A positioner facilitates docking and undocking of an electronic test head with a device handler. The positioner provides for rotation of the test head about a first axis. The positioner includes a linkage arm structure for moving the test head along a second axis orthogonal to the first axis. Using motors, sensors and a processor, the linkage arm structure accurately docks the electronic test head with the device handler.

In the automatic testing of integrated circuits (IC) and other electronic devices, special device handlers have been used which brings the device to the proper temperature and places the device to be tested in position. The electronic testing itself is provided by a large and expensive automatic testing system which includes a test head which has been required to connect to and dock with the device handler. In such testing systems, the test head has usually been very heavy--on the order of 40 to 300 kilograms. The reason for this heaviness is that the test head uses precision high frequency control and data signals so that the electronic circuits may be located as close as possible to the device under test. Accordingly, the test head has been densely packaged with electronic circuits in order to achieve the accurate high speed testing of the sophisticated devices.
Test head positioner systems may be used to position the test head with respect to the device handler. When the test head is accurately in position with respect to the device handler, the test head and the device handler are said to be aligned. When the test head and device handler are aligned, the fragile test head and device handler electrical connectors can be brought together (i.e. docked), enabling the transfer of test signals between the test head and the device handler. Prior to docking, the fragile test head and device handler electrical connectors must be precisely aligned to avoid damaging the fragile electrical connectors.
A positioner, able to move along a support structure, carries the test head to the desired location at which the test head is positioned to connect to and dock with the device handler. The test head is attached to the positioners so that the test head can achieve up to six degrees of freedom (X, Y, Z, .theta.X, .theta.Y, .theta.Z).
Test heads, and their respective positioners, are often used in an ultraclean room environment. However, ultraclean room environments are often extremely expensive to provide. Thus, the useable space within an ultraclean environment is only available at a premium.
A variety of test head manipulators are currently available for use in ultraclean room environments. Although some of these test head manipulators have a variety of desirable features, the amount of space which each of these test head manipulators requires for proper operation may be undesirable.
As device testing in general, and the use of test head and device handlers in particular becomes developed to handle ever more increasingly complex tasks, test heads continue to get larger and larger. This increase relates both to the physical size and weight of the test head. However, as test heads get larger and larger, fully manual, fully balanced methods become ever more difficult to actually implement in hardware.

Method and apparatus for automated docking of a test head to a device handler


A recorded signal representing a recorded sound generated by a sound generation source is reproduced. A type of a sound generation source of a performance sound represented by a performance signal is specified. A sound volume of the recorded signal is reduced in a case where the sound generation source of the recorded signal corresponds to the specified type of the sound generation source.

1. Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a technique for controlling reproduction of a sound signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a technique for specifying the type of a sound generation source based on various sounds such as singing voice or performance sound of a musical instrument has been proposed. For example, JP2013-15601A discloses a technique in which feature data generated by analysis of a recorded sound is successively collated with registered feature data registered for each type of sound generation source in a sound source database, thus specifying the type of the sound generation source of the recorded sound.

