A water treatment system having a water treatment engine including a pressure vessel, electronics module and optionally replaceable shrouds. The water treatment engine may include a tether and a single connection point for water and power lines. The tether may have a release that is accessible only when the electronic module is removed. The water treatment engine may be circular and the water and power lines may be arranged within a region bounded by tangent lines that square the circular shape. The electronics module may be configured to receive one of a variety of alternative interchangeable displays. The electronics module may have a single display port that provides power and data that can be utilized by a plurality of different types of displays. The system may include a replaceable cartridge with soft end caps that include an integral seal and are shaped to self-center within the pressure vessel.

The present invention relates to a water treatment systems, and more particularly to point-of-use water treatment systems for residential or commercial applications.
Water treatment systems are commonly used to treat water intended for human consumption. A typical water treatment system is configured to remove pathogens, chemical contaminants and turbidity from water. A wide variety of treatment mechanisms are employed in conventional water treatment systems. Many conventional treatment methods can be broadly classified as either solid separation using physical processes and/or chemical processes or as sterilization using heat, irradiation or chemical additives. For example, conventional water treatment systems often include carbon filtration, non-carbon filtration, distillation, ozone treatment, reverse osmosis, ion exchange components, chlorination components, aeration components, advanced oxidation process components, coagulation components, sedimentation components or ultraviolet radiation components.
Conventional point-of-use water treatment systems are designed for use at a single water outlet, such as a sink or water dispenser. A typical point-of-use water treatment system is connected to a pressurized water supply to treat water as it is being dispensed. In some applications, the water treatment system is positioned on a countertop adjacent to a sink. In countertop applications, the water treatment system is typically connected to the end of the water faucet so that water exiting the faucet can be routed through the water treatment system before it is dispensed. In other applications, the water treatment system is positioned below the countertop, for example, in a cabinet under the sink. In a typical under-counter application, the water treatment system is connected to the water supply line upstream from the standard faucet. In such applications, the water treatment system may be coupled to an auxiliary faucet installed adjacent to the sink above the counter to dispense treated water. Point-of-use water treatment systems are used in a wide variety of diverse environments. This diversity relates not only to the nature and quality of the water to be treated, but also to the physical and aesthetic characteristics of the surrounding environment. As a result, it is desirable to provide a single point-of-use water treatment system that is capable of being adapted for use in a wide range of different environments.
Many conventional point-of-use water treatment systems include consumable water treatment components that must be replaced over time, such as replaceable carbon filters and replaceable UV lamps. It is desirable to provide a water treatment system in which it is easy for the operator to remove and replace consumable water treatment components.


A method and apparatus for manufacturing reclosable bags having slide zippers on a form-fill-seal machine is provided. In a first embodiment the sliders are preapplied to the zipper and the bags are made using conventional form-fill-seal techniques. In a second embodiment a coil of sliders is fed into the form-fill-seal machine where the sliders are applied to the zippers by an insertor mechanism. In a third embodiment a magazine of individual or connected sliders is used to feed a slider insertor mechanism which then applies the sliders to the interlocked zippers. In a fourth embodiment bulk sliders are introduced into a vibratory feeding bowl which then orients and feeds the sliders to the slider insertor mechanism.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to reclosable plastic bags having slide zippers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for making slide-zippered reclosable bags on form-fill-seal (FFS) machines.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Methods and apparatus for manufacturing reclosable plastic bags on FFS machines using reclosable zippers are well-known in the art. These prior art methods and apparatus, however, are limited to interlocking zippers which are directly opened and closed by the hands of the bag user and are not designed for the utilization of a slider for opening and closing the zipper.
The method and apparatus of the present invention, on the other hand, relate specifically to reclosable bags having a slide zipper. Reclosable bags having slide zippers are generally more desirable to consumers than bags which have traditional interlocking zippers since it is much easier for the user to open and close bags having a slide zipper. It is thus commercially highly desirable and advantageous to provide a method of and apparatus for manufacturing slide-zippered reclosable plastic bags in a continuous, automated process.
Slide zippers for use with plastic bags are well known in the reclosable fastener art. Examples of conventional slide zippers can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,007,143, 5,008,971, 5,131,121 and 5,664,299. Typical slide zippers comprise a plastic zipper having two interlocking profiles and a slider for opening and closing the zipper. The slider straddles the zipper and has a separator at one end which is inserted between the profiles in order to force them apart, that is, the separator plows between the profiles forcing them to disengage. The other end of the slider is sufficiently narrow to be able to close the zipper.
Recently, a new type of slider zipper has been developed which, as discussed fully below, improves on prior art slide zippers and includes features which facilitate the manufacture of bags in automated form fill processes.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a unique and novel method and apparatus for making slide-zippered bags on an FFS machine.

Application system for sliders at form-fill-seal machine


Method for correcting deflection of a plastic roll under conditions of use. A drilled roll for processing thermoplastic material such as vinyl or the like is deflected during the use due to a thermal distortion to cause a thickness fluctuation in the rolled products. To extinguish this deflection, the roll is corrected by a process having the steps of heating the roll up to the operating temperature, measuring the amount and direction of the deflection of the heated roll, cooling the roll to the room temperature, mechanically imparting to the roll a deflection of the same amount and direction as those observed in the heated roll, and processing the roll by grinding the roll in the mechanically deflected state. After the processing, the roll exhibits an apparent deflection of the same amount in the opposite direction to those exhibited in the heated state, as it is relieved from the mechanical deflecting force. Then, as the roll is heated to the operating temperature before the rolling work, the roll is thermally deflected to negate the apparent deflection so that the rolling is effected by the roll surface having no apparent deflection.

The present invention relates to a method of processing a drilled roll which is used for rolling thermoplastic materials such as vinyl, rubber and the like.
The drilled roll is usually made of a chilled roll material. The outer peripheral part of the drilled roll is constituted by white cast iron while the inner part of the roll is constituted by gray cast iron. A plurality of axial bores are formed in the peripheral portion of the roll under the roll surface at a constant circumferential pitch. These axial bores are communicated with a central bore 2 through radial conduits. In operation, a high temperature heat transfer medium such as hot water is circulated through the central bore, radial conduits and then through the axial bores to heat the roll body up to a temperature of, for example, 100.degree. to 300.degree. C. which is high enough to plasticize the rolled material. During the rolling, the precision of the roll directly affects the precision of the rolled products. It is, therefore, essential to maintain a high precision of the roll during the rolling operation.
The roll, however, often exhibits a deflection when heated to the operating temperature, due to a thermal distortion, even if precisely the roll may be finished at the room temperature. Clearly, this deflection of the roll causes a fluctuation of the thickness of rolled products.
The current demand for reduced thickness and increased hardness of the rolled products goes quite contrary to the fluctuation of thickness.
The deflection of the roll at the operating temperature is an elastic deformation and, therefore, is extinguished as the roll is cooled down to the room temperature. The generation of deflection is attributable to an uneven distribution of the thermal expansion over the cross-section of the roll.
Conventionally, various measures have been taken to prevent the deflection from the view point of quality of the roll. For example, it has been attempted to uniformalize as much as possible the thickness of the peripheral layer of white cast iron, as well as the extent of the graphitization of the gray cast iron constituting the inner part of the roll. All of these measures, however, are not satisfactory.
Measures have been taken also from the view point of roll operation. For instance, it has been proposed to synchronize the rotations of the upper and lower rolls in such a manner as to negate the deflections of these rolls. It has been attempted also to reduce the absolute value of deflection by imparting an eccentricity to the bearings. These measures are also unsatisfactory to sufficiently suppress the thickness fluctuation of the products.
As a fundamental measure, it has been proposed to finish the roll by machining while maintaining the roll at the high operating temperature. This solution, however, involves various problems such as difficulty in the temperature control, difficulty in maintaining the precision of the machine tool at the elevated temperature, unknown factor of reduction of strength of the grinding wheel at the elevated temperature and so forth. For these reasons, this solution cannot be put into practical use.


