Described herein are systems and methods for multiplexing and transmitting video data. The systems and methods use excess bandwidth in a channel available after meeting minimum transmission requirements for all bitstreams. A network device of the invention flexibly allocates this available bandwidth to minimize further rate reduction. More specifically, the network device periodically determines the available bandwidth, and divides the available bandwidth among multiple incoming bitstreams being multiplexed in order to increase downstream decoder buffer levels. By maintaining increased decoder buffer levels, future rate reduction of the video data may be avoided or applied to a lesser degree. Minimizing rate reduction in this manner improves bandwidth usage efficiency, and thus improves video data transmission and end-user output video quality.

The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for transmitting data. More specifically, the present invention relates to efficient transmission of video data over shared transmission of channels.
Video services are provided by a wide array of video content suppliers. For example, residential digital video services may include digital television, video on demand, Internet video, etc.—each service having hundreds of programs. A program refers to one or more bitstreams that are used to represent the video content and associated audio content. A target receiver for the programs, such as a set-top box (STB) located in a residential home, receives video programs from a number of different video content suppliers via assorted transmission channels. Typically, the 'last mile' of transmission between the video content suppliers and the target receiver is along the same transmission channel, requiring the channel to carry multiple video programs from the wide array of suppliers—and often simultaneously.
There are presently a variety of different communication channels for transmitting or transporting video data. For example, communication channels such as coaxial cable distribution networks, digital subscriber loop (DSL) access networks, ATM networks, satellite, terrestrial, or wireless digital transmission facilities are all well known. Many standards have been developed for transmitting data on the communication channels. For the purposes herein, a channel is defined broadly as a connection facility to convey properly formatted digital information from one point to another. A channel includes some or all of the following elements: 1) physical devices that generate and receive the signals (modulator/demodulator); 2) medium that carries the actual signals; 3) mathematical schemes used to encode and decode the signals; 4) proper communication protocols used to establish, maintain and manage the connection created by the channel 5) storage systems used to store the signals such as magnetic tapes and optical disks. The concept of a channel includes but is not limited to a physical channel, but also logical connections established on top of different network protocols, such as xDSL, ATM, IP, wireless, HFC, coaxial cable, Ethernet, Token Ring, etc.
The channel is used to transport a bitstream, or a continuous sequence of binary bits used to digitally represent video, audio and/or data. A bit rate is the number of bits per second required to transport the bitstream. A bit error rate is the statistical ratio between the number of bits in error due to transmission and the total number of bits transmitted. A channel capacity is the maximum bit rate at which a given channel can convey digital information with a bit error rate no more than a given value.
Since transmission of video data with existing communication channels is often excessive, compression is an approach that has been used to make digital video images more transportable. Digital video compression allows digitized video data to be represented in a much more efficient manner and makes it possible to transmit the compressed video data using a channel at a fraction of the bandwidth required to transmit the uncompressed video data. Compression represents significant data savings which results in much more efficient use of channel bandwidth and storage media.
When digital video is first compressed, the encoder assumes a particular bit rate profile, whether it is constant bit rate (CBR) or a variable bit rate (VBR). The word "profile" refers to the fact that transport bit rate may not be constant, but variable under certain constraints, such as peak bit rate, average bit rate, minimum bit rate, etc. The VBR representation of compressed video data allows a video encoder to generate compressed bitstreams that, when decoded, produce consistent video quality. However, as a result of the compression process, the number of bits required to represent the compressed data differs widely from picture to picture. The specific VBR characteristics of the compressed bitstream depends on the complexity of the video image, amount of motion in the video sequence, as well as changes made in post-generation such as scene cuts, fades, wipes, picture-in-picture, etc. As channel capacities are often expressed as constant bit rates, the variable nature of VBR compressed bitstream often poses a problem for video transmission.
To further reduce the transmission load, bitstreams are frequently combined for transmission within a channel. A multiplex is a scheme used to combine bitstream representations of multiple signals, such as audio, video, or data, into a single bitstream representation.
A multiplexer then refers to an apparatus or software designed or configured to multiplex multiple bitstreams using a suitable multiplex scheme. Two functions of the multiplexer are a) scheduling packets including the video data and b) rate control of the video data. When there is sufficient bandwidth on the outgoing channel to send all the video data, the multiplexer simply schedules all the packets to send out.
If the channel bandwidth is not enough, rate reduction is used to decrease the bandwidth required to send the video data. The rate reduction may include re-quantization with a larger quantization step value or complete re-encoding, for example. After suitable rate reduction, the multiplexer then schedules the packets for transmission. Rate reduction often diminishes end-user video quality. Since rate reduction often leads to picture quality degradation, it should be minimized. However, many conventional transmission systems overestimate the amount of rate reduction necessary, leading to diminished output video quality.
Based on the foregoing, improved methods and systems for transmitting video data over transmission channels would be desirable.

Efficient available bandwidth usage in transmission of compressed video data


The invention relates to a diffraction grating-forming phase mask which can make the diffraction grating to be formed substantially free of any defect, even when foreign matters or resins, etc. sublimed from an optical fiber are deposited on the surface of the phase mask. The phase mask 21 comprises a substrate and a grating form of repetitive groove (26)-and-strip (27) pattern for forming a diffraction grating by interference fringes of diffracted light through the repetitive pattern. An optically transparent protective layer 30 is applied over the surface of the substrate with the repetitive groove (26)-and-strip (27) pattern formed thereon.

Optical fibers have brought about breakthroughs in the globalization of communications to make high-quality and large-capacity inter-oceanic telecommunications feasible. So far, it has been known that a Bragg diffraction grating is provided in an optical fiber by creating a periodic refractive index profile in an optical fiber core along the optical fiber, and the magnitude of reflectivity and the width of the wavelength characteristics of the diffraction grating are determined by the period and length and the magnitude of refractive index modulation of the diffraction grating, whereby the diffraction grating can be used as a wavelength division multiplexer for optical communications, a narrow-band yet high-reflection mirror used for lasers or sensors, a wavelength selection filter for removing extra laser wavelengths in fiber amplifiers, etc.
However, the wavelength at which the attenuation of a quartz optical fiber is minimized and which is suitable for long-distance communications is 1.55 .mu.m. It is thus required hat the grating spacing be about 500 nm in order to allow the optical fiber diffraction grating to be used at this wavelength. At the beginning, it was considered difficult to make such a minute structure in an optical fiber core; that is, a Bragg diffraction grating was provided in the optical fiber core by a sophisticated process comprising a number of steps, e.g., side polishing, photoresist coating, holographic exposure, and reactive ion beam etching. For this reason, much fabrication time was needed, resulting in low yields.
In recent years, however, a method of fabricating a diffraction grating by irradiating an optical fiber with ultraviolet radiation to cause a refractive index change directly in an optical fiber core has been developed. This ultraviolet irradiation method has been steadily put to practical use with the advance of peripheral technologies, because of no need of any sophisticated processes.
Since the grating spacing is as fine as about 500 nm as mentioned above, this method using ultraviolet light is now carried out by a two-beam interference process, a writing-per-point process wherein single pulses from an excimer laser are focused to make diffraction grating surfaces one by one, an irradiation process using a phase mask having a grating, etc.
Regarding the two-beam interference process, a problem arises in conjunction with the quality of the beams in the lateral direction, i.e., spatial coherence. A problem with the writing-per-point process is on the other hand that strict step control of the submicron order is needed to focus light on a small point for writing light on many surfaces. Another problem arises in conjunction with processability.
To solve these problems, attention has focused on the irradiation process using a phase mask. According to this process, a phase mask 21 comprising a quartz substrate provided on one surface with grooves of given depth at a given pitch is irradiated with KrF excimer laser light (of 248 nm wavelength) 23 to give a refractive index change to a core 22A of an optical fiber 22, thereby producing a grating (diffraction grating), as shown in FIG. 7(a). For a better understanding of an interference pattern 24 on the core 22A, the pattern 24 is exaggerated in FIG. 7(a). FIG. 7(b) is a sectional view of the phase mask 21, and FIG. 7(c) is a partial top view corresponding to FIG. 7(b). The phase mask 21 has a binary phase type of diffraction grating structure where the substrate is provided on one surface with grooves 26 having a depth D at a repetition pitch P, with a strip 27 substantially equal in width to each groove being provided between adjacent grooves 26.
The depth of each groove 26 on the phase mask 21 (the difference in height between strip 27 and groove 26) D is chosen such that the phase of the excimer laser light (beam) 23 that is exposure light is modulated by .pi. radian. Thus, zero-order light (beam) 25A is reduced to 5% or less by the phase mask 21, and chief light (beam) leaving the mask 21 is divided into + first-order diffracted light 25B containing at least 35% of diffracted light and - first-order diffracted light 25C, so that the optical fiber 22 is irradiated with the + first-order diffracted light 25B and - first-order diffracted light 25C to produce an interference fringe at a given pitch, thereby providing a refractive index change at this pitch in the optical fiber 22.
When the diffracting grating is fabricated in the optical fiber 22 by interference of + first-order light 25B and - first-order light 25C using such a phase mask 21, deposition of foreign matters on the surface of the phase mask 21 causes defects in the diffraction grating exposed to light in the optical fiber 22. This in turn gives rise to noises in the characteristic spectra of the diffraction grating.
When the optical fiber 22 is irradiated with ultraviolet radiation 25B and 25C according to such an arrangement as shown in FIG. 7(a), the covering resin of the optical fiber 22 is sublimated due to exposure to ultraviolet radiation 25B and 25C, filling up the grooves 26 in the phase mask 21. This offers a similar defect problem with respect to the diffraction grating exposed to light in the optical fiber.
A prior grating constituting such a diffraction grating-fabricating phase mask 21 has a reduced diffraction efficiency and so shows an about 3% transmittance with respect to zero-order light 25A because the grooves 26 are of a rectangular wave shape in section, as shown in FIG. 7(b). This zero-order light component 25A makes noises, which in turn appear in the reflection spectra of the transferred optical waveguide diffraction grating.

