Network elements at endpoints of a data connection are identified. A network path is generated between the network elements at the endpoints. The network path is validated by determining whether the network path provides at least one service requirement. The service requirement may be a minimum bandwidth requirement, a maximum bandwidth requirement, a maximum delay requirement, a maximum jitter requirement, a reliability requirement, a requirement that the network path includes network elements capable of acting as security gateways that bracket untrusted sections of the network path, a reachability requirement, or a data collection capability requirement. Network elements along a validated network path are configured to implement the service requirement. In one embodiment, the configuration performed on the network elements is recorded.

Packet data communication networks play a crucial role in today's economy. The Internet is but the most prominent example of a packet data network. In years to come, the conduct of most business will be dependent on packet data communication to some degree.
Packet data communication is used in many contexts. For example, companies are providing remote access to internally developed applications by way of connections on packet data networks. This allows corporate applications to be extended to branch offices, business partners, or other third parties. Packet data communication is also used by companies to access subscriptions to value-added applications provided by Application Service Providers ("ASPs"). ASPs set up applications in a data center and offer remote usage of the applications as a billable service. Some example services offered by ASPs include video-conferencing, computer-aided design, etc.
Whether internally or externally sourced, the use of distributed applications is increasing rapidly. The operators of packet data communication networks ("carriers") want to take advantage of this trend by supplementing their current bandwidth-oriented service offerings with value-added services. The market for providing value-added services is a valuable business opportunity to carriers. Value-added services typically provide higher profit margins than bandwidth-oriented services. Carriers may offer their own services (i.e. they may take on the role of an ASP). They may enter into business arrangements to market services provided by third party ASPs. They may even market services based on applications that were originally developed for internal enterprise use.
Unfortunately existing networks are not by default suited to the delivery of value added services. It is difficult to control the QoS experienced by the user. Networks normally don't restrict access to paying customers. Data is not collected to verify that the necessary QoS was provided or to bill for service usage. Security is implemented manually and separately for each situation requiring valuable data to be protected.
Current packet data networks typically pass packets from a source to a destination by way of a series of nodes. At each node, packets are received and forwarded over data links to other nodes until they reach their destinations. Typically a network device, such as a router, is located at each node. Routers are used to direct packets toward their destinations. Ideally a packet from any source on a network can be forwarded to any destination on the network. Routers typically forward packets using the First In First Out ("FIFO") model (whereby packets are forwarded in the order in which they are received). As a result, packets associated with a time sensitive important business transaction worth millions of dollars may be queued in a router behind packets associated with relatively less important applications such as distributed gaming.
In a public network there can be very large volumes of data packets of relatively low importance. Significant bandwidth within the network can be consumed by low priority web surfing or the like. There is currently no consistent way of providing guaranteed bandwidth and low delay communication for applications such as video and audio conferencing across such a network.
Some routers can be configured to support alternative QoS enhancing forwarding mechanisms in addition to FIFO. Unfortunately there are many varied mechanisms and few standards. Each type of mechanism typically has a unique conceptual basis and requires a correspondingly unique set of parameters to be configured. To configure a router to handle a single service anywhere from zero to twenty or more parameters should be configured.
Some routers can be configured to control access to selected destinations by identifying traffic (packets) from specific users or groups of users. This capability can be used to allow or deny access to specific services. Disallowed traffic is discarded.
Data collection in support of Service Level Agreement ("SLA") measurement is starting to appear, but the collected data is very coarse-grained. The data collected usually summarizes usage by a group of users rather than providing details about the use of a service by any individual user. Using current tools it is difficult to determine whether an individual user, or an instance of an application that a user is using, received an adequate level of service from the network. When detailed data can be collected, it is typically collected for all packets passing through the router. The router usually does not allow data collection to occur selectively for different categories of traffic. The resulting torrent of collected data may even be more voluminous than the packets being measured. Data collection in support of billing for service usage is almost unheard of.
Security technology (for example, IPsec, SSL) is only now becoming widely available. Routers supporting this technology can be configured to authenticate and automatically encrypt packets as they are transported across a network. In the case of IPsec, approximately 15 to 20 parameters should be configured to handle a single service.
It can be appreciated that, while some thought has been directed to how some of the above features might be provided, the technologies available to implement these features are immature and just starting to be deployed. It is impossible to retrofit some of these features into many of the routers already deployed in current networks.
The task of configuring current networks to provide needed features is further complicated because large networks may include many different types of routers, each with its own capabilities and configuration requirements. When a network incorporates routers from multiple vendors, it requires a great degree of skill to configure the diverse mechanisms in a consistent manner to satisfy the requirements of the offered value-added service. Vendors and standards bodies have developed many conceptually diverse technologies. There is little consistency between the approaches used by various vendors.
In some cases, overall requirements may be met by coordinating the configuration of a service across multiple routers whose overlapping feature sets allow all of the requirements to be met when individually no single router in the network is capable of meeting all of the requirements. For example an upstream router may perform traffic shaping to implement QoS whereas a downstream router implements security or access control. Coordinated deployment of a service across multiple routers with incomplete feature sets requires even greater skill.
Packet data networks, such as the Internet, are continually growing. There are many routers to be configured and managed. To satisfy the access control, QoS, security, and data collection requirements of an offered service, many routers are configured separately for each service and often for each subscriber.
A moderate number of parameters are configured in each router to deploy a subscribed service. If an average human performs manual configurations with an accuracy of 95–99%, it will often be the case that there will be at least one error somewhere in the configuration of each configured service. It is extremely difficult for humans to perform this sort of manual configuration consistently and accurately.
There is a need for solutions to these problems if the market for value-added services is to expand.

Service provisioning methods and apparatus


A cast superalloy article having a unidirectional crystal structure that is substantially defect free with primary dendrite arm spacing greater than 150 .mu.m is provided. The unidirectional crystalline microstructure comprises a longitudinal columnar structure aligned parallel with the direction of solidification where said columnar structure is a single crystal or polycrystals or mixtures thereof.

