Systems and methods for directionally drilling a borehole are provided. One system includes a biasing subsystem that is configured to control a tendency of a bottom hole assembly during drilling of the borehole. The system also includes a continuously variable transmission. An output shaft of the continuously variable transmission is coupled to the biasing subsystem such that the continuously variable transmission is configured to control relative rotation of one or more components of the biasing subsystem during the drilling. One method includes controlling a tendency of a bottom hole assembly during drilling of the borehole using a biasing subsystem. The method also includes controlling relative rotation of one or more components of the biasing subsystem using a continuously variable transmission during the drilling. The one or more components are coupled to an output shaft of the continuously variable transmission.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to systems and methods for directionally drilling a borehole. Certain embodiments relate to a system for directionally drilling a borehole that includes a continuously variable transmission that is configured to control relative rotation of one or more components of a biasing subsystem during drilling of the borehole.
2. Description of the Related Art
The following descriptions and examples are not admitted to be prior art by virtue of their inclusion within this section.
As downhole tools for oilfield applications become more complex, the control systems for controlling these tools have also increased in complexity. Many downhole tools attempt to control relative rotation through various means including electric, mechanical and hydraulic means. Examples for controlling relative rotation in a borehole also include measurement techniques that are performed during drilling such as mud-pulse telemetry, rotary steerable drilling systems, orientation of devices on coiled tubing, control of systems during casing while drilling, and in well completions. The systems themselves using direct or indirect control methods often form complicated clutching or servo-systems.
There are numerous issued U.S. Patents related to rotary steerable systems. One example of a rotary steerable system is the point-the-bit rotary steerable system. Several methods have been utilized to orient the axis of the bit in point-the-bit systems. Two common methods include deflecting a pipe and using universal joints.
One example of a point-the-bit rotary steerable system that includes universal joints is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. RE29,526 to Jeter, which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. Jeter describes deviating the axis of a bit with relation to the drillstring. The offset is controlled allowing it to be reasonably stationary (non-rotating) within the earth's reference frame. Jeter also describes utilizing a universal joint that allows the bit sub, which connects the drill bit to the drillstring, to pivot a limited amount in any direction relative to the drill pipe. In particular, Jeter describes a universal connection for urging the bit sub to pivot in one direction thereby moving the axis of rotation of the bit out of alignment with the axis of rotation of the drill pipe to urge the bit to drill in a direction that will return the drillstring to the desired azimuthal direction and inclination. Jeter also describes allowing the axis of the lower member containing a bit to be offset with respect to the axis of the upper member and controlling the offset of the axis using fluid motors or cams.
Another example of a point-the-bit rotary steerable system that includes universal joints is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,113,953 to Noble, which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. Noble describes offsetting the axis of a bit-shaft with a universal joint and controlling the universal joint in relation to an earth reference frame to directionally drill. In addition, Noble describes utilizing an electric motor to provide control means.
An additional example of a point-the-bit rotary steerable system that includes universal joints is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,092,610 to Kosmala et al., which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. Kosmala et al. describe a universal joint system that is used to omni-directionally pivotally support a bit-shaft intermediate its upper and lower ends. In addition, the system described by Kosmala et al. includes a breaking device to provide controllability of the system. Kosmala et al. further describe the use of an electric motor coupled to a breaking mechanism to provide rotational control. A breaking mechanism is necessary when utilizing an electrical motor.
FIG. 1 provides an overview of an actively controlled rotary steerable system utilizing an electric motor described by Kosmala et al. System 26 includes tubular collar 32 coupled to threaded section 34, which allows connection to the drillstring. Sensor support section 40 is disposed within the tubular collar. Potential electronics system 41 such as a resistivity measurement system may be included within the sensor support section. In addition, sensor support section 40 may include receptacle 42 for housing magnetometers, accelerometers, and other electronics. The system may also include fluid energized turbine 48, which includes turbine stator 50. Turbine rotor 52 is coupled by turbine rotor output shaft 54 to the rotor of alternator 56. As further shown in FIG. 1, the system also includes transmission 58, electric motor 60, gearbox or transmission 61 that is driven by the motor, offsetting mandrel 62, rotary drive head 64 that contains eccentrically located positioning receptacle 66, which receives driven end 68 of bit shaft 70, and pivoting universal joint 72. As the turbine rotates, the alternator converts the rotary energy into electrical power utilized in electric motor 60. The electric motor provides a servo-control system for ensuring control of the offset created by universal joint 72 located between the tubular collar and the bit shaft.
It is noted that in the system described by Kosmala et al. the turbine rotor rotation rate is not controlled by the rotary steerable system, but is determined by fluid flow in the drilling system. This uncontrolled rotation is utilized to create power to rotate the electric motor. The motor's rotation is controlled through the use of a servo-control system.
Another example of a steerable drilling tool and system is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,617,926 to Eddison et al., which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. A conceptual drawing of the system is shown in FIG. 2. The system described by Eddison et al. includes universal joint 74 that is similar to the universal joint described by Jeter. The universal joint described by Eddison et al. is coupled with internal eccentric mass 76, j-slot orientation control mechanism 78, and offset mandrel 80. Additional description of the system shown in FIG. 2 can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,617,926 to Eddison et al.
Major limitations with this design exist in the implementation of the control mechanism and the application of the torque supplied by the eccentric weight. The eccentric weight provides it maximum torque when its center of gravity is at 90 degrees to the gravity vector when projected onto the radial axis in the tools reference frame. When the system is operating within maximum torque requirements, the system orientation vector for the drive shaft can only be controlled within a given quadrant. The orientation itself is a function of the resultant forces on the bit-shaft and is not controllable. Therefore, the control mechanism provides only limited control of the bit shaft orientation. The system becomes unstable when the torque required to orient the bit shaft is greater than that which can be supplied by the eccentric weight. These problems can be resolved with the implementation of the novel orientation mechanism described herein.
An alternative to the point-the-bit rotary steerable system has been introduced into the drilling market, which includes pointing the bit through the deflection of a shaft. Control of the shaft deflection is accomplished by various means. U.K. Patent Application No. GB 2 177 738 by Douglas, et al. provides an overview of how the concept of shaft deflection may be used in rotary steerable systems.
One example of such a system is illustrated in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the drilling system includes drill collar 82 within borehole 84 being drilled, two spaced stabilizers 86 and 88, and control stabilizer 90. Control stabilizer 90 does not rotate with the collar and includes an activation mechanism for applying a controlled lateral force or displacement on the drill collar. The force causes bending in the collar and angular deflection 92 at bit 94. In other words, control stabilizer 90 applies to drill collar 82 a controlled lateral force or displacement (indicated by arrow 96) in order to deflect the latter between spaced supports 98 constituted by stabilizers 86 and 88. FIG. 3 illustrates the undeflected drill collar at 100 and the deflected drill collar at 102, the change in drilling direction being indicated by angle 92. Selective control of the activation mechanism force and direction relative to an earth's reference allows the system to provide steering control during the well drilling process.
Various control assemblies for shaft deflection have been designed to bend or deflect the drilling shaft laterally or radially within the housing. Several mechanisms for activation of the described directional biasing mechanism are described in U.K. Patent Application No. GB 2 177 738 by Douglas, et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,875,859 to Ikeda et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,244,361 to Comeau et al., which are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
The control mechanism described by Douglas et al. includes multiple actuators coupled to a non-rotating control stabilizer. As depicted in FIG. 4, an actuator assembly includes four individual actuators 104. These individual actuators 104 lie within annular space 106 between actuator casing 108 and actuator bridge member 110, and each actuator is disposed at equal intervals around the periphery. Individual actuators 104 create a force between casing 108 and actuator bridge member 110. The actuator bridge member resolves the relative rotation issues between the actuators and the shaft to be deflected. Douglas et al. envisioned the individual actuators to be flexible hydraulic tubes, which would be independently controlled to produce a specific output vector (magnitude and direction) at the shaft endpoint.
Ikeda et al. and Comeau et al. describe shaft deflection assemblies that include eccentric rings. Ikeda et al. and Comeau et al. both utilize shaft deflection to implement point-the-bit systems. The systems of Ikeda et al. and Comeau et al. differ from one another in the aspect of the drilling shaft assembly. While Comeau et al. utilizes a deflected shaft, the system proposed by Ikeda et al. contains a universal joint at the point of greatest stress in the shaft. This allows the system to bend without cyclically fatiguing the shaft. These differences are visible in FIGS. 5 and 6, which are taken from the patents issued to Ikeda et al. and Comeau et al, respectively. FIG. 5 illustrates the deflection and control mechanism described by Ikeda et al. FIG. 6 illustrates the deflection and control mechanism described by Comeau et al.
As shown in FIG. 5, the mechanism described by Ikeda et al. includes upper rotating shaft 112 for rotary drilling equipment and lower rotating shaft 114, which is connected to the upper rotating shaft and flexible joint 116. The mechanism also includes drill collar 118, which is co-axially connected to the distal end portion of lower rotating shaft 114 and drill bit 120, which is secured at the distal end of drill collar 118. Furthermore, upper rotating shaft 112 is connected to a rotating driving mechanism (not shown).
