In a method and apparatus for automatically feeding sleeves in roll cutting machines of the support roller type, a wide web (12) of paper or the like is unwound at an unwinding station (10). At a cutting station (20) the wide web (12) is slit lengthwise into at least two narrower, partial-width webs (24). The narrower, partial-width webs (24) are wound up using winding sleeves (44, 54) at two winding stations (40, 50) arranged either side of the support roller(s) (30) and each comprising at least one winding device (41, 51) so that adjacent partial-width webs (24) are wound at different winding stations (40, 50 respectively). The winding sleeves (44, 54) are pushed in a feeding device (60) into a transfer position oriented parallel to the support roll or rollers (30) in a row one after the other in order to the winding devices to be loaded, distributed from their transfer positions to both sides of the support roller(s) and transported to the loading positions in the winding devices (41, 51), in order to be loaded there for the purpose of later receiving their partial-width webs. The winding sleeves (44, 54) which are in their transfer positions and distributed to both sides of the support roller(s) are taken up by the transport devices (70) arranged at the respective winding devices (41, 51) and raised or lowered along a substantially straight line into the loading positions.

This invention relates to a method for automatically feeding winding sleeves to a roll-cutting machine of the support roll type, as well as a roll-cutting machine for implementing the method.
In roll-cutting machines of the support roller type, the winding devices are usually so-called centre winders, since the clamping heads gripping the winding sleeves for holding the ends of the cut sheets to be wound are driven in the winding direction. These known roll-cutting machines produce good winding results and have been used in the industry for many years. The production capacity of these machines is greatly limited by the amount of time and effort required to change the rolls/winding sleeves. This procedure takes from five to either minutes and requires up to four or five workers, depending on the number of stations. The average cutting and winding time amounts to approximately 12 minutes. This means that the machine is not productive 30 to 40% of the time (DE 38 00 703 A1).
In roll cutting machines with one support roll as well as in those with two support rolls, with the sheets being fed from below in to the winding station, it is known to feed the winding sleeves automatically from above the support roll(s). According to DE 38 00 703 A1, a feed beam is provided for each of the two winding stations positioned alongside the support roll(s); this feed beam extends across the entire width of the machine, which can be eight to ten meters, and is supported by swivel arms at the end faces of the machines. Each feed beam has a groove for holding the winding sleeves. If the two feed beams are swivelled toward each other and are positioned close together, the two grooves lie so close together that there is room for only one winding sleeve in each longitudinal segment of the feed beam. This makes it possible to alternately transfer the winding sleeves, which are already cut to length, from one feed beam end to the groove on one feed beam or the other an, with the aid of a slide, push the entire unit along the two grooves until it reaches the transfer positions corresponding to the winding fixtures positions. The winding sleeves are thus distributed to the two grooves belonging to each of the winding stations as soon as they are inserted into the grooves. A functionally reliable distribution is difficult in this case. In order to fit the individual winding fixtures with new winding sleeves, the feed beams must be swivelled in an arc in the direction of the support arm pairs for the winding fixtures. While they are being swivelled, the winding sleeves roll into the grooves receiving them from one initial stable position to another stable position, where they are prevented from rolling out of the groove by a swivelling stop. The stops are pivotably attached to the feed beam under a spring loading so that the stop plate positioned in the region of the support arms for the winding fixtures can avoid contact with the support arms.
This known feed device has three primary disadvantages: First, there is a danger that, when the winding sleeves roll from one stable position to the other, the swing (momentum) of the rolling winding sleeves becomes so great that the stop plates whose surfaces are rounded cannot stop this rolling movement. This danger is present primarily with winding sleeves of a relatively large diameter and/or a relatively great weight. Secondly, alignment of the winding sleeves to the clamping heads of the winding fixtures requires great effort, primarily if the winding sleeve diameter has to be changed and/or sleeves of different diameters are to be wound during a single winding cycle. Finally, it is difficult to transfer winding sleeves in different grooves to their precise transfer positions.
Some simplification of the winding sleeve feed device is proposed in DE 37 37 503 A1 for a roll-cutting machine with two support rolls. In this machine, all winding sleeves necessary for a single winding cycle are positioned in a single groove. The winding sleeves are not distributed to the sides corresponding to the two winding stations until the winding sleeves have been placed in their transfer positions corresponding to the winding fixtures. They are distributed by flipping open the groove from below and transferring the winding sleeves to alternating gripping arms which pull the winding sleeves to the correct side and place them on an inclined pane leading to the clamping position of the relevant winding sleeve. These known winding sleeve feed devices also require a stop which prevents the winding sleeve from rolling further and holds it in the precise clamping position. This known winding sleeve feed device requires a relatively large number of moving parts. It also requires a great deal of alignment work when the width of the cut sheets and/or winding sleeve diameters are changed. Finally, when changing the cut sheet widths, the gripping arms must be re-aligned independently, i.e. separately from the winding devices. A box girder extending across the entire width of the machine and having side-mounted guide rails which can be fitted with slides has to be provided for this purpose.

Method and device for automatic sleeve feed to roll-cutting machines of the support roller type


The present invention provides stable non-crystalline aspirin that does not crystallize at room temperature during storage for prolonged periods of time and processes for obtaining the stable non-crystalline aspirin.

Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) was first synthesized by Charles Gerhardt in 1853. However, Gerhardt did not pursue his invention. Bayer commercialized crystalline acetylsalicylic acid in 1899 under the trade name ASPIRIN. U.S. Pat. No. 644,077 for the crystalline acetylsalicylic acid was granted in 1900 to Felix Hoffmann, a Bayer chemist. Until recently, the original crystalline form, known as Form I, was the only known crystalline form of aspirin and the only form of aspirin that is stable at room temperature. As reported in Chemical & Engineering News, Nov. 21, 2005, Zaworotko et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2005, 127, 16802, reported the synthesis of a second polymorphic form of aspirin. Aspirin Form II is kinetically stable at 100 K (−173° C.), but converts back to Form I at ambient conditions
Amorphous glass aspirin has also been formed. However, except possibly for some microscopic residues, amorphous aspirin has been produced only at very low temperatures. Above the glass transition temperature of about 243 Kelvin (−30° C.), amorphous aspirin converts rapidly to the crystalline Form I. Thus, all prior art forms of aspirin convert to Form I at room temperature. As a result of the low temperature required to create and maintain the amorphous form, there has been essentially no practical application of the amorphous solid state form.
Johari et al., Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 2000, 2, 5479-5484, report the vitrification of aspirin by melting and cooling and by ball-milling at ambient temperature to form a vitreous or supercooled viscous liquid aspirin that is stable against crystallization for several days at 298K. The viscous liquid was found to flow slowly when tilted in a container, but did not crystallize for four to five days at 298K. The vitreous aspirin samples did ultimately undergo complete crystallization, which was accelerated when the samples were kept at about 340K.
Johari et al. report that the vitreous state has a higher energy state than the crystal state with a lower frequency of its phonon modes and a greater anharmonicity that make absorption and assimilation directly from the solid state more effective and efficient. In its bulk form, the vitreous aspirin is reported to dissolve more slowly than the same mass of finely powdered crystals of aspirin. As is well known in the art, a bulk sample of a substance has a significantly smaller surface area than finely powdered crystals. That makes the dissolution of the bulk form much more difficult, accounting for the slower dissolution rate of the bulk vitreous aspirin reported by Johari et al.

Room temperature stable non-crystalline aspirin and method for the preparation thereof


A User Equipment (UE) may receive a coverage mode transition request at a first time and upon determining that the coverage mode transition request includes a request to transition to an Enhanced Coverage (EC) mode, the UE may determine, based on parameters in the coverage mode transition request, an expected communication delay for transmission of a Reference Signal Time Difference (RSTD) measurement report. The UE may initiate transmission of the RSTD measurement report for the positioning measurement session at a second time not exceeding a specified RSTD measurement time. The second time may precede an RSTD measurement timeout time for the positioning measurement session by at least the expected communication delay. Disclosed embodiments also pertain to communication of the expected communication delay between a Location Server (e.g. Evolved Serving Mobile Location Center) and a Base Station (e.g. evolved NodeB) using Long Term Evolution Positioning Protocol Annex (LPPa) messages.

It is often desirable to know the location of a UE, which may take the form of a mobile terminal, an Internet of Things (IoT) device, etc. UEs may use positioning services to determine their locations. For example, mobile phones, wearables, asset tracking devices, logistical support devices, etc. may request and/or use positioning services. In some instances, because of signaling environment, location, power, and/or cost considerations, UEs may operate or may be requested to operate in a "Coverage Enhanced" or "Enhanced Coverage" (hereinafter referred to collectively as "EC") mode. For example, a UE connected to a Base Station ("BS") may move out of a "normal coverage" ("NC") region (e.g. with acceptable signal quality) into an EC region (e.g. with poor signal quality). To maintain communication session continuity and/or reliability, the UE may be re-configured from NC mode to EC mode. In EC mode, repetitions of some messages may be used to facilitate increased coverage. The number of repetitions in EC mode can be significant (e.g. in the hundreds) and may have an impact on effective message communication delay. Thus, in EC mode, positioning related messages including messages with Reference Signal Time Difference (RSTD) measurements by the UE may be received at a Position Determination Entity (PDE) such as a Location Server (LS) later than some specified positioning measurement session timeout period thereby detrimentally affecting UE location determination.

