A lever operated clamping mechanism for adjustably engaging and locking in position structural members comprising two shoulder bolts and a disk spring for attaching and slidably guiding a slotted structure member relative to a fixed support structure. A threaded lever engages one of the shoulder bolts for frictionally locking the position of the structural member relative to the support structure. The device acts as a positional clutch permitting substantially firm frictional engagement of structural members when the lever is in one position and firm yet slidable engagement of the structural members when the lever is in another position.

The present invention relates in general to devices which provide for the selective adjustment and positioning of movable structural components relative to one another. As will be seen, the device is ideally suited for use in furniture, particularly office furniture, where the current market emphasis on ergonomic design calls for adjustable furniture structures such as used with certain chairs that can be adjustably positioned to fit different individuals with various height, weight and job tasks.
Primarily the device is intended for the positioning of components where frictional locking means is sufficient and load forces are moderate, such as chair arms and back uprights. Here the device can be advantageously used to laterally position the arms so as to accommodate users of different body widths.
In the prior art, chair arm lateral adjustment has been accomplished by means of structural members or "J-bars" provided with elongated slots and bolted to the undercarriage or seat pan of the chair. Adjustment was generally accomplished by reaching under the chair with a specialized tool or wrench and loosening and tightening several bolts. This is a very time consuming operation and cannot be accomplished by the chair occupant while seated, often necessitating the intervention of a maintenance crew. In situations where the same chair is used by several shifts it is often the case that occupants find it difficult to sit comfortably since adjustment of the chair between shifts is generally not possible.
The device and object of the present invention provides for the quick manual positioning and changing of one structural component relative to another. In particular, where office chairs are concerned, the device may serve to laterally position chair arms relative to a chair seat at any of an infinity number of positions within a predetermined range. It will appear clear from the subsequent specification that the device is not limited to use in chairs and articles of furniture but in any use where reliable and economical structural adjustment is sought. In a chair, the mechanism comprises a first shoulder bolt which is threaded on one end with a common thread and on the other end a strong fast-advance thread is used such as an acme thread. A second shoulder bolt is also used which is threaded with a common thread on one end and has a hex head on the opposite end. These shoulder bolts are installed at a predetermined distance from each other with the shoulders in sliding contact with the sides of an elongated slot in the structural element of the chair arm. These bolts are threadably attached to a fixed component such as on the underside of the chair seat or to an adapter plate thereon (pre-installed) to provide a flat surface on the underside of the chair for sliding of the chair arm structural member therealong. A spring disk, known as a Belleville washer, is located on the second shoulder bolt against the chair arm structural member. The lengths of the bolt shoulders are sufficient to allow for free sliding motion of the chair arm member relative to the bolts. Therefore, the Belleville washer is selected so that the second shoulder bolt necessarily compresses said Belleville washer when the bolt is completely inserted (tightened). The compression of the Belleville washer causes the chair arm structural member to remain in sliding, yet firm contact with the underside of the chair or adapter plate and prevents excessive play between the surfaces. A fast advance or acme thread nut is made integral with a lever arm and its threads engage the corresponding threads of the first shoulder bolt. The first shoulder bolt is threadably joined to the adapter plate or chair undercarriage and is prevented from loosening by a lock nut or other suitable means, in such a way that, rotating the lever arm acme nut in one direction increases the friction while rotating the lever arm acme nut in a second opposite direction decreases the friction between the chair arm member and the undercarriage of the chair. Thus, it is possible to operate said lever arm nut while remaining seated on the chair by simply rotating the lever arm from one position to the other. The positions of the lever arm are limited by virtue of the design of the lever arm, which surrounds the head of the second shoulder bolt within an elongated c-shaped slot so that the head of the shoulder bolt limits the travel of the lever arm to the ends of said c-shaped slot. When the lever arm is in the position that causes the greatest friction between the chair arm structural member and the chair undercarriage (fixed component) the device is in the "locked" position and lateral displacement of the chair arm relative to the chair seat is prevented. The opposite is true when the lever arm is in the position that causes least friction between the chair arm structural member and the chair undercarriage because the mechanism is "unlocked", and lateral displacement of the chair arm relative to the chair seat is easily accomplished by manual effort.
The advantages of the device are numerous since it is possible for the chair occupant to remain seated while adjusting the lateral positions of the chair arms and can accomplish this without the use of specialized tools or help from maintenance crews. Furthermore the device is simple to manufacture and install, and by virtue of its geometry can operate with any size of chair arm structural members or arm uprights. The device is also easy to partially conceal under the chair where it does not interfere with normal use of the chair.


Provided are a semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same. Since an additional space for forming a shield line is unnecessary, the critical dimension of metal lines is reduced, thereby improving data transfer characteristics, signaling characteristics and noise characteristics of the metal lines. The semiconductor device includes: a plurality of metal lines disposed on the semiconductor device; a plurality of insulation layers disposed on the metal lines; and a plurality of shield lines disposed between the insulation layers.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a semiconductor device including a metal line and a method for manufacturing the same.
Semiconductor devices are manufactured to operate according to their assigned purposes through depositing/etching material on a silicon wafer and doping of impurities into a predetermined region within a silicon wafer. A representative example of a semiconductor device is a semiconductor memory device. The semiconductor memory device includes a large number of elements (e.g., transistors, capacitors, and resistors) in order to perform an assigned purpose. The respective elements are coupled together through conductive layers to exchange data or signals.
As the fabrication technologies of semiconductor devices have been developed, many efforts have been made to manufacture a larger number of chips on a wafer by increasing the integration density of semiconductor devices. Accordingly, a critical dimension (CD) in a design rule is gradually reduced in order to increase the integration density. Furthermore, semiconductor devices are increasingly required to operate at a higher speed and reduce power consumption.
In order to increase the integration density, it is necessary to reduce the sizes of elements inside the semiconductor devices and reduce the lengths and widths of interconnections which couple the elements together. Moreover, the resistances of interconnections must be small so that electric signals can be transferred with minimal loss within the semiconductor devices through interconnections having narrow widths.
Generally, in a semiconductor device, metal lines are formed on various layers in order to electrically couple elements or interconnections. A contact plug is then formed in order to couple an upper metal line to a lower metal line. Recent studies have been conducted to use copper (Cu), which has a low resistance, as a metal line material, or reduce a pattern density of a metal line itself.

Semiconductor device including metal lines


The invention relates to an energy storage device (2) comprising at least one first energy supply branch (2a, 2b, 2c) which is designed to supply a separately excited electrical machine (1) with energy via a first connection (3a, 3b, 3c), and a second energy supply branch (2d) which is connected in parallel to the at least one first energy supply branch (2a, 2b, 2c) and which is designed to supply a field winding (11) of the separately excited electrical machine (1) with current via a second connection (3d), the at least one first energy supply branch (2a, 2b, 2c) and the second energy supply branch (2d) being connected to the field winding (11) by means of third connections (4a, 4b, 4c; 4d) via a common reference bus (9).

The invention relates to an energy storage device for a separately excited electrical machine and a system having a separately excited electrical machine that is controlled and supplied with electrical energy with the aid of a controllable first energy storage device.
It has become apparent that in future both in the case of stationary applications, for example wind turbines, and also in vehicles, for example hybrid vehicles or electric vehicles, electronic systems are being used ever more frequently, which electronic systems combine new energy storage technologies with electrical drive technology. In conventional applications, for example as illustrated in FIG. 1, an electrical machine 101, which is embodied for example as a three-phrase machine, is controlled by way of a converter in the form of a pulse converter 102. A characterizing feature of systems of this type is a so-called DC voltage intermediate circuit 103, by means of which an energy storage device 104, generally a traction battery, is connected to the DC voltage side of the pulse converter 102. In order to be able to fulfill the particular requirements relating to power and energy for a particular application, a plurality of battery cells 105 are connected in series. Since it is necessary for the current that is provided by an energy storage device 104 of this type to flow through all the battery cells 105 and a battery cell 105 can only carry a limited amount of current, battery cells are often in addition connected in parallel in order to increase the maximum current.
When connecting a plurality of cells in series, the problem arises in addition to a high total voltage that the entire energy storage device fails if a single battery cell fails because it is then no longer possible for the current to flow through the battery. A failure of this type of the energy storage device can cause the entire system to fail. In the case of a vehicle, a failure of the drive battery causes the vehicle "to be immobilized". In other applications, for example in the case of the rotor blade adjustment in wind turbines, situations that pose a safety risk can even occur in unfavorable boundary conditions, for example when the wind is too strong. Efforts are therefore continuously being made to achieve a high level of reliability of the energy storage device, wherein the term "reliability" describes the ability of a system to function in a fault-free manner for a predetermined period of time.
The earlier applications DE 102010027857.2 and DE 102010027861.0 describe batteries having a plurality of battery module strings that can be connected directly to an electrical machine. The battery module strings comprise a plurality of series-connected battery modules, wherein each battery module comprises at least one battery cell and an allocated controllable coupling unit that renders is possible to interrupt the respective battery module string in response to control signals or to bridge the respective allocated at least one battery cell or to connect the respective allocated at least one battery cell to the respective battery module string. Appropriate phase signals for controlling the electrical machine can also be provided by appropriately controlling the coupling units, for example with the aid of pulse width modulation, so that it is possible to forego a separate pulse converter. In other words, the pulse converter that is required to control the electrical machine is consequently integrated into the battery. For the purpose of disclosure, the scope of each of these two earlier applications is incorporated in full into the present application.
In contrast to conventional systems, there is no constant DC voltage available at the output of the battery system, which constant DC voltage can be used for example to supply an exciter winding of a separately excited electrical machine.