In addition, the mechanism includes cylinder-type housing 122, which encloses an outer peripheral surface of upper and lower rotating shafts 112 and 114 above drill collar 118 and lower sealing equipment 124, which is provided between the distal end portion of cylinder-type housing 122 and lower rotating shaft 114. The system shown in FIG. 5 also includes fulcrum bearing 126, which is located between cylinder-type housing 122 of lower sealing equipment 124 and lower rotating shaft 114 and receives the load from drill bit 120, double eccentric mechanism 128, which is mounted between cylinder type housing 122 above fulcrum bearing 126 and lower rotating shaft 114, cylinder-type component 130, which is fixed on an inner peripheral surface of cylinder type housing 122, first rotatable ring-formed component 132, which is located inside cylinder type component 130 and second ring-formed component 134, which is rotatably deposited inside the first ring-formed component.
The system shown in FIG. 5 further includes first harmonized reduction gear 136 which rotates first ring-formed component 132 located right above double eccentric mechanism 128, second harmonized reduction gear 138, which rotates second ring-formed component 134 being provided right below double eccentric mechanism 128, bearing 140 which supports the lower portion of upper rotating shaft 112, and upper seal 142 which is provided between the upper portion of cylinder type housing 122 and upper rotating shaft 112. The mechanism shown in FIG. 5 may be further configured as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,875,859 to Ikeda et al.
As shown in FIG. 6, the mechanism of Comeau et al. includes drilling direction control device 144, which permits directional control over drilling bit 146 connected within the device during rotary drilling operations by controlling the orientation of the drilling bit. Drilling direction control device 144 includes rotatable drilling shaft 148, which is connectable or attachable to rotary drilling string 150 during the drilling operation. Housing 152 rotatably supports a length of drilling shaft 148 for rotation therein upon rotation of the attached drilling string 150. Device 144 also includes at least one distal radial bearing 154 and at least one proximal radial bearing 156. Each of the radial bearings 154 and 156 is contained within housing 152 for rotatably supporting the drilling shaft 148 radially at the location of that particular radial bearing. Distal radial bearing 154 preferably includes fulcrum bearing 158.
Preferably, device 144 further includes near bit stabilizer 160, which in the preferred embodiment is located adjacent to the distal end of housing 152 and coincides with the distal radial bearing location. Furthermore, device 144 includes drilling shaft deflection assembly 162, which may be located axially at any location or position between the distal end and the proximal end of the housing. Deflection assembly 162 is provided for bending drilling shaft 148 between the distal radial bearing location and the proximal radial bearing location. The device also includes at least distal thrust bearing 164 and at least one proximal thrust bearing 166. Each of the thrust bearings is contained within housing 152 for rotatably supporting drilling shaft 148 axially at the location of that particular thrust bearing. As a result of the thrust bearings, most of the weight on the drilling bit may be transferred into and through housing 152 as compared to through the drilling shaft of the device.
Device 144 also includes anti-rotation device 168 associated with housing 152 for restraining rotation of housing 152 within the wellbore upon rotary drilling. Preferably, the device further includes a distal seal or sealing assembly 170 and a proximal seal or sealing assembly 172. Distal seal 170 is radially positioned and provides a rotary seal between housing 152 and drilling shaft 148 at, adjacent or in proximity to the distal end of housing 152. Proximal seal 172 is radially positioned and provides a rotary seal between housing 152 and drilling shaft 148 at, adjacent or in proximity to the proximal end of housing 152. Additional details of the mechanism shown in FIG. 6 can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,244,361 to Comeau et al.
The control mechanisms described by Ikeda et al. and Comeau et al. include shaft deflection assemblies that include eccentric rings, as shown in FIGS. 7a and 7b. This type of assembly is known in the art. The assembly includes two eccentric rings, inner ring 174 and outer ring 176, which are capable of relative rotation. Relative rotation between the two eccentric rings results in a relative displacement between the center of the outer ring and the center of the inner ring. The system can be designed such that at 0 degrees of rotation, the centers of the two eccentric rings coincide, as shown in FIG. 7a. The rings have a maximum displacement between their centers at 180 degrees of relative rotation, as shown in FIG. 7b. Such a system provides the ability to impart a controlled deflection on the drilling shaft at the location of the assembly.
Both systems utilize harmonic drives to control the orientation of the eccentric ring systems. A harmonic drive is required for each ring. The drive system takes power from the relative rotation between the non-rotating sleeve and the drive shaft.
Push-the-bit rotary steerable systems utilize side force on near-bit assemblies to provide a deviation mechanism. Variations on the concept fall into two categories: synchronous systems and non-rotating systems.
Synchronous rotary drilling systems are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,682 to Russell et al., which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. One system described by Russell et al. includes a modulated bias unit, which is used to control the direction of the drilling assembly, and a control unit for modulating such bias unit. FIG. 8 provides a conceptual overview of the synchronous push-the-bit system. The bias unit includes hydraulic actuators 178 spaced apart around the periphery of the unit proximate bit connector 180 and a selector control valve (not shown). The selector control valve is coupled to hydraulic actuators 178 by hydraulic ports 182. Each actuator is capable of providing a force and outward displacement against the formation. The selector control valve modulates the fluid pressure supplied to each actuator in synchronism with rotation of the drill bit so that, as the drill bit rotates, each movable thrust member is displaced at the same selected rotational position. This displacement of the movable thrust members causes a constant relative thrust at a radial point in the borehole. The control valve includes two disks. One disk contains a port for each of the actuators. The second disk is rotationally controlled by the control sub to selectively activate each actuator at the prescribed position.
The control system for the synchronous system utilizes a downhole instrumentation package, which is roll stabilized with respect to the drillstring. Mounted impellers 184 rotate relative to the drill collar as a result of fluid flow. The impellers are mounted such that their relative rotation is in opposite directions. Control sub 186 is also mounted to the housing through bearings allowing for relative rotation. The impellers impart a controlled torque against the control sub housing through a clutching mechanism such as an electromagnetic clutch. Controlling the torque imparted by each impeller allows for the control sub to be rotationally controlled and non-rotating with respect to an earth reference frame.
A second group of push-the-bit systems exist that include non-rotating stabilizers. A side force is applied to the formation through a non-rotating assembly. Examples of such systems are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,979,570 to McLoughlin et al. and European Patent Application No. 0 744 526 A1 by Oppelt et al., which are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. FIGS. 9a and 9b are schematic diagrams illustrating a push-the-bit system utilizing a non-rotating sleeve and eccentric rings. FIGS. 10a and 10b are schematic diagrams illustrating a push-the-bit system utilizing a non-rotating sleeve and hydraulic action.
As shown in FIG. 9a, this push-the-bit system is attached to adapter sub 188, which would in turn be attached to the drill string (not shown). The adapter sub is attached to inner rotatable mandrel 190 and may not be necessary if the drill string pipe threads match the device threads. This mandrel is free to rotate within inner eccentric sleeve 192. Inner eccentric sleeve 192 may be turned freely within an arc by a drive means (not shown) inside the outer eccentric housing or mandrel 194, as shown in FIGS. 9a and 9b.
As further shown in FIG. 9a, inner rotating mandrel 190 is shown as being attached directly to drill bit 196. Outer housing 194 consists of a bore passing longitudinally through the outer sleeve which accepts the inner sleeve. The outer housing is eccentric on its outside clearly shown as "pregnant" portion 198. The pregnant portion or weighted side 198 of the outer housing forms the heavy side of the outer housing and is manufactured as a part of the outer sleeve. The pregnant housing contains the drive means for controllably turning the inner eccentric sleeve within the outer housing. Additionally, the pregnant housing may contain logic circuits, power supplies, hydraulic devices, and the like which are (or may be) associated with the "on demand" turning of the inner sleeve. Additional details of the system shown in FIGS. 9a and 9b can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,979,570.
As shown in FIGS. 10a and 10b, this push-the-bit system includes bit 198 coupled to hydraulic actuator assembly 200. The hydraulic actuator assembly is coupled to non-rotating sleeve assembly 202. The hydraulic actuator assembly may be configured such that a side force can be selectively applied to a formation (not shown) through non-rotating sleeve assembly 202. The amount and direction of the side force will vary depending on the direction in which drilling is desired. The amount and direction of the side force that is applied to the formation may be controlled by hydraulic control assembly 204, which is coupled to hydraulic actuator assembly 200. Additional details of the system shown in FIGS. 10a and 10b can be found in European Patent Application No. 0744526.
Rotary steerable systems all attempt to control the rotation of specific system components relative to an earth reference frame (gravity, magnetic vector, etc.). This attempt to control relative rotation is analogous to the control sought in other systems with specific types of transmission known as continuously variable transmissions (CVTs).
Continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) have existed for over 100 years. However, they are only today beginning to see widespread use as a fuel-saving technology in the automotive industry. For example, the technology was first introduced in 1886, but its practical automotive merits were not fully realized until Honda installed a CVT in its 1996 Civic HX.
Some light-weight automobiles are already using CVTs in which power is transferred by a belt in contact with one or more pulleys. However, CVTs that use belts (or sometimes chains) are limited to fairly light vehicles, usually those weighing under about 2,000 pounds. For example, the Ford Festiva and the Subaru Justy use a CVT. In the light passenger vehicles they are now being used in, CVTs provide high efficiency and thus boost fuel mileage while reducing emissions.

