The invention provides a system adapted to enable contextual collaboration within a computer network. The invention provides a collaboration manager that supports manipulation of collaboration spaces. The collaboration spaces contain one or more collaboration elements that have potentially different collaboration modalities. The context manager maintains resources and resource interrelationships within contexts. The resources can include collaboration elements, processes, tasks, business objects, users, and/or roles. A view generator selects a set of the resources to be displayed to a user of the computer network. The invention also includes an interface adapted to allow applications to specify commands to manipulate collaboration spaces, commands to maintain resources and resource interrelationships within contexts, and queries for context-sensitive views.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to collaboration between network users and more particularly to an improved system and methodology that allows network users to seamlessly collaborate with each other using multiple unrelated applications.
2. Description of the Related Art
Collaboration is the process of interaction amongst one or more users. Collaboration technologies allow users to collaborate with each other. User collaboration technologies have existed for some time in various forms such as telephone, fax, e-mail, bulletin boards, etc. Today, many enterprise portals, web sites, and also software applications provide their users with advanced collaboration capabilities such as online presence awareness (aka: buddy lists) of other users, instant messaging between users, discussion threads, and team rooms.

Method and system for providing a common collaboration framework accessible from within multiple applications

International Business Machines Corporation


A manufacturing method of an optical member for optical path conversion to be connected to an optical waveguide provided in a substrate includes forming plural inclined surfaces on a wafer by etching, forming openings corresponding to the inclined surfaces in a plate-like member, forming a combined body, in which the inclined surfaces and the openings correspond to each other, by bonding the wafer and the plate-like member, and dividing the combined body into small pieces each of which includes the inclined surface and the opening.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical member to be connected to an optical waveguide provided in a substrate, a manufacturing method of the optical member, a waveguide substrate, and a photo-electric integrated substrate, and particularly to an optical member for optical path conversion, which converts an optical path of transmitted light, a manufacturing method of the optical member, a waveguide substrate, and a photo-electric integrated substrate.
(2) Description of the Related Art
Various mounting techniques for mounting an optical multi-chip module (MCM) on an electric wiring substrate having an optical waveguide are conventionally proposed. In the technique, various parts are mounted on a substrate at high density to realize a small photo-electric integrated substrate. In order to realize this, it is necessary to provide a 90° optical path conversion technique to optically connect an optical element, such as a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) or a photodiode (PD), mounted on a substrate and an optical waveguide provided in the substrate.
However, conventionally, an optical path conversion technique (optical member) in which high density mounting is possible, the mounting accuracy of an optical MCM can be moderated, cost is low and productivity is excellent has not been proposed.

Optical member, manufacturing method of the optical member, waveguide substrate, and photo-electric integrated substrate


To easily edit dynamic image content suiting user's preferences in consideration of the geographical position. A trajectory information generation unit 230 generates trajectory information about a trajectory during imaging of dynamic image content based on position information, wherein the dynamic image content is associated with the position information and azimuth information. An editing point setting unit 260 sets a section of the dynamic image content on a time axis based on the generated trajectory information. For example, the section is set based on a comparison result of an imaging range of the trajectory identified by the generated trajectory information (imaging range identified by azimuth information) and a specific target area such as a landmark. A play list information generation unit 270 generates play list information about a playback of the dynamic image content based on the set section. A display control unit 240 displays the trajectory identified by the generated trajectory information by superimposing the trajectory on a map containing the trajectory.

In recent years, imaging apparatuses such as digital video cameras (for example, camcorders) that image a subject such as a person and landscape to generate image data thereof and record the generated image data as content of a dynamic image file or the like are in widespread use.
Many specifying methods of specifying the start position when content recorded as described above is played back have been proposed. For example, a specifying method of specifying the playback start position of content by arranging and displaying, among images constituting content, images at regular intervals on a time axis (representative images) chronologically like a film and specifying the representative image is proposed. According to this specifying method, representative images at regular intervals on a time axis are arranged and displayed and thus, the start position of content can be specified by considering the content of the representative image and the position on the time axis.
It is assumed here, for example, that the start of playback is desired from the head of a dynamic image range generated in a predetermined area (for example, one attraction of a theme park) in a place of trip regarding content generated when the trip was made. However, according to the above editing method, it is assumed that while the content of the representative image and the position on the time axis can be considered, but it is difficult to consider the geographical position from the content. Thus, for example, a specifying method of specifying the playback start position of dynamic image content by considering the geographical position is proposed.
For example, an electronic device that displays a solid line on a map indicating a history of positions when dynamic image content is shot based on position information associated with the dynamic image content (see, for example, Patent Literature 1). If a predetermined operation (for example, a click operation) is performed on the solid line indicating the history, the electronic device starts the playback of dynamic image content from the position on the time axis corresponding to the portion (position on the map).

Image processing apparatus, image processing method and program


A semi-transmissive liquid crystal display device 10 having a first substrate which is partitioned by signal lines 13 and scanning lines 12 provided in a matrix pattern in which a reflective part 15 and a transmissive part 16 are formed on respective positions, a second substrate which is formed with a color filter and a common electrode, and a liquid crystal layer which is provided in between said two substrates, wherein

