An audio signal high frequency component controlled in terms of directivity is reproduced, or an audio signal high frequency component compensated in terms of frequency characteristic or controlled in terms of directivity is reproduced, such that the reflected sound comes from a direction in which the high frequency component is intended to be localized. The sound pressure in a seat where a desired localization effect is not provided due to the arrangement of speakers is compensated such that the interaural amplitude level in the seat is equal to that of another seat. Thus, an equivalent level of localization effect is provided in a plurality of seats, especially for an audio signal high frequency component, without significantly increasing the number of the speakers.

I. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a sound image localization control apparatus.
II. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, when reproducing music, a movie or other contents in a vehicle, the sense of sound image localization is improved by adjusting gain balance or time alignment through delay insertion among speakers. With such a method, however, it is difficult to improve the sense of sound image localization at different seats with substantially the same degree. In order to solve this problem, an apparatus for erasing crosstalk among a plurality of speakers is proposed. Hereinafter, an audio reproduction apparatus described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 6-165298 will be described with reference to the figures.
FIG. 1 shows an audio reproduction apparatus described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 6-165298. In this figure, an audio reproduction apparatus 1 is applied to front seats of a vehicle. Specifically, two crew members L1 and L2 as listeners in the vehicle listen to a signal B1 reproduced by a recording device 2 with their left ears and to a signal B2 reproduced by the recording device with their right ears. Thus, both crew members perceive an audio effect of a content included in the recording device 2. In front of the crew members L1 and L2, four speakers 3a through 3d are provided, which are respectively connected to amplifiers 4a through 4d. Each set of a speaker and an amplifier forms audio generation means. The recording device 2 has audio information therein which is recorded by a known binaural recording system. The recording device 2 and the amplifiers 4a through 4d are connected to each other via an inverse filter network 5 constructed by the following procedure.
Before constructing the inverse filter network 5, an acoustic transfer function hij (i=1 through 4: subscript representing an ear; j=1 through 4: subscript representing a speaker) from each of the speakers 3a through 3d to each ear of each crew member is measured. The acoustic transfer functions other than h11, h21, h31 and h41 are not shown in the figure. FIG. 2 shows a method for measuring an acoustic transfer function hij. A test signal generation device 6 connected to the amplifiers 4a through 4d generates a wideband signal such as white noise or the like, and measures acoustic transfer functions hij using sounds S1 through S4 generated from the speakers 3a through 3d and sounds M1 through M4 measured at both ears of dummy heads D1 and D2 which are located at positions at which crew members are assumed to be sitting. In actuality, the speakers are driven sequentially. Namely, for example, while the speaker 3a is driven, the other speakers 3b through 3d are not driven. The generated sounds S1 through S4, the measured sounds M1 through M4, and the acoustic transfer functions fulfill the following relationships.
                    [                  Expression                                                              1                ]                                                                      [                                                                      M                  1                                                                                M                  2                                                                                M                  3                                                                                M                  4                                                              ]                =                              [                                                                                h                    11                                                                                h                    12                                                                                h                    13                                                                                h                    14                                                                                h                    21                                                                                h                    22                                                                                h                    23                                                                                h                    24                                                                                h                    31                                                                                h                    32                                                                                h                    33                                                                                h                    34                                                                                h                    41                                                                                h                    42                                                                                h                    43                                                                                h                    44                                                                        ]                                          [                                                                                S                    1                                                                                S                    2                                                                                S                    3                                                                                S                    4                                                                        ]                                              (        1        )
A target effect to be provided by the audio reproduction apparatus 1 is:
                    [                  Expression                                                              2                ]                                                                      [                                                                      M                  1                                                                                M                  2                                                                                M                  3                                                                                M                  4                                                              ]                =                              [                                                            1                                                  0                                                  0                                                  0                                                                              0                                                  1                                                  0                                                  0                                                                              0                                                  0                                                  1                                                  0                                                                              0                                                  0                                                  0                                                  1                                                      ]                                          [                                                                                B                    1                                                                                B                    2                                                                                B                    1                                                                                B                    2                                                                        ]                                              (        2        )
Expression (2) can be modified into:
                    [                  Expression                                                              3                ]                                                                      [                                                                      M                  1                                                                                M                  2                                                                                M                  3                                                                                M                  4                                                              ]                =                                                            [                                                                                h                        11                                                                                h                        12                                                                                h                        13                                                                                h                        14                                                                                h                        21                                                                                h                        22                                                                                h                        23                                                                                h                        24                                                                                h                        31                                                                                h                        32                                                                                h                        33                                                                                h                        34                                                                                h                        41                                                                                h                        42                                                                                h                        43                                                                                h                        44                                                                                ]                                                          [                                                                                h                        11                                                                                h                        12                                                                                h                        13                                                                                h                        14                                                                                h                        21                                                                                h                        22                                                                                h                        23                                                                                h                        24                                                                                h                        31                                                                                h                        32                                                                                h                        33                                                                                h                        34                                                                                h                        41                                                                                h                        42                                                                                h                        43                                                                                h                        44                                                                                ]                                                    -              1                                                      [                                                                                B                    1                                                                                B                    2                                                                                B                    1                                                                                B                    2                                                                        ]                                              (        3        )
The following Expressions are obtained by substituting expression (1) for expression (3).
                    [                  Expression                                                              4                ]                                                                                [                                                                                S                    1                                                                                S                    2                                                                                S                    3                                                                                S                    4                                                                        ]                    =                                                    [                                                                                h                        11                                                                                h                        12                                                                                h                        13                                                                                h                        14                                                                                h                        21                                                                                h                        22                                                                                h                        23                                                                                h                        24                                                                                h                        31                                                                                h                        32                                                                                h                        33                                                                                h                        34                                                                                h                        41                                                                                h                        42                                                                                h                        43                                                                                h                        44                                                                                ]                                            -                1                                                                [                                                                                B                      1                                                                                B                      2                                                                                B                      1                                                                                B                      2                                                                                ]                                                                                (        4        )                                [                  Expression                                                              5                ]                                                                                [                                                                                h                    11                                                                                h                    12                                                                                h                    13                                                                                h                    14                                                                                h                    21                                                                                h                    22                                                                                h                    23                                                                                h                    24                                                                                h                    31                                                                                h                    32                                                                                h                    33                                                                                h                    34                                                                                h                    41                                                                                h                    42                                                                                h                    43                                                                                h                    44                                                                        ]                                -            1                          =                              1                                        H                                                                    [                                                                                H                    11                                                                                H                    21                                                                                H                    31                                                                                H                    41                                                                                H                    12                                                                                H                    22                                                                                H                    32                                                                                H                    42                                                                                H                    13                                                                                H                    23                                                                                H                    33                                                                                H                    43                                                                                H                    14                                                                                H                    24                                                                                H                    34                                                                                H                    44                                                                        ]
The inverse filter network 5 as shown in FIG. 1 is designed so as to fulfill expression (4) and provided in front of the amplifiers 4a through 4d. A signal for the left ear and a signal for the right ear are input to the inverse filter network 5 instead of an output from the test signal generation device 6. Then, the signals listened to by the left ear and the right ear of the dummy heads D1 and D2 are respectively a signal for the left ear and a signal for the right ear. It is assumed that in the inverse filter network 5 shown in FIG. 1, the signal for the left ear is input to an input section shown on a left part of the sheet of FIG. 1, and the signal for the right ear is input to an input section shown in a right part of the sheet of FIG. 1. Components included in the inverse filter network 5 are expressed by the following expressions.
