Light recycling within a waveguide is achieved by mode conversion instead of resonance. A structure is provided in in which light makes multiple passes through the same waveguide by converting the mode to a different mode after each pass and rerouting the light back into the same waveguide. The structure includes a bus waveguide and at least one mode converter device disposed at or adjacent each of two opposing ends of the bus waveguide, wherein each mode converter devices is configured to receive light having a receiving mode along a first direction and to cause light having a different mode from the receiving mode to propagate in a second direction opposite the first direction.

Light recycling is important for integrated photonics because the change of refractive index, which can be created by thermo-optic, electro-optic or other effects, is often very small. As a result, a very long length is required to accumulate the small change of refractive index. This also results in inefficiency in electrically-driven active photonic devices because a great amount of electrical power is consumed in order to create the change over the entire length. Light recycling can greatly reduce the required length and the power consumption by allowing the light to pass the same waveguide multiple times. Light recycling is thus particularly useful for applications that typically require a very long length in order to accumulate small index changes. For example, depletion-type phase shifters, which typically need lengths on the order of millimeters to achieve a phase shift of 7r, can be greatly reduced in size through the use of light recycling.
In conventional methods, light recycling is achieved using resonators such as micro-rings, micro-disks, and Fabry-Perot cavities. When light enters a resonator, it circulates multiple round trips before leaving the resonator. However, due to the nature of resonance, light recycling based resonators operate only within a narrow bandwidth near the resonance frequency. In these conventional methods there is a tradeoff between the number of recycling round trips and the bandwidth, which limits many applications.
In another prior art example, Luo et al. disclosed in "WDM-compatible mode-division multiplexing on a silicon chip," Nature Communications, Jan. 15, 2014, pp 1-7, a micro-ring based demonstration of an on-chip WDM-compatible mode-division multiplexing scheme implementing selective coupling to different spatial modes at different wavelengths. It is shown that for a given silicon waveguide a large range of effective indices from 2.0 to 2.9 can be achieved corresponding to propagation constants of the TE0 (transverse electric) through TE4 spatial modes at λ=1550 nm. On the basis of the propagation constant matching, an optical mode in a single-mode waveguide can be evanescently coupled to a specific spatial mode in an adjacent multimode waveguide, in which the coupling to the mode depends on the width of the multimode waveguide.
It is desired to use such mode conversion techniques to replace resonance for recycling light within a waveguide to avoid the tradeoffs of conventional resonators.

Resonance-free light recycling in waveguides

The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York


A silver halide photographic light-sensitive material is disclosed which is improved in antistatic property. The photographic material comprises a support, a silver halide emulsion layer and an antistatic layer comprising a water-soluble conductive polymer, a hydrophobic polymer particle and a silane coupling agent represented by the following Formula I: ##STR1## wherein X is an oxygen atom or a --OCO-- group; R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are each an alkyl group or an aryl group which may be the same or different and are allowed to be substituted, and at least one of the groups represented by R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 is a group containing a double bond, a halogen atom, an epoxy group, an acid anhydride residue, an alkoxy group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an amino group, an acryloyl group, a methacryloyl group, an acrylamido group, a methacrylamido group or a haloacylamino group; n.sup.1, n.sup.2 and n.sup.3 are each 0 or 1, which may be the same or different, provided that the total of n.sup.1, n.sup.2 and n.sup.3 is 1 or more.

Generally, a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material comprises an electrical insulating support and photographic component layers; therefore, it is liable to charge with electricity when rubbed with or peeled from the surface of the same or different kinds of material during a manufacturing process or while put in use. If a static charge accumulated before development is discharged and thereby a light-sensitive layer is exposed, so-called static marks such as dot spots or dendritic or plumous markings appear upon development of an affected photographic film. This seriously impairs the value of the photographic film. For example, a static mark that occurred on an X-ray film for medical or industrial uses is likely to lead to a very dangerous misjudgement. Since such an affection can be found only when the film is developed, it poses a difficult problem. The static mark has come to occur more frequently in the recent trends of a light-sensitive material toward a much higher sensitivity, coating speed, photographing speed and automatic processing speed. That is, contact-rubbing occurs frequently between a high-sensitive material and various rollers or machines, or between light-sensitive materials themselves, in the manufacturing processes such as coating, drying and packaging; moreover, in the steps of film loading, photographing, and automatic development processing.
There have been proposed a variety of methods to improve surface conductivity of the support and coating layer of a light-sensitive material, and the use of various hygroscopic materials, water soluble inorganic salts, and some surfactants and polymers has been attempted.
However, not a few conventional antistatic agents are liable to decrease in effect or adversely affect photographic characteristics depending on the kind of a support or a photographic composition. In some cases, the antistatic property is entirely lost in the course of development.
Taking notice of these conditions, attempts were made to enhance conductivity of a light-sensitive material for the purpose of imparting antistatic property as described in, for example, Japanese Patent Publication Open to Public Inspection (hereinafter referred to as Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication) No. 84658/1980. This technique could impart some antistatic property, but it turned out to cause peeling of a wet emulsion layer from a support while a light-sensitive material is subjected to development, which may lead to a serious accident.
As speedup in conveying and processing a film has come to the main trend of the industry, stability of an emulsion layer during photographic processes is getting more and more important, and improvement in adhesion of a wet emulsion layer, not to mention dry adhesion, is strongly desired.

Silver halide photographic light-sensitive material


A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor chip, and an encapsulation resin which covers and encapsulates the semiconductor chip, the semiconductor chip having a recess formed in the surficial portion thereof; the recess having, on the deeper side than a predetermined portion thereof, a portion having a larger width than the predetermined portion has; and the encapsulation resin being anchored in the recess.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Related Art
Semiconductor device having a semiconductor chip, and an encapsulation resin which covers and encapsulates the semiconductor chip, is referred to as resin-encapsulated semiconductor device.
FIG. 17 is a front elevation illustrating a resin-encapsulated semiconductor device 101. As illustrated in FIG. 17, resin-encapsulated semiconductor device 101 is configured to have a semiconductor chip embedded in an encapsulation resin 103.
In this sort of semiconductor device, a problem may arise in that adhesiveness between the semiconductor chip and the encapsulation resin may degrade.
One possible cause for the degraded adhesiveness is ascribable to tensile stress applied in the direction of drawing the semiconductor chip and the encapsulation resin apart from each other, due to difference in thermal expansion coefficient therebetween. The stress generates typically due to heat applied to a semiconductor device when it is mounted by soldering onto a substrate of electric appliances and so forth, self-heating of the semiconductor device during operation, changes in the ambient temperature, and so forth.
There is known a technique of providing a countermeasure for the degradation in the adhesiveness between the semiconductor chip and the encapsulation resin, such as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. H06-163755.
In the technique disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. H06-163755, a surface-textured component having a surface texture formed on the surface thereof is provided on a semiconductor chip, and resin encapsulation is provided thereover. Since the semiconductor chip and the encapsulation resin are tightly bonded while placing the surface-textured component in between, by virtue of the enlarged contact area between the surface-textured component and the encapsulation resin, so that the adhesiveness between the semiconductor chip and the encapsulation resin improves. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. H6-163755 additionally describes that the adhesiveness may be improved also by configuring the surface-textured component using an organic coverage resin such as polyimide.
However, the present inventors have found the following problem. FIG. 18 is a front elevation illustrating a state of a semiconductor device 101 warped due to the stress. FIG. 19 is a front elevation illustrating the resin-encapsulated semiconductor device 101 illustrated in FIG. 18, in a state having an encapsulation resin 103 removed therefrom. As illustrated in FIG. 19, there is a semiconductor chip 102 having been embedded in the encapsulation resin 103. The semiconductor chip 102 is disposed on a lead frame 104 having leads 5.
The resin-encapsulated semiconductor device 101 may occasionally warp, upon being applied with stress, as illustrated in FIG. 18 and FIG. 19. The warping may raise tensile stress in the direction of drawing the semiconductor chip 102 and the encapsulation resin 103 apart from each other. In other words, a stress generates in the direction normal to the surface of the semiconductor chip 102.
However, the surface-textured component disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. H6-163755 merely has recesses formed vertically to the surface of the semiconductor chip, or formed so as to widen themselves towards the opening end. Accordingly, a problem still remains in that the semiconductor chip, applied with the stress in the direction normal to the surface thereof, may cause degradation in the adhesiveness between the encapsulation resin and the recesses, and may consequently cause degradation in the adhesiveness between the encapsulation resin and the semiconductor chip. In conclusion, the technique disclosed in the patent publication is not sufficient in the effect of enhancing the adhesiveness between the semiconductor chip and the encapsulation resin.

