated circuit design flow typically proceeds through the following stages: product idea, EDA software, tapeout, fabrication equipment, packing/assembly, and chips. The EDA software stage includes the steps shown in the following table:
EDA stepWhat HappensSystem Design- Describe the functionality to implement- What-if planning- Hardware/software architecture partitioningLogic Design and- Write VHDL/Verilog for modules in systemFunctional- Check design for functional accuracy, does theVerificationdesign produce correct outputs?Synthesis and- Translate VHDL/Verilog to netlistDesign for Test- Optimize netlist for target technology- Design and implement tests to permit checking ofthe finished chipDesign Planning- Construct overall floor plan for the chip- Analyze same, timing checks for top-level routingNetlist Verification- Check netlist for compliance with timingconstraints and the VHDL/VerilogPhysical- Placement (positioning circuit elements) andImplement.routing (connecting circuit elements)Analysis and- Verify circuit function at transistor level, allowsExtractionfor what-if refinementPhysical- Various checking functions: manufact., electrical,Verfication (DRC,lithographic, circuit correctnessLRC, LVS)Resolution- Geometric manipulations to improveEnhanc. (OPC,manufacturabilityPSM, Assists)Mask Data- "Tape-out" of data for production of masksPreparationfor lithographic use produce finished chips
With regard to physical implementation technology, methodologies for structured placement offer circuit designers superior power, yield, and/or area for a given logic function. With the advent of manual placement of transistors, designers created arrayed layouts where logic gates were manually placed in a regularized fashion. This methodology has evolved to the point that automation has been applied to the problem. However, regularized placement still suffers from a great deal of manual effort, such as in cell drive strength selection.
Capturing a priori designer knowledge of structured placement requirements in HDL is a nontrivial problem. Even if captured, structured placement requirements are lost during standard cell random placement. Standard cell placers tend to take more localized views during optimization. This results in not just loss of regularity, but also extra buffering, routing, vias, and cell oversizing, compared to a solution which might be obtained following structured placement.
One approach to this problem is to perform cell sizing and optimization of a structured placement manually through homegrown tools. This approach is quite expensive in terms of engineering effort. This approach is also hard to integrate with the rest of the design. Such integration requires multiple iterations, because standard cell placement and optimization changes the placement, sizing, etc. of the surrounding, non-structured logic. Unfortunately, this triggers another iteration, with further manual sizing and optimization efforts through the homegrown tools for the block with structured placement.
Other approaches to this problem are to generate structured placement through synthesis or through a specific tool, and then pass on the result to a placer through a set of special constraints, or as a macro/IP block. The initial structure generated through synthesis or through the special tool is problematic. Because the initial structure is generated prior to placement, the initial structure is formed lacking complete placement knowledge, and thus the initial structure fails to lead to optimal placement as generation. Also if it is passed as a macro/IP block, then place and route tools cannot resize or otherwise optimize the blocks.
Relative placement rules specified at the netlist-level are specific to a netlist, as such rules are tied to the instance names of the cells in the netlist. Accordingly, every time a new netlist is synthesized (which has different instance names even thought the designs may be functionally identical), the prior relative placement constraints are invalidated and need to be rewritten referencing new cell instance names. This process is not easily repeatable. Also, writing the relative placement constraints at the cell instance level is a very detailed and tedious task.
Therefore, it would be desirable to efficiently implement structured placement with circuit design.

Method and apparatus for automatic relative placement rule generation