                                                            [                          Expression                                                                                6                        ]                                                                                          H                              =                                    h            11                                          [                                                                                h                    22                                                                                h                    23                                                                                h                    24                                                                                h                    32                                                                                h                    33                                                                                h                    34                                                                                h                    42                                                                                h                    43                                                                                h                    44                                                                        ]                          -                              h            12                                          [                                                                                h                    21                                                                                h                    23                                                                                h                    24                                                                                h                    31                                                                                h                    33                                                                                h                    34                                                                                h                    41                                                                                h                    43                                                                                h                    44                                                                        ]                          +                              h            13                                          [                                                                                h                    21                                                                                h                    22                                                                                h                    24                                                                                h                    31                                                                                h                    32                                                                                h                    34                                                                                h                    41                                                                                h                    42                                                                                h                    44                                                                        ]                          -                                            h              14                                                  [                                                                                h                      21                                                                                h                      22                                                                                h                      23                                                                                h                      31                                                                                h                      32                                                                                h                      33                                                                                h                      41                                                                                h                      42                                                                                h                      43                                                                                ]                                                                                [                      Expression                                                                          7                    ]                                                          H        11            =              +                              {                                                            h                  22                                                                  [                                                                                h                          33                                                                                h                          34                                                                                h                          43                                                                                h                          44                                                                                ]                                            -                                                h                  23                                                                  [                                                                                h                          32                                                                                h                          34                                                                                h                          42                                                                                h                          44                                                                                ]                                            +                                                h                  24                                                                  [                                                                                h                          32                                                                                h                          33                                                                                h                          42                                                                                h                          43                                                                                ]                                                      }                                                                                [                      Expression                                                                          8                    ]                                                          H        12            =              -                  {                                                    h                21                                                          [                                                                                h                        33                                                                                h                        34                                                                                h                        43                                                                                h                        44                                                                                ]                                      -                                          h                23                                                          [                                                                                h                        31                                                                                h                        34                                                                                h                        41                                                                                h                        44                                                                                ]                                      +                                          h                24                                                          [                                                                                h                        31                                                                                h                        33                                                                                h                        41                                                                                h                        43                                                                                ]                                              }                                                  [              Expression                                                  9            ]                                            H        13            =              +                              {                                                            h                  21                                                                  [                                                                                h                          32                                                                                h                          34                                                                                h                          42                                                                                h                          44                                                                                ]                                            -                                                h                  22                                                                  [                                                                                h                          31                                                                                h                          34                                                                                h                          41                                                                                h                          44                                                                                ]                                            +                                                h                  24                                                                  [                                                                                h                          31                                                                                h                          32                                                                                h                          41                                                                                h                          42                                                                                ]                                                      }                                                                                [                      Expression                                                                          10                    ]                                                          H        14            =              -                              {                                                            h                  21                                                                  [                                                                                h                          32                                                                                h                          33                                                                                h                          42                                                                                h                          43                                                                                ]                                            -                                                h                  22                                                                  [                                                                                h                          31                                                                                h                          33                                                                                h                          41                                                                                h                          43                                                                                ]                                            +                                                h                  23                                                                  [                                                                                h                          31                                                                                h                          32                                                                                h                          41                                                                                h                          42                                                                                ]                                                      }                                                                                [                      Expression                                                                          11                    ]                                                          H        21            =              -                              {                                                            h                  12                                                                  [                                                                                h                          33                                                                                h                          34                                                                                h                          43                                                                                h                          44                                                                                ]                                            -                                                h                  13                                                                  [                                                                                h                          32                                                                                h                          34                                                                                h                          42                                                                                h                          44                                                                                ]                                            +                                                h                  14                                                                  [                                                                                h                          32                                                                                h                          33                                                                                h                          42                                                                                h                          43                                                                                ]                                                      }                                                                                [                      Expression                                                                          12                    ]                                                          H        22            =              +                              {                                                            h                  11                                                                  [                                                                                h                          33                                                                                h                          34                                                                                h                          43                                                                                h                          44                                                                                ]                                            -                                                h                  13                                                                  [                                                                                h                          31                                                                                h                          34                                                                                h                          41                                                                                h                          44                                                                                ]                                            +                                                h                  14                                                                  [                                                                                h                          31                                                                                h                          33                                                                                h                          41                                                                                h                          43                                                                                ]                                                      }                                                                                [                      Expression                                                                          13                    ]                                                          H        23            =              -                              {                                                            h                  11                                                                  [                                                                                h                          32                                                                                h                          34                                                                                h                          42                                                                                h                          44                                                                                ]                                            -                                                h                  12                                                                  [                                                                                h                          31                                                                                h                          34                                                                                h                          41                                                                                h                          44                                                                                ]                                            +                                                h                  14                                                                  [                                                                                h                          31                                                                                h                          32                                                                                h                          41                                                                                h                          42                                                                                ]                                                      }                                                                                [                      Expression                                                                          14                    ]                                                          H        24            =              +                  {                                                    h                11                                                          [                                                                                h                        32                                                                                h                        33                                                                                h                        42                                                                                h                        43                                                                                ]                                      -                                          h                12                                                          [                                                                                h                        31                                                                                h                        33                                                                                h                        41                                                                                h                        43                                                                                ]                                      +                                          h                13                                                          [                                                                                h                        31                                                                                h                        32                                                                                h                        41                                                                                h                        42                                                                                ]                                              }                                                  [              Expression                                                  15            ]                                            H        31            =              +                  {                                                    h                12                                                          [                                                                                h                        23                                                                                h                        24                                                                                h                        43                                                                                h                        44                                                                                ]                                      -                                          h                13                                                          [                                                                                h                        22                                                                                h                        24                                                                                h                        42                                                                                h                        44                                                                                ]                                      +                                          h                14                                                          [                                                                                h                        22                                                                                h                        23                                                                                h                        42                                                                                h                        43                                                                                ]                                              }                                                  [              Expression                                                  16            ]                                            H        32            =              -                  {                                                    h                11                                                          [                                                                                h                        23                                                                                h                        24                                                                                h                        43                                                                                h                        44                                                                                ]                                      -                                          h                13                                                          [                                                                                h                        21                                                                                h                        24                                                                                h                        41                                                                                h                        44                                                                                ]                                      +                                          h                14                                                          [                                                                                h                        21                                                                                h                        23                                                                                h                        41                                                                                h                        43                                                                                ]                                              }                                                  [              Expression                                                  17            ]                                            H        33            =              +                  {                                                    h                11                                                          [                                                                                h                        22                                                                                h                        24                                                                                h                        42                                                                                h                        44                                                                                ]                                      -                                          h                12                                                          [                                                                                h                        21                                                                                h                        24                                                                                h                        41                                                                                h                        44                                                                                ]                                      +                                          h                14                                                          [                                                                                h                        21                                                                                h                        22                                                                                h                        41                                                                                h                        42                                                                                ]                                              }                                                  [              Expression                                                  18            ]                                            H        34            =              -                  {                                                    h                11                                                          [                                                                                h                        22                                                                                h                        23                                                                                h                        42                                                                                h                        43                                                                                ]                                      -                                          h                12                                                          [                                                                                h                        21                                                                                h                        23                                                                                h                        41                                                                                h                        43                                                                                ]                                      +                                          h                13                                                          [                                                                                h                        21                                                                                h                        22                                                                                h                        41                                                                                h                        42                                                                                ]                                              }                                                  [              Expression                                                  19            ]                                            H        41            =              -                  {                                                    h                12                                                          [                                                                                h                        23                                                                                h                        24                                                                                h                        33                                                                                h                        34                                                                                ]                                      -                                          h                13                                                          [                                                                                h                        22                                                                                h                        24                                                                                h                        32                                                                                h                        34                                                                                ]                                      +                                          h                14                                                          [                                                                                h                        22                                                                                h                        23                                                                                h                        32                                                                                h                        33                                                                                ]                                              }                                                  [              Expression                                                  20            ]                                            H        42            =              +                  {                                                    h                11                                                          [                                                                                h                        23                                                                                h                        24                                                                                h                        33                                                                                h                        34                                                                                ]                                      -                                          h                13                                                          [                                                                                h                        21                                                                                h                        24                                                                                h                        31                                                                                h                        34                                                                                ]                                      +                                          h                14                                                          [                                                                                h                        21                                                                                h                        23                                                                                h                        31                                                                                h                        33                                                                                ]                                              }                                                  [              Expression                                                  21            ]                                            H        43            =              -                  {                                                    h                11                                                          [                                                                                h                        22                                                                                h                        24                                                                                h                        32                                                                                h                        34                                                                                ]                                      -                                          h                12                                                          [                                                                                h                        21                                                                                h                        24                                                                                h                        31                                                                                h                        34                                                                                ]                                      +                                          h                14                                                          [                                                                                h                        21                                                                                h                        22                                                                                h                        41                                                                                h                        32                                                                                ]                                              }                                                  [              Expression                                                  22            ]                                            H        44            =              +                  {                                                    h                11                                                          [                                                                                h                        22                                                                                h                        23                                                                                h                        32                                                                                h                        33                                                                                ]                                      -                                          h                12                                                          [                                                                                h                        21                                                                                h                        23                                                                                h                        31                                                                                h                        33                                                                                ]                                      +                                          h                13                                                          [                                                                                h                        21                                                                                h                        22                                                                                h                        31                                                                                h                        32                                                                                ]                                              }
In the case where the signals B1 and B2 recorded by the binaural system are processed by the inverse filter network 5 constructed in this manner, the sound reaching the position of the left ear of the crew members L1 and L2 is of the signal B1, and the sound reaching the position of the right ear of the crew members L1 and L2 is of the signal B2. Therefore, both crew members can listen to the original sound field.
In the case where the structure shown in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 6-165298 is provided with control means for processing an output from the recording device 2 with a digital filter or the like which simulates a predetermined acoustic transfer function and inputting the resultant signal to the inverse filter network 5, the sound image can be localized in a predetermined direction. FIG. 3 shows acoustic transfer functions G1 and G2 from a virtual sound source 7 to the left ear and the right ear of the dummy head D1. FIG. 4 shows an audio reproduction apparatus for localizing a sound image in a predetermined direction. In FIG. 4, elements equivalent to those in FIG. 1 bear identical reference numerals thereto. For filters 8a and 8b, predetermined acoustic transfer functions G1 and G2 are set as coefficients. As a sound source, a monaural sound source 9 having a monaural signal B0 recorded therein is used, not a sound recorded by the binaural system. In the structure shown in FIG. 4, the sounds at the positions of the left ear and the right ear of the crew members L1 and L2 are respectively G1•B0 and G2•B0 according to the above description. Therefore, the crew members L1 and L2 obtain a perception as if the sound was generated by the virtual sound source 7 shown in FIG. 3. The monaural signal B0 may be processed with the acoustic transfer functions G1 and G2 in advance, or the acoustic transfer functions G1 and G2 may be incorporated as elements of the inverse filter network 5. In these cases, substantially the same effect is provided.