Semiconductor device having recess with varying width and method of manufacturing the same


This disclosure relates generally to system and method for hierarchical category classification of products. Generally in supervised hierarchical classification, the hierarchy structure is predefined. However, majority of the current machine learning methods either expect the model to learn the hierarchy from the data or requires separate models trained at each level taking the prediction of previous level as an additional input, thereby increasing latency in achieving training accuracy and/or requiring an explicit maintenance module to orchestrate inference and retrain multiple models (corresponding to the number of levels in the hierarchy). The disclosed method and system allows the predefined knowledge about hierarchy drive the learning process of a single model, which predicts all levels of the hierarchy. The disclosed multi-layer network model arrives at a consensus based on prediction at each level, thereby increasing the accuracy of prediction and reducing the training time.

In most of the supervised hierarchical classification problems, the hierarchy structure is predefined. These classification problems can be solved using machine learning methods. However, majority of the current machine learning methods either expect the model to learn the hierarchy from the data or requires separate models trained at each level taking the prediction of previous level as an additional input. While the former method takes longer time to train for accuracy, later one requires an explicit maintenance module to orchestrate inference and retrain N models (usually N=number of levels).

System and method for hierarchical category classification of products


A chromatographic device is disclosed. The device comprises in combination a housing, a strip of bibulous material non-removably confined in the housing. The strip has a length and width only slightly less than the length and width of the inner walls of the housing. The inner walls of the housing have means attached thereto for supportively confining the strip in the housing. The strip is confined so that (1) the front and back of the strip are essentially free from contact with the walls of the housing and (2) the capillary action of the strip remains substantially unchanged, and (3), where the strip is paper, the strip is allowed to expand as it is traversed by the liquid medium. The bottom end of the housing contains means for enabling contact of a portion of the strip with the liquid medium. The housing further contains means for visually observing the strip and can also contain indicating means cooperative therewith to assist in determining the result of a chromatographic test. The present device has particular application in immunochromatography for the determination of the presence of an analyte suspected of being present in a sample.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of competitive protein binding assays or specific binding assays has greatly expanded, as its importance in the diagnostic field has become recognized. The ability to be able to detect a specific compound and measure the compound quantitatively has permitted the monitoring of the administration of a wide variety of drugs, the determination of an imbalance in a wide variety of hormones, the quantitation of physiologically active proteins, and the diagnosis of the presence of a pathogen. The different techniques have been distinguished in requiring or not requiring separation steps, the nature of the signal developed by the label, the development of the signal in a solution or on a surface and the manner of measurement for a quantitative determination.
In developing an assay, there are a number of considerations in devising the reagents and protocol. One consideration is the degree of sophistication of the individual performing the assay. There are many situations where it is desirable to have a relatively untrained individual be able to carry out an assay and obtain reasonably quantitative results. It is particularly desirable that the relatively untrained individual be able to carry out a quantitative assay in a simple, rapid test without the need for sophisticated equipment.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,168,146 describes an immunoassay employing immunochromatography with antigens followed by contacting the immunochromatograph with an aqueous solution containing labelled antibodies. U.S. Pat. No. 4,435,504 discloses a chromatographic immunoassay employing a specific binding pair member in a label conjugate which delineates a border whose distance from one end of the chromatograph relates to the amount of analyte present. An indicator strip useful in analytical chemical procedures is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,715,192. U.S. Pat. No. 3,620,677 discloses an indicating device comprising in combination a porous capillary material and an impervious covering material enclosing at least a major portion of the exterior surfaces of the capillary material and disposed in intimate contact therewith defining an absorptive cavity of a preselected volume. A method for sonically securing articles in plastic mounts is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,230,757. A contamination filter mask with a series of discreetly and scientifically oriented cutouts adapted to expose complementary regions of an adjacent filter for visual inspection and for particle count purposes is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,350,979. U.S. Pat. No. 2,371,405 describes a gas analysis apparatus.


Embodiments include signal strength indication methods for use in wireless communication devices. In an embodiment, a method includes producing a default received signal strength indicator (RSSI) using default RSSI determination parameters. The method also includes determining that a received signal strength is inadequate, and producing an alternate RSSI, in response, where the alternate RSSI is produced using at least one alternate RSSI determination parameter that is different from at least one default RSSI determination parameter. In another embodiment, a method includes measuring multiple received signal strengths for multiple received signals from multiple base stations, and producing an alternate RSSI based on a received signal strength measurement for a strongest signal of the multiple received signals. An embodiment of a wireless communication device may include a processing subsystem adapted to perform embodiments of the methods.

Cellular telephones communicate with a cellular network (e.g., cellular base stations) over wireless communication channels. The signal quality perceived by a user depends on several factors, including the strength of the received signal (e.g., the signal-to-noise ratio or bit error rate) and the presence of interference (e.g., due to multi-path effects). When the cellular telephone is located in an environment in which received signal strengths are very low, the cellular telephone and the network may be incapable of maintaining a communication session, and the session may unexpectedly terminate. In colloquial terms, this typically is referred to as a "dropped call." An environment of low signal strengths also may preclude a cellular telephone from re-establishing a dropped call, or from establishing a new call with the network.
Most cellular telephone displays include a display element, referred to as a received signal strength indicator (RSSI), which reflects the strength of a received signal from the network. More particularly, during an ongoing communication session, the RSSI reflects measurements of the strength of a signal received over a communication channel that is allocated to the communication session. When a communication session is not in progress, the RSSI may reflect measurements of the strength of a control channel signal.
A typical RSSI includes a variable number of "bars" or other indicia. The number of bars displayed at any given time (and/or the relative heights of the bars) may be proportional to the measured, received signal strength. Accordingly, for example, when a received signal strength is very high, a maximum number of bars may be displayed, and when the received signal strength is very low, a minimum number of bars may be displayed. When the received signal strength falls below a low signal threshold, the cellular telephone may display zero bars, which indicates the presence of "no signal."
During a communication session, observation of the RSSI may enable a user to determine whether the received signal strength may be degrading to a point where an undesired communication session failure is likely to occur. In addition, during the process of attempting to establish a communication session, a user may observe the RSSI to determine whether the received signal strength is likely to be adequate to establish a new connection with the network. When a user observes that the RSSI indicates a low received signal strength, the user may attempt to relocate the telephone to an area in which a higher received signal strength is present. However, a user may not realize that a typical wireless device makes received signal strength measurements fairly infrequently (e.g., only once every 10-15 seconds). In addition, the RSSI may not accurately reflect an actual received signal strength measurement. Instead, a typical RSSI reflects an average of multiple, previous received signal strength measurements. Not realizing these calculation characteristics of the RSSI, a user may rapidly move the cellular telephone around in an attempt to find the presence of a higher strength received signal.
Dropped calls, the inability to establish calls, and difficulty in finding areas of high signal strength are a common frustration among users. Similar signal strength-related issues also may plague other types of wireless networks (e.g., wireless local area networks, radio networks, and other wireless networks). Accordingly, network providers and wireless communication device manufacturers continuously strive to improve signal levels in coverage areas, expand coverage areas, and develop hardware and software that may better compensate for received signals having low signal strengths. Regardless of these improvements, areas will continue to exist in which received signals will be too low to maintain communications sessions or to enable new sessions to be established. Therefore, what are needed are apparatus and methods to enable a user to more readily locate areas in which received signal strengths are adequate for robust communications with a wireless network. Other desirable features and characteristics of the present inventive subject matter will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background.

Signal strength indication methods for use in wireless communication devices


According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for multi-interface monitoring and correlation of Diameter signaling information. The method includes copying Diameter information from a first signaling message traversing a first signaling interface. The method further includes copying information from a second signaling message traversing a second signaling interface. The method further includes correlating the Diameter information from the first signaling message with the information from the second signaling message and storing the correlated information in a memory device.

Diameter is an authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) protocol for computer networks, and is a successor to Radius. The Diameter base protocol is defined in International Engineering Task Force (IETF) request for comments (RFC) 3588 which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Diameter messages use a per user framework and exist in the format of request-answer messages. Diameter answer messages travel back to the request source via the same path through which the request message was routed using hop-by-hop transport.
Diameter messages may be exchanged between Diameter nodes for performing various functions. For example, a mobility management entity (MME) and a home subscriber server (HSS) may interact for authentication, authorization, and/or accounting (AAA) purposes. While RFC 3588 discloses various aspects involving Diameter, an architecture for monitoring Diameter signaling messages is not adequately defined.
Accordingly, there exists a need for methods, systems, and computer readable media for multi-interface monitoring and correlation of Diameter signaling information.