In recent years the application of liquid crystal display devices has rapidly spread into not only information-communication devices, but general electrical equipment as well. Since liquid crystal display devices do not themselves emit light, transmissive-type liquid crystal display devices provided with a backlight are commonly employed. However, because the backlight consumes a large amount of power, particularly for portable devices reflective-type liquid crystal display devices which do not require a backlight are being used to reduce power consumption. Nonetheless, since reflective liquid crystal display devices utilize external light as a light source, it is difficult to view these devices in a dark room or similar environment. In view of this, in recent years development has been progressing into semi-transmissive-type liquid crystal display devices which especially combine transmissive-type and reflective-type qualities (disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-101992 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-106997).
Such a semi-transmissive liquid crystal display device comprises, in a single pixel region, a transmissive part comprising a pixel electrode, and a reflective part comprising both a pixel electrode and a reflective electrode. In dark places, the backlight is lit up and the pixel region transmissive part is utilized to display an image, while in bright places, external light is utilized at the reflective part to display an image without the backlight being lit up. This means that the backlight does not have to be lit at all times, which has the advantage that power consumption can be dramatically reduced.
One example of such a semi-transmissive liquid crystal display device will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 is a plan view of one pixel displayed when viewed through the color filter substrate of a conventional semi-transmissive liquid crystal display device. FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view along the line IVA-IVA of FIG. 3, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view along the line IVB-IVB of FIG. 3.
This semi-transmissive liquid crystal display device 10A is formed, directly through a plurality of scanning lines 12 and signal lines 13 or via an inorganic insulating film 14, into a matrix pattern on a transparent insulating glass substrate 11. Here, the region enclosed by the scanning lines 12 and signal lines 13 corresponds to one pixel, wherein a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) (not shown) acting as a switching device is formed for each pixel.
Further, an interlayer film 17 made of an organic insulating film is laminated so as to cover the scanning lines 12, signal lines 13 and inorganic insulating film 14, wherein tiny uneven portions are formed on the surface at the reflective part 15 and wherein the surface at the transmissive part 16 is made flat. It is noted that in FIGS. 3 and 4 the uneven portions of the reflective part 15 have been omitted. The interlayer film 17 is provided with a contact hole 20 at a location corresponding to the drain electrode of the TFT. For each pixel, a reflective electrode 18 made of aluminum metal, for example, on its reflective part 15 is formed on the contact hole 20 and the surface of the interlayer film 17, and a transparent pixel electrode 19 made of ITO (Indium Tin Oxide), for example, is formed on the surface of this reflective electrode 18 and the surface of the interlayer film 17 of the transmissive part 16.
In this semi-transmissive liquid crystal display device 10A, the widths of the scanning lines 12 and signal lines 13 are all designed to be formed identically, so that the width L1 of the signal lines 13 in the transmissive part 16 is the same as the width L3 of the signal lines in the reflective part 15. In addition, at the transmissive part 16, the pixel electrode 19 is formed so as not to be in contact with the pixel electrode or the reflective electrode of the pixels adjacent thereto, and, so as to slightly overlap with a scanning line 12 and signal line 13. Among these, the pixel electrode 19 and a signal line 13 are formed so that the width L2 only is overlapping in order to prevent light leakage. Moreover, at the reflective part 15, the reflective electrode 18 and the pixel electrode 19 are formed so as not to be in contact with the reflective electrode or the pixel electrode of the pixels adjacent thereto, and, so as to slightly overlap with a scanning line 12 and signal line 13 to similarly prevent light leakage. Among these, the overlapping width L4 between the pixel electrode 19 and a signal line 13 is formed to be essentially the same as that of said L2.
In addition, a backlight device is provided at a lower portion of the glass substrate 11 comprising (not shown) a well-known light source, light guide plate, diffusion sheet and the like. Further, an oriented film (not shown) is laminated on the surface of the pixel electrode 19 so as to cover all the pixels. A color filter substrate (not shown) provided with elements such as an R, G, B three-color color filter formed to correspond to each pixel and opposing electrodes, faces this glass substrate 11. A sealant is provided surrounding both the substrates, whereby the two substrates are stuck together. The semi-transmissive liquid crystal display device 10A is formed by injecting liquid crystal in between the two substrates.
Thus, in the conventional semi-transmissive liquid crystal display device 10A, by forming so that the reflective electrode 18 and pixel electrode 19 slightly overlap a scanning line 12 and signal line 13, the light leakage from this portion can be prevented, thereby achieving an improvement in contrast.
However, as illustrated in FIGS. 4a and 4b, if a pixel electrode is formed on the scanning line and signal line, a given capacitance Csd is present between the scanning line 12 and signal line 13 and the pixel electrode 19 formed on the reflective electrode 18. If this capacitance Csd equals or goes above a certain value, flicker and cross-talk will occur when activating the liquid crystal display device. Moreover, the mechanisms respectively causing flicker and cross-talk are different. Namely, because the pixel electrodes are activated in an alternating manner with respect to their opposing electrode, the polarity of the voltage applied to the pixel electrode alternately switches with respect to the opposing electrode voltage according to a given cycle (e.g. 60 Hz). However, flicker occurs when the pixel electrode voltage changes, occurring at the side further away from the drive terminal of the scanning line, and not at the side closer to the drive terminal.
In contrast, particularly when black is displayed on a white background screen, cross-talk occurs in the vicinity of the black being displayed. The mechanism for such cross-talk occurrence is thought to be caused as a result of the following. That is, FIG. 5 illustrates a screen on which cross-talk has occurred at the semi-transmissive liquid crystal display device 10A illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, for example. When a black screen is displayed on a white background as illustrated in FIG. 5, if the white background region is represented by point X and above and below the black screen, i.e. the region on the signal line side, is represented by point Y, the voltage waveform at the respective points X, Y are as illustrated in FIG. 6.
FIG. 6 illustrates that if a signal is applied to the gate electrode of a TFT, the TFT is activated to initiate writing on the pixel electrode. The potential of the pixel electrode at this point is maintained for a prescribed period of time by an auxiliary electrode capacitance (refer to FIG. 6A). The potential used for white display which is write onto the pixel electrode in this period fluctuates during the retention period in accordance with the amplitude of the opposing electrode potential Vcom (refer to FIG. 6B). In this state, if the voltage waveform that is being applied to the signal line and pixel electrode at points X and Y is observed, at the signal line of the point X portion, a white display voltage is being constantly applied until the next write period arrives, so that the potential of the pixel electrode of this point X portion fluctuates by the same amplitude until the next write period arrives (refer to FIGS. 6C and 6D).
On the other hand, if en route the voltage used for black display is applied to the signal line of the point Y portion, the amplitude of the pixel electrode potential of this point Y portion varies during the period that the voltage used for black display is being applied to the signal line (refer to FIG. 6E). As a result, the actual value of the voltage applied to the liquid crystals differs between points X and Y, whereby a delta ΔV is generated. This delta is manifested as a difference in brightness, thus becoming a cause of cross-talk occurrence (refer to FIG. 6F).
This delta ΔV which is a cause of cross-talk can be expressed by the below equation 1 in accordance with a single pixel equivalent circuit of the liquid crystal display device illustrated in FIG. 7.ΔV=Csd×Vcom÷(C1c+Cst+Csd)  (1)wherein,    Cst: auxiliary electrode capacitance    Csd: capacitance between source/drain    C1c: liquid crystal capacitance
Therefore, it can be seen from this equation 1 that the smaller the capacitance Csd between source/drain is, the smaller the delta ΔV becomes.
Thus, lowering the capacitance Csd between source/drain, i.e. making the overlap between a signal line and the pixel electrode smaller, results in a smaller delta ΔV, whereby cross-talk can be reduced.
However, the major cause of light leakage lies in the disarray of the orientation of the liquid crystals at the end of the pixel electrode. Thus, if the overlap between the signal line and the pixel electrode is made smaller in order to reduce cross-talk, the problem arises that light leakage increases, especially at the transmissive part, thereby causing contrast to decrease.

Semi-transmissive liquid crystal display device with signal lines that are broader in the transmissive portion than in the reflective portion

Abstract: a pixel electrode 19 which is provided on said reflective part 15 and said transmissive part 16 is formed so as to overlap with said signal lines 13 and said scanning lines 12 via an insulating layer when viewed from the upper side,

Abstract: a width L1 of the signal line 13 corresponding to said transmissive part 16 is greater than a width L3 of said signal line 13 corresponding to said reflective part 15, and

Abstract: an overlapping width L2 of said pixel electrode 19 and said signal line 13 corresponding to said transmissive part 16 is greater than an overlapping width L4 of the pixel electrode 19 and said signal line 13 corresponding to said reflective part 15. As a result, it will be possible to provide a semi-transmissive liquid crystal display device having good contrast without any negative effects on display quality such as cross-talk or the like can be provided.


A field emission type cold cathode apparatus comprises a mother material layer made of an n-type silicon layer, a conical emitter having an arcuate side surface, an insulating layer formed in a surface region of the mother material layer in a manner to define the arcuate side surface of the emitter and having a concave portion formed to expose the tip portion of the conical emitter, the depth of the concave portion being determined such that the lower portion of the emitter covering a region more than half the height of the emitter is buried in the insulating layer, and a gate electrode formed over the insulating film in a manner to surround the emitter and having an open portion exposing the tip portion of the emitter, the diameter of the open portion being smaller than the diameter in the base portion of the emitter.

The present invention relates to a field emission type cold cathode apparatus and a method of manufacturing the same.
Various possibilities are expected in a field emission type vacuum micro apparatus. For example, it may be possible to achieve a high speed response. It may also be possible to achieve improvements in resistances to radiations and to high temperatures. Further, it may be possible to achieve a self-light emitting type display device of a high precision. Under the circumstances, vigorous studies are being made in recent years on the field emission type vacuum micro apparatus. The study on the particular apparatus was motivated by a proposal on a tunnel effect vacuum triode.
However, it is a report on a cold cathode apparatus using a thin film that has caused the attentions in this technical field to be paid to the particular apparatus. A clever technique utilizing a rotary oblique vacuum vapor deposition method and an etching of a sacrificial layer is proposed in the report. To be more specific, a manufacturing method of a device, which is called a Spindt type and most widely employed nowadays, and the basic construction of the device are proposed in the report. FIGS. 1A to 1D collectively show the basic technical idea of the particular method.
As shown in the drawings, a thermal oxide film 82 is formed first on a silicon substrate 81, followed by forming a metal layer 83 made of a metal used for forming a gate electrode, e.g., molybdenum, on the thermal oxide film 82. Then, the metal layer 83 is patterned to form an opening for a gate electrode, followed by etching the oxide film 82 to form a hole 84, as shown in FIG. 1A. In the next step, a sacrificial metal, e.g., aluminum, is deposited on the metal layer 83 to form a thin sacrificial layer 85, as shown in FIG. 1B.
After formation of the sacrificial layer 85, a metal for forming an emitter, e.g., molybdenum, is formed by a rotary oblique vapor deposition method to form a metal layer 86, as shown in FIG. 1C. In this step, the metal forming the metal layer 86 is also deposited within the hole 84, with the result that the open portion of the hole 84 is gradually diminished. It follows that a molybdenum emitter 87 having a conical tip portion is formed within the hole 84. Finally, the sacrificial layer 85 is removed together with the metal layer 86 positioned on the gate electrode 83 so as to prepare a cold cathode apparatus, as shown in FIG. 1D. In this technique, however, the emitter material is limited to a material which can be used in a vapor deposition method, with the result that a nonuniformity of the element characteristics which is derived from a nonuniformity of the material tends to take place easily.
Also proposed is a technique of forming an emitter using a silicon single crystal having a high purity and good reproducibility, which is shown in FIGS. 2A to 2G.
Specifically, a silicon oxide film 92 is formed first by thermally oxidizing a surface region of a silicon substrate 91, as shown in FIG. 2A, followed by patterning the silicon oxide film 92 to form a mask 93, as shown in FIG. 2B. Then, the silicon substrate 91 is subjected to an isotropic etching using the silicon oxide mask 93, with the result that those portions of the silicon substrate 91 which are positioned below the end portions of the mask 93 are removed because of the side etching, as shown in FIG. 2C. Further, the silicon substrate 91 is subjected to an additional thermal oxidation to form a silicon oxide film 94. In this step, the narrow tip portion, which is in direct contact with the mask 93, of the silicon substrate 91 is also oxidized thermally, with the result that the silicon substrate 91 is allowed to have a sharp tip portion below the mask 93, as shown in FIG. 2D. In the next step, a gate insulating film 95 consisting of, for example, a silicon dioxide film is deposited on the entire surface with the mask 93 left unremoved, followed by forming a metal layer 96 consisting of a metal used for forming a gate electrode, e.g., molybdenum, as shown in FIG. 2E. Finally, the silicon oxide films 92 and 94 are removed by etching so as to lift off the mask 93, thereby forming a silicon emitter 97 in the center of the open portion for the gate electrode, as shown FIGS. 2F and 2G.
The conventional method shown in FIGS. 2A to 2G is excellent in that a silicon single crystal which is stable and exhibits a good reproducibility is used as a starting material, and that an emitter can be formed by self-alignment relative to a gate electrode. However, serious problems given below must be solved in putting the particular method to practical use. First of all, it is difficult to control the etching direction and rate as desired in forming the emitter by the isotropic etching of the silicon substrate. In addition, it is very difficult to form the emitter of a desired shape with a satisfactory reproducibility because the end point of the isotropic etching cannot be determined accurately. Alternatively, it is also proposed to employ an anisotropic etching of a silicon substrate for forming the emitter. However, similar problems are left unsolved in this alternative technique. Particularly, if the side etching below the oxide mask is performed to make the resultant silicon region right under the mask as thin as possible by either the isotropic etching or anisotropic etching in an attempt to form a sharply pointed emitter, the mask is likely to be collapsed. In this case, it is impossible to carry out the subsequent steps for forming the gate insulating film 95 and the gate electrode 96, quite naturally.
What should also be noted is that, in the conventional method shown in FIGS. 2A to 2G, it is necessary to form the gate insulating film 95 by a deposition method such as a sputtering or CVD method in order to ensure a sufficient height of the gate insulating film 95. Therefore, it is difficult to obtain a sufficient gate withstand voltage. Further, the open portion of the gate electrode is determined by the pattern of the mask 93, making it impossible to diminish the distance between the emitter and the gate electrode.
Incidentally, it is also known to the art that a metal layer is formed by vapor deposition in an obliquely downward direction after the step shown in FIG. 2D, followed by lifting off the mask 93. However, problems similar to those described above are also left unsolved in this method.

