Related to a liquid-crystal alignment film that can align liquid-crystal molecules without resort to the rubbing.. The liquid-crystal alignment film of the present invention comprises a resin (e.g., a polyimide) containing a photoisomerizable and dichroic structural unit (e.g., a stilbene derivative), and is furnished with the ability to align liquid-crystal molecules when a film formed of the resin is irradiated with linearly polarized light; the ability to align liquid-crystal molecules being held and fixed.. The liquid-crystal alignment film of the present invention is used in electric-filed driven type liquid-crystal display devices.

Liquid-crystal display devices are conventionally constituted of a pair of transparent electrode substrates provided opposite to each other at a certain distance, a liquid-crystal alignment film of polyimide or the like coming into contact on each side with liquid crystal, and a liquid crystal hermetically sealed between the electrode substrates. One liquid-crystal display device has a large number of pixels, and images are displayed by utilizing changes in the direction of alignment of liquid-crystal molecules at the pixel portions, the changes being caused upon application of a voltage to the liquid-crystal layer through transparent electrodes. In recent years, liquid-crystal display devices have become available that incorporate switching devices such as thin-film transistors (TFT) on the electrode substrates at the pixel portions. These are known as active matrix type liquid-crystal display devices. The active matrix type liquid-crystal display devices commonly employ a twisted nematic (TN) type liquid-crystal display system in which the alignment direction of liquid-crystal molecules is twisted by about 90 degrees from one electrode substrate toward the other electrode substrate at the time the voltage is not applied across the electrodes. In the liquid-crystal display devices of the TN type liquid-crystal display system, the application of a voltage across the electrodes causes liquid-crystal molecules to incline to make it possible to perform gradational display. However, since this inclination of liquid-crystal molecules has a directionality, a visual angle dependence comes into question such that display colors or contrast ratios vary depending on the direction in which liquid-crystal display devices are viewed.
Some methods for improving this visual angle dependence to broaden the visual angle are disclosed as a pixel division method in which display electrodes constituting one pixel are divided and the voltage applied thereto is changed for each electrode (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2-12) and an alignment division method in which the insides of pixels are divided to change pretilt angles (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 62-159119) or to change the alignment direction of liquid-crystal molecules (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 63-106624), for each region.
In liquid-crystal display devices, the liquid-crystal alignment film formed on an electrode substrate on the side coming into contact with the liquid crystal has the function to align the liquid-crystal molecules in a certain direction on the film surface. For this purpose, treatment called rubbing is prevalent. Rubbing is a process in which a high-molecular film of polyimide or the like formed on the substrate is rubbed with a cloth covered with a large number of fibers like velvet to thereby furnish the film with the ability to cause liquid-crystal alignment, and is a simple and inexpensive process.
As liquid-crystal alignment control processes other than the rubbing, proposed are an oblique deposition process making use of an obliquely deposited film of SiO or the like (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 56-66826, etc.), a photolithographic process in which irregularities are formed in gratings on the surface of an alignment film by a process such as photolithography (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 60-60624, etc.), an LB film process in which high-molecular chains are aligned in the draw-up direction when built up on the substrate (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 62-195622, etc.), an ion irradiation process in which ions are obliquely shed (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 3-83017, etc.), a high-velocity fluid jet process in which a fluid is obliquely jetted at a high velocity (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 63-96631), an ice blasting process in which ice pieces are obliquely blown (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 63-96630), an excimer laser process in which a high-molecular surface is irradiated with excimer laser light or the like to form a periodic stripe pattern (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2-196219, etc.), an electron-ray scanning process in which fine irregularities are formed by scanning the surface of a thermoplastic material with electron rays (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 4-97130, etc.), a centrifugal process in which a centrifugal force is caused to act on a coated alignment film-forming solution, to align high-molecular chains (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 63-213819), a stamp process in which a base material having already been aligned is contact-bonded to transfer the ability to cause alignment (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 6-43457, etc.), Y. Toko et al., a random alignment process in which a chiral agent is added to twist the structure (J. Appl. Phys., 74 (3), p.2071, 1993), M. Schadt et al., a photo-dimerization process that utilizes two-plus-two addition cyclization reaction of polyvinyl cinnamate (Jpn. J. Appl. Phys., 31 Part 1, No. 7, p.2155, 1992), Hasegawa et al., a photo-decomposition process in which a polyimide film is photo-decomposed with polarized ultraviolet light (Liquid-crystal Forum Draft Collections, p.232, Article No. 2G604, 1994) and so forth, none of which, however, have been put into industrial application.
Meanwhile, W. M. Gibbons et al. report that the alignment direction of liquid-crystal molecules on the surface of an alignment film can be changed in the direction perpendicular to the direction of an electric field of irradiation polarized light when a polyimide liquid-crystal alignment film is previously doped with a diazodiamine coloring matter to prepare a cell in which liquid crystal has been aligned in a certain direction by rubbing and the resultant cell is irradiated with polarized laser light (Nature, 351, p.49, 1991). Ichimura, who is one of the present inventors, also reports that liquid-crystal molecules can be switched between vertical alignment and parallel alignment simply by irradiation with light and also the direction of parallel alignment can be changed by irradiation with polarized light, when the surface of a liquid-crystal display device substrate is chemically modified with photochromic molecules (Applied Physics, 62 (10), p.998, 1993, etc.). All of this research is pioneer research for next-generation photo-driven type liquid-crystal display devices which are different from electric-field driven type liquid-crystal display devices like the liquid-crystal display devices presently put into practical use.
In the case when the rubbing is used to align liquid-crystal molecules in a certain direction on the film surface, problems may arise such that fibers may come off a rubbing cloth at the time of rubbing, dust tends to adhere because of static electricity generated at the time of rubbing, the substrate may be scratched because fibers and dust are rubbed against it, cell gaps may become poor when the panel is assembled in the state where fibers and dust have adhered and, in order to prevent this, the step of cleaning the substrate after rubbing is required, and some materials for alignment films cause deterioration of alignment performance as a result of washing. In the case of active matrix type liquid-crystal display devices, the static electricity may cause breakage of switching devices. Moreover, it is difficult for substrates with irregularities or substrates with a large area to be uniformly rubbed.
Among the liquid-crystal alignment control processes other than the rubbing, the oblique deposition process, ion irradiation process and electron-ray scanning process require vacuum equipment and are not practical for processing large-area substrates. The centrifugal process requires large-scale equipment for carrying out one-direction alignment on large-area substrates, and is not practical.
The high-velocity fluid jet process and ice blasting process can attain uniform alignment only with difficulty when large-area substrates are processed.
The stamp process is not suited for mass production because the substrate used in the mold can be repeatedly utilized only a small number of times.
The random alignment process can form fine domains and hence can provide broad visual angles, but has the problem of a contrast decrease caused by leakage of light from domain boundaries.
The photo-decomposition process is accompanied by a decrease in molecular weight of the polyimide used as an alignment film material, and hence has a possibility of a decrease in film strength or a decrease in resistance to liquid crystals.
The photolithographic process requires complicated steps and is not practical.
The LB process takes a long time for build-up and is not suited for mass production.
The excimer laser process requires expensive equipment and also can not be applied in thin films like those conventionally used in liquid-crystal alignment films. Moreover, it requires scanning or the like in order to process large-area substrates and takes a long time.
In the processes where irregularities are formed in gratings, as in the photo-dimerization process, electron-ray scanning process the photolithographic process and the excimer laser process, it is difficult to generate pretilt angles.
In addition, in order to produce liquid-crystal display devices having a wide visual angle, the processes other than the random alignment process require pixel division or alignment division. The pixel division, however, is not very effective for the improvement in visual angle dependence. With regard to the alignment division, the liquid-crystal alignment control processes other than the rubbing have difficulty in achieving it, or require complicated steps.
Meanwhile, in an attempted coloring matter doping process as proposed by W. M. Gibbons et al., in which a polyimide liquid-crystal alignment film is doped with a diazodiamine coloring matter, utilized to form liquid-crystal alignment films of electric-field driven type liquid-crystal display devices, there is a possibility that the coloring matter, having a low molecular weight, may diffuse into the liquid-crystal layer in the course of time, resulting in a loss of the ability to cause liquid-crystal alignment or damage of the display performance required for liquid-crystal display devices. Thus, if the liquid-crystal alignment films designed for photo-driven type liquid-crystal display devices are attempted being utilized as liquid-crystal alignment films of electric-field driven type liquid-crystal display devices, the alignment films may have insufficient stability in the ability to cause liquid-crystal alignment.


An echo cancellor includes an echo replica generator which generates an echo replica signal based on a received signal, a subtractor which obtains a transmitting side output signal by subtracting the echo replica signal from a transmitting side input signal, a divergence detector which detects a divergence of the echo cancellor based on the transmitting side input signal and the echo replica signal and outputs a detection signal when the divergence is detected, and a resetting part which automatically resets the echo replica generator in response to the detection signal from the divergence detector.