Methods, systems, and computer readable media for multi-interface monitoring and correlation of diameter signaling information


In a cable television system a system for supporting SCU return in FTTB-MDU and FTTC/FTTcab configurations. Fiber, baseband transceiver and networking capabilities are shared with data and voice portions of the system for enabling communication from the SCUs to the HE over a packet based networking system. Return packets/upstream packets are passed into the network upstream channel only when a signal is present for eliminating transmission of upstream traffic that contains no signal for conserving upstream bandwidth.

In a cable television system, broadcast video, video-on-demand, telephony and Internet access are presently delivered over coaxial cable. However, there is a need to deliver these services over optical fiber to multiple dwelling units (MDUs), such as apartment buildings/flats, condominiums, row houses, dorms etc. and to detached dwellings in fiber-to-the-curb or fiber-to-the-cabinet (FTTC/FTTcab) configurations. This need is principally due to certain costs and capacity limitations in the Data over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) technology, which presently is used to deliver Internet access to subscribers over cable.
A particular problem in fiber-to-the-building for MDU (FTTB-MDU), FTTC/FTTcab configurations is support of return traffic from existing subscriber communications units (SCU), such as set-top boxes, where the existing SCUs may not be optimized for use in the FTB-MDU and FTTC/FTTcab configurations.
Broadcast television and on-demand video is presently delivered to subscribers over coaxial cable. The SCUs mediate subscriber access to video services, such as premium channels, pay-per-view and electronic program guides. Both digital and analog SCUs use the return path for interactive services (such as pay-per-view) and for status monitoring. In existing cable television systems, the return path is a frequency band (e.g., from 7 MHz to 42 MHz) which is configured to be transported from the SCUs to the headend (HE). Cable operators have a very large investment in SCUs and corresponding headend equipment, and need to use them without modification in FTTB-MDU and FTTC/FTTcab configurations. Attempts have been made and are continuing to be made in an attempt to support SCU return in FTTB-MDU and FTTC/FTTcab systems. That is, to support legacy cable system SCUs in a packet based system.
In one particular system, a digital return is implemented for the entire upstream band, as is presently done in optical nodes in existing cable television systems. That is, the entire upstream band is sampled (i.e., at least at the Nyquist rate) and transported as a stream of digitized samples. However, the wideband requirement of such a system requires high-speed digital transmission, typically over a separate fiber. Required wideband analog-to-digital converters (ADC) at a high cost also are required. Further, such an approach is wasteful, since SCUs transmit infrequently and do so over a relatively small portion of the spectrum. As a variant of this approach, a smaller portion of the upstream band could be digitized, though at the loss of generality and network flexibility, and with little gain in efficiency.
In an alternate system, a digital return is implemented for a single upstream channel. This requires all SCUs served by the FTTB-MDU or FTTC node (but not necessarily every SCU in the system) to be configured by the operator to use the same upstream channel, without frequency hopping. This also requires that all systems work with the same protocol exclusively. Thus, system level flexibility and generality is lost. Again, there remains inefficient use of the return channel due to transmission of sampled data when no signal is present.
In another system, the return demodulation is performed locally and encapsulates the recovered data packets in standardized data packets (e.g., IP datagrams or Ethernet frames), as done in existing headends. This "packetized" data is then sent upstream via the packet network where the resulting requests are processed at the headend. Unfortunately, a different demodulator is needed for each system supported. In addition, the solution at the headend is highly dependent upon an ability to forward recovered data packets, possibly encapsulated in IP or Ethernet in some proprietary way, to proprietary interactive TV controller systems.
In still another system, the entire 7-42 MHz band is amplitude modulated and transmitted as an optical signal over an optical fiber toward the headend. Unfortunately, a second optical fiber, an analog optical transmitter and an analog optical receiver for each FTTH-MDU or FTTC unit is required. Further, analog optical components are significantly more expensive than digital optical components, thereby increasing the cost.

System for return bandwidth minimization using selective sampling


A method of scanning an original image containing image information of different types using a CCD sensor comprising three first linear arrays of photosites sensitive to respective colors. A second linear array of photosites is provided, the pitch between adjacent photosites of the second linear array being different from the pitch between adjacent photosites of the first array. The method comprises causing relative scanning movement between a CCD sensor and the original image while the original image is illuminated, the CCD sensor including at least one first linear array of photosites, and a second linear array of photosites, the pitch between adjacent is photosites of the second linear array being different from the pitch between adjacent photosites of the or each first array monitoring output signals from the at least one first linear array when the at least one first linear array is scanned over a first type of image information: and monitoring output signals from the second linear array when the second linear array is scanned over a second type of image information.