Systems and methods for directionally drilling a borehole using a continuously variable transmission


A system is provided for that improves video quality and resolution. The system include a processor configured with logic to estimate an image from at least one observed image to produce an estimated image, the observed image having a lower spatial resolution than the estimated image. The processor is further configured with logic to simulate steps of an imaging process and compression process and update the estimated image with statistical and/or deterministic information if further optimization is needed, otherwise designate the estimated image as a solution.

Visual communications and image processing are technologies that are employed in a wide range of applications. Such applications include the delivery and presentation of video images over various networks such as cable, space (e.g., via satellite) or computer networks, medical imaging, aerial/satellite photography, remote sensing, surveillance systems, forensic science, digital cameras, and high-quality scanning applications, among others.
During the delivery and/or processing of video images, a loss of image quality typically occurs between the original image and the captured image that will be used for display and/or recording. For example, in the process of recording an image, there is a natural loss of resolution caused by the non-zero physical dimensions of the individual sensor elements, the non-zero aperture time, optical blurring, noise, and motion. Further decline in resolution may occur in transporting the image using fewer bits in order to preserve bandwidth.
Techniques have been developed to address some of these problems. For example, multi-frame resolution enhancement (herein referred to as superresolution) techniques have been developed to estimate a high resolution image by combining the nonredundant information that is available in a sequence of low resolution images. However, current techniques are employed under assumptions that are not necessarily valid for many of the applications, and thus a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry for solutions to address one or more of these deficiencies and inadequacies.

Video enhancement using multiple frame techniques


A mobile communication method according to the present invention comprising a step A in which, when a predetermined trigger is detected, the radio base station DeNB notifies the relay node RN of a transmission timing of an MBSFN subframe by a signal for changing the configuration of an RRC connection that is set between the radio base station DeNB and the relay node RN, a step B in which the radio base station DeNB performs scheduling such that a downlink signal is transmitted to the relay node RN at the transmission timing of the MBSFN subframe, and a step C in which the relay node RN performs scheduling such that a downlink signal is transmitted at a timing other than the transmission timing of the MBSFN subframe.

In a mobile communication system employing an LTE (Long Term Evolution)-Advanced scheme which is a next-generation communication scheme of an LTE scheme, a "relay node RN" having the same function as that of a radio base station DeNB (Donor eNB) may be connected between a mobile station UE and the radio base station DeNB.
The LTE-Advanced mobile communication system is configured such that an E-RAB (E-UTRAN Radio Access Bearer) is set between the mobile station UE and a core node CN, a Uu radio bearer is set between the mobile station UE and the relay node RN, a Un radio bearer is set between the relay node RN and the radio base station DeNB, and an S1 bearer is set between the radio base station DeNB and the core node CN.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Mobile communication method, radio base station, and relay node


A surveillance system generally includes a data capture module that collects sensor data. A scoring engine module receives the sensor data and computes at least one of an abnormality score and a normalcy score based on the sensor data, at least one dynamically loaded learned data model, and a learned scoring method. A decision making module receives the at least one of the abnormality score and the normalcy score and generates an alert message based on the at least one of the abnormality score and the normalcy score and a learned decision making method to produce progressive behavior and threat detection.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
The recent trend in video surveillance systems is to provide video analysis components that can detect potential threats from live streamed video surveillance data. The detection of potential threats assists a security operator, who monitors the live feed from many cameras, to detect actual threats.
Conventional surveillance systems detect potential threats based on predefined patterns. To operate, each camera requires an operator to manually configure abnormal behavior detection features. When the predetermined abnormal pattern is detected, the system generates an alarm. It often requires substantial efforts in adjusting the sensitivity of multiple detection rules defined to detect specific abnormal patterns such as speeding, against the flow, abnormal flow.
Such systems are inefficient in their operation. For example, the proper configuration of each camera is time consuming, requires professional help, and increases deployment costs. In addition, the definition and configuration of every possible abnormal behavior is not realistically possible due to the fact that there may just be too many to enumerate, to study, and to develop a satisfying solution in all possible contexts.

Method and system for scoring surveillance system footage


The invention relates to a safety arrangement and also a testing apparatus for testing the operation of an extreme limit switch in a conveying system, which can be removed from service on the basis of a signal to be received from the extreme limit switch. The testing apparatus comprises a microprocessor and a memory, in which is recorded a testing program to be run with the microprocessor, which testing program comprises instructions for preventing removal of the conveying system from service occurring on the basis of a signal from an extreme limit switch as well as for testing the operation of the extreme limit switch when removal of the conveying system from service has been prevented.

Especially in conveying systems operating with automatic control, such as in elevator systems, there must be a safety system according to safety regulations, by the aid of which safety system the operation of the conveying system can be stopped e.g. as a consequence of a defect or of an operating error. The aforementioned safety system comprises safety switches, which measure the safety of the system. When detecting that the safety of the conveying system has been endangered, the operation of the conveying system is interrupted and the conveying system is brought into a safe state by controlling the safety system.
Elevator regulations require that an elevator comprises safety switches, which are configured to measure functions that are critical from the viewpoint of the safety of the elevator system. Consequently, the elevator must comprise an extreme limit switch, which limits the extreme limit of the permitted movement of the elevator car in the elevator hoistway. A safety arrangement of an elevator also comprises an end buffer, the task of which is to damp the impact caused by collision of the elevator car with the end of the elevator hoistway. The extreme limit switch changes its state when the elevator car arrives at the extreme limit for permitted movement of the elevator car, said extreme limit being monitored by the extreme limit switch. The safety regulations require that the elevator car is stopped when the elevator car arrives at the extreme limit switch. The safety regulations also require that the end buffer stops movement of the elevator car before collision with the end of the elevator hoistway.
An extreme limit switch is conventionally implemented with a limit switch installed on the roof of the elevator car, which limit switch fulfills the requirements of a safety contact. Metal ramps are installed in the top end and in the bottom end of the elevator hoistway. When the elevator car passes an end floor, the ramp pushes the lever arm of the extreme limit switch, which then rotates and opens the contacts of the extreme limit switch.
It is important to ensure that the elevator cannot be taken into use without functioning and testable safety devices that comply with the regulations. However, testing of an extreme limit switch, i.e. manual measurement of the operating point of the extreme limit switch as well as of the air gap of the opened contact, is awkward. The elevator cannot from the elevator hoistway be driven with the service drive apparatus to the extreme limit switch, because according to the regulations the elevator must be stopped and remain jammed when it reaches the extreme limit switch on service drive. For this reason, conventionally it has been endeavored to position the elevator at the point of the extreme limit switch for testing by driving the elevator manually with the emergency drive apparatus from outside the elevator hoistway. Manual positioning of the elevator at the extreme limit switch by the aid of the emergency drive apparatus is, however, difficult because, firstly, the serviceman driving the elevator does not have direct visual contact into the elevator hoistway and, secondly, the stopping area at the point of the extreme limit switch is quite narrow and finding the correct stopping point generally requires several attempts.
If the operating point of the extreme limit switch comes too close to the terminal floor, the elevator car might remain jammed when it arrives at the terminal floor, in which case operation of the elevator ceases in accordance with the safety regulations and the return of the elevator to normal operation requires a serviceman to pay a visit to the site of the elevator and perform the necessary procedures.
If the operating point of the extreme limit switch comes too far from the terminal floor, the extreme limit switch does not necessarily function after the elevator rope has stretched slightly. In this case the counterweight might collide with the end buffer before the extreme limit switch stops the elevator.
Consequently there is a need to develop the testing of the operation of safety devices, such as of extreme limit switches.

Testing apparatus and safety arrangement


An arrangement path of a tube arranged between an ink tank and a carriage is optimized in a case where the ink tank is arranged in an outer portion or the like of an ink jet printer main body.

An ink jet printer is widely known as a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects a liquid from a liquid ejecting head to a recording medium.
The ink jet printer includes a carriage, and a recording head that is mounted on the carriage. Printing is performed on recording paper when ink (liquid) is ejected from a nozzle formed on the recording head while the carriage is in a scanning movement with respect to the recording paper (recording medium).
In some ink jet printers, an ink cartridge that supplies the ink to the recording head is mounted on the carriage (on carriage type). The ink cartridge is detachably mounted on the carriage.
In the on carriage type ink jet printer, the ink capacity of the ink cartridge is limited. In a case where relatively voluminous printing is to be performed, the ink cartridges have to be frequently exchanged, which results in an increase in running cost.
An apparatus that supplies the ink from a large ink tank, which is arranged out of the ink jet printer, toward the carriage has been proposed. An attachment, instead of the ink cartridge, is mounted on the carriage. The ink is supplied from the ink tank to the attachment via a tube. The voluminous printing is possible in this manner (refer to PTL 1).

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus 1 includes a liquid ejecting apparatus main body 2 that ejects a liquid from a liquid ejecting head which is mounted on a carriage, a liquid accommodating body 110 that is arranged in an external area or the like of the liquid ejecting apparatus main body 2, and liquid supply tubes 120 that are arranged between the liquid accommodating body 110 and the carriage. The liquid ejecting apparatus further includes a paper discharge frame that is arranged along a scanning direction of the liquid ejecting head on a further forward side than the liquid ejecting head. A part of the liquid supply tubes 120 is fixed to a frame member paper discharge frame.