The present invention generally relates to echo cancellers, and more particularly to an echo canceller which is used in a long-distance telephone system, a telephone conference system, a video telephone conference system and the like.
The echo canceller was developed for the purpose of preventing quality deterioration of communications caused by an echo which occurs in long-distance telephone lines such as satellite communication and submarine cable communication. The echo canceller technology is presently applied in a two-way relay for call diversion service, a relay for telephone conference and the like in order to improve the singing margin. In addition, the echo canceller technology is also applied in a high-efficiency encoder which has a long encoding delay so as to improve the efficiency of the transmission line.
Furthermore, in the case of the video telephone system and a loudspeaker telephone, the sound output from a speaker reflects off the walls of the room and mixes in from a microphone to cause an echo. Hence, the echo canceller is used to eliminate this echo.
A description will now be given of the echo phenomenon which occurs in the long-distance telephone line and the operating principle of the conventional echo canceller.
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the echo phenomenon. Generally, in the long-distance telephone line, the subscriber lines on both ends of the line respectively employ the two-wire circuit for making transmission and reception using two lines. The long-distance telephone line which connects the two subscriber lines employs the four-wire circuit for making transmission and reception using mutually independent lines. Hybrid transformers 41 and 42 are used for the conversion from the two-wire circuit to the four-wire circuit. However, unmatched impedance at the connection point between the two-wire circuit and the four-wire circuit causes a portion of an input signal on the receiving side to leak to the transmitting side via the hybrid transformers 41 and 42. This signal portion which leaks to the transmitting side is generally referred to as an echo.
In the case of a domestic communication, the propagation time of the audio signal is short and the time difference between the transmitted signal and the echo which returns via the connection point on the receiving side is only in the order of 50 msec at the maximum. For this reason, the echo sounds as a sidetone to the speaker and no practical problems are introduced.
On the other hand, in the case of an international communication which uses the satellite line, for example, the propagation time of the going and returning signals between the two parties is approximately 300 msec or more. For this reason, the speaker must talk while listening to his own voice which is returned as echo, and this echo makes it difficult for the speaker to smoothly continue the telephone call.
The echo canceller is designed to suppress this echo, and FIG. 2 shows the operating principle of the conventional echo canceller. Echo cancellers 43 and 44 are arranged respective ends of the four-wire circuit. The echo canceller 43 includes an echo replica generator 431 for generating an echo replica signal by estimating the echo path characteristic and a subtractor 432 for subtracting the echo replica signal from the actual echo signal. Similarly, the echo canceller 44 includes an echo replica generator 441 for generating an echo replica signal by estimating the echo path characteristic and a subtractor 442 for subtracting the echo replica signal from the actual echo signal.
Generally, the echo replica generators 431 and 441 respectively estimate the impulse response of the echo paths using a transversal filter. In order to cope with the change in the impulse response, the filter coefficients of an adaptive filter are usually updated adaptively using the received signal. The adaptive filter in most cases employs an adaptive algorithm in conformance with the learning identification method because a relatively good characteristic can be obtained using a simple hardware structure. In other words, the filter coefficients of the adaptive filter are successively updated so that the square of a residual echo approaches zero.
However, when the learning identification method or a similar adaptive algorithm is used, the estimated impulse response (tap coefficients of the filter) becomes large if a narrow band signal such as a single frequency signal and a low bit rate modem signal obtained by frequency modulation is input. In this case, a divergence phenomenon occurs because a number of bits exceeds a limit determined by the hardware structure.
On the other hand, when the echo canceller is applied to the actual line, the situation is not limited to the case where the line is connected and the echo path exists, but also to a case where the echo path no longer exists due to the switching of the line. For this reason, the echo canceller is not always in a state where the impulse response can be estimated correctly.
In order to cope with the above described case, the echo canceller is usually provided with an internal limiting function for constantly carrying out a stable operation by judging the situation. However, the limiting function cannot always cope with all situations, and the estimation of the impulse response may become impossible due to some reason. When the adaptive operation continues for a long time in the state where the impulse response cannot be estimated, the calculation error is gradually accumulated and may eventually reach divergence.
When the above described divergence phenomenon occurs, the echo cancellers 43 and 44 shown in FIG. 2 form a closed loop. As a result, once the filter coefficients diverge, it is extremely difficult to automatically reset the echo canceller to the normal operation.
The divergence phenomenon occurs in the following case. That is, since the echo canceller carries out a complex process in real time, a digital signal processing circuit is usually used for carrying out the complex process. This means that digital signals are processed. On the other hand, analog signals are transferred in the telephone network.
Accordingly, a conversion circuit for converting the analog signal into the digital signal is required at each echo canceller. In most cases, a PCM coder/decoder is used as the conversion circuit as shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, those parts which are the same as those corresponding parts in FIG. 2 are designated by the same reference numerals, and a description thereof will be omitted. In FIG. 3, a PCM coder/decoder 435 is coupled to the echo canceller 43, while a PCM coder/decoder 445 is coupled to the echo canceller 44. The PCM coders/decoders 435 and 445 respectively use as the output thereof a non-linear 8-bit signal such as a code according to the .mu. law and the maximum value is restricted.
At the echo canceller 43, for example, the transmitting side input signal is the output signal of the PCM coder/decoder 435 and the maximum level of the transmitting side input signal will not exceed the maximum output value of the PCM coder/decoder 435. On the other hand, since the echo replica is the estimated echo, the echo replica will not exceed the maximum output value of the PCM coder/decoder 435 during a normal operation.
For example, when the echo canceller 43 carries out the digital signal processing using the non-linear 8-bit output signal of the PCM coder/decoder 435, the non-linear 8-bit output signal is first converted into a linear signal before carrying out the signal processing. When making this conversion, the non-linear 8-bit output signal of the PCM coder/decoder 435 is expanded into a 14-bit signal. Furthermore, when carrying out the echo cancelling process in the echo canceller 43, the calculations are in many cases carried out in 14 bits or more so as to ensure a satisfactory calculation accuracy. In such cases, when the estimation of the echo path is not carried out correctly, the calculated echo replica signal may exceed the maximum output value of the PCM coder/decoder 435.
As a result, the transmitting side output signal corresponding to the residual echo may exceed the maximum output value of the PCM coder/decoder 435. However, even in this case, the other echo canceller 44 is unaffected if the transmitting side output signal is again converted into 8 bits in the PCM coder/decoder 435 before being transmitted to the other echo canceller 44.
But when a high efficiency encoder is used in place of the transmission line, for example, the transmitting side output signal is transmitted to the other echo canceller 44 with the value which exceeds the maximum output value of the PCM coder/decoder 435.
Consequently, the value which exceeds the maximum output value of the PCM coder/decoder 435 is input to the other echo canceller 44 as the receiving side input signal. When this value is output to the echo path, the value is suppressed by the PCM coder/decoder 445. This echo path is formed from the other echo canceller 44 to the transmitting side of the echo canceller 43 via the PCM coder/decoder 445, the hybrid transformer 42 and the PCM coder/decoder 445. The above described suppression at the PCM coder/decoder 445 causes non-linearity between the receiving side input signal and the transmitting side input signal of the other echo canceller 44, and it becomes impossible to carry out a correct echo cancelling operation. Furthermore, the non-linearity may cause the divergence of the other echo canceller 44.
When the above described divergence phenomenon occurs due to some reason, a trouble is introduced thereby in the communication. Conventionally, there is a problem in that the divergence phenomenon can only be eliminated by manually resetting the echo canceller depending on the operator's judgement.