Coverage mode based observed time difference of arrival positioning


In a monitoring system for networked devices, a system, method, and computer program product for collecting and sending information related to monitored devices. When a first type of information is collected and not reported to a central monitoring workstation, the collected information, such as, for example, alarm conditions, is stored in a database connected to a remote monitoring workstation, and when information is to be sent to the central monitoring workstation, both the first type of information from the database and currently-collected first type of information as well as a second type of information is sent to the central monitoring workstation. Once the information is sent to the central monitoring workstation, the values in the database corresponding to the first type of information is reset and the next monitoring cycle begins.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to systems, methods, and computer program products for monitoring networked devices. More particularly, to systems, methods, and computer program products for collecting and sending different types of information related to devices connected to multiple networks from a remote monitor to a central monitor. The different types of information may be collected at different frequencies. Information collected between subsequent transmissions of information to the central monitor is maintained by the remote monitor for sending with the next transmission.
2. Discussion of the Background
Co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/756,120 filed on Jan. 9, 2001, describes a system for remotely monitoring networked devices using e-mail. As described in that application, the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) is used by a remote monitor to collect information from networked devices. The collected information is then sent to a central monitor using, for example, e-mail.
Devices connected to a network may be monitored by a remote monitor for different types of information. Some or all of that information may or may not be sent to a central monitor at a same frequency as it is collected. For example, a remote monitor may poll devices for a first type of information more frequently than the information that is sent to a central monitor. Accordingly, it is possible that, for example, error conditions could have been raised and corrected during the time between subsequent reports to the central monitor. If the information sent to the central monitor includes only that information that was collected by the remote monitor immediately prior to sending the information, the central monitor will not receive information concerning, for example, conditions that arose since the last transmission of information and were cleared prior to the current transmission of information.

System, method, and computer program product for collecting and sending various types of information to a monitor using e-mail


An RF switch is disclosed. Power of an amplifier installed in an RF switch of a TV receiver is adjusted by using a Schmitt trigger circuit. If an output voltage of an RF automatic gain controller of a tuner is greater than a pre-set upper limit threshold value, the amplifier is turned on, whereas if an output voltage of an RF automatic gain controller of a tuner is smaller than a pre-set lower limit threshold value, the amplifier is turned off. Thus, a signal distortion phenomenon that may occur when an infinitesimal signal, a strong signal and several signals with high power levels are adjacent to each other can be avoided, so a performance of a receiving unit is improved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an RF switch and, more particularly, to an RF switch in which power of an amplifier is adjusted by a Schmitt trigger circuit.
2. Description of the Background Art
In general, an RF switch is a device for changing a path of an RF signal by an input signal of a user, and various models are used depending on its use.
FIG. 1 illustrates a general RF switch.
As shown in FIG. 1, the RF switch receives an air radio frequency (RF) signal or a cable radio frequency (RF) signal from an external source and transmits it to a tuner or a ¾ modulator.
That is, the RF switch includes two output terminals, and when the same signal is outputted through the two output terminals, one is inputted to the tuner and the other is inputted to the ¾ modulator in a standby state for a loop-out.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal construction of the conventional RF switch.
As shown in FIG. 2, the conventional RF switch has such a structure that an RF signal is received from an external source, the RF signal of a terminal selected by a relay switch is amplified, and two same signals are outputted through a splitter.
The conventional RF switch will now be described in detail.
First, a power supply and relay switch adjusting interface 204 performs an interface control between a user and the relay switch, and supplies power to each part of the RF switch.
The relay switch 201 receives the RF signal, selects a received air RF signal or cable RF signal under the control of a relay switch adjusting unit 205 according to a user's selection, and outputs it to an amplifier 202.
Then, the amplifier 202 amplifies the air RF signal or cable RF signal outputted through the relay switch 201 to a predetermined level, and outputs it to the splitter 202.
The splitter 203 outputs the amplified RF signal simultaneously to the tuner and the ¾ modulator through a first output port and a second output port. At this time, the amplifier 202 not only compensates a signal attenuation phenomenon due to the relay switch 201 or the splitter 203 but also maintains a signal flatness according to a frequency in a broadband to its maximum. Thus, in measuring an infinitesimal signal receiving performance, a better performance is shown at a higher frequency.
However, in measuring a strong signal performance, the performance is degraded due to the amplifier 202, and in an area where an analog signal and a DTV signal having high signal strengths over broadband are received adjacently, or in a vicinity of a transmitting station, a distortion is generated in the amplifier 202, so that an image is broken or a specific channel is not taken. This is called an overload phenomenon of the amplifier 202. This phenomenon actually takes place in the North America, and in order to avoid such a phenomenon and the performance degradation in inputting a strong signal, several methods are used.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal construction of the conventional RF switch for preventing a performance degradation in inputting a strong signal.
As shown in FIG. 3, the conventional RF switch for preventing a performance degradation has a structure that switches 302 and 304 are connected to input/output terminal of an amplifier 303 and a microcomputer 309 controls switching of the switches 302 and 304 through an input port 308, in addition to the structure of FIG. 2.
That is, the output of the relay switch 301 is outputted to the switch 302, and the switch 302 is switched under the control of the microcomputer 309 to output an inputted signal to the amplifier 303 or to the switch 304. Likewise, the switch 304 is switched under the control of the microcomputer 309 and selects a signal outputted from the amplifier 303 to output it to the splitter 305 or selects a signal outputted from the switch 302 to output it to the splitter 305.
In other words, according to the switching of the switches 302 and 304, the output of the relay switch 302 can be outputted to the splitter 305 through the amplifier 303 or directly bypassed to the splitter 305 without passing through the amplifier 303. Therefore, with the strong signal or the overload, the conventional RF switch as shown in FIG. 3 has a better performance than the conventional RF switch as shown in FIG. 2.
However, the switches 302 and 304 keeps operating in the vicinity of a threshold value adjusting a signal path which does not pass through the amplifier 303 and a signal path which passes through the amplifier 303. This causes a malfunction in the tuner, so that an image is broken even at a general signal or a non-image phenomenon occurs. Due to this phenomenon, the RF switch as shown in FIG. 3 is not used presently any longer.
In a different method for preventing the performance degradation caused by the RF switch as shown in FIG. 2, the amplifier is removed form the RF switch. This method shows a good performance over the strong or the overload, but since a signal attenuation according to the splitter is not compensated, an infinitesimal signal performance is not good.
In a still different method for preventing the performance degradation caused by the RF switch as shown in FIG. 2, an RF switch having an amplifier is used and in an area where a strong signal is generated, a user is recommended to install an attenuator at an input terminal of the RF switch. This method, however, has a problem that since there is a wide deflection in the signal strength depending on a channel or a direction of an antenna, it is not easy for the user to determine and control the signal performance.


There are provided an epoxy resin composition for encapsulation, which is particularly suitable for use in resin pre-setting type flip-chip mounting of a Cu post chip, and which is capable of suppressing defects due to the generation of voids; and a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device using a Cu post chip. The present invention provides an epoxy resin composition for semiconductor encapsulation for flip-chip mounting, which contains an epoxy resin (A), a curing agent (B), a curing accelerator (C), and 3 to 64 parts by weight, relative to 100 parts by weight of the component (A), of thermally thickening resin particles (D) having a volume-average primary particle diameter of 0.2 to 10 μm; and a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device by resin pre-setting type flip-chip mounting of a Cu post chip using the composition.

As a method of mounting a semiconductor chip to a circuit board, flip-chip mounting is increasing in response to a request for further reductions in weight, thickness and size of a package. In mounting of a flip-chip, there has been heretofore performed, for example, a method called "resin pre-setting mounting" in which an encapsulation resin is supplied in advance onto a substrate and then electrical connection is performed with a chip being pressure-bonded to a circuit on the substrate and curing of the encapsulation resin is also performed.
In this flip-chip mounting, there has been studied shift from chips with Au studs, conventionally widely used, to chips using Cu posts, excellent in electrical properties. In a substrate of a chip using a Cu post, connection to a circuit on the substrate is performed by fusion of solder provided at the tip portion of the post. At this time, in order to prevent the solder from protruding and flowing off a prescribed region on the substrate, a solder resist pattern is applied in advance to a region into which the solder is prevented from protruding, and a solder resist is not applied to a junction with the post. Thus, there has been made a manipulation so as to allow the solder to be placed on only a prescribed site. Accordingly, a boundary between the region where the solder resist is applied and the region where the solder resist is not applied is present in the form of a step on the substrate. It has been revealed that in resin pre-setting type flip-chip mounting, the presence of this step causes void generation due to trapping of entrained air when a chip and a substrate are pressed toward each other and an encapsulation resin is thereby forced to flow and spread in a gap between the chip and the substrate.
Moreover, it is necessary to heat up to a reflow temperature of the solder and the heating requires a higher temperature than a pressure-bonding step with a conventional Au stud. Therefore, there has been recognized the following problem: an encapsulation resin decreases in viscosity to have increased flowability and misalignment may occur before the resin is cured.
Various types of epoxy resin compositions for semiconductor encapsulation have been known; for example, an encapsulation resin provided with a latent thickening effect by blending a relatively small amount, i.e., 0.1 to 5 phr of acrylic polymer fine particles is disclosed in Patent Document 1. This encapsulation resin, however, is an encapsulant suited for wire bonding type IC chips and does not solve the above-described problems.