Sound image localization control apparatus

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


A photovoltaic device includes a substrate, a transparent conductive oxide, an n-type window layer, a p-type absorber layer and an electron reflector layer. The electron reflector layer may include zinc telluride doped with copper telluride, zinc telluride alloyed with copper telluride, or a bilayer of multiple layers containing zinc, copper, cadmium and tellurium in various compositions. A process for manufacturing a photovoltaic device includes forming a layer over a substrate by at least one of sputtering, evaporation deposition, CVD, chemical bath deposition process, and vapor transport deposition process. The process includes forming an electron reflector layer over a p-type absorber layer.

A photovoltaic device generates electrical power by converting light into direct current electricity using semiconductor materials that exhibit the photovoltaic effect. The photovoltaic effect generates electrical power upon exposure to light as photons, packets of energy, are absorbed within the semiconductor to excite electrons to a higher energy state. These excited electrons are thus able to conduct and move freely within the material
A basic unit of photovoltaic device structure, commonly called a cell, may generate only small scale electrical power. Thus, multiple cells may be electrically connected to aggregate the total power generated among the multiple cells within a larger integrated device, called a module or panel. A photovoltaic module may further comprise a protective back layer and encapsulant materials to protect the included cells from environmental factors. Multiple photovoltaic modules or panels can be assembled together to create a photovoltaic system, or array, capable of generating significant electrical power up to levels comparable to other types of utility-scale power plants. In addition to photovoltaic modules, a utility-scale array would further include mounting structures, electrical equipment including inverters, transformers, and other control systems. Considering various levels of device, from individual cell to utility-scale arrays containing a multitude of modules, all such implementations of the photovoltaic effect may contain one or more photovoltaic devices to accomplish the energy conversion.
Thin film photovoltaic devices are typically made of various layers of different materials, each serving a different function, formed on a substrate. A thin film photovoltaic device would include a front electrode and a back electrode to provide electrical access to the photoactive semiconductor layer or layers sandwiched between.
In one example of a photovoltaic device, the substrate would be a glass sheet, such as soda lime glass, float glass, or low iron glass, but could also be a polymer or other suitable material. The substrate may have various surface coatings on the internal and external surfaces, in the context of the finished device. That is, the external surface is exposed to the environment, and the internal surface is encapsulated within the photovoltaic device. The surface coating on the external surface may include an anti-reflective coating, an anti-soiling coating or other coating to improve the device performance. The substrate may include coatings on the internal surface, such as a buffer layer, transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layer and a barrier layer.
The internal coatings together comprise a TCO stack. The barrier layer lessens diffusion of sodium or other contaminants from the substrate to the semiconductor layers. The buffer layer decreases the likelihood of irregularities occurring during the formation of the semiconductor layer or layers. The TCO layer is a transparent, electrically conductive, material serving as a front electrode to the photovoltaic device to communicate a generated electrical current to a circuit, which may include an adjacent photovoltaic device, such as to adjacent cells within a photovoltaic module.
The semiconductor layer or layers will typically include a p-n junction that drives an electrical current as light is absorbed within the material. A p-n junction may be formed by of a bilayer where the first layer is an n-type layer referred to as the window layer and where the second layer is a p-type layer referred to as the absorber layer. When light is incident on the photovoltaic device, photons will excite electrons to a higher energy level causing them to conduct within the material. Front and back electrodes are connected to the semiconductor layer or layers to provide a front and back current pathways to take advantage of the conducting electrons. The efficient operation of the device, that is, how much light energy incident on the device is converted and collected as usable electrical power, may be negatively affected by losses as the generated current flows between adjacent layers of dissimilar materials. These losses may include resistance losses, and may also include loses due to recombination of mobile charge carriers.
The manufacturing of a photovoltaic structure generally includes sequentially forming the functional layers through a process that may include vapor transport deposition, atomic layer deposition, chemical bath deposition, sputtering, closed space sublimation, or any other suitable process that creates the desired material. Once a layer is formed it may be desirable to modify the physical characteristics of the layer through subsequent treatments processes. For example, a treatment process step may include passivation, which is defect repair of the crystalline grain structure, and may further include annealing. Imperfections or defects in the crystalline grain of the material disrupt the periodic structure in the layer and can create areas of high resistance or undesirable current pathways, for example, parallel to but separated from the desired current pathway such as a shunt path or short.
An activation process may accomplish passivation through the introduction of a chemical dopant to the semiconductor bi-layer as a bathing solution, spray, or vapor. Subsequently annealing the layer in the presence of the chemical dopant at an elevated temperature provides grain growth and incorporation of the dopant into the layer. The larger grain size reduces the resistivity of the layer, allowing the charge carriers to flow more efficiently. The incorporation of a chemical dopant may also make the regions of the bi-layer more n-type or more p-type and able to generate higher quantities of mobile charge carriers. Each of these improves efficiency by increasing the maximum voltage the device can produce and reducing unwanted electrically-conductive regions. In the activation process, the parameters of anneal temperature, chemical bath composition, and soak time, for a particular layer depend on that layer's material.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide an effective back electrical connection at the back of the photovoltaic device to minimize losses that may occur at the interface between the absorber layer and the back current pathway and a method of making such a photovoltaic device.

