A method of forming a trench isolation structure prevents a nitride liner from being over-etched, i.e., prevents the so-called dent phenomenon from occurring. An etching mask pattern is formed on a semiconductor substrate. A trench is formed in the substrate by using the etching mask pattern as an etching mask. A nitride liner, serving as an oxidation barrier layer, is formed at the sides and bottom of the trench, and is then annealed in a furnace to density the same. In a subsequent etching process, such as that used to remove the etching mask pattern, the densified nitride liner resists being etched. Accordingly, a trench isolation structure having a good profile is produced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of forming isolated trenches in a semiconductor substrate.
This is a counterpart of, and claims priority to, Korean Patent Application No. 2000-39323, filed Jul. 10, 2000, and Korean Patent Application No. 2000-69980, filed Nov. 23, 2000, the contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional semiconductor manufacturing process referred to as a trench isolation process, a semiconductor substrate is etched to form a series of trenches, the trenches are filled with an insulating material, and then the insulating material is planarized to form an insulating layer. Because the substrate itself is directly etched to form the trench, stress is produced along an inner wall of the substrate defining the trench, thereby producing defects in the substrate. An oxide liner and a nitride liner are formed on the inner wall defining the trench to alleviate such stress. The nitride liner, however, is over-etched during a subsequent process, whereby a so-called dent phenomenon occurs at an edge of a trench isolation layer.
FIG. 1 illustrates such a problem in a conventional trench isolation structure. A substrate 10 is etched to form a trench therein. A silicon nitride layer is conventionally used as an etching mask in the etching process for forming the trench. An oxide liner 12 and a nitride liner 13 are sequentially formed on an inner wall of the semiconductor substrate 10 defining the trench. An insulating layer 15 is then formed in trench. Next, the etching mask is removed using a wet etching process. Unfortunately, the nitride liner 13 on a sidewall of the trench is also etched while the etching mask is being removed. Therefore, an edge of the trench isolation structure becomes indented, i.e., the so-called dent phenomenon occurs in the region designated by reference numeral 17. If a gate pattern of a transistor is formed at the indented region, the intensity of the electric field spikes at that region and the threshold voltage of the transistor is lowered accordingly.
The dent phenomenon 17 is alleviated somewhat by a densifying process performed mainly for reducing the rate at which the insulating material can be etched. The densifying process comprises annealing the insulating layer 15. The annealing process for densifying the insulating layer 15 also densities the nitride liner 13, whereby the etching-tolerance of the nitride liner 13 is enhanced. The annealing process is performed at a high temperature of 1000-1150xc2x0 C. in a nitrogen ambient. However, such a high temperature annealing process creates stress between the insulating layer 15 and the semiconductor substrate 10. The stress is known to facilitate the occurrence of slip or leakage current which degrades the performance of the final device. Accordingly, the recent trend is toward the use of a low temperature annealing process, specifically a nitrogen annealing process or a wet annealing process. The nitrogen annealing process is carried out at a temperature of 700-900xc2x0 C. in a nitrogen ambient, whereas the wet annealing process is carried out at a temperature of 700-900xc2x0 C. in a vapor ambient.
Unfortunately, the low temperature annealing process does not densify the nitride liner sufficiently to prevent a significant dent phenomenon from occurring.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a method of forming a trench isolation structure which prevents a nitride liner serving as an oxidation barrier layer from being over-etched during an etching process performed after the nitride layer has been formed.
To achieve this object, the present invention provides a trench isolation method in which the oxidation barrier layer is specifically densified in a furnace before the etching process is conducted. First, a trench is formed in a semiconductor substrate. Then the oxidation barrier layer is formed on an inner wall of the substrate that defines the trench. The oxidation barrier layer is annealed in a furnace in a process that densities the layer completely. Once the oxidation barrier layer is densified, an insulating layer is formed on the oxidation barrier layer to fill the trench.
The trench is formed as follows. A pad oxide layer and an etch-stop layer are sequentially formed on the substrate. Preferably, the etch-stop layer is made of silicon nitride. The pad oxide layer and the etch-stop layer are then patterned such that a predetermined area of the substrate is exposed. The substrate is then etched using the etching mask pattern as an etching mask, to form the trench.
The oxidation barrier layer is made of silicon nitride. Preferably, the annealing process is carried out at a temperature of 1000xc2x0 C. or more in a nitrogen ambient. Alternatively, the annealing process may be carried out at a temperature of 800xc2x0 C. or more in an oxygen and vapor ambient.
Further, an oxide liner is formed between the inner wall that defines the trench and the oxidation barrier layer. Preferably, a capping oxide layer is additionally formed between the oxidation barrier layer and the insulating layer.
Insulating material is then deposited on the structure and is then planarized to form the insulating layer in the trench.
Subsequently, the etching mask pattern is etched away. Regardless, the oxidation barrier layer is not over-etched by this process because it has been densified.

Method of forming a trench isolation structure comprising annealing the oxidation barrier layer thereof in a furnace


Current optical networks are engineered to handle amplifier noise and chromatic dispersion. Polarization mode dispersion occurs in optical networks due splitting of the light energy of a pulse propagating in a fiber into two modes. Compensating for polarization mode dispersion is a difficult and expensive task and hence only few commercial systems have been deployed to deal with this issue. A polarization mode dispersion compensation module according to an example embodiment of the present invention compensates for polarization mode dispersion by determining a performance metric related to an error rate of an optical signal in at least one polarization mode in a filtered state. Based on the performance metric, a control vector is determined to control the optical signal in the at least one polarization mode in the filtered state. The control vector is then applied to a polarization effecting device to compensate for polarization mode dispersion.

Current optical networks are engineered to handle amplifier noise and chromatic dispersion. Polarization Mode Dispersion (PMD) is a phenomenon that occurs due to splitting of energy of an optical pulse propagating in a fiber into two polarization modes. Since these two modes have slightly different refractive indices, the two modes travel at different velocities and thus, PMD results in pulse spreading. PMD compensation (PMDC) is a difficult and expensive task and, hence, fiber links with high PMD coefficients are largely avoided for high speed transmission. However, if there are no other available options for dealing with PMD than to use a high PMD link, the operator has to pay a high price for deploying costly regenerators designed to zero out the dispersion.
Due to the difficulty and high cost associated with PMDC, only a few commercial systems have been deployed. Ten Gigabit per seconds (10 Gbps) transmission is fairly tolerant to PMD because of its long, 100 picoseconds (ps), symbol period. A general rule of thumb in optical network engineering is that having a PMD level up to a third of the symbol period can be tolerated. A third of the symbol period for a 10 Gbps transmission translates to having the symbol period set at 33 ps. Hence, network operators engineer their networks to keep the PMD below this level.
Higher rate channels are making their way into networks initially designed for 10 Gbps. These higher rate services of 40 Gbps and someday 100 Gbps have shorter signaling periods and, as such, are much more susceptible to PMD. For this reason and also to solve the problem of lower rates, such as 10 Gbps, on a high PMD fiber, there is a need to compensate for PMD.

Method and apparatus for compensating for polarization mode dispersion (PMD)


Disclosed is a liquid crystal display comprising a liquid crystal layer, a pair of substrates holding the liquid crystal layer therebetween and having two sets of crossed electrodes formed thereon, a pair of crossed polarizers provided outside the substrates and having polarization axes parallel to the electrodes respectively, and an orientation means for making the liquid crystal molecules orient to the intermediate direction of the crossed polarizers at the commencement of voltage application. The orientation means is selected form pretilt, fringe electric field, combinations thereof, etc. In the beginning of voltage application, no leakage light is generated even if the liquid crystal molecules are tilted by a fringe electric field in the vicinity of the edges of the electrodes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display, and particularly relates to a liquid crystal display in which the birefringence function of liquid crystal molecules is controlled by a voltage.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIGS. 2A and 2B show an example of a homeotropic liquid crystal display according to a conventional technique.
FIG. 2A shows a schematic configuration of a cell of the hometropic liquid crystal display. Two sets of transparent electrodes 22 and 24 are formed on the opposite surfaces of a pair of glass substrates 21 and 25, respectively. The sets of electrodes 22 and 24 are elongated in the y and x directions respectively. Liquid crystal molecules 23 are sandwiched between the pair of glass substrates 21 and 25 so as to constitute a liquid crystal cell 20. When no electric field is applied to the liquid crystal molecules 23, the liquid crystal molecules 23 show a homeotropic orientation substantially perpendicular to the respective surfaces of the substrates 21 and 25. Each liquid crystal molecule 23 has an elongated shape, and has a high refractive index in its axial direction. In addition, each liquid crystal molecule 23 has an electric dipole in a direction perpendicular to its axial direction. Upon application of a voltage across the two sets of electrodes 22 and 24, each liquid crystal molecule 23 is tilted toward the direction parallel to the respective surfaces of the substrates 21 and 25 by the action of an electric field. In order to control the direction of this tilt, the respective surfaces of the substrates 21 and 25 and the electrodes 22 and 24 are subjected to orientation treatment in advance. The orientation treatment is performed so as to orientate liquid crystal molecules along the y direction. Therefore, when no electric field is applied, each liquid crystal molecule has a pretilt which is directed to the y direction slightly. When an electric field is applied, the liquid crystal molecule tilts so as to fall along the y direction.
A pair of crossed polarizers 10 and 30 are disposed outside the substrates 21 and 25 respectively. Polarization axes P1 and P2 of these polarizers 10 and 30 are disposed at an angle of 45.degree. relative to the x and y axes respectively as shown in FIG. 2B.
If the liquid crystal molecules are aligned along the y direction by the action of an electric field, light transmitted through the polarizer 10 is depolarized by the liquid crystal layer by the birefringence of the liquid crystal molecules so that the light can transmit through the other polarizer 30.
When the liquid crystal molecules are in homeotropical orientation, the birefringence of the liquid crystal molecules have no effect on the transmitted light, so that the light transmitted through the one polarizer reaches to the other polarizer as it is while keeping its polarization state, and the light is cut off by the action of the crossed polarizer to show a dark state.
As to the details of such a homeotropic liquid crystal display, for example, reference is made to "Homeotropic-Alignment Full-Color LCD", SID, '89.