Field emission type cold cathode apparatus and method of manufacturing the same


An air-evacuated blood collection tube assembly comprising an air-evacuated tubular container having an open end and a closed end, and a cannula-penetrable self-sealing gas-proof closure in sealing engagement with the open end of the container so as to maintain the vacuum inside the container. The closure has an end interior of the container and an end exterior of the container. The end interior has a first notch formed adjacent to the container wall. The end exterior includes a first notch that is aligned with the notch on the end interior of the container. The tubular container is formed of a polyethylene terephthalate material. The open end of the tubular container is flared outwardly. A hump extends inwardly of the inner diameter of the tubular container. The closure has an indented ring that is formed so as to receive this hump during engagement with the tubular container.

Self-sealing, gas-proof elastomeric closures or configurations are used extensively for sealing an open end of an air-evacuated blood collection tube. These types of closures not only provide an effective seal for maintaining a vacuum inside the collection tube, but are also penetrable by a cannula so that fluids may be deposited or withdrawn from the container without compromising the sterility of the inside of the container. While these types of closures have been utilized for a long time, improvements in their use and features are continually being made. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,111,326 explains many of the deficiencies of these prior closures, while offering improvements over these prior art closures, such as the use of less material for construction, reduction of manufacturing expense, easier assembly, and a much lower force needed to penetrate with a needle.
In addition to the many deficiencies of prior art closures, as pointed out in U.S. Pat. No. 4,111,326, other problems arise in the use of the air-evacuated blood collection tube. Specifically speaking, some blood collection tubes are inoperable due to the fact that something has caused the vacuum condition inside the blood collection container to dissipate. These collection tubes, sometimes referred to in the art as "dead tubes", are not only non-functional, but also are sometimes undetectable when "dead". In many instances, it is not until the user of the collection tube is attempting to collect blood that it is realized that there is no vacuum inside the container.
As a result, U.S. Pat. No. 4,293,078 provides a vacuum indicator closure for a blood collection tube. This device seals the open end of an air-evacuated blood collection tube and includes a tubular flexible elastomeric body having an open first end and a closed second end. The second end is formed by a cannula-penetrable, flexible elastic end wall having an outer surface and an inner surface. The outer surface of the end wall is convexly curved and the inner surface is concavely curved when pressure on both the inner and outer surfaces is equal. This end wall is sufficiently flexible to deflect under the influence of a pressure differential on the end wall so that when the pressure against the outer surface exceeds the pressure against the inner surface, the outer surface becomes concavely curved and the inner surface becomes convexly curved. This condition occurs when there is a vacuum inside the blood collection tube. The outer surface of the end wall is readily visible to an observer with its changeable nature serving as an indicator of relative pressures on the opposite sides of the end wall. A flange is annularly disposed around the periphery of the tubular body adjacent to the second end.
In usage, this device has been highly effective and is otherwise known as a "VACUTAINER" (TM) seal. Unfortunately, this closure is utilized only with standard glass blood collection tubes. Standard glass blood collection tubes have a variety of problems that make them unsuitable for the purposes contemplated by the makers of the closures for such tubes. As with any glass material, the glass blood collection tube is subject to a relatively easy breakage. Such breakage can destroy the sample collected within the tube and can cause other problems, i.e., injury, contamination of environment, exposure of individuals and environment to potential health hazards within the labs. Furthermore, this breakage potential is exacerbated by the fact that a great deal of pressure is required to join the closure to the open end of the blood collection tube at the time of manufacture. There have been a number of incidents in which the collection tube has broken upon the attempted removal of the closure from the tube. This presents an additional hazard to health care personnel.
Where glass collection tubes are utilized, shipment through the mail becomes quite difficult. In order to ship such extremely breakable material in the mail, a relatively complex shipping box must be developed. A great deal of cushioning-type material must be placed between each of the tubes in the potential shipment. In normal operations utilizing the standard postal services, boxes containing such tubes can be thrown about, compressed, or otherwise damaged. As a result, such blood collection tubes become broken and damaged during the shipment between the collection site and the lab. Furthermore, the labor requirements for assembling the shipping containers is a disadvantage to the use of such glass tubes. An ideal situation would be to simply enclose the blood collection tube in a box, or an envelope, seal the envelope, and send the collected blood to the lab.
With the spread of the AIDS virus, and other dangerous infectious diseases, it is extremely important that collected blood be maintained in a sealed environment. AIDS-contaminated blood can be a potential health hazard to those that would handle such glass collection tubes, especially lab personnel. Lab personnel are especially at high risk for exposure to contaminated blood because it requires a significant amount of pressure to remove the closure from the blood collection tube because of the manufacturing procedures (which require precise insertion and mating of the closure to the tube). Since removal must occur in the laboratory for analysis of the sample, injury can occur and does frequently.
As with most glass manufacturing operations, there are manufacturing difficulties in providing the tolerances required for the engagement of the closure of U.S. Pat. No. 4,293,078. Many times, the flow characteristics of glass cause dimensional differences between the closure and the open end of the glass tube. This may limit the ability to cause and to maintain a vacuum within the blood collection tube. In practice, those glass tubes that are manufactured in a relatively inaccurate and imprecise way must not be used. If they are not used, then the seal between the closure and the tube would be inadequate and would allow the loss of a vacuum.
It is known that glass is a less than adequate material for the containing of blood. Glass inherently contains many impurities. The trace elements and background materials within the glass of the tube can leach into the blood and be detected in the testing procedures. For example, there are many trace elements in the blood for which testing is carried out. However, when glass is used for the collection of the blood, the trace elements in the glass will diffuse into the blood and be of much higher levels than those trace elements that were in the original blood sample. The leaching of these trace elements into the blood can create many improper results in blood studies, cause misdiagnosis and mistreatment, or otherwise interfere with proper analytical techniques. As a result, the glass blood collection tubes can contribute to the inaccuracy of the blood studies.
Additionally, since glass is an extremely smooth material, there is not a great deal of friction between the surface of the closure and the inner surface of the blood collection tube. When the test tube has been manufactured with imprecise tolerances, the low amount of friction between the glass and the closure can allow the closure to slide outwardly from the open end of the glass tube and cause vacuum failure. In an effort to overcome this problem, the closure is made with an extremely long internal sleeve so as to engage the interior walls of the tube.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,533, issued on Aug. 15, 1989, to Anraku et al. describes a vacuum blood collection tube that is made of a polyethylene terephthalate material. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,735,832, issued on Apr. 5, 1988, to Ichikawa et al. describes a container made of a synthetic resin that could be used for containing blood. Both of these prior art patents describe the use of a liner material that is used for coating the interior of the tube. The purpose of this liner is to assist in the clotting of blood within the container. Since each of these prior art patents uses a liner material, this means that more material is used then is really needed to initiate the clotting action. Because of that, there may be some leaching of the material into the blood. The tubes of these prior art patents are injection blow molded. They are also lined with a less permeable plastic. As a result, the interface between the tube wall and the liner contributes to gas permeation.
During blood collection activities, it is usually desirable to have the blood clot within the tube. Silicon within the glass of a glass collection tube initiates this clotting function. When plastic is used as the tube, such as in these aforementioned prior art patents, silicon is not present and blood will have a tendency to not completely clot. Therefore, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,856,533 and 4,735,832 utilize such lining materials to assist in this function. The use of a liner material, in addition to the problems stated hereinbefore, is difficult to apply, adds to the manufacturing expense, often does not effectively assist in the clotting of blood, and is more likely to be leached into the blood.
After experimentation, it was found that the closure of U.S. Pat. No. 4,293,078 was effective for maintaining vacuum in a glass blood collection tube. However, the tradeoff for the maintenance of this vacuum was that the closure of U.S. Pat. No. 4,293,078 makes it difficult to collect blood in an efficient ergonomic fashion. That is, the angle between the needle and the closure was such that it could not be used simply and easily by medical personnel for entering a vein. The extended interior sleeve of the closure and the extended exterior end of the closure requires that the needle be aligned away from the edges of the tube. As such, the closure of U.S. Pat. No. 4,293,078 presents an awkward angle for the collecting of blood from a vein. This makes it difficult, at times, for the needle to be slid a little way into the vein, as phlebotomists like to do. The needle may penetrate through the vein and into the back side of vein.
In order to collect blood, it is necessary to use an appropriate holder. These holders are typically identified as the "TERUMO VENOJECT" holders. This standard appliance receives the needle in a threaded opening at one end of the holder. This threaded opening is centered in an end surface at the end of the holder. The opening includes a double thread for the receipt of the needle. When the needle is attached, the blood collection tube is then placed within the holder so that one end of the needle will penetrate the closure. The vacuum of the closure will then cause blood to be sucked through the other end of the needle and into the collection tube.
The shape of the holder of the blood collection tube can cause additional problems. The small handles on the holder makes it difficult to turn the container so as to get a good angle. Also, the use of the double threaded opening means that the taper at the end of the needle can have a different angle to the vein depending on which of the "double threads" the needle body engages. In the collection of blood, for the safety and efficiency of the operation, it is desired that the longest end of the taper be at the lowermost position and that the needle be positioned nearly parallel to the vein.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved blood collection tube that has less breakage potential and stronger impact resistance.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a blood collection tube that simplifies procedures for the shipment of such tube.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a blood collection tube that allows for manufacture with greater quality control, improved tolerances, greater efficiency, and less expensive procedures.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a blood collection tube that creates better fit between the open end of the tube and the closure.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved closure for a blood collection tube that allows the blood collection needle to assume a proper angle with respect to the vein.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved holder for a blood collection tube that causes the needle end taper to always assume the same position when used.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a blood collection system in which blood is collected in a safe, efficient, and consistent manner.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a blood collection system that provides ease of use with decreased risk to the collector and patient.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the attached specification and appended claims.