A shadow mask deposition system includes a plurality of identical shadow masks arranged in a number of stacks to form a like number of compound shadow masks, each of which is disposed in a deposition vacuum vessel along with a material deposition source. Materials from the material deposition sources are deposited on the substrate via openings in corresponding compound shadow masks, each opening being formed by the whole or partial alignment of apertures in the shadow masks forming the compound shadow mask, to form an array of electronic elements on the substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of forming an electronic device on a substrate and, more particularly, to a method of forming one or more electronic elements of the electronic device on the substrate by way of a shadow mask deposition process.
2. Description of Related Art
Electronic circuits with repetitive patterns, such as memories and imaging or display devices are, widely used in LED industry. Presently, such circuits are formed by photolithographic processes.
A shadow mask deposition process is well-known and has been used for years in micro-electronics manufacturing. The shadow mask process is a significantly less costly and less complex manufacturing process compared to the photolithography process. Accordingly, it would be desirable to utilize the shadow mask deposition process to form electronic circuits.
One problem with the current shadow mask deposition process is the need to engineer, manufacture and inventory a large number of shadow masks, each of which typically has one or more apertures of a unique size and/or location in the shadow mask. Thus, for example, if a plurality of shadow mask deposition events is required to produce the electronic elements of an electronic circuit having a repetitive pattern, a plurality of different shadow masks is typically required, since each deposition event will typically entail the deposition of material of a unique size and/or a unique location on the substrate.
It would, therefore, be desirable, to overcome the above problem and others by providing shadow masks that have configurable opening sizes whereupon the need to engineer, manufacture and inventory a unique shadow mask for each deposition event is avoided.

Shadow mask deposition of materials using reconfigurable shadow masks


A fluid line coupling apparatus comprising a first enclosure and a second enclosure. The first enclosure has a first passageway extending therethrough and a piston slidably disposed therein. The piston is movable between a closed position, wherein the first passageway is blocked by the piston, and an open position, wherein the first passageway is not blocked by the piston. The second enclosure has a second passageway extending therethrough and a collar slidably disposed therein. The collar is movable between the closed position, wherein the second passageway is blocked by the collar, and the open position, wherein the second passageway is not blocked by the collar. The first and second enclosures are engageable such that the front surface of the piston and the front surface of the collar lie in a substantially common plane when the piston and the collar are in their closed position.

Quick disconnect couplings often provide complementary male and female coupling members that engage one another to provide sealed fluid transmission across the interface of two separate fluid transmission lines. Both the male and female coupling members of such quick disconnect couplings typically provide valves that close when the coupling is in an uncoupled state such that the fluid is sealed within the fluid transmission lines. It has been known to use compression springs to force such valves shut when the coupling is in its uncoupled state.
In many applications, it is desirable to minimize the amount of ambient air that is introduced into the fluid transmission lines upon engaging the male and female coupling members. Ambient air may be introduced into the fluid transmission lines, for example, when the male coupling member enters a cooperatively sized recess in the female coupling member and thereby traps ambient air inside the quick disconnect coupling.
It would be desirable to provide a quick disconnect coupling that prevented air from being trapped inside the coupling during engagement and provided a securing means that quickly connected and disconnected the coupling.

Low air inclusion quick disconnect coupling


A fail safe mechanism having a return member, valve stem extension, energy storage member, and locking assembly. The valve stem extension is driven by an electrical actuator and configured to drive the return member in a first direction and to be driven by the return member in a second direction. The energy storage member is configured to store energy when the electrical actuator causes the valve stem extension to drive the return member in the first direction and to release the energy stored therein when a disruption of power causes the return member to drive the valve stem extension in the second direction. The locking assembly is configured to hold the return member in a cocked position such that the valve stem extension rotates with the valve independently of the return member and free of influence from the energy storage member while the power is applied to the electrical actuator.

The mechanism generally relates to electrically-actuated valve systems and, more particularly, to electrically-actuated valve systems having a fail safe feature.
Electrically-actuated valves may be used to control and meter the flow of a fluid (e.g., a gas or liquid). In some circumstances, these electrically-actuated valves include fail safe systems as disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,572,076, 6,431,317, 6,276,664, 5,915,668, 4,289,038, RE30,135, 4,113,063, and 4,090,589.

Fail safe mechanism for valve using a cock and lock return spring


One aspect of the invention is an integrated circuit (10 or 110) comprising an amplifier (11 or 111) having at least two poles in its frequency response and an output impedance compensation circuit (M1A, M2, M3, AC1 or M1A, M2, M3, M4, AC1) coupled to an output node (30) of the amplifier (11 or 111). The output impedance compensation circuit (M1A, M2, M3, AC1 or M1A, M2, M3, M4, AC1) is operable to create a feedback signal proportional to the impedance of an output load (50) coupled to the output node (30), and create a zero in the frequency response of the amplifier (11 or 111) in response to the feedback signal between the at least two poles.

This invention relates generally to the field of integrated circuits and more particularly to a method and system for dynamic compensation.
Integrated circuits often employ a variety of amplifiers, such as voltage regulators, to increase or decrease voltage levels within the integrated circuit. Amplifiers often have at least two poles in their frequency response that are associated with gain and phase behavior. Gain and phase behavior depends upon the circuit design of the amplifier, and can depend upon load circuitry associated with the amplifier.
Conventional amplifier circuits, including voltage regulators, may include an output stage that resembles a class A amplifier stage. Such designs are limited by the output storage capacitance of the circuit. Other designs may employ a class B output configuration with a generally low impedance output and internal compensation to maintain the amplifier within an operable range. Many of these circuit designs are used in applications or with loads having a range of transistor current requirements and load characteristics. However, these designs are often not able to maintain the amplifier within an operable range for these applications or for loads having varying requirements.
Amplifiers using field effect technology generally have high output impedance and the pole contributed by the output load is generally located at a relatively low frequency. Without a zero between the first two poles in the amplifier""s frequency response, instability can result. Existing compensation schemes depend on the characteristics of the load. The location of the zero and one or more poles can be affected by the load, if the pole moves due to output load characteristics such that the zero designed into the frequency response for stability is no longer between the first two poles of the amplifier""s frequency response. Thus, designing stable amplifiers is difficult without knowing beforehand the load characteristics. Often, however, load characteristics may not be known. Therefore, a system and method is needed to provide effective dynamic compensation for amplifier applications in integrated circuits.
One aspect of the invention is an integrated circuit comprising an amplifier having at least two poles in its frequency response and an output impedance compensation circuit coupled to an output node of the amplifier. The output impedance compensation circuit is operable to create a feedback signal proportional to the impedance of an output load coupled to the output node, and create a zero in the frequency response of the amplifier in response to the feedback signal between the at least two poles.
The invention provides several important advantages. Various embodiments of the invention may have none, some, or all of these advantages. The invention allows amplifiers in integrated circuits to operate stably under a wide variety of output load conditions. Generic amplifier designs, including voltage regulator designs, may thus be done without detailed knowledge of output load characteristics. Such amplifiers may have reduced circuit area in comparison to amplifiers with other compensation schemes, and may have improved power consumption.

Method and system for dynamic compensation


A system includes a mold having a receptacle. The mold is configured to form a body panel of a vehicle. Alternating inserts are each configured to be selectively retained by and released from the receptacle. Each respective alternating insert, when selectively retained by the receptacle, is configured to form a labeling region on a body panel formed in the mold. A method for forming a body panel of a vehicle includes providing a mold having a receptacle. A first insert is selectively retained within the receptacle, and a first body panel is formed in the mold to have a first labeling region provided by the first insert. The first insert is released from the receptacle and a second insert is selectively retained within the receptacle. A second body panel is formed in the mold to have a second labeling region provided by the second insert.

Labels are often placed on vehicles to instruct and warn operators, to promote or designate a particular brand or trademark, and/or to add decoration. Conventional plastic molding systems and methods can be used to manufacture a vehicular body panel (e.g., a fender) to include a labeling region. In some circumstances, the labeling region is formed during a molding process to include apertures. A label can then be attached to the labeling region such as through use of fasteners (e.g., rivets) inserted through the label and into the apertures. Adhesives may additionally or alternatively be employed for securement of a label to a labeling region of a vehicular body panel. In another conventional configuration, a label can be attached to a vehicular body panel during molding of the vehicular body panel through use of an in-mold labeling process.
It can, at times, be desirable for a manufacturer of vehicular body panels to alternate the manner in which labels are applied to manufactured vehicular body panels. For example, a manufacturer of fenders might typically employ an in-mold labeling process to apply labels to fenders. However, if a problem arises with the in-mold labeling equipment, until the equipment is repaired, the manufacturer might resort to use of fasteners for attaching labels to the fenders. In such circumstance, the molds of the plastic molding process must either be changed out to include aperture-forming molds, or apertures must be manually provided (e.g., drilled) in each manufactured fender to accommodate the fasteners for the labels. Accordingly, alternating between conventional label application techniques can require significant time and cost expenditure.

Systems for providing a labeling region on a vehicular body panel


Techniques are disclosed for controlling data transmission in multi-stream digital systems. The techniques disclosed allow an input stream to a conditional access system to be throttled when a FIFO begins to fill up. Each data stream may have its own FIFO, which sends data to a MUX and exports its status to a backpressure rate control module. Multiple seconds worth of data may be stored in a BPRC buffer ahead of the backpressure rate control module prior to being transmitted to a MUX FIFO buffer. The backpressure rate control module may use the cached data to fill available spaces within a MUX FIFO buffer. The determination to forward a data packet may be based on the individual MUX FIFO buffer levels, the sum of all the MUX FIFO buffer levels, and/or one or more configurable threshold values. In some embodiments, individual thresholds may be assigned to each FIFO buffer.