An oscillatory wave motor includes a piezoelectric element, an elastic member that includes a projecting portion, a friction member that moves relative to the elastic member and includes a contact surface in contact with the projecting portion, and pressing unit that brings the projecting portion into contact under pressure with the contact surface in a pressing direction that is a direction of a perpendicular line of the contact surface. The projecting portion includes a spherical portion formed in a center of the projecting portion, a contact portion formed on or near a center of the spherical portion, a flat portion formed around the spherical portion, and a corner portion formed around the flat portion. The spherical portion, the flat portion and the corner portion are configured to have a uniform thickness and to have flexibility in the pressing direction with the contact portion as a center.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an oscillatory wave motor that drives a friction member by causing a vibrator that is pressed to generate elliptical movement.
Description of the Related Art
Oscillatory wave motors are configured in such a manner that a contact portion where a flexible member is fixed and a friction member are in a pressed contact state. When under the pressed contact state, a two-phase voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element and a two-phase vibration is generated, elliptical vibration is generated at the contact portion of the elastic member and the friction member is displaced relative to the elastic member. To follow the elliptical vibration stably, a predetermined amount of flexibility is needed between the contact portion and the friction member. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-234608 discloses an oscillatory wave motor configured to include a thin connecting portion having a flexibility around the contact portion which is thick.
However, the oscillatory wave motor disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-234608 is significantly influenced by variation during manufacturing of the elastic member so that there is possibility that stable motor performance may not be obtained.
In the oscillatory wave motor disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-234608, flexibility is imparted by only deformation of the connecting portion which is thin and provided around the contact portion. Since only the connecting portion having the thin thickness is locally deformed, the connecting portion has high sensitiveness to change in flexibility with respect to change in dimension.
Therefore, depending on dimensional variation of the connecting portion, there is possibility that the flexibility may be changed significantly and stable motor performance cannot be obtained.


A method for creating a secure sub-network on a public network that includes a set of devices. The secure sub-network is to include a subset of devices from among the set of devices. An access card is provided having a first private key comprised thereon. The access card is scanned to determine the first private key, by the subset of devices. A master device is determined from among the subset of devices. A second private key is selected and a public key is computed based on the second private key, by the master device. The second private key is only known to the master device. The public key is sent to the set of devices, by the master device. A shared encryption key is computed, and an encryption is requested of any subsequent messages between any of the devices comprising the subset of devices using the shared encryption key.

In many applications where a shared communications medium is used, it is often desirable to have the ability to create a secure sub-network of devices. This shared communications medium can be in either a wired or a wireless system. Some examples include a power line modem network where neighbors can see each others machines on the shared power line, an Ethernet network in an office building or dormitory where users can "see" all machines on the network, and a wireless network in a home or office where other wireless users can receive the signals. In order to send private information over such a network, a user would like to identify which machines on the network belong to him and establish a secret shared key among all of these devices which can be used to encrypt further transmissions.
One method for accomplishing this is to imprint each device with a unique ID number. The user can then type in this unique number into a PC on the network and the PC can establish identity via that number. One problem with the above method is that is requires users to record the numbers and type them into a computer. Another problem with the above method is that a neighbor, for example, could visit the user's home and record these numbers, and then enter them into his or her computer to add the devices to his or her network. Finally, the above method requires a computer to be on the network. For a network involving, for example, a stereo and speakers (that transmits audio via either wires or wirelessly), there is no way to enter these numbers into either the stereo or the speakers.
Accordingly, it would be desirable and highly advantageous to have a method for creating a secure sub-network of devices that overcomes the above problems of the prior art.

Method for using an access card to create a secure sub-network on a public network


A transmission mechanism includes a pressing stroke controller for changing the effective pressing stroke of each feed lever of a component feeder unit corresponding to a predetermined pitch of carrying electronic components in respective component feeder unit, whereby the vibration generated when the transmission mechanism is in operation is reduced. Adverse effects on a component feeder unit having small components thereon at a fine pitch which is susceptible to the vibration will be prevented, and the feeding speed can be increased to be more productive.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic component feeding apparatus for feeding electronic components to an electronic component mounting apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
Electronic components in the form of chips constituting electronic circuits (hereinafter referred to as electronic components) have recently come into wide use, and as there have been more and more various types of electronic components, the number of type and quantity of electronic components mounted on one electronic circuit has been increased. Such a variety of electronic components are mounted in certain combinations onto a printed circuit board with the use of an electronic component mounting apparatus. To feed the electronic components to the electronic component mounting apparatus at desired timings, an electronic component feeding apparatus is desired to operate at a high speed and to be highly reliable.
A conventional electronic component feeding apparatus will be explained by referring to FIGS. 4 to 6.
Referring to FIG. 4, component feeder units 1 of the conventional electronic component feeding apparatus conveys electronic components assemblies 2 intermittently in a direction of (b) at regular intervals of a given pitch by reciprocating pivotal movements of a feed lever 4, each of the electronic components assemblies 2 accommodating a row of electronic components 7 held on a tape-like carrier (FIG. 6). A plurality of component feeder units 1 are loaded on a component supply table 3 in such a way that the component supply units 1 can be moved in a direction of (a) to be transferred to a feeding position (d) shown in FIG. 5. The feed lever 4 of the component feeder unit 1 which is brought to locate at the feeding position (d) is driven by a transmission mechanism 41.
The component feeder unit 1 includes a frame structure 31 having a mounting unit for anchoring it to the component supply table 3, and a loading unit 32 for loading the tape-like electronic components assembly 2 thereon, and a guide 36 for guiding the electronic components assembly 2. The feed lever 4 is pivotally mounted around an axial point 34 on the frame structure 31 and is driven by the pressing action of the transmission mechanism 41 for swinging motion between a lower limit of a pressing roller 42 of the transmission mechanism 41 and an upper limit thereof defined by an upper stopper (not shown). The component feeder unit 1 is further provided with a reel-out unit 33 for intermittently feeding the electronic components assembly 2 in the forward direction (b) via a link 37 by the reciprocating motion of the feed lever 4 and a separating unit 38 for peeling off and taking up a covering tape 20 (FIG. 6) from the electronic components assembly 2. A tape holder 5 retains the electronic components assembly 2 from lifting up after separation of the covering tape 20, and prevents the electronic components 7 from popping out therefrom, having a shutter 6 disposed at its tip where the electronic components 7 are picked up, which opens and closes in synchronism with the reciprocating swing motion of the feed lever 4.
The feed lever 4 has a spring (not shown) upwardly urging a contacting portion 16 at the upper end of the feed lever 4, by which the feed lever 4 remains in pressed contact with the upper stopper when the contacting portion 16 is disengaged from the pressing roller 42. The stroke of the reciprocating swing motion of the contacting portion 16 between its upper and lower limits is the length of an effective stroke which is defined by the pitch for intermittently feeding the electronic components assembly 2 in the forward direction (b). The component supply table 3 carries a plurality of the component feeder units 1, each having different effective strokes of the feed lever 4.
The transmission mechanism 41 comprises a driving arm 43 for swinging movements along a direction of (e), the pressing roller 42 mounted at the distal end of the driving arm 43 for pressing down the contacting portion 16 of the feed lever 4, and a driving means (not shown) for carrying the driving arm 43 to reciprocate in a swing motion at a predetermined swinging angle. The pressing roller 42 is driven at a constant stroke of the pressing motion.
The procedure of feeding the components in such an electronic component feeding apparatus will now be explained.
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the effective stroke of each feed lever 4 is preliminarily set corresponding to respective feeding pitch of the electronic components assembly 2 for conveying the electronic components 7. The effective stroke for each feed lever 4 is differently set in respective component feeder unit 1 by adjusting the position of the stopper which defines the upper limit, while the lower limit is set to be a fixed position of the lower dead point of the pressing roller 42 for all the component feeder units 1. In particular, the upper limit of the feed lever 4 is set to a higher position for a component feeder unit 1 having a greater feeding pitch, i.e., the effective stroke, as can be seen from the vertical motion of the feed lever 2 shown by a double-dotted chain line in FIG. 3. And the upper limit of the feed lever 4 is set to a lower position for a component feeder unit 1 having a shorter effective stroke, as can be seen from the vertical motion of the feed lever 1 shown by a solid line in FIG. 3.
As the pressing roller 42 is lowered, it comes into direct contact with the contacting portion 16 of the feed lever 4 located at its upper limit and presses it down by the length of the effective stroke until its lower limit. When the feed lever 4 is returned upward by the yielding force of the spring together with the pressing roller 42, the electronic components assembly 2 is advanced by the predetermined pitch along the direction (b). The electronic components assembly 2 is guided into the tape holder 5, after its covering tape 20 is peeled off at the separating unit 38 before the shutter 6. The lower limits of the pressing roller 42 and the feed lever 4 are set to be identical for all the component feeder units 1, as described above and as can be seen from the vertical motion of the pressing roller 12 shown by solid and broken lines in FIG. 3.
The operation of the shutter 6 is linked to the vertical movements of the feed lever 4, and the shutter 6 opens and closes as the feed lever 4 descends and ascends, respectively. A nozzle C of the electronic component mounting apparatus B is lowered as the shutter 6 opens and picks up an electronic component 7 under the opened shutter 6 by a sucking action. The nozzle C is lifted before the shutter 6 is closed and transfers the electronic component 7 to a mounting position for mounting it on a printed circuit board A.
While the pressing roller 42 stays at its upper dead point, the component supply table 3 conveys the component feeder unit 1 loaded with a desired type of electronic components 7 to the feeding position (d). By repeating these actions, the electronic component feeding apparatus supplies a set of electronic components 7 to the electronic component mounting apparatus B according to a predetermined program.
When the transmission mechanism 41 is placed in operation, specifically when the descending pressing roller 42 comes into direct contact with the contacting portion 16 of the feed lever 4, a certain amount of vibration is generated caused by the impact of collision. The amount of vibration depends greatly on the rate of the pressing roller 42 hitting against the contacting portion 16. The speed is, however, fixedly set irrespective of types of the component feeder units 1 having different sizes of components and feeding pitches as shown in FIG. 3.
The electronic components 7 accommodated in the electronic components assembly 2 of which feeding pitch is small are generally light weighted and are more affected by the vibration caused by the impact. When the transmission mechanism 41 is operated at a higher speed in case that a component feeder unit 1 having small feeding pitch and the one having a greater feeding pitch are carried on the component supply table 3, the electronic component 7 positioned at the shutter 6 of the component feeder unit 1 with a small feeding pitch receives a greater shock by the hitting rate of the feed lever 4, causing the electronic component 7 to bounce or jump out of the place while the shutter 6 is opened. This causes the nozzle C of the electronic component mounting apparatus B to fail in picking up the electronic component 7, to drop the electronic component 7 during the transfer by insufficient sucking force, or to mount the electronic component 7 at an incorrect position.
The speed of feeding the electronic components 7 can thus be only increased up to a limited degree which is defined by the effects of the vibration to a light weighted type electronic components.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