The invention relates to a method of scanning original images.
Charged coupled device (CCD) sensors are regularly used in image scanning equipment for sensing the colour content of an image. This information is then digitized and can be manipulated and/or stored for subsequent output or transmission. Most colour input scanners presently on the market use a 3-stripe CCD image sensor as a means of sensing the original image. This device has three lines of photosensitive elements (photosites) onto which the original is imaged. Each line has a different colour filter (usually red, green and blue) deposited in front so that the device becomes colour sensitive. The CCD is moved relative to the original during a scan so that a 2-D image of the original, separated into three colours, is built up.
When scanning continuous tone colour graphics such as colour transparencies or colour negatives, the CCD needs certain requirements to achieve the best performance:
1) The size of the photosites determines how many electrons are stored in each site during an exposure period. The larger the photosites, the more electrons can be stored and therefore the dynamic range of the device is increased i.e. the range of light intensity in the original image over which detail can be seen before the device saturates at the high end or detail gets lost in the noise at the low end is increased.
2) Since the output from each photosite represents a discrete sample of the original image light intensity, then Lo achieve the best sharpness in the scanned image, a large number of photosites is required. However, since the original film image is made from colour dye grains, there is no benefit to be gained from resolving detail much smaller than the grain size.
Therefore, a good compromise can be had between maximising dynamic range and achieving the best sharpness before film xe2x80x9cGrain noisexe2x80x9d is seen. Presently available CCDs typically use 8000 photosites per line with a dynamic range of about 80 dB i.e. a range of about four density in light intensity terms or a greater number of smaller photosites e.g. between 10,000 and 15,000 with less dynamic range.
Many scanners need to be multi-purpose and need to be able to scan other forms of original e.g. lineart (linework) or screened film originals (for the purpose of descreening or copydot). Lineart typically consists of solid black lines on a white background although any colour on any other colour background can be used instead. Typical examples of lineart are line drawings or solid text or a combination of both. The detail present, especially in very fine Kanji text, can be very high. Screened film originals consist of solid black dots of varying sizes on a white background and again there is a high level of detail present in this type of original.
When scanning lineart or screened film originals, the CCD needs a different set of requirements to achieve the best performance.
1) The scanner now has only to be able to set a threshold to differentiate between black and white and therefore the dynamic range of the CCD does not need to be so high and therefore the size of the photosites can be less.
2) Since the CCD needs to be able to resolve finer detail, the more photosites that can be placed across an image of the original the better. To achieve an optical resolution of 1200 photosites per inch (often quoted as 1200 dpi) across the narrow width of an A3 original requires at least 14,000 photosites and allowing for some overscan of the original, at least 16,000 photosites is desirable.
3) Since lineart is not restricted to black on white and can be any colour, it is preferable not to have colour filters on the CCD so that separation of colours can be performed using external filters.
Presently available 3-stripe colour CCDs cannot achieve the best performance when scanning all these types of originals.
WO-A-91/00667 describes the use of a 4-stripe CCD with the 4th line (monochrome) having a higher resolution than the other three colour lines. This is used in a motion picture film scanner application for increasing the detail in the picture. The three colour lines provide low definition colour components and the 4th high resolution mono line is added in to provide detail enhancement. This is therefore does not address lineart scanning.
JP-A-62161255 also discloses a 4-stripe CCD but used in a photocopying machine. In this patent, a 4-stripe COD is used which consists of a 3-stripe CCD (array 1) and a high resolution stripe (array 2) with no colour filter. Since the application is for a photocopier, there are no prescan or HR scan states. The operator, via the console, stares whether the image is graphics or lineart. If graphics is selected, then the whole image is scanned at graphics resolution using array 1 and output to the print engine. If lineart is selected, then the whole image is scanned at a higher resolution using array 2 and output to the print engine. The system cannot accurately reproduce an original image having both graphics and lineart.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a method of scanning an original image containing image information of different types comprises causing relative scanning movement between a CCD sensor and the original image while the original image is illuminated, the CCD sensor including on the same substrate at least one first linear array of photosites, and a second linear array of photosites, the pitch between adjacent photosites of the second linear array being different from the pitch between adjacent photosites of the or each first array; monitoring output signals from the at least one first linear array when the at least one first linear array is scanned over a first type of image information; and monitoring output signals from the second linear array when the second linear array is scanned over a second type of image information.
In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention a scanning system comprises a CCD sensor including on the same substrate at least one first linear array of photosites, and a second linear array of photosites, the pitch between adjacent photosites of the second linear array being different from the pitch between adjacent photosites of the or each first array; an image support; means for irradiating an original image on the support; means for causing relative scanning movement between the image support and the CCD sensor whereby radiation from the original image impinges on the CCD sensor; and a processing circuit coupled to the CCD sensor for regularly downloading image information from the CCD sensor and for carrying out a method according to the first aspect of the invention.
With this invention, we use the second linear array of photosites which has a different resolution from the other array(s) of photosites to enable a second type of information to be scanned at the same time as the first type of information. Thus, an original image having more than one type of information can be scanned in a single pass rather than two passes.
In a simple application, the monitored output signals can be displayed but typically they will be stored for further processing.
In one application, output signals from the at least one first linear array will be monitored only when that array is scanned over a first type of image information and output signals from the second linear array will be monitored only when that array is scanned over the second type of image information. Alternatively, output signals from both arrays can be monitored throughout the scanning process and then subsequently processed so that a representation of the original image is generated in which data corresponding to output signals from the at least one first linear array is used to define pixels corresponding to the first type of image information, and data corresponding to output signals from the second linear array is used to define pixels corresponding to the second type of image information.
The location on the original image of different types of information can be defined by the operator manually. In a first alternative, however, the method may further comprise performing a prescan of the original image to define the locations of image information of the different types.
In a second alternative, the type of information being scanned could be determined automatically using, for example, the method described in more detail in EP-A-0881595 incorporated herein by reference.
The xe2x80x9coriginal imagexe2x80x9d may comprise a single page, for example an A4 sheet, or multiple pages, for example as mounted on the drum of an image scanner or platen of a flat bed scanner.
A variety of different types of information can be scanned. Typically, the first type of information will comprise graphics while the second type of information may comprise lineart or screened images.
Typically, the photosite pitch of the second linear array will be smaller than the pitch of the photosites of the first array so that it can be used for scanning lineart or screened film originals. Thus, the or each first linear array can be fabricated with photosites which are made as large as possible with enough photosites to be able to resolve detail comparable to the film grain size. In this way, the dynamic range is maximised and the sharpness in the scanned image is maximised before film dye grain noise degrades the image. A typical pitch of the photosites of the or each first linear array is in the range 5-12 microns, while the photosite shapes could be rectangular or square. A typical number of photosites is in the range 5000-15000 per line.
In the preferred example, the second linear array has a larger number of smaller photosites so that extra detail can be resolved in the scanned image at the expense of a loss of dynamic range. A typical pitch for the photosites of the second linear array is 2-5 microns and a typical number of photosites for the line is in the range 10000-30000.
In a very simple example, a single first linear array could be provided along with a single second linear array. However, more than one first linear array could be provided and typically there are three, one corresponding to each of the primary colours red, green and blue.
The linear arrays are typically single, linear arrays but in some cases they could each form part of a respective two-dimensional array.
The wavelength sensitivity of each array is typically determined by the use of suitable internal or external filters. Thus, as in conventional CCD arrays, the or each first linear array may have a suitable filter material deposited on it or radiation reaching the first array may have to pass through a suitable external colour filter.
In general, the second linear array will have no colour filter so that lineart of any colour can be scanned. However, a coloured filter could be deposited on the second linear array for the purpose of restricting the range of wavelengths that the lens in a scanner with which the CCD sensor is used sees so that the best sharpness performance of the lens is realised i.e. loss of sharpness due to chromatic abberation is minimized. The second linear array could also have a colour filter deposited for the purpose of restricting the range of wavelengths so that when scanning screened film originals, the visibility of Newton""s rings between the original and the platen glass is minimized.

Charge coupled device scanning system and method


A method of programming a memory cell comprises erasing, programming, and determining the pulse count for one or more memory cells. The memory cell(s) is erased. Then, the memory cell is programmed with a first programming voltage. A first pulse count is determined. The first pulse count indicates the number of programming pulses used to program the memory cell with the first programming voltage. The first pulse count is compared with a target pulse count. The programming voltage is stored if the first pulse count compares with the target pulse count. If the first pulse count fails to compare with the target pulse count, the memory cell(s) is programmed with a second programming voltage and the process is repeated until the pulse count compares with the target pulse count.

A flash memory cell can be a field effect transistor (FET) that includes a select gate, a floating gate, a drain, and a source. A cell can be read by grounding the source, and applying a voltage to a bitline connected with the drain. By applying a voltage to the wordline connected to the select gate, the cell can be switched on and off.
Programming a cell includes trapping excess electrons in the floating gate to increase voltage. This reduces the current conducted by the memory cell when the select voltage is applied to the select gate. The flash cell is programmed when the cell current is less than a reference current when the select voltage is applied. The cell is erased when the cell current is greater than the reference current and the select voltage is applied.


A system for estimating the lane width and/or the number of lanes on a roadway includes environmental sensors mounted on a vehicle to monitor respective detection areas behind and to the sides of the vehicle. The sensors detect a roadway edge and the system determines a distance to the roadway edge. The system further determines a value or accesses a predefined nominal value of a lane width, and then estimates the number of lanes by evaluating the roadway edge distance with reference to the lane width value.

Present-day lane change warning functions, which shall warn of approaching traffic within a warning zone on the immediately adjacent neighboring lane, typically use a predefined fixed lane width. Knowledge of the lane width is essential to limit the warning zone, which shall only extend to the adjacent lane. Such an approach of using a fixed lane width is not able to adapt to changed environmental conditions. In particular, there is a large variation of the lane width as well as the number of lanes, in different regions world-wide or even within a country, e.g. on motorways and on construction sites. Thus, a warning zone approach based on a predefined fixed lane width leads to misjudgements of the driving situation on very narrow or very broad streets or lanes, because the warning zone is dimensioned too large or too small. This can lead to false-positive warnings (i.e. a warning is issued although there is no object on the neighboring lane, for example when the actual lane width is narrower than the fixed warning zone width, then a warning might be triggered by a vehicle on the next lane beyond the adjacent or neighboring lane), and false-negative lack of warnings (i.e. no warning is issued although there actually is a vehicle on the adjacent lane, for example when the actual lane width is wider than the fixed warning zone width then a vehicle on the adjacent lane might be erroneously evaluated as being on the next lane beyond the adjacent lane).

Method and device for estimating the number of lanes and/or the lane width on a roadway


A water dispenser is provided for dispensing hot water, cold water, and carbonated water, all of which is filtered. The dispenser includes a housing defining a front dispensing face, a rear face, opposite side walls and a bottom wall. A filter is mounted in the housing and has a rear end connectable to a source of water and a front end accessible at the front face of the housing to facilitate replacing the filter. A dispensing faucet is disposed at the front face of the housing. A hot water tank is located at one side of the housing and has an inlet for receiving filtered water from the filter and a hot water outlet near the dispensing faucet for delivering hot water thereto. An ice bank assembly is located at an opposite side of the housing and has an inlet for receiving filtered water from the filter and a cold water outlet near the dispensing faucet for delivering cold water thereto. A compressor is mounted on the bottom wall of the housing and is coupled to one end of the ice bank evaporator. A condenser coil is mounted at the rear face of the housing and is coupled between the compressor and an opposite end of the evaporator. A carbonator has an inlet for receiving filtered water from the filter and an outlet near the dispensing faucet for delivering carbonated water thereto.