Phase mask for manufacturing diffraction grating, and method of manufacture


A fusing member suitable for use as a fuser roller in an electrostatographic fusing apparatus, is made entirely of elastomeric materials and has a smooth surface that can be heated. Such a fuser roller is particularly inexpensive to manufacture, not susceptible to delamination failure, and particularly suitable for use in a fusing apparatus as an externally heated and axially unsupported roller.

This invention relates generally to fusing apparatus in electrostatographic copiers and printers, and more particularly, to a solid elastomeric fusing member that is suitable for use as a fuser roller in such apparatus. The fuser roller of the present invention is particularly inexpensive to manufacture, and particularly suitable for use in a fusing apparatus as an externally heated and axially unsupported fuser roller.
In electrostatographic copiers and printers, conventional heat and pressure fusing apparatus as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,551,006, issued Nov. 5, 1985 in the name of Elvin, include a pair of rollers, each having a hollow metallic shell core that may be coated with a layer of elastomeric material. The rollers are axially supported to form a fusing nip through which toner images are conveyed for fusing onto a suitable receiver, or a copy sheet. The heat necessary for such fusing is supplied by a heat source, such as a lamp, located within the hollow of the metallic core of at least the one roller that directly contacts the toner particles forming the image. The heat supplied to the one roller may also be from an external heat source that contacts and directly heats the surface of such roller. Typically, the one roller is the fuser roller, while the other roller is the pressure roller. The pressure necessary for fusing is supplied to the fusing nip through the cooperation of the fuser and pressure rollers.
Such cored and coated rollers, however, are often expensive to manufacture because the metallic shell core must be produced first, and the elastomeric layer or coating added in a different manufacturing step. In addition, bonding between the metallic shell core and the elastomeric layer can be a problem requiring special treatment, and external heating, especially in the case of thinly coated, shell cored rollers, can result in early delamination failure of such rollers.

Fusing apparatus with solid elastomeric fuser roller


An automatic dispensing apparatus for dispensing hand-sanitizer lotion, which is powered using a rechargeable battery pack rechargeable via solar cells, which battery pack is pivotally mounted in the upper interior section of the main frame of the dispenser, above the liquid-storage bag, whereby as the liquid storage bag is depleted after continual use, the weight of the battery pack serves to compress the storage bag to thereby increase the pressure therein, so that the delay of the dispensing of the liquid does not increase over time as the bag becomes depleted. Also provided is a lower, pivotal tray located below the dispensing nozzle of the dispensing apparatus by which drippings and excess dispensed amounts are caught by the tray and do not fall upon the floor therebelow. A front cover is rotatable to an upper position such that it does not rotate back down by itself in order to allow unencumbered access to the interior of the apparatus for changing storage bags and batteries. The apparatus also contains an aerosol spray canister for spraying a sanitizing mist into the ambient surroundings after the apparatus has dispensed sanitizing fluid onto the hands.

The present invention is directed to a dispensing device or apparatus for dispensing measured or metered amounts of a hand-sanitizer or hand-antiseptic lotion, liquid, fluids and the like, for use in sanitizer hands in hospitals, doctor offices, health clinics, and the like.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,752, which reference is incorporated by reference herein, there is disclosed an automatic liquid dispenser that is powered by rechargeable batteries rechargeable by solar power cells or panels. The liquid, such as soap, is provided in a disposable cartridge containing a dispensing bag or pouch, to which cartridge is attached the rechargeable batteries. The solar cells are mounted to the frame of the dispensing device and generate electricity for recharging the batteries via ambient fluorescent lights in the room or location in which the dispenser is mounted. The dispenser is also provided with a pump assembly for dispensing metered amounts of the liquid, and electric circuitry for controlling the pump to mete out this measured amount. The device is activated automatically when a hand or hands are located at the dispensing station via a light-sensitive receiver that detects LED-reflected light as the hand or hands are located at the dispensing nozzle. The metered dispensing of the contents of the bag or pouch is, however, delayed, and as the contents of the bag is depleted over continual dispensed amounts, the delay becomes more pronounced because of the reduced pressure in the bag or pouch.

Automatic dispenser for hand-sanitizer lotion


This invention relates to a luminaire (106), which has a housing (103) with an opening (111) at a light output side, a reflector (105) mounted in the housing, and facing the light output side, a louver (107) mounted at the opening of the housing, and LEDs (109) mounted in the louver, such that the emitted LED light exits the luminaire only after reflection against the reflector, thereby providing indirect light output.

A prior art luminaire of the above-mentioned type is disclosed in the German Patent Application publication No. DE 103 14 257 A1. The German prior art Luminaire has a reflector having a center longitudinal opening wherein a longitudinally co-extending light guide is arranged. Behind the light guide an array, and more particularly a row, of LEDs is arranged along the length of the light guide. The light emitted from the LEDs pass through the light guide. A part of the LED light is deflected by the light guide towards the surface of the reflector, and is reflected by the reflector towards a light output side of the luminaire, and the rest of the LED light is spread by the light guide towards the light output side. Thus a viewer looking at the luminaire sees a combination of LED light passing directly through the light guide, and LED light passing through the light guide and being reflected by the reflector.
The prior art luminaire has several disadvantages, among others the fixed placement of the LEDs, restricting the freedom in designing the luminaire, and the complex light guide.


An interpolation arithmetic method and an image reader are provided which, in reading a film image using an area CCD sensor in which reading elements are arranged in a hound""s tooth check form, is capable of making full use of excellent characteristics of the area CCD sensor. The interpolation arithmetic method and the image reader can be realized by interpolating first image signals of the neighboring two or more reading elements to allocate the second image signals and outputting the interpolated second image signals or the first and second image signals in a square check form, and by providing a light source section; an area image sensor; an imaging optical system; and at least one of pixel shifting device of the area image sensor, and an interpolation arithmetic section for rearranging the second image signals of pixels in the square check form by performing interpolation arithmetic of first image signals outputted from respective reading elements of the area image sensor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention belongs to the technical field of film image reading that is utilized for digital photo-printers and the like and, more specifically, the present invention relates to an interpolation arithmetic method that is preferably utilized in reading images using an area image sensor in which reading elements are arranged in a hound""s tooth check form, and to an image reader that uses the area image sensor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heretofore, images recorded on photographic films such as negative and reversal films (which are hereunder referred to simply as xe2x80x9cfilmsxe2x80x9d) have been commonly printed on light-sensitive materials (photographic paper) by means of direct exposure in which the film images are projected onto the light-sensitive materials.
On the other hand, in recent years, a printing apparatus which utilizes digital exposure, that is, a digital photo-printer, has been put to practical use which photoelectrically reads an image recorded on a film, converts the read image to a digital signal and then to image data for recording purposes by applying various kinds of image processing, scans to expose a photosensitive material by recording light modulated according to the image data to record an image (a latent image), and has a (finished) print.
The digital photo-printer is basically composed of a scanner for photoelectrically reading an image recorded on a film (an image reader), an image processing apparatus for applying predetermined processing on image data read by the scanner or image data supplied by a digital camera or the like to have image data for image recording, i.e., exposure conditions, a printer for recording a latent image by scanning to expose a photosensitive material by, for example, an optical beam scanning (an image recording apparatus), and a processor for applying development processing on the photosensitive material exposed by the printer to have a (finished) print on which the image is reproduced (an developing apparatus).
According to such a digital photo-printer, since an image is processed as digital image data, not only an image photographed on a film but also an image photographed by a digital camera or the like and an image obtained by communication network such as the Internet can be outputted as a print.
In addition, since image processing (optimization) can be performed by image data processing, a high-definition print can be obtained which was unavailable with a conventional direct exposure by preferably performing gradation adjustment, color balance adjustment, color/density adjustment, and the like.
A scanner (including various kinds of film scanners) provided in the digital photo-printer of this kind, for example, makes reading light incident on a film (its one image=one frame) to acquire projected light that carries the image, images the projected light on an area image sensor such as an area CCD sensor, and photoelectrically reads the image. By reading the image step by step using reading light of R (red), G (green) and B (blue), the image photographed on the film is resolved to three primary colors, R, G and B, and is photoelectrically read.
Here, in the scanner using such an area CCD sensor, an image is usually read using an area CCD sensor in which reading elements are arranged in a square check form or square form (usually arranged in the longitudinal direction and latitudinal direction of the film).
On the other hand, in recent years, an area CCD sensor in which reading elements are arranged in a hound""s tooth check form has been realized, which is used in a digital camera and the like.
With the area CCD sensor in which reading elements are arranged in a hound""s tooth check form, since the reading elements can be arranged more densely compared with the conventional CCD sensor having the square check form arrangement of reading elements, area efficiency of a receiving section can be made extremely high. As a result, higher sensitivity, more reduced noise (improved S/N ratio), wider dynamic range, or the like can be attained compared with the conventional area CCD sensor having the square check form arrangement of reading elements.
In addition, the area CCD sensor in which reading elements are arranged in a hound""s tooth check form also has an advantage that a larger number of effective pixels can be obtained with a number of pixels identical with those in the one having the square check form arrangement of reading elements.
As described above, the area CCD sensor in which reading elements are arranged in a hound""s tooth check form has many advantages compared with the one having the square check form arrangement of reading elements.
However, a (film) scanner making full use of such excellent characteristics has not been realized yet.
The present invention has been devised in view of the above and other drawbacks, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an interpolation arithmetic method and an image reader (a film scanner) that are capable of, when reading a film image using an area CCD sensor in which reading elements are arranged in a hound""s tooth check form, making full use of excellent characteristics of the area CCD sensor.
According to the present invention, an image can be read with high accuracy, and an output of a high-resolution image with less artifacts is available by making full use of the excellent characteristics of the above-mentioned area CCD sensor having the hound""s tooth check form arrangement of reading elements.
In order to attain the object described above, the present invention provides an interpolation arithmetic method comprising the steps of performing allocation of second image signals by interpolating first image signals of neighboring two or more reading elements outputted from an area image sensor in which the reading elements are arranged in a hound""s tooth check form; and rearranging the second image signals or the first and second image signals in a square check form from the first image signals outputted from the reading elements of the area image sensor.
Preferably, the first image signals of the neighboring two or more reading elements are those of two reading elements closest to each other.
Preferably, the first image signals of the neighboring two or more reading elements are those of neighboring four reading elements.
Preferably, the first image signals of the neighboring two or more reading elements are those of neighboring sixteen reading elements.
Preferably, the allocation of a second image signal is performed in a position between the interpolated reading elements.
Preferably, the allocation of a second image signal is performed in a midpoint between the interpolated reading elements.
In order to attain the object described above, the present invention provides an image reader comprising a light source section for emitting reading light incident on a film held in a predetermined reading position; an area image sensor in which reading elements are arranged in a hound""s tooth check form; an imaging optical system for imaging on the area image sensor projected light which carries an image photographed on the film and which is obtained by making the reading light incident on the film; and at least one of a pixel shifting device of the area image sensor, and an interpolation arithmetic section for rearranging second image signals of pixels by interpolating first image signals outputted from the respective reading elements of the area image sensor.
Preferably, the image reader comprises both of the pixel shifting device and the interpolation arithmetic section, a reading mode for performing only pixel shifting, a reading mode for performing only rearrangement of the second image signals of the pixels and a reading mode for performing both of the pixel shifting and the rearrangement of the second image signals of the pixels are provided, and one of the reading modes and a number of times of the pixel shifting are selected in accordance with a resolution designated for image reading and a magnification of an output.
Preferably, the interpolation arithmetic section uses an interpolation arithmetic method comprising the steps of performing allocation of second image signals by interpolating first image signals of neighboring two or more reading elements outputted from an area image sensor in which the reading elements are arranged in a hound""s tooth check form and rearranging the second image signals or the first and second image signals in a square check form from the first image signals outputted from the reading elements of the area image sensor.
Preferably, the first image signals of the neighboring two or more reading elements are those of two reading elements closest to each other.
Preferably, the first image signals of the neighboring two or more reading elements are those of neighboring four reading elements.
Preferably, the first image signals of the neighboring two or more reading elements are those of neighboring sixteen reading elements.
Preferably, the allocation of a second image signal is performed in a position between the interpolated reading elements.
Preferably, the allocation of a second image signal is performed in a midpoint between the interpolated reading elements.