Method for forming conductive, transparent coating such as may be used on the interior surface of a vitreous tubular member. In a carrier gas and exterior to the member to be coated, there is formed a vapor from a material substantially comprising organic tin halide compound having a predetermined condensation temperature and a predetermined decomposition temperature, with the temperature of the carrier gas and the formed vapor maintained between these temperatures. The member to be coated is heated to a temperature greater than the decomposition temperature of the organic tin halide compound and the heated carrier gas and formed vapor are longitudinally flowed through the heated tubular member. Upon contact with the heated tubular member, the vapor breaks down to form the transparent conducting coating. The carrier gas and residual heated vapor are flowed out of the member being coated and are cooled to condense and collect the residual material. There are also provided very high performance fluorine-doped tin oxide coatings.

This invention relates to method for forming conducting, transparent coatings and, more particularly, to method for efficiently forming such coatings on hollow vitreous members and to method for forming such coatings which have a very low resistivity and which are highly transmissive.
Transparent, conductive oxide films have been known for many years with one of the earlier uses being in conjunction with heated windshields. Such films were later used extensively as electrodes for electroluminescent devices and they are finding many new applications in the lighting, electronic, and energy conservation fields. As an example, in the manufacture of so-called rapid-start fluorescent lamps which are intended to be operated at reduced wattage, it is normally necessary to provide on the inner surface of the tubular envelope, a transparent conductive coating of tin oxide or indium oxide, with the fluorescent powder coating applied thereover.
The most usual technique for applying electrically conductive and optically transparent tix oxide films is to deposit such films as tenacious coatings from stannic chloride. This consists of spraying a solution of stannic chloride on a glass surface heated to 500.degree. to 600.degree. C. The solution normally includes alcohol to prevent undesirable fuming, and dopants to increase the conductivity of the formed coating. There are certain disadvantages to the use of this compound, including reproducibility and objectionable byproducts.
Pure stannic oxide crystals are insulators, but stannic oxide films deposited by the pyrolytic decomposition of stannic chloride from solution are conductors. The conductivity of stannic oxide films deposited by the pyrolysis of stannic chloride is believed to be due to residual chlorine atoms in the lattice. In general, the chlorine concentration decreases and the oxygen deficiency in the lattice increases with increasing decomposition temperature. Further increases in conductivity of the formed films can be obtained by doping with antimony.
It has been found that the conductivity of antimony-doped tin oxide film is at an optimum at around 1% by weight antimony trioxide doping. Such doping can reduce the conductivity of the films by as much as a factor of 50.
It is known to deposit conductive tin oxide coatings by decomposing organic tin compounds, in order to form such transparent coatings for use with fluorescent lamps. As an example, Japanese Pat. No. 50-8590, dated Apr. 5, 1975, discloses depositing conducting coatings on the interior surface of a fluorescent lamp envelope by vapor deposition of an organic tin compound, which may be doped with antimony. These coatings can also be applied by vaporizing organic tin chloride compound which may be doped with antimony, using an alcohol solution. An example of such a solution is dimethyltin dichloride mixed with triphenolantimony dichloride in methanol, as disclosed in Japanese Pat. No. 42-26637, dated Dec. 16, 1967.
In Japanese Pat. No. 50-8863 dated Apr. 8, 1975 is disclosed the formation of a transparent, conducting film by heating and evaporating organo tin compounds as a major component and a small amount of organo antimony compounds which can be added as necessary with the resulting vapor reacted on the inner surface of a glass tube to form a transparent electroconductive film of tin oxide produced by the decomposition of these materials.
As indicated hereinbefore, other systems for forming the tin oxide conducting coatings are widely used, such as spraying stannic chloride onto the glass envelope which is maintained at a temperature of 500.degree. to 650.degree. C. with the use of dopants such as antimony to improve the properties thereof, see Japanese Pat. Nos. 44-4211 dated Feb. 21, 1969 and Japanese Pat. No. 39-20121 dated Sept. 16, 1964.
Very highly conductive and transparent films have been made by sputtering indium-tin oxides onto a substrate, as reported in Journal Electrochemical Society, Solid-State Science and Technology, October 1972, pp. 1368-1374.