Liquid crystal display having apertures in both electrodes


Embodiments provide an access network device and a communication method. The access network device includes: a receiver, configured to receive a call request sent by a calling user equipment, where the call request carries a user communication identity of a called user equipment. The access network device also includes a processor, configured to generate a paging request based on the user communication identity before the receiver receives a paging message sent by a core network device, where the processor is further configured to set up a signaling connection to the called user equipment based on the paging request. The access network device also includes a sender, configured to send the paging request generated by the processor to the called user equipment.

In a mobile communications network, a voice service setup delay of a calling user equipment and a called user equipment is one of indicators extremely focused by both an operator and a terminal user, where the voice service setup delay mainly refers to a difference between a time at which the calling user equipment initiates a call request and a time at which the calling user equipment receives ringing information.
In an existing mobile communications network, when a calling user equipment sets up a voice service with a called user equipment, a core network device needs to deliver an instruction to an access network device according to reported information of the access network device, and then the access network device sets up a signaling connection or a radio service bearer connection to the called user equipment based on the received instruction, and ringing information sent by the called user equipment also needs to be first uploaded to the core network device by using the access network device, and then delivered by the core network device to the calling user equipment by using the access network device.
However, in an existing communications system, for information exchange in a process of setting up a voice service between a calling user equipment (UE) and a called UE, serial processing in an access network-core network-access network manner needs to be performed, so that a voice service setup delay is relatively long, which affects service experience of a user.

Access network device and communication method


The invention relates to a use of an aurantiamide dipepetide derivative in the treatment or prevention of angiogenesis-related diseases. Accordingly, aurantiamide dipeptide derivatives can be used as angiogenesis inhibitor, whereby preventing or treating invasive and metastatic cancer and ocular neovascularization (particularly macular degeneration such as pathological neovascularization of age-related macular degeneration (AMD)).

Angiogenesis plays a critical role in physiological conditions such as embryonic development, reproduction, tissue repair and bone remodeling. In contrast, angiogenesis is recognized as a common denominator underlying a variety of deadly and debilitating human diseases, including cancer, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and various inflammatory diseases. Tumor angiogenesis has been demonstrated to facilitate cancer progression and metastasis in the microenvironment. Pathological angiogenesis is also the major cause of AMD, which is one of the most common irreversible causes of severe loss of vision in the elderly population. Neovascular-AMD is characterized by choroidal neovascularization (CNV) that invades the subretinal space, often leading to exudation and hemorrhage.
Neovascularization involves recruitment of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) from bone marrow to hypoxia sites as well as sprouting of preexisting endothelial cells. EPCs are a population of cells in the circulation and carry out angiogenesis and vascular remodeling for their ability to differentiate into endothelia cells and form blood vessels. Late EPCs have merits of being more committed to endothelial lineage differentiation and contribute to angiogenesis. Moreover, early EPCs have been proposed to improve angiogenesis/vasculogenesis through the production of angiogenic cytokines (e.g. VEGF and IL-8), which might activate adjacent endothelial cells. Recently, EPCs reportedly mediate early tumor growth and late metastatic progression by intervening with the angiogenic switch. Accumulated evidences indicate that EPCs promote the neovascularization in ischemic hypoxia tissue during AMD. These findings establish the role of EPCs in pathological angiogenesis and support that EPC targeting therapies may be the promising strategy to block angiogenesis-related diseases.
Dipeptide dertivative Fmoc-10a (9H-fluoren-9-yl)methyl (S)-1-((R)-1-hydroxy-3-phenylpropan-2-ylamino)-3-methyl-1-oxobutan-2-ylcarbamate) is an aurantiamide derivative, which composed of phenylalaninol and phenylalanine, and were a major component of Zanthoxylum dissitum, Semiaquilegia adoxoides and Polygonum chinensis. Aurantiamides exhibited anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory (Chiao-Ting Yen et al., European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 44 (2009) 1933-1940), antioxidant, and anti-HIV effects. Recently, many dipeptides showed cytotoxic effects against cancer cells (Chiao-Ting Yen et al., European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 45 (2010) 2494-2502). For example, Peptichemio (PTC) and Bortezomib (VELCADE®) were developed and marketed for treating cancer.

Aurantiamide dipeptide derivatives for treatment or prevention of angiogenesis-related diseases

MACKAY MEDICAL FOUNDATION THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN TAIWAN MACKAY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL


There is provided a group III nitride semiconductor crystal, containing a donor-type impurity and having a hydrogen concentration of 2.0E+16 cm−3 or less in a crystal.

1. Technical Field
The present application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-198472 filed on Sep. 10, 2012, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
The present invention relates to a group III nitride semiconductor crystal, particularly relates to the group III nitride semiconductor crystal having a low carrier concentration, and further relates to a group III nitride semiconductor substrate, a group III nitride semiconductor freestanding substrate, a nitride semiconductor device, and a rectifier diode.
2. Description of Related Art
The group III nitride semiconductor is composed of the group III nitride semiconductor crystal. For example, a gallium nitride semiconductor (GaN semiconductor), etc., is given as the group III nitride semiconductor. The GaN semiconductor has high band gap, high electron mobility, high saturation electron speed, and high breakdown field, compared with a semiconductor such as silicon. Therefore, attention is paid to the GaN semiconductor as a material for the use of a power device such as a diode and a transistor, etc.
The power device has a breakdown voltage layer, and is used for equipment of high voltage and large current. N-type group III nitride semiconductor is used for the breakdown voltage layer, and high breakdown voltage is required for the group III nitride semiconductor. Further, from a viewpoint of energy-saving and low heat generation, the group III nitride semiconductor is required to have a low electric resistance (on-resistance) in on-state, which is a low on-resistance.
The breakdown voltage and the on-resistance are determined by a carrier concentration of the group III nitride semiconductor. The breakdown voltage becomes high in a high breakdown voltage state as a carrier concentration becomes low. Meanwhile, the on-resistance becomes low in a low-on-resistance state as the carrier concentration is high. Namely, the breakdown voltage and the on-resistance are set in a relation of trade-off.
In order to obtain the high breakdown voltage and the low on-resistance in the power device, the n-type nitride semiconductor having a low carrier concentration is required as the breakdown voltage layer. For example, the carrier concentration is required to be 1.0E+16 cm−3 or less.
The carrier concentration is controlled by the concentration of a donor-type impurity (such as Si, etc.) with which the n-type group III nitride semiconductor is doped. In then-type group III nitride semiconductor, a carrier is generated by the donor-type impurity, and therefore the carrier concentration corresponds to the concentration of the donor-type impurity. However, an acceptor-type defect is mixed into the n-type group III nitride semiconductor, and therefore the carrier concentration is reduced by a compensation of the acceptor-type defect. The compensation means the reduction of the carrier concentration because a part of the carrier generated by the donor-type impurity is captured by the acceptor-type defect. The reduction of the carrier concentration by compensation, corresponds to the concentration of the mixed acceptor-type defect. Namely, the carrier concentration corresponds to the concentration of the donor-type impurity after compensation, which is the concentration after subtracting the concentration of the acceptor-type defect from the concentration of the donor-type impurity.
An acceptor-type impurity and an acceptor-type specific defect are known as the acceptor-type defect.
The acceptor-type impurity is an unintended impurity, which is the impurity inevitably mixed into a crystal when the n-type group III nitride semiconductor is crystal-grown. The carrier concentration is reduced by the acceptor-type impurity which compensates the doped donor-type impurity. For example, carbon (C), etc., is given as the acceptor-type impurity, wherein the carbon is derived from trimethylgallium ((CH3)3Ga) which is a Ga source used for forming the GaN semiconductor for example (for example, see non-patent document 1).
The acceptor-type specific defect is one kind of a lattice defect in a crystal structure of the group III nitride semiconductor, and is generated by lack of Ga, etc., in the GaN semiconductor. The carrier concentration is reduced by the acceptor-type specific defect by compensating the donor-type impurity.
In manufacturing the n-type group III nitride semiconductor, the carrier concentration is controlled by suitably selecting the donor-type impurity in consideration of the reduction of the carrier concentration due to compensation of the acceptor-type defect.    [Non-patent document 1] J. Cryst. Growth, 298,871 (S. Hashimoto et al. 2007)
As described above, in order to obtain the high breakdown voltage and the low on-resistance in the n-type group III nitride semiconductor, the carrier concentration is required to be reduced to 1.0E+16 cm−3 or less for example. In order to reduce the carrier concentration, it can be considered that an addition amount of the donor-type impurity is reduced, which generates the carrier, and the concentration thereof is reduced.
However, it is difficult to realize the low carrier concentration even in a case of the low concentration of the donor-type impurity when manufacturing the n-type group III nitride semiconductor, and for example, it is difficult to obtain the n-type group III nitride semiconductor having the carrier concentration of 1.0E+15 cm−3 or less. Further, since the low carrier concentration is hardly realized, it is difficult to obtain the n-type group III nitride semiconductor of high breakdown voltage and low on-resistance.