Energy storage device for a separately excited electrical machine


A coin escrow device has a coin jam detection mechanism that uses a magnetic switch. Magnets are connected to supports which move close to and away from the magnetic switch as a result of a coin deposit and the movement of the escrow device's gates. When a coin jam occurs, the magnets are positioned such that the magnetic switch is on.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to coin operated systems and, more particularly, to coin escrow devices for using coin operated systems such as vending machines, coin operated telephones, and the like.
2. State of the Art
Coin operated vending systems, such as coin operated telephones, often include devices, called "escrow" devices to temporarily hold coins until such time as control signals indicate whether the coin should be returned to the system user or permanently collected. Typical escrow devices in coin operated telephones include a mechanism to release the coins to a coin box in the event that a call has been successfully placed, and a mechanism to return coins to the calling party in the event that a call is not successfully completed.
Escrow devices for coin operated vending systems needs to be reliable. An escrow device must operate to discharge all escrowed coins to a collection box only when the vending operation has been successfully completed and, conversely, must return all escrowed coins to the system user only when a vending operation has not been successfully completed. If an escrow device does not operate reliably, the vending system may be damaged by an irrate user, or revenue can be lost to the owner of the system. U.S. Pat. No. 4,782,937 describes a prior art escrow device for coin operated systems. This patent is incorporated herein by reference.
In coin operated escrow systems, jamming is a common problem. For this reason, some coin escrow devices use jam detection circuitry. In prior art systems, electro-mechanical means have been employed to detect jamming within the coin escrow hopper using contact switches. When a coin deposit is detected, a contact switch is closed to tell the control electronic module that the coin escrow has activity. When a call connection is made or fails, a gate of the escrow hopper will open to accept or return the coins, and the contact switch will be reset to an open circuit position. If the coin escrow is jammed, the contact switch will remain closed and thus give a signal to the control electronic module that there is a coin jam. The use of contact switches can cause problems, however. Contact switches are subject to breakdowns due to air corrosion, electrochemical corrosion, or for mechanical reasons. To avoid the breakdown problems common with contact switches, some escrow systems do not use coin jam detection at all.
It is desired to have an improved system to detect jams in a coin escrow device.

Jam detector system for coin escrow device


A computer-implemented method enables reconstructing contents of blocks in a storage system having l availability zones (AZs), a set of n storage units in each AZ arranged as columns, and a set of m storage blocks in each storage unit. The storage blocks of n+1 of the storage units are parity blocks, where l−1 of the AZs each include an additional parity block. The method includes using the parity blocks and/or data in the AZs and reconstructing contents of blocks in the storage system having l availability zones (AZs) from a concurrent loss of: one of the AZs, a storage unit together with one storage block in one of the remaining l−1 AZs, and one further storage block in each of the remaining l−2 AZs of the storage system.

The present invention relates to recovering failed devices in distributed data centers, and more particularly, this invention relates to recovering failed devices in cloud storage systems and networks.
Reliable delivery of data is an essential aspect of data storage systems. Error detection and correction schemes are used to detect errors in data delivery and reconstruct data when an error is detected. Error detection and correction schemes are especially important for delivery of data over unreliable communication channels and/or channels which are subject to noise. Data redundancy schemes, such as parity computation, enable reliable delivery of data using error detection and correction techniques by adding redundancy and/or extra data to a message. Redundancy and/or extra data may be used to check the message for consistency with the original message.
Erasure codes with high efficiency and high loss tolerance are important for data storage systems where there are a variety of loss mechanisms. In a storage cluster comprising multiple availability zones (AZs), it is important to protect against the loss of an AZ. In large scale data storage (e.g., in cloud storage) there is a high probability that, at any point in time, there are some component losses under repair.
Multiple devices may fail concurrently in distributed data centers where each device is under one or more unique fail mode scenarios. A variety of failures may occur including a loss of a complete data center, a loss of a box of individual storage devices in a data center, loss of individual storage devices within a box, and/or sectors within a storage device. Existing solutions do not account for all the various failures modes and/or require a low rate of data devices with respect to the total number of devices in the system.

Recovering failed devices in distributed data centers

International Business Machines Corporation


Compounds of formula I: wherein c, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and R8 are defined herein, are useful as inhibitors of HIV replication.

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), particularly the HIV-1 strain. Most currently approved therapies for HIV infection target the viral reverse transcriptase and protease enzymes. There is additionally one approved drug targeting gp41 to inhibit viral entry and one approved drug targeting the integrase enzyme. Within the reverse transcriptase inhibitor and protease inhibitor classes, resistance of HIV to existing drugs is a problem. Therefore, it is important to discover and develop new antiretroviral compounds.

Inhibitors of human immunodeficiency virus replication


A jewelry cleaning system for facilitating the placement and removal of jewelry before, during and after cleaning is provided. The jewelry cleaning system comprises a container including a bottom wall and a side wall. The uppermost edge of the side wall defines an opening. A cover interacts with the side wall and is releasably securable to the side wall in order to define a closed container. A basket is capable of being positioned within the container. A displaceable handle is mounted to the basket so that when the basket is positioned in the container and the cover is secured to the side wall, both the basket and handle are retained in the closed container, and when the basket is positioned in the container and cover is removed from the container, the handle is displaced and projects above the uppermost edge of the side wall.

The invention is directed to a jewelry cleaning system and, in particular, to an improved basket and container assembly for facilitating the placement and removal of the jewelry from the cleaning solution before, during and after cleaning.
Heretofore, the most popular known jewelry cleaning system has been a covered jar containing a cleaning solution and basket assembly. The basket sits in a jar filled with a colored ammonia based fluid. The jewelry is placed in a basket and the basket is positioned in the jar so that the jewelry is permitted to soak in the ammonia fluid until it is clean. The basket is usually provided with an upright post which serves as a handle and facilitates lifting the basket from the container in order to remove and replace jewelry.
These products have been found to be less than completely satisfactory. The particular disadvantage of such jar type jewelry cleaning systems is that the basket handle cannot be removed by a woman without wetting her fingernails and causing damage to her nail polish finish. The colored ammonia fluid can also stain clothing and towels. A second disadvantage is that the jar and basket cleaners have an inclination to leak. This is due to the surface tension of the ammonia fluid which causes it to adhere to the cover. When the cover is removed from the jar, the ammonia follows gravity and flows onto the user's hands. Accordingly, a jar and basket jewelry cleaning assembly that minimizes contact with the jewelry cleaning fluid is desired.


A sound attenuation panel that includes an incident wall and a frame unit connected to the incident wall. The incident wall defines an aperture therethrough. The frame unit includes multiple spoke members spaced apart from one another and radially extending from one or more central hub openings of the frame unit. The one or more central hub openings align with the aperture of the incident wall. The frame unit defines channels between adjacent pairs of the spoke members. The channels fluidly connect to the one or more central hub openings. The frame unit is configured to receive sound waves into the central hub opening through the aperture of the incident wall to dissipate the sound waves through the channels between the spoke members.

Sound-absorbing materials are desirable in various applications that involve people or are near people because exposure to high noise levels can cause hearing loss, increase stress, and interfere with communication. Some conventional acoustic absorption materials are not able to sufficiently absorb noise in low frequency ranges. For example, the absorption of sound in deep subwavelengths by homogenous materials is a challenging task because the dissipative power is quadratic in the acoustic field amplitudes and requires higher energy density in the material. The sound absorption in this domain requires either a higher field concentration or a longer sound wave path. Some known conventional methods of acoustic absorption make use of perforated panels, porous and fibrous materials, gradient index materials, and the like. These materials are often associated with poor sound absorption capabilities in the low frequency regime and require a very thick structure with dimensions comparable to the working wavelength. The structures may be too thick and/or heavy for some applications, such as aircraft applications, in which component sizes and weights are strictly regulated.
A need exists for a sound-absorbing panel that effectively dampens noise within a frequency range of interest, such as at low frequencies, and is lightweight and thin.

Sound attenuation panel and methods of constructing and installing the same


The invention relates to an improved membrane pervaporation and vapor permeation system in which the vacuum is produced by a fluid passing through a Venturi-type nozzle. The fluid is chosen from solvents that have little or no affinity for the permeate molecules. It is applicable over process feed rates, and can be used for the separation of aromatic species from hydrocarbon.