Epoxy resin composition for semiconductor encapsulation and method for manufacturing semiconductor device


A mosaic image having high recognizability of a picture of an original image is provided while the number of division of the original image is suppressed. An image providing device includes a specifying means that specifies a region including an edge of an image from a plurality of regions, a dividing means that further divides the specified region into a plurality of regions, an acquisition means that acquires an image specified by a user, a determination means that determines a region to which the acquired image is assigned from regions not divided by the dividing means among the plurality of regions and from regions formed by being divided by the dividing means, and a presentation means that causes a mosaic image in which the acquired image is arranged on the basis of an assignment determined by the determination means to be presented.

Conventionally, as a representation method of an image in, for example, a poster and a Web page used for an advertisement, a notice of an event, and the like, a method is known in which a plurality of images to be combined (hereinafter referred to as "material images") are arranged like tiles and the images are represented as a mosaic image (for example, a mosaic art and a photo mosaic). In this representation method, for example, an image (hereinafter referred to as an "original image") to be an original of a picture of the mosaic image is divided into a plurality of regions. Each material image is assigned to, for example, a region whose color tone, pattern or the like is similar to those of the material image. Thereby, a mosaic image which represents a picture of the original image is generated.
On the other hand, a technique is known in which a server device acquires images, which are provided from a user as material images, from a terminal device through a network and causes the terminal device to display a mosaic image generated by using the acquired images. In this case, what images are the material images depends on a determination of the user who provides the images. Therefore, when such images are used as the material images, a problem to be solved is how to generate a mosaic image which has high recognizability of a picture of the original image.
For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a technique, the object of which is to provide a mosaic image that has high recognizability. Specifically, when a mosaic image providing device determines a block, in which a material image posted by a user is placed, from a plurality of blocks obtained by dividing a target image which is an original of the mosaic image, the mosaic image providing device determines a block selected by the user to be a block in which the material image is placed or automatically determines a block in which the material image is placed without being limited by an image of the block. Further, the mosaic image providing device corrects color of a material image so that an average density value of a basic color of the material image is an average density value of the basic color of a block in which the material image is placed. Furthermore, until when the number of material images posted by the user reaches a number necessary to complete the mosaic image, a mosaic image in which the material images are placed in only a part of the blocks is displayed on the terminal device. In other words, a mosaic image in an uncompleted state is displayed.

Image providing device, image processing method, image processing program, and recording medium for forming a mosaic image


Disclosed is an electronic component package (100) including a circuit board (10), an electronic component (20), and an adhesive layer (30). The circuit board (10) is provided with an electrically-conductive conductor post (16) which is buried in a base member (12), and a solder layer (18) which is provided at the front end (13) of the conductor post (16) while exposed from a surface (121) of the base member (12). An electrode pad (24) having a metal layer (22) mounted thereon is provided on the main surface (26) of the electronic component (20). The adhesive layer (30) contains a flux activating compound, and bonds the surface (121) of the base member (12) and the main surface (26) of the electronic component (20). Then, the metal layer (22) and the solder layer (18) are metal-bonded.

With the recent requirements of higher functionality and reduction in weight and size of electronic equipments, high-density integration and high-density mounting of electronic components are in progress.
With respect to this technology, the following Patent Document 1 discloses an invention of a semiconductor package in which a plating layer made of gold or nickel is provided on a surface of a conductor post protruding from an interposer substrate, and such a conductor post is bonded to an electrode pad formed on a semiconductor chip.

Electronic component package and method for producing electronic component package


A side-stand for a motorcycle enables both improvement in appearance and weight reduction by using a tapered pipe member. A side-stand for a motorcycle includes an elongate portion having a hollow structure, and a grounding portion. An outer shape of the elongate portion is tapered in appearance toward the grounding portion and, in a state in which the side-stand is unfolded, the elongate portion looks thinner as a whole in a side view than in a front view of a vehicle body. The elongate portion has a wall thickness on the distal end side equivalent to or smaller than a wall thickness on a proximal end side. The elongate portion is formed by increasing a diameter of a distal end side inner peripheral portion of a round pipe member by cutting, and then swaging an outer peripheral portion to reduce the diameter and obtain a tapered shape.

In order to reduce the weight of a side-stand for a motorcycle, there is known a configuration in which an elongate portion of the side-stand is formed of a pipe member. There is also known a configuration in which an elongate portion of a side-stand is formed into a tapered shape which gradually gets smaller in diameter toward a grounding portion side (distal end side) to improve the appearance.
Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration of a side-stand having an elongate portion formed of a pipe member in which the pipe member first is flattened on a distal end side and then bent so as to have a semicircular cross section to make the elongate portion appear to be formed by using a tapered pipe member.

Side-stand for motorcycle and manufacturing method thereof


A rechargeable battery charging apparatus includes a type detection section for determining the type of rechargeable battery, a power-supply section for charging the rechargeable battery, and a charging control section for controlling the power-supply section. The charging control section stops the charging of the rechargeable battery or changes the limitation value of the charging current when it is detected by the type detection section that the type of the rechargeable battery is changed during charging.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a secondary battery (rechargeable battery) charging method and apparatus compatible with a plurality of types of secondary batteries.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hitherto, a secondary battery charging apparatus, in which, when some abnormality is detected during charging, the charging being performed is stopped or the limitation value of charging current is changed, has been known.
More specifically, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-252808, there is a secondary battery charging apparatus in which, when an abnormal cooling occurs, charging/discharging electrical power is changed according to the cooling performance difference between an abnormal cooling state and a normal cooling state.
However, in the above-described conventional secondary battery charging apparatus, an operation for changing the charging/discharging electrical power is performed after some abnormality occurs in the charging operation. Although security can be ensured, when the influence upon the apparatus is considered, it is preferable that an occurrence of an abnormality be predicted before an abnormality occurs, and countermeasures be performed.

Method of controlling charging secondary battery based on type of secondary battery and apparatus


A terminal device in which basic information and detailed information of each a plurality of application programs are stored in a different storage area for each application program, and that prohibits access to each storage area by other application programs, is caused to execute the processes of displaying a window that includes the basic information of each application program, and, if a cursor is moved to the display position of one of the pieces of basic information, launching, in an information providing mode, a first application program where the cursor is positioned and a second application program whose basic information is displayed adjacent to the first application program to acquire the detailed information of the application programs, and displaying the detailed information of the first application program.