Method for forming conductive, transparent coating on a substrate


A relatively large rectangular sealed alkaline storage battery used for electric cars, etc. is disclosed. The battery has such an inner construction as to inhibit deformation of the electrode group caused by charging and discharging so as to improve the life characteristics. The electrode group comprises positive electrode plates alternating with negative electrode plates in a planar direction and separators between the adjacent electrode plates. The electrode group and an alkali electrolyte are inserted in a container, which is sealed by a cover provided with a safety vent and the position of the electrode group in the container is controlled by fixing poles to the cover. The amount of the alkali electrolyte is 1.5-2.5 cm.sup.3/ battery capacity 1 Ah. Especially, for a module battery, a given distance is provided between the shorter side face of the electrode group and the inner wall of the container, and the outer longer side faces of the container are constrained by a metallic plate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a relatively large rectangular sealed alkaline storage battery and a module battery comprising the collected storage batteries.
2. Prior Art
At present, as for large storage batteries, lead acid storage batteries are used as batteries for SLI of automobiles and stationary batteries. As electric sources for small home equipments, nickel-cadmium storage batteries are used and recently, alkaline storage batteries such as nickel-metal hydride storage batteries superior in energy density have spread.
In recent years, environmental disruption has rapidly advanced on a global scale and as one cause thereof, waste gases from automobiles have become a problem. In order to cope with the problem, development of electric cars has been hastened and development of electric sources holds the key to the attainment of the development of the electric cars.
As these driving electric sources, lead acid storage batteries are mainly used at present. However, since the lead acid storage batteries are low in energy density per unit weight, one charge distance range is very short. Furthermore, since these batteries are of an open type, troublesome maintenance such as electrolyte addition is needed. Furthermore, nickel-cadmium storage batteries or nickel-iron storage batteries high in energy density and long in one charge distance range are also partially used as electric sources for electric cars, but these storage batteries are also not of a sealed type and need troublesome maintenance such as electrolyte addition.
From the viewpoint of safety, too, sealed batteries which require a minimum amount of an electrolyte are desired.
On the other hand, since the internal pressure of sealed alkaline storage batteries increases owing to the gas generated at the time of charging and discharging, a safety vent is provided at the sealed container and when this safety vent operates and mist of electrolyte is released outside together with the gas, the battery capacity decreases due to decrease of the amount of an electrolyte.
To solve these problems and realize increase of one charge distance range and maintenance-free batteries, development of new storage batteries of a high energy and completely sealed type is demanded.
The above storage batteries when subjected to charging and discharging cause expansion and shrinkage of electrodes. When the structure is of rectangular sealed type, the group of expanded electrodes is pressed by the container wall to cause distortion of plates and the distance between the facing plates becomes non-uniform and the active material partially falls off in case there is no sufficient space between the container inner wall and the shorter side face or the bottom of the electrode group.
For this reason, the electrode reaction becomes non-uniform and the active material cannot be effectively utilized, causing reduction of discharge capacity, rise of the internal pressure of the batteries during charging and internal short-circuit. Furthermore, if there is no space in the container containing the electrode group, it is difficult to carry out rapid filling of a given amount of an electrolyte. Moreover, if the amount of the electrolyte to be filled is insufficient for the reaction capacity of a nickel cathode, utilization and cycle life of the batteries decrease. If the amount of the electrolyte is too much, the reaction at the anode for absorbing oxygen gas generated from the cathode in the case of overcharging is hindered and the mist of electrolyte leaks through the safety vent together with the gas to result in reduction of cycle life.
Normally, the electrode group is composed of piled electrode plates. Therefore, unless the electrode group is constrained with a band or the like, operability for insertion of the electrode group into the container is low. The expansion of the electrode group is conspicuous in the non-constrained direction or in the downward direction of the electrode plates where the constraint is weak. Therefore, in case the length of the lower part of a bag-like separator which covers the electrode plate has no margin and further, the lower part of the bag-like separator is closed, for example, by fusion bonding, the lower part of the separator is broken by the expanded plate and there are also the possibility of falling off of the active material to the bottom of the container and the possibility of internal short-circuit.
Furthermore, if the electrode plate is completely covered up to the top part thereof by the separator, the gas generated at charging and discharging stays in the separator and the battery may rupture due to rising of gas pressure. Moreover, in case the container is made of a synthetic resin, when the electrode plate group expands in the direction of the longer side face of the container, the container itself is distorted and consequently, there is no sufficient space between the shorter side face of the electrode group and the inner wall of the container.

Rectangular sealed alkaline storage battery and module battery thereof


Method and systems for configuration and control of an inter-integrated circuit (I2C) bus interface are described. An electronic device that may be connected to an external battery device via a modified connector is also described. The connector has multiple interconnect pins, and one of the interconnect pins of the connector is multiplexed to receive data operation and interrupt or signaling operation on a single line. The single line is configured to not only detect a connection with the external battery device, but also to perform data operations including read/write operations between the electronic device and the external battery device.

A large and growing population of users enjoys entertainment through the consumption of digital media items, such as music, movies, images, electronic books (e-books), and so on. Users employ various electronic devices to consume such media items. Among these electronic devices are electronic book (e-book) readers, smartphones, tablets, phablets, personal digital assistants (PDAs), portable media players, laptops, netbooks, and the like.
These electronic devices have batteries with limited battery life that may need to be charged as often as once a day for uninterrupted functioning of the device. Some electronic devices come with external batteries that may be used to supplement the battery on the device. These external batteries often include connectors used to couple to the electronic device.

Systems and methods for dynamic configuration and control of bus interface


A fusible electric cable protector has a casing that defines a first internal space containing the fusible elements and a granular arc-quenching filler. At least one of the pair of terminal elements closing the casing is conductively connected to one connecting element that extends axially outwardly from the aforementioned terminal element and whose purpose is to connect the cable protector into an electric circuit. That connecting element has a cylindrical outer surface and is hollow, thus defining a second internal space filled with a granular arc-quenching filler. The aforementioned first internal space and the aforementioned second internal space are in communication by a passageway in one of the pair of terminal elements. A plug normally closes the open end of the cylindrical connecting element.

This invention relates to a fusible electric cable protector as widely known in the art and widely used. A prior art cable protector is, for instance, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,132,223 to P. C. Jacobs, Jr.; May 5, 1965 for Fusible Protective Device for Cable Protection.
The connector elements of cable protectors vary depending upon the particular application thereof. If a cable protector is intended to interconnect a bus bar, or the like, and a cable, one connector element will be in the shape of a blade contact, or the like, adapted to be connected, e.g. screwed, against a bus bar while the other connector element will be adapted to be connected to a cable, e.g. may be tubular to receive the end of a cable as shown, for instance, in FIG. 4 of the above referred-to patent.
One connecting element may also be rod-like, in which case the outer surface thereof is engaged by annular contact means adapted to insert it into an electric circuit of a cable. Cable connectors having rod-like connecting elements are relatively heavy and require a relatively large mass of metal for the connecting element, or elements.
The pressure generated in all prior art cable connectors is relatively high, and while high pressure contributes to effective arc-interruption, it also requires great mechanical stability, in particular a great dynamic strength of the casing.
To allow the hot arc products to leak out of the casing is not permissible because this might short-circuit other parts between which a voltage gradient exists.
The present invention provides an improved electric cable protector which is not subject to the aforementioned disadvantages of prior art cable protectors.


Wedge magnet arrangements for use in a magnet array. A magnet arrangement has each wedge magnet with a magnetic flux polarized at the same angle with respect to a reference direction. The magnets are juxtaposed each other in a reference plane such that their respective magnetic fluxes combine to form a net magnetic flux along a reference direction perpendicular to the reference plane and a negligible magnetic flux in the reference plane. Transverse magnets along a plane complete flux paths between magnet arrangements and wedge magnets in the magnet array to eliminate the need for a heavy magnetically permeable backing for the magnet array. The magnet arrays have a high flux-to-mass ratio. This greater ratio improves the efficiency of two-dimensional electric motors which incorporate the magnet arrays as the moving part of the motors.