A three-dimensional ROM device includes a silicon substrate having plurality of parallel trenches formed in an upper surface thereof, and a plurality of raised mesa regions. Each trench has a bottom and a pair of sidewalls, and is separated from an adjacent trench by a respective mesa region. A plurality of separated, parallel source/drain regions are provided, including a first and second source/drain region located on respective opposite sides of a respective trench bottom, and a third and fourth source/drain region located on respective opposite sides of a respective raised mesa region. Each source/drain region serves as a bit line. A gate oxide layer is located on the upper surface of the silicon substrate. A plurality of sidewall oxide layers are formed on selected sidewalls and serve as channel barriers. A plurality of silicon nitride layers are formed above selected mesa regions and trench bottoms, and serve as channel barriers. A plurality of gate layers are located over the gate oxide layer and the silicon nitride layers and serve as word lines. A region between any two adjacent source/drain regions comprises a channel region.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to a read only memory (ROM) device, and more particularly, to a ROM device having memory units arranged in three dimensions, and a method of making the same.
2. Description of Related Art
ROM devices are widely used inside personal computers, microprocessors and other digital systems. In general, a ROM device is typically used as the main memory device for the storage of information in digital systems. The ROM devices used in different equipment are basically identical in structure, except for their coded contents. As such, manufacturers typically fabricate semi-finished ROM devices which are complete with the exception of the actual program coding step. The semi-finished ROM devices are then stocked by the manufacturer. Once the customer supplies the desired codes to the manufacturer, the manufacturer can rapidly fabricate the necessary set of coding masks according to the customer's requirements and standards, so that the coding implantation can be immediately performed. After the completion of the coding implantation and other subsequent steps, the finished ROM devices can be supplied to the customer in a fast and efficient manner. Hence, methods of making ROM devices that use programming masks in a later part of the manufacturing cycle are preferred by the industry.
From the perspective of an integrated circuit manufacturer, major issues include the reduction of the area occupied by the integrated circuits, increasing the level of integration, the reduction of production costs, and increasing market share.
However, in a conventional ROM device, each gate region, comprised for example of polysilicon, is formed on the same planar surface as the other gate regions. This requires a relatively large footprint. Once the characteristic dimensions of the ROM device have been reduced to their ultimate limits (such as line separation, line width, or channel width), the surface area occupied by the integrated circuit cannot be further reduced, and therefore production costs cannot be further reduced.
FIG. 1a shows the structure of a conventional ROM device. The manufacture of a conventional ROM device includes forming an array of parallel, embedded source/drain regions 11 (composed of, for example, an N-type material) above a substrate 10 (for example, a P-type substrate). A gate oxide layer 12 is formed above the substrate 10, and a polysilicon gate layer 13 is formed above the gate oxide layer 12. The term "source/drain region" refers to both a source or a drain terminal. As such, each source/drain region 11 is either a source or a drain terminal, as determined solely by the metallic wiring connection.
Referring next to FIG. 1b, in a subsequent coding step, a patterned photoresist layer 15 is formed above the polysilicon gate layer 13, so that polysilicon gate regions 13' are exposed. These exposed regions will form memory cells having an OFF state, as will be subsequently described. Then, and referring to FIG. 1c, impurities are implanted into the channel region 16 using an ion implantation method. As a result, the threshold voltage of these memory cells are changed, with their memory content being permanently fixed in the OFF state. Finally, the photoresist layer 15 is removed to complete the manufacturing of a conventional ROM device.
As described before, all polysilicon gate regions 13' are located on the same planar surface; therefore, for every two polysilicon gate regions 13', a predetermined gap must exist therebetween, which makes any further reduction in the area occupied by the ROM device difficult.


An antenna configuration includes two closely spaced antennas each positioned so as to be orthogonally polarized with respect to the other. The antenna configuration increases antenna isolation and reduces electromagnetic coupling between donor side antenna and repeat side antenna. The antennas include printed dipoles connected to respective transceivers through respective baluns to balance the non-symmetrical portions of the antenna feed paths to reduce unwanted radiation therein. Printed features such as chokes and non-symmetrical and non-parallel structures are preferably included in the ground plane of a multi-layer circuit board to reduce or eliminate circulating ground currents.

In certain circumstances, it becomes necessary to closely position multiple omni directional antennas, such as those used in repeaters, where the antennas for both the donor and subscriber sides of the repeater are placed in close proximity. For example, such closely spaced antennas can be embedded onto low cost printed circuit boards for use in various communications products and systems, such as in the WiDeFi™ TDD based repeater system. It is further desirable for such closely spaced antennas to maintain minimal antenna-to-antenna interaction while maintaining good gain characteristics, to be easily producible in high volume manufacturing using low cost packaging, and to be easy for a user to operate. Further, when the antenna is placed near a reflecting surface, such as a wall, that would otherwise change the free space isolation of the antennas, a mechanism is required to reduce or cancel the effect of the interaction.
Three key problems present themselves when attempting to achieve high isolation between multiple, closely-spaced antennas that are printed on a small PCB board with near omni-directional antenna patterns and that must work in close proximity to unknown structures such as walls, furniture, and the like. The problems are coupling of radiated energy, common mode coupling and multi-path or random coupling of in-band signal energy.
In dealing with the first problem of coupling of radiated energy from one antenna into the receiver section of another, the radiated fields emanating from the antenna structure must be cancelled somehow to increase isolation. The closer the antennas are in physical proximity, the more they will tend to couple energy, which coupling reduces isolation between the antennas. Additional problems can arise when attempting to maintain an omni or semi-omni directional antenna pattern.
Dealing with the second problem of common mode coupling involves a coupling mechanism that is difficult to cancel. Common mode coupling occurs due to a shared ground on a printed circuit board. Voltage perturbations on the ground plane associated with generating and transmitting a signal from one antenna circuit couple into an adjacent antenna circuit either electrically into input circuits through the ground plane or indirectly from energy induced into the ground plane or input circuits by the transmitted signal. The problem of common mode coupling is especially difficult when multiple antennas are integrated together on a very small ground plane.
The third problem of random coupling is often the most difficult coupling mechanism to address. With random coupling, energy from indeterminate reflections or interactions with objects that change the radiation patterns or sources of localized coupling are primarily the result of antenna placement. However, attempting to determine an exact antenna placement that reduces or removes the unwanted components while preserving the desired components and the directionality is not generally successful.

Integrated, closely spaced, high isolation, printed dipoles


Methods of executing a multi-page copyback program in a non-volatile memory device are provided, where the non-volatile memory device includes a memory having a plurality of memory blocks. A page of data of the memory block having a first address is replaced responsive to a generated multi-page copyback program command. It is determined if the first address of the page of data is the same as a stored address of the page at which the failure was detected. The first address is incremented if it is determined that the first address and the stored address are not the same. The pages of data are replaced, the addressed are compared and the addresses are incremented until it is determined that the incremented address and the stored address are the same. Related devices and systems are also provided herein.

Semiconductor memory devices for storing data can typically be categorized as either volatile memory devices or nonvolatile memory devices. Volatile memory devices lose their stored data when their power supplies are interrupted. Nonvolatile memory devices, on the other hand, retain their stored data even when their power supplies are interrupted. Thus, nonvolatile memory devices are widely used in applications where the possibility of power supply interruption is present.
Conventional nonvolatile memory devices include a type of electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) device typically referred to as a flash EEPROM device. Flash EEPROM devices typically include a semiconductor substrate of first conductivity type, for example, p-type, spaced source and drain regions of second conductivity type, for example, n-type, in the substrate, a channel region at a face of the substrate, between the spaced source and drain regions, a floating gate for storing charge carriers when the device is programmed and a control gate which overlies the floating gate, opposite the channel region. Conventional flash EEPROM integrated circuit memory devices may contain column-by-column arrays of NAND EEPROM cells having the general construction illustrated in cross-section and schematically by FIGS. 11.58 and 11.59 from a handbook by B. Prince et al. entitled Semiconductor Memories, John Wiley & Sons Ltd., pp. 603-604 (1991); and in an article by M. Momodomi et al. entitled An Experimental 4-Mbit CMOS EEPROM with a NAND Structured Cell, IEEE Journal of Solid State Circuits, Vol. 24, No. 5, p. 1238 Oct. (1989). Typical schematic and cross-sectional layouts of arrays containing NAND EEPROM cells are also more fully described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,546,341 to Suh et al. entitled Nonvolatile Semiconductor Memory.
Operation of a flash EEPROM device is typically divided into three modes including programming, erasing and reading. Programming of a flash EEPROM device is typically achieved by biasing the drain region to a first positive bias, relative to the source region, and biasing the control gate to a second positive bias, which is greater than the first positive bias. In the absence of any stored charge on the floating gate, these biases cause the formation of an inversion-layer channel of electrons at the face of the substrate, between the source and drain regions. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the drain-to-source voltage accelerates these electrons through the channel to the drain region where they acquire sufficiently large kinetic energy and are typically referred to as "hot" electrons. The larger positive bias on the control gate also establishes an electrical field in a tunneling oxide layer, which separates the floating gate from the channel region. This electric field attracts the hot electrons and accelerates them toward the floating gate, which is disposed between the control gate and the channel region, by a process known as tunneling. The floating gate then accumulates and traps the accumulated charge. Fortunately, the process of charging the floating gate is self-limiting. The negative charge that accumulates on the floating gate reduces the strength of the electric field in the tunneling oxide layer to the point where it is no longer capable of accelerating "hot" electrons from the drain side of the channel region.
As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the accumulation of a large quantity of trapped charge (electrons) on the floating gate may cause the effective threshold voltage (Vth) of the field effect transistor including the source region, drain region, channel region and control gate to increase. If this increase is sufficiently large, the field effect transistor will remain in a nonconductive "off" state when a predetermined "read" voltage is applied to the control gate during a read operation (i.e., Vth>Vread). In this state, known as the programmed state, the EEPROM device may be said to be storing a logic 0. Once programmed, the EEPROM device retains its higher threshold voltage even when its power supply is interrupted or turned off for long periods of time.
Erasing of the EEPROM device may also be achieved by removing the stored charge from the floating gate. The erasure process can be achieved, for example, by grounding the control gate and applying a positive bias to the substrate, for example, 10-20 Volts. Accordingly, flash EEPROM devices typically require bulk erasure of large portions of an array of cells since the effects of applying a large substrate bias typically cannot be confined to a single EEPROM cell.
Reading of the EEPROM device is achieved by applying a predetermined read voltage (Vread) to the control gate, typically via a word line connecting a row (i.e., page) of identical EEPROM devices or "cells", and applying a positive bias to the drain region, typically via a bit line connecting a column of identical EEPROM cells. If the EEPROM device is programmed, it will not conduct drain current (Ids) and the bit line will remain at the positive bias. However, if the EEPROM device has not been programmed, or has been erased, it will heavily conduct and pull the bit lie down to ground potential (GND). In this state, the EEPROM device may be said to be storing a logic 1. Thus, by monitoring the bit line current and voltage, the programmed state (i.e., 1 or 0) of the EEPROM device can be determined.
During the performance of a reading operation, it may become necessary to perform a page copy operation by copying data read from a first page of memory cells at a first address to a second page of memory cells at a second different address. A conventional page copy operation typically includes reading data from a first page of memory cells in an array to a page buffer and then to a storage device external to the page buffer. Then, the data in the storage device is returned to the page buffer and then reprogrammed into the second page of memory cells using conventional programming operations. Unfortunately, conventional page copy operations may require external storage and typically require that such external storage be loaded serially from the page buffer and downloaded serially to the page buffer, which can very time consuming.
To address the potential problems discussed above, alternative page copy operations were developed. For example, in another conventional method, a first page of data is read into a page buffer where it is retained in an inverted format. The retained data is then stored back into the memory at an address of a second page. However, these page copy operations are limited because the copy of the original data from the first page is not stored as a "true" copy but is stored as an inverted copy. Accordingly, during subsequent read operations, it is possible for data errors to occur if the inverted copy is treated as a true copy.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,041 to Kim discusses a method of determining if the copy is the inverted or true copy. As discussed therein, integrated circuit memory devices with page copy flag cells are provided. These integrated circuit memory devices include an array of memory cells and a plurality of flag cells coupled thereto which retain a flag to indicate whether a respective page of memory cells contains data copied in an inverted format from another page of memory cells. The flag may constitute a logic 1 (or logic 0) signal stored in the flag EEPROM cell to indicate whether the data in the corresponding page of memory is a true or an inverted copy of a page of data copied from another page at a different address. A page buffer is also provided to retain data read from a page of memory and read from a corresponding flag cell, and an exclusive OR gate for inverting the data output by the page buffer if the flag has been set and passing the output data unchanged if the flag has not been set. Although the teachings of this patent may address the possibility of using a wrong version of the copied page, this method can still be very time consuming.
Notwithstanding the above described memory devices and methods for performing page copy operations, there continues to be a need for improved memory devices and methods for performing page copy operations.