Photovoltaic device including a back contact and method of manufacturing


A cement slurry composition suitable for well bore cementation is provided containing as an essential component a synthetic hectorite clay in amount sufficient to reduce free water formation and solids segregation.

Free water and solids segregation have long been identified as the source of many problems in well bore cementations. Many SPE publications have discussed the role of free water development and solids segregation in "gas-cutting" of cement and inter-zonal communication. This is a particular problem in deviated well bores where the solids and free water have only to move a few inches to collect. The water can then slide along the upper formation face and the solids downward along the lower formation face. Free water can also collect and form "open pockets" in well bore irregularities.
The industry's awareness of this problem has resulted in concerted efforts to control free water development and sedimentation. While the API has recently been active in developing a more stringent "Operating Free Water Test", several individual companies within the industry have already developed their own review criteria. Most include some physical/visual inspection, some further specify minimum yield point YP or Ty values since certain rheologic properties control cement slurry stability. These YP or Ty values represent an extrapolated y intercept, typically using the shear stress/shear rate relationships present at higher shear rates, such as 1022 to 170 reciprocal seconds. However, the actual y intercepts and low shear rate fluid rheology are typically much lower since most cement slurries fail to follow "ideal" Bingham Plastic or Power Law behavior. Cement slurries typically have actual shear stress values falling well below projected values in the shear rate range of from 1022 to 170 reciprocal seconds. As a result, the API suggests use of shear rates of from about 511 to 170 reciprocal seconds to minimize non-model behavior at low shear rates.
Cement slurries are a suspension of solids in water. The solids are suspended by the chemical and physical interactions of these particles. Unfortunately, most of the cement modifiers used for fluid loss control and for ensuring adequate pumping time reduce low shear viscosity or disperse the cement particles. AMPS co-polymers (acrylomido methyl propane sulfonate copolymers) are particularly notorious for reducing low shear viscosity, yield intercept and progressive gels. Cement dispersants, i.e. sodium naphthalene sulfonate condensed with formaldehyde, and retarders i.e. lignosulfonates and organic acids, strongly disperse the cement particles. This dispersion reduces cement viscosity at all shear levels and greatly reduces yield point and progressive gelation. Low shear viscosity, yield point, and progressive gel strength development are key to proper solids support and free water control. A material that would boost these values would be most beneficial.
Past work at addressing this problem has focused on three approaches. One uses a heat-activated gellant, another uses materials that preferentially increase yield point, and the third uses progressive gel strength development. Heat-activated or latent solubility polymers do not yield during initial surface mixing, but increase overall viscosity as they yield at higher temperatures. This permits higher viscosity than would otherwise be possible and offsets to some degree thermal thinning. The problem with this approach is that the organic polymers have an upper temperature limitation of 250-300.degree. F. They also remain subject to thermal thinning. Therefore, to achieve adequate viscosity at 250.degree. F., the viscosity and friction pressure will be greater than desired at <200.degree. F.
Materials such as Kelco's Biozan, bentonite and attapulgite have been used to preferentially boost cement slurry yield point and low shear viscosity. While they do increase plastic viscosity and apparent viscosity at the higher shear rates, greater gains are made in the yield point and progressive gels. Unlike the temperature activated materials, the total usable concentration of these additives is limited by surface mixing viscosity.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,778,528 attempts to address the problem of free water formation and suggests the addition to cement slurry compositions of 100 micromols to 5 millimols per 100 grams of cement of a soluble salt of magnesium, tin, lead, bismuth or a transition metal, or a combination of these.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,888,120 relates to the use of synthetic swellable layer silicates in water-based well drilling fluids as a high temperature stable thixotrope which are said to be substantially unaffected by alkaline earth metal ions. The patent does not deal with cement compositions which contain synthetic swellable layer silicates.
Published UK patent application GB 2,296,713 and its counterpart WO 96/20899 describe synthetic hectorite/cement mixtures which are said to be capable of rapid and reversible gelling.