Sound processing device and sound processing method


An information recording medium includes a data recording area for recording data; a first drive information area for recording first drive information; and a second drive information area for recording second drive information. The first drive information and the second drive information each include a plurality of recording and reproduction conditions, and the plurality of recording and reproduction conditions each define an operation condition of an information recording and reproduction apparatus, which can have the information recording medium mounted thereon, for recording and reproducing the data. The plurality of recording and reproduction conditions are arranged in the order of time at which the plurality of recording and reproduction conditions are recorded.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information recording medium including a drive information area for recording drive information including a plurality of recording and reproduction conditions, and an information recording and reproduction method and an information recording and reproduction apparatus for the information recording medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
As one type of information recording medium having a sector structure, optical disks are known. Since the recording density and capacity of optical disks have recently been improved, it is important to guarantee the reliability of the optical disks. For this purpose, optical disk apparatuses perform adjusting processing for finding recording and reproduction conditions.
The recording and reproduction conditions heavily rely on the characteristics of optical disks and optical disk apparatuses. Adjusting processing for finding the recording and reproduction conditions needs to be performed after an optical disk is mounted on an optical disk apparatus in repetition, for example, each time the optical disk apparatus is started, or each time the characteristics of the optical disk or optical disk apparatus are changed by a factor such as, for example, a temperature change.
Recently, more precise recording and reproduction conditions have been demanded due to further improvement in the density and the capacity of optical disks. However, there are problems in that it requires a longer period of time for adjusting processing to obtain more precise recording and reproduction conditions, and as a result the wait time of the optical disk apparatus is extended.
According to one aspect of the invention, an information recording medium includes a data recording area for recording data; a first drive information area for recording first drive information; and a second drive information area for recording second drive information. The first drive information and the second drive information each include a plurality of recording and reproduction conditions, and the plurality of recording and reproduction conditions are arranged in the order of time at which the plurality of recording and reproduction conditions are recorded.
In one embodiment of the invention, the plurality of recording and reproduction conditions each define an operation condition of an information recording and reproduction apparatus, which can have the information recording medium mounted thereon, for recording and reproducing the data.
In one embodiment of the invention, the first drive information and the second drive information are updated so as to have identical contents with each other.
In one embodiment of the invention, the first drive information area and the second drive information area are each formed of N ECC blocks for calculating an error correction code, the N ECC blocks each include a plurality of sectors, the plurality of recording and reproduction conditions are each recorded in a corresponding sector among the plurality of sectors, and N is an integer of 1 or greater.
In one embodiment of the invention, the first drive information area and the second drive information area are each formed of a single ECC block, the single ECC block includes 16 sectors, and 16 recording and reproduction conditions are each recorded in a corresponding sector among the 16 sectors.
According to another aspect of the invention, an information recording and reproduction method is provided for an information recording medium including a data recording area for recording data, a first drive information area for recording first drive information, and a second drive information area for recording second drive information. The first drive information and the second drive information each include a plurality of recording and reproduction conditions. The method includes the steps of (a) determining whether or not the first drive information can be read from the first drive information area; (b) determining whether or not the plurality of recording and reproduction conditions included in the first drive information include a recording and reproduction condition usable by an information recording and reproduction apparatus having the information recording medium mounted thereon; and (c) when the first drive information can be read and the first drive information does not include the usable recording and reproduction condition, adjusting a new recording and reproduction condition usable by the information recording and reproduction apparatus having the information recording medium mounted thereon, and using the new recording and reproduction condition and the first drive information to update the first drive information and the second drive information.
In one embodiment of the invention, the plurality of recording and reproduction conditions each define an operation condition of an information recording and reproduction apparatus, which can have the information recording medium mounted thereon, for recording and reproducing the data.
In one embodiment of the invention, the information recording and reproduction method further includes the step of: when the first drive information can be read, using the first drive information to record and reproduce the data.
In one embodiment of the invention, the step (c) includes the step of recording the recording and reproduction condition usable by the information recording and reproduction apparatus having the information recording medium mounted thereon, the recording and reproduction condition being recorded in the first drive information as the recording and reproduction condition recorded in the first drive information most recently.
In one embodiment of the invention, the first drive information area and the second drive information area each include areas assigned numbers 0 through 15. The first drive information and the second drive information each include 16 recording and reproduction condition. The 16 recording and reproduction conditions are written in the areas of each of the first drive information area and the second drive information area assigned numbers 0 through 15 in the order from the recording and reproduction condition recorded on the information recording medium most recently to the recording and reproduction condition recorded on the information recording medium least recently. The step (c) includes the steps of (c-1) writing contents of the recording and reproduction conditions, which are written in the areas of the first drive information area assigned numbers 0 through 14, into the areas of each of the first drive information area and the second drive information area assigned numbers 1 through 15; and (c-2) writing a content of the new recording and reproduction condition in the area of each of the first drive information area and the second drive information area assigned number 0.
In one embodiment of the invention, the information recording and reproduction method further includes the step of (d) when the first drive information can be read and the first drive information includes the usable recording and reproduction condition, using the usable recording and reproduction condition and the first drive information to update the first drive information and the second drive information.
In one embodiment of the invention, the first drive information area and the second drive information area each include areas assigned numbers 0 through 15. The first drive information and the second drive information each include 16 recording and reproduction conditions. The 16 recording and reproduction conditions are written in the areas of each of the first drive information area and the second drive information area assigned numbers 0 through 15 in the order from the recording and reproduction condition recorded on the information recording medium most recently to the recording and reproduction condition recorded on the information recording medium least recently. The usable recording and reproduction condition is written in an area of the first drive information area assigned number m. The step (d) includes the steps of (d-1) reading the usable recording and reproduction condition from the area of the first drive information area assigned number m; (d-2) writing contents of the recording and reproduction conditions, which are written in the area of the first drive information area assigned numbers 0 through (mxe2x88x921), into the areas of each of the first drive information area and the second drive information area assigned numbers 1 through m; and (d-3) writing the content of the read usable recording and reproduction condition in the area of each of the first drive information area and the second drive information area assigned number 0.
In one embodiment of the invention, the first drive information area is formed of N ECC blocks for calculating an error correction code, the N ECC blocks each include a plurality of sectors, the plurality of recording and reproduction conditions included in the first drive information are each recorded in a corresponding sector among the plurality of sectors, and N to an integer of 1 or greater.
In one embodiment of the invention, the determination on whether or not the first drive information can be read is performed based on whether or not the reproduction of all the N ECC blocks included in the first drive information area has been successful.
In one embodiment of the invention, the information recording and reproduction method further includes the steps of (e) determining whether or not the second drive information can be read from the second drive information area; (f) determining whether or not the plurality of recording and reproduction conditions included in the second drive information include a recording and reproduction condition usable by the information recording and reproduction apparatus having the information recording medium mounted thereon; and (g) when the first drive information cannot be read, the second drive information can be read, and the second drive information does not include the usable recording and reproduction condition, adjusting a new recording and reproduction condition usable by the information recording and reproduction apparatus having the information recording medium mounted thereon, and using the now recording and reproduction condition and the second drive information to update the first drive information and the second drive information.
In one embodiment of the invention, the information recording and reproduction method further includes the step of: when the second drive information can be read, using the second drive information to record and reproduce the data.
In one embodiment of the invention, wherein the step (g) includes the step of recording the recording and reproduction condition usable by the information recording and reproduction apparatus having the information recording medium mounted thereon, the recording and reproduction condition being recorded in the second drive information as the recording and reproduction condition recorded in the second drive information most recently.
In one embodiment of the invention, the first drive information area and the second drive information area each include areas assigned numbers 0 through 15. The first drive information and the second drive information each include 16 recording and reproduction conditions. The 16 recording and reproduction conditions are written in the areas of each of the first drive information area and the second drive information area assigned numbers 0 through 15 in the order from the recording and reproduction condition recorded on the information recording medium most recently to the recording and reproduction condition recorded on the information recording medium least recently. The step (g) includes the steps of (g-1) writing contents of the recording and reproduction conditions, which are written in the areas of the second drive information area assigned numbers 0 through 14, into the areas of each of the first drive information area and the second drive information area assigned numbers 1 through 15; and (g-2) writing a content of the new recording and reproduction condition in the area of each of the first drive information area and the second drive information area assigned number 0.
In one embodiment of the invention, the information recording and reproduction method further includes the step of (h) when the first drive information cannot be read, the second drive information can be read, and the second drive information includes the usable recording and reproduction condition, using the usable recording and reproduction condition and the second drive information to update the first drive information and the second drive information.
In one embodiment of the invention, the first drive information area and the second drive information area each include areas assigned numbers 0 through 15. The first drive information and the second drive information each include 16 recording and reproduction conditions. The 16 recording and reproduction conditions are written in the areas of each of the first drive information area and the second drive information area assigned numbers 0 through 15 in the order from the recording and reproduction condition recorded on the information recording medium most recently to the recording and reproduction condition recorded on the information recording medium least recently. The usable recording and reproduction condition is written in the area of the second information area assigned number m. The step (h) includes the steps of (h-1) reading the usable recording and reproduction condition from the area of the second drive information area assigned number m; (h-2) writing contents of the recording and reproduction conditions, which are written in the areas of the second drive information area assigned numbers 0 through (m-1), into the areas of each of the first drive information area and the second drive information area assigned numbers 1 through m: and (h-3) writing a content of the read usable recording and reproduction condition in the area of each of the first drive information area and the second drive information area assigned number 0.
In one embodiment of the invention, the second drive information area is formed of N ECC blocks for calculating an error correction code, the N ECC blocks each include a plurality of sectors, the plurality of recording and reproduction conditions included in the second drive information are each recorded in a corresponding sector among the plurality of sectors, and N is an integer of 1 or greater.
In one embodiment of the invention, the determination on whether or not the second drive information can be read is performed based on whether or not the reproduction of all the N ECC blocks included in the second drive information area has been successful.
In one embodiment of the invention, the information recording and reproduction method further includes the step of (i) when the first drive information cannot be read and the second drive information cannot be read, adjusting a new recording and reproduction condition usable by the information recording and reproduction apparatus having the information recording medium mounted thereon, and using the new recording and reproduction condition to update the first drive information and the second drive information.
In one embodiment of the invention, the first drive information area and the second drive information area each include areas assigned numbers 0 through 15. The first drive information and the second drive information each include 16 recording and reproduction conditions. The 16 recording and reproduction conditions are written in the areas of each of the first drive information area and the second drive information area assigned numbers 0 through 15 in the order from the recording and reproduction condition recorded on the information recording medium most recently to the recording and reproduction condition recorded on the information recording medium least recently. The step (i) includes the steps of (i-1) writing a content of the new recording and reproduction condition in the area of each of the first drive information area and the second drive information area assigned number 0; and (i-2) filling the contents of the recording and reproduction conditions, which are written in the areas of each of the first drive information area and the second drive information area assigned numbers 1 through 15, with xe2x80x9c00xe2x80x9dh.
According to still another aspect of the invention, an information recording and reproduction apparatus is provided for an information recording medium including a data recording area for recording data, a first drive information area for recording first drive information, and a second drive information area for recording second drive information. The first drive information and the second drive information each include a plurality of recording and reproduction conditions. The apparatus includes a drive information read section; an adjusting processing section; and a drive information update section. The drive information read section determines whether or not the first drive information can be read from the first drive information area; the adjusting processing section determines whether or not the plurality of recording and reproduction conditions included in the first drive information include a recording and reproduction condition usable by the information recording and reproduction apparatus; and when the first drive information can be read and the first drive information does not include the usable recording and reproduction condition, the adjusting processing section adjusts a new recording and reproduction condition usable by the information recording and reproduction apparatus, and the drive information update section uses the new recording and reproduction condition and the first drive information to update the first drive information and the second drive information.
In one embodiment of the invention, the plurality of recording and reproduction conditions each define an operation condition of an information recording and reproduction apparatus, which can have the information recording medium mounted thereon, for recording and reproducing the data.
In one embodiment of the invention, the information recording and reproduction apparatus further includes a control section for, when the first drive information can be read, using the first drive information to record and reproduce the data.
In one embodiment of the invention, the drive information update section records the recording and reproduction condition usable by the information recording and reproduction apparatus in the first drive information as the recording and reproduction condition recorded in the first drive information most recently.
In one embodiment of the invention, the first drive information area and the second drive information area each include areas assigned numbers 0 through 15. The first drive information and the second drive information each include 16 recording and reproduction conditions. The 16 recording and reproduction conditions are written in the areas of each of the first drive information area and the second drive information area assigned numbers 0 through 15 in the order from the recording and reproduction condition recorded on the information recording medium most recently to the recording and reproduction condition recorded on the information recording medium least recently. The drive information update section writes contents of the recording and reproduction conditions, which are written in the areas of the first drive information area assigned numbers 0 through 14, into the areas of each of the first drive information area and the second drive information area assigned numbers 1 through 15, and writes a content of the new recording and reproduction condition in the area of each of the first drive information area and the second drive information area assigned number 0.
In one embodiment of the invention, when the first drive information can be read and the first drive information includes the usable recording and reproduction condition, the drive information update section uses the usable recording and reproduction condition and the first drive information to update the first drive information and the second drive information.
In one embodiment of the invention, the first drive information area and the second drive information area each include areas assigned numbers 0 through 15. The first drive information and the second drive information each include 16 recording and reproduction conditions. The 16 recording and reproduction conditions are written in the areas of each of the first drive information area and the second drive information area assigned numbers 0 through 15 in the order from the recording and reproduction condition recorded on the information recording medium most recently to the recording and reproduction condition recorded on the information recording medium least recently. The usable recording and reproduction condition is written in an area of the first drive information area assigned number m. The drive information update section reads the usable recording and reproduction condition from the area of the first drive information area assigned m, writes contents of the recording and reproduction conditions, which are written in the areas of the first drive information area assigned numbers 0 through (mxe2x88x921), into the areas of each of the first drive information area and the second drive information area assigned numbers 1 through m, and writes the content of the read usable recording and reproduction condition in the areas of each of the first drive information area and the second drive information area assigned number 0.
In one embodiment of the invention, the first drive information area is formed of N ECC blocks for calculating an error correction code, the N ECC blocks each include a plurality of sectors, the plurality of recording and reproduction conditions included in the first drive information are each recorded in a corresponding sector among the plurality of sectors, and N is an integer of 1 or greater.
In one embodiment of the invention, the determination on whether or not the first drive information can be read is performed based on whether or not the reproduction of all the N ECC blocks included in the first drive information area has been successful.
In one embodiment of the invention, the drive information read section determines whether or not the second drive information can be read from the second drive information area. The adjusting processing section determines whether or not the plurality of recording and reproduction conditions included in the second drive information include a recording and reproduction condition usable by the information recording and reproduction apparatus. When the first drive information cannot be read, the second drive information can be read, and the second drive information does not include the usable recording and reproduction condition, the adjusting processing section adjusts a new recording and reproduction condition usable by the information recording and reproduction apparatus, and the drive information update section uses the new recording and reproduction condition and the second drive information to update the first drive information and the second drive information.
In one embodiment of the invention, the information recording and reproduction apparatus further includes a control section for, when the second drive information can be read, using the second drive information to record and reproduce the data.
In one embodiment of the invention, the drive information update section records the recording and reproduction condition usable by the information recording and reproduction apparatus in the second drive information as the recording and reproduction condition recorded in the second drive information most recently.
In one embodiment of the invention, the first drive information area and the second drive information area each include areas assigned numbers 0 through 15. The first drive information and the second drive information each include 16 recording and reproduction conditions. The 16 recording and reproduction conditions are written in the areas of each of the first drive information area and the second drive information area assigned numbers 0 through 15 in the order from the recording and reproduction condition recorded on the information recording medium most recently to the recording and reproduction condition recorded on the information recording medium least recently. The drive information update section writes contents of the recording and reproduction conditions, which are written in the areas of the second drive information area assigned numbers 0 through 14, into the areas of each of the first drive information area and the second drive information area assigned numbers 1 through 15, and writes a content of the new recording and reproduction condition in the area of each of the first drive information area and the second drive information area assigned number 0.
In one embodiment of the invention, when the first drive information cannot be read, the second drive information can be read, and the second drive information includes the usable recording and reproduction condition, the drive update section uses the usable recording and reproduction condition and the second drive information to update the first drive information and the second drive information.
In one embodiment of the invention, the first drive information area and the second drive information area each include areas assigned numbers 0 through 15. The first drive information and the second drive information each include 16 recording and reproduction conditions. The 16 recording and reproduction conditions are written in the areas of each of the first drive information area and the second drive information area assigned numbers 0 through 15 in the order from the recording and reproduction condition recorded on the information recording medium most recently to the recording and reproduction condition recorded on the information recording medium least recently. The usable recording and reproduction condition is written in an area of the second drive information area assigned number m. The drive information update section reads the usable recording and reproduction condition from the area of the second drive information area assigned m, writes contents of the recording and reproduction conditions, which are written in the areas of the second drive information area assigned numbers 0 through (mxe2x88x921), into the areas of each of the first drive information area and the second drive information area assigned numbers 1 through m, and writes the content of the read usable recording and reproduction condition in the areas of each of the first drive information area and the second drive information area assigned number 0.
In one embodiment of the invention, the second drive information area is formed of N ECC blocks for calculating an error correction code, the N ECC blocks each include a plurality of sectors, the plurality of recording and reproduction conditions included in the second drive information are each recorded in a corresponding sector among the plurality of sectors, and N is an integer of 1 or greater.
In one embodiment of the invention, the determination on whether or not the second drive information can be read in performed based on whether or not the reproduction of all the N ECC blocks included in the second drive information area has been successful.
In one embodiment of the invention, when the first drive information cannot be read and the second drive information cannot be read, the adjusting processing section adjusts a now recording and reproduction condition usable by the information recording and reproduction apparatus, and the drive information update section uses the new recording and reproduction condition to update the first drive information and the second drive information.
In one embodiment of the invention, the first drive information area and the second drive information area each include areas assigned numbers 0 through 15. The first drive information and the second drive information each include 16 recording and reproduction conditions. The 16 recording and reproduction conditions are written in the areas of each of the first drive information area and the second drive information area assigned numbers 0 through 15 in the order from the recording and reproduction condition recorded on the information recording medium most recently to the recording and reproduction condition recorded on the information recording medium least recently. The drive information update section writes a content of the new recording and reproduction condition in the area of each of the first drive information area and the second drive information area assigned number 0, and fills the contents of the recording and reproduction conditions, which are written in the areas of each of the first drive information area and the second drive information area assigned numbers 1 through 15, with xe2x80x9c00xe2x80x9dh.
Thus, the invention described herein makes possible the advantages of providing an information recording medium, an information recording and reproduction method, and an information recording and reproduction apparatus for reducing a time period required for adjusting processing performed to find recording and reproduction conditions.
These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying figures.