This invention relates to a unidirectional solidified cast article having a columnar crystalline microstructure. In particular the invention relates to a cast superalloy article having at least one columnar crystal that is substantially free of defects. The invention further relates to a casting method to produce the cast article. Still yet, the invention relates to gas turbines having unidirectional solidified cast articles, such as blades, buckets, nozzles, vanes, and airfoils.
The mechanical properties of cast superalloy articles improve by applying directional casting techniques to produce columnar polycrystalline or single crystal articles. Single crystal articles differ from polycrystalline articles primarily by the absence of boundaries between differently or arbitrarily oriented crystals. Both single crystal and polycrystalline articles can have a columnar structure.
Directional casting techniques used to manufacture single crystal and polycrystalline articles start with a mold shaped to produce the desired cast article. One such process of manufacturing columnar single crystal and polycrystalline cast articles employs a Bridgman-type furnace and comprises the pouring of molten metal into a mold within a heated zone. A chill plate cools the base of the mold (water-cooled). Subsequent crystallization of the molten metal occurs by gradually withdrawing the mold from the heated zone. Convection and/or radiation cools the mold from the bottom and then upward to solidify the cast metal. Another process for making directionally solidified cast articles comprises pouring molten metal into a superheated mold situated in a heated zone and withdrawing the mold from the furnace into a liquid coolant bath. The coolant bath has a temperature lower than the solidus temperature of the cast superalloy metal.
While casting vendors use variations of both casting processes today, the quality and structure of the unidirectional cast article still needs improvement. There is a sensitive dependence of the mechanical properties on the grain structures of cast materials. The mechanical integrity of columnar single crystal and polycrystalline cast articles is dependent on the elimination of high-angle grain boundaries and equiaxed grains. Also, the cast articles having a length greater than about four inches, such as nozzles, buckets, or airfoils used in land-based turbine generators, generally exhibit substantial interdendrite segregation formed during the directional solidification process. Depending on the particular superalloy chemistry, the segregation can result in the formation of low melting point or brittle phases, nonuniform distribution of strengthening precipitates, interdendritic porosity, and surface freckles. The term "freckles" or "freckling" means that during solidification of superalloy columnar single crystal or polycrystalline cast articles chains of very small equiaxed grains form. It is proposed that in directional solidification, where the liquid melt is maintained above the solid, these chains of freckle type defects develop when segregating elements alter the liquid density of the interdendritic fluid to a sufficient degree to initiate a convective instability. One or more of these structural manifestation can be undesirable. Further, the methods for minimizing the presence or effects of dendrite segregation, including solid state diffusion heat treatments or mechanical working, are not feasible for use with complex alloys or large cast articles.
Dendrites formed within the columnar single crystal or polycrystalline article are distinguished from the surrounding material by differences in concentration of some constituents. Embedded particles and elemental microconstituents of the alloy chemistry tend to accumulate in the normally weaker interdendrite regions. As a result the strength of the cast alloy is decreased by such inhomogeneities. The size of the embedded particles and pools of the microconstituents is significantly reduced by a reduction in primary dendrite arm spacing in the cast article. The primary spacing is the average spacing between adjacent dendrite cores. Primary dendrite arm spacing is measured by sectioning normal to the crystal growth direction, counting the number of primary arms over the cross-sectional area, and calculating an average spacing. Typically, average spacing is determined assuming a square array. Secondary dendrite arm spacing is the average spacing between adjacent secondary dendrite arms as observed on a section containing the growth direction. Thus, there is a need to produce unidirectional cast articles with minimal primary and secondary dendrite arm spacing to achieve superior mechanical and chemical properties with decreased structural defects.
Dendrite arm spacing is also a measure of the solidification conditions of a casting. Dendrite arm spacing varies inversely with cooling rate (solidification rate times thermal gradient). High thermal gradients are required to prevent nucleation of new grains during directional solidification; high cooling rates are required to prevent freckle formation.
Hitachi, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,194, addresses the casting of single crystal nickel superalloy blades for turbines that are seven inches or greater in length. Hitachi obtains single crystal microstructure in a blade comprising a dovetail with a shank being connected to the dovetail and having one or more protrusions formed on the side of the dovetail, and with a vane being connected to the shank. Because of the use of protrusions in a by-pass mold, Hitachi forms a large single crystal blade. The casting process is performed in a conventional Bridgman furnace using a chill plate with radiant and convection cooling. However, Hitachi does not teach or suggest fine dendrite spacing in the single crystal blade. In fact, although Hitachi produces a large single crystal blade of about 160 mm (6-7 inches in length), the Hitachi single crystal structure is expected to have large dendrite arm spacing due to the low cooling rates of radiation from a mold to the walls of the furnace. Also, after casting the single crystal blade, Hitachi subjects the blade to a solution heat treatment, followed by an aging treatment. The various heat treatments take several hours. Hitachi's blade, while single crystal, still does not solve the problem of obtaining fine primary dendrite arm spacing to provide an homogeneous microstructure with improved mechanical properties in large cast articles. FIG. 1 shows a plot for dendrite arm spacing 40 versus the size of the cast article obtained by conventional casting methods such as used by Hitachi with vacuum radiation cooling.
Since Hitachi's blade is cast by the conventionally cooled method, the cooling rate or thermal gradient is a sensitive function of the size of the blade to be cast. As a general rule of thumb, the cooling rate or thermal gradient is inversely proportional to the blade size. When the size of the blade increases, the cooling rate and thermal gradient decreases, and the tendency of extraneous grain nucleation increases. The types of grain defects caused by the reduced cooling or thermal gradient in large blades include those known in the trade as freckles or slivers. These types of defects, once formed due to the reduced thermal gradient, are not restricted to protruded areas of the blade such as platform or angle wing. Due to this unpredictability, the by-pass mold designed to eliminate grain defects in the shank area, as discussed in the Hitachi patent, will not be effective in producing a totally defect-free large blade. Even with the by-pass mold, Hitachi's blade will be difficult to cast free of defects.
On the other hand, U.S. Pat. No. 3,915,761, discloses a superalloy cast blade for aircraft engines that is about four inches in length (col. 6, lines 5-6; col. 9, lines 23-24) with a hyperfine primary dendrite spacing of less than about 0.005 inches or 130 micrometers (.mu.m). Herein, "hyperfine" primary dendrite spacing means average spacing less than 0.005 inches (130 .mu.m) between adjacent dendrite cores. The hyperfine dendrite spacing is accomplished by using a casting method that utilizes a liquid cooling bath that provides a high solidification rate by withdrawal of the part from the furnace at about 120 inches per hour. This teaching is limited to aircraft size parts and has not been demonstrated for land-base turbine components. In fact, the size of land-base turbine parts prohibits the withdrawal rates used in '761.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,915,761 requires "hyperfine" primary dendrite spacing, attributes not achievable in large cast parts which are about seven inches in length or greater. This is partially due to the large size and its cross-section.
Large cast parts of defect-free columnar structures would be of great benefit for large gas turbines. For instance, consider the thermal efficiency of gas turbines as an important measurement of the performance of a power generation engine. An efficient engine is typically run at a high enough temperature so that the fuel energy can be effectively utilized to generate low cost electricity. New generations of power generators will require larger turbine capacity and component sizes. Blades that are twelve inches or greater will be required. However, a limitation of gas turbines is the availability of turbine articles that can sustain high temperature and stress in the engine environment. To cope with such an increase in the gas temperature, conventional cast articles, such as buckets, blades, nozzles, vanes, and airfoils have complicated geometry's and cooling holes. This further poses problems in the casting operations utilized to make the article as well as the ability to provide the required mechanical and chemical properties of the cast article.
For these reasons, there is a need for a large unidirectional solidified columnar cast article that is single crystal, polycrystalline, or a mixture of single and polycrystalline microstructure that is substantially defect free, without requiring the impractical hyperfine dendrite arm spacing 30 of U.S. Pat. No. 3,915,761 as displayed in FIG. 1. The fine dendrite arm spaces 50 shown in FIG. 2 in large unidirectional columnar cast articles provides improved chemical and mechanical properties of the cast article.

Unidirectionally solidified cast article and method of making


A semiconductor device includes first conductive lines extending in a first direction, second conductive lines extending in a second direction, memory cells disposed between the first conductive lines and the second conductive lines, each memory cell disposed at an intersection of a first conductive line and a second conductive line, and a passive material between the memory cells and at least one of the first conductive lines and the second conductive lines. Related semiconductor devices and electronic devices are disclosed.

A semiconductor device including an array of memory cells may include memory cells located at an intersection between conductive access lines, such as between a conductive word line and a conductive bit line. For example, three-dimensional (3D) cross-point memory devices may include a plurality of memory cells arranged in an array and including a plurality of rows of access lines and a plurality of columns of access lines that may be arranged in a pattern of rows and columns. During operation of the semiconductor device, data may be written to and read from the memory cells. A particular memory cell may be accessed through the conductive access lines in direct electrical communication with that particular memory cell.
As the demand for higher-density memory cell arrays increases, the size of individual cells in a memory array may shrink, the memory array may include more memory cells, or both. As the number of memory cells in the array increases, the number of memory cells in electrical communication with each access line (e.g., with each conductive word line and each conductive bit line) increases. However, as the number of memory cells in electrical communication with the access lines increases, the capacitance of the access lines used to access a particular memory cell is increased.
When an access line is charged during programming (e.g., during a write operation) and/or a read operation, an electric charge may accumulate on the access line. The electric charge may be proportional to the number of memory cells along the entire access line. After the memory cell is selected, the semiconductor device may exhibit a so-called "snapback" effect, in which a voltage across the selected memory cell is rapidly reduced. The snapback effect may be accompanied by a discharge current flowing through the accessed memory cell. However, if the discharge current is too high, the memory cell may be damaged and the performance of the semiconductor device may be negatively impacted. By way of nonlimiting example, too high a discharge current through the memory cell may disturb a programmed state of the selected memory cell for a read operation, may change a threshold voltage during cycling of the memory cells associated with the semiconductor device, and may cause a threshold voltage of different memory cells in the array to be different.

Semiconductor devices including a passive material between memory cells and conductive access lines, and related electronic devices