Flash memory devices having multi-page copyback functionality and related block replacement methods


This invention relates to a multi-flavored electronic cigarette, including liquid storage components adapted for reserving liquid smoke and heaters adapted for atomizing liquid smoke to smoke, the electronic cigarette being further provided with at least two atomizing chambers therein adapted for allowing a kind of liquid smoke to be atomized therein to become smoke, each atomizing chamber reserving a kind of liquid smoke and provided with one of the heater, the electronic cigarette being further provided with a heater control circuit board therein electrically connected with each heater, a battery electrically connected with the heater control circuit board and a control switch disposed on an outer shell of the electronic cigarette. This kind of multi-flavored electronic cigarette has multiple atomizing chambers, and satisfies the requirement for free choice of one flavor, multi-flavors or a combination of optional flavors.

Current electronic cigarettes generally comprise a liquid storage component for storing liquid smoke and a heater for atomizing the liquid smoke into vapor, and the electronic cigarettes also have one atomizing chamber for the liquid smoke to be atomized therein, while the atomizing chamber generally can only accommodate one flavor of liquid smoke.
The current electronic cigarettes have the follow shortcomings: since only one atomizing chamber is provided for accommodate the liquid smoke, and each atomizing chamber generally can only accommodate one flavor of liquid smoke, which results in that the vapor after atomized through the current electronic cigarettes has single taste, even the liquid smokes with multiple flavors are mixed in one atomizing chamber, all the flavors of the atomized smokes are also mixed together, this cannot satisfy user's requirement for free choice of multi-flavors and a combination of optional flavors.

HUIZHOU KIMREE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., SHENZHEN BRANCH


A method is disclosed for web-based, in-browser, cloud-storage-enabled opening of, decompression of, and creation of encrypted/password-protected or non-encrypted archive files in which the method is implemented as a software application that connects to a web service, meaning the software can be a web app running in any web browser and on any operating system, device, or platform, so that no manual installation and maintenance of a platform-specific application executable is required. The method-implementing software application performs all processing of archive file contents directly in-browser on the user's device, which is maximally secure for the user, such that when the archive file is retrieved, which may be done either locally on-device or from a cloud-based file storage provider, it is able to perform the operational features including compression, decompression, encryption, decryption, and rich preview.

Embodiments of the invention described in this specification relate generally to tools for working with compressed archive files, and more particularly, to web-based, in-browser (i.e., serverless), cloud storage enabled methods for opening, decompressing, and creating archive files, where the archive files are encrypted and are password-protected or not encrypted and not protected by password and a cloud-based serverless archive file creation and extraction system.
Conventional archive files are often used to contain and compress multiple files but currently there is no option for a serverless web-based archive compression and decompression tool for creating and opening compressed archive files purely in a web-based cloud context, without the need of downloading or installing additional software. Specifically, one problem is that the existing conventional applications require a user to download and install separate software, namely a binary application that is specific to just one operating system or platform that must be manually installed and updated by users. Also, another problem is that existing conventional applications do not fully integrate with internet-based cloud storage providers and web-based email programs. Furthermore, a problem exists with the conventional applications which only support a subset of archive file compression formats. And yet another problem is evident in the existing conventional applications which only support a subset of archive encryption/decryption methods for working with password protected compressed archive files.
Therefore, what is needed is a way to provide universal ability to read and create compressed archive files purely inside a web browser, with no backend server processing required, from a variety of locations, providing universal compatibility for all formats and sub-formats and version of the archive file format, including universal and comprehensive ability to work with encrypted archive files using a user-supplied password or archive files with no encryption.

Serverless archive file creation and extraction system and serverless, in-browser, cloud storage enabled methods for opening, decompressing, and creating archive files


A tool for removing the axle shaft from a wheel hub includes a ram and guide assembly that makes the job quick, easy, and safe. Two threaded adaptors connect the guide brace to the wheel's lug studs. A sliding ram, guided by the brace, transmits the blow of a sledge hammer squarely against the center of the axle shaft. The solid impact releases the force that tightly binds the axle shaft to the wheel's lug studs. The ram is made of a relatively soft mild steel to prevent damage to the axle shaft.

1. Field of the Invention
The subject invention generally pertains to the maintenance of trucks, and more specifically to a tool for removing a axle shaft from a wheel hub.
2. Description of Related Art
In many trucks, before removing a wheel assembly, its axle shaft must first be removed. Today's method of removing an axle shaft typically involves beating, prying, or pulling until the shaft releases. However, this often damages the wheel, axle shaft, or lug studs. This is because the method is awkward due to the axle shaft being axially recessed within the tire. In addition, fragments from the shaft or makeshift tools can break away and fly off to cause personal injury.

Tool and method for removing an axle shaft from a wheel hub


An aqueous inkjet printer includes a media conveyor having an endless belt to which media sheets adhere. The endless belt is entrained around a transfer roller and a roller. The transfer roller forms a nip with an image member in the printer and the media sheets on the endless belt pass through the nip to transfer images from the image member to the media sheets. After the media sheets exit the nip, they follow the endless belt to the roller where the radius of the roller enables a force to be applied perpendicularly to the media sheets to separate the media sheets from the endless belt.

In general, inkjet printing machines or printers include at least one printhead that ejects drops or jets of liquid ink onto a recording or image forming surface. An aqueous inkjet printer employs water-based or solvent-based inks in which pigments or other colorants are suspended or in solution. Once the aqueous ink is ejected onto an image receiving surface by a printhead, the water or solvent is evaporated to stabilize the ink image on the image receiving surface. When aqueous ink is ejected directly onto media, the aqueous ink tends to soak into the media when it is porous, such as paper, and change the physical properties of the media. Because the spread of the ink droplets striking the media is a function of the media surface properties and porosity, the print quality will be inconsistent. To address this issue, indirect printers have been developed that eject ink onto a blanket mounted to a drum or endless belt. The ink is dried on the blanket and then transferred to media. Such a printer avoids the changes in image quality, drop spread, and media properties that occur in response to media contact with the water or solvents in aqueous ink. Indirect printers also reduce the effect of variations in other media properties that arise from the use of widely disparate types of paper and films used to hold the final ink images.
In aqueous ink indirect printing, an aqueous ink is jetted onto the blanket on the endless drum or belt. Applying a coating material to the blanket can facilitate the wetting of the blanket surface with ink drops and the release of the ink image from the blanket surface. Coating materials have a variety of purposes that include wetting the blanket surface, inducing solids to precipitate out of the liquid ink, providing a solid matrix for the colorant in the ink, and aiding in the release of the printed image from the blanket surface. After the ink image has been formed on the coating on the blanket, the coating and ink are at least partially dried to help put the image and coating on the blanket in condition for transfer to media in the transfer nip.
One challenge that arises in this printing process is the adherence of the dried coating and ink to the blanket of the belt or drum. This adherence tends to hold media sheets firmly to the blanket after the sheet exits the transfer nip. Previously known indirect aqueous inkjet printers that print media sheets use technology from the offset printing industry known as mechanical gripper bars to pry the sheets from the blanket. That is, the gripper bars physically clamp the leading and trailing edges of media sheets after they pass through the transfer nip to provide a positive "stripping" force that peels the media away from the blanket. These gripper bars are fixed pitch devices, which means that the gripper bars are designed for a maximum sheet length in the process-direction. Thus, when the printer is used to print sheets smaller in length than the length for which the gripper bars were designed, sheets remain stuck to the blanket and productivity loss occurs. This productivity loss is proportional to the difference between the maximum sheet length and the sheet length being processed at the time. Additionally, gripper bar assemblies are expensive and large, which adversely impacts the price and size of the aqueous printer in which they are used. Less expensive and flexible mechanisms for stripping media from blankets in aqueous inkjet printers that print media sheets would be beneficial.