Pervaporation is a separation process where a membrane in contact with a multi-component liquid feed selectively absorbs one or more of the species from the feed. The sorbed species permeate across the membrane under the influence of a concentration gradient that is produced by evaporating the sorbed molecules from the product side of the membrane using a vacuum or sweep gas. Permeate vapor is then condensed and recovered as a liquid. Vapor permeation differs from pervaporation in that the feed is already in the vapor phase.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,753,008, incorporated by reference herein, discloses three ways for maintaining a sufficiently low partial pressure of permeate on the downstream side (also referred to as the "permeate side") of a membrane in a vapor permeation process: (a) by vacuum, (b) by dilution, and (c) by countercurrent sweep. When the low partial pressure is obtained by a vacuum or partial vacuum, it is conventional (i.e., known in the art of separations with polymer membranes) to use vacuum pumps and/or steam ejectors (including multi-stage steam ejectors).
While effective, vacuum pumps are expensive to maintain and can lead to difficulty in condensing the permeate. For this reason, pervaporation systems have been disclosed which use refrigeration equipment to assist in permeate condensation. Moreover, the vacuum pump oil may become contaminated with permeate, thus requiring more maintenance. And as a result of their generally low displacement, vacuum pumps are not typically useful in large separations systems.
While simpler, steam ejectors are limited in the level of vacuum they can achieve at reasonable steam flow rates. Consequently, staged ejectors are often needed for pervaporation separation systems. And since a small amount of permeate can remain in the steam condensate effluent, a treatment of the water effluent may be needed before discharge.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,273,937 attempts to overcome these difficulties by using a Venturi-type nozzle to produce the vacuum on the downstream side of the membrane. The Venturi is operated using a non-volatile working fluid that has an affinity for the permeate molecules. Since the working fluid has an affinity for the permeate molecules, the product effluent stream is heated and a flash drum is used to separate the permeate molecules, which can then be cooled and conducted away from the process. Following permeate separation in the flash drum, the non-volatile working fluid is cooled and pumped to the inlet of the Venturi for re-use. While the disclosed process achieves a vacuum on the downstream side of the membrane, it is complicated by the method selected to separate permeate from the Venturi effluent, as is also the case of the steam ejectors of U.S. Pat. No. 5,753,008.
There is, therefore, a need for a membrane separation process having an improved method for providing a vacuum on the downstream side of the membrane.

ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company


Embodiments of a dialog system that utilizes a multi-modal input interface for recognizing user input in human-machine interaction (HMI) systems are described. Embodiments include a component that receives user input from a plurality of different user input mechanisms (multi-modal input) and performs certain synchronization and disambiguation processes. The multi-modal input components synchronizes and integrates the information obtained from different modalities, disambiguates the input, and recovers from any errors that might be produced with respect to any of the user inputs. Such a system effectively addresses any ambiguity associated with the user input and corrects for errors in the human-machine interaction.

Spoken language is the most natural and convenient communication tool for people. Advances in speech recognition technology have allowed an increased use of spoken language interfaces with a variety of different machines and computer systems. Interfaces to various systems and services through voice commands offer people convenience and efficiency, but only if the spoken language interface is reliable. This is especially important for applications in eye-busy and hand-busy situations, such as driving a car or performing sophisticated computing tasks. Human machine interfaces that utilize spoken commands and voice recognition are generally based on dialog systems. A dialog system is a computer system that is designed to converse with a human using a coherent structure and text, speech, graphics, or other modalities of communication on both the input and output channel. Dialog systems that employ speech are referred to as spoken dialog systems and generally represent the most natural type of human machine interface. With the ever-greater reliance on electronic devices, spoken dialog systems are increasingly being implemented in many different systems.
In many human-machine interaction (HMI) systems, users can interact with the system through multiple input devices or types of devices, such as through voice input, gesture control, and traditional keyboard/mouse/pen inputs. This provides user flexibility with regard to data input and allows users to provide information to the system more efficiently and in accordance with their own preferences.
Present HMI systems typically limit particular modalities of input to certain types of data, or allow the user to only use one of multiple modalities at one time. For example, a vehicle navigation system may include both a voice recognition system for spoken commands and a touch screen. However, the touch screen is usually limited to allowing the user to select certain menu items by contact, rather than through voice commands. Such multi-modal systems do not coordinate user commands through the different input modalities, nor do they utilize input data for one modality to inform and/or modify data for another modality. Thus, present multi-modal systems do not adequately provide a seamless user interface system in which data from all possible input modalities can be used to provide accurate information to the system.
What is desired, therefore, is a multi-modal information user input interface for HMI systems that can synchronize and integrate information obtained from different modalities, disambiguate and recover from errors with the assistance of the multi-modal input information. Such a system would greatly improve user satisfaction, system performance and system robustness.
What is further desired is an HMI user input system that can synchronize and integrate the multi-modal information obtained from different modalities in any order.

System and method for multi-modal input synchronization and disambiguation


Systems and methods for coordinating and controlling vehicles, for example heavy trucks, to follow closely behind each other, or linking to form a platoon. In one aspect, on-board controllers in each vehicle interact with vehicular sensors to monitor and control, for example, relative distance, relative acceleration or deceleration, and speed. In some aspects, vehicle onboard systems supply various data (breadcrumbs) to a Network Operations Center (NOC), which in turn provides data (authorization data) to the vehicles to facilitate platooning. The NOC suggests vehicles for platooning based on, for example, travel forecasts and analysis of relevant roadways to identify platoonable roadway segments. The NOC also can provide traffic, roadway, weather, or system updates, as well as various instructions. In some aspects, a mesh network ensures improved communication among vehicles and with the NOC. In some aspects, a vehicle onboard system may provide the authorization data.

Enabling a vehicle to follow closely behind one vehicle safely through partial or full automation has significant fuel savings and/or safety or labor savings benefits, but is generally unsafe when a driver tries to do this manually. Presently, during normal driving, vehicle motion is controlled either manually, by a driver or by convenience systems, such as cruise control or adaptive cruise control. The various types of cruise control systems control vehicle speed to make driving more pleasurable or relaxing, by partially automating the driving task. Some of these systems use range sensors and/or vehicle sensors to control the speed to maintain a constant headway relative to the leading vehicle. In general, these cruise control systems provide minimal added safety, and do not have full control of the vehicle (in terms of being able to fully brake or accelerate).
During rare emergencies, the acceleration and braking of a vehicle may be controlled by active safety systems. Some safety systems try to actively prevent accidents, by braking the vehicle automatically (without driver input), or assisting the driver in braking the vehicle, to avoid a collision. These systems generally add zero convenience, and are only used in emergency situations, but they are able to fully control the vehicle's motion.
Driver control does not match the safety performance of even current systems, for several reasons. First, a driver cannot safely maintain a close following distance. In fact, the relatively short distances between vehicles necessary to get any measurable fuel savings results in an unsafe condition if the vehicle is under driver control, thereby risking a costly and destructive accident. Further, the driver is not as capable of maintaining a constant headway as an automated system is. In fact, a driver trying to maintain a constant headway often causes rapid and large changes in command (accelerator pedal position for example), resulting in a loss of efficiency.
It would be desirable to have reliable and economical semi-automated vehicular convoying or platooning systems which enable vehicles to follow closely together in a safe, efficient, convenient manner.
Careful selection of vehicle routing is important to successful vehicle platooning. While various mapping algorithms exist to describe highways and other roads, these algorithms have not led to routing appropriate for vehicle platooning. As a result, there also has arisen a need to develop methods and systems for identifying appropriate sections of roadway over which platooning of vehicles, including tractor-trailer rigs, can be safely conducted.
Further, in some instances it is desirable, and even necessary, to select correctly one specific vehicle out of a plurality of similar vehicles in appearance to sensors or other system capabilities. Still further, it is sometimes important for a first vehicle to identify characteristics of at least a second vehicle while both (or all) vehicles are proceeding at speed on an open road, for example, the length of all or some portion of the second vehicle.
Once the vehicles are selected, initiation of the platoon, or pull-in, requires careful adjustment by the system of the speed of the two vehicles to increase safety margin to compensate for approach speed. In one aspect, the approach speed of the back vehicle relative to the front vehicle is adjusted as a function of the current gap between the vehicles.
In addition to managing the pull-in process for beginning a platoon, the system identifies conditions suggesting or requiring dissolution of the platoon, as well managing the dissolve process.

Devices, systems, and methods for generating travel forecasts for vehicle pairing


An aerator tine holder includes a clamp block removably attached to a base. Each of the clamp block and the base have a plurality of semicylindrical channels that when attached together form a plurality of cylindrical bores holding cylindrical tines. One or more magnets in the base and/or clamp block may be used to position the tines while the clamp block is removed from the base.