The disclosure is directed to laser annealing of GaN light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with reduced pattern effects. A method includes forming elongate conductive structures atop either an n-GaN layer or a p-GaN layer of a GaN LED structure, the elongate conductive structures having long and short dimensions, and being spaced apart and substantially aligned in the long dimensions. The method also includes generating a P-polarized anneal laser beam that has an anneal wavelength that is greater than the short dimension. The method also includes irradiating either the n-GaN layer or the p-GaN layer of the GaN LED structure through the conductive structures with the P-polarized anneal laser beam, including directing the anneal laser beam relative to the conductive structures so that the polarization direction is perpendicular to the long dimension of the conductive structures.

LEDs (and in particular GaN LEDs) have proven useful for a variety of lighting applications (e.g., full-color displays, traffic lights, etc.), and have potential for even more applications (e.g., backlighting LCD panels, solid state lighting to replace conventional incandescent lamps and fluorescent lights, etc.) if these LEDs can be made more efficient and can also be manufactured more cost-effectively. To realize higher efficiency for GaN LEDs, they need to have enhanced output power, lower turn-on voltage and reduced series resistance. The series resistance in GaN LEDs is closely related to the efficiency of dopant activation, uniformity of current spreading, and ohmic contact formation. To realize manufacturing cost-effectiveness, improvements in the manufacturing process that result in better processing uniformity and a reduction on adverse processing effects is desirable.
In GaN, a n-type dopant can be readily achieved using Si and with an activation concentration as high as 1×1021 cm−3. The p-type GaN can be obtained by using Mg as the dopant. The efficiency of Mg doping, however, is quite low due to its high thermal activation energy. At room temperature, only a few percent of the incorporated Mg contributes to the free-hole concentration. Mg doping is further complicated during MOCVD growth because of hydrogen passivation during the growth process. Hydrogen passivation requires a thermal annealing step to break the Mg—H bonds and activate the dopant.
A GaN LED typically includes conductive contacts and conductive current-spreading electrodes to power the LED. However, the resulting pattern can interfere with the laser annealing process and give rise to so-called adverse "pattern effects." To improve the performance of a GaN LED, it would be desirable to perform laser annealing of the LED structure after the current spreading electrodes are formed. Consequently, there is a need for systems and methods of performing laser annealing that reduces adverse pattern effects when laser annealing through conductive structures.

Laser annealing of GaN LEDs with reduced pattern effects


A computer implemented method and system for managing browser tabs includes identifying a plurality of URLs (Uniform Resource Locator(s)) in response to detecting the URLs in a web browser running on a computer. The plurality of URLs are organized based on each of the URLs, and each of the plurality of URLs correspond to a tab opened by the web browser. The tabs of the web browser are grouped based on the URLs.

The present disclosure relates to a method and system for organizing web browser tabs. A user of a web browser for searching on a computer device, such as a desktop computer, mobile device, laptop, or the like can have many tabs open simultaneously. For example, tabs within a browser can be opened as website are visited, or by opening links in emails or documents. A multiplicity of open tabs can be confusing to a user and cumbersome to manage. Also, having many tabs open can make it difficult to find a previously opened tab.


Illustrative embodiments provide a computer implemented method, a data processing system and a computer program product for a predictive mobile phone service disruption service. In one illustrative embodiment, the computer implemented method comprises monitoring a cellular call of a caller, calculating a location and vector of the caller, and determining whether the caller is approaching a drop zone. The computer implemented method responsive to determining the caller is approaching a drop zone, estimates a duration of a loss of service, and responsive to determining the caller is approaching a drop zone, selectively notifying the caller.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an improved data processing system and more specifically to a computer implemented method, an apparatus and a computer program product for a predictive mobile phone service disruption service.
2. Background Description
Cellular phone usage is an established communication mode. Many users depend upon this form of communication. As users engaged in conversations on cell phones travel, for example while in a car, bus, or train, calls among the users can be dropped. Dropped calls are typically due to encountering areas of poor cellular signal coverage, cell tower hand-offs, and other reasons. Coverage limitations may be due to geography or the presence of man made objects such as large, tall buildings. The dropping of calls typically occurs without a cellular caller's knowledge. Because the call drops without notice to the user, the user is left without an opportunity to prevent the call from being dropped.
Various methods exist that attempt to deal with the dropping of calls. For example, some methods detect when call service degrades beyond a quality threshold. In this example, the methods then take actions such as notifying the parties. However, existing solutions typically warn the user just before the call is dropped.

Predictive mobile phone service disruption service


A dispenser of a web wound into a roll includes a support rod and at least one substantially vertical wall, the support rod being inclined relative to a horizontal direction. The roll includes a central borehole which allows mounting of the roll on the support rod of the dispenser. The roll rests by one transverse end surface of the roll against the at least one substantially vertical wall of the dispenser.

More particularly, the invention concerns a dispenser for a web wound on a roll, especially for paper such as cellulose wadding, of the kind wherein the roll includes a central borehole allowing mounting of the roll on a dispenser supporting rod. Illustratively, the dispenser is in the form of a case inside which is received the roll, a free end of the paper web in roll form being made to pass through an aperture in the dispenser.
By pulling on the free end of the paper web, the user unwinds the paper by rotating the roll about the axis of the support rod.
If the traction exerted by the user on the paper is fairly strong, the roll may be set in rotation about the support rod and, short of other design features, the kinetic energy then stored in the roll poses the risk of excessively unwinding the roll beyond the desired user length.