Interpolation arithmetic method and image reader


The invention relates to a novel combination of a soft steroid, in particular loteprednol, and at least one β2 adrenoceptor agonist for the simultaneous, sequential or separate treatment of allergies and/or airway disorders, medicaments comprising the combination, processes for the production of such medicaments and the use of the novel combination for the production of medicaments for the simultaneous, sequential or separate treatment of allergies and/or airway disorders.

The number of patients who suffer from allergies and/or airway disorders, such as bronchial asthma, is increasing greatly worldwide.
Studies have shown that in the industrialized countries, 5-10% of the population suffer from asthma. Despite intensive research activity, the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma is still not completely clarified. Although in the past years numerous novel effective medicaments have been introduced into therapy, the treatment of this disorder is still not satisfactory. The fact that many asthmatics are not adequately treated is particularly alarming.
Bronchial asthma is a disorder of the lower airways. It is manifested in the contraction of the bronchial smooth musculature, which leads to acute dyspnea. In addition to this bronchoconstriction, however, chronic inflammation is prominent in the asthmatic process. Under certain circumstances, this chronic, always progressive inflammation can lead to further damage to the bronchial mucous membrane and thus to structural changes in the bronchial tree. As a result of this damage, irreversible constriction of the bronchi can occur. Accordingly, it is necessary to treat the asthmatics so that they are free from the acute asthmatic attacks and at the same time the inflammation underlying the disorder is reduced.
In order to remedy an acute asthma attack or to prevent its occurrence, β2 mimetics are most suitable. β2 agonists having short- and long-term action are now on the market. In order to avoid β2 adrenoceptor-related side effects, which under certain circumstances can be life-threatening, the long-acting β2 mimetics should only be administered twice in the course of the day. However, use can be made, if required, of the so-called short-term β2 mimetics. Asthmatics like to employ β2 mimetics, because they immediately eliminate the acute symptoms. The antiinflammatory medicaments, such as corticosteroids, are used less deliberately, as they do not eliminate the apnea, and thus the patient is conscious of no immediate improvement in his condition.
Loteprednol belongs to the so-called soft corticosteroids. These so-called soft corticosteroids (soft steroids) are distinguished in that they are inactivated by a so-called one-step reaction, i.e. by hydrolases, esterases without involvement of the mainly hepatically located cytochrome P450 monooxidase enzymes. Owing to this, only very low plasma concentrations occur, if at all, which are not sufficient to produce the classical corticosteroid side effects such as retardation of growth, osteoporosis or increase in the intraocular pressure.
Surprisingly, it has now been found that the novel combination of a soft steroid and at least one β2 adrenoreceptor agonist is advantageous in the treatment of allergies and/or airway disorders in mammals, in particular in man. The administration of the combination for topical treatment by inhalation can be carried out simultaneously, sequentially or separately.
According to one embodiment of the invention loteprednol and its pharmaceutically acceptable esters, in particular loteprednol etabonate, is a particularly suitable soft steroid. The preparation of loteprednol and loteprednol etabonate is described, for example, in German Patent No. DE 31 26 732, the corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 4,996,335 and the corresponding Japanese Patent No. JP-89 011 037.
Further suitable soft steroids according to the invention are described, for example, in German Patent No. 37 86 174, the corresponding European Patent No. EP 0 334 853 and the corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 4,710,495.
Loteprednol is licensed for the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis and uveitis in the United States. In this case, it was shown that topically administered loteprednol does not increase the intraocular pressure in contrast to the non soft corticosteroids and could not be detected in the plasma (Noble and Goa, BioDrugs 10:329-339, 1998). As a result of the one-step reaction mentioned, in the case of administration by inhalation, the swallowed portion is also immediately inactivated in the liver. This portion, too, can therefore produce no side effects.
β2 mimetics (β2 sympathomimetics) are medicaments which selectively stimulate the β2 adrenoreceptors and thereby relax the bronchi. Moreover, via the inhibition of the release of some endogenous mediators, they also inhibit edema formation and promote mucociliary clearance. They remedy the acute attack (apnea as a result of bronchoconstriction) very rapidly. Their action lasts for different lengths of time: that, for example, of salbutamol (short-term β2 mimetics) for 4-6 hours; that of formoterol or salmeterol (long-term β2 mimetics) for up to 12 hours. A great advantage of formoterol compared to salmeterol is that the bronchodilatory action of formoterol not only lasts long-term but occurs immediately as in the case of the short-term β2 mimetics (Palmqvist et al., J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 89:844-849, 1992).
Formoterol, salmeterol and salbutamol can also be used in the form of the pharmaceutically tolerable salts, formoterol fumarate, salmeterol xinafoate and salbutamol sulfate being preferred. Formoterol fumarate dihydrate is particularly preferred.
According to a particular embodiment, reproterol or its pharmaceutically tolerable salts can be used as a β2 mimetic, reproterol hydrochloride being preferred.
These active compounds are administered as an inhalation with the aid of metered aerosols (MDI) or powder inhalers (MPDI). As a result of the inhalative administration, not only the dose but also the occurrence of possible undesired effects can be reduced.
The present invention describes the combination of a soft corticosteroid, preferably loteprednol and a β2 mimetic, preferably salbutamol or formoterol, it being possible to administer the individual component of this combination by inhalation in the therapy of bronchial asthma simultaneously, one after the other or individually. A fixed combination of the two active components is particularly advantageous, as in this case the patient only needs a metered aerosol and thus the effective treatment is easier for the patient.
The reasons for the combination described in the invention can be supported experimentally.
In vitro investigations were carried out for influencing the release of the proinflammatory cytokine TNFα in human blood diluted 1:5. Stimulation was carried out using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Salmonella abortus equi (10 μg/ml) over the course of 24 h at 37° C. and 5% CO2 in an incubator. The TNFα release was carried out using an ELISA, composed from antibodies from Pharmigen. The results were indicated as the percentage inhibition of LPS-induced TNFα release (Table 1).
TABLE 1Inhibition of the TNFα release in human blooddiluted 1:5 (n = 8)Concentration inInhibition ofActive compound[μmol/l]TNFα releaseSalbutamol1017%Loteprednol0.001 1%Loteprednol +0.001 + 1044*% salbutamol*(p < 0.01)
In vivo investigations were carried out on guinea pigs which had been actively sensitized on two successive days by double intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of a suspension of ovalbumin and aluminum hydroxide in physiological saline solution. Two weeks after the sensitization, they were exposed short-term to an aerosol of ovalbumin solution in an atomization box. As a result of the inhalatory allergen provocation, 24 hours later a great increase in the number of eosinophilic granulocytes (inflammatory cells) in the lung occurs. Similarly to the asthmatics, at this time (24 hours after the allergic provocation) lavage of the lung takes place. The number of eosinophilic granulocytes in the pulmonary lavage fluid is determined using a hemacytometer (Technicon H1E). The percentage inhibition of the eosinophilic granulocytes by test substances is then calculated.