Electric motors are used in a variety of electrical equipment. For example, linear electric motors produce electrical power propelling an armature in one dimension. Wafer stages utilize linear electric motors to position a wafer during photolithography and other semiconductor processing.
Electric motors are used in a variety of electrical equipment. For example, linear electric motors produce electrical power propelling an armature in one dimension. Wafer stages utilize linear electric motors to position a wafer during photolithography and other semiconductor processing.
A typical one-dimensional linear electric motor has a magnet track with pairs of opposing magnets facing each other. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,151,447, Linear Motor, issued to Johann von der Heide and Georg F. Papst on Apr. 24, 1979 discusses one-dimensional linear electric motors and is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.) Within spaces between the pairs of opposing magnets, an armature moves. The armature has windings of a conductor which are connected to an electrical current. When the electrical current is turned on, the electrical current interacts with the magnetic fields of the magnet pairs to create force on the armature. When the armature is attached to a wafer stage, the wafer stage experiences the same force which can be used to cause movement.
In a multiphase motor, the armature has various windings grouped into phases. The phase groups are selectively pulsed with electric current to create a more efficient motor. As the armature moves within the magnet track as a first group of coils is pulsed, the first group moves out of its optimal position between the pairs of magnets. Then, it becomes more efficient to pulse a second group of windings. More phase groups are theoretically more efficient since a more even application of force and utilization of power input is maintained. However, each additional phase group complicates a timing of the pulses to the various phase groups. Presently, three-phase motors and armatures have gained favor in balancing these considerations.
Linear two-dimensional motors are also used in manufacturing. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,654,571, Single Plane Orthogonally Moveable Drive System issued to Walter E. Hinds on Mar. 31, 1987 (Hinds) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,535,278, Two-Dimensional Precise Positioning Device for Use in a Semiconductor Manufacturing Apparatus issued to Teruo Asakawa on Aug. 13, 1985 (Asakawa) discuss two-dimensional linear electric motors and are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.) The motors are two-dimensional in that they have two-dimensional arrays of magnets and armatures instead of magnet tracks and one-dimensional armatures. However, the magnet arrays and two-dimensional armatures may move with respect to each other in more than two dimensions depending upon the design. Conventional two-dimensional linear motors typically have an array of magnets and an armature having one or more coils on one side of the array of magnets. When attached to part of a two-dimensional linear motor, a platform can be moved in two or more dimensions by the motor. For example, a wafer stage in semiconductor processing equipment may be attached to an armature or magnet array of a two-dimensional motor, and the two-dimensional motor would control positioning of the wafer stage.
A problem with conventional magnet arrays is their relatively low magnetic flux-to-mass ratio. Without a backing by a magnetically permeable material, the flux is fairly low. A magnetically permeable backing permits completed flux paths between magnets having the same polarity. Of course, the flux of the array is greater when the flux paths are completed by the magnetically permeable backing. However, magnetically permeable materials, such as iron, are relatively heavy. If the flux paths between the magnets of the same polarity could still be completed without using a heavy magnetically permeable backing, the magnetic flux-to-mass or weight ratio would be improved. For electric motors having moving magnets instead of moving coils, this reduction in mass or weight would improve the efficiency of the motors.

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A method comprises receiving an indication of a bending force in excess of a first predetermined threshold being applied to a communications device, and responding to receipt of the indication of the bending force in excess of the first predetermined threshold by causing a message to be transmitted from the communications device to a remote receiver, or responding to subsequent receipt of an indication that the bending force has subsequently fallen below a second predetermined threshold by causing a message to be transmitted from the communication device to a remote receiver.

It is known for communications devices to send messages to other communications devices and other types of remote receivers. Usually these messages are transmitted in response to a user providing a touch input to a touch screen or in response to the depression of a physical key. Example embodiments of the invention provide new ways for a user to cause messages to be transmitted.


A method for assigning addresses to nodes of a bus system, and installation, bus nodes being furnished with an identical delivery address, where (i) an assigning entity, particularly a central computer, start-up computer or bus node sends information to the delivery address via the bus system, (ii) the information includes a first address, (iii) an action is performed whose effect is detected by a first bus node, (iv) the first bus node accepts the first address, (v) the first bus node sends a response to the assigning entity, and (vi) steps (i) through (v) are repeated, each time with a further address for a further bus node.

It is well-known to assign a fixed address to bus nodes with the aid of DIP switches during production or when put into operation. Thus, during the start-up of an installation having such bus nodes, each is assigned an address. Installations are also understood to be machines.
Alternatively, an address is assigned to a bus node such as a drive or the like when a computer for assigning parameters is connected and the address is imported by it.

Method for assigning addresses to nodes of a bus system, and installation


A mixing bowl has a unitary inner shell including a circular base and a peripheral side wall extending upwardly therefrom to an upper peripheral rim defining the open mouth of the bowl, the side wall having a spout at one side thereof and, diametrically opposite thereto, a laterally outwardly extending two-part handle, including an upper part unitary with the inner shell of the bowl and a lower part fixed thereto. The handle has a compound upper surface and a recessed lower surface to facilitate grasping. The base and the lower portion of the peripheral side wall have the outer surfaces thereof covered with an outer shell of frictional material.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to bowls of the type used in kitchen environments for the preparation of food and, specifically, to mixing bowls.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Mixing bowls typically comprise a circular base and a peripheral wall extending arcuately upwardly and outwardly relative to the base to an upper peripheral rim, which defines an open top or mouth of the bowl. The bowl, both interiorly and exteriorly, is typically of a generally hemispherical configuration which facilitates the blending or mixing of the contents within the bowl and permits manual inclining or tilting of the bowl for facilitating the introduction and use of implements, such as beaters, stirrers or the like, for mixing the contents.
A problem with conventional mixing bowls is that, when they are held by one hand of a user and tilted for mixing purposes, and particularly when subjected to a substantial agitation or mixing of the contents, there is a tendency of the bowl to skid or slide along the underlying support surface, such as a table, counter or the like. This can result in spillage of the contents.
Another difficulty with conventional mixing bowls is that they require the user, when grasping the bowl for purposes of holding it or tilting it, to place his or her thumb inside the bowl where it may come in contact with the contents. It is known to provide a bowl with a lip or flange around the perimeter of the rim so that the fingers of the user can be hooked therebeneath, but this still generally requires the user's thumb to be inserted inside the bowl to ensure firm grasping. It is also known to provide a vertical handle, akin to a teacup handle, projecting laterally from the outer surface of the peripheral side wall of the bowl. Such an arrangement is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,479,765. But this arrangement requires grasping of the bowl in an unorthodox manner and does not readily lend itself to easy rotation of the bowl about its axis.


The present invention teaches a method, user interface and system configured to present task bar content to a user in a menu activated through the use of a single right mouse click.

The present invention relates generally to graphical user interfaces and more particularly to menu option presentations in graphical user interfaces.
In a graphical user interface (GUI) environment like Windows 98/95, open applications are typically reflected in the task bar. In order to maximize or bring focus to one of these applications, the user must move their cursor to the task bar, locate the button that represents the desired application, and click on that button. This method is not ideal in that it often requires a considerable amount of movement to accomplish this task.
Windows 98/95 also offers an alternative means to accomplish this same task. This alternative method requires the user to utilize the keyboard and further involves requiring the user to press an xe2x80x98alt-tabxe2x80x99 key combination which forces the presentation of a menu of icons representing the current set of open applications. The user must then continue to hold down the xe2x80x98altxe2x80x99 key and press the xe2x80x98tabxe2x80x99 key to select an icon from the menu. This alternative method is both complicated and taxing in that it requires keyboard usage as well as multi-key combinations. Another drawback of this alternative method is that the icons on the menu do not always make it abundantly clear which open application each icon represents.
What is needed is a method, user interface and system capable of providing a user convenient access to open applications. Additional functionality needed includes allowing menu access from any environment and presenting open application choices to a user in a clear and obvious manner.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a method comprising the steps of displaying a cursor on at least a portion of a display, and displaying a menu on at least a portion of the display, wherein the position of the menu on the display is dependent on the location of the cursor displayed on the display, and wherein the menu is comprised of at least one item indicative of at least one open application.
The present invention further provides a user interface configured to display a cursor on at least a portion of a display, and display a menu on at least a portion of the display, wherein the position of the menu on the display is dependent on the location of the cursor displayed on the display, and wherein the menu is comprised of at least one item indicative of at least one open application.
The present invention also provides a system comprising at least one processor, memory operably associated with the processor, and a user interface configured to display a cursor on at least a portion of a display, and display a menu on at least a portion of the display, wherein the position of the menu on the display is dependent on the location of the cursor displayed on the display, and wherein the menu is comprised of at least one item indicative of at least one open application.
Within the scope of present invention is a computer readable medium tangibly embodying a program of instructions configured to display a cursor on at least a portion of a display, and display a menu on at least a portion of the display, wherein the position of the menu on the display is dependent on the location of the cursor displayed on the display, and wherein the menu is comprised of at least one item indicative of at least one open application.
Within the scope of present invention is a signal embodied in a propagation medium comprising at least one instruction configured to display a cursor on at least a portion of a display, and at least one instruction configured to display a menu on at least a portion of the display, wherein the position of the menu on the display is dependent on the location of the cursor displayed on the display, and wherein the menu is comprised of at least one item indicative of at least one open application.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a menu containing options indicative of open applications.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an easily accessed menu of open applications.
The present invention provides the advantage of providing easy access to open applications regardless of the current operating environment.
The present invention also provides the advantage of presenting an easily accessed, informative, and useful menu activated by a single right mouse button click.