Dispenser including an inclined support rod for a web wound into a roll


Dual neutral start switch configurations for preventing vehicle users from starting or activating a vehicle engine under certain circumstances and designed to be part of the control arm or return-to-neutral configuration are disclosed. These configurations may be used with pumps, transmissions or transaxles in a variety of different vehicle applications. Also disclosed is a combination neutral start switch and reverse mower blade cutoff switch.

This invention relates generally to drive devices, and more particularly, to dual neutral start switches for use in connection with a drive device. The neutral start switches may be mounted to a drive device, such as a hydraulic pump, transaxle or transmission, for preventing the vehicle user from starting or activating a vehicle engine, unless one or more drive devices are in the neutral position.
It is well known to provide "neutral start switches" for preventing the vehicle user from starting or activating a vehicle engine, unless one or more drive devices are in the neutral position. Such switches are often placed either on the shifting arm or on the linkage leading to the transaxle controls.
This invention also relates to reverse cutoff switches for deactivating a blade clutch or shutting off a vehicle engine when a mower blade is activated and the vehicle moves in reverse.
Hydrostatic transmissions come in a variety of configurations, including parallel pump and motor, dual pump and motor, and configurations where the hydrostatic transmission is incorporated within a housing containing gearing, often known as an integrated hydrostatic transaxle or IHT.


A protective sleeve cover is described for protecting anilox, gravure, or other costly rolls. The protective sleeve cover is cylindrical in geometry and has a means at one end for securing the cover to the roll being protected. The protective sleeve cover is readily mounted or demounted from the roll. Expansion tabs on the inner diameter of the protective sleeve cover create an interference fit with the roll being protected, causing the protective sleeve cover to deform and generate radial forces that enhance the gripping action of the protective sleeve cover to the roll. Friction pads can be added for enhanced gripping function with the roll.

Within the printing industry a variety of rolls are used for different purposes. In describing this invention, the term "roll" or "rolls" is used exclusively. However, the invention is equally applicable to sleeves, the distinction being that rolls typically have journals or shafts while sleeves are typically hollow in the middle. Some of these rolls are more costly than others such as anilox rolls for transferring ink to printing plates or gravure rolls in which the print image is engraved onto the metal surface. It is desirable to protect these rolls from damage when shipping them to locations, placing them into or out of the press or simply keeping them in storage. Various methods have been used to protect these rolls including vinyl blankets and plastic sleeves. The blankets often have a Velcro strap for holding the cover in place. The plastic sleeves are often slit down the length allowing the cover to be opened and wrapped around the roll. These types of covers work well for presses where the rolls are readily exposed and accessible to the operator. In recent years, however, a new type of press has become very popular wherein the rolls are mounted from the side of the press rather than the front. As a result, the operator no longer has access to the full roll length when it is in the press. Instead, they must slide the roll sideways, thus removing it from its mounting cylinder. With this configuration, it is very difficult to secure a cover to the roll.
Attempts have been made to develop new covers that can be mounted from the side of the press. One such approach is to use a thin sleeve with a rubber ring attached to the end of the sleeve that grips the roll upon contact. However, the sleeve must be sized very precisely in order to readily mount the sleeve due to the inability of the sleeve to deform in the cylindrical configuration.

Protective sleeve cover for printing roll


A cutting element include a substrate and a diamond compact including at least two polycrystalline diamond portions separated by at least one metal carbide foil portion. The cutting element is made by placing diamond powder in a reaction container, placing a thin metal layer in the reaction container above or around the diamond powder and binder, placing additional diamond powder in the reaction container above or around the thin metal layer, and placing a pre-sintered substrate containing binder into the reaction container above all diamond powder and thin metal layer components. The assembled reaction container is put into a reactor and is subjected to a high-temperature high-pressure sintering process. The binder in the pre-sintered substrate sweeps through to sinter the first diamond portion, and then reacts with the thin metal layer to form a metal carbide, and then the binder continues to sweep through to sinter the second diamond portion.

In the discussion of the background that follows, reference is made to certain structures and/or methods. However, the following references should not be construed as an admission that these structures and/or methods constitute prior art. Applicant expressly reserves the right to demonstrate that such structures and/or methods do not qualify as prior art.
Currently available cutters include a PCD layer or table supported by or joined coherently to a substrate, post or stud that is generally made of tungsten carbide. Tungsten carbide is generally selected for the substrate because of its excellent mechanical properties like abrasion resistance and compressive strength.
Bonding the diamond layer to the substrate generally occurs during the sintering stage of the diamond layer at high-pressure high-temperature (HPHT). The sintered PCD layer is composed of diamond particles with extensive amounts of direct diamond-to-diamond bonding or contact as the major phase. In the interstices of the diamond particles, for example, the triple grain pockets or grain boundaries, there is a binder phase which is also called the metal phase or the catalyst solvent phase. This secondary phase also forms a network intermingled with the diamond network. The binder phase serves as the catalyst or solution to the growth of the diamond-to-diamond bonding. The binder phase generally includes at least one active metal, for example, but not limited to, cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), and iron (Fe).
Additional minor phases generally form either in the binder phase or between the binder phase and the diamond particles. These phases may include the metal carbides formed during the sintering process. These phases can form isolated islands and embed in the binder phase without clear boundaries, which can increase crack propagation within the diamond table.
A process generally used for sintering the currently available cutting elements is the HPHT process, an example of which is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. Specifically, the process includes adding diamond particles 112 and optional sintering aids 114 to a metal container 110. Then, a carbide stud 118, generally tungsten carbide (WC), is inserted into the metal container 110 in contact with the diamond feed 116 including optional sintering aids. The assembly 120 including the container 110, diamond feed 116 and carbide stud 118 is subjected to the HPHT process. During the HPHT process, the binder originally present in the carbide stud will be molten and squeezed into the diamond compact due to the high temperature 124 and pressure 122. The flow of the binder phase is also called sweep due to the fact that molten binder (arrows 126 representing direction of molten binder) will form a front face 128 while infiltrating, which carries binder and other materials from the stud to the diamond feed.
When the diamond is submerged or surrounded by the sweeping binder phase, the diamond sintering takes place via the liquid-sintering mechanism of solution-transportation-reprecipitation. Here the diamond-to-diamond bonding is formed and the network of diamond is built. Thus, after sintering, a compact 100 is formed having a diamond layer 102 and a carbide stud 104 bonded together at an interface.
The binder from the stud also carries certain amounts of dissolved species from the stud into the diamond layer. The amount of the species depends strongly upon the pressure and temperature. Species that are carried with the binder include, for example, tungsten and carbon. The dissolved tungsten will react with solvent metal and/or carbon from the diamond feed and carbide stud. Depending on the pressure, temperature, and the composition, the reaction products might stay in the binder phase as solid solution species or precipitate out as carbide-based phases after cooling down to room temperature when the process is finished. This binder phase and other precipitated minor phases remain in the sintered diamond layer in between the grains and form a network.
Further, in drilling applications, PCD cutters are subjected to high impact loads which may lead to chipping and spalling of the cutters. The spalls originate from microcracks generated at high stress points. If these cracks reach a tougher phase within the PCD, they may be deflected or arrested, thus improving the impact toughness of the PCD. Several methods have been proposed to provide this improved impact toughness. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,974,624 demonstrates a PCD-WC composite cutter wherein PCD is enclosed in honeycomb-like WC shells. Further, European Patent Number 0 699 642 discloses that PCD is reinforced with fibers to improve impact toughness. If the fibers survive the sintering process, they act as a tough phase within PCD and arrest or deflect cracks within the PCD. However, none of the prior art solves all of the disadvantages of a traditional diamond layer for a cutter formed during a sintering process.

Incorporation of bulk metal foils to increase toughness of polycrystalline diamond


A system-on-chip (SoC) includes first and second processing circuits and a data exchange circuit such that the first processing circuit is configured to process image lines based on corresponding sets of processing attributes. The first processing circuit is further configured to continuously receive and process the image lines one after the other to generate corresponding output data, and the second processing circuit is configured to continuously receive by way of the data exchange circuit, the generated output data for processing the generated output data. The data exchange circuit is thus configured to control data flow between the first processing circuit and the second processing circuit such that the first processing circuit and the second processing circuit parallelly process corresponding data associated with same or different image lines.