Indirect aqueous inkjet printer with media conveyor that facilitates media stripping in a transfer nip


A first orifice is provided in a first fluid passage upstream of a cooler, and a second orifice is provided in a second fluid passage. The flowrates of hydraulic fluid flowing through the first and second fluid passages are regulated by the first and second orifices, respectively, and are thus suppressed from becoming excessive. Also, the downstream side of the second fluid passage is connected to the first fluid passage between the first orifice and the cooler, and a lubrication passage is connected to the first fluid passage downstream of the cooler. Accordingly, the lubrication passage is a single passage and the cooler and the lubrication passage are arranged in series so the cooler flowrate and the lubrication flowrate are the same. As a result, the flowrate of hydraulic fluid that flows out from a secondary regulator valve to the upstream side of an oil pump can be increased.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a hydraulic pressure control apparatus for a vehicular power transmitting device provided with a fluid power transmitting device with a lockup clutch through which hydraulic fluid discharged from an oil pump is circulated after being pressure regulated by a relief type pressure regulator valve. More particularly, the invention relates to technology that increases the flowrate when some excess hydraulic fluid that flows out from the pressure regulator valve flows out to the upstream side of the oil pump.
2. Description of the Related Art
A hydraulic pressure control apparatus for a power transmitting device of a vehicle which is provided with a fluid power transmitting device with a lockup clutch through which hydraulic fluid discharged from an oil pump is circulated after being pressure regulated by a relief type pressure regulator valve is well known. This hydraulic pressure control apparatus switches the circulation path of hydraulic fluid depending on whether the lockup clutch is applied or released such that when the lockup clutch is released, hydraulic fluid flows out from the fluid power transmitting device to a first fluid passage that is connected to a cooler on the downstream side. Meanwhile, some excess hydraulic fluid that flows out from a pressure regulator valve flows out to a second fluid passage, while the rest flows out to the upstream side of the oil pump.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP-A-2003-120797, for example, describes one such hydraulic pressure control apparatus for an automatic transmission (i.e., power transmitting device). The hydraulic pressure control apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP-A-2003-120797 circulates hydraulic fluid that has been pressure regulated by a secondary regulator valve through a torque converter with a lockup clutch. When the lockup clutch is released (i.e., off), the hydraulic fluid flows out of the torque converter and into a fluid passage to which a cooler and a safety valve are connected in parallel on the downstream side. Hydraulic fluid that was heated by agitation from the torque converter is cooled in the cooler. Also, in the technology described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP-A-2003-120797, some of the excess hydraulic fluid that flows out from the secondary regulator valve flows out a fluid passage for lubrication, while the rest flows to the upstream side of the oil pump.
However, in the hydraulic pressure control circuit such as that described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP-A-2003-120797, of the amount of hydraulic fluid supplied to the secondary regulator valve, the amount of hydraulic fluid that needs to be cooled (i.e., the amount that needs to flow through the cooler) has to flow to the cooler. Further, the amount of hydraulic fluid needed for lubrication has to flow to a lubrication passage which is in a different system (i.e., along a different path) than the cooler. Moreover, when there is an excessive amount of fluid circulating through the torque converter while the lockup clutch is released (i.e., off), an excessive amount of hydraulic fluid is discharged from the safety valve, thus increasing waste. As a result, less hydraulic fluid may end up flowing out from the secondary regulator valve to the upstream side of the oil pump, which may be detrimental with respect to cavitation of the oil pump (i.e., cavitation tends to occur more easily), and may make fluid vibration more apt to occur when operating at high temperatures and high speeds, and during extremely low temperature starts, for example, which may lead to abnormal noises and reduced durability.

Hydraulic pressure control apparatus for a vehicular power transmitting device


A method for radially expanding a tubular element in a wellbore and providing a control line that extends along the tubular element comprises (a) inducing the wall of the tubular element to bend radially outward and in axially reverse direction so as to form an expanded tubular section extending around a remaining tubular section of the tubular element, wherein said bending occurs in a bending zone of the tubular element, (b) increasing the length of the expanded tubular section by inducing the bending zone to move in axial direction relative to the remaining tubular section, wherein said wall includes a material that is plastically deformed in the bending zone during the bending process so that the expanded tubular section retains an expanded shape as a result of said plastic deformation, and (c) extending the control line along the tubular element.

In the industry of oil and gas production from a wellbore it has become practice to radially expand a tubular element in the wellbore. Generally a wellbore is provided with one or more casings or liners to provide stability to the wellbore wall, and/or to provide zonal isolation between different layers of the earth formation. The terms "casing" and "liner" refer to tubular elements for supporting and stabilising the wellbore wall, whereby it is generally understood that a casing extends from surface into the wellbore and that a liner extends from a downhole location further into the wellbore. However, in the present context, the terms "casing" and "liner" are used interchangeably and without such intended distinction.
In conventional wellbore construction, several casings are set at different depth intervals, in a nested arrangement, whereby each subsequent casing is lowered through the previous casing and therefore must have a smaller diameter than the previous casing. As a consequence, the available cross-sectional wellbore size decreases with depth. To alleviate this drawback, it has become practice to radially expand tubular elements in the wellbore after lowering to the required depth, for example to form an expanded casing or liner section or a clad against an existing casing. Also, it has been proposed to radially expand each subsequent casing to substantially the same diameter as the previous casing to form a monobore wellbore. It is thus achieved that the available diameter of the wellbore is kept substantially constant along (a portion of) its depth as opposed to the conventional nested arrangement.
EP 1438483 B1 discloses a method of radially expanding a tubular element in a wellbore whereby the tubular element, in unexpanded state, is initially attached to a drill string during drilling of a new wellbore section. Thereafter the tubular element is radially expanded and released from the drill string.
To expand such wellbore tubular element, generally a conical expander is used with a largest outer diameter substantially equal to the required tubular diameter after expansion. The expander is pumped, pushed or pulled through the tubular element. Such method can lead to high friction forces that need to be overcome, between the expander and the inner surface of the tubular element. Also, there is a risk that the expander becomes stuck in the tubular element.
EP 0044706 A2 discloses a method of radially expanding a flexible tube of woven material or cloth by eversion thereof in a wellbore, to separate drilling fluid pumped into the wellbore from slurry cuttings flowing towards the surface.
Although the known expansion techniques may be of practical use in some applications, there remains a need for an improved method of radially expanding a tubular element.

Method of radially expanding a tubular element in a wellbore provided with a control line