The present disclosure provides a dual-action pest control formulation for controlling rodents and arthropods, the formulation including: a rodenticide; an insecticide; an optional attractant; and a carrier matrix. The present disclosure also provides a method of controlling rodents and arthropods, the method including: applying the dual action pest formulation to a target area.

Rodents, such as mice and rats, are common pests that can cause significant damage to property and products, and can be disease carriers. Similarly, arthropods, such as insects including roaches and ants, can cause considerable property damage and can also be disease carriers. Rodents and insects can often coexist in the same environment, and many environments having a rodent infestation also have an insect infestation.
Despite the coexistence of rodents and insects, traditional pest control generally involves a separate treatment for attempting to control each pest. When traditional pest control formulations are set out, the types of active ingredients used to control one type of organism are typically different from those that will work for another type of organism. For example, bromadiolone is a common active ingredient for control of rodents, but it has no insecticidal properties. Similarly, pyrethroids are good examples of insecticides that have no rodenticidal performance.
The exclusive nature of these active ingredients can be problematic. For example, rodenticides may be consumed by roaches before rodents have a chance to consume them. In such situations, the roach population increases and there is no impact on the rodent population, so the infestation of both populations can actually become worse than it was prior to the attempted pest control intervention. The converse is also possible. Insect bait systems can attract and increase rodent populations because they are not harmful to rodents, and this results in both insect and rodent pest populations proliferating.
Therefore, a need exists for improved pest control formulations having dual-action properties.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Dual-action pest control formulation and method


A fabric with a patterned velvet on one face and a different patterned velour on the other is formed from a three dimensional fabric using a double bar knitting machine. Preferably, at least either the stitching or backing yarn within the fabrics is made with a bulk high enough so that after the three dimensional structure is knitted and split, the back can be napped to form the velour from such yarn.

A. Field of Invention
This invention pertains to a warp knit fabric having velvet finish on one side with a preselected pattern and a velour finish on the second side, as well as a method for making the same.
B. Description of the Prior Art
A method of making a nappable knit fabric on a double needle bar knitting machine is known in which from five to eight yarn guide bars are used to knit fabrics simultaneously. After knitting, the fabrics are separated by cutting the interconnecting pile yarns. The pile yarns are carried by the middle or inner bars (for example, bars three, four and five on a seven bar arrangement) which tie the front and the back support fabrics together. These are also the yarns which are disposed on the technical face of each fabric and are used to give the fabric a particular characteristic and aesthetic value such as pattern, softness, luster, hand, resiliency, fullness, bulk and warmth. These characteristics are generally achieved by selecting the proper pile yarn for these bars as well as by the movement of the bars.
However, these inner yarns do not contribute to the dimensional stability and strength of the fabric. Physical characteristics are provided in known fabrics by the backing yarns which are normally thinner and less bulky than the pile yarns on the middle bars. Their main purpose is to form the fabric substrate, hold the fabric together, as well as to provide dimensional stability. Therefore, in known fabrics, these yarns are positioned, sized and arranged so that they are substantially invisible.
A disadvantage of this construction, known in the art, is that the technical face of the fabric is not nappable by itself, but only by pulling pile yarn from the technical back with the result that these fabrics have a velour finish on the technical face with the same pattern and composition as the velvet finish on the technical back.

Double face warp knit fabric with two-side effect


A power supply unit having a series regulator that changes an input DC voltage input from a DC power supply into a stabilized output DC voltage lower than the input DC voltage, includes: a power consuming unit, provided on a direct current path between the DC power supply and the series regulator, including a parallel circuit formed by a first fixed resistor and a semiconductor device; and a current setting unit operable to set the amount of a current flowing between a current input and a current output of the semiconductor device, wherein the current input of the semiconductor device is arranged on the DC power supply side thereof, the current output of the semiconductor device is arranged on the series regulator side thereof, and a setting input of the semiconductor device is connected to a setting output of the current setting unit.