A novel and inventive hand held powder-fed laser fusion welding torch providing manual flexibility for laser welding with powder-fed material. The hand held laser includes a body, handle, and nozzle assembly. The nozzle may be shrouded by a cover that is slightly spaced apart from the nozzle. The gap between the two may provide space through which inert gas may flow. Laser light from a remote source shines through the nozzle""s central aperture. The nozzle aperture may be circumscribed by powder channel outlets aligned upon a working focal point coincident with the laser beam to treat a workpiece. A proximity sensor may enable selective welding torch operation according to the presence of a workpiece.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to laser fusion welding and more particularly to a hand held powder-fed laser fusion welding torch.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, the surface of a metallic article may be welded and/or alloyed by the simultaneous and cooperative operation of a laser beam and an alloy powder stream. To accomplish this, systems exist that have a laser source and focusing apparatus, with a powder delivery apparatus provided as part of an integral package. The laser beam melts a relatively small area at the surface of the article, and a controlled volume of alloying particles are delivered into the melt pool via the powder flow stream.
In laser fusion welding, an article of metal or other material may have the surface thereof alloyed, or otherwise treated, by the simultaneous and cooperative operation of a laser beam with an alloy powder. Typically, the laser beam melts a relatively small volume of the outer surface of the article and the powder system delivers a controlled volume of alloying particles into this molten volume. The alloying particles become dispersed throughout this volume and therewith alter, complement, or add to the composition of the outer layer in a controllable way. Removal of the beam, such as by advancement of the workpiece relative to the focal point of the beam, causes the molten volume to be rapidly chilled. The chilling occurs so rapidly that the volume retains the characteristics of the molten mix.
As an example, gas turbine engines, such as those utilized with jet aircraft, are being designed with ever increasing performance requirements. One element of the engine which has been receiving attention is the seal created between the outer periphery of the rapidly rotating blades and the surrounding housing. Another element subject to attention is the turbine nozzle system in jet engines.
The owner of the present invention, Honeywell International, Inc., often repairs turbine nozzles with a process called JetFix. The JetFix process uses steps as follows: chemically and mechanically stripping the outer aluminide coating, welding the cracks, thermally shocking the welds (to form micro cracks), fluoride ion cleaning of the cracks, (to remove oxides), applying a JetFix braze alloy, vacuum furnace brazing, blending brazing, re-application of aluminide coating, and effective flow area check.
Laser powder fusion (LPF) technology has been in use for the past twelve years and has demonstrated the benefits of small heat affected zones on turbine airfoils. Some repair facilities, such as those at Honeywell International Inc., have successfully repaired over 500,000 airfoils which have subsequently accumulated over 10 million flight hours. However, commercially available LPF machines are relatively large and usually run along pre-programmed paths for the repair of a specific part. Thus, one limitation of LPF is the inability of the user to manipulate the laser torch in a custom manner during the repair process as the weld occurs. Accordingly, there is a need for an LPF apparatus that can allow the user to tailor the weld and welding process to the workpiece as the laser is being operated. The present invention satisfies this need.
The present invention provides a hand-held powder-fed laser fusion welding torch that allows customized welding by delivery of laser light onto a stream of welding fusion powder. The ability to provide such a compact laser welding system increases convenience and flexibility, enabling the welder to create or repair objects with greater skill, flexibility, and efficiency.
Worn or damaged metal parts and assemblies may be repaired or dimensionally restored through high power laser processing with a laser source of sufficient intensity to melt so the metal surface while a metallic filler in the form of a powder, wire or rod is introduced into the melt pool. Metallic precursors in a liquid or semi-liquid form may also be applied to the surface, allowed to dry, and then laser processed. In situations where the work surface is not accessible by conventional workstation type of laser powder metal fusion equipment, a compact hand-held torch is preferred. Other cases may involve the repair of parts having irregular and random cracks or damage not otherwise repairable by robotic or programmable workstations. In order to perform repairs of this type, a portable, flexible delivery system is, required for both laser as well as the metal filler. This invention provides for these needs through the integration of laser beam and metal powder delivery components into a single compact hand-held unit. The laser source may be a continuous wave Nd:YAG laser.
In one embodiment, the hand held laser includes a body and a nozzle assembly mounted on the body, with the nozzle assembly defining a central nozzle aperture through which gas and light including laser light may pass. The nozzle defines first and second powder flow channels aligned with a working focal point adjacent the central nozzle aperture. Fusion powder may be transmitted through the first and second powder flow channels for fusing by laser light transmitted through the central nozzle aperture.
In another embodiment, a method is provided to manually laser powder fusion weld a workpiece in order to effect construction and/or repair. A hand held powder-fed laser fusion welding torch is provided that may be manually operated. In such manual operation, the torch generally enjoys significant degrees of spatial freedom so that the welder may dispose the torch in a variety and number of easily-achieved positions. In this way, the welder may conform his activities to the needs at hand and is preferably not limited by physical constraints of the laser torch.

Hand held powder-fed laser fusion welding torch


A fluid flow control device is provided as an integral component of a drainage system for sinks in a commercial environment. This fluid flow control device includes a housing that is disposed beneath a waste valve and configured to define a flow control insert that is configured and disposed to interrupt the flow of fluid leaving the waste valve and before that flow reaches a grease interceptor. Both the housing and flow control insert are desirably made as a unitary structure from cast metal. Alternatively, the housing can define a ledge that receives a removable disk forming the flow control insert. In both embodiments, the flow control insert that has an opening through the insert that is sized for a flow area according to the needs of the fluid flows that are anticipated in the drainage system in question.

Not applicable.
The present invention pertains to a device for the control of fluid flow and in particular to such a device that can be used when originally installing a commercial drainage system or retrofitted onto an existing system.
Commercial kitchens such as those found in schools and restaurants are subject to environmental regulations that limit the amount of grease that can be introduced into the waste water from the sinks used in such kitchens. Typically, these regulations require the installation of grease interceptors downstream from drains, and these interceptors separate the grease from the waste water that drains from sinks in the kitchens. However, if the flow rate that enters the grease interceptors should exceed the capacity of the interceptor, the amount of grease deposited into the sewage system can exceed the amount allowable pursuant to the regulations. This can result in the assessment of fines or other penalties against the offending establishment. Moreover, such excessive flows of grease may have an adverse impact on the waste water/sewage treatment facilities that service the community.
It is a principal object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method that prevents overloading the grease interceptors used in commercial kitchens.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
To achieve the objects and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a flow control device for a sink that drains into a system that includes a grease interceptor comprises a hollow housing defining an interior and an exterior and an axial opening extending the length of the interior of the housing, which has a first end and a second end disposed opposite the first end.
In a presently preferred embodiment, the housing is formed integrally as an extension to the outlet end of a waste valve. The housing and the body that defines the flow path of the waste valve constitute a unitary member. A flow control insert is disposed across the interior of the housing and defines a hole through the insert. The hole is sized such that the flow area through the hole is smaller than the flow area through the axial opening along the first end of said housing. In this presently preferred embodiment, the insert is integrally formed as a unitary member with the housing portion of the unitary unit.
In an alternative embodiment, the interior walls of the housing define a ledge disposed between the first end and the second end of the housing. A portion of the axial opening of the housing is defined by a threaded wall that extends from the first end to the ledge. The housing defines a threaded surface that begins at the second end on at least one of the exterior and the interior of the housing. A flow control insert defines a structure that is separate from the housing. The flow control insert is configured to be received in the housing and has a peripheral surface that is configured to rest against the ledge that is defined in the interior of the housing.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one presently preferred embodiment of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Drain flow control device for commercial drainage system


A method for depositing a passivation layer on a semiconductor structure having a high resistance value polysilicon layer formed thereon while maintaining the high resistance value thereof and comprises sequentially depositing a silicon oxide layer and a silicon nitride layer, on a high resistance value polysilicon layer of a partially completed semiconductor structure to form a passivation layer thereover. The passivation layer including the silicon oxide layer and the silicon nitride layer is annealed with oxygen plasma in a chamber. The annealed passivation layer is then heated in the presence of a conditioning gas in the chamber to thereby maintaining the resistance of the high resistance value polysilicon layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method for preventing the loss of resistance in a high resistance polysilicon layer resulting from depositing a passivation layer thereover, and more particularly, to a method for maintaining the resistance of the high resistive polysilicon layer to a predetermined level by discharging a plurality of ions or electrons from the high resistive polysilicon layer by performing an annealing process with oxygen plasma and a heat treatment process with nitrogen conditioning gas on a passivation layer deposited on the structure having the high resistive polysilicon layer.
2. Information Disclosure Statement
Generally, in order to increase the resistance of the high resistive polysilicon layer, a method for decreasing the thickness of the polysilicon layer and a method for implanting impurities of As or P into the polysilicon layer, as much as 10.sup.12 -10.sup.14 /cm.sup.2, have been suggested.
However, according to the prior art method, when depositing the passivation layer on the high resistive polysilicon layer of a partially completed semiconductor structure by using a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition process, the plurality of ions or electrons are driven into the high resistive polysilicon layer through a metal layer or a silicon layer positioned as being associated with the polysilicon layer, so that they are trapped into the boundary of the grains of the polysilicon layer, thereby greatly decreasing the resistance of the underlying polysilicon layer.
Therefore, in order to avoid the above mentioned problem, a method has been suggested to maintain the resistance of the polysilicon layer by depositing a silicon nitride Si N layer on the polysilicon layer utilizing a chemical evaporation process. However, according to the process described above, a problem remains in that several additional processes are required. Here, it should be noted that in depositing the passivation layer hydrogen ions occur as a by-product which cannot be avoided during the manufacturing process and which undesirably effect the resistance value of the high resistive polysilicon layer.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to solve the problems set forth above and to provide a method for preventing the resistance of a high resistive polysilicon layer from decreasing due to the deposition of the passivation layer by annealing the passivation layer with oxygen plasma and heating the same with nitrogen conditioning gas to discharge the ions trapped into the boundary of the plurality of the grains in the polysilicon layer.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a process for preventing the loss of resistance for a high resistive polysilicon layer due to the plurality of ions or electrons trapped into the boundary of the grains of the high resistive polysilicon layer during the depositing process of the passivation layer on the high resistive polysilicon layer.
The preceding objects should be construed as merely presenting a few of the more pertinent features and applications of the invention. Many other beneficial results can be obtained by applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or modifying the invention within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to both the summary of the invention and the detailed description, below, which describe the preferred embodiment in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Method for maintaining the resistance of a high resistive polysilicon layer for a semiconductor device

Hyundai Electronics Industries Co., Ltd.


A method and apparatus teach a plurality of keys to an authorization device in a vehicle. The keys that are in a reception range of a transmission unit of the authorization device receive a test signal from the authorization device. The respective key ascertains a key-specific time window from at least one signal parameter of the test signal that is dependent on the physical location of the key, during which the respective key transmits a response signal that can be received by the transmission unit and recorded by the authorization device.