Conditional access systems or so-called CAS are typically used in the context of digital television systems, such as cable and satellite television, and are configured to ensure the protection of content by requiring certain conditions to be satisfied before access to the content is granted. A CAS architecture generally includes a tuner, a first-in first-out (FIFO) buffer, a multiplexor, and a termination device such as a CableCARD™ developed by CableLabs®. The FIFO buffer is typically implemented as a small low-latency FIFO that the multiplexor clocks packets out of, and can be integrated into the silicon of the multiplexor. The multiplexor, sometimes referred to as a MUX, is typically implemented in accordance with a given standard, such as the OpenCable™ specification. In typical operation, data is received from the tuner, queued up in an FIFO buffer and then sent to the multiplexor. The queuing in the FIFO is used to prevent temporal packet collisions as multiple packet streams are coalesced into a single time-multiplexed stream.

Backpressure techniques for multi-stream CAS


An improved grain drill depth adjustment tool for changing the seeding depth of a John Deere® Model 750 Grain Drill or its equivalent. The improved grain drill depth adjustment tool capable of unlocking a locked grain drill depth adjustment plate, repositioning the grain drill depth adjustment plate and allowing the grain drill depth adjustment plate to be re-locked in an alternate position. The improved grain drill depth adjustment tool comprising a lever; an engagement member attached to the lever; and a plurality of protrusions attached to the lever. The improved grain drill depth adjustment tool capable of performing its functions in a one-handed operation without the use of auxiliary tools. The one-handed operation requires minimal force and the tool is relatively easy to use. The grain drill depth adjustment tool is further capable of reducing adjustment time and thereby increasing farming efficiencies.

The present invention relates in general to hand tools for use with specific farm equipment and/or specialized mechanical implements. More specifically, the tool of the present invention provides improved mechanical assistance for moving the multiple depth adjustment plates on John Deere® Model 750 Grain Drill or its equivalent. The improved grain drill depth adjustment tool provides for true one-handed adjustment which represents a significant improvement over the conventional adjustment tool included with the grain drill. Additionally, the improved grain drill depth adjustment tool significantly reduces the setup time required whenever the seeding depth is changed. A commercial grain drill is typically available in a wide variety of sizes to suit the particular application and need. A thirty foot wide grain drill with forty-eight rows spaced approximately seven and one-half inches apart is one example. The thirty foot grain drill has forty-eight individual grain drill depth adjustment assemblies primarily consisting of a pivot shaft/bearing assembly, a spring-loaded pin, and a grain drill depth adjustment plate which must be manually adjusted each time the planting depth is varied. The grain drill depth adjustment plate has a square-shaped aperture which provides a means for rotational adjustment of the plate; and a plurality of elongated apertures capable of receiving the spring-loaded pin such that the plate can be locked into position. These grain drills were provided with a depth adjustment tool consisting of an approximate three-quarter inch diameter, twelve-inch long metal handle, having an approximate two inch length of one-half inch square bar stock welded at a ninety degree angle to the handle. The one-half inch square bar stock of the provided depth adjustment tool fits into the approximate one half-inch square-shaped aperture on each of the individual depth adjustment plates. The John Deere® grain drill's instruction manual suggests using their provided tool in combination with a conventional open-end wrench to release a spring-loaded pin thereby allowing the provided depth adjustment tool to rotate the depth adjustment plate and thereby vary seeding depth. The open-ended wrench merely functions as a spanner or a pry bar as do other popular alternatives, such as a large bladed screwdriver. Some of these depth adjustment plates are difficult to access and require someone to climb over or under the implement frame, crouch or crawl among the individual row units, and reach each individual depth adjustment plate and the corresponding spring-loaded pin for each row unit with both hands in order to change the seeding depth. It is often very difficult for someone to balance in these awkward positions while having to use both hands to position each individual adjustment plate. Additionally, the individual adjustment plates can be difficult to move without first reducing the pressure that the weight of the grain drill's gauge wheels transfer to the spring-loaded pins and therefore the adjustment process requires a balancing act between the provided depth adjustment tool in one hand and the conventional open-end wrench or other pry bar type tool in the other hand. Accumulated dirt, debris and/or rust can compound the adjustment process thereby making this balancing act even more difficult. This conventional two-handed operation typically requires between forty to fifty minutes to adjust all forty-eight depth adjustment plates on a thirty foot grain drill. Smaller grain drills having less row units and therefore less adjustment plates would require less setup time and conversely larger grain drills would require more setup time. The present art improved grain drill depth adjustment tool accomplishes this task without the need for an additional spanner or pry bar type tool and thus provides for true one-handed operation. The improved grain drill depth adjustment tool provides means for both engaging the depth adjustment plate and releasing the corresponding spring-loaded pin thereby allowing the depth adjustment plate to be easily rotated to achieve the desired seeding depth. This one-handed operation typically takes about ten minutes to adjust all forty-eight depth adjustment plates on a thirty foot grain drill thereby resulting in increased efficiency through significant time savings.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved grain drill depth adjustment tool which is capable of unlocking, repositioning and allowing re-locking of the grain drill's depth adjustment plate without the need of additional auxiliary devices.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved grain drill depth adjustment tool which is capable of unlocking, repositioning and allowing re-locking of the grain drill's depth adjustment plate while only requiring the use of one-hand in order to perform these functions.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved grain drill depth adjustment tool which increases the efficiency of the seeding depth adjustment process by reducing adjustment time and thereby increasing agricultural productivity.
Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an improved grain drill depth adjustment tool which requires minimal force and is relatively easy to use.


A portable storage device with network function includes a network file management system, via which an electronic apparatus coupled to the portable storage device manages the access of files between a memory unit of the portable storage device and a remote network host. Therefore, the portable storage device with network function is more convenient for use.

In most of the currently adopted manners of data processing and data storage, data to be stored is either stored in a personal computer, such as a desktop computer, a notebook computer, or a personal digital assistant (PDA), or in a remote server by linking a personal computer with the remote server via a network. When it is desired to use the disk space in the remote server as a virtual disk of the personal computer, it is necessary to set a relevant driver for the personal computer. Since such setting is computer-specific, a user without carrying that computer about just could not use the virtual network disk drive.
It is therefore tried by the inventor to develop a portable storage device with network function to overcome the limitation in using the conventional portable storage device, so that an electronic apparatus coupled to the portable storage device with network function may manage the access of files between a memory unit of the portable storage device and a remote network host via a network file management system in the device, making the portable storage device more convenient for use.

Portable storage device with network function


A system for visually detailing the layout of a wireless network and for providing performance statistics regarding the network. Graphical diagrams are generated in accordance with a request wherein the diagrams illustrate nodes and data collectors in the wireless network. The nodes record data related to a commodity usage and transmit the data to the collectors, which in turn transmit aggregated data from a plurality of nodes to a central data collection server.

The collection of meter data from electrical energy, water, and gas meters has traditionally been performed by human meter-readers. The meter-reader travels to the meter location, which is frequently on the customer's premises, visually inspects the meter, and records the reading. The meter-reader may be prevented from gaining access to the meter as a result of inclement weather or, where the meter is located within the customer's premises, due to an absentee customer. This methodology of meter data collection is labor intensive, prone to human error, and often results in stale and inflexible metering data.
Some meters have been enhanced to include a one-way radio transmitter for transmitting metering data to a receiving device. A person collecting meter data that is equipped with an appropriate radio receiver need only come into proximity with a meter to read the meter data and need not visually inspect the meter. Thus, a meter-reader may walk or drive by a meter location to take a meter reading. While this represents an improvement over visiting and visually inspecting each meter, it still requires human involvement in the process.
An automated means for collecting meter data involves a fixed wireless network. Devices such as, for example, repeaters and gateways are permanently affixed on rooftops and pole-tops and strategically positioned to receive data from enhanced meters fitted with radio-transmitters. Typically, these transmitters operate in the 902–928 MHz range and employ Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) technology to spread the transmitted energy over a large portion of the available bandwidth.
Data is transmitted from the meters to the repeaters and gateways and ultimately communicated to a central location. While fixed wireless networks greatly reduce human involvement in the process of meter reading, such systems require the installation and maintenance of a fixed network of repeaters, gateways, and servers. Identifying an acceptable location for a repeater or server and physically placing the device in the desired location on top of a building or utility pole is a tedious and labor-intensive operation. Furthermore, each meter that is installed in the network needs to be manually configured to communicate with a particular portion of the established network. When a portion of the network fails to operate as intended, human intervention is typically required to test the effected components and reconfigure the network to return it to operation.
Thus, while existing fixed wireless systems have reduced the need for human involvement in the daily collection of meter data, such systems require substantial human investment in planning, installation, and maintenance and are relatively inflexible and difficult to manage. Therefore, there is a need for a system to visually illustrate the wireless network layout and provide performance characteristics to simplify the maintenance of such systems.

System and method of visualizing network layout and performance characteristics in a wireless network


A surveillance device includes an electronic component and a protective surface outwardly of the electronic component. A generally transparent substrate is formed from a first material. Spaced portions of an electrically conductive coating are formed within channels in the substrate. The electrically conductive material is a semiconductor material. A method is also disclosed.