Aerators are commonly used for maintaining landscaped ground surfaces including turf. The term "turf" refers to grass and other material which is specifically grown for sporting activities and is used, for example, to form golf course greens. Aerators on these types of surfaces have tines that repeatedly penetrate the ground surface, forming a plurality of holes so that the ground surface is aerated, to improve growth of the grass or other material and enhance the condition of the surface for playing purposes.
Aerators may have flywheels that drive the upper ends of tine supports in a circular path, and the lower ends in a reciprocating motion of repeated penetrations into the ground. Link arms can pivot to compensate for forward motion of the machine. At each part of the cycle when the tines are withdrawn from the ground surface, the link arms may position the tines in a substantially vertical position for the next cycle of penetration into the ground. Tines are generally cylindrical, are hollow or solid, and produce holes by pulling up plugs or cylindrical cores of soil as the tines move by rotation of the flywheel. For example, three, four or five tines are typically carried by each of multiple tine holders on the aerator, and are held in place by one or more clamp blocks bolded to a rectangular body. When bolted together, the tine holder forms several cylindrical bores that hold the upper ends of several tines.
When an aerator is used, tines must be changed periodically because the tines wear quickly due to abrasion by the soil. Removing and replacing one or more tines is time intensive because it requires loosening the clamp block that holds several tines in place until the tines become loose in the holder. If even one tine is replaced, the other tines, as well as the new tines, must be repositioned and held in place in the tine holder before the clamp block may be tightened again.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,600,573 relates to a tine holder for a turf aerator in which the upper end of each tine is inserted into a tapered collar that is received in each tapered bore. The collar is split so that it contracts as the collar is slid into the tapered bore. A special tool is provided to urge the collar to slide into place.
An aerator tine holder is needed that reduces or minimizes the time required to change one or more tines in an aerator. A tine holder for an aerator is needed that does not require repositioning several tines held by a clamp block. A tine holder for an aerator is needed that does not require special tools to remove and replace tines.


A variable resistor is constructed to reliably seal the space between a rotor and a substrate without insert-molding the substrate into a case, and to be produced at a very low cost. This variable resistor includes a hollow square-prism shaped case which is open at the top and the bottom, a substrate which is fitted into the lower opening of the case, and on the top surface of which a collector electrode and an arcuate resistor are provided, a rotor rotatably fitted into the upper opening of the case, a slider mounted on the bottom surface of the rotor and making sliding contact with the collector electrode and the resistor, an annular packing member disposed between the rotor and the substrate for sealing the space therebetween, terminals mounted on the substrate and electrically connected to the resistor and the collector electrode, and a metallic cover.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a variable resistor for use in, for example, commercial equipment such as hearing aids, measuring instruments, communication devices, and sensors, and more particularly, to a small variable resistor.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a known example of such a variable resistor, Japanese Examined Patent Application Publication No. 5-59561 discloses a variable resistor wherein a resistor substrate on which terminals are mounted is insert-molded into a resin case, a rotor on which a slider is installed and an O-ring are accommodated in the case, the rotor is prevented from rising or moving by placing a metallic cover on the case, and the cover is prevented from slipping off by engaging protrusions provided on the sides of the case with holes in leg portions provided on the cover.
As another known example of such a variable resistor, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 5-3108 discloses a variable resistor wherein a metallic cover is placed on a case from the upper portion thereof, and leg portions protruding from the cover are folded inwardly along the bottom surface of the case.
In both variable resistors, the rising and moving of the rotor relative to the case due to the elastic forces of an O-ring and a slider is prevented by using the metal cover.
In each of these variable resistors, the resistor substrate is insert-molded into the case to provide heat resistance and superior sealing characteristics when the variable resistor is soldered to a printed circuit board. Hence, the resistor substrate (particularly, in the case of a ceramic substrate) is prone to cracking during molding, or molding resin may flow onto the surface of the substrate on which the resistor is provided, resulting in the formation of an insulating film thereon. Furthermore, in these variable resistors, it is necessary to take special steps to prevent the resin from intruding into the inside of the substrate, in order to prevent any insulating film from being located on the surface of the substrate. These problems result in reduced productivity and increased cost.
Further, a tool engagement groove is provided in the upper surface of the rotor, and the resistance value is adjusted by rotating the rotor using a tool, such as a screwdriver, that is engaged with the tool engagement groove. However, since it is necessary to decide the location of a start point and an end point of the rotor, a stopper mechanism must be provided. In general, for variable resistors, stopper protrusions which are in contact with each other are provided on the external surface of the rotor and on the internal surface of the case, and the rotational angle of the rotor is controlled so as to be within a certain range. However, this makes the molding complicated, and the protruding portion of the rotor and the protruding portion of the case interfere with each other, and accordingly the assembly of the rotor becomes very difficult.
In response to this problem, a variable resistor having a protrusion that is integrally formed at the inner edge of an opening of a metal cover and is arranged to strike against a protrusion disposed on the upper surface of the rotor so as to control the rotational angle of the rotor, has been proposed.
However, in small variable resistors having an approximate size of about 2 mm to about 3 mm, the constituent parts also become small and thin, and accordingly it becomes difficult to obtain sufficient mechanical strength of the parts. Particularly, the thickness of metal parts becomes very small, and when the protrusion of the metal cover abuts against the protruding portion of the rotor, the metal cover is deformed and the rotation of the rotor may not be able to be sufficiently controlled.
To overcome the above-described problems, preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a variable resistor which reliably seals the space between a rotor and a substrate without insert-molding the substrate into a case, and which resistor is produced at a greatly reduced cost.
Furthermore, preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a simple and inexpensive variable resistor in which, when a stopper mechanism is provided between a metal cover and a rotor, a strong metal cover is obtained and the rotational angle of the rotor is reliably controlled.
Also, preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a variable resistor including a case which is open at the top and the bottom, a substrate which is fitted into the lower opening of the case, the substrate including a collector electrode on the top surface thereof and an arcuate resistor provided around said collector electrode, a rotor rotatably fitted into the upper opening of the case, a slider mounted on the bottom surface of the rotor and making sliding contact with the collector electrode and the resistor, an annular packing member disposed between the rotor and the substrate for sealing the space therebetween, and a metallic cover having a top plate portion for supporting the top surface of the rotor, a hole provided at the top plate portion such that a portion of the rotor is exposed, and a pair of leg portions extending downward along the sides of the case. The metallic cover supports the bottom surface of the substrate such that the metallic cover is disposed on the case from the upper portion of the case and the leg portions thereof are folded inwardly along the bottom surface of the case.
When assembling this variable resistor, first, the substrate is fitted into the lower opening of the case, and then the rotor is fitted into the upper opening of the case. It is preferable that the annular packing member be disposed on the top surface of the substrate and the slider be mounted on the bottom surface of the rotor in advance. Next, when putting the metallic cover on the case from the upper portion of the case, the pair of leg portions extend downwardly along the sides of the case. In this situation, a portion of the rotor is exposed from the window hole. The leg portions are folded inwardly along the bottom surface of the case and support the bottom surface of the substrate by the tip portions thereof. Thereby, the rotor is prevented from rising, the substrate is prevented from slipping off from the case, and the packing member and the slider are sandwiched between the rotor and the substrate. That is, a closed space is provided between the rotor and the substrate. By disposing the slider, the resistor, and the collector electrode, within this space, the intrusion of moisture and solder flux from the outside is prevented, which produces a variable resistor that achieves very stable performance.
Preferably, a spacer portion to maintain a desired spacing between the rotor and the substrate is provided on the inner surface of the case. Thereby, variations in assembly are avoided, and the compression allowance between the slider and the packing in the assembling process is uniform, and hence the electrical characteristics and the sealing characteristics of this variable resistor are very stable and uniform.
Furthermore, it is preferable that the packing member be directly applied on the top surface of the substrate, and on the outer peripheral side of the resistor. The packing member may instead be provided separately from the substrate and the rotor, and the packing may be disposed therebetween. However, in this case the packing member is prone to cause positional deviations, and it is difficult to maintain stable sealing characteristics. In contrast, the direct application of the packing onto the top surface of the substrate reliably prevents positional deviations thereof.
Moreover, guide grooves for guiding the leg portions of the metallic cover are preferably provided on the outer side-surfaces of the case. This stabilizes the positioning of the cover on the case, and facilitates the assembly thereof.
According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a variable resistor includes a case which is open at a top surface and a bottom surface thereof, a substrate fitted into the lower opening of the case, the substrate including a collector electrode on the top surface thereof and an arcuate resistor disposed around the collector electrode, a rotor rotatably fitted into the top opening of the case, the rotor having a tool engagement groove at an upper surface thereof, an annular groove disposed around the tool engagement groove at the upper surface thereof, and a first stopper portion provided inside the annular groove, a slider mounted on the bottom surface of the rotor, the slider including a first contact arm arranged to contact with the collector electrode and a second contact arm arranged to contact with the arcuate resistor, the first and second contact arms being integral with the slider, a metallic cover having a top plate portion supporting the top surface of the rotor, a hole provided at the top plate portion such that the tool engagement groove of the rotor is exposed, a pair of leg portions extending downwardly along two sides of the case, and a second stopper portion arranged to protrude in the inner edge of the hole of the metallic cover, the second stopper portion being bent downward to be inserted into the annular groove of the rotor so as to control the rotational angle of the rotor by abutting the first stopper portion, wherein the metallic cover supports the bottom surface of the substrate such that the metallic cover is placed on the case from the upper portion of the case and the leg portions thereof are folded inwardly along the bottom surface of the case.
The substrate is fitted into the lower opening of the case, the rotor having the slider attached thereto is accommodated in the case from above, the metallic cover is placed on the case from above, and the lower surface of the substrate is supported by bending inwardly the leg portions of the metallic cover on the bottom surface of the case. Thus, the top plate portion of the metallic cover prevents rising of the rotor, and at the same time, the substrate is prevented from falling off. In this way, it is not necessary to fix the substrate to the case in advance. Also, since the case, the rotor, and the substrate are held together by the metallic cover, the assembly is simple, and moreover, since the shape of the case is simplified, the manufacturing cost is reduced.
The annular groove is preferably located in the upper surface of the rotor, and the second stopper portion of the metallic cover, which is bent downward in the inner edge of the hole of the metallic cover, is inserted into the annular groove of the rotor. When the rotor is rotated, the first stopper portion of the rotor disposed inside the annular groove abuts against the second stopper portion of the metallic cover, and then the rotor stops. At this time, if the rotor is strongly rotated, a bending stress acts on the second stopper portion and it may be possible that the rotation of the rotor cannot be controlled due to deformation of the second stopper portion. However, since the second stopper portion is inserted in the annular groove of the rotor, the bending deformation in the thickness direction of the second stopper portion is controlled by the annular groove. Dropping off of the second stopper portion of the metallic cover from the first stopper portion of the rotor is prevented. Therefore, even if the metallic cover is made of a thin metal, the rotational angle of the rotor is reliably controlled.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a burring portion curved towards the annular groove of the rotor is provided in the inner edge of the hole of the metallic cover, and the upper surface of the rotor may be located under the top plate portion of the metallic cover. That is, when the burring portion is provided and the upper surface of the rotor is located lower than the top plate portion of the metallic cover, the burring portion functions as a guide when a screwdriver is inserted, and the lead to the tool engagement groove is improved. Furthermore, the burring portion improves the strength of the top plate portion of the metallic cover and has the advantage of reinforcing the second stopper portion.
According to preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is preferable that the second stopper portion of the metallic cover is provided in the vicinity of the leg portions. If the second stopper portion is provided in the vicinity of the leg portions, when the rotation of the rotor is controlled by the second stopper portion engaged in the rotor, the rigidity against deformation of the cover is further improved. Even if the metallic cover is made of a thin metal, the rotational angle of the rotor is effectively controlled.
The features, characteristics, elements and advantages of the present invention will be clear from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