Group III nitride semiconductor crystal, group III nitride semiconductor substrate, group III nitride semiconductor freestanding substrate, nitride semiconductor device, and rectifier diode


A semiconductor device includes a first fin on a substrate, a gate electrode on the substrate to intersect the first fin, an epitaxial layer on both sides of the gate electrode to contact side surfaces of the first fin, and a metal alloy layer which contacts an upper surface of the first fin and part of the epitaxial layer, wherein a first region of the first fin has a higher doping concentration than a second region of the first fin which is located under the first region.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor device having a fin.
2. Description of the Related Art
As one of the scaling techniques for increasing the density of a semiconductor device, a multi-gate transistor has been suggested. The multi-gate transistor is obtained by forming a semiconductor fin on a substrate and forming a gate on the surface of the semiconductor fin.
The multi-gate transistor can be easily scaled because it uses a three-dimensional (3D) channel. In addition, the current control capability can be improved without the need to increase the gate length of the multi-gate transistor. Moreover, it is possible to effectively suppress a short channel effect (SCE) in which an electric potential of a channel region is affected by a drain voltage.
However, as a logic device becomes more highly integrated, design rules are scaled-down. This increases the effect of contact resistance on the performance of a semiconductor device.

Samsung-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do


A monitoring device defines a boundary for movement of an underground object such as a booring tool. The underground object generates a magnetic field which is detected by the monitoring device. The monitoring device then determines the position of the underground object relative to itself, and hence to the boundary. The movement of the underground object can then be controlled so that it does not cross the boundary. The monitoring device may therefore define a protection zone so that a buried object within that protection zone will not be contacted by the moveable underground object.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the detection of objects moving underground. It is particularly, but not exclusively, concerned with the case where the moving underground object is a boring tool.
2. Summary of the Prior Art
It is already known, from eg WO95/30913 for antennas in a boring tool to be used to detect the electromagnetic field generated from a buried current-carrying conductor. The use of multiple antennas enables the relative positions of the boring tool and conductor to be determined to prevent the boring tool contacting the conductor, which may damage the conductor. WO95/30913 also discloses that it is possible to control the drilling force of the boring tool in dependence on the separation of the boring tool and the conductor.
The arrangement described in WO95/30913 depends on the conductor carrying a current of sufficient magnitude and frequency that the magnetic field generated may be detected at a sufficiently large distance from the conductor. The technique is therefore not suitable for preventing contact between a boring tool and an object which does not carry current.
In WO 96/29615 corresponding to U.S. Ser. No. 08/894664, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, an arrangement was disclosed in which an underground boring tool had a solenoid on or in it, which solenoid generated a magnetic field which could then be detected remotely by suitable antennas. In such an arrangement, by analysing the signals at the antennas, the relative position of the antennas and the boring tool could be determined.
The present invention, at its most general, proposes that a monitoring device is provided which is able to detect a moving underground object, and the monitoring device defines at least one boundary which the moving underground object should not cross. The monitoring device may then be connected to the drive to the moving underground object to inhibit or alter movement of the underground object when that boundary is reached, or an alarm can be generated when the underground object reaches the boundary.
This enables the monitoring device to define a protection zone into which the underground object cannot. enter. That protection zone is defined by the monitoring device, and therefore the monitoring device needs to be positioned so that a buried object which the moving underground object should not contact is within the protection zone. However, assuming a suitable size of protection zone, exact positioning of the monitoring device relative to the buried object is not needed. Moreover, any type of buried object can be protected, not merely current carrying objects.
As mentioned above, the monitoring device must define at least a boundary, and preferably a protection zone, which the moving underground object should not cross. The monitoring device therefore needs to be able to define the boundary(s), and also needs to determine the position of the moving underground device in relation to the boundary(s). This can be done, for example, by determining the position of the moving underground object relative to the monitoring device, and comparing that position with the position(s) of the boundary(s).
Many different techniques can then be used to determine the position of the moving underground object. For example, if the monitoring device contains two antennas, the techniques disclosed in WO96/29615 can then be used. Since the techniques disclosed in WO96/29615 are based on the assumption that the measurements are carried out in a plane containing the axis of a solenoid in the moving underground object, those techniques are suitable for use when the boundary is transverse to that plane. In such circumstances, even if the monitoring device is not on the axis, the calculations made (which assume it is) will nevertheless determine the relative position of the underground moving object relative to the boundary.
The techniques disclosed in WO96/29615 depend on comparison of measured values of the axial radial component of the magnetic field from the solenoid with stored information relating to the relationship between the axial radial components. By comparison of the measured values with those stored, the relative position of the solenoid (and hence the moving underground object) and the monitoring device can be determined.
However, other techniques for determining the position of the solenoid in the underground moving object may be used. For example, and as discussed in GB 2330204 it is possible to detect the vertical and horizontal fields from a solenoid and to use those values to predict the ratio of the vertical and horizontal fields at a position vertically above (or below) the solenoid. In GB 2330304, corresponding to U.S. Ser. No. 09/168414, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, it was then assumed that the detector was moved until those two values coincide. Then, the detector was vertically above the underground moving object. However, in the present invention, the same techniques can be used by applying a correction based on the relative position of the monitoring device and the boundary. If the information derived by the monitoring device is used to consider the relative position of the boundary and the solenoid, so that coincidence occurs when the solenoid is vertically above (or below) the boundary, the effect of the present invention can be achieved.
In such an arrangement, the vertical and horizontal fields strengths are measured using a detector having at least one vertical, and at least one horizontal detecting antenna. From those measurements, the ratios of the field strengths is determined, thereby to determine the distance between the detector and the solenoid. Also obtained is the tilt of the solenoid, which should be derived from eg a tilt sensor mounted on the moving underground object. Using those measurements, a prediction of the ratio of the vertical and horizontal field strengths directly above or below the solenoid can be determined, and compared with a corrected measurement value, being the value of that would be measured at the boundary. Then, as the moving underground object moves towards the boundary, the predicted and measured values will eventually coincide.
In such an arrangement, there normally needs to be an established relationship between at least the horizontal antenna of the detector and the solenoid, so that the orientation of the fields of the solenoid and the horizontal coil antenna are the same. This enables the detector to be given the correct orientation relative to the solenoid, since otherwise the comparison of the predicted and measured values of the horizontal and vertical fields may not coincide at the right place, at least when the solenoid is tilted.
The direction of the movement of the underground moving object needs to be determined. There are several ways of doing this. For example, as a boring tool moves from an initial position to a final position, this defines a movement direction. However, it is not always practical to use the start position. Therefore, the monitoring device may measure the field strengths from the solenoid, detect movement of the solenoid, and compare the measured field strengths at successive locations. If the field strength is increasing, the solenoid is moving towards the monitoring devices. Another alternative however, is to make use of the measured ratio of vertical to horizontal field strengths and the predicted value of that ratio directly above the solenoid. The variation of those two values away from the position directly above the solenoid is predictable, and can be used to determine the direction towards the solenoid. This arrangement has the advantage that it does not involve comparison between measured values of the field strengths.
A further complication is that, for some tilt angles of solenoid, there may be a position which is not directly above the solenoid, but for which the measured and predicted values of the ratio of field strengths nevertheless coincide. If that position exists at all, it is relatively remote from the solenoid. Therefore, it is preferable that a detection region is defined proximate the point directly above the solenoid, and an arrangement is provided for detecting when the detector is within that detection region, or for permitting operation of the detector only within the detection region. Then, provided the boundary is only within that detection region, there is only one point at which the measured and predicted values of the ratio coincide.


An exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to a method for facilitating supply chain collaboration in a network environment, said supply chain including an enterprise and at least one supplier. The method includes generating and transmitting an unconstrained forecast to a supplier; receiving a supplier capability statement in response; and generating a constrained forecast utilizing the supplier capability statement. The constrained forecast is transmitted to the supplier which responds with a formal commitment to product a needed supply indicated in the constrained forecast. The method also includes monitoring inventory levels at a replenishment service center by a supplier based upon a formal commitment, refilling inventory items at the replenishment service center, and facilitating delivery of the inventory items to the enterprise site by transmitting a pull signal to the replenishment service center whereby inventory items are delivered in response to the pull signal.

This invention relates generally to inventory management including supply assessment, commitment and replenishment processes, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a method for facilitating supply chain collaboration in a communications network environment.
Two problems facing supply chains today include: having insufficient quantities of materials on hand to satisfy customer demand which, in turn, can jeopardize a company's ability to do business, and having surplus inventory which is often derived from the effort undertaken to reduce the risks associated with not having enough materials. Having a surplus inventory causes a hold of cash and increases the risk of loss in assets due to factors such as obsolescence. Other causes of risk include unplanned or unexpected orders for goods, as well as order cancellations which may also impact inventory levels. It is more common, however, that factors not attributable to customer behavior are the cause of inventory management problems. Businesses are continuously striving to find new and better ways to improve their inventory management processes in order to reduce these business risks.
One of the reasons why current inventory management systems fail is due to ineffective demand forecasting methods and deficient supply replenishment processes utilized by supply management teams across many industries. Predicting future demand for goods and materials is fraught with uncertainties which are further fueled by dynamic economic conditions and fluctuating markets. This instability can make forecasting future supply needs especially difficult for the manufacturing industry. For example, if the manufacturer finds either an increased or reduced demand in the product compared to its forecast, strain is placed throughout the supply chain where overstocking or depletion of components can occur quickly. In addition, if the supplier cannot deliver the components, manufacturers will often not be able to react quickly to meet demand, seek alternative sources, etc. Without keeping large stock of components on hand at the manufacturer's site, supply problems occur readily. However, keeping large stock has additional problems of its own, such as higher storage costs, an increased loss probability because components become outdated, etc. Moreover, electronic parts tend to reduce in value with time (i.e., a part that the manufacturer purchases in January will cost less in March and much less in June and so on).
One solution developed to improve existing inventory management systems includes the establishment of storage warehouses or replenishment centers for facilitating quick and easy access to goods creating a buffer in the event of a sudden change in demand. Liability for maintaining and delivering these materials from the warehouse to the manufacturer typically remains with the supplier until a fixed point in time such as when the goods are ordered or a demand statement is issued by the purchasing manufacturer. The manufacturer benefits by reducing the costs associated with keeping inventory on hand and enhancing replenishment capabilities. By adding a third player (i.e., the warehouse) to the mix, however, additional problems in inventory management are presented. For example, coordinating supply requirements and forecasts, changes to these requirements, and their corresponding delivery schedules can be cumbersome and prone to error. Multi-party communications between supplier, warehouse, and buyer must be consistently accurate and reliable otherwise a breakdown in the supply chain can occur creating a 'chain effect' of inventory delays, and/or inaccuracies.
Software systems have been developed to address inventory replenishment problems utilizing various techniques. Internal Material Requirements Planning (MRP) or Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems have been implemented to manage component supply and demand based on a forecast prepared by the manufacturer. As stated above, however, forecasts are imprecise, and often subject to change. In recent years, to better match actual production with forecasts calculated by the MRP system, a Just-in-Time (JIT) concept was developed. In a JIT environment, a network of phones and faxes is used to monitor each point in an assembly line where someone would be responsible for counting each set of components as they are assembled into a product (i.e. a manual pull system). Thereby, the responsible party would order additional components by phone or fax as components are running short. However, such JIT systems require constant monitoring, and still are highly dependent on accurate forecasts. Further, in a JIT environment when changes in demand are relayed through the supply chain from final product assemblers to the subassembly suppliers and ultimately to the component suppliers, even the slightest delay in communications can have a devastating impact on the integration and synchronization capabilities of the supply chain.
One popular trend in inventory management has evolved in an effort to alleviate some of the concerns associated with inventory management problems and is referred to as vendor managed inventory. Vendor managed inventory (VMI) solutions typically enable a retailer to downstream its inventory management processes to its suppliers in order to reduce the risks associated with surplus inventories and underages in inventory levels. VMI attempts to reduce these risks by monitoring retailer stock levels and planning inventory replenishment activities based upon forecast data and current stock figures.
While current VMI and software solutions provide some advantages in facilitating inventory management processes, they lack effective forecasting capabilities necessary to optimize inventory management goals. For example, supply collaboration solutions currently on the market do not factor constrained forecast data into the replenishment processes but instead utilize unconstrained forecasts which tends to result in an under-consumption of inventory, creating an unnecessary surplus. As the manufacturing world begins to move to build-to-order environment, greater demands are expected from the manufacturer to lower total costs in the complete supply chain, shorten throughput times, reduce stock to a minimum and provide more reliable delivery dates without constraining production due to supply issues.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Network-based supply chain management method

International Business Machines Corporation


A treatment device for treating food products with conditioned air comprises a housing which delimits a treatment space and is provided with an entry and an exit, at least one conveying device for conveying the products from the entry throughout the treatment space to the exit, the conveying device between the entry and the exit following a conveying path with several windings which are situated one above the other, air-circulation device for circulating conditioned air throughout the treatment space via a hollow drum. According to a first aspect, air-conditioning device are provided upstream of the air-circulation device for conditioning the air. According to a second aspect, at least one winding of the conveying path near the entry has a pitch which is different to the pitch of the downstream windings.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a treatment device for treating food products with conditioned air, in particular for mass production.
2. Background of the Invention:
A treatment device for treating food products with conditioned air which can be operated as an oven is known, for example, from European patent application 0 953 286 in the name of the Applicant. This known device comprises a housing in which at least one conveying means is arranged along a helical conveying path for conveying the products through the housing from an entry to an exit. The conveying means comprises a hollow drum composed of substantially horizontal and vertical strips, which hollow drum is rotatably arranged around a vertical shaft. Furthermore, the conveying means comprises an endless conveyor belt which, in use, travels along a helical path. Conditioned air can flow inbetween the strips of the drum over the windings of the conveyor belt. Furthermore, air-conditioning means for conditioning the air stream, for example the temperature and/or moisture content thereof, as well as air-circulation means for circulating the conditioned air throughout the housing are present.

Treatment device for treating food products with conditioned air


A method and apparatus that can display an additional display region in a display area on a display unit are provided. The method and apparatus are configured in such a way as to provide a display area and an additional display region. The display area is displayed on the display unit. The additional display region to be displayed on the display unit is virtually prepared. The additional display region is displayed on the display unit according to a detected signal output from the motion detector. The items displayed on the display area and the additional display region are associated with each other to perform a corresponding user function.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to mobile systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus that can display an additional display region in a display area on the display unit, based on detected signals.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, mobile devices have been widely used because they can be easily carried. For example, 85% of people in the Republic of Korea are using mobile devices because they allow users to make voice calls while moving. Conventional mobile devices may provide a variety of functions in addition to the function of communicating voice calls between callers. For example, the conventional mobile device often has a file playback function, such as a Moving Picture Experts Group Audio Layer 3 (MP3) player, and an image collecting function, such as a digital camera. The conventional mobile device can also support a function for playing a mobile game or an arcade game, etc.
Conventional mobile devices can create input signals via a variety of modes, for example, a touch screen, a keypad, etc. The touch screen creates input signals according to touch events. The keypad creates input signals when keys are operated.
Meanwhile, in order to retain the portability of mobile devices, the display unit installed in the mobile device is restricted in size. Therefore, a system is required that overcomes the limitation of the display area of the display unit and provides a user with the convenience to better use the mobile device.

Method and apparatus for operating a display unit of a mobile device


A control apparatus for selectively operating any one of at least three fluid pressure operated devices at any given time. The control system includes first and second valves arranged in combination with each other and which are hydraulically interposed between a fluid pressure source and each of the fluid operated devices. Each valve is shiftable between first and second positions. Hydraulic logic circuitry selectively connects the first valve to the fluid operated devices and selectively connects the second valve to the first valve whereby, for any one position of the two valves, only one of the fluid operated devices is connected to the fluid pressure source while the remainder of the fluid operated devices are open to exhaust. First and second ON/OFF solenoid operated valves facilitate positioning of the first and second valves in response to electrical signals received by the ON/OFF valves.