This application relates to a patterned electromagnetic interference shielding coating applied to the exterior surface of a protective optical element. The coating consists of an electromagnetic interference shielding feature which is placed in channels in a substrate surface, and which is typically formed of a semiconductor.
Transparent protective optical elements are utilized in a number of applications. One application is to protect an image capturing device. The image capturing device may be a camera associated with an aircraft such as a surveillance vehicle. The surveillance vehicle may attempt to capture images over a wide spectrum of wavelengths. Another application is to protect a beam delivery device such as a laser communication system or a laser targeting system.
It is important to shield or block electromagnetic interference (EMI) from harming the electronics contained within such systems.
Three ways of blocking the EMI are known.
In the first, the material chosen for the substrate is conductive and therefore will itself block EMI. Such substrates typically do not transmit visible radiation and therefore are limited to infrared applications.
A second method is to provide a grid of metal as a coating on the exterior surface of the substrate. Because of the voids present in the grid metal, these coatings are transparent to light of any wavelength out to long-wavelength infrared, and therefore as prior art are preferred for applications requiring the widest range of wavelength band transmission.
In a third method, an electrically conductive coating is placed on the outer surface of the substrate and is formed of a semiconductor material that is relatively transparent to visible and near-infrared light. However, the semiconductor coating transparency is zero at potentially critical longer wavelengths.
In wavelengths that cannot be transmitted through the coating, there is no ability to capture any image.
It has been proposed to embed metal mesh within a surface of the substrate. This does not address the concerns mentioned above.

Grid topography for patterned semiconductor coating that minimizes optical scatter and obscuration


Several pressure cartridges and activation mechanism arrangements are disclosed which are configured to use less manual force to rupture the cartridge than current pressure cartridges and activation mechanisms. According to some embodiments, the activation mechanism requires lower manual activation force by using the pressure in the cartridge to do part of the rupturing work. The cartridge can be filled with compressed gas such as nitrogen and argon, or supercritical fluids such as carbon dioxide, and can be used to propel or operate several types of devices and mechanisms including medical drug auto-injectors, paintball guns, tire emergency inflation kits, and inflatable life vests.

Rupturable pressure cartridges are typically shaped as elongated tubular bodies, necked down at one end that is sealed with a thin metallic membrane, configured to be pierced by a sharp object. Pressurized cartridges, sometimes referred to as pressure canisters, can be filled by a variety of pressurized fluids such as compressed nitrogen or argon, or supercritical fluids such as carbon dioxide. The latter is common due to the high amount of energy that can be stored in a relatively small cartridge. Commercial cartridges come in a variety of loads, where some of the common loads are 1 gram, 8 grams and 12 grams.
Rupturable pressure cartridges have a broad variety of uses including medical drug auto-injectors, paintball guns, tire emergency inflation kits, and inflatable life vests. In practical applications the cartridge is associated with an activation mechanism that is configured to rupture the canister upon a user manipulation. To avoid accidental rupturing of the cartridge's membrane at a range of conditions, the membrane is made of a sufficiently thick metal. However, that means that more force needs to be applied to rupture the membrane.
Necking down the cartridge end allows the use of thinner membranes that are easier to rupture as that reduces the force applied by the pressurized fluid in the cartridge. However, in several applications it is desired to have a quick release of the pressurized fluid from the cartridge which requires a larger rupturable membrane. Between these different tradeoffs, carbon dioxide rupturable cartridges use membranes that are approximately 3 mm in diameter and require direct application of about 15-40 lb. by a sharp piercing object to the membrane to rupture. In several applications it is not practical or desired for the user to apply such high force to rupture the cartridge.
In many life vest designs a lever is implemented providing a force multiplier that significantly reduces the user activation force. In certain life vests designs and auto-injector designs, a preloaded spring and a spring release mechanism is used to activate the rupture of the cartridge. In certain activation mechanism this spring is preloaded to over 30 lb. The drawbacks of spring activation mechanisms include: (a) they are large and bulky, (b) a reinforced structure is required to hold the spring for elongated period of time, (c) they can be expensive, and (d) they bare the risk of premature activation.
It would therefore be desirable to have a rupturable pressurized cartridge that requires lower direct force to rupture the membrane.

Pressure cartridge and activation mechanism


The present invention provides bioerodable constructs for controlled release of bioactive materials. In a preferred mode, the constructs may be utilized adjacent to a biological surface. The constructs are based on a blend of two or more poly(ester-amide) polymers (PEA). Such polymers may be prepared by polymerization of a diol (D), a dicarboxylic acid (C) and an alpha-amino acid (A) through ester and amide links in the form (DACA)n. An example of a (DACA)n polymer is shown below in formula II. Suitable amino acids include any natural or synthetic alpha-amino acid, preferably neutral amino acids.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is directed to polymeric matrices designed for controlled release of biologically active substances, such as therapeutic bacteriophage which can kill bacteria capable of causing disease.
2. Review of Related Art
Bioactive composites based on biodegradable (or more precisely, bioerodible) polymers as matrices, impregnated by bactericidal substances are promising for the treatment of superficial infected wounds. On the one hand, bactericidal substances clean the wound from bacteria and make favorable conditions for wound healing, and prevent bacterial invasion through the holes made in wound coverings for exudate drainage, on  drainage. On the other hand, biodegradable polymer which is able to timely release enough degradation products (polymeric debris) can activate macrophages to produce the required growth factors acrd and, in that way, can accelerate wound healing (Pratt, et al. (1994, "Dimehtyltitanocene-Induced Surface Chemical Degradation of Synthetic Bioabsorbable Polyesters", J. Polym. Sci. Part 0.4: Polym. Chem., 32(5):949; Greisler, (1988), "Small Diameter Vascular Prostheses: Macrophage-Biomaterial Interactions with Bioresorbable Vascular Prostheses". Transactions of ASAIO, 34:1051).
Mori, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,867, 520, discloses a delivery system for therapeutic agents using films made of polyamino acid polymers with oil-like or wax-like substances dispersed in the film. Therapeutic agents are dissolved in the carrier, and when the film is applied to an internal or external surface of the body, the carrier migrates to the surface of the film where the agent is released. However, these films are not biodegraded during use.
Sidman, U.S. Pat. No. 4,351,337, discloses an implantable delivery device comprising a matrix formed of a poly-alpha-amino acid component having one or more drugs and/or diagnostic agents physically contained therein. The drug or diagnostic agent is released through diffusion and/or biodegradation resulting from the action on the polymeric matrix of enzymes present in the host into which the implant is placed.
Taniharak, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,770,229, discloses a medical polymer gel made up of a cross-linked polysaccharide with a drug attacked  attached to the polysaccharide via a linkage that is cleavable by an endogenous enzyme. This system provides for delayed release of the attached drug from the polymer, but the release rate is subject to individual variation in the amount of the endogenous enzyme, and the polymer, while biocompatible, is not biodegradable.
Kuroyangi and coworkers (1992, J. Appl. Biomater., 3:153-161) have developed a wound dressing for burn care that is a hydrophobic poly-L-leucine spongy matrix impregnated with antibacterial silver sulfadiazine supported by a fine nylon mesh. This wound dressing suppresses bacterial growth while controlling fluid loss. However, the dressing is not degraded, but rather sticks to the wound until it separates spontaneously from the healed skin.
Georgian Patent No. 1090 describes a wound dressing containing 45-50 wt. % biodegradable poly(ester-amide) based on natural alpha-amino acids impregnated with 50-55 wt. % dried bacteriophage. The poly(ester-amide) is not characterized in detail, but the dressing also has 0.05-0.15 wt. % surface immobilized alpha-chymotrypsin. The impregnated poly(ester-amide) is formed into a film, and the film is used to accelerate healing of superficial wounds, including burns.
Tsitlanadze, et al., in an abstract from Int. Symp. Biodegrad. Mater, Oct. 7-9, 1996, Hamburg, Germany, describe alpha-chymotrypsin-catalyzed hydrolysis of regular poly (ester-amides) (PEAs) of general formula I: where                k=2, 3, 4, or 6        m=4 or 8, and        R=CH(CH3)2, CH2CH(CH3)2, CH(CH3)CH2CH3, (CH2)3CH3, CH2C6H5, or (CH2)3SCH3.
It is reported that alpha-chymotrypsin is spontaneously immobilized on the surface of the PEAs from aqueous solution, and erodes the polymer surface under physiologic conditions, with increasing lysis for more hydrophobic R groups and more hydrophobic polymer backbone. A biocomposite material based on a PEA polymer containing bacteriophages, antibiotic or anesthetic was prepared for study as artificial skin for healing burns and festering wounds.

Polymer blends as biodegradable matrices for preparing biocomposites


A method of testing an integrated circuit die (IC) for cracks includes performing an assembly process on a wafer including multiple ICs including: lowering a tip of a first manipulator arm to contact and pick up a given IC, flipping the given IC such that a surface of the IC facing the wafer faces a different direction, and transferring the IC to a tip of a second manipulator arm, applying pressure from the second manipulator arm to the given IC such that pogo pins extending from the tip of the first manipulator arm make electrical contact with conductive areas of the IC for connection to a crack detector on the IC, and performing a conductivity test on the crack detector using the pogo pins. If the conductivity test indicates a lack of presence of a crack, then the second manipulator arm is used to continue processing of the given IC.