Method and apparatus for teaching a plurality of keys to an authorization device in a vehicle, wherein the keys that are in a reception range of a transmission unit of the authorization device receive a test signal from said authorization device and transmit a response signal to the authorization device in response to said test signal.
Such methods and apparatuses are used in vehicle construction to teach the keys associated with a vehicle to an authorization device that is used for theft prevention, particularly an engine immobilizer. The keys taught are then authorized to start up the vehicle. To this end, the keys each have an integrated transponder that can set up a radio link to a transmission unit in the authorization device for the interchange of data telegrams.
The currently most widely used method for teaching a plurality of keys to an authorization device in a vehicle provides for the transmission unit of the authorization device to transmit a teaching signal and for all the keys that are in the reception range to respond thereto, with only that key with the strongest response signal being recognized by the authorization device. As a result, the keys need to be brought into the proximity of the transmission unit in succession, the result of which is many manual interventions and a long process time.
DE 10 2008 052 239 A1 discloses a method for automatically teaching a plurality of keys to an engine immobilizer in a vehicle, wherein each key is assigned a different address in advance and during the teaching the respective key is selectively addressed by the engine immobilizer using the assigned address. This method therefore requires an upstream step in which the keys intended for the vehicle need to be assigned individual addresses. This extends the period of time for teaching the keys and there is a need for manual interventions in the procedure.
The generic DE 101 12 573 A1 describes a method for initializing a theft prevention system for a motor vehicle, wherein the theft prevention system first of all transmits a test signal. Each encoder that receives the test signal produces a transmission time that is characteristic of the respective encoder using a random principle, and a response signal is then transmitted within this transmission time. If it is not possible to distinguish between all the encoders, for example because two or more encoders have produced an identical transmission time, then the method starts afresh for the indistinguishable encoders until all the encoders have been recognized. The use of a random principle means that there is therefore always the possibility for a plurality of method cycles to have to be performed until all the encoders have been recognized.

Method and device for programming a plurality of keys to an authorization device of a vehicle


This invention provides for antibodies directed to OLD-35 protein, the product of the OLD-35 gene, which displays enhanced expression during cellular senescence and terminal cell differentiation.

Normal cells cultured in vitro lose their proliferative potential after a finite number of doublings in a process described as cellular senescence (Hayflick and Moorehead, 1976). This phenomenon is not only well-established in human diploid fibroblasts based on the studies of Hayflick and Moorehead (1976), but it has also been validated by investigations using many additional cell types (Goldstein et al., 1990; Murano et al., 1991). These investigations document an inverse correlation between replicative senescence and donor age and a direct relationship between replicative senescence and donor species lifespan (Hayflick and Moorehead, 1976; Goldstein et al., 1990; Murano et al., 1991). In agreement with this association, cells from patients with premature aging syndromes, such as Werner's syndrome and Progeria, achieve a quiescent state much more rapidly than normal human fibroblasts. In this context, if similar senescence related changes occur in normal fibroblasts, albeit with delayed kinetics, these cell systems represent excellent models for studying senescence in vitro and identifying genes relevant to the aging process.
Senescence is characterized by changes in cell morphology, lack of responsiveness to mitogenic stimulation and irreversible growth arrest. However, cells can withdraw from the cell cycle and become non-dividing not only during senescence but also during the processes of DNA damage, apoptosis or terminal differentiation. While senescence is a time-dependent process (Campisi et al., 1995), terminal differentiation can be induced in a variety of cell types by appropriate treatment (Roberts et al., 1999). For example, terminal differentiation can be induced by cAMP treatment in melanocytes (Medrano et al., 1994). Gene expression analysis in terminally differentiated versus senescent melanocytes indicates both similarities and differences (Medrano et al., 1994). Although both pathways result in an elevation in p21 and an inability to phosphorylate ERK2, only the differentiated cells display elevated levels of p27 and the melanocyte-specific transcription factor (MITF) (Medrano et al., 1994; Smith and Pereira-Smith, 1996).
Human melanoma represents an excellent model for studying irreversible growth arrest and terminal differentiation, since these physiological changes can be chemically induced by IFN-β plus mezerein (MEZ) (Fisher et al., 1985; Jiang et al., 1994a). The induction of terminal differentiation in HO-1 human melanoma cells correlates with up-regulation of c-jun, jun-B, α5 Integrin, β1 Integrin, fibronectin, HLA Class I, ISG-54, ISG-15 and gro/MSGA as well as down-regulation of c-myc (Jiang et al., 1993a). To define the repertoire of genes differentially expressed during induction of irreversible growth arrest and terminal differentiation in human melanoma cells we have used a rapid and efficient differentiation induction subtraction hybridization (DISH) approach (Jiang and Fisher, 1993). Using this approach alone and in combination with high throughput screening strategies, microchip DNA arrays, a large number of novel genes of potential relevance to growth control and terminal differentiation have been identified and cloned (Jiang et al., 1995a, 1995b; Lin et al., 1996, 1998; Huang et al., 1999).
On the basis of the considerations described above, it is probable that specific differentially expressed genes may be present within a terminally differentiated cDNA library that also display modified expression during cellular senescence. To begin to identify these overlapping genes, a temporally spaced subtracted differentiation inducer treated HO-1 human melanoma library was screened with RNA isolated from senescent human fibroblasts. Such a screening protocol yielded twenty-eight known and ten novel cDNAs. Subsequent Northern and reverse Northern blotting analyses revealed differential expression of specific cDNAs. Expression of one of these cDNAs, Old-35 was restricted to terminal differentiation and senescence. In this context, this gene may contribute to pathways leading to growth arrest, a defining component of senescence and terminal differentiation.
Interferons (IFNs) comprise a family of related cytokines with diverse including antiviral, antiproliferative, antitumor and immunomodulatory activities (Stark et al., 1998; *Roberts et al., 1999). IFN studies have focused on two main areas; one involving the clinical use of IFN for therapeutic purposes (Gutterman, 1994), the other employing the IFN system as a paradigm to study the mammalian JAK/STAT signaling cascade (Darnell et al., 1994) that leads to IFN-stimulated gene (ISG) activation. To date, the most extensively studied ISGs include RNA-activated protein kinase (PKR), the 2′-5′ oligoadenylate synthetase and the MX proteins (Stark et al., 1998, *Der et al., 1998).
Post-transcriptional regulation of mRNA levels is a pivotal control point in gene expression. Early response genes, such as cytokines, lymphokines and proto-oncogenes are regulated by a cis-acting adenylate-uridylate-rich element (ARE) found in the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) of the mRNA (Caput et al., 1986; Shaw and Kamen, 1988; Chen and Shyu, 1995; Myer et al., 1997). Currently, three classes of destabilizing elements have been identified: AUUUA-lacking elements and AUUUA-containing elements grouped into those with scattered AUUUA motifs (such as proto-oncogenes) and those with overlapping AUUUA motifs (such as growth factors) (Chen et al., 1995; Myer et al., 1997). A transfer of 3′UTR containing ARE to 3′UTR of a stable message, such as β-globin, targets this very stable mRNA for rapid degradation (Shaw and Kamen, 1988). In contrast, the removal of an ARE stabilizes an otherwise labile message (*Miller et al., 1984; *Lee et al., 1988).
The present studies describe the cloning and initial characterization of a novel gene, Old-35, from a terminally differentiated human melanoma cDNA library. mRNA stability studies document that Old-35 mRNA, which contains ARE elements, may be stabilized in H0-1 cells by treatment with IFN-β and IFN-b+MEZ. Based on the growth suppressive effect of IFN-β on HO-1 cells, as well as the increased stability of Old-35 during confluence and senescence, it is possible that this gene plays a prominent role in growth suppression induced by this cytokine. Further experimentation is required to define the precise role of Old-35 in IFN signaling, terminal differentiation and cellular senescence. Full-length cloning and subsequent protein analyses should provide insights into the function of this potentially important gene in the processes of aging and differentiation.
Since the processes of terminal differentiation and senescence exhibit strikingly similar characteristics, it is possible that related and overlapping genes and gene expression changes associate with and mediate both of these phenomena. Old-35 was isolated by screening a subtracted human melanoma cDNA library enriched for genes related to growth arrest and terminal differentiation with RNA from senescent human fibroblasts. This cDNA encodes an IFN-β inducible gene expressed during different types of growth arrest including confluence, senescence and terminal differentiation. Old-35 RNA exhibits increased stability in IFN-β and INF-β+MEZ treated H0-1 human melanoma cells. Steady-state mRNA for Old-35 is also highly expressed in heart and brain, human tissues without active regenerative properties. Judging from the pattern of Old-35 expression, it is possible that this gene may play a prominent role during growth arrest and in this context contributes to the important processes of senescence and terminal differentiation.

Genes displaying enhanced expression during cellular senescence and terminal cell differentiation and uses thereof

Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York


A squeeze type foamed liquid dispensing device comprising a squeeze container, an inner cap threaded on the container and defining a mixing chamber receiving a secondary porous foaming member thereabout, a check valve chamber, an air intake port and an air discharge tube receiving portion, an outer or cover cap releasably fitted on the inner cap for normally closing the air intake port and having a foamed liquid jet orifice and an air discharge tube received in the air discharge tube receiving portion of the inner cap and having a primary porous foaming member thereabout.

Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a foamed liquid dispensing device.
In a prior art foamed liquid dispensing device, a fine screen mesh is interposed between the outlet in the mixing chamber where a foamable liquid and air are mixed together to provide a foamed liquid and the jet orifice in the squeeze container so that the foamed liquid can be dispensed through the orifice as a fine mist. However, the prior art foamed dispensing device of the type has the disadvantages that the amount of the foamed liquid to be dispensed varies greatly depending upon the magnitude of squeezing force to be applied to the container, that the rising extent of foam can not be maintained constant throughout the squeezing operation and is often insufficient and that the dispensing rate of the foamed liquid can not be regulated.


A method is provided for inactivating viral and/or bacterial contamination in blood cellular matter, such as erythrocytes and platelets, or protein fractions. The cells or protein fractions are mixed with chemical sensitizers, frozen or freeze-dried, and irradiated with, for example, UV, visible, gamma or X-ray radiation while in the solid state.

A major concern in the transfusion of donated, stored whole human blood or the various blood cells or protein fractions isolated from whole blood is the possibility of viral contamination. Of particular concern are the blood-borne viruses that cause hepatitis and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). While any number of cell washing protocols may reduce the viral contamination load for samples of blood cells, by physical elution of the much smaller virus particles, such washing alone is insufficient to reduce viral contamination to safe levels. In fact, some viruses are believed to be cell-associated, and unlikely to be removed by extensive washing and centrifugal pelleting of the cells. Current theory suggests that safe levels will ultimately require at least a 6 log (6 orders of magnitude) demonstrated reduction in infectious viral titre for cellular blood components. This 6 log threshold may be greater for plasma protein components, especially the clotting factors (Factor VIII, Factor IX) that are administered throughout the life of some hemophilia patients.
Viral inactivation by stringent sterilization is not acceptable since this could also destroy the functional components of the blood, particularly the erythrocytes (red blood cells) and thrombocytes (platelets) and the labile plasma proteins. Viable RBC's can be characterized by one or more of the following: capability of synthesizing ATP; cell morphology; P.sub.50 values; oxyhemoglobin, methemoglobin and hemichrome values; MCV, MCH, and MCHC values; cell enzyme activity; and in vivo survival. Thus, if lyophilized then reconstituted and virally inactivated cells are damaged to the extent that the cells are not capable of metabolizing or synthesizing ATP, or the cell circulation is compromised, then their utility in transfusion medicine is compromised.
Viral inactivation by stringent steam sterilization is not acceptable since this also destroys the functional components of the blood, particularly the blood cells and plasma proteins. Dry heat sterilization, like wet steam, is harmful to blood cells and blood proteins at the levels needed to reduce viral infectivity. Use of stabilizing agents such as carbohydrates does not provide sufficient protection to the delicate blood cells and proteins from the general effects of exposure to high temperature and pressure.
Methods that are currently employed with purified plasma protein fractions, often followed by lyophilization of the protein preparation, include treatment with organic solvents and heat or extraction with detergents to disrupt the lipid coat of membrane enveloped viruses. Lyophilization (freeze-drying) alone has not proven sufficient to inactivate viruses, or to render blood proteins sufficiently stable to the effects of heat sterilization. The organic solvent or detergent method employed with purified blood proteins cannot be used with blood cells as these chemicals destroy the lipid membrane that surrounds the cells.
Another viral inactivation approach for plasma proteins first demonstrated in 1958 has involved the use of a chemical compound, beta-propiolactone, with ultraviolet (U.V.) irradiation. This method has not found acceptance in the United States due to concern over the toxicity of beta-propiolactone in the amounts used to achieve some demonstrable viral inactivation and also due to unacceptable levels of damage to the proteins caused by the chemical agents. Concern has also been raised over the explosive potential for beta-propriolactone as well.
It is therefore a desideratum to devise an effective viral inactivation treatment for human blood components, which will not damage the valuable blood cells or proteins. The treatment must be nontoxic and selective for viruses, while allowing the intermingled blood cells or proteins to survive unharmed.
There is an immediate need to develop protocols for the deactivation of viruses that can be present in the human red blood cell supply. For example, only recently has a test been developed for Non A, Non B hepatitis, but such screening methods, while reducing the incidence of viral transmission, do not make the blood supply completely safe or virus free. Current statistics indicate that the transfusion risk per unit of transfused blood is as high as 1:100 for Non A, Non B hepatitis, and ranges from 1:40,000 to 1:1,000,000 for HIV, depending on geographic location. Clearly, it is desirable to develop a method which inactivates or removes virus indiscriminately from the blood.
Contamination problems also exist for blood plasma protein fractions, such as plasma fractions containing immune globulins and clotting factors. For example, new cases of non A, non B hepatitis have occurred in hemophilia patients receiving protein fractions containing Factor VIII which have been treated for viral inactivation according to approved methods. Therefore, there is a need for improved viral inactivation treatment of blood protein fractions.
The present invention thus provides a method for the inactivation of viral and bacterial contaminants present in blood and blood protein fractions.
The present invention also provides a method for viral or bacterial decontamination of frozen or lyophilized cells, recombinant protein preparations, blood components including red cells, platelets and leukocytes, stem cells, protein solutions or other frozen or lyophilized compositions intended for subsequent in vivo use such as plasma derived factors. The present invention involves utilization of sensitizers which bind selectively to a viral nucleic acid, coat protein or membrane envelope. The sensitizer is also a moiety which can be activated upon exposure to radiation, which may be in the form of ultra-violet radiation or ionizing radiation, such as X-rays, which can penetrate the sample containing the contamination. Damage to cells in lyophilized preparations by hydroxy radicals is minimal due to the absence of water molecules. However, while not intending to be limited to a particular theory, in frozen cell or protein containing compositions, some of the water is present in the form of ice but there is also unfrozen water trapped in a highly viscous glassy state. Water with molecules which are present in these glassy states have low mobility and may possibly form hydroxy radicals which can randomly damage cells. However, due to the low mobility in the glassy state, damage to cells from these hydroxy radicals is reduced. Therefore, by irradiating a frozen suspension of cells containing the sensitizers, random damage of the cells due to the hydroxy radicals may be avoided due to the inability of the sensitizer to migrate in the frozen suspension and the inability of the hydroxy radicals to form and migrate through the frozen suspension. In this manner, damage is localized on the targeted viral or bacterial particle.
The present invention is also applicable to inactivation of blood-borne bacterial contaminants, and to blood-borne parasitic contaminants, since such infectious organisms rely on nucleic acids for their growth and propagation. Since purified blood plasma protein fractions are substantially free of human nucleic acids, and mature human peripheral blood cells, particularly red blood cells and platelets lack their own genomic DNA/RNA, the use of nucleic acid-binding sensitizers is especially useful for the problem of treating blood contaminants.

Method of inactivation of viral and bacterial blood contaminants


A structure for reducing cross-talk in VLSI circuits is disclosed. By filling voltage and ground metal lines in free or unused channels of VLSI chips and connecting them efficiently to the regular power image of the chip, the line to line coupling through vertical layers is reduced almost to zero and in-layer line to line coupling is also drastically reduced.

Integrated circuits are continually being built and interconnected in denser and more complex packages. These circuits are being used to address high technology electronic applications and often include circuits that are designed to operate at high frequencies and at relatively high power levels. For example, many high performance digital computers are being implemented using VLSI (very large scale integration) circuits.
When used in a relatively dense electronic package, this type of circuitry must meet rigidly defined electrical and mechanical specifications. These specifications include line impedance, continuity, and minimal noise and cross-talk (cross-coupling) interferences.
Increasing device density has led to a decrease in the spacing between adjacent metal lines. Therefore, in deep-submicron technologies, cross-talk between parallel wires in the same wiring plane and between planes becomes increasingly important.
As metal lines are formed closer together, the potential for such capacitive and inductive interference between the lines increases. This interference is particularly troublesome when high frequency signals are propagated over adjacent lines in respective signal channels. The reliability of the electrical communication is thus reduced because the cross-talk acts as a source of noise which may introduce error in the communication.
Typically, adjacent wiring planes preferably have non-parallel wiring directions which reduces cross-talk to a negligible amount. However, planes i and i+2, i.e., a plane and the next but one plane, typically run in parallel direction and could generate cross-coupling.

Structure for reducing cross-talk in VLSI circuits and method of making same using filled channels to minimize cross-talk

International Business Machines Corporation


The present invention relates to novel thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) compositions that contain alkylene substituted spirocyclic compounds as chain extender and polycarbonate polyol. The present invention provides for TPUs which exhibit high temperature resistance.

The use of polyurethanes, including thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) in transfer elements, such as tubes or hoses, or coating cable systems is known in the prior art. TPUs offer a variety of benefits that extend the durability and service life of transfer elements and cable systems. This is due to outstanding abrasion resistance, high mechanical properties, high impact resistance, low temperature flexibility, good chemical resistance, high cut and tear resistance, and good environmental weathering. The state of the art shows several needs for TPUs when used in transfer elements and cable systems. Some of these needs include for example, the desire for transfer elements or cable systems used under extremely hot environmental or working conditions, such as for example meeting the high temperature requirements for Class D type cables (ISO 6722) or cables with heat ratings of 125° C. or higher (UL1581). Thus, there is a general need in the state of the art for TPU compositions that can used in systems exhibiting high temperature resistance, while maintaining other physical properties like tensile strength and elongation, for example.