The present invention provides a method for producing a methyl methacrylate polymer, wherein monomers containing methyl methacrylate as a main component are bulk-polymerized or solution-polymerized in the presence of a polymerization initiator and mercaptan compound as a chain transfer agent to form a liquid polymer composition containing unreacted monomers and then a volatile content is separated from the liquid polymer composition, the method comprising the steps of: distilling the volatile content to recover unreacted monomers, (1) subjecting the residue to a contact treatment with hydrazine compound or (2) subjecting the residue to an azeotropic distillation with water to remove impurities, distilling the resultant to recover the mercaptan compound and reusing the mercaptan compound as the chain transfer agent of raw materials.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for producing a methyl methacrylate polymer. More particularly, it relates to a method for producing a methyl methacrylate polymer, including the step of recycling monomers and mercaptan compound as a chain transfer agent, the method comprising recovering a volatile content containing unreacted monomers from a methyl methacrylate polymer composition obtained by a bulk polymerization or solution polymerization method for methyl methacrylate, recovering mercaptan compound from the residue and using the mercaptan compound as a part of polymerization raw materials.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a polymerization method of a methyl methacrylate monomer, a batch suspension polymerization method using an aqueous medium has generally been used. Recently, there has been used a bulk polymerization or solution polymerization method, which is excellent in view of a problem of waste water disposal caused by the aqueous medium, productivity and energy.
As the bulk polymerization method, various methods are disclosed in Japanese Patent Kokoku Publication Nos. 52-32665, 59-21325, 59-21326, 1-49295, 2-26642 and Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. 3-111408.
The solution polymerization method is disclosed in Japanese Patent Kokoku Publication No. 55-7845 and Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. 58-132002.
In these polymerization methods, all monomers are not polymerized but the content of the polymer is from about 30 to 80% by weight and a liquid polymer composition comprising an unreacted monomer and a solvent is generally isolated from the polymerization system.
Japanese Patent Kokoku Publication No. 54-42035 discloses to reuse unreacted monomers and a part of impurities having a boiling point of not more than 200.degree. C. Since mercaptan compound used as a chain transfer agent is high-boiling compound compared with the unreacted monomer, the mercaptan compound is generally discarded without recovering as described in Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. 3-111408.
In such way, since an active component such as mercaptan compound as the chain transfer agent is contained in the residue formed after recovering monomers from the liquid polymer composition, it is discarded.
In view of a reduction in amount of the monomer and chain transfer agent to be used, it becomes necessary that the mercaptan compound is recovered from this residue and reused as the chain transfer agent of the raw material. However, when the mercaptan compound is continuously reused, impurities accumulate to exert a bad influence on polymerization itself and to cause coloring of the resulting polymer.
Therefore, the present inventors have intensively studied about a method for producing a methyl methacrylate polymer, which can efficiently remove impurities contained in the recovered mercaptan compound to perform purification and maintain the quality of the resulting polymer good even if the polymerization is continued for a long time. As a result, the present inventors have found that a methyl is methacrylate polymer having good quality can be obtained even if the polymerization is continued for a long time, by separating a volatile content from a liquid polymer composition to recover unreacted monomers, distilling the volatile content to recover unreacted monomers, (1) subjecting the residue to a contact treatment with hydrazine compound or (2) subjecting the residue to an azeotoropic distillation with water to remove impurities, distilling the resultant to recover the mercaptan compound as the active component and reusing the mercaptan compound as a chain transfer agent of raw materials. Thus, the present invention has been accomplished.

Method for producing methyl methacrylate polymer


A printer component comprises an interface configured for removably electrically coupling to a printer and a memory that stores a unique identifier of the printer through the interface if the interface is electrically coupled to the printer.

Current printer systems typically include one or more replaceable printer components, such as inkjet cartridges, inkjet printhead assemblies, toner cartridges, ink supplies, etc. Some existing systems provide these replaceable printer components with on-board memory to communicate information to a printer about the replaceable component, such as ink fill level, marketing information, etc. The ink level information can be transmitted to the printer to indicate the amount of ink remaining. A user can observe the ink level information and anticipate the need for replacing a depleted ink container.
Theft of replaceable printer components is a common problem for businesses. One popular method of stealing replaceable printer components occurs when someone swaps an empty printer cartridge for a full one. The person uses the cartridge until it is empty and then swaps the empty one for a full one in a different printer not belonging to them. The rightful owner of the cartridge has no easy way to determine the printer from which the empty cartridge came or the printer in which the stolen full cartridge was installed.
Another common problem occurs when an owner of a cartridge sends the cartridge out to be refilled. The owner of the cartridge has no easy way to confirm that the cartridge, sent out to be refilled, is the same cartridge that is returned to the owner. In addition, if a refilled cartridge is purchased, there is currently no way to determine the history of the cartridge.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


An electrical connector (100), mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) (1), includes an insulative housing (2), a load plate (3) shielding over the insulative housing, an elastic piece (51) attached to the load plate and a screwing element (50) cooperating with the elastic piece to lock with the load plate. The insulative housing has a plurality of electrical contacts (22) received therein. The elastic piece forms a base portion (510) and a flexible element (513, 513′) extending from the base portion. The flexible element has an indicating portion (5132, 5132′) received and moveable in the cutout in response to a downward movement of the load plate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a socket connector, and more particularly to a socket connector with a locking device for indicating a degree of a load plate screwed onto a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) and then preventing overstress thereby.
2. Description of Related Arts
Normally, a Central Processing Unit (CPU) is usually disposed in a socket connector, and electrically connects to a print circuit board (PCB). The socket connector comprises a metallic cover and a metallic lever. The CPU is disposed into socket connector when the cover is disposed at an open position. Thereafter, the lever rotates to drive the cover to a closed position at which the cover exerts a pressure on the CPU to make sure that the CPU stays in the socket securely. Moreover, the lever locks with the cover in the closed position to prevent the cover undesirably rotating to the open position. However, the socket connector has no fastness with the PCB expect for the soldering portions of the contacts. The socket connector tends to disengage away from the PCB in a rigid environment and can't achieve good electrical connection with the PCB.
Hence, a socket connector with a locking device is desired.


A fastener for mounting a heat sink on a chip mounted on a printed circuit board includes a cylindrical spring member and a locking member. The locking member includes a pair of action portions extending through the spring member, an elastic insertion portion formed at the bottom of the action portions and located beneath the spring member, and a pair of spaced hooking portions formed from the action portions and engaged with the spring member.

As integrated circuit technology continues to advance, electronic components such as chips of computers are made to provide faster operational speeds and greater functional capabilities. When a chip operates at a high speed in a computer enclosure, its temperature usually increases greatly. It is desirable to dissipate the generated heat quickly, for example, by using a heat sink attached to the chip in the enclosure. This allows the chip and other high-performance electronic components in the enclosure to function within their normal operating temperature ranges. Oftentimes, fasteners are required for mounting the heat sink to the chip.
Chinese Patent No. ZL 98200376.5 discloses a locking device for mounting a heat sink to a chip mounted on a printed circuited board. The heat sink and the printed circuited board commonly define several pairs of aligned holes around the chip. The locking device comprises several fasteners. Each fastener comprises a spring and a plastic pin. The pin comprises a top portion, an end portion and a shank connecting the top portion with the end portion. The end portion is formed in the shape of a cone with an engaging end having a diameter larger than that of the corresponding hole of the printed circuit board. The shank of each pin is surrounded by the corresponding spring. In use, the end portions of the pins are extended through the corresponding holes of the heat sink and the printed circuit board and engaged beneath the printed circuit board. In this way, the heat sink is mounted on the chip. However, in order to manufacture the pins, a mold is required. The cost for building the mold is usually high. On the other hand, the pins made by plastic material are not heat-resistant. Therefore, the shape of the pin is possibly changed in a high temperature condition, and any deformation of the pin results that the heat sink is not capable of firmly contacting the chip, and thereby reducing the heat dissipating efficiency of the heat sink.

Fu Zhün Precision Industry (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd.


A semiconductor device includes: element isolation regions; a projecting semiconductor region; a plurality of first gate electrodes each formed on both side surfaces and a top surface of a portion of the projecting semiconductor region, the plurality of first gate electrodes being formed between a pair of opposed end portions of the element isolation regions and being component elements of a plurality of transistors; at least one second gate electrode formed between the first gate electrodes, in the same layer as a layer where the plurality of first gate electrodes are formed, and applied with a voltage for turning off the transistor.

Some field effect transistors have a fin-shaped structure (Fin Field Effect Transistor: FinFET) in which a gate insulating film and a gate electrode are formed on both side surfaces and a top surface of part of a projecting (fin-shaped) semiconductor region which is formed on a substrate to extend in one direction, and a source region and a drain region are formed in the projecting semiconductor region on both sides of the gate electrode (refer to Patent Literature 1, for instance). Since a FinFET is likely to be filled with heat because of its structure, some means to reduce heat generation by layout needs to be devised.
FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a structure example of the FinFET having a multi-finger structure in which a plurality of gate electrodes are formed in a comb-teeth shape (finger shape). In FIG. 8, 101 denotes projecting (fin-shaped) semiconductor regions formed on a substrate to extend in one direction.
In portions of the projecting semiconductor regions 101, gate electrodes 102 covering their both side surfaces and top surfaces with gate insulating films therebetween are formed so as to intersect with the projecting semiconductor regions 101, and source regions and drain regions are formed in the projecting semiconductor regions 101 on both sides of the gate electrodes 102. The gate electrodes 102 are formed of, for example, polysilicon and are connected to a metal wiring line 103 through vias.
Further, in FIG. 8, 104 denotes element isolation insulating film (Shallow Trench Isolation: STI) for isolating a transistor forming region, and 105 denotes dummy gate electrode which is disposed between the gate electrode 102 and STI 104 and are formed on the same layer as that of the gate electrodes 102. The dummy gate electrodes 105 are also formed of, for example, polysilicon.
As illustrated in FIG. 9, the FinFET having the multi-finger structure is more likely to generate heat as the number of fingers is larger due to the influence of heat generation of adjacent transistors. That is, the FinFET having the multi-finger structure illustrated in FIG. 8 is more likely to generate heat than the FinFET where the number of fingers is 1.
One possible method to reduce the heat generation of the FinFET is a method to set the number of fingers to, for example, 1 as illustrated in FIG. 10 to decrease the influence of the heat generation from adjacent transistors, thereby reducing the heat generation. FIG. 10 is a view illustrating a structure example of the FinFET where the number of fingers is 1, and the same constituent elements as the constituent elements illustrated in FIG. 8 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
However, in the FinFET where the number of fingers is 1 as illustrated in FIG. 10, the distance x between STIs 104 disposed at both sides of gate electrode 102 is short. The shorter the distance x between STIs 104 is, the lower a saturation current Ion of the transistor is, as illustrated in FIG. 11 due to STI stress (stress by STIs 104). Accordingly, in order to obtain the same saturation current Ion as that of the FinFET having the multi-finger structure illustrated in, for example, FIG. 8, an increase in the number of transistors is required, leading to an increase in power consumption and the area.
Patent Literature 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2015-220420

Semiconductor device and semiconductor integrated circuit


Methods and systems which may implement buffer swapping are provided. The methods include rendering, onto screen locations of a display screen, data from a memory having a first buffer and a second buffer, each buffer having respective buffer memory locations which correspond to the screen locations of the display screen. The methods can include: rendering first data from the first buffer onto the display screen; writing, to the second buffer, second data based on at least some of the first data from the first buffer by performing at least one of transforming at least some first data and changing corresponding screen locations of at least some first data from the first buffer, by writing at most once to each buffer memory location of the second buffer; and rendering the second data from the second buffer onto the display screen.