During integrated circuit manufacturing, it may be desired to protect individual die on a wafer from mechanical cracks, which may lead to failures of the die.
A sample integrated circuit die 40 is shown in FIG. 1. A die seal ring 42 is positioned between a periphery 41 of the integrated circuit die 40 and an integrated circuit region 44 of the integrated circuit die 40. The purpose of the die seal ring 42 is to help avoid propagation of cracks from the periphery 41 to the integrated circuit region 44, which could cause failure of the circuits in the integrated circuit region. A crack that forms in the periphery 41 but does not propagate past the die seal ring 42 does not cause failure of the integrated circuit region. In addition to blocking cracks, the die seal ring 42 may serve to block environmental ingress.
While the die seal ring 42 is indeed somewhat effective in avoiding the propagation of cracks from the periphery 41 into the integrated circuit region 44, in some situations it may not avoid all cracks, and thus, cracks may still propagate through to the integrated circuit region 44.
Therefore, in addition to using the die seal ring 42 to attempt to avoid propagation of cracks into the integrated circuit region 44, it is desired to know whether a crack has in fact propagated into the integrated circuit region 44. For this, a crack detector 43 may be used. A crack detector 43 is comprised of a conductive via chain arranged about an inner circumference of the die seal ring 42. As can be seen, a first pad and/or conductive bump 45 is electrically connected to a first portion of the crack detector 43, and a second pad and/or conductive bump 46 is electrically connected to a second portion of the crack detector. By testing electrical continuity between the first and second pads 45 and 46, presence of a crack can be detected.
While the use of the crack detector 43 in combination with the die seal ring 42 provides for effective detection of failed die and protection from cracks adequate to increase manufacturing yield, existing crack detection utilizes specialized testing fixtures and processes, which adds to manufacturing complexity and reduces manufacturing throughput. As such, additional development into the area of crack detection is needed.


A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprises: forming a high dielectric gate insulating film in an nMIS formation region and a pMIS formation region of a semiconductor substrate; forming a first metal film on the high dielectric gate insulating film, the first metal film; removing the first metal film in the nMIS formation region; forming a second metal film on the high dielectric gate insulating film of the nMIS formation region and on the first metal film of the pMIS formation region; and processing the first metal film and the second metal film. The high dielectric gate insulating film has a dielectric constant higher than a dielectric constant of silicon oxide. The first metal film does not contain silicon and germanium. The second metal film contains at least one of silicon and germanium.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same, and more particularly to a MISFET (Metal Insulator Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor) having a dual metal gate electrode structure and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Background Art
In recent years, MISFET devices have been downscaled for achieving high performance. However, downscaling involves thinning of the gate oxide film, which causes the problems of increased gate leak current or depletion of the gate electrode.
In order to avoid these problems, the gate leak current may be reduced by replacing the gate insulating film with a high dielectric film whose dielectric constant is higher than silicon oxide to gain physical thickness, and the gate electrode may be metallized to prevent the depletion of the gate electrode.
However, in a MISFET having a metal gate electrode structure, the threshold voltage of the transistor is determined by the impurity concentration of the channel region and the work function of the gate electrode. Therefore, to obtain a desired threshold voltage, a dual metal gate structure is required where the nMIS gate electrode is made of a metal material having a work function of 4.3 eV or less and the pMIS gate electrode is made of a metal material having a work function of 4.8 eV or more.
However, when a metal gate electrode containing silicon is formed on the high dielectric gate insulating film, the high dielectric gate insulating film material reacts with silicon contained in the metal gate electrode between the gate insulating film and the metal gate electrode, thereby varying the work function of the metal gate electrode. This may cause a problem of being unable to obtain the desired threshold voltage (see, e.g., E. Cartier et al., "Systematic study of pFET Vt with Hf-based gate stacks with poly-Si and FUSI gates", Proc. Symp. on VLSI Tech. Digest, pp. 44-45, 2004).

Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing same


Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention provide circuits, methods, and apparatus that improve utilization of storage buffers by overwriting data in them as soon as the data is no longer needed. An exemplary embodiment employs a counter to add each time a particular unit of data is needed by a circuit. The counter also subtracts each time the data is actually used by the circuit. When the counter reaches zero, upstream circuitry is checked to see if a command allowing the particular data to be overwritten has been issued. If it has, the command is not waited for, rather the data may be overwritten immediately. Embodiments of the present invention may also make use of one level of indirection to mask physical storage buffer locations from upstream circuitry. In this way, utilization can be improved.

The present invention relates to integrated circuits including graphics processors generally, and more particularly to the efficient utilization of storage buffers in graphics processors.
Graphics processors form images for display on computer monitors by processing primitives. These primitives each form a portion of the image and are typically points, lines, and triangles. Each of these primitives are defined by their endpoints, which are referred to as vertices.
Each vertex is defined by data including its position, color, and other attributes. In advanced processors, this data is very large, and can be over a hundred or hundreds of bits in size. Accordingly, storing these vertices requires a large amount of circuitry. This circuitry consumes die area, thus increasing circuit cost and layout complexity, and also increasing circuit power dissipation.
These vertices undergo several stages of processing during the generation of an image for display. As such, they are stored at various times during this processing. Each time these vertices are stored, these large storage circuits are required. If more efficient use of the storage circuits could be made, the number of storage circuits could be reduced.
Thus, what is needed are circuits, methods, and apparatus that utilize these storage buffers more efficiently, thereby reducing the number of storage buffers that need to be included on a graphics processor integrated circuit. This reduction reduces circuit cost and die area, simplifies its layout, and reduces its power dissipation.

Storage buffers with reference counters to improve utilization


A fuel pump is disclosed wherein a substantially cylindrical plunger bore is provided with an annular drain groove fluidically coupled to a drain duct. A pump plunger is driven by a drive system located in a separate mechanical compartment that holds a reservoir of lubricating oil. An annular seal is provided adjacent the drain groove substantially at the end of the bore and retained in position by a seal support. Exemplary embodiments provide the drain groove and seal as being positioned immediately adjacent one another so that the seal forms a lower wall of the drain groove.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fuel pumps for supplying fuel to internal combustion engines. More particularly, the present invention relates to a fuel pump having a plunger bore and seal configured to facilitate an increase in the pressurized region along the length of the pump plunger bore.
2. Description of the Related Art
Today's engine designers must meet the challenge of government mandated emissions criteria while striving to improve engine fuel efficiency. In rising to this challenge, designers create fuel systems that operate at higher pressures than systems of the past. In so doing, greater performance demands are placed on fuel pump components and operations. Fuel pumps typically include a pump plunger positioned in the bore of a fuel pump barrel and sized so as to permit reciprocating motion within the bore. Pump plungers are driven by a drive system positioned in a separate mechanical compartment supplied with lubricating oil. Because the plunger diameter must necessarily be less than the bore diameter, fuel leakage in the resulting space can occur. Fuel escapes from the fuel pumping chamber and passes along the clearance space between plunger and bore, then is available to leak into the drive compartment. Such fuel leakage contaminates the engine lube oil and causes a reduction in the oil's viscosity, thus shortening its life and effectiveness.
To address the problem of fuel leakage, traditional engine designs provide a drain groove located in the plunger bore between the pumping chamber and the end of the bore opposite the pumping chamber. The portion of the bore between the pumping chamber and drain groove provides a high-pressure seal by virtue of the close tolerance between plunger and bore diameters. Fuel leaking through the clearance area above the drain groove is collected by the drain groove and diverted to a fuel drain circuit. The portion of the bore between the drain groove and the bore end opposite the pumping chamber is formed as an annular clearance gap between the barrel and plunger, and serves to separate the drain groove from the lube oil. To prevent fuel flowing out of the drain groove along the bore in the clearance between the barrel and the plunger from reaching the lube oil, some traditional pump designs provide a back-up seal. The back-up seal also serves to inhibit lube oil from entering the fuel chamber. However, this approach has the disadvantage of pressure spikes occurring due to dilation of the plunger under axial load. Such pressure spikes hinder the operation of the seal. Accordingly, what is needed is a fuel pump that can provide adequate pressurization to meet modern design standards yet employ a sealing system that satisfactorily preserves the integrity of both the fuel and lube oil areas.