Several different mechanisms rely on a series of hydraulically operated actuators for accomplishing a desired result. For example, a multi-speed transmission typically includes plural torque delivery paths between driving and driven members. A plurality of hydraulically operated clutch assemblies control relative motion of various gear elements forming the torque delivery paths in the transmission. Actuation of a particular clutch assembly controls which path is conditioned to deliver torque and power between the drive and driven members.
As will be appreciated, simultaneous engagement of more than one clutch assembly at any given time causes severe problems within the transmission often resulting in extensive damage to the clutch assemblies and related components. Therefore, each transmission clutch assembly is typically controlled by its own solenoid valve. The function of the solenoid valve is to provide actuating fluid to a respective clutch when the valve is energized and allow the clutch to be connected to exhaust upon de-energization of the valve.
Although each clutch assembly is provided with its own solenoid valve, problems still persist. Because each clutch assembly has its own solenoid valve, the possibility exists that more than one clutch assembly can be pressurized at one time as a result of a mechanical or electrical failure with the valve. To reduce this problem from occurring, individual pressure switches are provided to sense when the clutches are pressurized. The function of the pressure switches are such that if more than one pressure switch detects hydraulic pressure in a clutch assembly, a control module will disconnect the power supply to all of the solenoids. Disconnecting the power to all of the solenoids automatically conditions the transmission in a "Neutral" mode of operation.
Providing separate solenoid valves for each clutch assembly adds substantially to the cost of the transmission. Moreover, the addition of separate pressure switches for detecting which clutch assembly is activated adds still further costs to the transmission. Transmissions used on off-highway equipment are often subject to brutal field conditions. Such field conditions can and often do cause one or more of the solenoid valves, one or more of the pressure switches, or any combination thereof to malfunction and/or fail thereby conditioning the transmission in "Neutral". Of course, with the transmission in "Neutral" the equipment or apparatus is essentially useless. Thus, repair time is required to fix or repair the malfunctioning parts.
Thus, there is a need and a desire for a control system which eliminates redundant parts while assuring that only one hydraulic actuator will be operated at any given time. When installed in combination with a transmission, the control system should be designed such that a mechanical or electrical failure will nevertheless allow the transfer of power through the transmission to enable the equipment driven thereby to be moved to a suitable location for repair.

Control apparatus for a transmission and the like


A device and method of use thereof for incrementally adjusting the size and/or shape of a particular body part is provided. The device comprises first and second layers each formed of a synthetic resin. The first layer is formed of a heat-shrinkable material having a low melting point while the second layer has a melting point much higher than the first layer. Upon being subjected to energy, the first layer will shrink or contract causing the second layer, and thus the overall device, to bend in the direction of contraction. In use, the device is inserted into the particular body part after which energy is applied to the device so as to cause the body to expand, move, reshape, etc. The invention is particularly useful for treatment of accommodative disorders of the eye by positioning one or more of the devices within the eye sclera or attached to the sclera around the limbus so that the device bends and causes the size and shape of the sclera to be altered, restoring normal ocular functions such as accommodation or intraocular pressure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is broadly concerned with a device which can be implanted in a body part (e.g., eye, tissue, artery) and methods of externally manipulating the device to adjust or alter the configuration of the body part. More specifically, the invention is directed towards the use of that device to adjust the curvature of the sclera of the eye so as to alter functional ocular structural relationships (e.g., such as to restore the accommodative ability of the eye), thus treating various eye conditions.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In order for the eye to clearly see an object at a distance of about twenty feet or greater, the object must be focused on the retina of the eye. When this occurs in the relaxed state of the eye, it is referred to as "emmetropia." If the focal point is anterior to the retina, it is classified as "myopic." On the other hand, if the focal point is behind the retina, it is classified as "hyperopic."
Refractive correction is required to correct these focusing errors. This has typically been accomplished by the natural lens or by medical or surgical refractive devices. However, after the eye has been made to correctly focus on an object at a distance, it must then be capable of changing its refractive ability to see an object as it comes nearer the eye. This is accomplished physiologically through changes in the natural lens referred to as accommodation.
The ocular structures involved in accommodation include filaments inserted onto the lens equator and called zonules or zonular fibers. The zonules are connected to the ciliary body which is a muscle attached to the sclera that encircles and thus, in cooperation with the zonules, suspends the eye's lens. The actual mechanism by which these structures influence accommodation is still highly debated, but includes changes in lens shape and position with subsequent change in the overall refractive power of the eye.
Loss of accommodative ability, or presbyopia, occurs naturally with aging. It becomes noticeable at about forty years of age, and consistently worsens until about seventy years of age, at which time accommodation is effectively nonexistent. Theories concerning the causes of the loss of accommodative ability include increasing rigidity of the lens or its capsule, lens enlargement, laxity of the zonules, aging of the ciliary body, and combinations of the foregoing.
The usual way to correct this problem is to use bifocal lenses. However, some people dislike wearing glasses, particularly bifocals, for various reasons. One problem with bifocal lenses is that they present lines where the two portions of the lens are joined together. Furthermore, people must become accustomed to reading through one relatively small portion of the lens, while looking at distant objects through a different portion of the lens. Bifocal glasses also have the same disadvantages present in regular glasses. Such disadvantages include the fact that the glasses are breakable, become fogged when coming in from the cold, steam up in hot weather, and require frequent cleaning.
Other treatments have been attempted to correct presbyopia. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,928,129 and 5,802,923 each disclose the production of "bifocal-like" refractive correction through laser ablation of the inferior cornea.
Treatment methods have attempted to return the accommodative ability to a presbyope via expansion of the scleral radius in the vicinity of the ciliary body by a scleral expansion band (U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,299) or by a band which is adjustable at the time of placement (U.S. Pat. No. 5,354,331). Some methods have even shortened the zonules connecting the ciliary body to the lens by enzymes, heat, radiation, or surgical repositioning of the ciliary body.
Adjustable, ocular refractive devices for use in the cornea have been developed as well. Such adjustable devices include those which are adjustable at the time of placement. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,869 describes a poly(ethylene oxide) gel that is injected into the cornea in an amount sufficient to produce the required refractive correction. Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,299 discloses a length-adjustable scleral expansion band for treatment of presbyopia, with the band length being measured and set at the time of placement. U.S. Pat. No. 5,919,228 discloses a corneal ring comprised of a memory metal that, upon insertion into the cornea, is caused to reach a temperature at which it assumes a prior impressed shape thus altering the shape of the cornea.
Other prior art devices include those which require further surgery to modify them if necessary after placement. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,604 discloses a hollow device placed into the cornea stroma. The device includes quantities of strands which may be removed at the time of placement, or which may be removed or added by surgery as needed after placement.
Each of the foregoing prior art techniques attempted thus far are lacking in that they only correct presbyopia at one particular stage of the disorder. Thus, as the condition worsens, the treatment would need to be repeated or otherwise enhanced. Or, in case of adjustable devices, additional surgery is needed to make the desired modifications. All of this poses undue risk to the eyes with each successive treatment.

Device and method for incremental correction of sight disorders and occular diseases


When a directory tree is migrated from a source file system to a target file system, the directories of the directory tree are retained in the source file system, and handle translation entries are substituted for the regular data files of the directory tree in the source file system. The handle translation entries provide new file handles for the regular data files when the source file system is accessed with old file handles of the regular data files. For example, each handle translation entry includes the old file handle, a file system identifier, and the new file handle. The old file handle provides verification of the file handle being used for accessing the handle translation entry, and the file system identifier identifies the target file system in which the new file handle is valid.

Files in a file server are typically arranged in a hierarchical data structure know as a file system. The file system includes special files known as directories at the top of the data structure, and regular data files residing below the directories. Operating system routines manage the directories, so that application-level programs do not directly access the directories. In contrast, application-level programs directly access the regular data files by reading data from and writing data to the regular data files.
In order to access a file in the file server, a client of the file server first obtain a "file handle," which is used in subsequent requests to read data from or write data to the file. The client obtains the "file handle" by issuing a series of directory lookup requests to the file server. These directory lookup requests specify a path name for the file down the file system hierarchy.
A directory tree is a subset of a file system. A directory tree includes a root directory, any number of subdirectories depending from the root directory, and any number of regular data files in the root directory and the subdirectories depending from the root directory.
Directory trees are often moved from a source file system to a target file system for load balancing between the file systems, for removal of a storage device for the source file system, or for adding a new storage device for the target file system. The migration process may take considerable time when the directory tree is migrated between file systems in different file servers.
Unless precautions are taken, the migration process is often disruptive to applications that are reading data from or writing data to the regular data files in the directory tree. For example, when a directory tree is moved within a global namespace, the names and paths to the files within the tree can be preserved using techniques such as symbolic links, mount points, and junctions. However, if the tree is moved into a different file system within the global namespace, then the file handles of the files within the tree will change. Any clients that have cached those file handles and try to use them in read or write requests will receive "stale file handle" errors from the file server.

File handle banking to provide non-disruptive migration of files


A fault indicator for indicating the occurrence and relative direction of a fault current in a power transmission or distribution system includes a rotatably mounted indicator flag. The indicator flag is actuated 90.degree. clockwise or counterclockwise from a central reset position to up-line indicating or down-line indicating trip positions by a compact magnetic pole piece assembly having three radially extending magnetic pole segments which interact with four magnetic poles on a magnetic armature rotatably coupled to the indicator flag. A pair of magnetic windings magnetize the pole segments upon the occurrence of a fault current to rotate the flag from the reset position. A second pole piece and winding directionally actuated in response to the direction of the fault current determines the direction of rotation of the indicator flag to indicate whether the fault is upline or downline relative to the indicator.