This patent application claims priority from a Japanese patent application No. 2001-096414 filed on Mar. 29, 2001, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power supply unit. More particularly, the present invention relates to a power supply unit with a series regulator (dropper type power supply).
2. Description of the Related Art
A series regulator (dropper type power supply) is known as a power supply unit that changes an input direct current (DC) voltage input from a DC power supply into a stabilized output DC voltage.
This series regulator changes the input DC voltage to the stabilized output DC voltage that is lower than the input DC voltage.
This series regulator, however, converts a power loss generated by voltage drop between an input and an output of a semiconductor device such as a transistor, used as a three-terminal regulator device serving as a main controlling device, into heat. Thus, in a case where the voltage drop is large, the power loss in the semiconductor device also becomes large, thereby reducing the reliability of the entire product.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a power supply unit, which is capable of overcoming the above drawbacks accompanying the conventional art. The above and other objects can be achieved by combinations described in the independent claims. The dependent claims define further advantageous and exemplary combinations of the present invention.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, a power supply unit having a series regulator that changes an input DC voltage input from a DC power supply into a stabilized output DC voltage lower than the input DC voltage, comprises: a power consuming unit, provided on a direct current path between the DC power supply and an input side of the series regulator, including a parallel circuit formed by a first fixed resistor and a semiconductor device having a current input, a current output and a setting input; and a current setting unit operable to set an amount of a current flowing between the current input and the current output of the semiconductor device, wherein the current input of semiconductor device is arranged on a DC-power-supply side thereof, the current output of the semiconductor device is arranged on a series-regulator side thereof, and the setting input of the semiconductor device is connected to a setting output of the current setting unit.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, a power supply unit having a series regulator that changes an input DC voltage input from a DC power supply into a stabilized output DC voltage lower than the input DC voltage, comprises: a first power consuming unit, provided in parallel to the series regulator, including a parallel circuit formed by a first fixed resistor and a first semiconductor device having a current input, a current output and a setting input; and a first current setting unit operable to set an amount of a current flowing between the current input and the current output of the first semiconductor device, wherein the current input of the first semiconductor device is arranged on a series-regulator-input side thereof, the current output of the first semiconductor device is arranged on a series-regulator-output side thereof, and the setting input of the first semiconductor device is connected to a setting output of the first current setting unit.
The power supply unit may further comprise: a second power consuming unit, provided on a direct current path between the DC power supply and the input of the series regulator, having a parallel circuit formed by a second fixed resistor and a second semiconductor device; and a second current setting unit operable to set an amount of a current flowing between a current input and a current output of the second semiconductor device, wherein the current input of the second semiconductor device is arranged on a DC-power-supply side thereof, the current output of the second semiconductor device is arranged on a series-regulator side thereof, and a setting input of the second semiconductor device is connected to a setting output of the second current setting unit.
In the power supply unit according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, the power consuming unit or the first or second power consuming unit may include the third fixed resistor connected to the semiconductor device in series in the parallel circuit.
In the power supply unit according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, the power consuming unit or the first or second power consuming unit may include the fourth fixed resistor connected to the parallel circuit in series.
In the power supply unit according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, the power consuming unit or the first or second power consuming unit may include a plurality of parallel circuits connected in series. Alternatively, the power consuming unit or the first or second power consuming unit may include a plurality of parallel circuits connected in parallel.
The current setting unit in the power supply unit of the first aspect of the present invention may set the amount of the current flowing through the semiconductor device by regulating a bias of the setting input of the semiconductor device. In this case, the current setting unit may include a changing unit operable to change the bias. Also, in this case, the current setting unit may regulate the bias by using a divided voltage generated by a plurality of resistor devices connected in series between the input DC voltage input from the DC power supply and a predetermined reference voltage.
Moreover, in this case, the current setting unit may use a voltage that regulates the output DC voltage of the series regulator as the predetermined reference voltage. Furthermore, the current setting unit may include a Zener diode that regulates the bias in this case.
The current setting unit may include a feedback circuit connected to the current output of the semiconductor device and an amplifying circuit having an input connected to the feedback circuit, another input to which the predetermined reference voltage is applied and an output connected to the setting input of the semiconductor device.
It is preferable that the current setting unit set the amount of the current flowing through the semiconductor device to make the amount of heat generated in the semiconductor device during an actual operation approximately equal to the amount of heat generated in the series regulator.
The first or second current setting unit in the power supply unit of the second aspect of the present invention may set the amount of the current flowing through the corresponding semiconductor device by regulating a bias of the setting input of the corresponding semiconductor device. In this case, the first or second current setting unit may include a changing unit operable to change the bias. Also, in this case, the first or second current setting unit may regulate the bias by using a divided voltage generated by a plurality of resistor devices connected in series between the input DC voltage input from the DC power supply and a predetermined reference voltage.
Moreover, in this case, the first or second current setting unit may use a voltage that regulates the output DC voltage of the series regulator as the predetermined reference voltage. Furthermore, the first or second current setting unit may include a Zener diode that regulates the bias in this case.
The first or second current setting unit may include a feedback circuit connected to the current output of the corresponding semiconductor device and an amplifying circuit having an input connected to the feedback circuit, another input to which the predetermined reference voltage is applied and an output connected to the setting input of the corresponding semiconductor device.
It is preferable that the first or second current setting unit set the amount of current flowing through the corresponding semiconductor device to make the amount of heat generated by the corresponding semiconductor device during an actual operation approximately equal to the amount of heat generated by the series regulator.
In the power supply unit according to the first aspect of the present invention, the series regulator may have a Zener diode that regulates the output DC voltage of the series regulator, the power consuming unit has the parallel circuit formed by the first fixed resistor and an npn transistor as the semiconductor device that are connected in parallel, a collector, an emitter and a base of the npn transistor serving as the current input, the current output and the setting input of the semiconductor device, respectively; the current setting unit may include a resistor series circuit formed by a plurality of resistor devices connected in series, one end of the resistor series circuit being connected to the DC power supply, the other end being connected to a cathode terminal of the Zener diode; and a divided voltage generated at the setting output of the current setting unit, that is positioned between the plurality of resistor devices, may be applied to the base of the npn transistor.
In this case, the current setting unit may include the third fixed resistor in the parallel circuit so as to be provided between the collector of the npn transistor and the input end of the series regulator.
Moreover, in this case, the power supply unit according to the first aspect of the present invention may include the fourth fixed resistor in the parallel circuit to be provided between the emitter-end of the parallel circuit and the input end of the series regulator. In addition, the fourth fixed resistor may be provided between the collector-end of the parallel circuit and the DC power supply.
In the power supply unit according to the first aspect of the present invention, the series regulator may have a Zener diode that regulates the output DC voltage of the series regulator; the power consuming unit may have the parallel circuit formed by the first fixed resistor and a pnp transistor as the semiconductor device that are connected in parallel, an emitter, a collector and a base of the pnp transistor serving as the current input, the current output and the setting input of the semiconductor device, respectively; and the current setting unit may include a resistor series circuit formed by a plurality of resistor devices connected in series and an npn transistor, one end of the resistor series circuit being connected to the DC power supply, the other end being connected to a cathode terminal of the Zener diode. In the npn transistor, a divided voltage generated at the setting output of the current setting unit, that is positioned between the plurality of resistor devices, is applied to the base; an emitter is connected to the series regulator; and a collector is connected to the DC power supply via the first one of the plurality of resistor devices and to the base of the pnp transistor via the second one of the plurality of resistor devices.
In this case, the fourth fixed resistor may be provided in the parallel circuit between the collector-end of the parallel circuit and the input end of the series regulator.
In the power supply unit according to the first aspect of the present invention, the series regulator may include the first Zener diode operable to regulate the output DC voltage of the series regulator and the first Zener resistor connected between a cathode terminal of the first Zener diode and the input of the series regulator; the power consuming unit includes the parallel circuit formed by an npn transistor as the semiconductor device and the first fixed resistor that are connected in parallel, a collector, an emitter and a base of the npn transistor respectively serving as the current input, the current output and the setting input of the semiconductor device; the current setting unit may include the second Zener diode and the second Zener resistor connected between a cathode terminal of the second Zener diode and the DC power supply; and the setting output of the current setting unit may be the cathode terminal of the second Zener diode, a Zener voltage generated at the cathode terminal of the second Zener diode being applied to the base of the npn transistor in the parallel circuit.
In the power supply unit according to the first aspect of the present invention, the series regulator may include a Zener diode operable to regulate the output DC voltage of the series regulator; the power consuming unit may include a plurality of parallel circuits connected in series each of which is formed by an npn transistor as the semiconductor device and the first fixed resistor connected in parallel, a collector, an emitter and a base of the npn transistor respectively serving as the current input, the current output and the setting input of the semiconductor device; the current setting unit may include a resistor series circuit formed by a plurality of resistor devices connected in series, one end of the resistor series circuit being connected to the DC power supply while the other end is connected to a cathode terminal of the Zener diode, the number of the resistor devices corresponding to the number of the parallel circuits in the power consuming circuit; the setting output of the current setting unit may be respective connection points between the plurality of resistor devices; and divided voltages, different from each other, generated at the respective connection points may be applied to the bases of the npn transistors in the respective parallel circuits in accordance with an order in which the npn transistors are arranged.
Moreover, in the power supply unit according to the first aspect of the present invention, the series regulator may include a Zener diode operable to regulate the output DC voltage of the series regulator; the power consuming unit may include a plurality of parallel circuits connected in series each of which is formed by an npn transistor as the semiconductor device and the first fixed resistor connected in parallel, a collector, an emitter and a base of the npn transistor respectively serving as the current input, the current output and the setting input of the semiconductor device; the current setting unit may include a resistor series circuit formed by a plurality of resistor devices connected in series, one end of the resistor series circuit being connected to the DC power supply while the other end is connected to a cathode terminal of the Zener diode, the number of the resistor devices being equal to the number of the parallel circuits in the power consuming circuit; the setting output of the current setting unit may be respective connection points between the plurality of resistor devices; and divided voltages generated at the respective connection points may be applied to the bases of the npn transistors in the respective parallel circuits.
In the power supply unit according to the first aspect of the present invention, the power consuming unit may include the parallel circuit formed by an npn transistor as the semiconductor device and the first fixed resistor connected in parallel, a collector, an emitter and a base of the npn transistor respectively serving as the current input, the current output and the setting input of the semiconductor device; the current setting unit may include a feedback circuit connected to the emitter of the npn transistor and an inverting amplifying circuit having an inverting input connected to the feedback circuit and a non-inverting input to which the predetermined reference voltage for regulating the output DC voltage of the series regulator is applied; and the setting output of the current setting unit may be an output of the inverting amplifying circuit that is connected to the base of the npn transistor.
In the power supply unit according to the first aspect of the present invention, the power consuming unit may include the parallel circuit formed by a pnp transistor as the semiconductor device and the first fixed resistor connected in parallel, an emitter, a collector and a base of the pnp transistor respectively serving as the current input, the current output and the setting input of the semiconductor device; the current setting unit may include a feedback circuit connected to the collector of the pnp transistor, an inverting amplifying circuit where an inverting input is connected to the feedback circuit, to a non-inverting input is applied the predetermined reference voltage for regulating the output DC voltage of the series regulator, and an output is connected to the base of the pnp transistor, and an npn transistor having a base connected to the output of the inverting amplifying circuit and an emitter connected to the predetermined reference voltage; and the setting output of the current setting unit may be a collector of the npn transistor, that is connected to the base of the pnp transistor.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, a power supply unit having a series regulator that changes an input DC voltage input from a DC power supply into a stabilized output DC voltage lower than the input DC voltage, comprises: the fifth fixed resistor connected to the series regulator in parallel; and a clamp diode operable to clamp an output voltage to be a predetermined voltage between the input DC voltage and the output DC voltage.
The clamp diode may be a Zener diode having a cathode terminal connected to the output of the series regulator and an anode terminal connected to a reference voltage of the series regulator.
In the power supply unit according to the third aspect of the present invention, the series regulator may include a Zener diode operable to regulate the output DC voltage of the series regulator and a Zener resistor connected between a cathode terminal of the Zener diode and the input of the series regulator; and the clamp diode may be formed by a diode having an anode terminal connected to the output of the series regulator and a cathode terminal connected to the cathode terminal of the Zener diode, and another Zener diode.
In the power supply unit according to the third aspect of the present invention, the series regulator may include a Zener diode operable to regulate the output DC voltage of the series regulator; the power supply unit may further comprise a power consuming unit including a parallel circuit formed by an npn transistor and the first fixed resistor connected in parallel, and a current setting unit including a resistor series circuit formed by a plurality of resistor devices connected in series, one end of the resistor series circuit being connected to the DC power supply while the other end is connected to a cathode terminal of the Zener diode, a divided voltage generated at a setting output of the current setting unit, that is located between the plurality of resistor devices, being applied to a base of the npn transistor so as to regulate the amount of a current flowing between a collector and an emitter of the npn transistor which respectively serve as a current input and a current output thereof; and the clamp diode may be formed by a diode having an anode terminal connected to the output of the series regulator and a cathode terminal connected to the cathode terminal of the Zener diode, and another Zener diode.
In any of the power supply units according to the first, second and third aspects of the present invention, it is desirable that the respective fixed resistor be formed by printing on a printed board, for example, of aluminum or ceramic.
The summary of the invention does not necessarily describe all necessary features of the present invention. The present invention may also be a sub-combination of the features described above. The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Power supply unit for regulating output voltage using a series regulator