In some buffering systems, two or more buffers may each be selectively designated for purposes of displaying onto a display screen. For example, one buffer may be designated as the front buffer which is actively being displayed by the display screen. The other buffer may be designated as the back buffer which is being drawn or rendered while the front buffer is being displayed. When a suitable trigger occurs such as drawing completion of the back buffer, or after a predetermined refresh interval, the roles of the two buffers may be switched or swapped, for example by modifying a pointer or address to the other buffer. In this instance, the original back buffer is now the front buffer and the original front buffer is now the back buffer. The new back buffer is now designated for rendering or drawing of a next graphic. This process may sometimes be referred to as buffer swapping, page flipping, ping-pong buffering, or generally as double buffering.
Another feature of some buffer swapping systems is to provide a copy-back or preserve function. In such a function, upon swapping, the new front buffer is automatically copied to the new back buffer. A difficulty with some buffer swapping systems is that each instance of buffer copying typically requires a full screen of pixels to be copied from one buffer to another buffer, which can require processor time commitments and may be wasteful on processor resources.
Other difficulties with existing systems may be appreciated in view of the detailed description herein below.
Like reference numerals are used throughout the Figures to denote similar elements and features.

Method and system for displaying using buffer swapping


A positive electrode active material according to the present invention is a positive electrode active material that is used in a positive electrode for a lithium ion secondary battery. This positive electrode active material includes positive electrode active material particles A represented by Formula (A): LiαNixCoyM1(1-x-y)O2 (where 0<α≤1.15, 0.90<x≤0.98, 0<y≤0.10, and 0<(1-x-y)), and positive electrode active material particles B represented by Formula (B): LiβNiaCobM2(1-a-b)O2 (where 0<β≤1.15, 0.70≤a≤0.90, 0<b≤0.20, and 0<(1-a-b)). M1 and M2 each independently represent one element or two or more elements selected from the group consisting of Li, B, Mg, Al, Fe, and Mn.

The lithium ion secondary battery has high energy density and superior charging and discharging cycle characteristics, and thus is widely used as a power source for a small mobile device such as a mobile phone or a laptop computer.
In addition, recently, in accordance with consideration of an environmental problem and rising awareness of energy saving, demands for large-sized batteries that require high capacity and long lifetime have also increased in the fields of electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, and electric power storage.
In general, the lithium ion secondary battery mainly includes: a negative electrode that includes a carbon material capable of storing and releasing lithium ions as a negative electrode active material; a positive electrode that includes a lithium composite oxide capable of storing and releasing lithium ions as a positive electrode active material; a separator that separates the negative electrode and the positive electrode from each other; and a nonaqueous electrolytic solution in which a lithium salt is dissolved in a nonaqueous solvent.
As an exterior material of the lithium ion secondary battery, a metal thin film that can be reduced in weight and thickness and can adopt a free shape as compared to a metal can or a laminate film in which the metal thin film and a heat-fusible resin film are laminated is also used instead of a metal can.
In order to increase the capacity and the lifetime and to improve mass production stability, further improvement of characteristics of the lithium ion secondary battery is required.
Examples of countermeasures for increasing the capacity of the lithium ion secondary battery include methods described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2.
Patent Document 1 describes a positive electrode active material formed of a nickel composite oxide in which a part of nickel in lithium nickel oxide is substituted with a transition metal.
In addition, Patent Document 2 describes a technique of mixing a lithium nickel composite oxide into which a heteroelement is introduced with a lithium cobalt composite oxide into which a heteroelement is introduced for use.
In particular, recently, in order to increase the capacity of the lithium ion secondary battery, the application of a lithium nickel oxide in which the abundance ratio of nickel is high has been considered.

Positive electrode active material, positive electrode, and lithium ion secondary battery


A thronging determination device for determining occurrence of a thronging state in which persons are gathered locally, includes an image receiving unit that receives a moving image, an image dividing unit that divides an input image received by the image receiving unit into local regions, and a degree-of-congestion estimating unit that judges the degree of congestion in plural ones of the local regions. If the degree-of-congestion estimating unit judges that the degree of congestion in the plural ones of the local regions is lower than a prescribed value, a thronging determination is performed using local regions that are smaller in number than the local regions that have been used in estimating the degree of congestion.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a thronging determination device and a thronging determination method for determining occurrence of a throng (or flock) which means a local gathering of persons.
2. Background Art
Among devices for detecting a violent act of a person is one disclosed in JP-A-2006-276969. The violent act detecting device disclosed in JP-A-2006-276969 is equipped with a motion calculating means for calculating movements, and their magnitudes, of individual points of each of two images taken at different time points separated by a prescribed time with a camera installed inside an elevator car and calculating a dispersion of at least one of directions and magnitudes of movements of a person on the basis of directions and magnitudes of movements at the respective points, and a violent act determining means for determining occurrence of a violent act by comparing the dispersion of the movements of the person and a human violence judgment threshold value.

Thronging determination device and thronging determination method

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


A catheter is formed from a single extrusion of cold crystallizable material in its amorphous state. Selected portions of the catheter are subsequently subjected to the material's cold crystallization temperatures for a selected period of time in order to transform those portions into a more crystalline form. Increased crystallinity profoundly affects the physical characteristics of the material. A jointless catheter having a relatively stiff body and a soft, pliable, and atraumatic tip is thereby provided.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to catheter-type devices used for various purposes including for example in the practice of angiography and angioplasty techniques. More specifically, the invention pertains to catheters and a method for producing catheters having fuseless and seamless structures that exhibit selectively varied physical characteristics along their lengths.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Catheters used within a vascular system are required to have a number of apparently conflicting physical characteristics. For example, the catheter must be sufficiently rigid in the proximal region to enable its distal end to be maneuvered by manipulation of its proximal end. Both torsional as well as axial forces must therefore be transferable along the catheter's entire length despite the substantial frictional resistance that may be encountered. It is however simultaneously necessary for the catheter's distal end to be sufficiently soft so as not to traumatize the vascular walls when being advanced and sufficiently flexible to enable it to readily follow a potentially tortuous vascular path. Sufficient flexibility and an atraumatic tip are of similar importance in over-the-wire type applications wherein the catheter's leading edge may scrape against vessel walls as it is being advanced along a guide wire positioned in those vessels and wherein excessive rigidity would prevent the catheter from following a tightly curved wire. The catheter may further be limited with respect to its overall diameter in order to permit its introduction into small vessels yet may be called upon to handle substantial flow rates and pressures. In addition to variation in mechanical properties, certain applications may call for variation in the catheter's thermal, electrical, chemical, optical, and permeability properties at certain locations along its length. In all cases the catheter material must be non-toxic and should be non-thrombogenic, smooth-walled and resistant to kinking.
The design requirements set forth above have traditionally been approached with the use of multi-piece structures wherein for example a rather soft and flexible catheter tip is fused onto or otherwise attached to a relatively rigid, and high tensile strength catheter extrusion. Such designs are plagued by a number of inherent disadvantages including for example, the potentially compromised strength of the catheter at the junction between the tip and the catheter body which could result in a failure at that location. Additionally, since catheters are disposed of after a single use and cost is consequently of major concern, the production of at least two separate components and their required assembly can be economically prohibitive.
An alternative approach is exemplified by the catheter structure described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,385,635 to Ruiz. The required flexibility near the tip and the necessary rigidity in the rest of the catheter is achieved by a structure wherein a soft elastomeric sleeve encloses an inner reinforcing tube which tapers to zero wall thickness just short of the sleeve's end. The unreinforced sleeve end serves as the soft catheter tip while the necessary rigidity is imparted to the rest of the catheter by the presence of the reinforcing tube therein. Disadvantages associated with such a design include the substantial cost of manufacture and the fact that only a limited number of parameters would appear to be variable in this manner.
Weldon in U.S. Pat. No. 4,963,306 proposes a fuseless catheter structure wherein the desired variation of certain physical properties is achieved within a single extrusion. Partially polymerized material is extruded to form the catheter after which a selected portion thereof is induced to undergo solid state polymerization. Those portions that have undergone only a limited degree of polymerization remain flexible, while the further polymerization of other portions increases their strength and rigidity. A fuseless catheter appropriately treated retains a soft, flexible, and atraumatic tip while the remaining portion is rendered stiffer and stronger and is capable of withstanding higher internal pressures. It is stated that such catheter can be maneuvered through a circuitous vascular path without subjecting the vessel walls to trauma while radiopaque fluid can be delivered at higher flow rates with minimized danger of rupture. Weldon achieves solid state polymerization at selected portions of the catheter by subjecting those portions to a temperature above the boiling temperature of water and below the melting point of the extrudate while maintaining the balance of the catheter at substantially lower temperatures. It is conjectured that the removal of water from within the polymer network permits more complete polymerization to occur.
Disadvantages associated with the use of solid state polymerization techniques include the relatively modest enhancement of physical properties that is realizable, the relatively slow rate at which the cold polymerization reactions proceed, the relative difficulty involved in controlling the degree of polymerization achieved due to the exothermic nature of the reaction and although stiffness is increased, kink resistance, defined in terms of bend radius, is diminished.