Disclosed are a stack package and a fabricating method thereof using a ball grid array semiconductor package (hereinafter, referred to as “BGA PKG”). The stack package can easily electrically connect the stacked BGA PKGs with each other by simplifying a stack structure between the BGA PKGs, and increase bonding reliability by improving bonding force bonded portions of solder balls of substrates.

The present invention relates to a stack package and a fabricating method thereof using a ball grid array semiconductor package(hereinafter, referred to as "BGA PKG").
In general, semiconductor elements and a package technology of them have been continuously developed together for the purpose of high density, high speed, miniaturization, and thin-film.
Particularly, a rapid progress of a package structure from a pin-insertion type to a surface-mounting type has increased a mounting density of a circuit board.
Recently, a chip scale package(hereinafter, referred to as a "CSP"), which is easy to handle and reduced in size of the package while keeping features of a bare chip in a packed state as they are.
The most remarkable package of the various packages is a BGA package, and it is shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 1 shows a common structure of the BGA package.
As shown in the drawing, the BGA PKG 10 includes: a semiconductor chip 1 directly connected with an electronic circuit; a circuit board 2 for transmitting signal of the semiconductor chip 1 to the outside; wires 3 for electrically connecting the circuit board 2 and the semiconductor chip 1; an insulating material 5 of resin material molded for protecting the wires 3; and a number of solder balls 4 fused on the lower surface of the circuit board 2 for inputting and outputting the signal of the semiconductor chip 1 to the outside. Furthermore, the semiconductor chip 1 has a molded portion 6 formed on the outside thereof for protecting the whole semiconductor chip 1 from the outside.
As described above, recently, the stack package increased in capacity and mounting density using the BGA PKG 10 attracts the attention of people.
However, differently from a stacked-chip package in which unpacked semiconductor elements are stacked, such stack package has a complicated structure in which a number of unit packages assembled separately are stacked.
So, such stack package has a disadvantage in that there is no work for electrically connecting the stacked packages with each other.

Stack package and fabricating method thereof


A method for visualizing a large-scale point cloud based on normal, including: (S1) according to a spatial structure of a point cloud data, constructing a balanced octree structure of a node point cloud; (S2) according to the balanced octree structure and normal information of a point cloud, constructing an octree structure with the normal information; and constructing a normal level-of-detail (LOD) visualization node through downsampling; and (S3) determining a node scheduling strategy according to a relationship between a viewpoint, a viewing frustum and a normal of a render node; and respectively calling a reading thread and a rendering thread to simultaneously perform reading and rendering according to the node scheduling strategy.

In recent years, lidar and three-dimensional (3D) scanning technologies have been widely used in surveying and mapping, power line inspection, construction of digital city, protection of ancient buildings, military equipment measurement and digital twins. By virtue of the 3D scanning technology, massive 3D point cloud data, which usually reaches the scale of hundreds of millions and includes reflection intensity and normal direction as well as coordinates of data points, can be quickly acquired. However, how to effectively store and visualize large-scale point clouds has still been unsolved.
The storage and visualization of the large-scale point cloud will consume a lot of computer resources, so the organization, management and display of the large-scale point cloud will directly affect the visualization effect of the point cloud data. Among the recent point cloud visualizing methods, the partitioned index is used to solve the problem that point clouds cannot be completely read into memory. However, for those structurally-complex point clouds, invalid rendering such as point cloud occlusion and point cloud on the back of the scene still occurs in the process of tile rendering, which causes serious waste of computer rendering resources, especially for the large-scale point cloud data.

Method for visualizing large-scale point cloud based on normal

NANJING UNIVERSITY OF AERONAUTICS AND ASTRONAUTICS


An earphone device having a concentrating tube includes an annular magnet, a first yoke, a second yoke, a concentrating tube, a speaker assembly, and a passive diaphragm. The first and second yokes are respectively connected to first and second magnetic pole surfaces of the annular magnet. The concentrating tube is received in a central through hole of the annular magnet. The concentrating tube includes first and second open ends. The speaker assembly includes a voice coil and an active diaphragm. The passive and active diaphragms are at two opposite ends of the concentrating tube. The active and passive diaphragms are respectively close to the first and second open ends. A gas flow generated by the active diaphragm is gathered by the concentrating tube and pushes the passive diaphragm. A gas flow generated by the passive diaphragm returns through the concentrating tube to push the active diaphragm and transmits acoustic waves.

Technical Field
The instant disclosure relates to a field of earphone and, more particularly, to an earphone device having a concentrating tube.
Related Art
Conventional earphones perform electro-acoustic conversions by moving coil drivers. The moving coil driver includes a voice coil, a permanent magnet, and a diaphragm. When audio signals are transmitted to the voice coil by an audio line, the voice coil generates a magnetic field based upon electromagnetic induction. The diaphragm is vibrated by the interaction of the magnetic field generated by the electromagnetic induction and the magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet, and the audio signals are converted into acoustic waves for outputting.
The audio signals include a part of low frequency and a part of high frequency. The part of low frequency and the part of high frequency have different characteristics in terms of frequency response. According to prior techniques, the parts of low frequency and the high frequency are processed by electro-acoustic conversions through the single diaphragm; however, it is hard to produce clear sound by the single diaphragm due to different characteristics of frequency response. Distortion may occur during the electro-acoustic conversions, which results in outputted sound being unclear. Although two moving coil drivers can be adopted in an earphone to resolve the issue by having the two drivers respectively generate acoustic waves of high frequency and low frequency via a frequency dividing circuit, this increases the size of the earphone, making it unsuitable for use.
In addition, the pressure of gas inside the earphone directly affects the vibration of the diaphragm and consequently affects the frequency response thereof. When the diaphragm vibrates due to the pressure of gas inside the earphone being greater than that of gas outside the earphone, the vibration of the diaphragm is restrained by the gas with greater pressure, meaning that the amplitude of vibration of the diaphragm is depressed. As a result, certain frequency range(s) of sound that the earphone should generate, is lost.

Earphone device having concentrating tube


A surface-coated cutting tool includes a base material and a coating formed on a surface of the base material. The coating includes a first hard coating layer including crystal grains having a sodium chloride-type crystal structure. The crystal grain has a layered structure in which a first layer composed of nitride or carbonitride of AlxTi1-x and a second layer composed of nitride or carbonitride of AlyTi1-y are stacked alternately into one or more layers. The first layer each has an atomic ratio x of Al varying in a range of 0.6 or more to less than 1. The second layer each has an atomic ratio y of Al varying in a range of 0.45 or more to less than 0.6. The largest value of difference between the atomic ratio x and the atomic ratio y is 0.05≤x−y≤0.5.