Information recording medium, information recording and reproduction method, and information recording and reproduction apparatus

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A transmission line is provided with a fixed physical length and a programmable electrical length for achieving a programmable time delay. The transmission line can include a dielectric and a biasing device disposed across the dielectric, and the biasing device can dynamically and continuously vary an absolute level of a bias voltage across the dielectric to vary a dielectric constant of the dielectric, which can vary a time delay of the transmission line. In some embodiments, the biasing device can modulate the bias voltage from a positive voltage to a negative voltage at a frequency and with waveform characteristics that prevent such modulation from interfering with a signal propagating through the dielectric, that prevent the bias voltage from unintentionally varying the time delay of the transmission line when the absolute level of the bias voltage is constant, and that prevents ion impurities within the dielectric from accumulating on bias electrodes.

Phase shifters are widely known, made, and used. For example, many known ESA antennas employ programmable phase shifters to form phased arrays. While phased arrays provide many advantages, they also include various disadvantages.
Time delays are known in the art, but array antennas that employ time delays in lieu of phase delays have been difficult to achieve. Accordingly, there is a continuing, ongoing need for an ESA antenna that employs programmable time delays to form timed arrays as opposed to phase arrays.

Active, electronically scanned array antenna


A method of using a heat exchanger efficiently and uniformly to cool or heats portions to be controlled to a prescribed temperature, and then continuously carry out stable processing. The heat exchanger is constructed by arranging partition walls between two plates to form a fluid channel and a fin parallel with the channel or inclined by a prescribed angle on each of the two plates insides the channel so that the plate or a member in contact with the plate is cooled or heated with the fluid flowing through the channel.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a substrate processing apparatus and, more particularly, to a semiconductor processing apparatus equipped with a heat exchanger having an excellent temperature control performance.
2. Related Art
A substrate, an opposite electrode, a target and the like in plasma processing apparatuses such as a sputtering apparatus or an etching apparatus used for manufacturing a semiconductor device or a liquid crystal display panel are heated by the plasma or the ion bombardment. Therefore, in order to prevent a temperature rise and perform stable processing continuously, a cooling mechanism is installed, which maintains them at a predetermined temperature.
For example, in a cooling mechanism of sputtering target, as shown in FIG. 6, a depression which a cooling water pass through is formed in the rear face of a backing plate 102 on which a target 101 is fixed, and the backing plate is fixed on a target holder 103 so as to cover the depression (JP6-172988A). Fins 104 are provided in the depression to reinforce the plate and to form a cooling water channel 106. The target 101 is cooled with the cooling water which is introduced into channel 106 from a cooling water inlet port 105 and is discharged from an outlet 107. Thus, with the reinforcement fin 104, the backing plate can be made thinner, which therefore improves the efficiency to cool the target
Similarly, the coolant channels are also provided inside a substrate holder and an opposite electrode of etching apparatus. The coolant flowing through the channel maintains the substrate and the gas emitting plate at a predetermined temperature to attain stable processing.
However, when semiconductor devices such as LSI are requested to have the higher density and the higher degree of integration to a design rule of 0.13 μm, the cooling capacity of cooling mechanism became insufficient and caused to increase the temperature distribution over the substrate, and made it difficult to maintain the uniformity of etching rate. Therefore, it was necessary to increase the cooling capacity by lowering the temperature of coolant, or increasing the flow rate. However, this method increases the loads of a coolant pump and, for example, a chiller of thermostatic bath, resulting in cost rise of apparatus.
Furthermore, since the shape of, e.g., the contact holes to be formed is sharply changed with the temperature of substrate, the temperature rise must be as small as possible during the processing for a single substrate from the etching processing beginning to the end. Accordingly, the heat transfer of cooling mechanism should be improved so as to be able to adopt the coolant at a higher temperature.
Then, the present inventors have investigated and examined the relation between the internal structure of a heat exchanger and the cooling capacity, and found that the cooling efficiency is improved by providing fins inside the cooling channels and further improved without the conductance drop of flow by providing the fins nealy parallel with the flow direction.
The spacing of fins is preferably made as small as possible in order to further increase the cooling efficiency. However, when the spacing becomes small to a certain degree, a cutting tool cannot enter into the groove between the fins. That is, the fin structure wherein the spacing is less than the width of cutting tool has not been able to be fabricated and in other words the higher fin density has been actually impossible. Then, the present inventors attempted to fix the fins with, e.g., blazing and found that the heat transfer was sometimes decreased in the blazed positions. The fins were not aligned precisely, which caused the non-uniform flow. Thus, the temperature distribution became non-uniform over the whole substrate surface to deteriorate the etching characteristics and its uniformity.