Beverage dispensers come in a wide variety of configurations ranging from large apparatus which might be used in fast food restaurants, for example, to smaller appliances used in a home or office. Regardless of the size of the dispenser, various considerations must be addressed in designing a particular dispenser. The present invention is directed to a water dispenser which involves its own set of considerations.
For instance, as is known, tap water can range from being luke warm to mildly cool in temperature. A water dispenser must be capable of delivering quite cold water for various beverages, if not simply for drinking the cold water, per se. The dispenser should be capable of dispensing hot water for such beverages as coffee or tea. It is highly desirable that the dispenser be capable of filtering the incoming tap water. Another feature of up-scale water dispensers is to provide carbonated water for various beverage purposes.
The present invention primarily is directed to a relatively small water dispenser for use in such applications as a home, an office or the like, whereat the dispenser most likely will be located on top of a countertop in a kitchen or in a break-room in an office or similar environment. Such appliances create their own set of considerations. As but one example, dispenser applications commonly use a reservoir tank to accumulate filtered water. Unfortunately, these apparatus require constant maintenance for the prevention of bacteria and algae growth. Once the water is filtered, there is no residual chlorine to control bacterial growth. Consequently, these reservoir systems often use UV or Ozone, but this adds considerably to the cost, complexity and service requirements of the apparatus. In contrast, the present invention utilizes an ice bank through which filtered water can be continuously cooled and eliminates any reservoir. The ice bank is of a unique configuration.
Space requirements also are of a major consideration in designing a home or office type water dispenser. The space which such an appliance requires on a countertop is critical. The overall layout of the water dispenser of the present invention greatly minimizes the space required for the appliance.
The above and other considerations will be understood with the following specification.


Systems and methods for active link verification for failover operations in a storage network are disclosed. An exemplary method includes issuing a command from a first port of a storage device to a local network device in the storage network. The method also includes receiving a response to the command at the first port of the storage device from the local network device in the storage network. The storage device fails over to a second port of the storage device if no response is received at the first port of the storage device.

Remote storage may be implemented for computer systems wherein one or more computing device is provided access to one or more storage devices via a network. Remote storage offers many advantages, including providing access to one or more storage devices from multiple locations, upgrading/replacing storage devices without interrupting other data processing operations, and providing for failover strategies. Failover strategies in a storage network enable a computing device to continue accessing a storage device in the storage network via an alternate path if one path becomes disabled.
There are a wide variety of different types of failover strategies for storage networks. Some failover strategies are implemented manually, e.g., by a user reconfiguring a path to the storage device if the user is unable to access the storage device via the currently configured path. Such manual approaches can be time-consuming and require the user to understand at least the basic infrastructure of the storage network and how to reconfigure access via an alternate path. In addition, manual approaches are not suitable for adaptive infrastructures which are expected to be fully automated.
Automated failover strategies include direct host-to-target communication. In host-to-target communication, the computing device desiring access to the storage device may issue a high-layer communication to the storage device. If the computing device receives a reply from the storage device, the path is known to be working. If, however, the computing device does not receive a reply from the storage device, the path is assumed to have failed and the computing device automatically fails over to an alternate path.
Unfortunately, linking devices in the network may be inoperative at a higher communications level (e.g., at the software or firmware level) without interrupting the path at a lower physical level (e.g., at the circuit level). But because the computing device does not receive a reply from the storage device, the computing device unnecessarily fails over to the alternate path. In addition, high-level host-to-target communications can interrupt legitimate system drivers and software applications on the computing device.

Active link verification for failover operations in a storage network

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A method at a computing device associated with a road user, the method including detecting actions of a second road user; checking the actions against rules associated with the computing device; determining that the actions of the second road user contravene the rules; and providing a report regarding the actions of the second road user.

Poor driving can create risks for other road users. Poor driving may involve any driving habit which creates a hazard, including speeding, weaving or excessive lane changes, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, driving excessively slowly, changing lanes without signaling, driving through stop signs or stop lights without stopping, among other similar habits.
Numerous parties may be affected by poor driving and would benefit from knowing about a vehicle that is being driven poorly. For example, insurance companies try to identify high risk drivers by having customers install devices in the vehicle or apps on mobile devices to capture driving habits. However, generally only good drivers opt to use these types of systems or technologies, and high risk drivers tend to avoid them.
Further, other road users would benefit from knowing about a poor driver. In the case of a driver who is excessively speeding, this may create a risk to drivers on the road. For example, a driver seeking to cross at an intersection may not appreciate the speed of an approaching vehicle. In other cases, a driver may pull into the same lane as a speeding driver, thereby potentially causing a rear end collision. Poor driving may also create other hazards to other users of the roadway or transportation system.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and system for traffic behavior detection and warnings


In normal reproduction, a switch circuit (11) is set to select an output signal of an A/D converter (1). Consequently, a movement adaptation type YC separating circuit is formed, whereby a luminance signal and a chrominance signal are separated. When a control signal is outputted from a control signal generating circuit (12) in response to an instruction of still picture reproduction, the switch circuit (11) selects an output signal of the last output terminal of delay means formed by line memory (2) or frame memory (3) and inputs the selected signal to the first input terminal of the delay means. As a result, in still picture reproduction, a circulating circuit where the inputted composite video signal circulates in the delay means is formed and a luminance signal and a chrominance signal are separated based on a plurality of composite video signals having different delay times obtained from the circulating circuit. Thus, the delay means provided in the movement adaptation type YC separating circuit is used also for processing of still picture reproduction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to television receivers, and more particularly to television receivers having a still picture reproducing function.
2. Description of the Background Art
Conventional methods for separating a luminance signal (Y signal) and a chrominance signal (C signal) from a composite television signal include a method using a movement adaptation type YC separating circuit.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a construction of a conventional movement adaptation type YC separating circuit disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 61-123295. Referring to FIG. 1, a composite video signal is converted to an 8-bit digital signal by an A/D converter 1. This digital signal is delayed by 1H (H being a horizontal sync signal period) in a line memory 2 and it is further delayed by 524H's in a frame memory 3. Input and output signals of the line memory 2 supplied to a subtracter 4, where the output signal of the line memory 2 is subtracted from the input signal of the line memory 2. A luminance signal component is offset in the output of the subtracter 4 by line correlation of the composite television signal. However, since a high frequency component of the luminance signal in the vertical direction of the screen remains, this component is removed by a horizontal bandpass filter 5. The output of the horizontal bandpass filter 5 is supplied as a first chrominance signal MC to a mixing circuit 9. The output signal of the A/D converter 1 and the first chrominance signal MC are supplied to a subtracter 6, where the first chrominance signal MC is subtracted from the output signal of the A/D converter 1. As a result, the chrominance signal component is offset in the composite television signal as the output signal of the A/D converter 1, whereby a first luminance signal MY is obtained. This first luminance signal MY is supplied to the mixing circuit 9.
In the meantime, the output signal of the A/D converter 1 and the output signal of the frame memory 3 are supplied to a subtracter 7, where the output signal of the frame memory 3 is subtracted from the output signal of the A/D converter 1. Since the output signal of the frame memory 3 is a signal delayed exactly by one frame from the composite video signal outputted from the A/D converter 1, a luminance signal component is offset in the output signal of the A/D converter 1 by frame correlation so that a second chrominance signal SC is obtained. This second chrominance signal SC is supplied to the mixing circuit 9. The output signal of the A/D converter 1 and the second chrominance signal SC are supplied to a subtracter 8, where the second chrominance signal SC is subtracted from the output signal of the A/D converter 1. As a result, the color signal component is offset in the composite video signal outputted from the A/D converter 1, whereby a second luminance signal SY is obtained. The second luminance signal SY is supplied to the mixing circuit 9.
The output signal of the A/D converter 1 and the output signal of the frame memory 3 are supplied to a movement detecting circuit 10. This movement detecting circuit 10 evaluates a difference signal between frames of the composite video signal and determines based on the difference signal- whether an image formed by the present composite video signal is a moving picture or a still picture. The output of the movement detecting circuit 10 is supplied to the mixing circuit 9. The mixing circuit 9 selects the first luminance signal MY and the first chrominance signal MC separated by utilizing the line correlation and outputs those signals as the luminance signal Y and the chrominance signal C if the output of the movement detecting circuit 10 indicates a moving picture. On the other hand, if the output of the movement detecting circuit 10 indicates a still picture, the mixing circuit 9 selects the second luminance signal SY and the second chrominance signal SC separated by utilizing the frame correlation and outputs those signals as the luminance signal Y and the chrominance signal C.
The movement detecting circuit 10 may be constructed to output a detection signal having its level changing in an analog manner according to the moving condition of the picture and the mixing circuit 9 may be constructed to mix the first luminance signal MY and the second luminance signal SY with a ratio according to the level of the detection output and to mix the first chrominance signal MC and the second chrominance signal SC with that ratio.
The above mentioned movement adaptation type YC separating circuit makes it possible to separate a luminance signal and a chrominance signal with high qualities without causing any mixture or remaining of those signals.
If still picture reproduction is to be effected in a television receiver comprising a movement adaptation type YC separation circuit as described above, still picture reproduction processing is conventionally carried out by using a dedicated frame memory. More specifically, a frame memory other than the frame memory provided in the movement adaptation type YC separating circuit is provided to carry out still picture reproduction processing. However, this frame memory dedicated to still picture reproduction processing is very expensive and the use of such a dedicated frame memory is disadvantageous in cost.