An image of an inspection target having a concave and convex pattern is picked up in an off-focus state by an image pickup element 4. Further, the image of the inspection target picked up in the off-focus state is taken in by an image processing computer 6. Based on the image, the image processing computer 6 prepares a light intensity profile having a peak corresponding to a boundary portion between a concave portion and a convex portion of the concave and convex pattern of the inspection target. For example, a change of the width of the concave or convex portion of the concave and convex portion can be detected very accurately, by measuring the width of the concave or convex portion of the concave and convex portion on the basis of the intensity profile.

The present application claims priority to, Japanese Application No. P11-345465 filed Dec. 3, 1999, which application is incorporated herein by reference to the extent permitted by law.
The present invention relates to an inspection apparatus used for inspecting a device such as a semiconductor integrated circuit or the like which has a micro concave and convex pattern, and an inspection method for inspecting a micro concave and convex pattern.
In recent years, the integration rate of semiconductor integrated circuit has been improved as digitalization has been developed in the electric industrial field. How this highly integrated semiconductor circuit can be efficiently supplied at low costs is a significant problem that will decide future progress in the digital electronic industrial field.
To produce efficiently semiconductor integrated circuits at low costs, it is important to find rapidly a problem which occurs during the manufacturing process, such as a change or the like of a line width of a micro pattern, to find the cause of the problem, and to make an effective countermeasure for the manufacturing equipments or manufacturing process. Therefore, there is a greater demand for an inspection apparatus capable of inspecting a micro pattern.
Known as inspection apparatuses having a high resolution are those using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), an atomic force microscope (AFM), and the like. However, these scanning electron microscopes and atomic force microscopes require vacuum in inspection, and are therefore inconvenient for handling. In addition, it takes much time to inspection entirely a semiconductor device.
In contrast, an inspection apparatus using an optical microscope is advantageous in that inspection can be carried out undestructively without necessitating vacuum or contact. However, the patterns of semiconductor integrated circuits have become more and more micro in recent years, so that the line width have been decreased to 0.18 xcexcm or less. Therefore, it has become difficult for inspection apparatuses using conventional microscopes to measure accurately line widths of the patterns of the semiconductor integrated circuits.
In particular, it is desired that inspection of a pattern of a semiconductor integrated circuit should be carried out with a resist pattern formed on a semiconductor wafer. It is, however, difficult to measure accurately and properly this resist pattern having a micro structure.
The present invention has been proposed in view of the situation as described above and has an object of providing an inspection apparatus and an inspection method capable of inspecting a more micro pattern with high accuracy.
In case where illumination light is irradiated on an inspection target having a concave and convex pattern, such as a semiconductor integrated circuit, to pick up an image thereof, the illumination light diffracted by the concave and convex pattern causes interference so that a light intensity profile corresponding to the concave and convex pattern can be obtained, if the concave and convex pattern of the inspection target is substantially as micro as the wavelength of the illumination light.
If the diffraction efficiency of the concave and convex pattern with respect the illumination light exceeds a predetermined value, a peak corresponding to a boundary portion between a concave portion and a convex portion of the concave and convex pattern appears on the light intensity profile corresponding to this concave and convex pattern. The peak thus appearing on the light intensity profile can particularly be found clearly when reflection light or transmission light of the illumination light from the inspection target is observed in an off-focus state.
Therefore, for example, the reflection light or transmission light of the illumination light from the inspection target is observed in an off-focus state, and a distance between peaks corresponding to boundary portions concave and convex portions from the obtained intensity profile. The width of a concave or convex portion of the concave and convex pattern as the inspection target can be measured accurately on the basis of the distance between peaks.
If the state of a concave and convex pattern is inspected on the basis of a light intensity profile obtained by the diffraction interference of illumination light, it is possible to detect a very micro change of a pattern with accuracy in nano-meter order, advantageously for an inspection apparatus.
The present invention has been proposed on the basis of knowledge as described above, and provides an inspection apparatus comprising: illumination means for illuminating an inspection pattern having a concave and convex pattern with illumination light; image pickup means for picking up an image of the inspection target illuminated by the illumination means; a detection optical system for introducing reflection light or transmission light from the inspection target illuminated with the illumination means, to the image pickup means; and image processing means for preparing a light intensity profile corresponding to the concave and convex pattern of the inspection target, based on the image of the inspection target picked up by the image pickup means. Further, in this inspection apparatus, the detection optical system introduces the reflection light or transmission light in an off-focus state from the inspection target illuminated by the illumination means to the image pickup means, such that the image processing means prepares a light intensity profile having a peak corresponding to a boundary portion between a concave portion and a convex portion of the concave and convex pattern of the inspection target.
That is, in this inspection apparatus, the detection optical system introduces the reflection light or transmission light in an off-focus state, from the inspection target illuminated with the illumination light to the image pickup means, thereby to pick up an image of the inspection target in an off-focus state by the image pickup means. Further, based on the image of the inspection target picked up in this off-focus state, the image processing means prepares a light intensity profile corresponding to the concave and convex pattern of the inspection target. In this manner, a light intensity profile having a peak corresponding to a boundary portion between a concave portion and a convex portion of the inspection target is obtained.
According to this inspection apparatus, a light intensity profile having a peak corresponding to a boundary portion between a concave portion and a convex portion of the inspection target is prepared by the image processing means. Therefore, a very micro change of a pattern can be detected accurately, for example, if the state of the concave and convex pattern, such as a width of a concave or convex portion of the concave and convex pattern, is inspected on the basis of the light intensity profile obtained as described above.
Also, an inspection method according to the present invention comprises steps of: illuminating an inspection pattern having a concave and convex pattern with illumination light; introducing reflection light or transmission light from the inspection target illuminated with the illumination light, to image pickup means, and picking up an image of the inspection target by image pickup means; preparing a light intensity profile having a peak corresponding to a boundary between a concave portion and a convex portion of the concave and convex pattern of the inspection target, based on the image of the inspection target picked up by the image pickup means; and inspecting a state of the concave and convex pattern of the inspection target, based on the intensity profile obtained.
According to this inspection method, it is possible to detect properly a very micro change of a pattern with accuracy of nano-meter order.
According to the present invention, an image of an inspection target having a concave and convex pattern is picked up in an off-focus state by an image pickup element. Based on this image, the image processing means prepares a light intensity profile having a peak corresponding to a boundary portion between a concave portion and a convex portion of the concave and convex pattern of the inspection target. If the width of the concave or convex portion of the concave and convex pattern or the state of the concave and convex pattern is inspected on the basis of the light intensity profiled thus obtained, it is possible to detect accurately a very micro change of a pattern.
Also, in the inspection method according to the present invention, a light intensity profile having a peak corresponding to a boundary portion between a concave portion and a convex portion of the concave and convex pattern of the inspection target is prepared on the basis of the image of the inspection target picked up in an off-focus state. Based on the prepared intensity profile, the state of the concave and convex pattern of the inspection target is inspected, so that a very micro change of a pattern can be detected accurately.