Semiconductor device manufacturing method


The instant invention is directed to a process for the production of a light fast, transparent polyurethane elastomer comprising reacting:. (A) from 90 to 50% by weight, based on the polyurethane solids content, of a compound having a molecular weight of from 400 to 10,000 which has at least two Zerewitinoff active hydrogen atoms; PA1 (B) from 50 to 10% by weight, based on the polyurethane solids content, of an aliphatic and/or alicyclic polyisocyanate; and PA1 (C) from 0 to 20% by weight, based on the polyurethane solids content, of a chain-lengthening agent having a molecular weight of from 60 to 400; in the presence of: PA1 (D) catalysts for the isocyanate polyaddition reaction, the improvement wherein said catalysts, component (D), is a catalyst combination of:. (a) an alkali metal hydroxide and/or alkaline earth metal hydroxide; and PA2 (b) an organometallic compound selected from the group consisting of the acetyl acetonate of iron, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alcoholates, phenolates, enolates and/or acetyl acetonates of metals of the 4th main group or sulfur-containing compounds of metals of the 4th main group, in which compounds the sulfur is directly attached to the metal atom.

This invention relates to a process for the production of light fast, transparent casting elastomers using novel catalyst combinations. The polyurethanes produced according to the present invention may be used for various purposes, e.g. as coating or sealing compounds, in packaging foils or in the bio-medical field.
It is known that polyurethane systems based on aromatic diisocyanates (e.g. tolylene diisocyanate, diisocyanatodiphenyl methane, etc.) undergo severe yellowing under prolonged exposure to light, even if they have been light stabilized, and therefore do not fulfill the requirements for the areas of usage mentioned above. It is also known that polyurethanes which are based on aliphatic or alicyclic polyisocyanates, in particular polyurethane lacquers of this type, generally do not show such a tendency to yellowing.
Using aliphatic or alicyclic polyisocyanates for the production of light fast transparent polyurethane elastomers has hitherto failed to be used commercially because of the severe cloudiness which occurs in the course of the polyaddition reaction, the inadequate heat resistance and the inferior mechanical properties of the elastomers.
In German Auslegeschrift No. 1,745,418 there is described a process for the production of cellular or non-cellular molded polyurethane articles based on aromatic or aliphatic polyisocyanates in which the catalysts used for the polyisocyanate polyaddition reaction are diazabicyclo compounds, e.g. 1-8-diazabicyclo-(5,4,0)-undecene or its ammonium salts, optionally in combination with organo-metallic compounds, such as dibutyl tin dilaurate.
The use of such catalysts or catalyst combinations or of other catalysts, such as diazabicyclo-(2,2,2)-octane, for the production of molded polyurethane articles based on aliphatic or alicyclic polyisocyanates does not improve the heat resistance or mechanical properties of the elastomers and also results in cloudy products permeated with bubbles. The formation of bubbles may only be prevented by using very high catalyst concentrations (with a drastic reduction in the pot-life of the polyurethane mixtures which makes normal processing impossible). However, the use of high catalyst concentrations cause discoloration, as well as catalyzing the back reaction.
It was therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new process by which it would be possible to produce light fast, transparent elastomers based on aliphatic or alicyclic polyurethanes which would not have the disadvantages of cloudiness, formation of bubbles and low heat resistance and which could be cured in the heat or cold and processed under suitable conditions (sufficiently long pot-life and short molding time).
It has now surprisingly been found that the disadvantages mentioned above could be obviated and elastomers having excellent mechanical properties could be obtained in an operating cycle suitable for practical purposes if particular catalyst combinations were used.

Process for the preparation of polyurethane casting elastomers


The invention is directed to a bone plate system. The bone plate system comprises a base plate having two generally parallel elongated screw slots extending therethrough. Two bone screws are provided that are capable of securing the base plate to a bone by insertion through the screw slots into the bone. Each bone screw has a screw head and a threaded portion extending therefrom. An interference device is attached to the base plate and retains the bone screws while permitting the bone screws to toggle and to controllably slide in the screw slots of the base plate. This design is particularly useful for joining adjacent vertebral bodies, as it permits controlled settling of the vertebral bodies, thereby enhancing the healing process.

The spinal column of vertebrates provides support to bear weight and protection to the delicate spinal cord and spinal nerves. The spinal column comprises a series of vertebrae stacked on top of each other. There are typically seven cervical (neck), twelve thoracic (chest), and five lumbar (low back) segments. Each vertebra has a cylindrical-shaped vertebral body in the anterior portion of the spine with an arch of bone to the posterior that covers the neural structures. Between each vertebral body is an intervertebral disk, a cartilaginous cushion to help absorb impact and dampen compressive forces on the spine. To the posterior, the laminar arch covers the neural structures of the spinal cord and nerves for protection. At the junction of the arch and anterior vertebral body are articulations to allow movement of the spine.
Various types of problems can affect the structure and function of the spinal column. These can be based on degenerative conditions of the intervertebral disk or the articulating joints, traumatic disruption of the disk, bone or ligaments supporting the spine, tumor or infection. In addition congenital or acquired deformities can cause abnormal angulation or slippage of the spine. Anterior slippage of one vertebral body on another (spondylolisthesis) can cause compression of the spinal cord or nerves. Patients who suffer from one of more of these conditions often experience extreme and debilitating pain, and can sustain permanent neurologic damage if the conditions are not treated appropriately.
One technique of treating these disorders is known as surgical arthrodesis of the spine. This can be accomplished by removing the intervertebral disk and replacing it with bone and immobilizing the spine to allow the eventual fusion or growth of the bone across the disk space to connect the adjoining vertebral bodies together. The stabilization of the vertebra to allow fusion is often assisted by a surgically implanted device to hold the vertebral bodies in proper alignment and allow the bone to heal, much like placing a cast on a fractured bone. Such techniques have been effectively used to treat the above described conditions and in most cases are effective at reducing the patient's pain and preventing neurologic loss of function. However, there are disadvantages to the present stabilization devices.
The spinal fixation device needs to allow partial sharing of the weight of the vertebral bodies across the bone graft site. Bone will not heal if it is stress shielded from all weight bearing. The fixation device needs to allow for this weight sharing along with the micromotion that happens during weight sharing until the fusion is complete, often for a period of three to six months or longer, without breakage. The device must be strong enough to resist collapsing forces or abnormal angulation during the healing of the bone. Loss of alignment during the healing phase can cause a poor outcome for the patient. The device must be secure in its attachment to the spine to prevent migration of the implant or backout of the screws from the bone which could result in damage to the structures surrounding the spine, resulting in severe and potentially life threatening complications. The device must be safely and consistently implanted without damage to the patient.


Computer-implemented systems and methods to process time-series data. As an example, a system and method can use a first data store to store time series data, and a second data store to store definitions of events. A dummy variable is generated when data from an event's definition is applied to time series data.

The effects of events on time-stamped data may be an important factor in creating an accurate computer model of the data, for example, to improve the predictive ability of the model. Examples of events that may affect time-stamped data include advertising campaigns, retail promotions, strikes, natural disasters, policy changes, a data recording error, etc.
The characteristics of an event may define the effect that an occurrence has on the time-stamped data and the duration of the occurrence. An event may include a single occurrence (e.g., a worker strike), multiple occurrences (e.g., a holiday), or irregular occurrences (e.g., new store openings.) Further, an occurrence may be on a fixed date or a relative date (e.g., an event may begin two weeks before Christmas.) In addition, an event may be a combination of occurrences (e.g., a retail sale that occurs over a holiday.) Thus, modeling events so that they increase the accuracy of a time series model can often be complicated.

Computer-implemented systems and methods for defining events


The present invention is directed to a method for manufacturing a memory cell that includes a magnetic memory element electrically connected to a two-terminal selector. The method includes the steps of depositing a selector film stack on a substrate; depositing a magnetic memory element film stack on top of the selector film stack; etching the magnetic memory element film stack with an etch mask formed thereon to remove at least an insulating tunnel junction layer in the magnetic memory element film stack not covered by the etch mask, thereby forming a magnetic memory element pillar; depositing a first conforming dielectric layer over the magnetic memory element pillar, including a sidewall thereof, and surrounding surface; etching a portion of the first conforming dielectric layer covering the surrounding surface to form a first protective sleeve around at least the insulating tunnel junction layer of the magnetic memory element pillar; and etching the selector film stack using the etch mask and the first protective sleeve as a composite mask to form a memory cell pillar.