Thermoplastic Polyurethane with high heat resistance


A metal laminate gasket of the invention is installed in an internal combustion engine having at least one hole therein. The gasket comprises a first metal plate, a second metal plate situated under the first metal plate, and a thin graphite layer attached to the second plate to face outwardly. The first plate includes a curved portion to define a first hole corresponding to the hole of the engine, and a flange around the first hole. The second plate has a second hole larger than the flange, so that when the first and second plates are assembled, the second plate does not pile the flange. The graphite layer fills dents or small scratches on an engine part when the gasket is installed in the engine.

The present invention relates to a steel laminate gasket of a very thin type with a graphite sheet.
A conventional steel laminate gasket is constructed by laminating several plates, and is provided with a complicated sealing portion around a hole to be sealed. Consequently, it is difficult to manufacture a steel laminate gasket with light weight. Also, productivity of a steel laminate gasket is poor. As a result, a steel laminate gasket is expensive more than other gaskets.
In a small engine, a gasket must be light weight and manufactured at a low cost. However, a conventional steel laminate gasket is heavy and expensive. Therefore, a conventional steel laminate gasket is not usually used for a small size engine.
On the other hand, when engine parts to which a gasket is attached, such as a cylinder head and a cylinder block, are manufactured, small projections, dents or scratches are formed on gasket attaching portions by cutter trace.
In order to securely seal between the engine parts by a gasket, it is necessary to fill the dents or scratches. Otherwise, fluid may leak through the dents or scratches especially when high pressure is applied to the gasket.
Conventionally, a coating is formed on an outer surface of the gasket in order to fill the dents or scratches. In case a soft coating, such as gum or synthetic resin, is applied on the gasket, the coating must be thin. Generally, the soft coating can be applied onto the gasket to fill the dents or scratches under 8-10 micrometers on the engine parts.
In case the dents or scratches are large or deep more than 8-10 micrometers, if a large amount of soft coating is applied onto the gasket, the soft coating causes flow in use, which reduces surface pressure on the gasket to cause leakage. Therefore, a large amount of a soft coating can not be applied onto the gasket.
In case the dents or scratches are deep more than 8-10 micrometers, therefore, the surface of the engine part are ground additionally for reducing the dents or scratches under 8-10 micrometers.
In U.S. Pat No. 3,841,289, graphite sheets are laminated on a metal plate, wherein when a gasket is tightened, the graphite sheets are compressed further to withstand variable cylinder pressure and temperature.
However, even if the graphite sheets are compressed at maximum density, if high heat and pressure are applied in use, the graphite sheets may partly flow to reduce surface pressure thereat.
Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a steel laminate gasket, which is light in weight and simple in structure.
Another object of the invention is to provide a steel laminate gasket as stated above, which includes a material for filling dents or scratches on engine parts without causing flow in use.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the invention.

Metal laminate gasket with graphite sheet


Processes for minimizing contact resistance when using nickel silicide (NiSi) and other similar contact materials are described. These processes include optimizing silicide surface cleaning, silicide surface passivation against oxidation and techniques for diffusion barrier/catalyst layer deposition. Additionally, processes for generating a noble metal (for example platinum, iridium, rhenium, ruthenium, and alloys thereof) activation layer that enables the electroless barrier layer deposition on a NiSi-based contact material are described. The processes may be employed when using NiSi-based materials in other end products. The processes may be employed on silicon-based materials.

Contact metallization with new contact plug materials (i.e., other than tungsten) is desirable for chip design and manufacturing. Minimizing contact resistance is further desirable for this application, and an adequate diffusion barrier atop of alternative contact materials may improve or enable these applications. In addition, diffusion barrier material possessing catalyst properties for electroless plug deposition is desired.
Ultrathin conformal barrier layer formation by electroless deposition is desirable due to the selective and conformal nature of electroless deposition processes. Since the surface of some contact materials are not catalytic toward direct electroless barrier deposition, techniques are needed for performing electroless deposition on these materials.
Palladium (Pd) is used for activation in electroless deposition processes. However, Pd is undesirable for use with contact metallization due to its diffusion into copper and silicon dioxide (SiO2).
Thus, what are needed are techniques for improving integration of various contact materials in semiconductor devices.


A blockage detection system and method for use in a sensor such as a side object detection (SOD) sensor in an automotive radar system is described. The sensor emits signals and receives return signals (i.e. reflected signals) from a passing object. If the passing object is within a virtual detection zone, the sensor uses the information from the passing object to determine if a blockage condition exists in the sensor. The technique utilizes statistics related to the passing object to determine whether a blockage condition exists within the sensor. In one embodiment, a SOD sensor mounted in a first vehicle uses information from a second passing vehicle (e.g. radar return information) to determine whether a blockage condition exists within the SOD sensor itself.

As is known in the art, the existence of foreign matter or objects on a radar such as an automotive radar sensor of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,959,570, for example, can impact the accuracy and reliability of the radar. For example, the foreign matter or objects may undesirably block one or more portions of the radar sensor transmit and/or receive antennas and in particular may block portions of the RF energy propagating to and from the transmit and receive antennas of the radar sensor.
Such blockage may, for example, be the result of an accumulation, over a period of time, of foreign matter or objects in the region of an antenna aperture. Such foreign matter may be caused for example by environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, ice, rain and the like. Such blockage can degrade, or in extreme cases even prevent, proper operation of the automotive radar sensor. If the foreign matter accumulates over time, there is a corresponding gradual decrease in sensor system performance over time. Since the accumulation is gradual, it is sometimes relatively difficult to detect the existence of antenna blockage due to the gradual accumulation of foreign matter and corresponding gradual decrease in radar sensor performance.
It would, therefore, be desirable to provide a radar which is capable of detecting blockage. It would also be desirable to provide a radar which is capable of detecting blockage due to the accumulation of foreign matter, such as mud, ice, snow or the like, on or proximate a radar radome. It would further be desirable to provide a radar which detects blockage and which notifies a system user of the existence of such blockage. It would be further desirable to provide an automotive radar sensor capable of detecting blockage. It would also be desirable to provide an automotive radar sensor which is capable of detecting blockage due to the accumulation of foreign matter, such as mud, ice, snow or the like, on the vehicle in or proximate that area of the vehicle in which the automotive sensor is mounted. It would further be desirable to provide an automotive radar sensor which detects blockage and which notifies a system user of the existence of such blockage.

Automotive radar sensor blockage detection system and related techniques


A method designates nets of a circuit for detailed parasitic impedance extraction (e.g., calculation of parasitic resistance and/or capacitance components of circuit interconnects) by comparing an estimated net impedance parameter with other circuit characteristics, such as the output resistance of a driver cell or the gate capacitance provided by load elements connected to the net. One or more threshold percentage parameters may be used in the comparison. Also, based on the designation, the estimated net impedance parameter or the detailed parasitic impedance value may be used for calculating logic delay through a logic cell driving the net. A program stored on a computer readable medium also operates to evaluate the parasitic impedance of circuit interconnects relative to other circuit characteristics and, depending on this evaluation, calculates the logic delay of a logic cell driving the net using an estimated net impedance parameter or detailed parasitic impedance parameter.