The present disclosure relates generally to image processing, and, more particularly, to a system for parallelly processing multiple image lines on a system-on-chip (SoC).
An SoC typically receives and processes image lines that are associated with a single image or multiple images. The image lines may be captured by various image sensors that have high resolution and high frame rate. Typically for on-the-fly (OTF) processing of such image lines, the captured image lines are stitched to generate a large image stream. However, the stitching of the image lines on the SoC causes latency in the OTF processing. Further, the quality of such a large image stream is degraded due to different exposure values and resolutions of the image sensors. To overcome the problem associated with the stitching of the image lines, the captured image lines are processed by an SoC one at a time. However, the image sensors generate the image lines at a high speed which leads to a processing overhead and a delay in processing of the image lines as the SoC is capable of processing only one image line at a time. Thus, there is a need for a technical solution that overcomes the aforementioned problems.

System for parallelly processing image lines from multiple image sensors


A first guide rail (11), and a second guide rail (12) and a third guide rail (13) that are parallel to each other are installed on a base (2) so as to be perpendicular to each other, and these guide rails are rotated about shafts (4) installed on both ends. When the guide rails are rotated, an indication bar (3) installed on a rotor (1) is moved synchronously with the movement of the guide rails, so that the rotor (1) is also rotated. A slider (22) installed on the indication bar (3) slides along a slit (21) of the third guide rail (13). Then a rotation angle of the rotor (1) about the indication bar (3) is determined by the distance between the guide rails.

Many motors with three degrees of freedom like ones using a piezoelectric element (refer to Published Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. S62-228392, Published Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. H09-34409, Published Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. H09-219980, Published Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. H11-18459 and PCT Publication Number WO 02/15358), ones using a synchronous motor (refer to Tomoaki Yano, Makoto Kaneko, "Basic Consideration of Actuators with Multi Degrees of Freedom Having an Identical Center of Rotation", Journal of Robotics Society of Japan, Vol. 11, No. 6, pp. 875-882, 1993), ones using a stepping motor (refer to Tomoaki Yano, Takeo Suzuki, Masuo Sonoda, Makoto Kaneko, "An Actuator with Three Degrees of Freedom Having an Identical Center of Rotation (4th Report) Development of a Stepping Motor and its Basic Experiments", Proceedings of Robotics and Mechatronics, No. E307, pp. 1210-1211, The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers, 1994), and ones using an electromagnet (refer to Published Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. S62-221856, Published Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. H05-64417 and Published Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. H09-168275) have been developed. In a case of detecting angles of three rotation axes by using three encoders, however, it is necessary for at least one encoder to be rotated together with a motor. Therefore, not only they must make their structure more complex, but also they must make torque of their motor more bigger than a desired amount. Moreover, they can decide a precise position in a case of using some stepping motors. However, even though they do not use the encoders, they have to rotate at least one stepping motor centering around at least one rotation axis. Therefore, as a position detection method for transfer organization with multi degrees of freedom, one using an acceleration detector (refer to Published Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. H05-64417 and Published Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. H09-168275), one using an electromagnet (refer to Tomoaki Yano, Makoto Kaneko, "An Actuator with Multi Degrees of Freedom Having an Identical Center of Rotation (6th Report) Position Control of the Multi-Pole Synchronous Motor", 12th meeting of Robotic Society, No. 1354, pp. 193-194, 1994), and so on have also been developed. However, there are the following problems about these methods: For example, in a case of using an acceleration detector, their accuracy of a position becomes worse as time goes by because of accumulation of errors even though their structure is simple and can detect for all of three degrees of freedom without limit. In addition, in a case of using an electromagnet, weight of a device itself becomes heavy, a part detecting a line of magnetic force is desired, and the line of magnetic force has a bad influence on some electronic parts.
For applications of a motor with multi degrees of freedom, now, we can consider many cases that it has only to rotate freely within a specific range, for example, like a moving camera and a back mirror, besides a case of rotating endlessly around three rotation axes. Here, rotation with three degrees of freedom can be realized by using a spherical surface bearing if it is not necessary to drive like a motor (for example, refer to Published Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. H07-317758, Published Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. H09-166135 and Published Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-304039). Therefore, it can detect rotation angles up to 180 degrees around two rotation axes, by installing an indication bar on a rotor of the spherical surface bearing, moreover by rotating two orthogonal guide rails by using the indication bar. This method, however, can not only detect an inclination angle of the rotor rotating centering around the indication bar, but also stop rotation of the rotor centering around the indication bar. Suppose then that a new guide rail is installed as it becomes parallel for either one of two guide rails. In this case, if a slider installed on the indication bar moves parallel along to the new guide rail, the guide rail can always keep inclination of the rotor constantly, without almost making an action range of two rotation axes narrow. In addition, for some applications like a moving camera and a back mirror, it is seldom necessary to rotate the rotor 360 degrees, centering around the indication bar. Therefore, if inclination of the rotor can be fine-tuned, a motor with multi degrees of freedom is practical enough. If the slider can slide along one of two guide rails which are parallel even though a gap between these guide rails varies, these guide rails can detect inclination of the rotor up to 180 degrees.
Considering these facts, since a guide rail and two guide rails which are parallel are combined so as to be orthogonal with each other, the number of rotation axes of these guide rails is two, where three encoders are desired to detect each rotation angle of the guide rails. In short, since it is not necessary for these encoders to move according to rotation of a rotor, the rotor comes to be able to detect rotation angles of three rotation axes easily. Of course, the rotor comes to be able to rotate independently around three rotation axes, by rotating these guide rails by actuators.
In the present invention described in claims, a rotation system with three degrees of freedom is developed, where one guide rail and two guide rails which are parallel are combined so as to be orthogonal, moreover some encoders installed on a base detect rotation angles of these guide rails. In addition, in the present invention described in claims, a rotation system with three degrees of freedom, which rotates these guide rails by using actuators installed on a base, is also developed.

Rotation system with three degrees of freedom and application of the same


Provided are a liquid processing apparatus and a liquid processing method that can optimize the state of air flow at an upper side of a substrate according to each liquid process performed during a substrate liquid processing. A liquid processing apparatus for performing a substrate liquid processing includes a support member configured to horizontally supporting the substrate; a gap forming member configured to form an annular gap between the gap forming member and an outer circumferential part of the support member; an upper liquid supplying member configured to supply a processing liquid to the substrate from an upper side; a cup configured to surround the annular gap and receive the processing liquid swept away from the rotating substrate through the annular gap; and an elevating mechanism configured to elevate the gap forming member.

In manufacturing a semiconductor device and a flat panel display (FPD), a liquid processing apparatus that performs a liquid processing of a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer and a glass substrate is used. There is a known liquid processing apparatus that horizontally supports and rotates a substrate and supplies a processing liquid to the rotating substrate.
The liquid processing apparatus rotates a substrate such that the processing liquid supplied onto the substrate is expanded outward to form a liquid film and the processing liquid is swept away toward outside the substrate. The processing liquid which is swept away by centrifugal force from the rotating substrate is recovered in a cup.
However, when the processing liquid is supplied to the surface of the substrate while the substrate is being rotated, mist or steam of the processing liquid is dispersed onto an upper side of the substrate. The dispersed mist or steam is attached to the substrate again, which causes the occurrence of particles on the substrate.
Therefore, a liquid processing apparatus, which forms air flow toward a cup from an upper side of a substrate by exhausting the liquid inside of the cup to prevent mist or steam from occurring at the upper side of the substrate, has been developed. See, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 2009-038083 and 2008-066400.
An optimal state of air flow at an upper side of a substrate varies according to each liquid process performed during a substrate liquid processing. For example, a substrate liquid processing includes various processing-liquid supplying processes for supplying processing liquids to a substrate and a drying process for sweeping away the processing liquid from the substrate by centrifugal force by rotating the substrate at a high speed. However, the various processing liquid supplying process and the drying process are different in the optimal state of air flow at an upper side of the substrate.
However, in the configuration of the related art, it is difficult to change a condition in order to optimize a state of air flow at an upper side of a substrate according to each liquid process performed during a liquid processing of substrate.

Liquid processing apparatus and liquid processing method


A vehicle control system includes an engine control device, an auxiliary control device adapted to control an auxiliary driven by power of an engine, a device for estimating a plurality of drive patterns for controlling the auxiliary, a fuel consumption rate relating value calculation device, and a selection device. The fuel consumption rate relating value calculation device calculates fuel consumption rate relating values of the engine required to drive the auxiliary by the engine according to the respective estimated plurality of drive patterns by use of characteristic data of the engine. The selection device selects a single drive pattern for driving the auxiliary based on the estimated plurality of drive patterns by use of the calculated fuel consumption rate relating values.