The present invention relates generally to current sensing devices for electrical systems, and more particularly to fault direction indicating alternating current fault indicators.
Various types of fault indicators have been constructed for indicating the occurrence of electrical faults in power distribution systems, including clamp-on type fault indicators, which clamp directly over cables in such systems, and test point type fault indicators, which are mounted on test points in cables or associated connectors of the systems. Examples of such fault indicators are found in products manufactured by E. O. Schweitzer Manufacturing Company of Mundelein, Ill., and in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,676,740; 3,816,816; 3,906,477; 4,034,360; 4,063,171; 4,086,529, 4,234,847; 4,438,403; 4,458,198; 4,495,489 and 4,794,329 of the present inventor.
In certain applications, such as where two interconnected current sources are present in a single system, it is desirable that a fault indicator, in addition to indicating the occurrence of a fault, indicate the direction of the fault, i.e., whether the fault is upline or downline relative to the location of the indicator on the monitored conductor. On a tie line between two power stations, for example, such direction indications from multiple fault indicators located at spaced locations along the tie line allow the location of a fault along the tie line to be quickly determined and repaired.
The present invention provides a fault indicator which indicates both the occurrence and the relative direction of a fault.
Typically, in a fault indicator detection of fault currents is accomplished by means of a magnetic reed switch or sensing coil positioned in close proximity to the conductor being monitored. Upon occurrence of an abnormally high fault-associated magnetic field around the conductor, the reed switch or sensing coil activates a trip circuit which produces current flow in a trip winding on a magnetic pole assembly which positions a magnetically actuated indicator flag visible from the exterior of the indicator to a fault-indicating position. Upon restoration of current in the conductor, a reset circuit is activated to produce current flow in a reset winding on the pole assembly to reposition the indicator flag to a reset or non-fault indicating position. The invention described in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,438,403 provides an improvement in such electromechanical fault indicators, in that it provides a simplified circuit for use in conjunction with a single bidirectional magnetic winding on the pole assembly in place of separate trip and reset windings.
To minimize the power required by the trip and reset circuit in repositioning the electromechanical indicator between reset and trip positions it is desirable that the indicator flag have minimal mass and minimal travel between positions. To these ends a four pole magnetic pole assembly has been used, together with an indicator flag arranged to rotate 90.degree. upon occurrence of a fault, as described in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,495,489.
In the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,063,171 a fault indicator is described which is responsive to fault currents in one direction only, no indication being given for a fault in the other direction or in the absence of a fault current. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,535,593 of the present inventor a power line monitoring device is described wherein the direction of current flow under normal non-fault conditions is indicated by lamps or an electromechanical meter.
In contrast to these devices, the present invention provides a direction-indicating fault indicator having an electromechanical indicator wherein the indicator flag rotates 90.degree. clockwise or counterclockwise from a neutral reset position under the influence of a stationary three pole magnetic pole assembly and a four pole magnetic armature rotatably coupled to the indicator flag, the direction of rotation of the armature being determined by a second pole assembly directionally magnetized by an additional winding to rotate the armature according to the relative direction of the fault.
Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a new and improved direction-indicating fault indicator.
It is a more specific object of the present to provide a fault indicator having a compact electromechanical indicator flag assembly for indicating the occurrence and direction of a fault current.


A vehicle braking force controlling apparatus includes a steered start detector and a controller. The steered start detector detects steered start of a vehicle on a basis of a driving state of the vehicle. The vehicle has a plurality of wheels. The steered start is start of the vehicle in which steering is performed. The controller applies braking force to a turning inner front wheel and braking force to a turning outer rear wheel when the steered start of the vehicle is detected by the steered start detector. The turning inner front wheel is a front wheel of the plurality of wheels which is located on inner side upon turning of the vehicle. The turning outer rear wheel is a rear wheel of the plurality of wheels which is located on outer side upon the turning of the vehicle.

The technology relates to a vehicle braking force controlling apparatus that applies braking force to a specific wheel of a vehicle that drives at least rear wheels and thereby improves turning capability and stability upon the steered start of the vehicle.
A technique has been known that applies braking force to an inner wheel located on the inner side when a vehicle turns, i.e., a "turning inner wheel", of a vehicle and thereby improves turning performance. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (JP-A) No. 2008-105589 discloses a technique related to a vehicle braking force controlling apparatus in which a brake control directed to turning is performed to apply braking force to a rear wheel located on the inner side of the turning of a vehicle, i.e., a "turning inner rear wheel", in a case where a steering angle of a steering wheel is determined as being equal to or greater than a steering angle threshold. The vehicle braking force controlling apparatus disclosed in JP-A No. 2008-105589 causes the braking force applied to the turning inner rear wheel of the vehicle to be less than the braking force that is to be applied to the turning inner rear wheel of the vehicle in a case where a vehicle speed is equal to or greater than a preset decreasing vehicle speed threshold, on a condition that the braking force is applied to the turning inner rear wheel and the vehicle speed is less than the decreasing vehicle speed threshold.

Vehicle braking force controlling apparatus


A sheet stacking apparatus comprising: a sheet stacking portion on which a sheet discharged from a sheet discharge port is stacked; a cover portion configured to move to a closed position for covering the sheet discharge port and the sheet stacking portion and an open position for allowing taking out of the sheet stacked on the sheet stacking portion; a sheet pressing portion configured to move to a press-down position for pressing the sheet stacked on the sheet stacking portion and an apart position that is distant from the sheet stacked on the sheet stacking portion; and a movement-linking portion configured to cause the sheet pressing portion to move from the apart position to the press-down position upon an opening movement of the cover portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet stacking apparatus for stacking a sheet discharged from a sheet discharge port, and also relates to an image forming apparatus provided with the sheet stacking apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, an image forming apparatus thermally fixes a toner image formed on a sheet, discharges the sheet from a sheet discharge port, and stacks the sheet on a sheet stacking tray located outside the apparatus.
In recent years, the air conditioning at a work place or offices does not often rely on air conditioners alone, in view of energy saving and environmental issues. For example, windows are opened at offices and electric fans are used for the air circulation. Even in the winter season, electric fans are used together with a heating system. The electric fans cause the air to circulate in the offices in order to increase a heating efficiency.
In such environment, an image forming apparatus may be situated near the windows, and the electric fan may be put near the image forming apparatus. In this case, the wind from the open windows or the electric fan may disturb an arrangement of sheets on a sheet stacking tray, blow off the sheets, and cause the sheets to drop from the tray. If the wind blows against the sheets that are being discharged, the sheets are disturbed by the changing intensity of the wind, and the order of the sheets stacked may be different from the order of the sheets discharged. Then, the sheets are not stacked in the desired order of pages. In this manner, the wind blowing against the sheet stacking tray may deteriorate the sheet stacking performance. In particular, thin sheets are easy to fly with the wind, and the sheet stacking performance may significantly deteriorate.
In some countries, the image forming apparatus is installed outside the office building. In a certain country, for example, a street stall may have an image forming apparatus located inside the street stall. This is a copy-taking shop on the street. In such on-the-street copy-taking shop, the sheet(s) on the sheet stacking tray may fly with the wind, drop on the street, scatter, and become dirty.
In order to prevent the sheet(s) from falling off from the sheet stacking tray and scattering, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-315670, for example, proposed one technique.
According to the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-315670, the sheet stacking tray is formed on the upper face of the apparatus main unit cover. A sheet pressing member is pivotably provided on the cover for pressing the stacked sheet(s) toward the sheet stacking tray so that the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking tray do not fall from the sheet stacking tray or scatter even when the apparatus main unit cover is opened.
With the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-315670, it is possible to press those sheets which are already stacked on the sheet stacking tray by the sheet pressing member, but it is not possible to press those sheets which are being discharged. As such, when the wind blows against the sheets that are discharged toward the sheet stacking tray during the discharging process, the order of the sheets discharged may be different from the order of the sheets stacked on the tray, and the sheets are not stacked in the order of pages.

Sheet stacking apparatus and image forming apparatus


A fluid flow regulator valve to regulate flow to a fluid driven prime mover wherein a selectively shaped, spring biased spool is positioned within a cylinder and has a sensor orifice therein to establish a pressure drop thereacross in response to controlled fluid flow rate and hence cause the spool to move within the cylinder to control both the metering orifice to and the return orifice from the flow conduit which connects the cylinder to the prime mover.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to a flow regulator valve and more particularly to a flow regulator valve in which a single spool positioned within a cylinder, responsive to a fluid flow sensing orifice therein, controls both the metering orifice to and the return orifice from the fluid conduit connecting the cylinder to the fluid driven prime mover under control to thereby cause the flow through the prime mover to be constant.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the prior art, it has been conventional practice to use two flow regulators to so control the flow to and from a fluid flow operated prime mover, but this prior art construction has the disadvantage of difficulty in matching the operation of two such flow regulators, and the additional disadvantage of more parts and hence greater weight and complexity.