The present invention relates to magnetic memory, and more particularly, to a magnetic memory cell structure and a method for manufacturing the same.
A resistance-based memory device normally comprises an array of memory cells, each of which includes a memory element and a selection element coupled in series between two electrodes. The selection element functions like a switch to direct current or voltage through the selected memory element coupled thereto. The selection element may be a three-terminal device, such as transistor, or a two-terminal device, such as diode or Ovonic threshold switch. Upon application of an appropriate voltage or current to the selected memory element, the electrical property of the memory element would change accordingly, thereby switching the stored logic in the respective memory cell.
FIG. 1 is a schematic circuit diagram of a memory array 30, which comprises a plurality of memory cells 32 with each of the memory cells 32 including a two-terminal bi-directional selector 34 coupled to a resistance-based memory element 36 in series; a first plurality of parallel conductive lines 38 with each being coupled to a respective row of the two-terminal bi-directional selectors 34 in a first direction; and a second plurality of parallel conductive lines 40 with each being coupled to a respective row of the memory elements 36 in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. Accordingly, the memory cells 32 are located at the cross points between the first and second plurality of conductive lines 38 and 40. The first and second plurality of conductive lines 38 and 40 may be bit lines and word lines, respectively, or vice versa. Multiple layers of the memory array 30 may be stacked to form a monolithic three-dimensional memory device.
The resistance-based memory element 36 may be classified into at least one of several known groups based on their resistance switching mechanism. The memory element of Phase Change Random Access Memory (PCRAM) may comprise a phase change chalcogenide compound, which can switch between a resistive phase (amorphous or crystalline) and a conductive crystalline phase. The memory element of Conductive Bridging Random Access Memory (CBRAM) relies on the statistical bridging of metal rich precipitates therein for its switching mechanism. The memory element of CBRAM normally comprises a nominally insulating metal oxide material, which can switch to a lower electrical resistance state as the metal rich precipitates grow and link to form conductive paths upon application of an appropriate voltage. The memory element of Magnetic Random Access Memory (MRAM) typically comprises at least two layers of ferromagnetic materials with an insulating tunnel junction layer interposed therebetween. When a switching current is applied to the memory element of an MRAM device, one of the ferromagnetic layers will switch its magnetization direction with respect to that of the other magnetic layer, thereby changing the electrical resistance of the element.
A magnetic memory element normally includes a magnetic reference layer and a magnetic free layer with an electron tunnel junction layer interposed therebetween. The magnetic reference layer, the electron tunnel junction layer, and the magnetic free layer collectively form a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ). Upon the application of an appropriate current through the MTJ, the magnetization direction of the magnetic free layer can be switched between two directions: parallel and anti-parallel with respect to the magnetization direction of the magnetic reference layer. The electron tunnel junction layer is normally made of an insulating material with a thickness ranging from a few to a few tens of angstroms. When the magnetization directions of the magnetic free and reference layers are substantially parallel or oriented in a same direction, electrons polarized by the magnetic reference layer can tunnel through the insulating tunnel junction layer, thereby decreasing the electrical resistance of the MTJ. Conversely, the electrical resistance of the MTJ is high when the magnetization directions of the magnetic reference and free layers are substantially anti-parallel or oriented in opposite directions. The stored logic in the magnetic memory element can be switched by changing the magnetization direction of the magnetic free layer between parallel and anti-parallel with respect to the magnetization direction of the reference layer. Therefore, the MTJ has two stable resistance states that allow the MTJ to serve as a non-volatile memory element.
Based on the relative orientation between the magnetic reference and free layers and the magnetization directions thereof, an MTJ can be classified into one of two types: in-plane MTJ, the magnetization directions of which lie substantially within planes parallel to the same layers, or perpendicular MTJ, the magnetization directions of which are substantially perpendicular to the layer planes.
The two-terminal bi-directional selector 34 normally includes two electrodes with a switching layer interposed therebetween. The switching layer is insulative in the absence of an applied voltage or voltage bias to the selector 34. When a sufficiently high voltage is applied to the selector 34, however, the switching layer becomes conductive and thus allows current to flow therethrough.
FIG. 2 illustrates the formation of a magnetic memory cell 32 by a conventional manufacturing method. The magnetic memory cell 32 includes a selector 34 and a magnetic memory element 36 coupled in series. The selector 34 includes a top electrode 42 and a bottom electrode 44 with a switching layer 46 interposed therebetween. The magnetic memory element 36 includes a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) structure 48 between an optional seed layer 50 and an optional cap layer 52. The selector 34 is formed on top of the magnetic memory element 36, which is formed on top of the first conductive line 40 (bit or word line).
With continuing reference to FIG. 2, the fabrication of the magnetic memory cell 32 begins by depositing all relevant films of the magnetic memory element 36 and the selector 34 on a planarized substrate containing therein the first conductive line 40. The pillar shaped magnetic memory cell 32 is then formed by etching the relevant films with an etch mask 52 thereon. The etching process can carried out by plasma etching or ion beam etching. Because of the weak etching resistance of the switching layer 46 compared with other layers in the magnetic memory cell 32 and the prolonged exposure of the switching layer 46 to the etching environment, the sidewall of the switching layer 46 tend to recede from the sidewalls of the adjacent layers, thereby creating a circumferential notch or cavity on the pillar shaped magnetic memory cell 32. During the etching process, re-deposited materials, such as magnetic materials in the MTJ structure 48 and noble metals in the top and bottom electrodes 42 and 44 that cannot be readily volatized, accumulate in the circumferential notch, thereby shunting the selector 34.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a manufacturing method that can reliably produce magnetic memory cells with high yield.

Method for manufacturing magnetic memory cells


A base station generates first setting information commonly used for establishing a logical path for communication with a user apparatus and for establishing a logical path for communication with a relay station, and second setting information used only for establishing the logical path for communication with the relay station, and transmits a second RRC message including the second setting information to the relay station after transmitting a first RRC message including the first setting information to the relay station. The first setting information includes information indicating a priority of a radio bearer in the logical path, information indicating usage of resources in SPS, information indicating resources of SRS, configuration information in a MAC sublayer, and information on change of a security encryption key in handover, and the second setting information includes at least system information and MBSFN information.

In a cellular mobile communication system, in order to enlarge coverage of a cell and/or in order to realize load distribution in a base station (eNB), there is a case where a relay station (relay node: RN) is provided between the base station (eNB) and a mobile station (more generally, user apparatus (UE)). The base station (eNB) in this case functions as a parent station, and may be referred to as a donor base station (donor eNodeB: DeNB). Although the user apparatus (UE) is a mobile station typically, it may be a fixed station. The user apparatus (UE) may be any proper apparatus such as a mobile phone, an information terminal, a smart phone, a personal digital assistant, and a mobile personal computer. A radio interface between the base station (eNB) and the relay station (RN) is referred to as "Un". A radio interface between the relay station (RN) and the mobile station (UE) is referred to as "RN-Un".
In order to perform radio communication with the base station (eNB), it is necessary to properly establish a radio bearer or a logical path after it becomes possible to access the base station (eNB) by receiving a notification signal from the base station (eNB). That is, it is necessary to adapt various parameters in each sublayer such as RLC, MAC, and PDCP sublayer to the base station (eNB). Setting of the logical path needs to be carried out not only by the user apparatus (UE) but also by the relay station (RN). In this case, setting of the logical path of the user apparatus (UE) and setting of the logical path of the relay station (RN) are different at least partially.
For example, the relay station (RN) uses the time division duplex (TDD) scheme in order to realize reception from the base station (eNB) and transmission to the user apparatus (UE) by half duplex scheme using the same frequency. In this case, it is necessary that the relay station (RN) receives a signal from the base station (eNB) by using a subframe that can be configured to transmit MBSFN (Multimedia Broadcast multicast service Single Frequency Network). On the other hand, there is no such restriction for the user apparatus (UE). Therefore, setting of the logical channel is different between the relay station (RN) and the user apparatus (UE) at least with respect to usage of the subframe. Other than the setting of the subframe, there is a possibility that there are differences in settings of information indicating usage of resources in semi-persistent scheduling (SPS), information indicating resources of a sounding reference signal (SRS), and configuration information in MAC sublayer, for example.
Therefore, it is necessary that the base station (eNB) provides information for establishing (setting) the logical path for the relay station (RN) and the user apparatus (UE). According to a 3GPP standard specification discussed before filing the present application, it is studied that the base station (eNB) transmits an individual RRC message including setting information common to the user apparatus (UE) and the relay station (RN), and an individual RRC message including setting information dedicated to the relay station (RN) (for this technique, please refer to non-patent document 1, for example).