A vehicle control system described in patent document 1 (JP-A-2009-029344) has been known. The patent document 1 discloses the vehicle control system that increases a period of time in which the engine is in the state of coast lock up and fuel cut at the time of deceleration to thereby improve a fuel consumption rate and that stops the operation of a vehicular air conditioner at the time of acceleration.
A vehicle control system described in patent document 2 (JP-A-2009-012721) has been known. The patent document 2 discloses the vehicle control system that controls the activating and stopping of a compressor on the basis of the amount of cold energy stored in a cold energy storage unit and a fuel consumption necessary for generating a unit amount of cold energy (cold energy generation rate).
Next, a patent document 3 (JP-A-2010-030497) discloses a brake control device for inhibiting an increase in a braking distance and the discomfort of an occupant, the increase in a braking distance being caused by "torque lost by the deceleration of a compressor" which is developed when the compressor stops supplying refrigerant while a clod energy is stored in a cold energy storage unit of an air conditioner during the deceleration of a vehicle.
When the cold energy cannot be further stored while the cold energy is stored in the cold energy storage unit and hence the operation of the compressor is stopped, this brake control device transmits a signal to a transmission control device from an air conditioning control device to increase a speed reducing ratio of a continuously variable transmission, thereby compensating a shortage of a final deceleration torque caused by the "torque lost by the deceleration of the compressor".
Further, a patent document 4 (JP-A-2005-207321) discloses a control device of an internal combustion engine capable of efficiently utilizing cold energy stored in a cold energy storage unit. The control device of the internal combustion engine is a device for cooperatively controlling the internal combustion engine mounted in a vehicle and a vehicular air conditioner.
The control device of an internal combustion engine disclosed in the patent document 4 includes: a cold energy storage unit for storing at least a portion of cold energy generated by a vehicular air conditioner; a cold energy storage amount detection means for detecting an amount of cold energy (amount of absorption of heat) stored in the cold energy storage unit; an environment condition detection means for detecting a vehicle environment condition (vehicle compartment temperature, vehicle compartment humidity, outside temperature, amount of solar radiation, set temperature of air conditioner); a necessary-amount-of-cold-energy calculation means for calculating an amount of cold energy necessary for air conditioning on the basis of the detection result of the environment condition detection means; and a control means for controlling the operating state of the internal combustion engine on the basis of the amount of storage of cold energy and the necessary amount of cold energy.
In a patent document 5 (JP-A-2007-032387) is described a generator control device for calculating an increment of fuel consumption per unit electricity generated and an increment of fuel consumption of a target and for controlling an alternator (generator) on these increments.
The cold energy generation rate in the patent document 2 and the increment of fuel consumption per unit amount of electricity generated in the patent document 5 form unique targets for optimizing a fuel consumption for respective energies (cold energy or electricity) outputted by the compressor or the alternator.
For this reason, when the fuel consumption/torque of the compressor or the alternator, to which power is supplied from the engine, and performance (performance of acceleration or the like) other than the fuel consumption/torque is considered totally, their evaluation indexes are different from each other and hence it is not easy to evaluate an overall trade-off and to make an optimum evaluation. Further, as to this issue, the patent document 1, the patent document 3, and the patent document 4 do not disclose means for solving the issue.
The contents described in the patent documents listed as the conventional technologies can be hereby introduced and used by reference so as to describe technical elements disclosed in the detailed description.
Further, the control device disclosed in the patent document 2 does not perform a cooperative control with an auxiliary other than the compressor, for example, a generator. In other words, in the case where there are a plurality of auxiliaries, the patent document 2 does not disclose how the device performs a cooperative control between them. Hence, it is also desired to provide a method of easily realizing a cooperative control between a plurality of auxiliaries provided in a vehicle.


The present invention provides a joined body manufacturing method with which the resin material is accurately attached to the first base material. The method includes: an attaching step of attaching a sheet material having resin material on one main surface of a sheet base material to a first base material such that a predetermined area is covered; a forming step of forming a slit for ease of separation on the sheet material attached to the first base material in accordance with the predetermined area; and a separating step of separating part of the resin material inside the slit from the sheet base material such that the part of the resin material inside the slit remains on the predetermined area of the first base material and part of the resin material outside the slit does not remain on the first base material.

There is a conventional joined body manufactured by joining the first material and the second material by using sheet-like resin material sandwiched between the first base material and the second base material. Such resin material is supplied as a sheet material, and the resin material is applied to the main surface of a sheet-like first separator (e.g., a film made of resin) and is covered with a second separator (e.g., a film made of resin), for example.
Such a joined body is manufactured through an attaching step of attaching resin material to the first base material, a uniting step of uniting the first base material and the second base material, and a curing step of curing the resin material.
The following describes a technology of attaching a sheet-like resin material to the first base material, with reference to a figure (for example, Patent Literatures 1 and 2).
According to conventional technology as shown in FIGS. 26A-26J, a joined body is manufactured by the following steps.
(a) Preparing the first base material 902 on which a plurality of first substrates 901 are formed, and performing UV ozone cleaning (FIG. 26A).
(b) Preparing a (rolled) sheet material 924 composed of resin material 921 and two separators 922 and 923 sandwiching the resin material 921, and peeling off one of the separators (here, the lower separator 923) while drawing out the sheet material 924 (FIG. 26B).
(c) Forming a slit in the surface of the resin material 921 from which the separator 923 has been removed, in accordance with an outline of a resin material part 921a of the resin material 921 (not forming a slit in the other separator 922) (FIG. 26C).
(d) Attaching peeling tape 925 to a part inside the resin material part 921a (FIG. 26D).
(e) Removing unnecessary resin material (921a) by peeling the peeling tape 924 off (FIG. 26E).
(f, g) Attaching the resin material 921 remaining on the other separator 922 and cut into a predetermined size to each of the first substrates 901 of the first base material 902, and peeling off the other separator 922 (FIGS. 26F and 26G).
(h) Uniting the second base material 912 on which a plurality of second substrates are formed to the first base material 902 so that the first substrates 901 respectively correspond in position to the second substrates (FIG. 26H).
(i) Curing the resin material 921 by heating (or applying UV to) the united first base material 902 and second base material 912 (FIG. 26I).
(j) Dividing the joined first base material 902 and second base material 912 into individual joined bodies each composed of the first substrate 901 and the second substrate, after curing the resin material 921 (FIG. 26J).

Method for manufacturing joined body, and joined body


In order to operate a single photon detector in communication wavelength band at a high speed, a DC bias voltage 2 lower than the breakdown voltage is applied to an InGaAs/InP avalanche photodiode (APD) 1. A 500 MHz sine wave gating signal 3 is superimposed with the DC bias voltage 2 and applied to the APD 1 so as to exceed the breakdown voltage by about 4V in a fractional time of each period. The sine wave gating signal 3 passed through the APD 1 is substantially completely removed by a filter 4, thereby improving S/N and enabling to detect a single photon even if the avalanche multiplication time is shortened to reduce the after pulse and the detection period. As a result, it achieves to detect a single photon in the 1550 nm communication band at a high speed.