The present invention provides a bulb seal capable of navigating both interior corners and exterior corners of an opening while maintaining consistent and adequate sealing capacity, the invention comprising a tubular member having internal strain-controlling cavities, vent holes, and a pair of external collapse-controlling protrusions, and an attachment member for receiving a component to be sealed.

Bulb seals are often used to seal compartments and the like, which often requires the seal to navigate a corner of the compartment. Prior art bulb seals tend to rotate and buckle when applied to less rounded corners, creating inconsistent compartment sealing. Rotation and buckling occurs because prior art seals are unable to properly handle the loads generated from bending the seal about a vertical axis. To make matters worse, seals may be required to navigate outside and inside corners along the same perimeter. This is a problem since outside corners provide loading conditions contrary to those provided by inside corners. Prior art seals have been unable to remedy buckling and rotation problems for both corner conditions along the same perimeter, instead remedying one and not the other.
Accordingly, there is a need for a bulb seal that provides improved sealing properties when navigating a less rounded corner for both outside and inside corners.

Collapse-controlled, rotation-resisting bulb seal


A data processing system and method are described for permitting a server computer system to generate a detailed repair request utilized to a remote client computer system. The server and client computer systems are coupled together utilizing a local area network. In response to an error in operation of the client caused by a malfunctioning part included within the client, the client identifies the malfunctioning part. The client automatically transmits a notification of the error and an identification of the part to the server without requiring a user's presence at the client. The server generates a detailed repair request which includes the identification of the part. The repair request is detailed including an identity of the malfunctioning part to be repaired and is generated remotely by the server without a user's presence at the client being required.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to data processing systems and, in particular, to a data processing system capable for remotely generating a detailed repair request utilized to repair a client computer system. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a method and system in a data processing system for permitting a server to remotely generate a detailed repair request identifying a malfunctioning part included within a client computer system where a user's presence is not required at the client in order to generate the repair request.
2. Description of the Related Art
Personal computer systems are well known in the art. They have attained widespread use for providing computer power to many segments of today's modern society. Personal computers may be defined as a desktop, floor standing, or portable microcomputer. Examples of such personal computer systems are IBM's PC series, Aptiva series, and Thinkpad series.
In addition, computer networks are employed to provide efficient computing capabilities throughout a large work area. Existing computer networks generally include a number of remotely located computer systems coupled via a data link to a server computer system or a central processing center.
With personal computers being increasingly connected into networks to allow transfers of data among the computers to occur, more operations such as maintenance and updating of applications and data collections are occurring over the network. It is desirable to schedule maintenance and updates to not interfere with productive work of the users of the computer systems. However, shifting the time for such activity may cause other problems. For example, there is no one available at the client computer system to answer questions and take action at the direction of the network manager during off hours.
In addition, errors may occur during the operation of a client computer system at any time. When these errors occur, a network manager or other operator must first determine that a client computer is not operating properly. Then, a repair technician must physically go to the client computer system and determine the type of error as well as identify which part or parts within the client computer system caused that error. As may typically occur, the technician may not have the necessary replacement parts. Therefore, additional time is lost while the technician obtains the parts and returns to repair the computer system.
In one known system, a client computer system which has experienced an operational error will report to its associated server computer system that such an error has occurred. However, the notification to the server computer system includes only the resulting error code. Utilizing the client computer system's network address, the server computer system can determine which client system generated the error. A repair technician must then determine the physical location of the client computer system and physically go to that client. Knowing the error code, the repair technician may guess the most likely type of parts which could have caused the particular error code. Once physically at the client, the repair technician must locate the part which caused the error. If the technician did not bring the correct replacement parts, another trip back to the client at a later time will be required before the client is repaired.
Therefore a need exists for a method and system in a data processing system for remotely generating a detailed repair request utilized to repair a client computer system without requiring a user's presence at the client.