A coil surrounding only the tip of nozzles of a plastic extruding die is provided. By passing a high frequency current through the coil to selectively heat only the tip of the nozzles. Further, in a plastic extruding die in which a high frequency current is passed through a coil provided around nozzles to heat the periphery of the nozzles, the coil is formed of a conductor tube through which a coolant is caused to flow.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for heating a plastic extruding die, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for heating a plastic extruding die capable of controlling the area from the base to tip of nozzles at an appropriate temperature. This invention also relates to a plastic extruding die capable of lengthening the life of the coil for heating the periphery of the nozzles.
2. Description of the Related Art
A plastic extruding die has been proposed in which an inductive coil is provided to surround a large number of nozzles attached to a die used for an extruder and kneader and a high frequency current is passed through the inductive coil thereby to induce an eddy current around the nozzles so that the periphery of the nozzles is directly heated by Joule heat (for example, JP-A-2003-326518).
In the related plastic extruding die, a larger part of the nozzles was heated equally using the inductive extending to exceed half of the nozzle length.
However, the tip of the nozzles is likely to get cool whereas the base of the nozzles is difficult to get cool. This presented the following problem. If the tip of the nozzles is heated at an appropriate temperature, the temperature of the base of the nozzles becomes excessively high. If the base of the nozzles is heated at the appropriate temperature, the temperature of the tip of the nozzles becomes excessively low.
Further, a method for heating a die of an extruder has been proposed in which a coil is provided in the vicinity of a large number of nozzles attached to a die used for an extruder and kneader and a high frequency current is passed through the coil thereby to induce an eddy current around the nozzles so that the periphery of the nozzles is directly heated by Joule heat (for example, Japanese Patent No. 2,969,437).
Further, a method for heating a plastic extruding die has been proposed in which a coil made of a wound wire having a diameter of 1.5 to 3.0 mm φ coated with alumite or ceramic, or flat wire of 2.0×5.0 mm and having a heating resistant temperature of 480° C. to 550° C. is used and a temperature sensor is arranged at the center or in the vicinity of the coil and at least one of the current value and frequency is controlled so that the coil temperature does not exceed the heating resistance temperature (for example, JP-A-2003-62888).
Further, another plastic extruding die has been proposed in which a cool air is passed through the space provided on the outer periphery of a coil to cool the coil (JP-A-2003-326518).
The above method for heating a die of an extruder has presented a problem that the coil itself generates heat by the current flowing through the coil and also is heated by the Joule heat generated in the die so that the coil temperature rises, thus shortening the life of the coil.
The above method for heating a plastic extruding die has presented a problem that the die cannot be heated to a sufficient high temperature because of the limitation by the heating resistant temperature of the coil and if the die is maintained at the high temperature, the coil also becomes the high temperature, thus promoting the deterioration by time passage.
The above plastic extruding die has presented a problem that the contact area of the cold air and coil cannot be increased so that the coil cannot be sufficiently cooled.

Method and apparatus for heating plastic extruding die


A method for the generation of voltage for the programming or erasure of a non-volatile memory cell is disclosed. Also disclosed is a circuit and a computer readable medium which implement the method. During an operation of programming or erasure in the memory, the slope P of the write voltage ramp is adapted to the number of memory cells to be programmed or erased simultaneously during this operation. This method is particularly useful in the field of non-volatile, electrically erasable and programmable memories.

The present invention relates to a method and circuit for the generation of the voltage for the programming and erasure of a non-volatile memory cell. The invention can be applied in the field of non-volatile programmable and electrically erasable memories (including but not limited to EPROMs, EEPROMs and flash memories).
The memory cells of these memories are based on a technology that makes use of floating-gate transistors. For the programming or erasure of a memory cell of this kind, it is necessary to produce high voltages of about 15 to 20 volts. These voltages are given either by an external voltage source or internally by a load pump integrated into the memory. The programming or erasure voltage applied to a memory cell is shown in FIG. 1. It conventionally has:
an initial bias at the supply voltage Vcc of the memory constituting a first voltage plateau 10; PA1 a voltage ramp constituted by a rising phase 11 during which the voltage climbs linearly up to a high voltage V.sub.H and by a voltage plateau 12; and PA1 a voltage drop 13 during which the voltage returns to the value of the initial voltage. PA1 either a load pump with high fan-out is provided; PA1 or a voltage ramp is chosen with a slope small enough for the relationship (1) to be always verified whatever the capacitive charge addressed.
The rising phase of the voltage ramp is characterized by its slope which is governed by two conditions. First, it should not be excessively high so as not to cause stress on the gate oxide of the cell that is addressed. Indeed, it is indispensable that, during the rising phase, the electrical field within the addressed cell should not vary with excessive suddenness to avoid embrittling and possibly seven damaging the gate oxide of the cell. Second, the build-up time of the voltage ramp must be calculated so that the capacitive charge addressed in the memory does not act on the slope of the ramp. For this purpose, the fan-out S of the load pump responsible for giving the high voltage to the voltage-ramp generation circuit should be greater than the addressed capacitive charge C multiplied by the slope of the ramp, namely it is necessary that: EQU S>C*dV/dt (1)
If this relation is not verified, the slope of the ramp is not controlled and the voltage applied to the memory cell to be written is no longer controlled. The capacitive charge addressed varies as a function of the number of memory cells written simultaneously. The capacitive charge is therefore different depending on whether the memory works in normal mode (byte mode), page mode or global mode.
There are two possible methods by which it can be seen to it that the relationship (1) is always verified:
However, these two methods have certain drawbacks. With regard to the first method, it is not always possible to increase the fan-out of the load pump. Indeed, the load pump is conventionally a Schenkel pump whose fan-out is proportional to C.sub.e *f/n where C.sub.e designates the capacitance of a stage of the pump, f designates the pumping frequency and n designates the number of stages of the pump. Increasing the fan-out of the pump makes it necessary to reduce the number of stages n, which is not possible for n fixes the voltage delivered by the pump, or else to increase C.sub.e or f, which is very costly in terms of space taken up on silicon. As for the second method, it entails penalties with respect to memory cell write time and, hence, with respect to the speed of the memory. In particular, it penalizes the operation of the memory in normal mode as compared with the operation in page mode or in global mode.

Method and circuit for the generation of programming and erasure voltage in a non-volatile memory


An attenuator includes a flat, substantially rectangular substrate of an insulating material having a surface. A plurality of termination areas of a conductive material are on the substrate surface and are spaced from each other. Three resistors are on the substrate surface and are connected in a series parallel combination between the termination areas. The resistors may be formed by three separate resistance layers extending between and connected to the termination areas, or a single resistance layer extending between and connected to the termination areas. A shunt capacitor is on the substrate surface and is connected to one of the resistors. The shunt capacitor is formed by an area of a conductive material on the substrate surface and overlapping a portion of the resistors, and a dielectric layer between the conductive area and the resistor.

Chip attenuators are used in RF and microwave circuits to change signal level to act as buffers between amplifier stages to prevent oscillation, and for impedance matching for frequency selective devices such as filters or mixers. There are three typical constructions used to fabricate chip attenuators. Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a top view of one type of a prior art chip attenuator 10, generally referred to as a "T" type chip attenuator. The attenuator 10 comprises a flat rectangular substrate 12 of an insulating material, such as a ceramic or plastic. On a surface 14 of the substrate 12 are first and second conductors 16 and 18 which are spaced apart. A third conductor 20 is on the surface 14 and extends between the first and second conductors 16 and 18. The third conductor 20 has a head 22 thereon at one end. A fourth conductor 24 is on the surface 14 and is spaced from and substantially parallel to the head 22 of the third conductor 20. A first resistor 26 is on the surface 14 and extends between the first and third conductors 16 and 20, and a second resistor 28 is on the surface 14 and extends between the second and third conductors 18 and 20. A third resistor 30 is on the surface 14 and extends between the head 29 of the third conductor 20 and the fourth conductor 24. Each of the conductors 16, 18, 20 and 24 are films of a thick or thin film conductive material, and each of the resistors 26. 28 and 30 are films of a thick or thin film resistance material. Thus, the "T" type attenuator comprises three resistors connected together.
Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a second type of prior art chip attenuator 32, which is general referred to as a "Pi" type attenuator. Attenuator 32 comprises a flat, rectangular substrate 34 of an insulating material, having a surface 36. On the surface 36 are spaced first, second and third conductors 38, 40 and 42. Also, on the surface 36 are first, second and third resistors 44, 46 and 48. The first resistor 44 extends between the first and second conductors 38 and 40, the second resistor 46 extends between the first and third conductors 38 and 42, and the third resistor 48 extends between the second and third conductors 40 and 42. Thus, the attenuator 32 comprises three resistors connected in a series/parallel relationship.
Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a third type of prior art chip attenuator 50, which is generally referred to as a "sheet" type attenuator. Attenuator 50 is similar to the "Pi" type attenuator 32 of FIG. 2 in that it comprises a flat, rectangular substrate 52 having a surface 54, and three spaced conductors 56, 58 and 60 on the surface 54. However, instead of three separate resistors, the "sheet" type attenuator 50 has a single resistance film 62 on the surface 54 and extending between the first, second and third conductors 56, 58 and 60. However, in essence, the single resistance film 62 forms a resistor extending between the first and second conductors 56 and 58, and a separate resistor extending between the third conductor 60 and each of the first and second conductors 56 and 58. Thus, the "sheet" type attenuator 50 provides the same resistor circuit as the "Pi" type attenuator 32.
The choice of which of the above types of attenuators is used depends on the desired power dissipation and frequency response. The "T" type attenuator 10 works well for attenuation values below 2 dB since the series resistors are larger and easier to fabricate. The "Pi" type attenuator 32 and the "sheet" type attenuator 50 work well for high attenuation value because the are two shunt resistors. However, a problem with all of these types of attenuators has to do with the small amount of inductance associated with the resistor geometry and connecting metal terminations. The inductance forms a series R-L circuit which behaves like a low pass filter. The effect of the inductance is a reduction in the attenuation with increasing frequency. The effect of the inductance on a "T" type attenuator 10 is much worse than on either a "Pi" type or "sheet" type attenuator. Therefore, the "Pi" type or "sheet" type attenuator is preferred. However, it would be desirable to further improve the performance of the "Pi" type, "sheet" type and "T" type attenuators.

Chip attenuator having a capacitor therein