When using a computer-aided design system to design microelectronic devices, a designer typically generates a behavioral description using a high-level description language or a circuit level description using a schematic capture tool. Thereafter, the designer can incrementally simulate and verify the design using logic level models incorporating accurate timing and delay information. At this stage, the design is represented as instances of logic cells having input and/or output ports. Furthermore, the circuit description includes structures called nets, which interconnect the ports on various logic cells. An active logic cell having at least one output port connected to the net is considered a driver cell. Tri-stated cells having at least one output port connected to the net or other cells having at least one input port connected to the net are considered load cells on the net.
When a designer simulates a circuit design, it is typically necessary to determine the logic delay associated with each driver cell. A logic delay is the period of time required for a signal transition at an input of a driver cell to be propagated to the output of the cell. For example, an input signal makes a transition from low to high, crossing a threshold voltage at time t.sub.0. This input transition may cause the signal at an output of the driver cell to transition, crossing a voltage threshold at time t.sub.1. The logic delay of the example cell is (t.sub.1- t.sub.0).
Previous methods for determining logic delay through a logic cell are disclosed in W. C. Elmore, The Transient Response of Damped Linear Networks with Particular Regard to Wide-Band Amplifiers, 19 Journal of Applied Physics 55 (1948), and L. T. Pillage and R. A. Rohrer, Asymptotic Waveform Analysis for Timing Analysis, CAD-6 IEEE Transactions on Computer Aided Design for Integrated Circuits, 352 (1990), which are herein incorporated by reference.
The total logic delay for each cell may be considered to be the sum of gate delay and interconnect delay components. The gate delay is influenced by many characteristics of the circuit, including the internal characteristics of the driver cell, the rise and fall times of the input signal, and the load capacitance presented by load cells connected to the net. The interconnect delay is influenced by the parasitic net impedance provided by the metal interconnect lines between the output port of the driver cell and the ports of the load cells. The net impedance may be considered to have two components: parasitic resistance and parasitic capacitance.
Before the circuit layout is performed, the actual interconnect lengths between circuit elements are not known. Therefore, estimates of parasitic resistance and capacitance may be used for logic delay calculations in the circuit. After layout, however, the actual physical layout (length) of each net is known, and a variety of improved approximations of interconnect resistance and capacitance (RC), obtained by parasitic RC extraction, may be employed in logic delay calculations. As device and interconnect geometries decrease, the influence of interconnect impedance on total logic delay increases. Therefore, the delay attributed to interconnect impedance may rival or exceed the delay attributed to the transistor behavior of the driver cell and the effect of the load capacitances presented by load cells on the net. The impact of interconnect delay is so significant that a dominance of interconnect delay over gate delay in deep submicron IC technology is widely asserted in the academic and electronic design automation (EDA) industry press. Accordingly, improvements in parasitic RC extraction can provide more accurate design simulations by improving overall logic delay accuracy.
Fast methods of parasitic impedance extraction are available from leading EDA vendors. For example, a Detailed Standard Parasitic Format (DSPF) file for a 240,000 gate design can be extracted in 14 minutes on a SPARC20 workstation using the AQUARIUS router from AVANT! CORPORATION. This fast method, however, uses simple resistance and capacitance models wherein the parasitic resistance and capacitance for each metal layer is assumed to be a constant value per unit length.
The actual capacitance effects of a length of interconnect are not constant per unit length, varying with metal line width, dielectric thickness and other fabrication and design characteristics. Therefore, the simple extraction method produces inaccurate results for a subset of nets within a design. Particularly, the complexity of multiple interconnect layers, combined with the proximity effects due to very narrow metal spacing, can induce an error of up to 50% using the simple capacitance model. Likewise, actual interconnect resistance is not constant per unit length, varying with sheet resistance and line width. Nevertheless, the simple models are accurate for a majority of nets in a design.
Modern EDA vendors also offer advanced parasitic RC extraction software that is more accurate than the simple RC model but which require significantly longer central processor unit (CPU) run times. For example, the STAR-R software from AVANT! CORPORATION uses a 4-step extraction process. First, a capacitance-only (C-only) extraction is performed on every net in the design. Second, only resistance is extracted on every net (R-only). Third, delay calculations are performed to compare the R-only delay to the C-only delay. The delay calculations consume a significant amount of CPU time. On a net-by-net basis, if the difference between the R-only delay and the C-only delay exceeds a certain error criteria, the net is identified for detailed parasitic RC extraction. Fourth, detailed extraction is performed on the identified nets using a distributed impedance model to address the complexity of the narrow metal spacing and other deep submicron effects.
This detailed parasitic RC extraction process incurs long CPU run times, resulting in unacceptably long layout cycle times. For the same 240,000 gate design mentioned above, the CPU run time required for STAR-R on a SPARC20 is several hours. It is desirable to minimize the CPU run time required for parasitic RC extraction while maintaining acceptable accuracy of parasitic results. CPU run time can be improved by using the highest performance CPU platform available, but the growth rate of IC design complexity is keeping pace with increases in CPU clock rates. In addition, the cost of capital to purchase or lease the highest performance engineering workstations is extremely high. Furthermore, more accurate and more complex parasitic resistance and capacitance models may be employed to increase the accuracy of detailed parasitic extraction, but these models also increase the required CPU run time.
Therefore, there exists a need to select nets for which the simple parasitic model is accurate, to select the interconnect nets for which a more detailed parasitic extraction is required, and to select nets where parasitic interconnect effects are negligible. Furthermore, this method of selection must minimize CPU run time requirements so as not to contribute significantly to the CPU run time requirements of the overall parasitic RC extraction process. Accordingly, there exists a need to alleviate CPU intensive steps, such as the R-only and C-only delay calculations implemented in the STAR-R system, to achieve fast and accurate parasitic RC results.

Method and device for fast and accurate parasitic extraction


A recording and reproducing apparatus for displaying a content file list, a content file list displaying method and a recording medium storing a program performing the method, which are capable of easily identifying a paused content file and memorizing a point of the content file which reproducing is paused and content of the content file at the paused point, are provided. The method includes: determining whether or not a paused content file exists; creating a content file list capable of identifying the paused content file with reference to the result of the determination; and displaying the created content file list.

1. Field of the Invention
Methods and apparatuses consistent with the present invention relate to a recording and reproducing apparatus, and more particularly, to a recording and reproducing apparatus for displaying a content file list, a content file list displaying method, and a computer-readable recording medium for storing a program for performing the method.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, due to the widespread use of recording and reproducing apparatuses with mass storage units, such as personal video recorders (PVR), a digital video express (DivX) player, and a portable multimedia player (PMP), a massive amount of content or a plurality of contents can be stored in the recording and reproducing apparatuses.
In general, these recording and reproducing apparatuses manage the stored contents as content files and display a list of the stored content files. In a related content file list displaying function, the content file list is displayed using text information such as titles of the content files as shown in FIG. 1A or using a thumbnail created by capturing scenes of the content files as shown in FIG. 1B. When the content file list is displayed, as shown in FIG. 1B, a captured scene is generally obtained by capturing the first scene of a content file.
Though a user can identify reproducible content files on the basis of the related content file list, the user cannot identify a content file which is paused during reproduction from among the reproducible content files. Therefore, when a user pauses a content file and wants to continue reproducing the content file, the user should memorize the corresponding content file item displayed in the content file list. For example, when "Immortal Admiral Lee Sun-Shin episode 12" is paused during reproduction, a user needs to remember the name of the item that was being reproduced, i.e., "Immortal Admiral Lee Sun-Shin episode 12", in order to continue reproducing the item.
However, when the stored content files are a massive content file which has been divided into a plurality of content files, or are a series of content files as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, it is difficult for a user to memorize the item corresponding to a paused content file, since items displayed in the content file list appear to be similar to each other.
Even if the user memorizes the item corresponding to the corresponding content file, it may take too much time to search for the point at which the content file was paused, because it is difficult for the user to memorize the contents of the paused point with reference to the previously provided content file list.

Method and apparatus for generating moving picture clip and/or displaying content file list, and recording medium storing program for executing the method


A transmitting device encodes information bits of a first type of information and a second type of information into a codeword. The transmitting device interleaves the encoded information bits of the first type of information according to a first interleaving pattern and the encoded information bits of the second type of information according to a second interleaving pattern, thereby changing an order of the encoded information bits of at least one of the first type of information and the second type of information in the codeword and generating an interleaved encoded information bit sequence. At least one of the first and the second interleaving pattern is designed to allow the information bits of a first type of information to be decoded without knowing a length of the codeword. The transmitting device then transmits the interleaved encoded information bit sequence to a receiving device.

In a typical wireless communication network, wireless terminals, also known as mobile stations and/or user equipments (UEs), communicate via a Radio Access Network (RAN) to one or more core networks. The RAN covers a geographical area which is divided into cell areas, with each cell area being served by a base station, e.g., a radio base station (RBS), which in some networks may also be called, for example, a "NodeB (NB)" or "eNodeB (evolved NB)". A cell is a geographical area where radio coverage is provided by the radio base station at a base station site or an antenna site in case the antenna and the radio base station are not collocated. Each cell is identified by an identity within the local radio area, which is broadcast in the cell. Another identity identifying the cell uniquely in the whole mobile network is also broadcasted in the cell. The base stations communicate over the air interface operating on radio frequencies with the wireless terminals within range of the base stations. Transmissions from the wireless terminals to the radio base station are defined as uplink (UL) transmissions and transmissions from the radio base station to the wireless terminal is defined as downlink (DL) transmissions.
In some versions of the RAN, several base stations are typically connected, e.g., by landlines or microwave, to a controller node, such as a radio network controller (RNC) or a base station controller (BSC), which supervises and coordinates various activities of the plural base stations connected thereto. The RNCs are typically connected to one or more core networks.
A Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) is a third generation mobile communication system, which evolved from the second generation (2G) Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM). The UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN) is essentially a RAN using Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) and/or High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) for user equipments. In a forum known as the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), telecommunications suppliers propose and agree upon standards for e.g. third generation networks and further generations, and investigate enhanced data rate and radio capacity.
Specifications for the Evolved Packet System (EPS) have been completed within the 3GPP and this work continues in the coming 3GPP releases. The EPS comprises the Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN), also known as the Long Term Evolution (LTE) radio access, and the Evolved Packet Core (EPC), also known as System Architecture Evolution (SAE) core network. E-UTRAN/LTE is a variant of a 3GPP radio access technology wherein the radio base stations are directly connected to the EPC core network rather than to RNCs. In general, in E-UTRAN/LTE the functions of a RNC are distributed between the radio base stations, e.g., eNodeBs in LTE, and the core network. As such, the RAN of an EPS system has an essentially "flat" architecture comprising radio base stations without reporting to RNCs.
In a Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), a new feature, namely, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Long Range is being standardized for applications where the best possible performance and range are required. Forward error correction (FEC) coding and spreading are being introduced to improve the receiver sensitivity and range. To fully take advantage of these improvements, it is desirable that the new features, e.g. coding and spreading, being introduced work well in many different operating scenarios. Since Bluetooth operates in an unlicensed band, interference from other Bluetooth devices or other WiFi devices sharing the same unlicensed band can be expected. In many cases, such interference is bursty in the sense the interference may not last for the entire burst duration of the desired signal. The bursty interference may also occur when the entire desired burst is interfered, but the worst interference only last for a fraction of the burst duration. For such situations, an interleaver may be introduced following the encoder operation to put the data bits into a different order to add robustness to bursty interference.
Interleaver patterns need to be designed carefully to support e.g. BLE Long Range (BLR) operation. For example, a Packet Data Unit (PDU) Header of a packet, which PDU header comprises the information about a PDU Payload length, may be encoded in a same codeword as a PDU payload of the packet. Interleaver pattern however is typically determined by a length of the codeword. The PDU Payload length information and PDU Payload are coded together, and interleaving is used to improve robustness to bursty interference. However, the performance of the wireless communication network may be limited as the receiving device does not know the codeword length and cannot perform decoding operation properly.