Ikeda et al. (Non-Patent Document 1) indicates that when an "AlTiN" or "AlTiCN" coating with an atomic ratio of Al exceeding 0.7 is produced by physical vapor deposition (PVD), the layer structure of the coating changes to the wurtzite crystal structure, resulting in reduction of hardness. Setoyama et al. (Non-Patent Document 2) produced a super multilayer film of TiN/AlN by PVD in order to increase an Al content in an "AlTiN" or "AlTiCN" coating. However, it is reported that when an "AlTiN" or "AlTiCN" coating with a thickness exceeding 3 nm per AlN layer is produced, the layer structure changes to the wurtzite crystal structure, resulting in reduction of hardness. Studies have been made for further improvement in cutting performance, for example, by techniques such as increasing the atomic ratio of Al by chemical vapor deposition (CVD).
For example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2014-129562 (Patent Document 1) discloses a method in which AlCl3 gas, TiCl4 gas, NH3 gas, H2 gas, and N2 gas are introduced into a reaction chamber at a pressure of 1.3 kPa and a temperature of 800° C. and then the reaction chamber is cooled at a cooling rate of 10° C./min until the temperature of the base material reaches 200° C. It is said that, with this method, a hard coating having a structure in which a 2 nm-thick TiN having the face-centered cubic lattice (fcc) structure and a 6 nm-thick AlN having the fcc structure are alternately layered can be formed by CVD.
Furthermore, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2015-193071 (Patent Document 2) discloses a hard coating layer including a composite nitride layer or a composite carbonitride layer represented by (Ti1-xAlxN) (CyN1-y), in which the layer includes crystal grains having a cubic structure, and the composition of Ti and Al periodically varies along the normal direction to the surface of the tool base material.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Surface-coated cutting tool and method of producing the same


The drain-to-source field leakage current and the device-to-device field leakage current that are caused by radiation-induced hole trapping in the field oxide region are reduced in the present invention by forming the source and drain regions a distance apart from the edge of the field oxide region.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to MOS transistors and, more particularly, to a radiation hardened MOS transistor.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1A shows a plan view that illustrates a prior-art NMOS transistor 100, and a prior-art NMOS transistor 102 that is formed adjacent to transistor 100. FIG. 1B shows a cross-sectional diagram taken along line 1B-1B of FIG. 1A.
As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, transistors 100 and 102, which are formed in a p-type substrate 110, both have spaced-apart n+ source and drain regions 112 and 114 that are formed in substrate 110. Both transistors 100 and 102 also have a channel region 116 that is located between the source and drain regions 112 and 114. The source and drain regions 112 and 114, and channel region 116 of each transistor define an active region for each transistor.
In addition, a field oxide region FOX is formed in substrate 110. Field oxide region FOX surrounds the active regions, isolating the active region of transistor 100 from the active region of transistor 102. Transistors 100 and 102 both further have a gate oxide layer 120 that is formed over channel region 116, and a gate 122 that is formed on gate oxide layer 120 over channel region 116, and on a portion of field oxide region FOX.
A local interconnect 124 can also be formed on the top surface of field oxide region FOX. This structure can form a parasitic MOS transistor where drain region 114 of transistor 100 functions as the drain, source region 112 of transistor 102 functions as the source, field oxide region FOX functions as the gate oxide layer, and interconnect 124 functions as the gate. To prevent the formation of a parasitic transistor, field oxide region FOX is formed to have a thickness that prevents the substrate region lying below field oxide region FOX from inverting when a positive voltage is applied to interconnect 124.
When ionizing radiation from outer space passes through the semiconductor materials that form transistor 100, such as silicon and oxide, the radiation causes electron-hole pairs to be formed in the semiconductor material. The electron-hole pairs formed in silicon typically recombine quickly and, as a result, pose little problem to the operation of transistor 100.
However, when the electron-hole pairs are formed in field oxide region FOX, the holes often become trapped within the oxide. The traps are widely believed to be caused by lattice defects that occur during the formation of the field oxide region FOX by the local oxidation of silicon (LOCOS) process.
With the LOCOS process, a layer of pad or buffer oxide is formed over the substrate, followed by the formation of an overlying layer of nitride. Selected portions of the layer of nitride and the underlying layer of pad oxide are then removed to expose portions of the silicon substrate where the field oxide regions are to be formed. After this, a channel-stop implant is performed, followed by the thermal growth of the field oxide regions.
As the oxide grows, however, the oxide pushes against the sides of the nitride/oxide openings. The stiffness of the nitride layer restrains the oxide from growing upward, thereby causing downward stress against the silicon along the corner of the growing oxide. Further stress along the corner is caused by the volume misfit of the growing oxide. These stresses, in turn, generate dislocations in the silicon.
Although it is difficult to characterize the exact nature of the stress-induced damage discussed above, the lattice defects are thought to trap holes. The accumulation of holes at the trap sites produces positive charges at the trap sites. The positive charges attract electrons in substrate 110 to the surface of field oxide region FOX, and can invert the region adjacent to field oxide region FOX.
When the positive charge trap sites lie at the edge of field oxide region FOX adjacent to the active region under gate 122, electrons are attracted to the surface of field oxide region FOX under gate 122. The electrons invert the surface and form a drain-to-source field edge leakage current 126 that allows electrons to flow from source region 112 to drain region 114 when no gate bias is applied. The drain-to-source field edge leakage current consumes power and can be large enough to lead to device failure.
When the positive charge trap sites lie in field oxide region FOX below interconnect 124 between drain region 114 of transistor 100 and source region 112 of transistor 102, electrons 130 are attracted to the bottom surface of field oxide region FOX. The accumulation of electrons along the bottom surface of field oxide region FOX effectively lowers the threshold voltage of the parasitic MOS transistor.
As a result, the parasitic MOS transistor can turn on, allowing a device-to-device field leakage current 128 to flow from region 114 of transistor 100 to region 112 of transistor 102, when a positive voltage is applied to interconnect 124. Thus, there is a need to increase the radiation hardness of MOS transistors.
The present invention provides a transistor that substantially increases the radiation hardness of MOS transistors by eliminating the drain-to-source field edge leakage current. The present invention also reduces the device-to-device field leakage current, which results from the lowering of the threshold voltage of a parasitic MOS transistor that utilizes the field oxide region as the gate oxide.
A transistor in accordance with the present invention is formed in a semiconductor material of a first conductivity type, and has an upper surface. The transistor includes a first region of a second conductivity type that is formed in the semiconductor material, and a second region of the second conductivity type that is formed in the semiconductor material a distance apart from the first region.
The transistor also includes a first channel region of the semiconductor material that is located between the first region and the second region. The transistor further includes a third region of the second conductivity type that is formed in the semiconductor material a distance apart from the first region and the second region.
In addition, the transistor includes a second channel region of the semiconductor material that is located between the second region and the third region. An active region is defined by the first region, the second region, the third region, the first channel region, and the second channel region.
The transistor additionally include a fourth region of the second conductivity type that is formed in the semiconductor material a distance apart from the active region. The fourth region has an upper surface that surrounds the upper surface of the active region. The transistor further includes a third channel region of the semiconductor material that is located between the fourth region and the active region.
In addition, the transistor includes a gap region of the semiconductor material that has an upper surface that adjoins the upper surface of the fourth region. The transistor further includes a field oxide region that is formed in the semiconductor material. The field oxide region surrounds the upper surface of the fourth region, and adjoins the gap region.
In addition, a gate is formed over the first channel region, the second channel region, and the third channel region. The transistor can further include a second gate that is formed over a portion of the gap region. Alternately, the upper surface of the gap region can adjoin and surround all of the fourth region, and the gate can also be formed over all of the gap region. Further, the upper surface of the gap region can adjoin and surround all of the fourth region, a first gate can be formed over the first, second, and third channel regions, and a second gate can be formed over a portion of the gap region.


In a read label as an information recording medium and a method for recording information thereon according to the present invention, the read label includes: an adhesive layer 3; a metal film layer 4 disposed on the surface of the adhesive layer 3; and a light-transmissive protective film layer 5 disposed on the surface of the metal film layer 4. The adhesive layer 3 and the light-transmissive protective film layer 5 are larger in thickness than the metal film layer 4, and an evaporated and removed portion is formed in a part of the metal film layer 4 by radiating a laser beam from the side of the light-transmissive protective film layer 5.

FIG. 10 is cross-sectional views of conventional read labels used as an information recording medium. As shown in FIG. 10 (a), the read label used as an information recording medium includes: an adhesive layer 3a disposed on a base material 2a; a pigment layer 17a disposed on the adhesive layer 3a; a laser marking layer 18a disposed on the pigment layer 17a, and a protective film layer 5a disposed on the laser marking layer 18a.
In FIG. 10(b), a color-developed layer 19a is formed by radiating a laser beam 7a onto the laser marking layer 18a from a laser device such as carbon dioxide laser or YAG laser.
At this point, a desired marking position of the laser marking layer 18a is irradiated with the laser beam 7a from the laser device to generate a color only in the desired portion, thereby forming the color-developed layer 19a. The laser beam 7a to be used depends on the material of the laser marking layer 18a. Information is read by distinguishing or identifying the desired marking from a color difference between the color-developed layer 19a and the pigment layer 17a disposed under the laser marking layer 18a (similar techniques are disclosed by, for example, Patent Literatures 1 and 2 listed below as related art documents).