Base station, relay station and method in mobile communication system


A method for providing a transparent asynchronous network flow exchange is provided. The method may include receiving a query request from a requester, whereby the received query request is associated with a network packet. The method may also include determining if the network packet contains a plurality of defined signatures. The method may further include in response to determining that the network packet contains a plurality of defined signatures, authenticating a plurality of information associated with the network packet. The method may additionally include determining a plurality of flow related security information associated with the network packet based on the authentication of the plurality of information. The method may include sending the determined plurality of flow related security information to the requester.

The present invention relates generally to the field of computers, and more particularly to network flow information exchange.
In the cloud era, the boundary between users and services may be vague. The services running by an enterprise could be in the public cloud, hybrid cloud or the on-premise private cloud. The users using the services may also be spread across different type of clouds. Enterprise is especially sensitive to the network traffic in a hybrid cloud deployment model. For example, IBM® Bluemix™ could be a natural extension of the on-premise datacenter in the enterprise and vice versa. The enterprise may still prefer running important services in the on-premise data center for security reasons, however they may want to run the applications in the public/hybrid cloud for scalability and availability.

Transparent asynchronous network flow information exchange

International Business Machines Corporation


In accordance with the present disclosure, an integrated circuit for implementing at least a portion of a personal audio device may include an output and a processing circuit. The output may provide an output signal to a transducer including both a source audio signal for playback to a listener and an anti-noise signal for countering the effect of ambient audio sounds in an acoustic output of the transducer. The processing circuit may implement an adaptive noise cancellation system that generates the anti-noise signal to reduce the presence of the ambient audio sounds heard by the listener by adapting, based on a presence of the source audio signal, a response of the adaptive noise cancellation system to minimize the ambient audio sounds at the acoustic output of the transducer, wherein the adaptive noise cancellation system is configured to adapt both in the presence and the absence of the source audio signal.

Wireless telephones, such as mobile/cellular telephones, cordless telephones, and other consumer audio devices, such as mp3 players, are in widespread use. Performance of such devices with respect to intelligibility can be improved by providing noise canceling using a microphone to measure ambient acoustic events and then using signal processing to insert an anti-noise signal into the output of the device to cancel the ambient acoustic events.
Because the acoustic environment around personal audio devices, such as wireless telephones, can change dramatically, depending on the sources of noise that are present, the position of the device itself, and a mode of operation of the audio device (e.g., phone call, listening to music, in a noisy environment with no source audio content, as an earplug, as a hearing aid, etc.), it is desirable to adapt the noise canceling to take into account such environmental changes.

Systems and methods for multi-mode adaptive noise cancellation for audio headsets


An organic light emitting diode display comprises a substrate having a pixel area and a non-pixel area, a plurality of pixels formed in the pixel area, a power line with a uniform width formed in the non-pixel area configured to supply a common power voltage to the pixels, a cathode electrode formed on the substrate, and a cathode power line formed in the non-pixel area on the same layer as the power line and coupled to the cathode electrode to supply a cathode voltage to the pixels, wherein each pixel comprises a thin film transistor and an organic light emitting element.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates generally to an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, and more particularly, to an OLED display with improved luminance uniformity.
2. Description of Related Art
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display is a self-emissive display in which light of desired wavelength is emitted by excitons formed by recombination of electrons and holes. Because an OLED display does not require a separate light source, for example, a backlight, some exhibit advantages including reduced power consumption, wide viewing angles, and fast response. Accordingly, OLED displays have been proposed as next generation displays. OLED displays are classified as passive matrix displays and active matrix displays. Recently, active matrix displays with low power consumption, small dot pitch, fast response, wide viewing angles, and slim form factors have been widely used.
An active matrix OLED display comprises a substrate on which a pixel area is formed. A non-pixel area surrounding the pixel area comprises data, scan, and light emission signal drivers, which drive each of the pixels. The non-pixel area further comprises a power line (ELVDD), which supplies a common voltage to the pixels, and a cathode power line (ELVSS), which supplies cathode voltages to the OLED elements. In displays for small mobile devices, the power line (ELVDD) is generally formed along one edge of the pixel or display area which reduces dead space in the display. The power line (ELVDD) typically has a uniform line width from one end of the edge to the middle of the edge. However, the power line is much narrower from the middle to the other end of the edge. The cathode power line (ELVSS) is formed adjacent to the narrow portion of the power line (ELVDD).
The change in width of the power line (ELVDD) causes a voltage drop (IR drop) in the narrower portion, which in turn causes a luminance deviation between the two portions of the display area corresponding to the wider and narrower portions of the power line. Degradation of OLED elements exposed to the higher voltages disposed proximal to a power input terminal of the power line, which are and exhibit the highest luminances.

Organic light emitting diode display with a power line in a non-pixel region


A fastening element for fastening lining parts has a fastening section for attachment of a lining part thereto, and a locking section adapted to lock with a carrier for the fastening element. The locking section includes at least one locking tab. The locking tab has a release tab provided thereon for engagement by a tool for shifting the locking lab to a release position.

The fastening element serves in particular to attach a lining part, for example a door lining, to a carrier which in turn is fitted to a vehicle-fixed component, such as, e.g., a vehicle body part.
Some lining parts require to be removable. To this end, use may be made of snap-in fastening elements which are released from the carrier as soon as a holding force, specified by design, is exceeded. The advantage of such fastening elements is that they allow the lining part to be removed with little effort. The drawback resides in that they provide only a comparatively small holding force which may possibly be exceeded unintentionally in operation, which then results in the lining part being inadvertently detached from the carrier.
Also already disclosed in the prior art are fastening elements which can not readily be pulled off from their carrier, but require additional steps when it is intended to release the fastening elements from the carrier.
DE 198 54 293 A1, for example, discloses a trim strip fastening for motor vehicles, having a fastening clip which can be inserted into an opening of a metal sheet or the like by means of a base part and can be located there by an expanding pin that can be driven into a central borehole of the fastening clip. The fastening clip includes a supporting plate and, spaced therefrom, a head piece around which the trim strip at least partly engages. The head pace is provided with a cut-out protruding as far as to the expanding pin, and the expanding pin has a slot-like recess disposed thereon, so that a removal of the expanding pin contrary to the insertion direction is allowed by means of an auxiliary tool.
However, use of an expanding pin is awkward and increases the number of parts to be assembled.
It is the object of the present invention to further develop a fastening element for fastening lining parts, a carrier for a fastening element, and a tool for removing a fastening element of the kind initially mentioned in an advantageous manner, in particular to the effect that a fastening element for fastening lining parts is structured more simply than was the case so far.

Fastening element for fastening lining parts, carrier for a fastening element, and tool for removing a fastening element


In the capillary electrophoretic system, the components of a sample to be separated and detected are labelled by a radioactive material which emits gamma rays or beta particles with energy high enough to penetrate the electrolyte and the capillary tube. A semiconductor detector outside the tube and placed adjacent to the tube detects the gamma rays or beta particles in order to detect the presence of the components of the sample. A weaker radio-label may also be used in conjunction with scintillating material which is introduced together with the sample into the tube or through a different tube. Alternatively, the scintillating material may be placed inside the tube or made a part of the tube. The scintillating material emits light in response to radiation from the radio labels on the components of the sample to enable detection of the component. The power supply for driving the electrolyte in the tube is controlled by a control system in response to the detector signal to reduce the voltage, turn the power supply off or apply a voltage of opposite polarity in order to increase the residence time of a particular component which has been detected or to make it pass the detector region two or more times. By increasing the residence time, the sensitivity of detection is increased.