The object of the invention is to allow a fitting operation lever to be set to an initial position with respect to a connector without particularly using a separate member such as a spring, the initial position being such a position as to allow driven pins of a mating connector to be received smoothly. The connector being made of a synthetic resin and having in a housing body thereof guide notches that receive the driven pins of the mating connector; and a fitting operation lever being made of the synthetic resin, the fitting operation lever having drive cam grooves corresponding to the driven pins and being pivotably disposed on the connector. An engagement portion disposed on the fitting operation lever is disposed so as to be releasable from an initial position setting lock portion disposed on the connector. Entrance portions of the drive cam grooves coincide with the guide notches at an initial position set condition in which the engagement portion is engaged with the initial position setting lock portion.

1. Field of The Invention
The invention relates to a connector with a fitting operation lever used for connecting wire harnesses for automobiles or the like. More particularly, the invention is directed to a structure for setting the initial position of the fitting operation lever.
2. Related Art
In FIG. 14, reference character a denotes a female connector, and b, a male connector. A fitting operation lever c is pivotably arranged through pivots d on the female connector a. Drive cam grooves f corresponding to driven pins e of the male connector b are formed in the fitting operation lever c, and guide notches h for the driven pins e are formed in a housing body g of the female connector a.
At the initial stage of fitting the male connector b into the female connector a, the respective driven pins e must be engaged not only with the corresponding guide notches h but also with the corresponding drive cam grooves f. To implement this, initial position setting coil springs i are disposed on the fitting operation lever c so that entrances f.sub.1 of the respective drive cam grooves f coincide with the corresponding guide notches h (see FIGS. 15, 16, 17).
Each initial position setting coil spring i is designed so that not only one end thereof i.sub.2 is engaged with a retaining portion k while causing a coil portion i.sub.1 to be engaged with a mounting shaft j, but also the other end i.sub.3 thereof is engaged with the pivot d (FIG. 15), thus allowing the fitting operation lever c to be attached to the female connector a under this condition.
In the fitting operation lever are bearing holes l and guide notches m extending to the bearing holes l. The other end i.sub.3 is abutted against a corresponding spring receiving portion n of the lever c when the bearing hole l is engaged with the pivot d through the guide notch m (FIG. 16). The other end i.sub.3 moves away from the pivot d and gets engaged with the spring receiving portion n under the completely attached condition (FIG. 17).
In the aforementioned structure, spring members, each being an independent part, are necessary. The operation of attaching the spring members is time-consuming, laborious, and hence quite cumbersome and costly.


A reinforced adhesive stock comprising a release liner on a carrier web and an adhesive layer in contact with the release liner. The adhesive layer comprises a mixture of an adhesive such as an anaerobic pressure-sensitive adhesive and a photopolymerizable compound. The photopolymerizable compound is capable of curing upon irradiating with actinic radiation. The adhesive layer contains strips of cured photopolymerizable compound which is cured by selectively irradiating with actinic radiation selective areas in strips within the adhesive layer. The resulting form strips of cured polymers provide a reinforcement to the adhesive layer inhibiting flow of the adhesive from the release liner. Additionally, the cured polymer strips provide added cohesive strength to the adhesive layer. A method of forming such adhesive stock is also disclosed.

Anaerobic adhesive systems are typically monomers which are stable in the presence of oxygen, but which polymerize in the absence of oxygen. Polymerization is initiated by the presence of a free radical generator such as a peroxy compound. The cured cross-linked resins are useful as sealants and as adhesives.
Typical resin monomers useful in anaerobic adhesive systems are terminated with polymerizable acrylate esters, such as methacrylate, ethacrylate and chloroacrylate esters. Another ingredient typically present is a polymerization initiator such as a free-radical mechanism initiator, preferably an organic hydroperoxide, such as cumene hydroperoxide, tertiary butyl hydroperoxide and the like. There is also normally provided a stabilizer against free radical initiation such as a quinone or hydroquinone, in an amount sufficient to prevent premature polymerization of the adhesive due to decomposition of the peroxy compound. There are also preferably present one or more accelerators which are typically organo-nitrogen-containing compounds such as tertiary amines, imides, sulfonamides and the like which promote the rate of cure. Cure can also be accelerated by the presence of a suitable metal, such as a transition metal, or its ion.
In application, an anaerobic adhesive is applied to one or both of the surfaces to be joined. When the two surfaces are joined and oxygen excluded, cure will be initiated. As is well known, surfaces such as glass may require application of a suitable accelerator such as a transition metal compound, which will increase the rate of cure on the substantial exclusion of oxygen or air. Anaerobic adhesives have been well published in the art as, for instance, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,895,950; 3,041,322; 3,043,820; 3,046,262; 3,203,941; 3,218,305; 3,300,547; 3,435,012; 3,547,851; 3,625,875; 3,993,815 and 4,039,705.
Anaerobic adhesive systems are typically supplied from a water-like liquid to a lightweight grease in consistency. One end use application is to apply the adhesives to the threads of a bolt or mating nut which are then assembled. The adhesive fills the spaces between the threads which excludes oxygen and enables cure in the normal situation. The metals present in the bolt or nut can accelerate curing.
As stated above, generally anaerobic adhesives are dispensed in a water-like liquid, a gel or grease form. It would be desirable to provide an anaerobic adhesive which can be dispensed as a tape. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,993,815 and 4,039,705 describe anaerobic pressure-sensitive adhesive stocks which are in tape form. However, when such anaerobic adhesives are in such tape form, there is present some loss of the adhesive due to edge-ooze. Edge-ooze is the phenomena of the adhesive under pressure within a laminate structure being squeezed out of such structure due to its low viscosity. Additionally, conventional tape systems require a wide tape generally of at least 1/2 to 3/4 inch wide to prevent or inhibit oxygen from being absorbed along the edges of the adhesive, which oxygen later will inhibit curing of the adhesive. The wider tapes provide retention of some adhesive properties as absorbed oxygen does not reach the inner portions of the adhesive layer. Anaerobic adhesive films which are now used contain reinforcing fiber to prevent the adhesive from flowing off its carrier film. Such fiber is positioned within the adhesive layer and acts as a barrier to the flow of the adhesive. Generally, a plurality of fibers positioned parallel with the edges of the carrier film are used.
An anaerobic adhesive is desirable which has sufficiently high adhesive properties but which can be applied in the manner of a film or tape for easy application to articles to be joined and which exhibits decreased edge-ooze characteristics which in film or tape form. Additionally, it would be desirable to have such anaerobic films in varying widths without worrying about increasing curing time.


Embodiments of the invention disclose an OLED device, an AMOLED display device and a method for manufacturing the AMOLED display device. the AMOLED display device comprises a TFT active layer, a pixel electrode layer and an OLED device; the OLED device comprises a cathode layer and a functional layer, and the pixel electrode layer serves as the anode layer of the OLED device; alternatively, the OLED device comprises an anode layer and a functional layer, and the pixel electrode layer serves as the cathode layer of the OLED device. Moreover, the TFT active layer and the pixel electrode layer are formed from a same IGZO film by a patterning process.

The basic structure of an organic light emitting diode (OLED) includes an anode layer, functional layers and a cathode layer. The functional layers include a hole transport layer, a light emitting layer and an electron transport layer. When a proper voltage is provided across the cathode and the anode, electrons and holes are injected from the cathode and the anode into the electron layer and the hole transport layer, and further migrate to the light emitting layer via the electron layer and the hole transport layer, respectively. The holes and electrons combine within the light emitting layer to generate light, thereby achieving the property of light emitting of the OLED device by itself.
In order to increase the light emitting efficiency, the anode material for the OLED device must have a high work function and light transmittance, while the cathode material generally requires a low work function. Therefore, indium tin oxide (ITO) transparent conductive film, which has a work function of 4.5 eV˜5.3 eV and a stable property and allows light to transmit, is widely used as the anode material for an OLED. A metal having a low work function, such as Al, Ca, Li, Mg, etc., or a composite metal with a low work function is generally used as the cathode material. However, the work function of an ITO film or various metals itself is constant, and increasing the work function of the ITO film or decreasing the work functions of metals is primarily achieved by conducting a surface treatment on them. Therefore, there is a limited range within which the work function of electrodes of the prior art OLED devices can be adjusted, which limits the increase of the display efficiency of an OLED device.
Moreover, active matrix organic light emitting diode (AMOLED) display device essentially consists of thin film transistors (TFTs) and OLEDs. A TFT comprises structures such as a gate electrode, a gate insulation layer, a source layer, drain and source electrodes, etc. An OLED comprises structures such as an anode layer, a hole transport layer, a light emitting layer, an electron transport layer, a cathode layer, etc. The anode or cathode of the OLED is connected to the TFT. This complicated structure causes an issue that an AMOLED has to be prepared in a complicated manufacture process and high production costs.