In recent years, following the spread of mobile telephones provided with a program execution function, various types of application programs, such as schedulers and games, for example, have been provided for mobile phones. Users of such mobile phones can now select application programs that meet their individual needs, and install the selected application programs on their mobile phones.
With mobile phones provided with a program execution function, predetermined unique information (hereinafter, basic information) about application programs installed thereon, such as the names and types of application programs, is generally displayed as a list and the user allowed to select an application program to be run. Here, it is useful to be able to display information that has been added or updated (hereinafter, detailed information) following use of each application program, such as the usage history of the application program.
Because detailed information as mentioned above is generally generated in the process of executing an application program, to enable the display of detailed information, the application program needs to be run whenever a display instruction is performed. However, since the CPU (Central Processing Unit) of a mobile phone having a program execution function has low performance compared with the CPU of a personal computer or the like, a long time is required for the application program to finish startup, and it may not be possible to perform display of detailed information quickly.
Various techniques for speeding up information display have already been proposed, an example of which includes a technique disclosed in JP-A-2005-198039. In JP-A-2005-198039, a technique is disclosed for shortening the required processing time leading up to display, by reading out and readying other image data from storage means in accordance with a prescribed order of priority, while one piece of image data is being displayed.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Disclosed are a non-volatile memory device and a method of programming the same. The method comprises applying a wordline voltage, a bitline voltage, and a bulk voltage to a memory cell during a plurality of program loops. In cases where the bitline voltage falls below a first predetermined detection voltage during a current program loop, or the bulk voltage becomes higher than a second predetermined detection voltage, the same wordline voltage is used in the current programming loop and a next program loop following the current program loop. Otherwise, the wordline voltage is incremented by a predetermined amount before the next programming loop.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an electronic memory device. More particularly, the invention relates to a non-volatile memory device and a method of programming the same.
A claim of priority is made to Korean Patent Applications Nos. 2004-85749 and 2004-89952 respectively filed on Oct. 26, 2004 and Nov. 5, 2004, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
2. Description of the Related Art
Semiconductor memories are an essential part of most modern electronic systems such as computers and other digital logic platforms. Unfortunately, however, the performance of the electronic systems is often limited by the speed and the capacity of the semiconductor memories. In addition, the physical size of memory chips often places a restriction on the amount of miniaturization that can take place in the electronic systems. Because of the limiting effect that semiconductor memories have on modem electronic systems, there is a continuing need to create faster, more highly integrated semiconductor memories. In order to do so, improvements need to be made to the manufacturing technologies used to create these memories. In particular, processing techniques for creating more densely integrated, higher frequency semiconductor memories need to be developed.
Semiconductor memory devices are generally grouped into two broad categories: volatile semiconductor memory devices and non-volatile semiconductor memory devices. Briefly, volatile semiconductor memory devices provide persistent data storage as long as power is supplied to the devices, but they lose the data once the power is cut off. Non-volatile semiconductor memory devices, on the other hand, provide persistent data storage even when power to the devices is cut off or suspended.
Because of their ability to provide persistent data storage even when power is cut off, non-volatile memory devices are commonly used to provide long term storage for data such as program files and microcode. Non-volatile memory devices are frequently used in application areas such as personal computers, aerospace electronic engineering, communication systems, and consumer electronics.
Some non-volatile semiconductor memories are adapted for reprogramming and others are not. For example, due to design limitations, mask-programmed read-only memory (MROM) and programmable read-only memory (PROM) can be programmed only once during their lifetime. Erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM) can be reprogrammed, but only after exposing it to ultraviolet light for several minutes to erase previously stored data. Electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), on the other hand, provides efficient reprogramming capability by allowing memory cells to be reprogrammed by simply applying electric fields to the cells. EEPROMs can generally be reprogrammed more than one hundred thousand times during their lifetime.
Flash memory is a special type of EEPROM in which multiple memory blocks are erased or programmed by a single programming operation. The performance of flash memory is generally superior to that of normal EEPROM, which only allows one memory block to be erased or programmed at a time. In addition, flash memory provides fast access times for read operations and is resistant to physical shock, thus making it an attractive option for high performance portable devices such as cellular phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs).
A typical flash memory comprises an array of transistors called cells, wherein each cell has a source and a drain formed on a substrate and two gate structures formed on the substrate between the source and the drain terminals. The two gate structures generally comprise a floating gate surrounded by an insulating layer and a control gate formed on the floating gate. The floating gate is used to store electrons determining a logic state for the cell.
A flash memory cell is read by placing a voltage on its control gate and detecting whether a current flows between its drain and source. Depending on how many electrons are stored in the floating gate, the voltage applied to the control gate will either allow current to flow between the drain and the source or it will not. For example, where a large number of electrons is stored in the floating gate, the electrons have a canceling effect on the voltage applied to the control gate, thereby affecting whether current flows between the drain and the source. In other words, the electrons stored in the floating gate modify the threshold voltage of the cell, i.e. the voltage that has to be applied to the control gate in order for current to flow between the drain and the source.
Due to variations in flash memory cells such as their geometry or a voltage used to program the memory cells, there tends to be variation in the threshold voltages of flash memory cells that have been programmed. Where the variation in the threshold voltages of the memory cells is not properly regulated, it can cause the flash memory to have poor performance.
In order to regulate a threshold voltage distribution for programmed memory cells, the memory cells are generally programmed using an incremental step pulse programming (ISPP) scheme such as that illustrated by FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 1, a programming voltage VWL is applied to a wordline. Programming voltage VWL is increased in multiple program loop iterations executed during a programming operation. Each program loop comprises a programming period and a program verification period. In each program loop, programming voltage VWL is incremented by an amount ΔV. During the programming operation, a threshold voltage Vt of a cell being programmed increases by amount ΔV in each program loop. In order to minimize variation in the threshold voltage distribution, amount ΔV should be small. As increment ΔV becomes smaller, the number of program loops becomes larger. Since there is a tradeoff between the number of program loops required and the variance of the threshold voltage distribution, ΔV should be chosen to minimize the variance of the threshold voltage as much as possible without significantly limiting the performance of the memory device by requiring too many program loops.
A programming scheme for a non-volatile memory device using ISPP is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,266,270. Circuits for generating programming voltages using ISPP are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,642,309 and in Korean Patent Publication No. 2002-39744.
As described above, when programming a NOR flash memory device using an ISPP scheme, a wordline voltage (e.g., 3V to 10V, ΔV=0.3V) is applied to a control gate of a flash cell, a bitline voltage of about 5V-6V is applied to the drain of the flash cell and a voltage lower than 0 (e.g., −1V) is applied to a bulk or substrate of the flash cell. In general, a cell current Icell flowing through a memory cell is proportional to (VGS−Vt)2, where Vt is a threshold voltage of the memory cell and VGS is a gate to source voltage of the memory cell. The bitline voltage is generated and maintained by a charge pump (not shown). Where an amount of cell current flowing through the memory cell exceeds the capacity of the charge pump for the bitline voltage, the bitline voltage falls below a predetermined voltage level. As the bitline voltage (i.e. the drain voltage) is decreased, the threshold voltage of the flash cell fails to increase by a desired amount during a programming operation as indicated by a broken line in FIG. 1. In particular, as successive program loops are executed according to an ISPP scheme, a difference between the threshold voltage of the flash cell and the wordline voltage steadily increases. As a result, various characteristics of programmed cells are degraded, or programming failures may occur.
Similar to the bitline voltage, a bulk voltage is also generated and maintained by a charge pump (not shown). Where an amount of a cell current flowing through the memory cell exceeds an amount of a charge pump for the bulk voltage, the bulk voltage is increased above a predetermined voltage. As the bulk voltage increases above the predetermined voltage, the threshold voltage of the flash cell fails to increase by a desired amount during a programming operation as indicated by the broken line in FIG. 1. In particular, as successive program loops are executed according to an ISPP scheme, a difference between the threshold voltage of the flash cell and the wordline voltage steadily increases. As a result, various characteristics of programmed cells are degraded, and programming failures may occur.
Accordingly, a new approach capable of preventing programming failures caused by an increased bulk voltage or a decreases bitline voltage is desperately needed.

Non-volatile memory device and method of programming same


The present invention relates to a mountable safety device for a boat comprising: a canister where said canister includes as mounting lip at one end and an opening at the opposite end; a lifeline assembly, where said assembly includes a stored position and a released position, where the lifeline is stored within the canister; and a mechanism to release the lifeline assembly from the canister. The canister includes a releasable door that seals the opening and provides the mechanism to release the lifeline assembly. An eyelet is provided near the opening and provides a mechanism to attach the lifeline assembly onto the canister. The lifeline assembly includes an attachment end and a clasp end, where the attachment end attaches to the eyelet and the clasp end includes a mechanism to attach a floatation device.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a safety lifeline used for boating purposes in emergency situations.
2. Description of Related Art
Boating is recreational activity enjoyed by millions of people on a yearly basis. Recreational boats come in various sizes and categories such as the small kayak or paddleboat and larger boats such as cruisers, sailboats or yachts. Many individuals enjoy recreational boating, however one critical aspect of boating is safety in case of emergency accident. Some of the safety devices used by boaters include life jackets, floatation devices, distress signals, and satellite location devices. In the situation where a wreck has occurred or a boat has capsized, the occupants may be tossed into the nearby waters and are subject to rough currents or any dangerous marine life such as sharks. Although a floatation device such as a life jacket may assist the individual to remain afloat, many times a floatation device alone isn't sufficient due to the shock of the accident, weather conditions and/or physical limitations especially where an individual may be lost at sea for a period of time. Further, it is more difficult to locate an individual who is separated from his boat as opposed to locating individuals that are near or at least in close proximity to the damaged or cap sized boat. Many times a capsized boat will remain afloat and provide an object for the victims to hold on to until help arrives. Although it may be feasible to maintain a grip or mount oneself on a capsized boat it would be a difficult task over a period of time due to the water conditions or inclimate weather. It would therefore be advantageous to have a lifeline that may be allow an individual to attach the capsized boat until help arrives.


A method for restoring speech functions in patients having various forms of dysarthria by way of successively carrying out the cosmetic massage of the face, the point massage of biologically active points of the face, cervical-collar region, arms and articulation organs, articulation-mimic gymnastics followed by voice exercises. The point massage is carried out by successively pressing, pricking, stroking for 1-5 seconds 3-5 times for 3-5 points, by sequentially alternating same and by adding 1-2 points. Pair points are massaged with two probes simultaneously.