This invention relates in general to capillary electrophoretic systems and in particular to an improved capillary zone electrophoretic system for detection of substances.
Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) in small capillaries has proven useful as an efficient method for the separation of solutes. An electric field is applied between the two ends of a capillary tube into which an electrolyte containing the solutes is introduced. The electric field causes the electrolyte to flow through the tube. Some solutes will have higher electrokinetic mobilities than other solutes so that the sample components are resolved into zones in the capillary tube during the flow of the electrolytes through the capillary.
CZE is advantageous since it requires only very small sample volumes such as the contents of a cell or cellular subcompartments. For these and other reasons, CZE has shown great promise as a separation and detection technique.
One of the major challenges in CZE is to improve selectivity and sensitivity of detection. To improve selectivity of detection, it is desirable to employ detectors which respond only to certain sample components but not to others; this permits detection of the origin of certain sample components despite chemical changes and the presence of other components and substances. Since the amounts of materials used in CZE are so minute, detectors used must have high sensitivity. One way to increase detection selectivity and detection sensitivity is to use radio-labels. In "Presentations on High Performance Electrophoresis at the 1988 Pittsburgh Conference", LC.GC, Vol. 6, No. 6, pp. 484-491 at 488, a radioactive detection technique designed for capillary electrophoresis is described for detecting pharmaceuticals labelled by a radio-label containing technetium, a gamma emitter with a six hour half life. A capillary tube containing the radio-labelled pharmaceutical is passed through a hole drilled in a scintillation crystal. The latter emits light when gamma rays strike it. By passing the sample through a capillary tube enclosed by a scintillation crystal, activation of the scintillation crystal by radiation is permitted from all sides of the capillary. This technique was presented in the 1988 Pittsburg conference by Altria, Simpson, Bharij and Theobald.
The above-described method is not entirely satisfactory. It is therefore desirable to provide an improved electrophoretic system employing radioactive detection.
In conventional capillary zone electrophoresis, the time period during which a detector can be used for detecting a substance is constrained by the speed of movement of the sample zone through the capillary. Consequently, the detection of minute quantities of substances may be difficult. It is therefore desirable to provide an improved capillary zone electrophoretic system in which such difficulty is alleviated.

The Board of Trustees of the Leland Standford Junior University


A computer aided design system for electronic digital circuitry allows the circuit designer to design a circuit using high level block components, The designer specifies data type and precision (bus width) parameters as desired for whichever circuit blocks and/or busses he desires, Then the system propagates the data types and precision throughout the design automatically to achieve circuit-wide consistency, The system can also be used to verify a circuit design for data type and bus width consistency, The system can also be used to determine the mode of operation for the circuit blocks in the circuit.

Schematic capture is a well known process in computer aided engineering for converting a schematic drawing generated by a designer into a format which can be processed by a computer. Commercially available schematic capture software packages allow a designer to communicate the design to a computer without having to enter the design in a form cumbersome for the designer but readable by the computer. A schematic capture package typically converts the interconnected set of functional components to a net list (a list of components and interconnections between these components) which can be further manipulated by other computer programs to perform a design function desired by a designer.
One function for which schematic capture can be used is to program a field programmable logic array chip to perform the logic or arithmetic task indicated by the design. Another function is to simulate or verify the design and test it to determine whether the design will perform as the designer intended. Other functions are the synthesis of new design implementations from the original circuit design.
Typical schematic capture packages have included a library of primitive components, such as Boolean AND, XOR, flipflop, etc., which the designer may place onto a schematic diagram presented on a computer display and interconnect with lines to form a logic design. However, designers frequently think in terms of higher level logic/arithmetic functions to be performed, for example counters, adders, registers and multiplexers. Entering a design directly in terms of the higher level logic operations which the design is to perform is more convenient and intuitive for a designer than is entering the logic design in terms of primitive AND, flipflop gates, etc.
Data Type
Certain high level arithmetic functional components such as adder, register, and counter are frequently used. Related patent application Ser. No. 07/785,659, filed concurrently with the present application, entitled Generating Logic Modules for a High Level Digital Circuit Design, describes a method for implementing certain high level functional components directly input by a designer in a digital logic circuit without involving the intermediate step of generating primitive schematic diagrams. These high level functions typically operate on values of more than one digit, and the values are typically passed on buses. The bus width is preferably selected by the designer, in which case the bus width must be specified by the designer when entering the schematic design using high level components. Further, digital circuit designers use several data type conventions for performing computer math, for example analog, unsigned binary, signed binary, and 2's complement. A string of 1's and 0's has a different meaning for a 2's complement data type than for an unsigned binary data type. There are also non-arithmetic data types for representing characters and graphical images, for example. If data are generated in one part of a logic design in one data type and fed to another portion the logic design which expects and processes the data as another data type, an error will result or the data will be misinterpreted. Thus data types must be consistent or at least compatible.
Further, a bus for transferring data from one part of a computer to another or from one part of a single chip to another may be of a different width than another bus. (Here the word "bus" means a single line as well as a group of lines.) When a field programmable gate array chip is configured to perform an arithmetic function, the width of the bus must be specified by the software which configures the chip, and the width of a bus which will carry the output of a numeric calculation must be sufficient to carry the full precision of the number. For example, a bus which receives the sum output of a 16-bit adder must be 16 bits wide.
In general, it is important that the data types and bus widths be consistent or at least compatible throughout the design.
Prior art methods for programming a logic design into a chip which will implement the design have not included means for checking the data type for consistency. Designers who fail to design with consistency thus risk incurring errors in the design and may have to correct the design before it functions properly to achieve the desired result.
The only prior art methods for checking data type are those which distinguish between a single conductive line and a multi-line bus and check that the width of (number of conductors in) a bus are consistent--but not that the processing units are consistent in terms of data type. Those that do check have required the designer to enter data type at every node of the design, making the process extremely cumbersome.

Method and system for propagating data type for circuit design from a high level block diagram


A process for making low cost drip irrigation lines comprises molding a drip emitter having an elongated labyrinthine channel formed in the depth of the emitter body. Emitters of other configurations also can be used in the process. A plastic film is extruded and passed through a film die with an air injection tube at one end forming a plastic film bubble. At the bottom of the extruded plastic film bubble a pair of pressure rolls join opposite faces of the bubble to form a continuous unitary extruded plastic film sheet. The emitters are moved in series toward the nip of the pressure rolls and are inserted in sequence with their labyrinthine faces facing toward the hot bubble. The emitters are bonded to the extruded film sheet using the heat of extrusion, and the external sheet forms one face of the labyrinthine channel through each emitter. After laminating the emitter to the extruded film, an exit hole is formed through the film to each emitter and the film is then wrapped and bead sealed to form a continuous flexible drip irrigation tube with the emitters spaced apart along the inside of the tube. The process can be used for making multiple drip irrigation lines in parallel along a single extruded plastic film sheet.

Drip irrigation systems usually include a continuous irrigation water supply line with emitter-type drippers installed along the line, usually at regular intervals. (The terms "emitter" and "dripper" are used interchangeably to refer to the pressure-reducing element of the system.) Irrigation water flows through the supply line under pressure, and a small amount of water continuously drips out at the intervals where the drippers are located. Drip irrigation has proved to be highly successful in producing greater growth of vegetation with the same amount of water, when compared with conventional irrigation techniques.
A number of different drip irrigation systems have been used in the past. They vary from the cheapest and simplest systems, namely, a hole in the wall of a water supply line, to expensive and complex multi-component dripper units.
Perhaps the most practical of the prior drip irrigation systems involves use of separate drip emitters or drippers installed in or on the supply line. The dripper taps off a portion of the water flowing in the water supply line and passes the water through a labyrinth or other meandering or circuitous path that produces a large pressure drop in the water and discharges it at a uniform drip rate. Generally, such pressure-reducing labyrinthine drippers are successful because they use a large enough hole in the supply pipe and a wide enough passage through the labyrinth to avoid clogging in most cases, while they also operate at reasonably high line pressures.
The present invention is directed to the problem of developing an economic drip irrigation system for low value crops where it is essential to reduce the capital costs for a precise system to a level lower than that achieved by drip irrigation systems presently available.
There are low cost drip irrigation systems presently available that are made from thin plastic film, as thin as 0.004 inch in wall thickness. These products are not easy to use because of the low strength of the film, and they commonly are used for one growing season only and then thrown away. There are similar drip irrigation systems with wall thicknesses up to about 0.02 inch, and if buried, they will last for many crops, but these systems have problems with root intrusion. In addition, the management to operate these systems for several crops is very difficult, and thus excludes most growers.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,310,438 to Ruskin discloses a method for making low cost drip irrigation systems having an extended life beyond the growing season of one crop. The drip irrigation lines can be used effectively for multiple growing seasons or multiple crops in sequence over an extended period of time. The drip irrigation system disclosed in the '438 patent also carries herbicides such as trifluralin to keep invasive roots out of the dripper system.
The present invention is based on a recognition of disadvantages with the process disclosed in the '438 patent. According to the present invention, drip irrigation lines are comparatively easier to manufacture, particularly as a result of a method used for feeding a sequence of drippers to an extruded plastic film to which the drippers are bonded. As a result, production speed is greatly increased, particularly with the simultaneous production of multiple drip irrigation lines. In addition, the film wall strength adjacent each emitter is improved compared to the '438 process. The process of this invention also eliminates the additional steps of punching inlet holes into the drippers, which was characteristic of the '438 process. Further, the finished drip irrigation lines produced by the present method can easily incorporate multiple small holes into each dripper to act as a filter, which was absent from the '438 process.