In order to be able to give the active compounds in exactly metered form intrapulmonarily, they are administered to the animals directly into the lungs as a powder (mixed with lactose) by means of a catheter tied into the trachea. The administration of the active compounds is carried out before the allergen provocation under brief ketamine/xylazine anesthesia, from which the animals immediately awake. The results are compiled in Table 2.
TABLE 2The action of loteprednol and formoterol aloneand in combination on late-phase eosinophilia inactively sensitized guinea pigsActiveDose in mg/kgInhibition ofNumber ofcompoundintrapulmonarilyeosinophiliaanimalsLoteprednol0.00110.5%50.00321.8%5Formoterol 0.00014.1%40.00120.4%4Loteprednol +0.001 + 0.000136.1%*6formoterol0.003 + 0.000145.2%*60.001 + 0.001 64.5%**6significant against allergen provocation control:*(0.05);**(p < 0.01)
When the soft corticosteroid loteprednol was investigated in the dose 0.001 mg/kg or the β2 agonist formoterol in the dosages 0.0001 mg/kg and 0.001 mg/kg on intrapulmonary powder administration, no inhibition or a marginal inhibition of the allergically induced late-phase eosinophilia occurred. When both active compounds were given simultaneously, the number of eosinophilic granulocytes in the pulmonary lavage fluid 24 hours after allergen provocation were (significantly) reduced by 39.1% and 64.5% respectively.
As already briefly mentioned, the corticosteroids cause numerous side effects which often restrict their clinical use. Particularly in the case of children, corticosteroids influence growth. In general, it is possible to say that the growth of the asthmatic children treated with corticosteroids remains behind that of those not treated with corticosteroids by one centimeter (1 cm) annually. This undesired side effect applies to all corticosteroids on the market at the present time such as, for example, budesonide or fluticasone (cf. Clissold S. P. and R. C. Heel., Drugs 28:485-518, 1984; Shaw R. J., Respiratory Medicine 88(Suppl.A): 5-8, 1994; Barnes P. J. et al., Am. J. Resp. Critical Care Med. 157(3) Suppl. Part 2: p 1-p 53, 1998;). In the case of a corticosteroid, it could be a great advantage if this corticosteroid did not influence the development of growth in children. In order to determine the potential for side effects in animal experiments, the influence of the corticosteroids on the thymus gland of the rat was investigated.
In the first experiment, loteprednol was administered subcutaneously 1× daily over the course of 5 days to grown rats in comparison to fluticasone, beclomethasone and budesonide. Up to a dose of 10 mg/kg s.c. of loteprednol, no significant reduction in the thymus weight compared with control animals was measured. Fluticasone (1 mg/kg s.c.), beclomethasone (1 mg/kg s.c.) and budesonide (2 mg/kg s.c.) showed a significant reduction in the thymus weights (see Table 3).
TABLE 3Action of corticosteroids in high doses onthe thymus weight of rats on repeatedsubcutaneous application (5 days; 1 × each daily)Dose in mg/kg% reduction in thesubcutaneous dosethymus weightmultiple dose(mg/100 g BW)(5 days, 1 × eachcompared withActive compounddaily)lactose control 0Loteprednol1151028Fluticasone165 (p < 0.01)Beclomethasone151 (p < 0.01)Budesonide289 (p < 0.05)
In the second experiment, the influence of loteprednol on the thymus development of young rats (21 days old at the start of the experiment) was intensively investigated in comparison to budesonide and fluticasone (see Table 4). After an intrapulmonary long-term administration of the active compound in powder form over the course of 29 days (1× daily) by means of a tube, at the end of the experiment the thymus glands were removed and the organ weight per 100 g of body mass was determined. Fluticasone in the dose 1.0 mg/kg and budesonide in the dose 0.5 mg/kg caused a significant reduction in the thymus weight compared with control animals which were treated with lactose. On intrapulmonary long-term administration, loteprednol exhibited a marked reduction of the thymus weight only in the high dose of 20 mg/kg.
The therapeutic breadth of the corticosteroids was determined with the aid of the quotient of the dose (mg/kg) with significant thymus involution (toxic dose) on repeated intrapulmonary administration over the course of 29 days (1× daily) and the therapeutic dose. The therapeutic dose was determined in the asthma model of late-phase eosinophilia on actively sensitized brown Norway rats. The active compound was administered to the sensitized brown Norway rats under anesthesia intrapulmonarily 2 hours before an allergen provocation (challenge) and 24 hours later the lungs of the animals were lavaged under deep anesthesia. The number of eosinophilic granulocytes in the pulmonary lavage fluid of untreated and active compound-treated rats was then determined. Corticosteroids such as loteprednol inhibit the infiltration of eosinophils into the lung after allergen provocation. From the inhibitory values of increasing active compound doses, the 50% inhibitory dose (ID50 in μg/kg) on the allergically induced late-phase eosinophilia was determined.
For loteprednol, a great therapeutic breadth having a quotient of 45.5×103 was determined. Budesonide (5×103) and fluticasone (33×103) showed markedly smaller quotients (see Table 4).
TABLE 4Therapeutic breadth of corticosteroids inrats on intrapulmonary powder application:Quotient of toxic dose (mg/kg) withsignificant thymus involution on repeatedadministration (29 days) and therapeutic dose(ID50 μg/kg) on single administration in late-phase eosinophilia in actively sensitized brown Norway rats.TherapeuticToxic dose withdose in late-significantQuotient ofphasethymustoxic dose:ActiveeosinophiliainvolutiontherapeuticcompoundID50 in μg/kgin mg/kgdoseDosageSingleRepeated×103administration,administration,2 h before29 days,allergen1 × dailyprovocationApplicationIntrapulmonaryIntrapulmonaryLoteprednol0.442045.5Fluticasone0.03133Budesonide0.1 0.55
Thus loteprednol is clearly superior to the steroids fluticasone and budesonide with respect to the therapeutic breadth.
The amount of soft steroid and β2 adrenoreceptor agonist to be administered depends, inter alia, on the efficacy, duration of action and the type and the severity of the disease to be treated. The constitution and the age of the patient are furthermore of importance. The ratio formoterol to loteprednol can be, for example, in the range between 2:1 and 1:500, preferably between 1:8 and 1:63, particularly preferably between 1:8 and 1:42, in each case based on the weight. Thus a ratio of 1:10 to 1:35, for example, has proven favorable. The two components can be administered simultaneously, sequentially or separately.
Because of the long duration of action of both active compounds, dosage twice daily is preferred. An appropriate dose range of formoterol is between 6 and 100 μg/day, a dose range of 6 to 48 μg/day being preferred. For loteprednol, the daily appropriate dose range can be specified as 50-2000μ/day. A daily dosage of 100 to 1000 μg/day is preferred. Because of the harmlessness detected in the animal experiment and also in the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis, loteprednol in the combination can also be given at a daily dose of up to 3000 μg.
The combination according to the invention of soft steroid and β2 adrenoreceptor agonist can be used in the treatment of airway disorders, such as disorders of the lower airways, chronic obstructive airway disorders (COPD), e.g. bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive bronchitis, pulmonary emphysema with reversible obstruction, bronchial asthma and other bronchial disorders. It can also be used for the treatment of allergies.


In a peripheral circuit region of a DRAM, two connection holes 17a, 17b for connecting a first layer line 14 and a second layer line 26 electrically are opened separately in two processes. After forming the connection holes 17a and 17b, plugs 18a and 215a are formed in the connection holes 17a and 17b, respectively.