It is an object of the present invention to provide a light-emitting device in which, even when a material with high reflectivity such as aluminum is used for an electrode, a layer containing oxygen can be formed over the electrode without increasing contact resistance and a manufacturing method thereof. According to the present invention, a feature thereof is a light-emitting element having an electrode composed of a stacked structure where a conductive film having high reflectivity such as aluminum, silver, and an alloy containing aluminum or an alloy containing silver, and a conductive film composed of a refractory metal material is provided over the conductive film, or a light-emitting device having the light-emitting element.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light-emitting device having a light-emitting element.
2. Description of the Related Art
A display device including a light-emitting element (hereinafter, referred to as a light-emitting device) has advantages such as wide viewing angle, low power consumption, and rapid response speed as compared with a liquid crystal display device, and research and development thereof have been actively carried out.
The light-emitting element has a structure of a light-emitting substance provided between a pair of electrodes, and light from the light-emitting substance is extracted depending on the light-transmitting property of the electrodes.
For example, in the case of desiring to extract light toward one direction, a light-transmitting material is used for one electrode provided in the direction where light is extracted whereas the other electrode is formed by using a material that has no light-transmitting property, that is, a reflective material. The light extraction efficiency can be increased by using reflection at the other electrode effectively.
In addition, a display device is proposed, where the optical distance between a pair of electrodes is made to satisfy a given formula, a resonator structure is introduced, and the resonance wavelength coincides with the peak wavelength of a spectrum of light to be extracted (see Reference 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-178930).
However, an anode is used as a reflective electrode in a top emission panel as shown in Reference 1; therefore, it is desirable to use a material with high reflectivity in visible light such as aluminum or silver. Since silver is difficult to process, aluminum is used as an anode in many cases.
However, a material with high reflectivity such as aluminum or silver is easily oxidized and gets close to an insulator property after oxidizing; therefore, contact resistance thereof gets high. In particular, in a case of forming a layer containing oxygen over a conductive film of aluminum, silver, or the like, the conductive film is easily oxidized. Therefore, contact resistance thereof gets high and consequently current cannot be supplied enough; thus, drive voltage has increased.
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a light-emitting device in which, even when a material with high reflectivity in visible light such as aluminum or silver is used for an electrode, a layer containing oxygen can be formed over the electrode without increasing contact resistance and a manufacturing method thereof.
In view of the above problem, the present invention has a feature of an electrode composed of a stacked structure where a conductive film with high reflectivity that is easily oxidized such as aluminum (Al), silver (Ag), an alloy containing aluminum (Al alloy), or an alloy containing silver (Ag alloy) is stacked with a conductive film composed of a refractory metal material provided in the upper layer of the conductive film.
In addition, a light-emitting device according to the present invention includes a light-emitting element where a mixture layer having a metal oxide, which is a layer containing oxygen, is provided over a conductive film made of a refractory metal material. In other words, a feature of the present invention is to form a mixture layer having a metal oxide in contact with a conductive film made of a refractory metal material which is one of the electrodes having a stacked structure. Note that the conductive film made of a refractory metal material may be formed using a material that is not oxidized due to the mixture layer having a metal oxide or, even when a material is oxidized, any material is acceptable as long as conductivity is shown. In addition, the conductive film made of a refractory metal material can be described as a material having low contact resistance with a metal oxide. As for a material of such a conductive film made of a refractory metal material, titanium (Ti), tungsten (W), molybdenum (Mo), or a compound having these materials, for example, titanium nitride (TiN) which is a titanium compound can be used.
In such a light-emitting element according to the present invention, a transparent electrode material such as indium tin oxide (ITO) is used for a transparent electrode on the side where light from a light-emitting element is emitted. In addition, besides ITO, a material having reflectiveness with high reflectivity, in other words, a material that does not have a light-transmitting property, the film thickness of which is thinned to such a degree that light is transmitted, may also be used. When a material having reflectiveness is thus used for the electrode on the side where light is transmitted, light from a light-emitting element can be interfered between the electrode formed by thinning the material having reflectiveness and the reflective electrode; thus, efficiency in extracting light outside can be increased.
Moreover, in a light-emitting element according to the present invention, light through a light-emitting layer reflected with the reflective electrode and light emitted directly through the light-emitting layer interfere; thus, efficiency in extracting light outside can also be increased. In order to increase extraction efficiency in such a manner, a film thickness of any one of layer in an electroluminescent layer, specifically, a layer between the reflective electrode and the light-emitting layer is controlled. In addition, the film thickness may be made different depending on light-emission color so as to increase the extraction efficiency.
Hereinafter, a specific mode of the present invention will be shown.
According to one feature of the present invention, a light-emitting device includes a first electrode which is stacked; an electroluminescent layer provided over the first electrode; and a second electrode provided over the electroluminescent layer, wherein the electroluminescent layer includes a mixture layer having a metal oxide on the side in contact with the first electrode, and wherein the first electrode includes a conductive film made of a material having low contact resistance with the mixture layer having a metal oxide. The material having low contact resistance with the mixture layer having a metal oxide is a refractory metal material.
According to another feature of the present invention, a light-emitting device includes a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer included in a first electrode; an electroluminescent layer provided in contact with the second conductive layer; and a second electrode provided over the electroluminescent layer, wherein a mixture layer having a metal oxide is provided in a region of the electroluminescent layer in contact with the second conductive layer, and wherein the second conductive layer is formed of a conductive film made of a material having low contact resistance with the mixture layer having a metal oxide. The material having low contact resistance with the mixture layer having a metal oxide is a refractory metal material.
According to another feature of the present invention, a light-emitting device includes a first electrode having reflectiveness which is stacked; an electroluminescent layer provided over the first electrode; and a second electrode having a light-transmitting property which is provided over the electroluminescent layer, wherein the first electrode includes a conductive film made of a refractory metal material on the side in contact with the electroluminescent layer, and wherein the electroluminescent layer includes a mixture layer having a metal oxide on the side in contact with the first electrode. Titanium nitride can be given as an example of the refractory metal material.
According to another feature of the present invention, a light-emitting device includes a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer included in a first electrode having reflectiveness; an electroluminescent layer provided in contact with the second conductive, layer; and a second electrode having a light-transmitting property which is provided over the electroluminescent layer, wherein the second conductive layer is made of a refractory metal material, and wherein a mixture layer having a metal oxide is provided in a region of the electroluminescent layer in contact with the second conductive layer. Titanium nitride can be given as an example of the refractory metal material.
According to another feature of the present invention, a light-emitting device includes a plurality of light-emitting elements, in which red, green, and blue light are emitted, having a first electrode which is stacked; an electroluminescent layer provided over the first electrode; and a second electrode provided over the electroluminescent layer, wherein the first electrode includes a conductive film made of titanium nitride on the side in contact with the electroluminescent layer, wherein the electroluminescent layer includes a mixture layer having a metal oxide on the side in contact with the first electrode, wherein the film thickness of the first electrode is the same in the light-emitting element in which red, green, and blue light are emitted, and wherein the film thickness of the electroluminescent layer, specifically, the mixture layer having a metal oxide is different.
According to another feature of the present invention, a light-emitting device includes a plurality of light-emitting elements, in which red, green, and blue light are emitted, having a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer included in a first electrode; an electroluminescent layer provided in contact with the second conductive layer; and a second electrode provided over the electroluminescent layer, wherein the second conductive layer is made of titanium nitride, wherein a mixture layer having a metal oxide is provided in a region of the electroluminescent layer in contact with the second conductive layer, wherein the film thickness of the first electrode is the same in the light-emitting element in which red, green, and blue light are emitted, and wherein the film thickness of the electroluminescent layer, specifically, the film thickness of the mixture layer having a metal oxide is different.
In addition, according to the present invention, a thin film transistor is connected to a first electrode as a switching element. The thin film transistor has an n-channel type or a p-channel type.
Note that a transparent conductive layer such as indium tin oxide (ITO) may be used instead of a mixture layer of a metal oxide for a layer in contact with the first electrode of an electroluminescent layer. In a case of using a transparent conductive layer, a refractory metal material having low contact resistance with the transparent conductive layer may be used for the upper layer of the first electrode.
In addition, as for a reflective electrode, an aluminum alloy, silver, or a silver alloy may be used instead of aluminum. This is because an aluminum alloy, silver, and a silver alloy are also a metal material having reflectiveness. Moreover, titanium (Ti), tungsten (W), or molybdenum (Mo) may be used instead of titanium nitride. In a case of substituting these materials, as for a side in contact with a mixture layer having a metal oxide, which is the lower layer of the electroluminescent layer, a refractory metal material having low contact resistance with the mixture layer is used for the upper layer of the first electrode.
A stacked structure of an electrode material having high reflectiveness such as aluminum and a refractory metal material such as titanium nitride is used for a reflective electrode of a light-emitting element. Accordingly, high light extraction efficiency can be obtained concurrently with preferable contact resistance between a mixture layer having a metal oxide and the reflective electrode. Consequently, it is possible to provide a light-emitting element and a light-emitting device having high luminance compared with a conventional case where a single aluminum layer or a single titanium nitride, which is a reflective electrode is used.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following detailed description along with the accompanied drawings.