The invention relates to medicine, more specifically to treatment of speech disorders, e.g. various forms of dysarthria.
Defects of pronunciation in case of dysarthria are due to the organically insufficient innervation of organs of speech most frequently as a result of paresis and the muscular paralysis of articulation organs. Characteristic for dysarthria is a limited mobility of speech organs: the soft palate, tongue and lips because of affection of muscles.
Very popular in practical medicine are methods for normalising a patient""s speech, which include the preliminary examination of the patient and the subsequent mimic muscle gymnastics, teaching the patient how to pronounce syllables using pedagogic methods and also elements of breathing exercises (cf. The book by F. A. Rau et al. xe2x80x9cMethods of teaching deaf-mutes to pronouncexe2x80x9d, 1948, Uchpedgiz, Moscow, page 178).
Known in the art is a device for a mechanical effect exerted on the tongue in training and correcting the pronunciation of certain sounds of speech in the case of some forms of speech disorders, which comprises a handgripportion and a working member. This device (logopedics probe) performs the function of an auxilary technical means in some cases to assimilate articulation required and does not contribute to normalizing the muscle tone. The use of logopedics probes leads to a quick fatigue of speech therapeutist""s hands because of the inconvenient use of probes (when placed in the patient""s mouth) in consequence of a change in the structure of petient""s articulation organs and requires the speech therapeutist""s great efforts. Besides, the logopedics probes are mainly used in training sounds to adjust vocal organs in a position of pronunciation in case of tongue-tie, lateral and sibilant sigmatisms, dental and interdental sigmatisms and also when working with deaf-mutes (cf. Defectologicheskii Slovar, 1970, Pedagogika Publishers, Moscow, page 122).
Known is a kit of the type used for exerting a reflex action on points and regions in case of affected supporting-motorial organs, bronchial asthma, neuralgias, joint formations, which comprises a casing accommodating at least three probes whose operating parts are embodied in the form of streamline mushroom elements and a tapering rod. This kit does not enable one to perform point action on the biologically active points of the articulation organs and to achieve a desired effect when exerting action on the biologically active points of the face, arms and the cervical-collar region, which is necessary to realize modem speech therapy methods (cf. RU 2034528, 1995).
As can really be seen from the afore-said, persons skilled in the art possess a small number of steps for correcting speech defects, directed, as a rule, to correcting pronunciation and speech breath.
Also, speech therapy resides in narrow training exercises to be done along with the other medical procedures.
At the same time, conventional methods for removing speech defects cannot satisfy needs of medicine in full, because these do not possess a required complex of properties to enhance the efficiency of tretment.
It is the principal object of the present invention to provide an integrated approach to the problem of restoring speech functions in patients suffering from various forms of dysarthria.
The integrated approach consists in working out a method of restoring speech functions in patients with such disturbances and in developing a kit of dysarthria probes enabling one to perform the point massage of biologically active points whose configuration of operating members is varied in relation to the patient""s clinical profile. The task set is solved owing to the fact that the muscle tone of articulation organs is normalized through the all-out method of restoring the speech functions of articulation organs, with the use of probes for the point massage of biologically active points, action on which, according to a certain diagram, results in stimulating the nervous ends and muscles associated with biologically active points. Stimulation is attained by pressing, pricking (to cause or to restore sensitivity that is lowered or absent in patients) and stroking actions to be advantageously exerted by different probes. Action is made by retarding or an exciting method. The configuration of the operating members of probes is varied and dictated by the demands of effects exerted by the speech therapeutist, which are established in relation to the clinical profile by the speech therapeutist himself.
The probes are made of various materials having good conductive and electromagnetic propertiesxe2x80x94ebonite, titanium, stainless steel, copper and can, for example, be made from plastic material, glass, rock crystal. In case of retardation action it is advisable to use ebonite probes and metallic onesxe2x80x94in excitation. All the probes have well polished surfaces.

Method of restoring speech functions in patients suffering from various forms of dysarthria, and dysarthria probes

Abstract: Dysarthria probes for carrying out a method for restoring speech functions by way of exerting a reflex action on the patient""s biologically active points, which comprise a rod and an operating part whose configuration is varied in relation to the patient""s clinical profile, for example, in the form of a ball, a sphere, an oval, a two-prong unit or a three-prong unit.

Abstract: The operating parts of the probes are made of ebonite, copper, titanum and/or stainless steel and can be dismantled.


Apparatuses and methods for applying a transfer material from a transfer component onto the surface of an article are disclosed, including apparatuses and methods of transfer printing on and/or decorating three-dimensional articles, as well as the articles printed and/or decorated thereby. In some embodiments, the method may utilize a printer such as an inkjet printer. In some cases, the transfer material may be a UV curable ink and/or adhesive. When the transfer material is UV curable, the transfer component may be permeable to UV radiation to allow curing of the ink and/or adhesive therethrough. UV curable adhesives including thiol-acrylate and thiol-ene acrylate inkjet-able adhesives are disclosed. The UV curable adhesive may be colored (such as with white pigment) in lieu of providing a base (white) ink layer so that more UV radiation will be able to pass through the ink layer(s) in order to reach the adhesive.

Various apparatuses and methods of printing are disclosed in the patent literature and on the internet. Patent publications disclosing apparatuses and methods of printing include: U.S. Pat. No. 6,135,654, Jennel; U.S. Pat. No. 6,699,352 B2, Sawatsky; U.S. Pat. No. 6,920,822 B2, Finan; U.S. Pat. No. 7,210,408 B2, Uptergrove; U.S. Pat. No. 7,373,878 B2, Finan; U.S. Pat. No. 7,467,847 B2, Baxter, et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 8,522,989 B2, Uptergrove; U.S. Pat. No. 8,579,402 B2, Uptergrove; U.S. Pat. No. 8,667,895 B2, Gerigk, et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 8,714,731 B2, Leung, et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 8,899,739 B2, Ohnishi; U.S. Pat. No. 8,919,247 B2; Mogavi, et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 9,303,185 B2, Sambhy, et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 9,487,027, Strater, Jr., et al.; and US Patent Application Publication Nos. US 2009/0207198 A1, Muraoka; US 2010/0212821 A1, Grinberg, et al.; US 2011/0232514 A1, Putzer, et al.; US 2013/0019566 A1, Schach; US 2014/0285600 A1, Domeier, et al.; US 2015/0022602 A1, Landa, et al.; US 2015/0024648 A1, Landa, et al.; US 2015/0183544 A1, Moffatt, et al.; and EP 1163156 B1, Johnson. Other types of apparatuses and methods include the apparatus and method disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Pub No. US 2012/0031548 A1, "Apparatus and Method for Applying a Label to a Non-Ruled Surface", filed in the name of Broad.
A number of current efforts are being directed to printing, particularly inkjet printing, on three-dimensional articles such as bottles and the like. Some current printing apparatuses and processes use ink jet printing to print directly on three-dimensional articles. Unfortunately, with current inkjet technology and current printing apparatuses, the quality of labels that can be formed by printing directly on three-dimensional articles is not as good as that formed on separately printed flat labels. Further, such printing processes may only be able to accurately jet ink short distances (e.g., several millimeters) from the print head. Therefore, if the article has surface features that differ in height or depth by more than such short distances, the ink jetted by an ink jet print head will not be accurately applied, leading to defects in print quality.
Other processes for applying ink to three-dimensional articles are transfer processes. In these processes, ink is first applied to a transfer surface, and then the image is transferred from the transfer surface to the article. Current transfer processes may suffer from the disadvantage that they are not well suited to transfer the image from the transfer surface to articles with complex three-dimensional shapes and/or which have surface features that differ in height (or depth) by more than a limited extent.
In addition, if such transfer processes utilize UV curable adhesives to adhere the image to the surface of the article, difficulties arise when attempting to cure such adhesives. In order to cure such UV curable adhesives, it is often necessary to pass UV energy through several layers of ink that form the image. This can make it difficult to cure the UV adhesive.
A need exists for improved apparatuses and transfer methods for applying a transfer material, such as printing, decorations, or other substances onto three-dimensional articles.

Compositions and methods for applying a material onto articles


In a grating-assisted coupler, the mode of the first waveguide of the coupler may include some electric field in the second waveguide, with the effect that when light lasses from an input waveguide to the first waveguide, some light is launched, or injected, directly into the mode of the second waveguide. This injected light may or may not be in phase with the light subsequently coupled into the side of the second waveguide from the first waveguide via grating assistance. The grating structure is formed to ensure a desired phase relationship between the injected light and the grating coupled light: under certain conditions of relative phase, the transmission through the coupler may be increased and the bandwidth may be reduced.