Read label used as information recording medium and method for recording information thereon


An apparatus and method for capturing and transmitting a plurality of consecutive still images that look like moving images. An MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) message is generated using stored consecutive still images and a SMIL (Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language) application with the MMS message transmitted to a recipient.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to image capture and transmission by a mobile communication device, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for capturing and transmitting consecutive still images that appear to be moving images.
2. Description of the Related Art
A user having a mobile communication device, or user equipment, that is subscribed and registered in a communication system may communicate with another communication device in the system via a communication path set by a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) within a service area formed by a base station (BS). However, the user equipment may be used for more than just communication with other user equipment.
Accordingly, mobile communication service providers have developed and offered a variety of supplementary services in order to increase the utilization rate of the user equipment and provide convenience for subscribers. For example, a mobile communication service provider may offer text messaging, multimedia messaging and radio on-line games as well as self-developed additional functions such as a phone-book, note taking, message writing, an organizer, games and a camera. One such supplementary service is a multimedia messaging service that allows a user to display or transmit both still images and moving images that have been captured and stored using a camera function of the user equipment.
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional mobile communication system 1. With reference to FIG. 1, user equipment 10 moves freely in a service area formed by a base station 20 and in a service area formed by another base station (not shown) and communicates with other user equipment. The types of communications are determined according to signals transmitted by the user equipment; voice communications, text messaging (using symbols, numbers and graphics) and multimedia (including image signals, audio signals and text signals).
Another user communicating with the user equipment 10 is connected to a communications network through a communication path set by a mobile switching center (MSC) 30. If the other user equipment is subscribed to the current communications network, the connection to the communications network is via the self-set communication path. If the other user equipment is subscribed to a different communications network, the connection to the communications network is via a public network 40.
Communication modes formed between two users are classified as a real-time communication mode, which allows the user equipment to communicate in real time, and a non-real-time communication mode, which allows a user to check received data at the user's convenience. Generally, the cost according to communication channel occupation is higher in the real-time communication mode than in the non-real-time communication mode.
In particular, in the real-time communication mode, the longer communications are performed, the longer a channel is occupied and the higher the cost. However, in the non-real-time communication mode, when the amount of data transmitted is large, channel bandwidth is wider, thereby occupying a plurality of channels at the same time and increasing channel occupation time and cost.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a conventional method for capturing and transmitting images with user equipment in a mobile communication system. When user's instruction to initiate image capture is inputted through an input device such as a keypad, the user equipment 10 drives a capturing means, such as a camera, to capture one or more images of a subject (S210). If a plurality of still images is captured, the images are sequentially stored in a designated storage region (S220). Thereafter, if the user desires to transmit the stored images (S230), the user equipment selects specific still images selected by the user (S240), designates an ID of the recipient and transmits the selected still images (S250). Accordingly, when a plurality of still images are transmitted, the processes (S240 to S260) will be performed repeatedly.
In the conventional art, the user equipment 10 limits files related to multimedia images, which are attached when transmitting an MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) message, to a still image and a moving image. Accordingly, transmission of information related to a moving subject is limited. It takes a long time with associated high communication cost to transmit and receive a moving image due to the large size. On the other hand, when a plurality of still images is transmitted, the still images are transmitted individually; a process that is not only inconvenient but also takes a long time.
Therefore, there is a need for a mobile communication device that transmits a plurality of still images that relate the motion of a captured subject in a manner that is convenient and cost-effective. The present invention addresses these and other needs.

Method and apparatus for image capture and transmission in a mobile communication device


This invention relates to a confocal laser scanning transmission microscope including a deflecting element for deflecting a light beam at a set scanning frequency in a main scanning direction and an auxiliary scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction to irradiate the light spot to a specimen, and the microscope further comprises an infinity compensating objective lens for collecting a transmitted light through the specimen to form into a parallel beam and a cube-corner-reflector disposed on the opposite side of the specimen across the objective lens and on the exit pupil position of the infinity compensating objective lens.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a confocal laser scanning transmission microscope having deflecting elements for deflecting a light beam at a set frequency in a main scanning direction and an auxiliary scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction to irradiate the light beam to a specimen.
2. Related Background Art
In the optical scanning transmission microscope, a light beam converged in a fine spot is deflected in two dimensions by two deflecting elements to cause the light spot to scan the surface of a speciment at high speed, and the reflected light or the transmitted light on the specimen is detected by a photodetector, such as a photomultiplier, to obtain the optical information of the specimen as electric signals (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 121022/1986). In this conventional microscope, generation of stray light can be prevented by using a light beam converged in a fine spot to scan a specimen. Furthermore, the optical information of a specimen is provided as electric signals, and the brightness, contrast, etc. of an image can be electrically adjusted while the specimen can be observed on a monitor.
But in the conventional microscope, a number of optical components are required to form a confocal arrangement. And a drawback of this microscope is that the optical system for guiding a transmitted light again to the deflecting element is complicated, and the microscope is accordingly large-sized. The microscope includes such a number of optical components that it is difficult to adjust their alignment.
Another conventional microscope is a confocal scanning light microscope in which the beam is fixed and the specimen is scanned at high speed ("confocal scanning light microscopy with high aperture immersion lenses", Journal of Microscopy, Vol. 117, Pt 2, Nov., 1979, pp. 219 to 232).
This conventional microscope, however, was not practical in the case of a living specimen since the living thing can not safely be vibrated (scanned).

Confocal laser scanning transmission microscope


Various embodiments of sensors are disclosed which contain an inertial mass that is magnetically biased to an initial position. In response to a certain deceleration, the mass is caused to swing about an axis and operate a switch. In some embodiments, the switch is one that is held open by the inertial mass' presence in its initial position and closes when the inertial mass swings away from its initial position, while in other embodiments it is one whose contacts are bridged by a conductive portion of the inertial mass only after the inertial mass has been displaced from its initial position, while in still other embodiments it is a reed switch that is magnetically operated. Motion of the inertial mass can be undampened or dampened. If dampening is desired, it can be accomplished either pneumatically or electromagnetically.

This invention relates to velocity change sensors.
Supplemental inflatable restraint devices that are used in automobiles are activated by velocity change sensors, sometimes called inertia switches. These sensors sense predetermined deceleration characteristics and provide switch closure signals to the devices when such predetermined characteristics are sensed. The predetermined deceleration characteristic that creates switch closure is a function of both the magnitude of deceleration and its duration. The ability of a sensor to sense a predetermined deceleration characteristic is determined by the sensor design. In order to embody this design in production switches, manufacturing tolerances must be closely controlled.
One known type of velocity change sensor that is used with supplemental inflatable restraint devices comprises a sphere that travels within a tube. The predetermined deceleration characteristic that will activate the switch is a function of several parameters. One of these parameters is the closeness of the fit of the sphere within the tube. Controlling the accuracy of this fit in production switches is a significant portion of the switch cost.
The present invention relates to a velocity change sensor which does not utilize the tube and sphere construction and for that reason offers the potential for reducing costs associated with the production of velocity change sensors for supplemental inflatable restraints while still attaining a specified degree of accuracy in such sensors.
Rather than executing linear displacement of a sphere within a tube, a sensor of the present invention comprises a sensing mass that is mounted for swinging motion in response to certain velocity changes. Several embodiments of the invention are disclosed, and they present various means for imparting dampening to the sensor operation for the purpose of discriminating between those velocity changes that should produce switch actuation and those that should not.
The features, advantages, and benefits of the invention will be seen from the following detailed description which is accompanied by drawings. A preferred embodiment according to the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention is disclosed.

Siemens-Bendix Automotive Electronics Limited


An apparatus is arranged for packaging sheet material, in particular banknotes, vouchers, checks, separation cards, etc., with a packaging device, packaging material dispensed from a roll for packaging the sheet material, and a control device controlling the apparatus. A monitoring device is provided for the packaging material, and the control device evaluates a signal of the monitoring device during the packaging of sheet material, in order to derive therefrom whether packaging material is present on the roll.

The invention relates to an apparatus for packaging sheet material, in particular banknotes, vouchers, checks, separation cards, etc.
In the processing of banknotes with banknote processing machines, banknotes to be processed are inserted in an input pocket of a singler, so that the banknotes can be grasped individually by the singler. The individual banknotes are subsequently processed in the banknote processing machine. For this purpose, the properties of the banknotes are ascertained by sensors, for example their type, i.e. denomination and currency, their authenticity, their state, i.e. their soiling, damages, etc., their fitness for further circulation, their position and orientation, etc. Depending on the ascertained properties, the further processing of the banknotes is affected, for example these are sorted into certain output pockets in accordance with the ascertained properties, in order to form stacks of banknotes. For example, stacks of 100 banknotes can be formed, which are subsequently banded automatically. For this purpose, a loop of paper or of a different material, such as a plastic foil, is placed around the stack of 100 banknotes and a packet is formed. Further, it can be provided to automatically stack several of the packets containing 100 banknotes to form parcels containing 500 or 1,000 banknotes. Parcels formed in this manner can in turn be packaged automatically, for which purpose, for example, a foil material such as a plastic foil, in particular a shrink foil, can be employed.
The above-described banding and packaging of banknotes and corresponding apparatus are known. For example, in DE 10225705 A1 the banding of banknotes is described, and in DE 10200916976 A1, the packaging of banknotes is described.
In the following, the term packaging will be employed for any banding, packaging or other enveloping or wrapping of banknotes, as long as a consumable material stored on a roll, for example paper, plastic foil or foil-type packaging material composed of different materials, is employed for this packaging.
In the operation of the known apparatus for the packaging of banknotes it has been found that processing errors occur if the packaging material employed for the packaging has run out. In this case, a packaging currently carried out cannot be carried out or cannot be carried out completely. This can have the consequence that complex manual re-processing becomes necessary, since the stacked banknotes to be packaged cannot be processed in the provided, automated workflow.