The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing a semiconductor integrated circuit device and a semiconductor integrated circuit device technique and, more particularly, to a technique which is effective when applied to the process for manufacturing a semiconductor integrated circuit device having a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) and a semiconductor integrated circuit device technique.
The DRAM has a memory cell comprising one memory cell selecting MIS transistor and a capacitor connected in series with the MIS transistor so that its degree of integration is high enough to lower the unit price per bit. Therefore, DRAMs are widely used in main memories for various computers or communication devices that require a memory of high storage capacity.
The memory capacity of the DRAM has a tendency to increase more and more. In accordance with this tendency, the area occupied by the memory cell tends to decrease with a view to improving the degree of integration of the memory cells of the DRAM.
However, the capacitance of the information storage capacitive element (capacitor) in a memory cell of a DRAM is required to be a certain value from the standpoint of considering the operation margin, soft errors and so on, independently of the DRAM generation, and cannot be proportionally reduced, as generally known in the art.
Thus, the capacitor structure has been developed to have a necessary capacitance in a limited small occupation area. In one of the results of these developments a three-dimensional capacitor structure such as the so-called xe2x80x9cstacked capacitorxe2x80x9d, in which two layers of capacitor electrodes are stacked through a capacitor insulation film is adopted.
The stacked capacitor generally has a structure in which the capacitor electrodes are arranged over a memory cell selecting MOSFET (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor), and represented by a cylindrical or fin type capacitor structure. Either of these is characterized in that a large capacitance can be ensured by increasing the size in the height direction of the capacitor but without increasing the size in the widthwise direction of the capacitor.
A DRAM having memory cells is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 122654/1995 relating to the so-called xe2x80x9cCapacitor Over Bitline (will be abbreviated to COB)xe2x80x9d in which the information storage capacitive elements are provided in a layer over bit lines.
We have found out the following problems in the above-specified technique.
Specifically, the connection hole for electrically connecting different wiring layers or a wiring line and a semiconductor substrate has a such a high aspect ratio as to make it difficult to open a connection hole and to fill it in with a conductor layer. This problem is serious in the case of the connection hole portion for connecting the upper wiring layer and the lower wiring layer in the stacked capacitor especially when the information storage capacitive element of the DRAM is a stacked capacitor. This is caused by the deepened connection hole because the capacitance of the capacitor is increased without increasing the occupation area.
We have studied the prior art from the view point of the wiring structure of the DRAM and have found PCT Laid-Open No. 9719468, for example, on that technique. This Laid-Open discloses the structure in which three buried wiring layers are interposed between the capacitor and the semiconductor substrate of the DRAM. Also disclosed is a structure in which multiple plugs are stacked, but there is no mention of the structure in which the lines buried in the layer common to the bit lines are led out through the stacked plugs to the wiring layer over the capacitor.
An object of the invention is to provide a technique capable of facilitating the works to open a connection hole for connecting different wiring layers and to fill in the connection hole with a conductor film.
The above-specified and other objects and the novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following description to be made with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Representative aspects of the invention to be disclosed herein will be briefly described in the following.
According to the invention, there is provided a process for manufacturing a semiconductor integrated circuit device including on a semiconductor substrate a plurality of memory cells each having a memory cell selecting transistor and an information storage capacitive element connected in series with the memory cell selecting transistor, comprising forming a bit line and a first line in the same wiring layer over the semiconductor substrate; forming the information storage capacitive element over the bit line not through another wiring layer line; and forming a second line over the information storage capacitive element, wherein the process further comprises forming between the first line and the second line a first connection portion electrically connected in direct contact with the first line, and a second connection portion electrically connected in direct contact with the first connection portion.
In a semiconductor integrated circuit device manufacturing process according to the invention, moreover, the second connection portion has a planar size larger than that of the first connection portion.
In a semiconductor integrated circuit device manufacturing process of the invention, moreover, the second connection portion has a planar size larger than that of the first connection portion to an extent that it includes a plurality of the first connection portions.
According to the invention, there is further provided a process for manufacturing a semiconductor integrated circuit device including on a semiconductor substrate a plurality of memory cells each having a memory cell selecting transistor and an information storage capacitive element connected in series with the memory cell selecting transistor, comprising:
(a) forming a bit line and a first line in the same wiring layer over said semiconductor substrate;
(b) forming over said semiconductor substrate a first insulation film covering the bit line and the first line;
(c) opening in the first insulation film a first connection hole for exposing the first line in the region other than the region where the memory cell is formed;
(d) forming the first connection portion by filling it in with a first conductor film;
(e) forming a second insulation film made of a material allowing a relatively high etching selection ratio for the first insulation film in such a way as to cover the upper faces of the first insulation film and the first connection portion;
(f) forming the information storage capacitive element over the bit line in said memory cell forming region;
(g) opening a second connection hole for exposing the first connection portion in the region other than the region where the memory cell is formed in the second insulation film formed between the wiring layer over the information storage capacitive element and the first connection portion, and in a third insulation film made of such a material to allow a relatively high etching selection ratio for the second insulation film; and
(h) forming a second connection portion electrically connected in direct contact with the first connection portion, by burying a second conductor film in the second connection hole.
According to the invention, moreover, there is further provided a process for manufacturing a semiconductor integrated circuit device including on a semiconductor substrate a plurality of memory cells each having a memory cell selecting transistor and an information storage capacitive element connected in series with the memory cell selecting transistor, comprising:
(a) forming a bit line and a first line in the same wiring layer over the semiconductor substrate;
(b) forming over the semiconductor substrate a first insulation film covering the bit line and the first line;
(c) opening in the first insulation film a first connection hole for exposing the first line in the region other than the region where the memory cell is formed;
(d) forming the first connection portion by filling it in with a first conductor film;
(e) forming the information storage capacitive element over the bit line in the memory cell forming region;
(f) opening a second connection hole for exposing the first connection portion in the region other than said memory cell forming region in the insulation film formed between the wiring layer over the information storage capacitive element and the first connection portion; and
(g) forming a second connection portion electrically connected in direct contact with said first connection portion, by burying the second conductor film in the second connection hole.
According to the invention, there is further provided a process for manufacturing a semiconductor integrated circuit device including on a semiconductor substrate a plurality of memory cells each having a memory cell selecting transistor and an information storage capacitive element connected in series with the memory cell selecting transistor, comprising:
(a) forming a bit line and a first line in the same wiring layer over the semiconductor substrate;
(b) forming over the semiconductor substrate a first insulation film covering the bit line and the first line;
(c) opening in the first insulation film a first connection hole for exposing the first line in the region other than the region where the memory cell is formed, and opening a connection hole for the information storage capacitive element for exposing the bit line in the memory cell forming region;
(d) forming a first connection portion and a connection portion for an information storage capacitive element by filling in the first connection hole and the information storage capacitive element connection hole with a first conductor film;
(e) forming a second insulation film made of a material allowing a relatively high etching selection ratio for the first insulation film in such a way as to cover the upper faces of the first insulation film, the first connection portion and the information storage capacitive element connection portion;
(f) forming the information storage capacitive element over the bit line in the memory cell forming region;
(g) opening a second connection hole for exposing the first connection portion in the region other than the memory cell forming region in the second insulation film formed between the wiring layer over the information storage capacitive element and the first connection portion, and in a third insulation film made of a material to allow a relatively high etching selection ratio for the second insulation film; and
(h) forming a second connection portion electrically connected in direct contact with the first connection portion, by burying a second conductor film in the second connection hole.
According to the invention, there is further provided a process for manufacturing a semiconductor integrated circuit device including on a semiconductor substrate a plurality of memory cells each having a memory cell selecting transistor and an information storage capacitive element connected in series with the memory cell selecting transistor, comprising:
(a) forming a bit line and a first line in the same wiring layer over the semiconductor substrate;
(b) forming over the semiconductor substrate a first insulation film covering the bit line and the first line;
(c) forming over the first insulation film a second insulation film made of a material allowing a relatively high etching selection ratio for the first insulation film;
(d) forming the information storage capacitive element over the bit line in the region where the memory cell is formed;
(e) opening a connection hole between wiring layers, through which the first line is exposed, in the region other than the memory cell forming region, in a first insulation film and a second insulation film formed between the wiring layer over the information storage capacitive element and the first line, and in a third insulation film formed over the first insulation film and the second insulation film and made of a material allowing a relatively high etching selection ratio for the second insulation film; and
(f) forming a connection portion between the wiring layers electrically connected in direct contact with the first line, by filling in the connection hole between the wiring layers with a conductor film,
wherein the step of forming the connection hole between the wiring layers includes
forming a mask pattern for forming a connection hole over the third insulation film;
performing a first etching process to open a first hole for exposing a part of the second insulation film in the third insulation film exposed from the mask pattern, by etching using the mask pattern as an etching mask, under the condition in which the third insulation film is etched off more easily than the second insulation film at a relatively increased etching selection ratio between the second insulation film and the third insulation film;
performing, after the first etching process step, a second etching process to remove the second insulation film exposed from the bottom portion of the first hole and to open a second hole for exposing a part of the first insulation film in the second insulation film, by etching using the mask pattern as an etching mask under the condition in which the second insulation film is etched off more easily than the third insulation film at a relatively increased etching selection ratio between the second insulation film and the third insulation film; and
performing, after the second etching process step, a third etching process to remove the first insulation film exposed from the bottom of the second hole and to open the connection hole between the wiring layers for exposing the first insulation film, by etching under the condition in which the first insulation film is etched off more easily than the second insulation film at a relatively increased etching selection ratio between the second insulation film and the first insulation film.
In the semiconductor integrated circuit device manufacturing process, according to the invention,
wherein the step (d) includes forming a first electrode constituting the information storage capacitive element; forming a capacitor insulation film on the surface of the first electrode; and forming a second electrode covering the capacitor insulation film,
wherein the step (e) includes opening a connection hole extending through the second electrode for leading out the second electrode in the third insulation film,
wherein the step of forming the connection hole between the wiring layers and the connection hole for leading out the second electrode includes
forming a mask pattern over the third insulation film;
performing a first etching process to open a first hole constituting the connection hole between the wiring layers and for exposing a part of the second insulation film, and to open a first hole which constitutes the connection hole for leading out the second electrode and extends through the second electrode and the bottom of which extends to an intermediate position of the third insulation film, in the third insulation film exposed from the mask pattern, by etching using the mask pattern as an etching mask under the condition in which the third insulation film is etched off more easily than the second insulation film at a relatively increased etching selection ratio between the second insulation film and the third insulation film;
performing, after the first etching process step, a second etching process to remove the second insulation film exposed from the bottom of the first hole for the connection hole between the wiring layers and to open a second hole for the connection hole between the wiring layers and for exposing a part of the first insulation film, by etching using the mask pattern as an etching mask under the condition in which the second insulation film is etched off more easily than the third insulation film at a relatively increased etching selection ratio between the second insulation film and the third insulation film; and
performing, after the second etching process step, a third etching process to open a connection hole between the wiring layers for exposing the first insulation film from the bottom of the second hole for the connection hole of the insulation film between the wiring layers, by etching under the condition in which the first insulation film is etched off more easily than the second insulation film at a relatively increased etching selection ratio between the second insulation film and the first insulation film, and
wherein said (f) step includes burying a conductor film in the connection hole between the wiring layer and in the second electrode lead-out connection hole, and forming the connection portion between the wiring layers electrically connected in direct contact with the first line, and the second electrode lead-out connection portion electrically connected with the second electrode.
According to the invention, there is further provided a process for manufacturing a semiconductor integrated circuit device, in which a memory cell including a first MISFET and a capacitive element connected in series with the first MISFET is formed in a first region of a semiconductor substrate and in which a second MISFET is formed in a second region of the semiconductor substrate, comprising:
(a) forming a first line in the second region of the semiconductor substrate;
(b) forming a first insulation film over the first line;
(c) forming a first opening in the first insulation film to expose a portion of the first line;
(d) forming a first conductor layer selectively in the opening;
(e) forming a second insulation film over the first insulation film and the first conductor layer;
(f) forming a third insulation film over the second insulation film;
(g) forming a second opening in the third insulation film in the first region;
(h) forming a second conductor layer selectively along the inner wall of the second opening;
(i) forming a fourth insulation film and a third conductor layer over the second conductor layer;
(j) forming a third opening in the third insulation film and the second insulation film in the second region in such a way as to expose a part of the first conductor layer; and
(k) forming a fourth conductor layer in the third opening,
wherein at the second opening forming step, the third insulation film is etched under the condition in which the etching rate of the third insulation film is higher than that of the second insulation film, and
wherein at the third opening forming step, the third insulation film is etched under the condition in which the etching rate of the third insulation film is higher than that of the second insulation film, and then the second insulation film is etched under the condition in which the etching rate of the second insulation film is higher than that of the third insulation film.
According to the invention, there is further provided a process for manufacturing a semiconductor integrated circuit device, in which a memory cell including a first MISFET and a capacitive element connected in series with the first MISFET is formed in a first region of a semiconductor substrate and in which a second MISFET is formed in a second region of the semiconductor substrate, comprising:
(a) forming a first line in the second region of the semiconductor substrate;
(b) forming a first insulation film over the first line;
(c) forming a second insulation film over the first insulation film;
(d) forming a third insulation film over the second insulation film;
(e) forming a second opening in the third insulation film in the first region;
(f) forming a first conductor layer selectively along the inner wall of the second opening;
(g) forming a fourth insulation film and a second conductor layer over the first conductor layer;
(h) forming a third opening in the third insulation film and the second insulation film in the second region in such a way as to expose a part of the first conductor layer; and
(i) forming a third conductor layer in the third opening,
wherein at the second opening forming step, the third insulation film is etched under the condition in which the etching rate of the third insulation film is higher than that of the second insulation film, and
wherein at the third opening forming step, the third insulation film is etched under the condition in which the etching rate of the third insulation film is higher than that of the second insulation film, then the second insulation film is etched under the condition in which the etching rate of the second insulation film is higher than that of the first insulation film, and the first insulation film is etched in such a way as to expose a part of the first line.