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


The present invention relates to use of selective oxidation to oxidize silicon in the presence of tungsten and/or tungsten nitride in memory cells and memory arrays. This technique is especially useful in monolithic three dimensional memory arrays. In one aspect of the invention, the silicon of a diode-antifuse memory cell is selectively oxidized to repair etch damage and reduce leakage, while exposed tungsten of adjacent conductors and tungsten nitride of a barrier layer are not oxidized. In some embodiments, selective oxidation may be useful for gap fill. In another aspect of the invention, TFT arrays made up of charge storage memory cells comprising a polysilicon/tungsten nitride/tungsten gate can be subjected to selective oxidation to passivate the gate polysilicon and reduce leakage.

The invention relates to use of selective oxidation of silicon in memory cells and arrays. Selectively oxidizing silicon while avoiding oxidation of exposed tungsten and tungsten nitride has been used in CMOS devices formed in monocrystalline silicon, as described by Liu et al., "Selective Oxidation of Silicon (100) vs. Tungsten Surfaces by Steam in Hydrogen," Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 150 (10) G597-G601, 2003, hereby incorporated by reference. This technique can be extended to address challenges that arise in diode memory arrays, thin film transistor (TFT) memory arrays, and monolithic three dimensional memory arrays.

Selective oxidation of silicon in diode, TFT, and monolithic three dimensional memory arrays


A layer-to-layer jumping method according to the present invention includes, after a layer-to-layer jump has been started in a multilayer optical disc, the step ST7 of detecting an S-curve signal from an information layer, which is located shallower than the target information layer of the layer-to-layer jump, with a spherical aberration correction made adaptively to that shallower information layer, and the step ST8 of generating a deceleration signal based on the S-curve signal detected to get the layer-to-layer jump done.

In this description, an optical disc with a stack of N information layers (where N is an integer that is equal to or greater than two) will be referred to herein as an "N-layer disc". Also, optical discs, each having multiple information layers, will be collectively referred to herein as "multilayer optical discs". A "single-sided multilayer optical disc" refers herein to an optical disc, of which each of multiple information layers is irradiated with a light beam that has come through only one side of the optical disc.
In a multilayer optical disc, the distance as measured from its disc surface 100a, through which the incoming light enters the disc, to any of its information layers is sometimes called the "depth" of that information layer. Also provided between the shallowest information layer of a multilayer optical disc and its disc surface 100a is a transparent cover layer, which is often called a "light-transmissive layer". Even though actually there is a light-transmitting layer between each pair of information layers, the distance from the disc surface 100a to an information layer of interest (i.e., the depth of that information layer) will be sometimes referred to herein as the "thickness of the light-transmissive layer".
Also, in this description, the information layer that is located most distant from the disc surface 100a of an N-layer disc will be referred to herein as an "L1 layer". And N information layers will be sequentially referred to herein as "L1 layer", "L2 layer" . . . and "LN layer", respectively, in the descending order of their distance from the disc surface 100a. In that case, in a four-layer disc, for example, the information layer that is located closest to (i.e., least distant from) the disc surface 100a is L4 layer.
In optical disc technologies, data can be read out from a rotating optical disc by irradiating the disc with a relatively weak light beam with a constant intensity, and detecting the light that has been modulated by, and reflected from, the optical disc. On a read-only optical disc, information is already stored as pits that are arranged spirally during the manufacturing process of the optical disc. On the other hand, on a rewritable optical disc, a recording material film, from/on which data can be read and written optically, is deposited by evaporation process, for example, on the surface of a substrate on which tracks with spiral lands or grooves are arranged. In writing data on a rewritable optical disc, data is written there by irradiating the optical disc with a light beam, of which the optical power has been changed according to the data to be written, and locally changing the property of the recording material film.
In a multilayer optical disc, when data is going to be read from, or written on, one of its multiple information layers stacked there (which will be referred to herein as "Layer A"), the light beam is focused on that Layer A. And when it is necessary to read or write data from/on another one of the information layers (which will be referred to herein as "Layer B"), the light beam is focused on that Layer B instead. To shift the focus position of the light beam from one information layer (i.e., a current layer) to another information layer (i.e., a target layer) in this manner will be referred to herein as a "layer change" or a "focus jump".
The focus position of a light beam can be shifted in the depth direction of the information layers (i.e., in the thickness direction of the optical disc) by a focus actuator in an optical pickup, which includes a laser light source that emits the light beam, an objective lens to converge that light beam, and actuators to move the objective lens. The actuators include a tracking actuator for moving the objective lens in the radial direction of the optical disc and a focus actuator for moving the objective lens in the thickness direction of the optical disc.
To get a focus jump (which will also be referred to herein as a "layer-to-layer jump") done, the focus position of the light beam needs to be shifted to its target position as quickly as possible by the focus actuator. For example, Patent Document No. 1 discloses a conventional technique for making such a focus jump on a dual-layer DVD or on a dual-layer Blu-ray Disc (BD).
According to a focus jump method for a dual-layer BD as disclosed in Patent Document No. 1, first of all, a spherical aberration correcting mechanism starts to be moved, and then a focus actuator will start to move an objective lens in a predetermined amount of time, which is approximately a half as long as the time it takes to move the spherical aberration correcting mechanism from a position associated with a first storage layer to a position associated with a second storage layer. That is to say, the focus actuator starts moving the objective lens while the spherical aberration correcting mechanism is approaching the position associated with the second storage layer. That is why when the focus position reaches the second storage layer, the spherical aberration correcting mechanism will also be on the verge of arriving at the position associated with the second storage layer. Consequently, a focus servo operation can be done properly on the second storage layer. According to another focus jump method, the focus position starts to be moved when the spherical aberration correcting mechanism reaches roughly a midpoint between the respective positions associated with the first and second storage layers. Thus, a focus servo operation can be performed properly after the focus position has reached the second storage layer.
According to the technique disclosed in Patent Document No. 1, if a focus jump operation needs to be performed (i.e., if a focus position needs to be shifted) by jumping two or more layers at a time in a multilayer optical disc with three or more information layers, the spherical aberration correcting mechanism and the focus actuator are moved from their positions associated with the current storage layer to their positions associated with an adjacent storage layer and the focus is once set on the adjacent storage layer. Next, a focus jump operation is performed in the same way to shift the focus position to the next adjacent storage layer. And by performing such a layer-by-layer focus jump to the adjacent storage layer a predetermined number of times, the focus position can still be shifted from one layer to another without losing the stability of the focus servo operation even if two or more storage layers should be jumped to get to the end point.

Optical disc apparatus and method of making layer-to-layer jump in multilayer optical disc


The invention is characterized in that it has a layer of organic material sensitive to changes in pressure, voltage, deformation, gases and/or temperature; wherein said organic layer consists of at least one conductive salt or complex including a molecule A and a dopant D, said molecule A being an electron donor or acceptor organic molecule or macromolecule capable of forming a conductive salt or complex, which without doping is not conductive, and with the presence of dopant D becomes a compound that is donor or acceptor of electrons and capable of forming conductive salt or complex with the molecule or macromolecule A; and a base substrate, in close contact with said layer of organic material. The sensor device is useful in molecular electronics or plastic electronics, in particular, in the field of organic sensors.

A sensor has the purpose of providing physical, chemical or biological information on our environment. The materials traditionally used as sensors are based on inorganic compounds, semiconductors, electrolytes, metals and catalytic materials.
Insulating organic and intrinsically conductive polymers have been used in sensor preparation.
For example, intrinsically conductive polymers have been used as a coating material or to encapsulate an electrode and non-conductive polymers are used to immobilise the receptive agents of the device
Sensors with organic transistors have also been manufactured, but in order to prepare devices such as these, many different stages are required.