Method of manufacturing jointless catheter


A new garden type Chrysanthemum plant named ‘CIFZ0074’ particularly distinguished by its medium plant size with oval mound plant habit, a medium to small sized decorative flower (1.5 to 1.75 inches), red flower color and a natural season response early September.

The present invention comprises a new Chrysanthemum, botanically known as Chrysanthemum x morifolium, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name 'CIFZ0074'.
'CIFZ0074' is a product of a planned breeding program. The new cultivar has a medium sized plant with oval mound plant habit, a medium to small sized decorative flower (1.5 to 1.75 inch), red flower color and a natural season response of early September.
'CIFZ0074' originated from a cross made in October 2014 in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands. Seeds were sown in June 2015 in Gilroy, Calif. and 'CIFZ0074' was selected from the resulting population on September 28 in Monroeville, N.J.
The female parent was the selection from own breeding 'AH3397', not patented.
TABLE 1Characteristics of the female parent compared to 'CIFZ0074':Trait'CIFZ0074''AH3397'Flower color:RedOrange-bronzeFlower type:SimilarSimilar
The male parent was 'Syaid Redfia', U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,011.
TABLE 2Characteristics of the male parent compared to 'CIFZ0074':Trait'CIFZ0074''Syaid Redfi'Natural response:1 week faster1 week slowerBlackcloth response:½ week faster½ week slowerFlower size:Similar/bit largerSimilar/bit smallerFlower color:SimilarSimilarMature inflorescence3.5 cm4.2-4.5 cmdiameter:Plant height:16-18 cm11-13 cmPlant habit:More ovalMore moundFlower longevity:½ week less½ week moreFoliage disease:Less susceptibleMore susceptible
The first act of asexual reproduction of 'CIFZ0074' was accomplished when vegetative stem cuttings were propagated from the initial selection in January 2016 in Mebane, N.C.


A method and apparatus for controlling a synchronous motor with an AC voltage. A rated value proportional to a desired frequency of the AC voltage and related to a rotational speed of the synchronous motor is provided. The rated value is continuously added up in an accumulator to provide added-up signal values. The added-up signal values are employed for addressing stored function values in a function value memory, the function values representing at least one AC voltage. The addressed function values are read out from the function value memory and are converted into at least one AC voltage having the frequency corresponding to the rated value. The AC voltage is supplied to the synchronous motor for generating a rotary field such that the frequency of the AC voltage defines the rotational speed of the synchronous motor.

The invention is directed to a method and to a circuit arrangement for controlling an electric motor, whereby a rated value for the speed of the electric motor is prescribed and is converted into an AC voltage having a frequency proportional to the rated value for supplying the electric motor.
Innumerable embodiments of such circuit arrangements are employed in the field of electronic drive technology and serve the purpose of controlling AC motors, three phase motors or stepping motors. Stepping motors are particularly utilized in precision drives with which prescribed speeds can be exactly observed and exact positionings can be undertaken.
In, for example, the field of reproduction technology, such precision drives for stepping motors are employed in input scanners for point-by-point and line-by-line scanning of originals, or are employed in output scanners for recording information. In an input scanner, a light ray is conducted across an original point-by-point and line-by-line with a rotating deflection system, for example in the form of a polygonal mirror, and the scan light reflected by or transmitted through the original is converted into an image signal in an optoelectronic transducer. In an output scanner (recorder, exposer), a light ray that is intensity-modulated by an image signal is guided over a recording material point-by-point and line-by-line with the rotating deflection system. In a flat bed apparatus, original or recording material are mounted on a planar mount that moves perpendicular to the line direction during the line-by-line scanning. In an inside-drum apparatus, the mount for the original or the recording material is designed as a stationary half-shell or trough, whereas the deflection system, which guides the light ray radially across the half-shell perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the half-shell, moves parallel to the longitudinal axis.
Required, among other things, for a good reproduction quality is that the lines scanned by the light ray proceed straight and parallel to one another, and that the line starts and line ends lie exactly on lines proceeding perpendicularly relative to the line direction.
Since even slight geometry errors have a disturbing effect, the deflection system for the light ray and the mount for the original or for the recording material must be moved by precision drives, whereby the deflection motion of the light ray and the conveying motion of the mount for the original or for the recording material must also be synchronized with one another in order to observe the required precision. Occasionally, speed deviations due to tolerances and imprecisions in manufacture of the drive elements must also be corrected. Furthermore, the precision drives in output scanners must be designed such that the recording continues in what is referred to as start/stop operation without offset at the same location of the recording material at which it was interrupted. For example, an output scanner must be operated in start/stop operation when it is not assured that the computer present for editing the recording data, also referred to as a raster-image-processor (RIP), cannot continuously offer the recording data for modulation of the recording light ray during the recording.
A circuit arrangement for controlling a stepping motor is disclosed, for example, by EP-B-0 228 475, this being composed of a clock generator, of an adjustable frequency demultiplication stage, of a motor controller stage and of a motor amplifier. A motor clock sequence having a variable motor frequency is generated in the frequency demultiplication stage from a basic clock sequence with constant frequency generated in the clock generator. The motor frequency defines the speed or the stepping frequency of the stepping motor in the individual operating phases, i.e. in the run-up phase, in the working phase, and in the deceleration phase.
Cyclically successive switching pulses that are supplied to the motor amplifier are acquired from the motor clock sequence in the motor controller stage, for example with the assistance of a ring counter. The motor amplifier is composed of a DC voltage source that, for generating a rotary field, is cyclically switched at the stator windings of the stepping motor with the assistance of switches actuated by the switching pulses (full-step operation).
The full-step control has the disadvantage that motor resonances and load resonances can be induced at low and moderate stepping frequencies because the rotor of the stepping motor must be very rapidly accelerated and decelerated in alternation according to the frequency of the switching pulses. In an output scanner, such resonances would lead to non-uniform conveying speeds for the recording material, and thus would lead to a deterioration of the reproduction quality.
It has already been disclosed for improving the precision drives to operate a stepping motor in what is referred to as a micro-step mode, whereby the stepping motor is charged by two AC voltages or phase currents that are phase-shifted by 90.degree. relative to one another, as a result whereof angular velocities that are constant and free of resonance are achieved in the range of low stepping frequencies.
For setting the speed of a stepping motor working in a micro-step mode, for example, a counter is pre-set with a load value that defines the speed of the stepping motor and is deincremented by a counting clock sequence having a constant clock frequency. This counter respectively outputs a control pulse at the counter reading of "zero", a ring counter being incremented with this control pulse. The output values of the ring counter address a memory in which sine and cosine values are deposited for generating the two AC voltages or phase currents. The digital sine and cosine values read out from the memory are converted into the AC voltages or phase currents in digital-to-analog converters, these AC voltages or phase currents then being forwarded via motor amplifiers to the stepping motor, as a result whereof the stepping motor executes a micro-step at every control pulse output by the counter, whereas the micro-step frequency is proportional to the reciprocal of the load value for the counter.
Since an extremely high load value for the counter must thus be selected for a high resolution of the speed setting, it is necessary to employ a counting clock sequence having an extremely high clock frequency; disadvantageously, this can only be realized with a relatively high circuit expense.
EP-A-0 163 850, corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,704,698 likewise already discloses a method and a recording apparatus 101 for the synchronization of the conveying motion of a mount for a recording material 103 with the deflection motion of a deflection system deflecting a beam 102 in an output scanner working in the start/stop mode, whereby two synchronously sequencing events must be correlated with one another with the assistance of reference signals (FIG. 1 described hereafter shows this prior art recording apparatus).

Method for controlling a synchronous motor for implementation of an exact start/stop positioning operation in a recording apparatus