Semiconductor integrated circuit device and process for manufacturing


A hydraulic power system for a utility vehicle having an engine with a crankshaft. The system features first and second rotationally-driven power generating devices, one of which is a hydraulic pump and the other of which is an alternator and one of which is a hydraulic pump. The first device has a first rotational input for operative coupling to the crankshaft for driven rotation thereby. A secondary shaft has an input end portion arranged for rotational coupling to a rotationally driven member of the first device and an output end portion arranged for rotational coupling to a second rotational input of the second device for driving thereof under driven operation of the first rotationally-driven power generating device by the crankshaft. Higher power output of increased reliability is provided over prior art add-on hydraulic solutions using electric-over-hydraulic power packs.

Utility vehicles are off road vehicles that have a side by side seating arrangement and generally have a higher payload or load carrying capacity than an ATV (All Terrain Vehicle). These vehicles are typically purchased by farmers, ranchers, commercial growers, landscapers, etc. and are used in place of larger tractors or construction equipment given their size and lower cost. However, one complaint is that these vehicles typically to not have the ability to run ancillary systems such as buckets, tillers, snow blower, sprayers, chippers, lawn mowers, etc. There is a potential commercial opportunity for these systems as it provides a low cost alternative to the conventional larger systems.
The Kawasaki Mule™ is an example of a commercially available utility vehicle that does not have a factory-provided solution powering ancillary systems using hydraulics.
While there are some available add-on kits for the Mule the involve hydraulic power, including kits for a hydraulic bed and a hydraulic snow plow, the hydraulic power is achieved using a conventional electric-over-hydraulic power pack, in which a 12-volt DC brushed electric motor is powered by the electrical system of the vehicle and connected to a hydraulic pump and reservoir. In use of these system in other products, they have been found acceptable for low duty cycle, low power, linear hydraulic actuators that could run such accessories as a truck bed lift or snow plow blade. However, these systems have been found in some cases to fail if they are run continuously for notable periods of time, for example as little as 20 minutes.
Accordingly, applicant has developed a unique hydraulic power add-on for the Kawasaki Mule that is capable of providing reliable higher power output for extended periods, at least in part by relying on rotational input from the engine crankshaft instead of electrical power for operation of the hydraulic pump.
Although failing to individually or collectively teach or suggest the inventive solution disclosed herein for hydraulic power systems for utility vehicles, prior art references relevant to general areas of hydraulic power systems for vehicles and powering of vehicle related equipment from the engine crankshaft include the following:    Ban T, Mori H, Yagi K. (1998) Automobile Heating System. U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,467 issued Apr. 28, 1998.    Giesbrecht J, Fairbrother B, Collier J, Beckman B. (2010) Integration of a High Degree of Freedom Robotic Manipulator on a Large Unmanned Ground Vehicle. Proc. of SPIE. Vol. 7692 769218.    Huber L J. (2002) Method And Apparatus For Mounting A Truck Accessory Power Unit. U.S. Pat. No. 6,371,072 issued Apr. 16, 2002.    Hydraulic Bed Lift Kit for the Kawasaki Mule. (2010) http://pdfinside.blogspot.com/2010/09/hydraulic-bed-lift-kit-for-kawasaki.html    Internet Discussion Board. (2008) Adding belt driven hydraulic pump.    Internet Discussion Board. (2011) How to add a crank mounted hydraulic pump.    Itoh K, Kosugi Y, Goto M. (2000) Structure for Mounting of Auxiliary Parts on In-Line Type Multi-Cylinder Engine. U.S. Pat. No. 6,101,995 issued Aug. 15, 2000.    Jackoboice E W. (1965) Generator Pump and Bracket Assembly. U.S. Pat. No. 3,181,825 issued May 4, 1965.    Kawasaki Mule 4010 Extra Heavy Duty Hydraulic Snow Plow Kit. (2012) http://www.wickedbilt.com/kawasaki_mule/snow_plows/2011_kawasaki_mule—4010_hydraulic_snow_plow_kit.html?pop=0    Kuehmiche Kunifumi G, et al. (1994) Hydraulic Driving Device of Auxiliary Equipment for Vehicle. Japanese Patent Publication JP-1994-144069 published May 24, 1994.    Lemus M. (2011) Electrical Generator and Method of Generating Electricity. United States Patent Publication 2011/0084498 published Apr. 14, 2011.    I B G, Kuemichel R J. (1989) Snowmobile Power Steering System. U.S. Pat. No. 4,826,184 issued May 2, 1989.    Mitchell H R. (1998) Auxiliary Motor Drive System. U.S. Pat. No. 5,847,470 issued Dec. 8, 1998.    Morii H, Yatagai Y, Sasaki Y, Shibano K, Matsumura H. (2005) Arrangement and Structure of Auxiliaries in a Snowmobile Engine. U.S. Pat. No. 6,941,924 issued Sep. 13, 2005.    Moriya Y. (2006) Valve Characteristic Changing Apparatus for Internal Combustion Engine. U.S. Pat. No. 7,081,913 issued Aug. 1, 2006.    Muncie Power Products. (2006) Understanding Truck Mounted Hydraulic Systems, Sixth Edition.    Riff J A. (1972) Hydrodynamic Charging System. U.S. Pat. No. 3,641,416 issued Feb. 8, 1972.
Silvestro N. (2011) Integrated Engine Welder and Hydraulic Pump. U.S. Pat. No. 7,868,269 issued Jan. 11, 2011.

Hydraulic power system for a utility vehicle

Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada as Represented by the Minister of Defence


A sensor-location system for locating sensors in a tract covered by an earth-based sensor network. The sensor-location system includes at least one sensor-identification device, and at least one sensor locator. The sensor-identification device is affixed to a respective sensor in the earth-based sensor network. The sensor locator is configured for use from on board of an aircraft. In addition, the sensor locator is configured to acquire geographic-location data of said sensor including an identifying signature from the sensor-identification device of the sensor in the tract covered by the earth-based sensor network.