Organic sensor device and its applications

Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas

Institucio Catalana de Recerca I Estudis Avancats


The general field of the invention is that of display devices including a liquid-crystal matrix screen composed of elementary pixels, said screen including at least a first electrode used as voltage reference and called the “backplane,” a second electrode in the form of a matrix electronic network delivering the drive voltages for controlling the pixels and control electronics for said electrodes, said screen being used in the so-called “normally black” mode, that is to say that in the absence of applied voltages, the optical transmission of the pixels is substantially zero. In the device according to the invention, the “backplane” drive voltage is a variable periodic voltage, the amplitude of variation of this voltage being sufficient so that in the absence of voltage on the second electrode, the optical transmission of the pixels is sufficient to be detected by an observer.

In the aeronautical field, safety constitutes one of the fundamental parameters. Having regard to increases in air traffic, aircraft manufacturers and airline companies are imposing ever more ambitious objectives on equipment manufacturers. In the field of cockpit displays, any display of erroneous images is henceforth prohibited.
For many years, liquid-crystal flat screens have been prevalent in the field of displays. They are, inter alia, used to effect the displays of aircraft instrument panels.
Conventionally, a liquid-crystal display, termed LCD, essentially comprises a lighting source and a matrix-like optical modulator. The matrix proper is a pane composed of a stack of various layers. FIG. 1 represents a partial exploded view of an LCD matrix. In this view, the white arrow indicates the direction of propagation of the light through the matrix. The latter comprises in succession:                A first rear polarizer 1 disposed on the lighting source side;        A first glass sheet 2 which comprises the matrix control electronics 3 composed mainly of a horizontal control bus and of a vertical control bus, the control electronics commonly being called "drivers" according to the conventional terminology;        A first support plate 4 for the liquid crystal;        The liquid crystal 5;        A second support plate 6 for the liquid crystal bearing a counter-electrode also called the "backplane" 7;        A matrix network 8 of triples of colored filters. Each triple corresponds to a pixel also known by the term colored "dot" of the image;        A second glass sheet 9;        A second rear polarizer 10 disposed on the observer's side.
The display operates as follows. The light source is polarized at the rear of the pane by the first polarizer 1. The light passes through the liquid crystal, the colored filters 8 and emerges through the second polarizer 10. The polarization of the light is phase-shifted by 90 degrees when it passes through the liquid crystal whilst quiescent.
There are two chief possible operating modes. In the first mode, the polarization axis of the second polarizer is perpendicular to that of the first polarizer. In this case, the light issuing from the pane, after passing through the liquid crystal, has the same polarization state as the second polarizer and can emerge. This mode is called the "white mode" or else "normally white". In the second mode, the polarization axis of the second polarizer is parallel to that of the first polarizer. In this case, the light issuing from the pane is polarized at 90 degrees to the polarization axis of the second polarizer and cannot emerge. This mode is called the "black mode" or else "normally black".
In both cases, following the drive command applied to the liquid crystal, the light passing through the latter will be phase-shifted by it to a greater or lesser extent, and only a fraction of the light passes through the front polarizer as a function of the phase shift generated. Gray shades are thus created on each colored filter. It is thus possible to generate a pixel or a "dot" having a given color either in "normally white" mode or in "normally black" mode.
The first LCD screens used solely a structure termed "twisted nematic" or TN. This structure made it possible to produce LCD cells termed "normally white". Not driven, the "dots" were luminous.
In the aeronautical field, the dots of colors were organized into quadruples called "quads" and column "drive" or control circuits, mounted interleaved, so-called "Stripe" mode, were used in order to cover the loss of a video link.
These cells used a drive mode called "backplane switching" to control the matrix.
Moreover, the first displays exhibited technological weaknesses. The liquid crystal had a low time constant and the amorphous silicon "MOS" transistors had sizeable current leakages.
Now, avionics graphical images generally use a dark background to improve the contrast of the plots. On the first LCD screens, a fault then created an abnormal luminous zone that the pilot detected immediately. Consequently, the technical characteristics of the first LCD displays readily allowed visual detection of faults in the display and the associated electronics. In conclusion, safety was ensured naturally.
Progress with liquid crystals, with column drivers and with the manufacture of active matrices has allowed the use of a drive mode of control called "fixed backplane". The viewing angle of the matrices has been increased by introducing new structures and new configurations of matrices. So-called MVA matrices, the acronym standing for "Multi-domain Vertical Alignment" or IPS matrices, the acronym standing for "In Plane Switching", will be cited by way of example. These new matrices are in "normally black" mode. The non-driven cell is therefore black. This therefore minimizes the effect of faulty pixels which are then predominantly black, contrary to "normally white" TN type matrices whose predominantly luminous defective pixels are abundantly evident.
Of course, these matrices which possess better optical performance are used in the aeronautical field. Unfortunately, these cosmetic or esthetic advantages introduce a complication as regards safety. With these new matrices, a fault creates a dark zone which may seem normal, whereas the useful information has disappeared. Thus, a fault with a video link may cause the loss of the red pixels. This fault makes the red alerts disappear and transforms the yellow and orange alerts into green-colored information. Moreover, faults with the "line drivers" of LCD matrices create frozen images which may have a remanence of the order of a minute and are therefore deemed unacceptable. These events are obviously strictly prohibited in aeronautical applications.

Display device including a liquid crystal screen with secured display


Method and apparatus for controlling the aerodynamics of an aircraft using an active flow control system is disclosed herein. In one example, the active flow control system includes an airframe and a plurality of fluidic oscillators. The airframe includes an inlet configured for flight speeds ranging from subsonic to hypersonic. The plurality of fluidic oscillators is mounted about a curvature of the airframe. Each fluidic oscillator includes a body and an integral nozzle coupled to the body. The body has an inflow portion and a narrow nozzle inlet formed opposite the inflow portion. The integral nozzle is coupled to the body by the narrow nozzle inlet. The narrow nozzle inlet forms a single fluid flow path from the inflow portion to the narrow nozzle inlet.

The present disclosure relates to fluid flow for an aircraft, and more specifically, to a method and apparatus for controlling the aerodynamics of an aircraft using a fluidic oscillator.
In operating an aircraft, fluid control systems may be used for operation of the aircraft and components within or on the aircraft. The fluid control systems are used during different phases of the operation. For example, the fluid control systems may be used during take-off, in flight, landing, taxiing on the runway, or during other phases of operation while the aircraft is in service. The fluid control systems are used to control the flow of fluid over, in, or through various portions of the aircraft during these phases of operation.
Traditional passive vortex generators, such as vanes and ramps, have demonstrated partial success in controlling separation and improving performance in diffusers. A drawback to the traditional passive vortex generators, however, is that they obstruct the flow path, and therefore, always introduce total pressure loss and increased drag. Additionally, the traditional passive vortex generators are tuned to specific operation conditions, and are not easily made flexible to provide performance improvement across an operating envelope.
Conventional active flow controllers, such as synthetic jets, steady jets, and traditional fluid control actuators, have been shown to be effective at controlling flow separation. These active flow controllers are also capable of being integrated flush with the diffuser so as to not introduce flow obstruction paths. However, the drawback to the conventional active flow controllers is that the performance improvement margins from the passive vortex generators are often not great enough to offset the cost and complexity of installation of the conventional active flow controllers. Thus, the difficulty in installation and high cost of manufacture result in fluid control systems below optimal levels of performance.

Simplified fluidic oscillator for controlling aerodynamics of an aircraft


Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a heat exchange device that includes a condenser configured to receive a refrigerant, an evaporator having an evaporation tube bundle, a throttling device configured to receive a first portion of the refrigerant from the condenser and to expand the first portion of the refrigerant before directing the first portion to the evaporator, and an ejector having a high pressure conduit, a low pressure conduit, and an outlet conduit, the ejector is configured to receive the first portion from the throttling device or a second portion of the refrigerant from the condenser via the high pressure conduit, receive a third portion of the refrigerant from the evaporator via the low pressure conduit, mix the first portion or the second portion with the third portion to form a mixed refrigerant, and direct the mixed refrigerant to the evaporator via the outlet conduit.

The present disclosure relates to heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) systems, and specifically, to a heat exchange device suitable for a low pressure refrigerant.
Falling-film evaporators have been applied to HVAC&R systems to enhance heat transfer efficiency and reduce refrigerant charge. Unfortunately, typical falling-film evaporators may include a refrigerant dispenser that causes refrigerant to incur a relatively high pressure differential due to typical falling-film evaporators used in systems that utilize relatively high pressure refrigerants. Therefore, a heat exchange device which is suitable for a low pressure refrigerant environment is desired.

Heat exchange device suitable for low pressure refrigerant

York (Wuxi) Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Company, Ltd.

Johnson Controls Building Efficiency Technology (Wuxi) Co., Limited