GIESECKE+DEVRIENT CURRENCY TECHNOLOGY GMBH


A bait delivery system having a container for holding water and a lid releasably attached to the container. The lid includes a door opening and a door is pivotally connected to the lid. A rod extends through a rod opening in the lid and a loop assembly is connected to a lower end of the rod. A bait net is connected to the lid and has a lower portion connected to the loop assembly. The loop assembly has a first position adjacent the container bottom and a second position near the lid. The loop assembly is moved from the first position to the second position by raising the rod. In the first position the door is closed and in the second position the door is open. In a preferred embodiment, the door automatically opens as the loop assembly moves from the first to second position and automatically closes as the loop assembly moves from the second to first position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a system for delivering live bait to a fisherman.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional bait buckets for live bait, such as minnows and shrimp, typically have a lid with a door on the top. The steps for retrieving a single piece of live bait can be more time consuming than an angler would like, especially when the fish are biting, or when the other anglers you are fishing with want you to be the bait retriever for the entire crew.
The following is representative of the process employed when using a conventional bait bucket:
1. Set your fishing pole down.
2. Locate and hold the dip net in one hand. (Note: When the fish are really biting and people are in a hurry to bait their hook and get back to fishing, quite often the dip net doesn't get placed in the same location and sometimes the dip net will accidently get dropped into the bait bucket. Placing your hand in the bait bucket to retrieve the dip net can potentially kill the bait if your skin is sweaty or has sunscreen or insect spray applied to it.)
3. Use your other hand to open the door on the bait bucket lid.
4. Insert the dip net into the bucket through the open door and begin chasing the live bait—while potentially injuring and/or stressing them out to a point that it will possibly kill some of the live bait before you get an opportunity to catch a fish with them.
5. Pull the dip net up from the bucket. (Quite often you will have successfully captured the aerator stone along with a few pieces of bait that are thrashing around in the dip net because they were just chased around the inside of the bucket getting hit with the dip net until they were eventually captured and pulled out of the water with a bubbling stone that is pulsing with air next to their head making them want to jump out of the net all the more.)
6. Pull one of the live bait out of the dip net and hold on to it while you use your other hand to dump the remaining bait left in the dip net back into the bucket.
7. Go back to where you set your fishing pole and pick it back up and grab the hook and bait up.
For many anglers, the total time typically takes about 40 to 60 seconds.
It is desirable to have a bait delivery system to retrieve bait from a bait bucket easily, quickly, conveniently and without injuring the live bait. It is also desirable to be able to retrieve bait from a bait delivery system using only one hand with as few steps as possible.


When converting a continuous-tone image into a halftone dot image based on halftone screen signals, a screen angle is defined as a rational tangent thereof to establish a basic periodic portion of the halftone screen signals, and the basic periodic portion is periodically generated to form a halftone screen which covers an entire scanned region of the continuous-tone image wherein the periodic portion includes a dot composed of an integral number of dot data items wherein the dot comprises four respective points defined at corners where a vertical distance 1 between an uppermost point and a leftmost point is defined by 1=L cos.sup.2 .theta. tan.theta. where .theta. is the screen angle and L is a marginal edge of the basic periodic portion into which a side of the dot is projected. Minimum unit dot data items determined by the screen angle and/or a dot resolution level are prepared, and the dot data items are generated in a sequence which is established based on said screen angle and/or said dot resolution level to constitute the basic periodic portion wherein the dot data items represented by address signals X,Y are converted into dot data items represented by address signals x,y which are defined by: EQU x=Mod(X+F(Y),Nx) EQU y=Mod(Y,Ny). where Nx, Ny are numbers of dot data items of the basic periodic portion in the X,Y directions respectively, F(Y) is an address offset number and Mod is a modulo operator.

The present invention relates to a method of forming a halftone screen, and more particularly to a halftone screen forming method which, when converting a continuous-tone image into a halftone dot image based on electrically generated halftone screen signals, minimum units of halftone dot data determined by screen angles and a dot resolution level to construct a basic periodic portion of the halftone screen signals are successively generated.
Recently, image scanning, reading, and recording apparatuses have been widely used in the field of printing and graphic art for electrically processing image information of originals to produce original film plates in an effort to simplify the entire process and improve the quality of printed images.
The image scanning, reading, and recording apparatuses are basically constructed of an image input unit, an image processing unit, and an image output unit. In the image input unit, an original or subject bearing image information is delivered to a predetermined image reading position. Next the original is scanned by a laser beam or the like, and the image information of the original is converted into an electric signal representative of different intensities of reflected laser light. The photoelectrically converted image information is then processed in the image processing unit for tone conversion, outline emphasis, or the like according to platemaking conditions. The image information which is processed by the image processing unit is thereafter fed to the image output unit in which it is converted again into a light signal such as a laser beam. The light signal is applied to a recording medium of a photosensitive material to record the image thereon. The image on the recording medium is then developed by a developing device, after which the recording medium is used as an original film plate for printing or the like.
Where an original to be printed or reproduced bears a continuous-tone image such as a photograph or a painting, it is necessary to break up the original image into halftone dots in order to reproduce image tone gradations clearly. More specifically, a continuous-tone image is converted into a halftone dot image which is composed of closely spaced dots of different sizes according to gradations of density of the image. One method of breaking up a continuous-tone image into halftone dots is to apply a light signal commensurate with the continuous-tone image to a recording medium through a contact screen having a vignetted dot pattern. The aforesaid image scanning reading and recording apparatuses employ a process for electrically generating halftone screen signals corresponding to such a contact screen and for forming a halftone dot image based on the halftone screen signals.
One conventional method of forming a halftone screen disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 52-49361 will briefly be described below by way of example.
FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings shows a basic periodic portion 2 of a halftone screen which is electrically formed. The halftone screen is composed of repetitions of one pattern including a dot 4 surrounded by four points A, B, C, D, and the minimum unit of the halftone screen is the basic periodic portion 2. The basic periodic portion 2 is constructed of eight scanning lines S.sub.1 through S.sub.8 arranged side by side in the auxiliary scanning direction Y. Each of the scanning lines S.sub.1 through S.sub.8 forms an element of the basic periodic portion 2 with a voltage signal that varies in the main scanning direction X. For forming the dot 4, for example, the voltages of the scanning lines S.sub.1, S.sub.2, S.sub.4, S.sub.5 passing through the points A through D are high, and the voltage of the scanning line S.sub.3 passing through a point E is low. The voltages of the scanning lines S.sub.1 through S.sub.5 are selected so as to become gradually lower from the points A through D to the point E.
Halftone screen signals which are represented as voltage signals of the respective scanning lines S.sub.1 through S.sub.8 may be produced as analog signals. However, such half-tone screen signals are generally constructed of dot data items as digital signals for simplifying a circuit arrangement required or a signal processing operation. Where the basic periodic portion 2 is expressed by dot data items which are eight digital signals in each of the main and auxiliary scanning directions X, Y, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the basic periodic portion 2 is composed of 64 dot data items.
The basic periodic portion 2 is periodically produced frequently enough to cover an entire scanned region of the original, for thereby producing a halftone screen. The image information which is photoelectrically read by the image input unit of the image scanning, reading, and recording apparatus is reproduced as a halftone dot image on an original film plate based on the dot data items which serve as halftone screen signal s constituting the halftone screen.
When printing or reproducing a multicolor image or a high-quality monochromatic image from the halftone dot image, it is necessary to generate a plurality of halftone screens having different angles of inclination of the dots 4, i.e., different screen angles .theta., and superpose halftone dot images produced respectively by those halftone screens in order to prevent a moire pattern from being produced. The dot data items and their amount of the basic periodic portion 2 vary dependent on the screen angle .theta.. For example, where the screen angle .theta. is 0.degree. or 45.degree., the basic periodic portion 2 may be constructed of a relatively small amount of dot data items. For other screen angles .theta., the amount of dot data items making up the basic periodic portion 2 is considerably increased. The resolution of a half-tone dot image depends upon the data amount. Usually, a plurality of data sets constructing the basic periodic portion 2 and having different resolutions are prepared for one screen angle .theta.. Therefore, the amount of data items that should be available by the image scanning, reading, and recording apparatus is very large. It is quite time-consuming and highly costly to prepare the necessary dot data items. Also capacity of a memory for storing such dot data must be extremely large. Consequently, the apparatus cannot be manufactured inexpensively and compactly.