As the demand for resources increases with the growth of human populations, interest in developing new methodologies for the discovery and exploitation of these resources continues to grow. For example, with the emergence of increasing demand for petroleum products from rapidly developing countries, the impetus to find new reserves of oil has taken a pre-eminent role in the global economy. Moreover, increasing global populations have placed greater demands on securing the borders of countries in proximity to large populations displaced by economic stressors affecting their less fortunate neighbors. In addition, the growth of human populations along with increasing polarizations within such populations has raised the specter of terrorist assaults affecting domestic tranquility within sovereign territories. All the above suggest applications that may profit from methodologies for monitoring large tracts of land with sensor networks.
Thus, scientists are engaged in developing new methodologies for the monitoring of diverse sensor networks deployed on the surface of the earth, whether those sensors are directed towards the discovery of new mineral resources, or towards the defense of countries from emerging threats to their security.
The drawings referred to in this description should not be understood as being drawn to scale except if specifically noted.

Sensor-location system for locating a sensor in a tract covered by an earth-based sensor network

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A plurality of variable data of personal attribute information associated with at least one vehicle insurance user is received at a prediction server. Based on a service scenario requirement, a pre-constructed prediction algorithm is selected. The plurality of variable data is processed by one or more processors using the pre-constructed prediction algorithm. At least one prediction result is generated as the prediction server.

As vehicle possession increases year by year, the insurance company's vehicle insurance business volume has also increased. One important research direction for insurance companies is accurately assessing vehicle insurance risks of insured vehicles to formulate reasonable vehicle insurance services such as underwriting, pricing, and service projects.
Currently, insurance companies mainly rely on the vehicle's own attribute information for pricing and modeling, to develop corresponding vehicle insurance services for different insured vehicles, and to provide the service to users. The attribute information includes, for example, the appearance, the age of the vehicle, and the mileage of the vehicle. In the practice of vehicle insurance business, other factors can also affect whether the vehicle is involved in an accident and a claim amount such as, the natural environment of the location of the vehicle, and the condition of the road the vehicle often travels. Therefore, the industry needs a more comprehensive and accurate solution to predict the vehicle insurance risk.

Prediction algorithm based attribute data processing


A computer system configured for policy-based management of software updates is disclosed. The system maintains group-policy objects, with which groups of computers are associated. The system obtains identities of software updates from a source of software updates. The system also obtains filter criteria for each update, for determining whether the update should be applied to a particular computer or not. The system assigns newly available updates to respective selected group-policy objects and adds the obtained filter criteria to each such group-policy object. The system performs necessary installations of updates by, for each group-policy object, determining whether, for each combination of a computer belonging to a group associated with that policy object and an update assigned to that policy object, the computer satisfies the filter criteria for the update, and if so, applying the update to that computer, but if not, refraining from applying the update.

1. Field of the Invention
The disclosed methods and systems relate generally to management of software updates, and more particularly to methods and systems for managing software updates through a group/policy management system.
2. Background Information
Software is in an almost constant state of flux. Programmers modify software for a number of reasons, including changing features to meet the new needs of their users, adapting programs to work with new and/or modified hardware and/or other software, and repairing errors as they are discovered, among many others. Requiring their users to purchase new versions of existing software every time a vendor changes a software product, however minor the change may be, is not efficient or practical. Instead, vendors release software updates, sometimes called patches, to the users of their software. A software update contains code that effects a change or changes in the software. Software updates are particularly necessary to repair security holes in software products, such as operating systems, that make users' computers potentially vulnerable to attack by hackers, viruses, worms and the like. In such a scenario, the necessary updates may vary from computer to computer on a LAN, depending on the type of operating system running on each computer and how frequently it has been updated in the past. Thus, a system for managing software updates across a network of varied computers would be useful.
In WINDOWS®, a Group Policy Object (GPO) is a collection or grouping of configuration settings that are applied to computer users and/or computers/systems automatically and/or remotely. Group Policy is a MICROSOFT® implementation of the general concept of policy-based management, which is a computer management model similar to Object Oriented Programming in the realm of software development. One potential implementation of a group policy system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,466,932. By applying the configuration settings to the computers/systems, a system administrator or other can define and/or determine the behavior and/or "appearance"/configuration of the computers/users. Accordingly, a GPO is generally configured by a system administrator or other high-level administrator, and as an object, a GPO can be associated with a hierarchical grouping known as a "container." A container may be a domain, a site, an organization unit (OU), or other association of computers/systems/users. In some example instances, a GPO may define script options, security options, software-installation options, folder-redirection options, software-maintenance options, and other configuration options.
Each GPO has an Access Control List (ACL) that controls whether the GPO's settings are applied to given users, groups, and/or computers. An entity that is on the ACL has the GPO's settings applied to it. An entity not on the ACL does not, at least in response to that GPO. In this manner, GPOs may be applied based on a user/computer's group membership, and this capability may be referred to as GPO-level filtering. Accordingly, GPO-level filtering allows a system administrator or another to specify whether a GPO is applied or denied to users/computers. The GPO is thus applied in its entirety, or denied in its entirety, to a user/computer/system.
In a MICROSOFT® WINDOWS® implementation, GPOs are populated with settings by extensions or plug-ins to a Group Policy Object Editor (GPOE). Settings are actually applied on client computers by corresponding extensions, called Client-Side Extensions (CSEs). The reporting system (Resultant Set of Policy, or RSoP) is part of the model, and uses another extensible component, called the RSoP snap-in. There is a documented extension model that MICROSOFT® provides for software vendors to extend all three systems and, by doing so, provide new functionality within the WINDOWS® Group Policy architecture.

System for policy-based management of software updates


A remote control system capable of precise operations or treatments in which the visual recognition and operation portions are as close to each other as possible, including: a) an imaging device for taking an image of the object; b) a manipulation tool having at its tip an illuminator for casting a spot light onto the object; c) a driver for changing the position of the manipulation tool; d) an external display unit for displaying an image; e) an input unit for allowing an operator to specify a position corresponding to the display of the external display unit; f) a distance calculator for calculating the distance between the position specified through the input unit and the position of the spot light cast from the illuminator onto the object; and g) a controller for controlling, based on the aforementioned distance, the driver so as to bring the tip of the manipulation tool closer to the specified position.

For many years, surgical treatments (operations) for human beings have relied on a physician visually examining a target portion and performing necessary treatments, such as retracting or resecting the target portion, by manually utilizing a scalpel or other surgical tools.
However, the targets of operations have been smaller in size and finer in structure in accordance with the accumulation of biological and anatomical information relating to the target organs and the improvement of the medical techniques. Meanwhile, the progress in electronics has enabled the creation of an imaging system that is smaller in size yet higher in resolution, with a satisfactory level of color-reproducing capability that allows the system to be used in the actual treatments. As a result, endoscopic surgical operations have been widely performed in recent years, in which an image of the inside of the body taken through optical fibers is displayed on a large screen and a physician manipulates a surgical tool while watching the screen.
Efforts have also been made in searching for a method of remotely manipulating a tool by means of a manipulator, and a variety of specific methods have been proposed. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a system for driving a manipulator having a built-in endoscope. In this system, the manipulator is operated through a control stick or voice recognition unit.
Patent Document 2 discloses a point-lock system in which an insertion hole formed in a body wall is utilized as the supporting point for a rod-shaped manipulator to minimize the invasion to a patient. In this system, an operator wearing a face mounted display (FMD) drives a treating manipulator through an operation input device while visually checking an image projected on the FMD. The motion and position of a viewing manipulator are controlled according to the motion of the physician's head detected by a three-dimensional digitizer provided in the FMD.
Patent Document 3 discloses a system with a manipulator support mechanism especially designed to reduce the burden on the operator. Accordingly, in this system, the operator needs to directly operate the manipulator. The endoscopic image is displayed on an external screen.
Non-Patent Document 1 discloses a method of controlling a surgical tool having three light-emitting points on the side of its tip. Based on an image of these three points, the distance between the internal irradiation point (laser spot) of the laser light emitted from the tip of the surgical tool and the tip of the same tool is determined, and the surgical tool is controlled so that the distance will be at a predetermined value.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H06-030896    Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H08-215205    Patent Document 3: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-052716    Non-Patent Document 1: A. Krupa, et al., "Autonomous 3-D Positioning of Surgical Instruments in Robotized Laparoscopic Surgery Using Visual Servoing", IEEE Trans. on Robotics and Automation, Vol. 19 (2003), No. 5, pp. 842-853


When a satellite among a plurality thereof is designated as well as a polarized signal to be received from this satellite in a receiving satellite switching apparatus, a voltage changeover unit applies a DC feed voltage, which is inputted from a receiver, to whichever low-noise block converter corresponds to the satellite and polarized signal designated. The signal is applied via a coaxial cable. The low-noise block converter to which the DC feed voltage has been applied converts the designated polarized signal from the designated satellite into an intermediate-frequency signal and inputs this signal to the receiver via a mixer by means of a coaxial cable. At this time the DC voltage applied to the coaxial cable is blocked by a DC voltage blocking unit so that it will not enter circuitry which does not require this voltage.