The present invention is directed to an integrated optical device, and more particularly to an improved grating assisted, directional coupler.
Many different types of integrated optical devices use waveguide couplers to couple light from one waveguide to another. One particular type of waveguide coupler is a grating-assisted coupler, which is often used as a transmission filter. In a grating-assisted coupler, the two waveguides have different effective refractive indices, and a grating close to one or both of the waveguides is used to phase match the coupling of light from one waveguide to the other.
The bandwidth of a grating-assisted coupler is typically inversely proportional to its length, and so a longer grating-assisted coupler generally results in a smaller transmission bandwidth. Smaller bandwidths are desirable in certain applications, for example when used as a frequency selective element with a semiconductor laser. On the other hand, the grating introduces scattering losses and longer couplers may suffer from higher loss than shorter couplers. Therefore, a compromise is often made between transmission losses and bandwidth. It is important, therefore, that the coupler operate optimally so that the best combination of bandwidth and transmission loss may be obtained.
Generally, the present invention relates to an approach to improving the operation of a grating-assisted coupler. In particular, the mode of the first waveguide of the coupler may include some electric field in the second waveguide, with the effect that when light passes from an input waveguide to the first waveguide, some light is launched, or injected, directly into the mode of the second waveguide. This injected light may or may not be in phase with the light subsequently coupled into the side of the second waveguide from the first waveguide via grating assistance. The grating structure is formed to ensure a desired phase relationship between the injected light and the grating coupled light: under certain conditions of relative phase, the transmission through the coupler may be increased and the bandwidth may be reduced.
In one particular embodiment, the invention is direction to a grating-assisted coupler device that includes a first input/output (i/o) waveguide and a coupler unit. The coupler unit has a first coupler waveguide coupled at a first end to the first i/o waveguide, and a second coupler waveguide disposed proximate the first coupler waveguide. Light propagating from the first i/o waveguide into the coupler unit launches a first portion of light into the first coupler waveguide and a second portion of light into the second coupler waveguide. A grating structure is disposed proximate at least one of the first and second coupler waveguides to couple light from the first coupler waveguide to the second coupler waveguide. The grating structure includes a periodic structure having a starting end proximate the starting end of the second coupler waveguide and positioned so that the light coupled by the grating structure into the second coupler waveguide from the first coupler waveguide is substantially in phase with the second portion of light launched into the second coupler waveguide.
Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a laser having a gain region including a gain waveguide, and a coupler region including a first coupler waveguide coupled at a first end to the gain waveguide. The coupler region also includes a second coupler waveguide proximate the first coupler waveguide. Light propagating from the gain waveguide into the coupler region launches a first portion of light into the first coupler waveguide and a second portion of light into the second coupler waveguide. A grating structure is disposed proximate at least one of the first and second coupler waveguides to couple light from the first coupler waveguide to the second coupler waveguide. The grating structure includes a periodic structure having a starting end proximate the starting end of the second coupler waveguide and positioned so that the light coupled by the grating structure into the second coupler waveguide from the first coupler waveguide is substantially in phase with the second portion of light launched into the second coupler waveguide. A reflector region has a reflector waveguide coupled to receive light from the second coupler waveguide.
Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a an optical communications system that has an optical transmitter having at least one laser, a fiber optic link coupled to receive light signals output from the optical transmitter, and an optical receiver unit coupled to detect the light signals from the fiber optic link. The at least one laser includes a gain region including a gain waveguide and a coupler region having a first coupler waveguide coupled at a first end to the gain waveguide. The coupler region also has a second coupler waveguide disposed proximate the first coupler waveguide. Light propagating from the gain waveguide into the coupler unit launches a first portion of light into the first coupler waveguide and a second portion of light into the second coupler waveguide. A grating structure is disposed proximate at least one of the first and second coupler waveguides to couple light from the first coupler waveguide to the second coupler waveguide. The grating structure includes a periodic structure having a starting end proximate the starting end of the second coupler waveguide and positioned so that the light coupled by the grating structure into the second coupler waveguide from the first coupler waveguide is substantially in phase with the second portion of light launched into the second coupler waveguide. The laser also includes a reflector region having a reflector waveguide coupled to receive light from the second coupler waveguide.
Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a method of forming a coupler that includes forming a first coupler waveguide in a coupler region and forming a second coupler waveguide in the coupler region over the first coupler waveguide. A grating structure is formed proximate one of the first and second coupler waveguides. The grating structure includes a periodic structure having a starting end positioned relative to a starting end of the second coupler waveguide so that light coupled by the grating structure from the first coupler waveguide into the second coupler waveguide is substantially in phase with light injected into the starting end of the second coupler waveguide when passing light into a starting end of the first coupler waveguide.
The above summary of the present invention is not intended to describe each illustrated embodiment or every Implementation of the present invention. The following figures and detailed description more particularly exemplify these embodiments.

Grating assisted coupler with controlled start


The present invention provides a method for tiling an integrated circuit having a critically matched device such as a transistor. The method obtains an advantage of automatically improving metallic density over critically matched devices thus yielding improved CMP. The method may include the steps of: identifying critically matched devices in the integrated circuit; placing metal tiles over the critically matched device; performing a density test around each critically matched device; and if a density test is not satisfied around a critically matched device, placing at least one metal strip over a critically matched device.

A polishing technique is often used to planarize surfaces of an integrated circuit device during the various stages of the device's fabrication. Chemical Mechanical Polishing (CMP) is a typical procedure that involves combinations of chemical and mechanical process steps to affect planarization.
The degree of planarization achieved by CMP can be affected by the density and uniformity of individual metallic components in a surface to be polished. A more uniform metal density assists in achieving a good polishing. Thus, various design and manufacturing processes have developed density parameters for metal. In order to improve metallic density on a surface or layer of a chip, it is known to insert dummy tiles. A dummy tile is essentially a metallic tile or piece which is placed on a surface or layer of an integrated circuit. Dummy tiles can be strategically placed on a surface, to improve density, and thereby improve polishing.
The performance of certain device components can be adversely affected if, for example, metal is placed above them or non-symmetrically around them. The potential for an adverse affect from metallic tiles is particularly present when the device components are required to match closely as is the case with some transistor shapes. Thus, for example, previous designs have opted not to place dummy tiles above certain components such as transistors and resistors. In particular, the performance of those components that have matched structures may be degraded if a metal tile is improperly placed above the component. If not positioned symmetrically with respect to each component piece, a metal tile may induce a mismatch and/or a parasitic capacitance. Nevertheless, certain devices are so large that the area above them, if left untiled, will lead to insufficient metal density.
Additionally, as the design of integrated circuits becomes increasingly complex, it is desired to provide for a tiling design in an automated procedure. In complex devices having small gate dimensions, an integrated circuit may contain numerous transistors in a variety of locations. The metallic density around each transistor may be different. The tiling design thus involves numerous and tedious calculations.
Additionally, it is desired that a tiling design technique around transistors be suitable for use with whatever metals are being used in other areas of the integrated circuit. The method should also be suitable for use with copper. Finally, the design technique should be suitable for use with current manufacturing methods used in tiling steps.
Accordingly, it is desirable to develop a new method of tiling analog circuits that yields improved results and is relatively inexpensive to use. It would be desirable to develop a system and method for improving the metallic density in layers above matched circuit components such as transistors. It would also be desirable that any process that attempts to provide metallic tiling around such a transistor be an automated process that takes into account the volume of calculations to be done. By virtue of the foregoing, it would further be desirable to develop a new tiling method that allows for improved CMP planarization around transistors. Still further it would be advantageous if the new tiling method were compatible with existing processing equipment and materials that is used in semiconductor manufacturing processes. Other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the invention and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the invention.


At least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a method comprising the activities of detecting, via a public switched telephone network, a caller's dialing of a telephone number; and after said detecting activity, and prior to call setup, providing to the caller a voicemail status notification. At least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a method comprising the activities of placing a telephone call via a public switched telephone network, and receiving, via the public switched telephone network, a voicemail status notification after placing the telephone call and prior to call setup. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. This abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope.

Many telephone service providers (TSP's) offer a network-based voicemail service for their customers, so that a caller can leave a voicemail message for a customer of the TSP. When provided by a Local Exchange Carrier (LEC), these voicemail services typically utilize Simplified Message Desk Interface (SMDI) links to transmit a message-waiting notification between the LEC's switch and the called subscriber's line. In one implementation, a message-waiting notification creates a stutter dial tone heard by the customer when they attempt to make a call. In another implementation, a message-waiting notification actuates a Message Waiting Indicator (MWI), which is a small LED usually provided on either the customer's telephone or on a small box connected to the telephone via an RJ-11 connector.
TSP's other than the customer's LEC are usually at a disadvantage in providing message waiting notification to the customer since SMDI links can be very costly to install. Such links typically require a dedicated connection from the non-LEC TSP to the local switch serving the customer of the non-LEC TSP, that switch operated by the customer's LEC. Moreover, SMDI links can be very difficult to maintain, because, among other reasons, the non-LEC TSP can need the cooperation of the LEC, which might be a business competitor of the non-LEC TSP.

Network-based notification of voice mail


The motorcycle comprises a chassis which rotatively supports a rear wheel and to which a front wheel is caster mounted. A radio controlled motor is mounted in the chassis and drives the rear wheel by means of a belt drive. The chassis has a forward fairing portion which supports a shaft, the axis of which forms a forwardly directed angle with respect to the horizontal of from about 90.degree. to about 130.degree.. Pivotally mounted on the shaft and extending rearwardly therefrom is a swing support to which is mounted a battery pack, a radio and electronics package, a radio controlled servo and the head, arms, torso and upper leg portions of a simulated rider. The servo has a shaft operatively connected to the chassis so that it can shift the swing support to the left or right from a centered position to cause the motorcycle to turn left or right in response thereto. Lower leg assemblies for the simulated rider are provided on either side of the chassis. The lower leg assemblies are pivoted at their boot ends to foot rests extending laterally from either side of the chassis. The lower leg assemblies near their knee ends have laterally extending webs pivotally attached to the swing support. as a result, when the swing support shifts left or right to imitate a turn of the motorcycle, the knee portion of the appropriate one of the lower leg assemblies swings outwardly in the direction of the turn.