Transmitting device, receiving device, and methods performed therein


Disclosed herein is a heat pump system for a vehicle, which includes a compressor, an air-cooled condenser mounted on a warm air passageway, expansion means and an evaporator mounted on a cold air passageway of an air-conditioning case in order to carry out heating and cooling and further includes a water-cooled condenser mounted on a refrigerant circulation line between the compressor and the air-cooled condenser to exchange heat between refrigerant and coolant, thereby reducing the number and the size of blowers and the size of the entire system because the size of the air-cooled condenser inside the warm air passageway is reduced, and decreasing power consumption and noise by reducing capacity of a motor of the blower.

In general, as shown in FIG. 1, an air conditioner system for a vehicle has a refrigeration cycle that includes: a compressor 1 for compressing and discharging refrigerant; a condenser 2 for condensing the refrigerant of high pressure discharged from the compressor 1; an expansion valve 3 for throttling the refrigerant condensed and liquefied in the condenser 2; and an evaporator 4 for exchanging heat between the liquefied refrigerant of low pressure throttled by the expansion valve 3 and air blown to the interior of the vehicle and evaporating the refrigerant to cool the air discharged to the interior of the vehicle due to heat absorption by evaporative latent heat, and that the compressor 1, the condenser 2, the expansion valve 3 and the evaporator 4 are connected with each other via refrigeration pipes. The air conditioner system cools the interior of the vehicle through the following refrigerant circulation process.
When a cooling switch (not shown) of the air conditioner system is turned on, first, the compressor 1 inhales and compresses gas-phase refrigerant of low-temperature and low-pressure while driving by driving power of an engine or a motor, and then sends the refrigerant in the gaseous phase of high-temperature and high-pressure to the condenser 2. Then, the condenser 2 condenses the gas-phase refrigerant into liquid-phase refrigerant of high-temperature and high-pressure by exchanging heat with outdoor air. After that, the liquid-phase refrigerant of high-temperature and high-pressure sent from the condenser 2 rapidly expands by a throttling action of the expansion valve 3 and is sent to the evaporator 4 in a wet-saturated state of low-temperature and low-pressure. The evaporator 4 exchanges heat between the refrigerant and air blown to the interior of the vehicle by a blower (not shown). Then, the refrigerant is evaporated in the evaporator 4 and discharged in a gaseous phase of low-temperature and low-pressure. After that, the gas-phase refrigerant is inhaled into the compressor 1, and then, recirculates the refrigeration cycle as described above.
The evaporator is mounted inside the air-conditioning case mounted to the interior of the vehicle to cool the interior of the vehicle. That is, the air blown by the blower (not shown) is cooled by evaporative latent heat of the liquid-phase refrigerant circulating inside the evaporator 4 and discharged to the interior of the vehicle in a cooled state so as to cool the interior of the vehicle.
Moreover, the interior of the vehicle is heated by a heater core (not shown) which is mounted inside the air-conditioning case and through which coolant of the engine circulates or by an electric heater (not shown) mounted inside the air-conditioning case.
In the meantime, the condenser 2 is mounted at the front side of the vehicle to radiate heat while exchanging heat with air.
Recently, a heat pump system which carries out heating and cooling only using a refrigeration cycle has been developed. As shown in FIG. 2, such a heat pump system includes: a cold air passageway 11 and a warm air passageway 12 which are respectively formed at the left and the right inside one air-conditioning case 10; an evaporator 4 mounted on the cold air passageway 11 for cooling; and an air-cooled condenser 2 mounted on the warm air passageway 12 for heating.
In this instance, an air outflow port 15 is formed at an outlet of the air-conditioning case 10 for supplying air to the interior of the vehicle, and an air discharge port 16 is also formed at the exist of the air-conditioning case 10 for discharging air to the exterior of the vehicle.
Furthermore, blowers 20 are respectively mounted at inlets of the cold air passageway 11 and the warm air passageway 12.
Therefore, in a cooling mode, cold air cooled while passing through the evaporator 4 of the cold air passageway 11 is discharged to the interior of the vehicle through the air outflow port 15 to cool the interior of the vehicle, and in this instance, warm air heated while passing through the air-cooled condenser 2 of the warm air passageway 12 is discharged to the exterior of the vehicle through the air discharge port 16.
In a heating mode, warm air heated while passing through the air-cooled condenser 2 of the warm air passageway 12 is discharged to the interior of the vehicle through the air outflow port 15 to heat the interior of the vehicle, and in this instance, cold air cooled while passing through the evaporator 4 of the cold air passageway 11 is discharged to the exterior of the vehicle through the air discharge port 16.
However, in case of the prior art, in order to construct the air-cooled condenser 2 requiring lots of radiant values, the size or thickness of the air-cooled condenser 2 must be increased and the size of the blower 20 and the capacity of a motor of the blower 20 must be also increased to supply a lot of air volume to the air-cooled condenser 2. After all, the whole size of the system is increased.
Additionally, for radiant heat of the air-cooled condenser 2 increased in size, the system requires a large-capacity blower 20 and a large-capacity motor, and it causes an increase of power consumption and an increase of noise due to lots of air volume.


A method to control a wind power installation is provided. The wind power installation includes a generator and a converter. The generator is configured to convert wind power into electrical power and to provide the electrical power from the generator to the converter. The converter is configured to adapt and to provide the electrical power to an electrical grid. The converter is operable to comply with pre-determined grid code requirements during a grid fault. An amount of electrical power, which is present in the wind power installation during the grid fault, is fed into the generator. The generator is operable to convert the respective amount of electrical power into a generator loss.

Wind power installations, like wind turbines or wind power plants, have to comply with given and specified grid codes, which are ruling the behavior of the wind power installations for given situations. These grid codes are specified in dependency of the capabilities of a given grid in a given country. Thus the grid codes known might differ from country to country.
The grid frequency is scheduled and fixed for a given electrical grid. The frequency is influenced by the amount of active power, being fed into the grid by power installations, and by the amount of active power, being consumed and thus taken out of the grid. A shift of this balance results in a grid frequency change. A grid frequency change, which is outside a given tolerance band, is supposed to be a grid fault.
Given grid codes stipulate for this case, that wind power installations have to reduce the feed-in of active power to counteract a rise in the grid frequency or that wind power installations have to increase the feed-in of active power to counteract a fall in the grid frequency.
The grid voltage, which is scheduled and fixed for a given electrical grid, is influenced by reactive power. The reactive power is given and influenced by components of power installations and their technical behavior and of consumers, which are connected to the grid as well.
A grid voltage change, which is below a given tolerance, is supposed to be a grid fault. Given grid codes stipulate for this case, that wind power installations have to increase at least reactive power to counteract a fall in the grid voltage.
Thus the grid codes address the behavior of wind power installations in case of specified grid faults. Respective grid fault functionalities are known as "Frequency Ride Through, FRT" or as "Low Voltage Ride Through, LVRT" for example.
The grid codes aim for a specified and known behavior of the wind power installations during grid faults. If possible they should stay connected with the electrical grid instead of disconnecting thus a faster grid fault response of the wind power installations in view to the stability of the electrical grid is ensured.
If a wind turbine is exposed to the consequences of a grid fault, the load situation, which is acting on the rotating parts of a wind turbine (rotor, hub, shaft, generator) is decreased. Thus results in higher speed and in higher vibrations as the load, acting on the components, is changed. This rotational kinetic energy is present in the wind power installation during the grid fault and needs to be handled in a specific way to avoid harming of components.
Load changes will be experienced most at the rotating blades of the wind turbine, if the wind turbine is a so called "direct drive" wind turbine (thus there is no gear box connected with the generator). The load changes will result in a kind of "whiplash", which put high strains on the blades and thus causing excessive wear and damages.
It is known to use resistive loads in a converter of a wind power installation to reduce the electrical power, which is present in the wind power installation during the fault.
Thus redundant power will not damage the wind turbine converter or other components.
It is even known to use so called "dumpload" resistors in the wind power installation. They are used to convert redundant power into heat. Due to the function of the resistors they show a considerable size, weight and price.

Control methods for converting an amount of electric power into a loss for managing consequences of a grid fault