This invention relates to a receiving satellite switching apparatus used at a receiving station for satellite communication. More particularly, the invention relates to a receiving satellite switching apparatus for receiving radio waves, which are transmitted from two or more satellites, from a multibeam antenna, and inputting a predetermined polarized-wave signal, which is from a prescribed satellite, to the tuner of a CS receiver (communication satellite receiver).
In recent years, satellites for civilian use have been launched to make possible CATV utilizing satellites, as well as satellite communication in private industry. A large number of private receiving stations have been established as a result. Among these, private receiving stations which employ a multiple-type antenna for accommodating a plurality of satellites, rather than single antenna for accommodating a single satellite, have become increasingly popular owing to reduced installation expenses and advantages in terms of installation space.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the construction of a single-type TVRO (television receiver-only system), which is one type of satellite communication receiving station. The system includes a single antenna 1 for receiving radio waves from a satellite, an ortho-mode transducer (OMT) 2 for separating the radio waves (circularly polarized waves) received by the antenna 1 into a V-polarized signal and an H-polarized signal, and low-noise block converters (LNB) 3a, 3b for amplifying each of the polarized signals by respective internal low-noise amplifiers and then converting the amplified signals into prescribed intermediate-frequency signals by frequency converters and inputting these signals to a CS receiver 5 via respective coaxial cables (IF cables) CB1, CB1'. LNB power supplies 4a, 4b supply DC voltage of +15 V to the low-noise block converters 3a, 3b, respectively, with the internal conductor of each coaxial cable serving as the + side and the external conductor as the - side. The CS receiver 5 accepts the polarized signals from the low-noise block converters 3a, 3b as input signals, selects and detects the signal of a prescribed channel of a prescribed polarized signal and outputs this signal that has been selected and detected. The system further includes a video unit 6, such as a TV or other video device. In the arrangement described above, a V/H changeover switch (not shown) is built in the CS receiver 5. However, as indicated by the dashed line, an alternative arrangement can be adopted in which a V/H changeover switch 7 is provided on the output side of the low-noise block converters 3a, 3b and is adapted to select the prescribed polarized signal and input it to the CS receiver 5 in response to a changeover signal from the CS receiver 5.
In accordance with this single-type TVRO, the V/H selection is simply carried out within the CS receiver or by an external switch. However, since a single-type TVRO is required for every satellite, multiple-type TVROs are becoming more popular.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the construction of a multiple-type TVRO. This system includes a multibeam antenna 11 for receiving radio waves (circularly polarized waves) from a plurality of satellites (satellites Nos. 1 and 2), an ortho-mode transducer (OMT) 12a for separating the radio waves received from satellite No. 1 by the multibeam antenna 11 into a V-polarized signal and an H-polarized signal, an ortho-mode transducer (OMT) 12b for separating the radio waves received from satellite No. 2 by the multibeam antenna 11 into a V-polarized signal and an H-polarized signal, and low-noise block converters (LNB) 13a.about.13d for amplifying polarized signals V1.about.H2 from each of the satellites by respective internal low-noise amplifiers and then converting the amplified signals into prescribed intermediate-frequency signals by frequency converters and inputting these signals to a CS receiver 17 via coaxial cables (IF cables) CB11.about.CB14. The system further includes a polarized-signal selecting switch 14 for selecting the V-polarized signal or the H-polarized signal, a satellite selecting switch 15a for selecting the V-polarized signal from satellite No. 1 or No. 2, and a satellite selecting switch 15b for selecting the H-polarized signal from satellite No. 1 or No. 2. An LNB power supply 16 supplies DC voltage of +15 V to the low-noise block converters 13a.about.13d conforming to the combination of the selected satellite and polarized signal via the coaxial cables CB11.about.CB14. The CS receiver 17 selects and detects the signal of a prescribed channel of the inputted polarized signal and outputs the signal that has been selected and detected. The system further includes a video unit 18, such as a TV or other video device.
The system is provided with a changeover unit 19 the front panel of which has a V/H selection dial 19a and a satellite selection dial 19b. The arrangement is such that a voltage of .+-.15 V is inputted to the selection switches 14, 15a, 15b via control cables L1, L2 in dependence upon the dial positions. The changeover unit 19 is installed indoors along with the CS receiver 17 and video unit 18, etc. The other equipment is installed outdoors.
In a case where it is desired to receive a prescribed channel of the V-polarized signal of satellite No. 1, the dials 19a, 19b of the changeover unit 19 are manipulated to select "No. 1" and "V", whereupon +15 V is applied to the selection switches 14, 15a, 15b via the control cables L1, L2, so that the switches attain the states shown in FIG. 2. As a result, +15 V is fed to the low-noise block converter 13a from the LNB power supply 16 so that the V-polarized signal of satellite No. 1 whose frequency has been converted by the low-noise block converter 13a enters the CS receiver 17. A similar operation is performed when the H-polarized signal of satellite No. 1, the V-polarized signal of satellite No. 2 and the H-polarized signal of satellite No. 2 are selected.
In this multiple-type TVRO according to the prior art, one IF cable between the indoor equipment and the outdoor equipment is sufficient. However, three or more selection switches are required in order to perform the satellite selection and the V/H selection. Furthermore, the cables L1, L2 for switch control also are necessary between the indoor equipment and the outdoor equipment. As a result, the system has a complicated construction and therefore readily malfunctions and is not easy to maintain.
Another problem with the conventional multiple-type TVRO is that the selection switches assume intermediate positions unless they are provided with the voltage of .+-.15 V from the changeover unit, thereby making it impossible to perform the satellite selection and the V/H selection.
Still another problem is that since the conventional multiple-type TVRO requires the cables L1, L2 for switch control, the cost of installation is high.


A sporting implement, such as a blade for a hockey stick, may include an outer layer, a core, and a recovery gel positioned between the core and the outer layer. The recovery gel can form a film, and the recovery gel can be compressible, shape recoverable, and pressurized to a predetermined pressure. The recovery gel can be configured to provide an integrated agent for filling cracks that appear during use of the blade. The recovery gel can be configured to absorb energy impacts between the outer layer and the core. When a crack appears, the predetermined pressure can be relieved inside the crack and fills a cavity formed by the crack to provide cohesion between the outer layer and the core to recreate a new material in the place of the crack. The recovery gel can be configured to help prevent cracks from propagating and actively heals potential damages by reducing stiffness loss caused by cracks.

Certain sporting implements may be formed with a central portion or a core. For example, a hockey stick blade can be formed of a core reinforced with one or more layers of synthetic materials such as fiberglass, carbon fiber or Aramid. Cores of hockey stick blades may also be made of a synthetic material reinforced with layers of fibers. The layers may be made of a woven filament fiber, preimpregnated with resin. These structures may include a foam core with a piece of fiber on the front face of the blade and a second piece of fiber on the rear face of the blade, in the manner of pieces of bread in a sandwich.
Cores of sporting implements may be subject to cracking or breaking over time. For example, a hockey stick blade core may crack during its normal use during play. This can induce a softening of the product, and may eventually lead to a break of the blade or stick. Nevertheless, adding a significant amount of material may increase the weight of the blade and stick, and the use of softer core materials may lead to breakage of the outer layer of the sporting implement because of the amount of movement of the outer layer allowed by the core. In the case of a hockey stick blade, this may also create a "trampoline effect" that may make the puck bounce off of the blade that is more than desired. Also the use of a harder material for the core, may in certain instances, be either be too fragile or too heavy. Moreover, omitting the foam core in a hockey stick blade may create a different "feel" of the stick to the player because of the lack of damping.

Recovery materials for core constructs and methods for repairing core constructs


Device for applying adhesive tape to a position in the width direction on an adherend surface linked to a neighboring surface via a folding line. The device comprises a pressing member with a surface attached pressingly to a surface of an adherend member, and at the same time, an edge between a sloping surface and an upper surface makes line contact with the neighboring surface near the folding line, thereby defining the position of the pressing member in the width direction relative to the adherend surface. The position of an adhesive tape relative to the pressing member is defined by an upper surface of a tape guide attaching member and a lower surface of a guide bar flange. Unapplied tape is guided by the guide bar and an unapplied tape guide, and a liner separated from the adhesive tape is guided by the guide bar and a liner guide.

Adhesive tapes are widely used in various fields. They are applied to adherend members having a wide variety of forms, so that the shape of adhesive tapes also varies widely.
One of the most difficult operations is that of applying a long adhesive tape to a designated position on an exterior surface of an automobile. This is because the exterior surface of an automobile body is in general a complicated curved surface and the adhesive tape is often non-linear in shape and non-uniform in the width. In addition, the operation of applying such an adhesive tape has to be performed while the automobile body is moving on the production line.
There is a case, for example, where an adhesive tape is to be adhered to an adherend surface that has a neighboring surface in linkage thereof via a folding line, keeping the side edge of the adhesive tape at a position separated by a predetermined distance from the folding line.
In such a case, the operator has to accomplish three tasks simultaneously, that is:
(1) to keep the position of the side edge at a constant distance from the folding line;
(2) to keep the unapplied portion yet to be applied and the liner of the adhesive tape from interfering with the application operation; and
(3) to apply the adhesive tape using a squeezee or the like.
Thus, the operation is very difficult, and air bubbles are often formed in the interface between the adherend surface and the adhesive tape.
When an air bubble is formed in the interface between the adherend surface and the adhesive tape, the adhesive tape has to be pulled off up to the position of the bubble and to be applied again. If this is repeated several times, the adhesive tape may become deformed or no longer marketable, depending on the tape. Or, dust may stick to the tape, leading to another problem. In addition, the operation may not be completed within the specified process time.
Thus, a frequently adopted approach has been to assign two workers to this operation, so that while one is holding the tape with appropriate tension, the other may confirm the parting line and proceed with the application of the adhesive tape. This has resulted in an increase in labor costs for such operations.

Device for assisting the application of adhesive tape