OLED device, AMOLED display device and method for manufacturing same


In accordance with the above object and other objects of the present invention a method for linking a performance of a mixed hardware and software system a system failure is provided. The method includes identifying a plurality of physical hardware in the mixed system, determining a plurality of software applications in the mixed system, classifying a plurality of software processes in the mixed system, establishing a plurality of collection points for monitoring the operation of each of the physical hardware, software applications, and software processes, creating a physical grid wherein the physical grid indicates a relationship between the subsystem and the software, creating a logical grid wherein the logical grid indicates a relationship between the software applications and the software processes, combining the physical and logical grids to obtain the relationship between the subsystem and the processes, and utilizing the combined grid to link a loss in functionality to one of a subsystem failure and a process failure.

This invention relates to systems and methods for determining the root cause of a failure in a mixed hardware and software system. The mixed hardware and software systems include computer related hardware components, software applications, and processes any of which are susceptible to failing and causing varying levels of loss in functionality of the system.
With the continuing push to automate existing business processes dependency on these new automated processes increases. Many companies and users rely on the continued operation of these automated systems, thus when an outage occurs it becomes critically important to quickly diagnosis where the fault is in the automated system and what impact that fault has on the various components and subcomponents of the automated system. Typically, an automated system comprises many components and subcomponents of which each may be designed, installed and maintained by different suppliers. It is readily apparent from the interdependency of the system components and subcomponents that it becomes increasingly difficult to determine which supplier is responsible for a failure and what degree of damage the failure has caused.
Conventional diagnostic methods and systems are capable of reporting overall application failures and specific subsystem failures. However, such conventional diagnostic systems are unable to report the impact a particular application or subsystem failure has on other applications and subsystems within the overall system. Generally, suppliers of the subsystems and applications enter into agreements with companies who own the entire system to maintain their respective components and subcomponents. These agreements specify when a failure occurs the supplier of the subsystems or applications will get the subsystem or application up and running in a specified time. Without a tool to track a system outage and link the outage to a specific subsystem or application failure it becomes exceedingly difficult to hold suppliers accountable for the system outage. Thus, the company is left to shoulder the entire financial burden caused by the system outage.
Therefore, a need exists for a system and method which is capable of linking a hardware and software system outage to a specific process, application, and/or hardware subsystem failure. The system and method should also be capable of categorizing the impact on the overall system. For example, the system and method should report whether the hardware and software system is undergoing a complete outage, a partial outage, or a functional system degradation.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for linking a system performance to one of a subsystem and software failure.
In accordance with the above object and other objects of the present invention a method for linking a performance of a mixed hardware and software system to a system failure is provided. The method includes identifying a plurality of physical hardware components in the mixed system, determining a plurality of software applications in the mixed system, classifying a plurality of software processes in the mixed system, establishing a plurality of collection points for monitoring the operation of each of the physical hardware components, software applications, and software processes, creating a physical grid wherein the physical grid indicates a relationship between the subsystem and the software, creating a logical grid wherein the logical grid indicates a relationship between the software applications and the software processes, combining the physical and logical grids to obtain the relationship between the subsystem and the processes, and utilizing the combined grid to link a loss in functionality to one of a subsystem failure and a process failure.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention a system for linking a performance of a mixed subsystem and software system to a system failure is provided. The system includes a plurality of subsystems in the mixed system, a plurality of software applications in the mixed system, a plurality of software processes in the mixed system, a plurality of collection points for monitoring the operation of each of the physical subsystem, software applications, and software processes, a physical grid wherein the physical grid indicates a relationship between the subsystem and the software, a logical grid wherein the logical grid indicates a relationship between the software applications and the software processes, and a combined grid created by combining the physical and logical grids to obtain the relationship between the subsystem and the processes, wherein the combined grid is used to link a loss in functionality to one of a subsystem failure and a process failure.
The above object and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best mode for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.


A touchscreen Human Machine Interface (HMI) may be used to communicate with a machine controller which, in turn, may communicate with a variety of systems of an agricultural machine to calibrate those systems. Accordingly, the HMI, via the machine controller, may communicate and interact with various electronically controlled devices of the machine, such as a joystick, a brake pedal, a hydrostatic pump system, a steering angle sensor, a rear steering controller, and the like (such as via an ISO Bus or CAN bus) to effect such calibrations.

Agricultural machines, such as self-propelled sprayers, are getting larger to increase operating efficiency, such as by covering more area in a single pass of a spraying session. The larger machines are also getting heavier. Hydraulic drive systems have been effectively used to power the wheels of these larger machines, which allows for increased ground clearance because of the absence of mechanical driveline components for the hydraulic drive systems.
Modern agricultural machines may be complex with a variety of systems and devices, such as for steering, throttle control, engine control and the like. Such electronically controlled devices are typically calibrated and configured at the factory. However, over time, excessive wear on particular components may cause such systems and devices to lose some amount of responsiveness. For example, a joystick used to control throttling might allow a full range of speed from one extreme position to the other. However, over time, excessive wear on the joystick may prevent reaching the full range of speed from either extreme position.
As a result, service personnel are typically required to interface with the electronically controlled devices, such as via an ISO bus or CAN bus, to perform diagnostics, troubleshoot components and/or re-calibrate aspects of the system. However, this may be time consuming, troublesome and expensive for the operator and service personnel.

Agricultural vehicle calibration via human machine interface


A positive locking fastener for inhibiting rotation of a nut located on a shaft of a threaded fastener, the positive locking fastener comprising: a first plate and a second plate receivable on the shaft, wherein at least one of said plates is rotationally fixed relative to the shaft; a locking assembly axially coupling said first plate to said second plate, said locking assembly including an opening formed in said second plate and a projection extending axially outward from said first plate, wherein said projection is adapted to extend through said opening and overlap a portion of said second plate; and a nut receiving aperture formed on one of said plates having a nut engaging member adapted to rotationally couple the nut to said plates, whereby the nut is rotationally fixed relative to the shaft to inhibit rotation of the nut.

Fasteners are well known in the art. Often fasteners may loosen as a result of vibration or thermal expansion. To alleviate this problem, a wide variety of lock washers have been developed in the art. Lock washers attempt to prevent loosening by increasing the frictional forces between the nut and a stationary surface. Some examples include, a split ring lock washer, a star lock washer, or spring washers. Although these types of lock washers inhibit rotation of the nut by increasing the frictional forces acting opposite to the nut's rotation, they do not provide a positive rotation stopping force.
In a similar manner, nylon inserts have been used to constrict the internal diameter of the threads on the exit side of the nut. Again, these inserts increase the frictional forces, in this case between the bolt and nut threads, that act to resist rotation of the nut. Alternatively, it is known to simply crimp the nut to increase rotational friction. As in the case of lock washers, these methods of increasing the rotational friction do not provide a positive stopping force against rotation of the nut. In addition, nylon inserts are more susceptible to deformation caused by excess heat or corrosive agents.
One known device for positively stopping nut rotation is the castle nut. The castle nut has a crenelated upper surface that may be used to positively stop rotation of the nut. To accomplish this, the nut is tightened to its desired level and then, a hole is drilled through the bolt in a gap between the nut's crenelations. A cotter pin is then passed through this hole and secured in place. In this way, the nut cannot rotate or loosen because the pin provides a positive stop. Unfortunately, the castle nut requires customized placement of the pin to prevent rotation. In other words, the user must drill a hole through each fastener on which the castle nut will be used. The positioning of the hole along the length of the bolt will depend on the thickness of the parts being joined, the number of washers, and the desired tightness. Consequently, the castle nut is rendered job specific preventing it from being mass produced and having universal application. Moreover, any adjustment of the nut would require drilling a new hole.
Therefore, a need exists for positive locking fastener that prevents loosening of a nut brought on by vibration. A need also exists for a positive locking fastener that may be mass produced and applied universally. A further need exists for a positive locking fastener that can move to more than one location along the bolt shaft without having to remodify the bolt.


A control system for a laundry machine provides a system for engaging a laundry machine in a drop-off mode, allowing an operator to use the machine as necessary to process customer garments without being required to activate the machine via a payment interface. In an embodiment of the invention, the system provides a lock-out function for allowing a machine to be reserved for a specific user holding a predetermined password or code. In a further embodiment of the invention, the laundry machine is configured with a low power and/or shut down facility, whereby the power consumption of the machine may be greatly reduce during idle periods.

Many commercial laundry machines are designed to allow users, e.g., members of the public, to activate the machines and use them for washing garments. Typically users will pay for the service provided by the machine via the insertion of coins, cash, cards, etc. However, it is often desirable for a machine to be available on a more limited basis, i.e., for use by a facility operator without paying, or for use by members of the public on a reservation basis. However, present systems for allowing these types of actions are not satisfactory, requiring excess operator involvement or oversight. In addition, such machines may be very expensive to operate with respect to their use of electrical energy, however, it is difficult to manage the power consumption of such machines, especially when the machines are not in active use.

Laundry machine system for enhanced process automation and control