Process for manufacturing drip irrigation systems using plastic lamination/extrusion techniques


A method and apparatus are provided for applying an adhesive solution to the coal end of a cigarette by means of a precisely controlled liquid jet spray to bond shreds of tobacco in the cigarette end and to thereby reduce the amount of tobacco which falls out of the cigarette when shaken. Electronic controls are employed to synchronize the formation and charging of a series of droplets which are deflected in prescribed paths to contact the coal end of the cigarette in a predetermined pattern. Circuits are provided to adjust the timing and phase of the charging mechanism to compensate for variations in the speed at which the cigarette is conveyed to a target area and for variations in the timing of droplet formation.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for bonding tobacco shreds at the end of a cigarette.
During the handling, packaging and shipping of a production cigarette, tobacco particles typically shake loose from the coal end of the cigarette and fall out of the cigarette. Some of these loose particles fall into the cigarette pack, resulting in an unsightly product. Also, after the cigarette pack is opened by the consumer, loose particles may fall out of the pack into the consumer's purse or pocket, causing consumer dissatisfaction. Avoiding the loss of tobacco is particularly problematical for cigarettes which are made at lower than standard densities.

Droplet jet application of adhesive to cigarette ends


A semiconductor circuit or a semiconductor device has the current-voltage characteristic that, in a blocking-state of the semiconductor circuit or the semiconductor device, a current gently flows for values of a voltage equal to or greater than a first voltage value but equal to or smaller than a second voltage, whereas a current abruptly flows for values of a voltage greater than the second voltage value. Due to the current-voltage characteristic, energy accumulated in an inductance provided within the circuit is consumed by a differential resistance of the semiconductor circuit or a semiconductor, thereby prevent the occurrence of the electromagnetic noise and the excessively large voltage.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor circuit of the type which may be used in equipment such as a power converting apparatus, a driving method of the semiconductor circuit and a semiconductor device.
A power converting apparatus comprises not only switching devices, such as MOSFETs and IGBTs (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor), devices having a rectifying effect, such as diodes, and passive devices, such as capacitors, inductances and resistors, but also wires which have a parasitic inductance. The power converting apparatus converts power by repeating the on and off states of the switching and rectifying devices, in which in on and off states, currents are flowing through and are cut off from the devices, respectively. As a result, a voltage rising abruptly to a value much higher than the power-supply voltage is applied to the switching and rectifying devices at the time the devices undergo transition from the on state to the off state due to the effect of parasitic inductance.
In order to prevent the devices from being damaged by a high voltage (a spike voltage) generated at the switching time, traditionally, devices having a breakdown voltage greater than a value obtained by estimating the magnitude of such a spike voltage are used, or, as an alternative, the spike voltage is eliminated by means of a snubber circuit. The use of devices having a high breakdown voltage entails not only a high cost but, also an increased amount of incurred power loss, giving rise to an undesirable problem. On the other hand, the use of a snubber circuit for avoiding a spike voltage increases the number of components. As a result, the cost and the size of the power converting apparatus increase.
By the way, a spike voltage is generated at the switching time because a current that has been flowing through the switching device and the inductance abruptly decreases due to the switching operation of the switching device. Thus, if the abrupt decrease in current can be suppressed, the spike voltage can also be suppressed as well. In a typical method for suppressing an abrupt decrease in current, a Zener diode or an avalanche diode is employed in parallel to the switching device. When a voltage applied to an avalanche diode exceeds the breakdown voltage thereof, a current is allowed to flow through the avalanche diode, avoiding an abrupt decrease in current.
However, the use of such a diode gives rise to the following problem. When a current flows through an avalanche diode, the decrease in current flowing through a parasitic inductance disappears due to the fact that the resistance of the avalanche diode is all but zero once the avalanche diode has entered a breakdown state. The disappearance of the decrease in current, in turn, causes the voltage applied to the avalanche diode to decrease. As the voltage applied to the avalanche diode becomes lower than a voltage that causes the avalanche diode to enter an avalanche breakdown state, the avalanche diode enters an off state, trying to abruptly reduce a current flowing through the inductance. The attempt to abruptly reduce the current flowing through the inductance causes the avalanche diode to again enter an avalanche breakdown state in which a current can flow through it. That is to say, the voltage applied to the avalanche diode and the current flowing through it keep oscillating and the oscillation of the voltage and current is a cause of the generation of electromagnetic noise.
Another method besides the technique of using an avalanche diode is described, for example, in a document called EPE Journal, Vol. 4, No. 2, June (1994), pages 8 to 9. The method described therein is an example of techniques called dynamic clamping. According to the dynamic clamping technique, an avalanche diode is interposed between the collector and gate electrode of an IGBT, whereas a resistor is interposed between the gate and emitter electrode thereof. As the collector voltage exceeds the breakdown voltage of the avalanche diode, a current flows through the avalanche diode and the resistor, increasing the gate voltage. The increase in gate voltage causes a collector current to flow through the IGBT, preventing a large voltage from being applied to the device. In this case, none the less, a problem similar to that encountered in the technique of using an avalanche diode as described above also arises.
With the collector voltage exceeding the breakdown voltage of the avalanche diode, a voltage equal to the difference between the collector voltage and the avalanche-breakdown voltage is applied to the gate. That is to say, as the collector voltage exceeds the avalanche-breakdown voltage, the portion of the collector voltage above the avalanche-breakdown voltage is all applied to the gate.
In general, the IGBT has a collector current which is greatly changing due to a small variation in gate voltage so that, when the collector voltage exceeds the avalanche-breakdown voltage, the IGBT current increases abruptly. In the case of an IGBT having a breakdown voltage of several hundreds of volts and a rated current density of 200 A/cm2, for example, the saturated current density at a gate voltage of 15 V reaches as much as several thousands of amperes per square cm. This implies that, when the collector voltage exceeds the breakdown voltage of an avalanche diode interposed between the collector and the gate by a potential of only 15 V, the collector current can actually reach a value of several thousands of amperes. That is to say, an IGBT adopting the dynamic clamping technique exhibits a characteristic very similar to that of an avalanche diode wherein, at a certain voltage, the current abruptly increases. For this reason, this dynamic clamping technique also has the same problem as that encountered in the example of using an avalanche diode.
As described above, the techniques adopted in the conventional power converting apparatus for suppressing a spike voltage have problems of an increased amount of incurred power loss, a rising cost and generation of electromagnetic noise. It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a semiconductor circuit which is capable of solving these problems, a technique of driving the semiconductor circuit and a semiconductor device.

Semiconductor circuit and semiconductor device for use in equipment such as a power converting apparatus


Apparatus and methods of rotating a non-functioning wrist by flexing or extending the associated elbow may be activated by muscle action of the wearer or by an elbow actuator. Cuffs above and below the elbow that receive the wrist and arm are interlinked in a manner that permits varying of the degree of supination and pronation of the wrist to the needs of the wearer. Also, the angle of elbow flexion at which wrist rotation starts and stops can be varied by adjusting the operating mechanism.

This invention relates to orthotic and rehabilitative rotation of the human wrist, and more particularly to methods and apparatus that rotate a wrist to varying degrees depending on the amount of flexion of the associated elbow.
Equipment used for rotating human wrists in the past has been complicated and cumbersome. Some of these devices have substituted spring mechanisms for human muscles. These systems provide either inward (pronation) or outward (supination) rotation, but not both. Also, clothing can not be worn over orthotic equipment when it is large and bulky or when the clothing could become entangled in moving parts.

Method and apparatus for rotating a wrist


A printed circuit board (PCB) includes: a substrate; and a circuit pattern disposed on the substrate, wherein the circuit pattern includes a first seed layer disposed on the substrate and including a nitride, and a metal layer disposed on the first seed layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The embodiment relates to a printed circuit board (PCB), and more particularly, to a PCB including a circuit pattern formed of a seed layer of a nitride metal layer and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of Related Art
Recently, as a substrate serving as an interposer between a substrate and an electronic device has rapidly become light and thin, a high density and a fine pattern have been demanded. Various efforts have been made to shorten an existing process as well as improvement of technology.
An additive method is used for forming a circuit pattern of a PCB. The additive method forms the circuit pattern on an insulating layer by a plating method. Recently, a semi-additive method is used for more effective plating. The semi-additive method increases roughness by surface-treating the insulating layer and forms a seed layer as a base layer for electroplating through chemical plating. After forming the seed layer, the circuit pattern is completed by electroplating until the thickness of the circuit pattern reaches a certain level.
A conventional semi-additive method requires a surface roughness treatment process and a thickness of 10000 Å or more in order to form a uniform a seed layer on the entire substrate. If the thickness of the seed layer is thick, the lead time of a flesh etching process for removing the seed layer becomes long and it is difficult to form a fine pitch.

Printed circuit board and method of manufacturing the same