Data processing system and method for generating a detailed repair request for a remote client computer system

International Business Machines Corporation


An optical fiber coupling system is provided which minimizes beam loss. The system includes a substrate with a laser beam emitting unit attached at one end, a first fine lens which focuses or collimates a vertical beam emitted by the laser beam emitting unit, a set of second fine lenses which focus or collimate a horizontal beam emitted by the laser beam emitting unit, and a beam output unit which outputs the beam focused or collimated by the first and second fine lenses. This arrangement reduces an alignment error associated with this type of optical system and improves a degree of beam focus. Additionally, the optical fiber coupling system can be made compact and available for mass-production.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical fiber coupling system and, more particularly, to an optical fiber coupling system with a compact size capable of minimizing a beam loss and suitable for a mass production, and its manufacturing method.
2. Description of the Background Art
Recently, as demands on a high output laser light are increasing and a new application field is extended, researches on a high output semiconductor laser are actively ongoing.
The application field is extended to a display using laser such as a CD-RW or a DVD-RAM, optical recording medium, or a large-screen projector, a laser wireless communication, a material processing using laser (welding, cutting and fine processing related to a semiconductor, or the like), an optical amplifier and a pumping light source used for a medical use or a military use.
In the case of the pumping light source of a solid state laser, the material processing and the medical laser, a high laser output more than a few Watt level is required. Especially, the pumping of the solid state laser is a critical and big application field for a high output diode laser.
One method for obtaining such a high laser output is that a high output laser diode is formed in an array type for use. In this method, in order to heighten an efficiency of the laser diode array, several laser beams radiated from the laser diode array are coupled to each optical fiber corresponding to each laser diode, and the optical fiber array is bundled to be used as a light source for pumping, whereby a high laser output can be obtained with the beam emitted from the laser diode array.
The high output semiconductor laser is used as an optical fiber coupling system according to applications, and the optical fiber coupling system includes an optical fiber array having a suitable numerical aperture (NA) and a core diameter, and a refractive optical lens serving to collimate the diode array beam.
The existing optical fiber coupling system including the refractive optical lens is a device designed for a beam form of a multi-mode high output diode laser. In order to reduce radiation of the laser optical source and couple the optical fiber, the existing optical fiber coupling system requires a complicate three-dimensional shaped lens structure and an optical system with a high performance.
A spread angle of light radiated from the laser diode is determined depending on a structure of the laser diode. In case of the high output laser diode, generally, an light-spread angle is in the range of about 32˜44 in a vertical direction, and about 8˜12 in the horizontal direction. This is because the size of a transversal section of a semiconductor laser oscillation region is a few micrometer (μm), that is, so small that the output light is radiated at a wide angle owing to a diffraction effect.
At this time, having different horizontal and vertical angles, an overall distribution of the horizontal mode of the output light is oval.
In order to reduce the loss of the laser beam made incident on the optical fiber of the output terminal due to such unbalance of the light spread angle, preferably, a laser beam spread angle is to be reduced. In this case, by coupling the optical system utilizing predetermined lenses providing a focusing performance corresponding to each spread direction, the light spread angle can be reduced to obtain a high efficiency for the output terminal optical fiber.
As to the optical connection between the laser diode and the optical fiber of the output terminal, the light spread angles are different at the horizontal and vertical directions, so two lens surfaces are required.
FIGS. 1 and 2 show beam paths from a lens to an optical fiber of the output terminal according to a difference in the light spread angle in the horizontal and vertical directions of the general laser diode in a coupling optical system using a three-dimensional shaped lens in accordance with a conventional art.
With reference to FIG. 1, a lens R1 serves to collimate the laser beam with a wide light-spread angle radiated from the laser diode in a horizontal direction, and with reference to FIG. 2, a lens R2 focuses laser beam radiated from the laser diode 10 in a side direction and makes it incident on a core, or a waveguide, of the optical fiber 20 of the output terminal.
By using the three-dimensional lens, the optical fiber coupling system converts the form of beam radiated from the laser diode. Consequently, the lens R1 having a high numerical aperture collimates from an axis with a wide light-spread angle while the second-dimensional lens R2 projects an expanded light source to an axis with a smaller light-spread angle of the laser diode.
A beam forming function of the optical fiber forms an almost circular spot at an inlet part of the optical fiber of the output terminal and can be used to pump laser mode. An efficiency of the structure is dependent upon the diode laser and the optical fiber as well as the optical system.
In order for the optical fiber coupling system to have a maximum performance, the laser spread angle needs to be small as possible while the aperture of the optical fiber needs to be large, and the lenses of the optical system should be accurately aligned according to size. Light coming into the optical fiber with a small angle is totally, internally reflected from a core-cladding interface, and at this time, a portion of the totally-reflected light is absorbed, causing an output reduction.
Thus, the optical fiber coupling optical system needs to be designed to accomplish a maximum coupling efficiency, and a light source including the optical fiber needs to be optimized. Lenses serving for collimation reduce a spread angle of laser beam radiated from the laser diode, and the smaller the diameter of the collimated beam is, the easier a laser pumping is at a solid state laser medium, which makes the number of the optical devices reduce and the energy density for pumping increase.
In case of the optical fiber used by being optically connected to the high output laser diode array, its numerical aperture is 0.16˜0.39, and its core size is 100˜600 um. Especially, the laser diode emitting light with the optical fiber having a small numerical aperture is significantly used for a medical, solid state laser pumping. A coupling optics used for such usage is fabricated as a product by molding a lens made of glass and replicating it.
In these methods, a high-priced lens is aligned with and attached to the laser diode, the collimated beam coming out through the lens is focused to the optical fiber after passing through several lenses or respectively focused to the optical fiber array positioned at regular intervals, to obtain a high output beam.
However, the two methods are to use a high-priced lens having a complicate three-dimensional shape or a series of lens array, and in this respect, the three-dimensional lens are can be favored for a mass-production because it is fabricated in an injection form using a precisely-processed high-priced metal mold. But fabrication of the metal mold is difficult and costly, and in addition, since the minimum size of the lens is limited to the minimum size of a tool for processing a curved surface of the lens of the metal mold, it is very difficult to make the coupling optical system very small (slim).