In recent years, there has been increased interest in toy motorcycles, and more particularly toy motorcycles which are radio controlled with respect to speed and steering.
As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, toy motorcycles having two wheels present balance and steering problems which are more complex and far different from problems encountered with radio controlled toy four-wheeled vehicles. These problems have been approached in a number of different ways by prior art workers.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,342,175, for example, teaches a two-wheeled motorcycle having a frame or chassis which carries a drive motor, a radio, a servo mechanism, and a power source. The servo is provided with a shaft which supports a weight in the manner of an inverted pendulum. By shifting the weight to the right or left, the toy motorcycle is caused to lean to the right or left. The front wheel of the motorcycle is supported by a fork which is attached to a pivot assembly located ahead of the fork. As a consequence of this construction, when the motorcycle is caused to lean in one direction or the other by the servo mounted weight, the front wheel will turn in the direction of that lean. The motorcycle is provided with a crash bar on each side which will help to maintain the motorcycle substantially upright during a turn and when standing still.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,902,271 teaches another approach wherein a toy motorcycle is provided with a front frame supporting the front wheel and a rear frame supporting the rear wheel and a drive motor therefor. The rear frame, wheel and motor are tiltable with respect to the front frame to initiate left and right turns. Tilting of the rear frame is brought about by a servo mounted in the front frame and radio controlled. Auxiliary legs having wheels on their free ends project outwardly from both sides of the toy motorcycle, to maintain the toy motorcycle substantially upright when stopped.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,966,569 teaches a radio controlled two-wheeled motorcycle toy with yet another approach for steering the toy. The motorcycle of this reference has a horizontal, longitudinally extending shaft to which a battery pack containing frame is pivotally suspended in pendulum fashion. The front wheel of the toy motorcycle is mounted to a support mechanism comprising a fork, and a pivot member located forwardly of the fork. The battery pack is swung to the right or left in pendulum fashion by a radio controlled servo. The battery pack mechanism is operatively connected to the front wheel support, so that it tilts in the same direction as the battery pack is shifted, causing the toy motorcycle to turn in that direction. In addition, a simulated rider mounted on the toy motorcycle contains weights within its body which shift along with the shifting of the battery pack. The toy motorcycle is provided with a stand for supporting the rear wheel thereof at starting.
The present invention is directed to a radio controlled toy motorcycle which demonstrates easy steering control and remarkable stability. The toy motorcycle of the present invention is of simple and compact construction.
The toy motorcycle comprises a chassis which rotatively supports the rear wheel and to which the forward wheel is caster mounted. The chassis, near its forward end, has a shaft about which a swing support is pivoted and from which the swing support extends rearwardly. the swing support mounts a battery pack, a radio and electronics pack, a servo and a simulated rider, except for the rider's lower leg portions. The servo, being operatively connected to the chassis, shifts the swing support to the right or left from a central position, causing the toy motorcycle to lean to the right or left and therefore to turn to the right or left, the caster mounted forward wheel responding to the leaning of the motorcycle.
On each side of the motorcycle, a lower leg portion of the rider is pivotally attached to a fixed foot rest on the chassis and by a web is further pivotally affixed to the swing support. The arrangement is such that when the motorcycle toy turns to the right or left, the simulated rider and the appropriate one of his knees will shift into the turn in a realistic fashion, further stabilizing the toy motorcycle. Each knee has a reinforced touch point which will engage the surface upon which the motorcycle is running after the motorcycle has been in a turn for some time.
Finally, when the motorcycle toy is at rest following a wreck, a spin out or by virtue of simply being stopped, the motorcycle toy is capable of being started and righting itself. No manual manipulation of the motorcycle toy is required for this purpose and the motorcycle toy is free of outwardly extending legs, auxiliary wheels or other assisting devices, frequently found in the prior art.

Radio controlled two-wheeled toy motorcycle


A fluid pressure regulator includes a diaphragm operated leakport controlling low liquid or fluid flow rates. A precisely formed leakage unit spaced from the leakport establishes continuous flow from the input to the output. The leakage unit includes a separate orifice unit having an integral molded body and internal precision orifice establishing the continuous flow. A multiple mold core unit for molding an integral body and orifice including a pair of aligned mold cores have opposed planar surfaces located at the orifice plane. A small gap is held between the opposed end surfaces. The orifice unit is molded as a single plastic element without flash at the orifice. The orifice has a diameter in the range of about 0.001 to 0.030 inches, and may be used in various applications requiring precise low flows. The orifice unit may include an elongated tubular body with an internal orifice molded as single integral members. The tubular body establishes opposite connection permitting connection using standard tubing and the like. Within flow limits, the orifice unit is operable with a bi-directional flow to control precise flows such as intervenous liquids at 100 cc per minute, LP gas burners and other low flows.

This invention relates a stabilized fluid pressure regulator and particular to a fluid regulator including a leakport orifice having a pressure responsive closure unit and having a leakage orifice unit, and to the method of forming precise orifice units.
As fully set forth in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,315,520 whereby issued Feb. 16, 1982 to the present inventor, leakport orifice regulators having a pressure responsive closure elements are well known and used in providing a regulated fluid pressure or flow in response to an input signal. Closure elements generally may include a diaphragm, a bimetal sensor and the like. The system encounters a relatively unstable condition as the gap in the leakport orifice moves to a close spaced relation, establishes a minimal gap for the air flow, resulting in vibration of the closure member. The subject patent discloses a particularly satisfactory solution which minimizes the above adverse characteristics. As fully disclosed therein, forming of the orifice unit with minute notches in a sharp ended planar orifice creates a continuous leakage path and a minimal flow is maintained under all conditions. Further, as the flow gap is reduced, the leakage flow forms a progressively increasing proportion of the total flow. The system results in essentially eliminating the vibration characteristic previously encountered and a stable output pressure, which is free of audible noise or the like.
Although the specially formed orifice has found substantial commercial acceptance, a demand continues for an even more stable structure. Thus, as the orifice is closed, the diaphragm is squeezed onto the orifice and there is a change in the leakage flow. This results in some change in the characteristics.
Orifices, which have been heretofore made through molding are generally limited to orifice openings on the order or 0.030 inches of greater, the molding apparatus includes a pin member corresponding to the diameter of the hole and an opposed core member which is provided with an aperture substantially the same as the diameter of the pin. The pin is telescoped into the hole and the orifice unit is molded about such assembled cores. However, in the telescoped construction, mere flashing tends to occur. The flash creates a flexible closure which responds in the flow to move into the orifice under operating conditions. Such structure dramatically changes the characteristic of the orifice and significantly reduces the quality of the flow control device. Small orifices have generally involved jeweled orifices. In forming of jewel orifices, the orifice itself is constructed using the laser or other effective cutting methods for forming the orifice opening. The orifice is formed however as a separate element and then mounted in a body or housing for coupling and connection into a system such as a connecting tube unit, a housing or the like. Thus, it is not formed as a self contained element which can be connected directly into a fluid device or to connecting tubes for connections in a fluid circuit.

Pressure fluid stabilized regulator with leakage orifice and method of forming precise molded orifice units


The communication apparatus at a transmission side executes an inverse Fourier transform to a signal after a BPSK modulation, thereby to generate a transmission symbol, and transmits the transmission symbol in a half-symbolized status. The communication apparatus at a reception side separates a received signal into even sub-carriers and odd sub-carriers, and first demodulates only the received symbol of the half-symbolized even sub-carriers. The communication apparatus at the reception side removes the symbol component of the even sub-carriers from the received symbol, and demodulates only the received symbol of the odd sub-carriers.