Optical fiber coupling system and manufacturing method thereof


A plastic barb clamp provides leakproof connection of a flexible tube in a barb fitting. The barb clamp includes a collet and a sleeve. The barb clamp is configured to fit snugly within the tube. The collet is slid over the tube. Annular retainers on the interior surface of the collet fit tightly around the tube and under an expanded portion of the barb fitting. The sleeve is then slid over the collet. As the sleeve moves over the collet, tangs on the collet are pushed radially inwardly into the tube and barb fitting. The exterior surface of the collet has radial projections or expanded diameter portions for locking with the sleeve. The sleeve has an annular projection or a reduced diameter portion on the interior surface of the sleeve to correspond to the exterior surface of the collet to provide a secure lock between the collet and sleeve. To properly orientate the sleeve relative to the collet, the sleeve and collet can be molded as one piece, wherein the sleeve and collet are connected by thin, frangible pieces of plastic.

The transfer of fluid through flexible tubing is widely used in various environments. Ultimately, the flexible tubing is connected to the source of the gaseous or liquid fluid, the delivery site of the fluid, or to another flexible tubing. At the ends of the flexible tubing, it is necessary to provide a secure and leak proof connections. Although these requirements are necessary in all environments using flexible tubing, it is critical in the medical and pharmaceutical fields. In the medical and pharmaceutical fields flexible tubing and associated connections are used for luer fittings, quick connects, or sanitary fittings such as used in blood pumps, oxygen concentrators, sleep apnea equipment, medical transport containers, IV bags, etc. Currently the flexible tubing in these areas use cable ties. In the automotive and other industrial environments, the flexible tubing is connected to a barb fitting by hose clamps. Both of these means of connection demonstrate poor pull off strength and provides an inherent leak path.


The level converting circuit includes a first current cutting circuit, a second current cutting circuit, a level shift circuit and an inverter. The first current cutting circuit includes two PMOS transistors connected to a node having a boosted potential Vpp. The second current cutting circuit includes two NMOS transistor connected to a ground node. The level shift circuits include two PMOS transistors and two NMOS transistors. Before a through current flows between the node having the boosted potential Vpp and the ground node, any of the transistor included in the first current cutting circuit and any of the transistors included in the second current cutting circuits are turned off. Therefore, through current between the node having the boosted potential Vbb and the ground node can be prevented.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a level converting circuit for converting a level of an input signal, an internal potential generating circuit for generating an internal potential, an internal potential generating unit for generating an internal potential, a semiconductor device and method of manufacturing a transistor. More specifically, it relates to a level converting circuit capable of preventing through current, an internal potential generating circuit providing higher efficiency in generating internal potential, an internal potential generating unit facilitating setting of performance, a highly reliable semiconductor device and to a method of manufacturing a transistor having high breakdown voltage.
2. Description of the Background Art
Conventional level converting circuits are disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laying-Open Nos. 4-223713, 4-269011 and 2-37823.
FIG. 75 is a schematic diagram showing a conventional level converting circuit.
Referring to FIG. 75, the conventional level converting circuit includes PMOS transistors 3 and 9, NMOS transistors 5 and 13, and an inverter 17. PMOS transistor 3 and NMOS transistor 5 are connected in series between a ground node and a node having boosted potential Vpp.
PMOS transistor 9 and NMOS transistor 13 are connected in series between the ground node and the node having boosted potential Vpp. PMOS transistor 3 has its gate connected to the drain of NMOS transistor 13. PMOS transistor 9 has its gate connected to the drain of NMOS transistor 5.
A signal IN is input to the gate of NMOS transistor 5. A signal IN inverted by inverter 17 is input to the gate of NMOS transistor 13. A node between PMOS transistor 9 and NMOS transistor 13 is an output node, and a level converted signal OUT is output therefrom.
The operation will be described. The signal IN is a clock signal setting power supply potential Vcc and ground potential GND to "H" (high) level and "L" (low) level, respectively. When the signal IN is at the "H" level, NMOS transistor 5 and PMOS transistor 9 turn on. Thus, the signal OUT having the level of the boosted potential Vpp is output. More specifically, the signal IN having the level of power supply potential Vcc is converted to be the signal OUT having the higher level, that is, the level of the boosted potential Vpp.
When the signal IN is at the "L" level, PMOS transistor 3 and NMOS transistor 13 turn on. Therefore, the signal OUT having the level of the ground potential is output.
However, in the conventional level converting circuits, sometimes PMOS transistor 3 and NMOS transistor 5 or PMOS transistor 9 and NMOS transistor 13 may simultaneously be turned on. When the signal IN is at "L" level, NMOS transistor 5 and PMOS transistor 9 are off. If the signal IN attains to the "H" level next, it is possible that PMOS transistor 9 and NMOS transistor 5 turn on before PMOS transistor 3 and NMOS transistor 13 turn off.
When the signal IN is at the "H" level, PMOS transistor 3 and NMOS transistor 13 are off. It is possible that PMOS transistor 3 and NMOS transistor 13 turn on before PMOS transistor 9 and NMOS transistor 5 turn off, when the next "L" level signal IN is input.
From the foregoing, the conventional level converting circuit experiences the problem that through current flows from the node having boosted potential Vpp to the ground node.

Level converting circuit for converting level of an input signal, internal potential generating circuit for generating internal potential, internal potential generating unit generating internal potential, highly reliable semiconductor device