The present invention relates to a communication apparatus that employs a multi-carrier modulation/demodulation system. The invention particularly relates to a communication apparatus and a communication method capable of realizing data communications by using existing communication lines, based on a DMT (Discrete Multi Tone) modulation/demodulation system or an OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex) modulation/demodulation system. However, the present invention is not limited to a communication apparatus that carries out data communications based on the DMT modulation/demodulation system. It is also possible to apply the present invention to all communication apparatuses that carry out wire communications and radio communications based on a multi-carrier modulation/demodulation system and a single-carrier modulation/demodulation system via normal communication lines.
The operation of a conventional communication apparatus will be explained below. First, the operation of a transmission system of a conventional communication apparatus that employs the OFDM modulation/demodulation system as a multi-carrier modulation/demodulation system will be briefly explained. When data communications are carried out according to the OFDM modulation/demodulation system, the transmission system carries out a tone ordering processing. In other words, the transmission system allocates transmission data of a transmittable number of bits to a plurality of tones (multi-carriers) of a frequency band that has been set in advance. For example, transmission data of a predetermined number of bits is allocated to tone 0 to tone X (X is an integer that shows a number of tones) of each frequency. The transmission data is multiplexed for each one frame by carrying out the tone ordering processing and an encoding processing.
Further, the transmission system carries out an inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) to multiplexed transmission data, and converts a parallel data after the inverse fast Fourier transform into a serial data. Then, the transmission system converts a digital waveform into an analog waveform with a D/A converter. Last, the transmission system applies a low-pass filter, and transmits the transmission data to a transmission route.
Next, the operation of a reception system of the conventional communication apparatus that employs the OFDM modulation/demodulation system as a multi-carrier modulation/demodulation system will be briefly explained. When data communications are carried out according to the OFDM modulation/demodulation system, the reception system applies a low-pass filter to a received data (the above transmission data). Then, the reception system converts an analog waveform into a digital waveform with an A/D converter, and carries out an adaptive equalization of a time domain with a time domain equalizer.
Further, the reception system converts the serial data after the adaptive equalization of the time domain into a parallel data. The reception system carries out a fast Fourier transform to this parallel data, and then carries out an adaptive equalization of a frequency domain with a frequency domain equalizer.
The data after the adaptive equalization of the frequency domain is converted into a serial data according to a composite processing (a maximum likelihood composite method) and a tone ordering processing. Then, a rate converting processing, an FEC (forward error correction), a descramble processing, and a CRC (cyclic redundancy check) are carried out. Last, a transmission data is reproduced.
As explained above, the conventional communication apparatus that employs the OFDM modulation/demodulation system makes it possible to carry out communications at a high transmission rate by utilizing good transmission efficiency and flexibility of functions that cannot be obtained according to the CDMA and the single-carrier modulation/demodulation system.
However, the conventional communication apparatus that employs the OFDM modulation/demodulation system has had room for improvement in the transmission system and the reception system from the viewpoint of xe2x80x9cfurther improvement in the transmission ratexe2x80x9d. There has been a problem that the conventional communication apparatus has not realized an optimum transmission rate by making a maximum utilization of the xe2x80x9cgood transmission efficiencyxe2x80x9d and the xe2x80x9cflexibility of functionsxe2x80x9d that are the characteristics of the OFDM modulation/demodulation system.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a communication apparatus and a communication method capable of realizing further improvement in the transmission rate, by realizing half symbolization in the multi-carrier modulation/demodulation system.
The communication apparatus according to the present invention is a structure that employs the multi-carrier modulation/demodulation system, further comprises a transmission unit which generates a transmission symbol by carrying out an inverse Fourier transform to a signal after a BPSK modulation and transmits the transmission symbol in a half-symbolized status, and a reception unit which carries out a predetermined Fourier transform to the half-symbolized received symbol in order to extract even sub-carriers to demodulate data allocated to the sub-carriers, carries out an inverse Fourier transform to the data allocated to the even sub-carriers to generate a first symbol that is structured with a time waveform of even sub-carriers, removes the first symbol component from the received symbol to generate a second symbol that is structured with a time waveform of odd sub-carriers, adds a symbol obtained by copying and inverting the symbol to the back of the second symbol to generate a third symbol, and carries out a predetermined Fourier transform to the third symbol in order to extract odd sub-carriers to demodulate data allocated to the sub-carriers.
In a communication apparatus according to the next invention, the reception unit further carries out an inverse Fourier transform to the data allocated to the odd sub-carriers to generate a fourth symbol that is structured with a time waveform of odd sub-carriers, thereafter, removes the fourth symbol component from the received symbol, and then carries out demodulation processing by using a received symbol after the removal of the fourth symbol component.
A communication apparatus according to the next invention is a structure that employs a multi-carrier modulation/demodulation system, further comprises a transmission unit which generates a transmission symbol by carrying out an inverse Fourier transform to a signal after a BPSK modulation and transmits the transmission symbol in a half-symbolized status, and a reception unit which generates a first symbol that is structured with time axis data of even sub-carriers and odd sub-carriers by generating all data combinations that could occur and by sequentially carrying out an inverse Fourier transform to the data combinations, generates a second symbol that is half-symbolized by deleting a latter half section of the first symbol and subtracts an occasionally-generated second symbol from the received symbol, calculates a squared average (a dispersion value) of amplitude by using a received subtraction result and detects a minimum value from the squared average, and determines a data combination corresponding to the minimum value as most likely from among all the data combinations that could occur and decides this data combination as a final decision value.
A communication apparatus according to the next invention is a structure that employs a multi-carrier modulation/demodulation system, further comprises a transmission unit which generates a transmission symbol by carrying out an inverse Fourier transform to a signal after a BPSK modulation and transmits the transmission symbol in a half-symbolized status, and a reception unit which generates a first symbol that has the same length as that of the symbol before the half-symbolization by adding a symbol of all 0 to the back of a half-symbolized received symbol, extracts even sub-carriers and odd sub-carriers by carrying out a Fourier transform to the first symbol, and judges individually data that is allocated to the even sub-carriers and data that is allocated to the odd sub-carriers.
A communication apparatus according to the next invention is a structure that employs a multi-carrier modulation/demodulation system, and further comprises a reception unit which generates a transmission symbol by carrying out an inverse Fourier transform to a signal after a QPSK modulation and transmits the transmission symbol in a half-symbolized status, and a transmission unit which generates a first symbol that has the same length as that of the symbol before the half-symbolization by adding a symbol of all 0 to the back of a half-symbolized received symbol, extracts even sub-carriers and odd sub-carriers by carrying out a Fourier transform to the first symbol, makes a hard decision on data of the even sub-carriers, calculates a component that becomes an interference to the odd sub-carriers from the decision result, removes the interference component from the odd sub-carriers after the extraction, makes a hard decision on data of odd sub-carriers after the removal of the interference component, calculates a component that becomes an interference to the even sub-carriers from the decision result, and removes the interference component from the even sub-carriers after the extraction, thereafter, repeatedly executes the interference component removal processing by a predetermined number of times, and outputs decision results of both sub-carriers as final decision values.
A communication method according to the next invention comprises a transmission step of generating a transmission symbol by carrying out an inverse Fourier transform to a signal after a BPSK modulation and transmitting the transmission symbol in a half-symbolized status, an even sub-carrier demodulating step of carrying out a predetermined Fourier transform to the half-symbolized received symbol in order to extract even sub-carriers and demodulating data allocated to the sub-carriers, a first-symbol generating step of generating a first symbol that is structured with a time waveform of even sub-carriers by carrying out an inverse Fourier transform to the data allocated to the even sub-carriers, a second-symbol generating step of generating a second symbol that is structured with a time waveform of odd sub-carriers by removing the first symbol component from the received symbol, a third-symbol generating step of generating a third symbol by adding a symbol obtained by copying and inverting the symbol to the back of the second symbol, and an odd sub-carrier demodulating step of carrying out a predetermined Fourier transform to the third symbol in order to extract odd sub-carriers and demodulating data allocated to the sub-carriers.
A communication method according to the next invention further comprises a fourth-symbol generating step of generating a fourth symbol that is structured with a time waveform of odd sub-carriers by carrying out an inverse Fourier transform to the data allocated to the odd sub-carriers, and a removing step of removing the fourth symbol component from the received symbol, and the communication method thereafter carries out a demodulation processing by using a received symbol after the removal of the fourth symbol component.
A communication method according to the next invention comprises a transmission step of generating a transmission symbol by carrying out an inverse Fourier transform to a signal after a BPSK modulation and transmitting the transmission symbol in a half-symbolized status, a first-symbol generating step of generating a first symbol that is structured with time axis data of even sub-carriers and odd sub-carriers by generating all data combinations that could occur and by sequentially carrying out an inverse Fourier transform to the data combinations, a second-symbol generating step of generating a second symbol that is half-symbolized by deleting a latter half section of the first symbol, a subtracting step of subtracting an occasionally-generated second symbol from the received symbol, a squared-average calculating step of calculating a squared average (a dispersion value) of amplitude by using a received subtraction result, a minimum-value detecting step of detecting a minimum value from the squared average, and a decision step of judging a data combination corresponding to the minimum value as most likely from among all the data combinations that could occur and deciding this data combination as a final decision value.
A communication method according to the next invention comprises a transmission step of generating a transmission symbol by carrying out an inverse Fourier transform to a signal after a BPSK modulation and transmitting the transmission symbol in a half-symbolized status, a first-symbol generating step of generating a first symbol that has the same length as that of the symbol before the half-symbolization by adding a symbol of all 0 to the back of a half-symbolized received symbol, a sub-carrier extracting step of extracting even sub-carriers and odd sub-carriers by carrying out a Fourier transform to the first symbol, and a decision step of judging individually data that is allocated to the even sub-carriers and data that is allocated to the odd sub-carriers.
A communication method according to the next invention comprises a transmission step of generating a transmission symbol by carrying out an inverse Fourier transform to a signal after a QPSK modulation and transmitting the transmission symbol in a half-symbolized status, a first-symbol generating step of generating a first symbol that has the same length as that of the symbol before the half-symbolization by adding a symbol of all 0 to the back of a half-symbolized received symbol, a sub-carrier extracting step of extracting even sub-carriers and odd sub-carriers by carrying out a Fourier transform to the first symbol, a first interference component calculating step of making a hard decision on data of the even sub-carriers and calculating a component that becomes an interference to the odd sub-carriers from the decision result, a first removing step of removing the interference component from the odd sub-carriers after the extraction, a second interference component calculating step of making a hard decision on data of odd sub-carriers after the removal of the interference component and calculating a component that becomes an interference to the even sub-carriers from the decision result, and a second removing step of removing the interference component from the even sub-carriers after the extraction, thereafter, the communication method executes the interference component removal processing by a predetermined number of times, and outputs decision results of both sub-carriers as final decision values.

Multi-carrier modulation and demodulation system using a half-symbolized symbol