In optical communication, a 1550 nm wavelength band is commonly used because of the minimum loss in optical fiber. In order to put a next-generation quantum communication into practical use, it is essential to develop a high speed single-photon detector in this particular communication band. An InGaAs/InP APD is currently used for detecting a single-photon in the 1550 nm wavelength band because it is most sensitive in such wavelength (see non-patent documents 1, 2 and 3 as listed hereunder). A method of detecting a single photon using an APD is basically the Geiger mode method. There are two methods as improvements of the Geiger mode method: one is a gating method and the other is an active-quenching method.
After pulsing is the most influential factor of limiting the repetition rate in photon detection using an APD. After pulsing is a phenomenon in which fractional parts of avalanche electrons are trapped in a defect level or the like and subsequently released at a certain time, thereby causing a new avalanche and outputing a pulse. Probability of causing such after pulsing is proportional to the intensity of the avalanche current that flows in the APD and decreases with time after termination of avalanche multiplication. After pulsing can be suppressed by decreasing the bias voltage and thus the magnitude of avalanche. Unfortunately, however, it becomes more difficult to detect photons when the magnitude of avalanche is small.
In the Geiger mode, a DC bias voltage higher than the breakdown voltage is applied to the APD and the resulting avalanche multiplication current caused by photons is converted into voltage for detection of the photons. When operating an InGaAs/InP APD in the Geiger mode, the probability of after pulsing is very large. As a result, it is impossible to detect subsequent photons until termination of the avalanche current and after pulsing noise, thereby enabling to detect only about one photon in every one microsecond. This is the reason why the APD is operated in the gated mode so that the APD is in the Geiger mode for only a short time.
In the gated mode, the APD is kept in the Geiger mode for about only 1 ns at the expected photon arrival time in order to reduce after pulsing noise. As shown in FIG. 18, a DC voltage lower than the APD breakdown voltage superimposed with a gate pulse signal is applied so that the bias voltage exceeds the breakdown voltage of the APD for a short time of about 1 nanosecond. The avalanche multiplication current caused by an incident photon is converted into voltage for detecting the photon. In case of using a rectangular-wave as the gate signal for photon detection, a detection threshold voltage must be set higher than the gate signal component (charge pulse) voltage in the output signal. As a result, in case of phone detection, the avalanche multiplication current must be in excess of the threshold voltage. A quantum efficiency, that represents the rate of causing avalanche by each photon, is proportional to the voltage applied to the APD. A dark count probability, that represents the probability of causing avalanche by thermal noise, is also proportional to the voltage applied to the APD. Therefore, the quantum efficiency and the dark count probability are always in the trade-off relationship. In a typical operational example, operation temperature is −30 degrees centigrade (243K), repetition frequency is about 100 kHz and the gate signal is several nanoseconds in width (see the non-patent documents 3 and 4).
In an active-quenching method, after pulsing noise is suppressed by forcedly stopping avalanche multiplication upon photon detection. As soon as recognizing occurrence of avalanche multiplication due to photon detection while applying to the APD a voltage in excess of its breakdown voltage, the APD voltage is decreased less than the breakdown voltage for terminating the avalanche multiplication. Thereafter, the voltage in excess of the breakdown voltage is applied to the APD again. Photons are detected continuously by repeating the foregoing operation. Some conventional examples relating to photon detection will be described hereunder.
A patent document 1 discloses a highly efficient single photon detector that is sensitive in the neighborhood of 1550 nm wavelength. An InGaAs-APD that is sensitive in the neighborhood of 1550 nm wavelength is operated in the Geiger mode. The APD is cooled during the operation in the gated mode by GPQC.
A patent document 2 discloses a single photon detection method for accurately detecting incidence of a single photon. Generated is a predetermined voltage lower than the APD breakdown voltage. A pulse voltage that is in excess of the breakdown voltage when combined with the predetermined voltage is generated in synchronism with a trigger signal that is generated simultaneously with outputting a photon from the single photon generation source. The photon is permitted to enter the APD when the predetermined voltage and the pulse voltage are applied to the APD, thereby detecting incidence of the photon when the output level of a pulse signal from the APD exceed the predetermined threshold level. The timing of applying the pulse voltage to the APD is adjusted to the optimum timing that is close to the incidence of the photon.
A patent document 3 discloses a single photon detector capable of changing the setting of a reference value corresponding to the quiescent time and easily removing a produced after pulse. A photon is detected by single photon detection means that comprises an APD as a light receiving device. There is control means for storing all detection times. It is determined to be a valid detection only if the difference between the current and the next previous photon detection times is longer than the preset reference value, thereby eliminating the after pulse.
A patent document 4 discloses a long distance quantum encryption system for extending the transmission distance by reducing photon loss in a receiver section and using a single photon detector of high efficiency, low dark count probability. A laser beam pulse of 1550 nm in wavelength is split into a horizontally polarized reference optical pulse and a vertically polarized signal optical pulse in an encryption key information receiver section. The signal optical pulse is delayed and transmitted. In an encryption key information transmitting section, the polarization surface of the reference optical pulse is rotated by 90 degrees. A random-phase shift is provided to the signal optical pulse to rotate the polarization surface by 90 degrees. These pulses are attenuated to be formed into single-photon pulses and are sent back. In the encryption key information receiving section, a random phase shift is provided to a feedback reference optical pulse for delaying it and superimposed with a feedback signal optical pulse. It is then split by a polarization optical splitter in response to its polarization state and is detected by an APD that is in a quiescent state only for a release time of trapped carriers, thereby obtaining the encryption key information.
A patent document 5 discloses a photon detector for detecting photon without removing noise due to charging pulses of an APD. A DC voltage lower than the breakdown voltage is applied to an APD as its bias voltage. A narrow voltage pulse is superimposed with the bias voltage at the forecasted photon arriving time. Since noise due to the charging pulses decreases when photon arrives to cause an avalanche current, this phenomenon is detected by a pulse height descriminator for judging photon arrival.
Reported in the non-patent document 1 is a 1550 nm single photon detector using a thermoelectrically cooled InGaAs-APD. It is a gated mode single photon detector sensitive to 1550 nm light using a thermoelectrically cooled InGaAs-APD. At the operation temperature of 238K, it exhibited a quantum efficiency of 24.3% with a dark count probability per gate of 9.4×10−5.
The non-patent document 2 reports a photon counter using a Peltier cooled InGaAs-APD for quantum key distribution. The photon counting performance of three types of electronically cooled InGaAs/InP-APDs is studied at 1550 nm. The best result showed a dark count probability of 2.8×10−5 per gate (2.4 ns) at the detection efficiency of 10% and temperature of −60 degrees centigrade. The after pulsing probability and the timing jitter are also studied for comparison to other reports and application to simulation in the quantum key distribution system. In a 54 km transmission, the achievable error rate appears to be 10%.
The non-patent document 3 reports a single photon detector for long-distance fiber optic quantum key distribution. The photon counting performance of a liquid nitrogen cooled InGaAs/InP-APD is studied at 1550 nm. The quantum efficiency of 13.7% was obtained at −55 degrees centigrade, while the dark count probability per gate (1 ns) was kept as small as 2.4×10−5. The single photon detector could achieve a 104.4 km fiber-optic quantum key distribution under the ideal condition.
The non-patent document 4 reports an avalanche photodiode and a quenching circuit for single photon detection. The APD is connected to an avalanche quenching circuit in the Geiger mode and operates above the breakdown voltage for detecting single photon. It is therefore known as a single photon avalanche diode SPAD. Circuit configurations suitable for this operation mode are studied in greater detail for assessment of its relative merits in photon counting and operation timing. Although a simple passive quenching circuit (PQC) is useful for SPAD device testing and selection, it has fairly limited applications. A properly designed active quenching circuit (AQC) is able to exploit the best performance of SPAD. A thick film silicon SPAD that operates at a high voltage (such as 250V-450V) exhibits the photon detection efficiency higher than 50% in the wavelength range of 540 nm-850 nm wavelength and as high as 3% at 1064 nm. A thin film silicon SPAD that operates at a low voltage (such as 10V-50V) exhibits the detection efficiency of 45% at 500 nm but decreases to 10% at 830 nm and to as low as 0.1% at 1064 nm. The time resolution achieved in photon timing is 20 ps (FWHM) with a thin film silicon SPAD, while it ranges from 350 to 150 ps (FWHM) with a thick film silicon SPAD. The achievable minimum counting dead time and maximum counting rate are 40 ns and 10 Mcps with a thick film silicon SPAD, while 10 ns and 40 Mcps with a thin film silicon SPAD. A germanium and III-V compound semiconductor SPAD may extend the photon counting range to at least 1600 nm or the near-infrared region.
The non-patent document 5 reports a high performance unitary single photon detector for communication wavelengths. A commercially available APD and a circuitry necessary for operating it as a single photon detector (SPD) are assembled on a single PC board (PCB) as a unit. At temperatures achievable with a Peltier cooler (e.g., 200K to 240K), the unitary single photon detector achieves high detection efficiency (DE) at 1308 nm and 1545 nm with low dark count probability (e.g. about 10−6/bias pulse at DE=20%, 220K), thereby making it useful for a quantum key distribution (QKD). High speed bias pulses are generated for canceling transient noise and amplifying the signal for sending it to a unitary discriminator. A digital blanking circuit suppresses after pulsing.
The non-patent document 6 reports a balanced gated mode photon detector for quantum bit discrimination at 1550 nm. A photon detector is developed by combining a pair of APDs for quantum bit discrimination at 1550 nm. Spikes accompanied with the signal in the gated mode are canceled by the balanced outputs from the two APDs. The spike cancellation enables one to reduce the threshold in the discriminators and thus the gate pulse voltage. The dark count probability and after pulsing probability were reduced to 7×10−7 and 7×10−4, respectively, without affecting the detection efficiency (11%) at 178K.
The non-patent document 7 reports a photon counter at 14 MHz using a room temperature InGaAs/InP-APD. Developed is a high speed gated mode single photon counter using an InGaAs/InP-APD at 1550 nm wavelength. It operates at room temperature up to 14 MHz with after pulsing probability at or below 0.2%. It exhibits the optimum equivalent noise power of 2.2×10−15 WHz−1/2 at 14% quantum efficiency with dark count probability of 0.2%. An equivalent noise power per gated frequency is used as a barometer for comparing high speed photon detectors. With this barometer, this system outperforms previously reported counters at 1550 nm wavelength. It demonstrates that for gate width of a nanosecond or below, amplitude difference distributions of dark versus light counts allow an optimum decision threshold to be set for a given bias voltage.
The non-patent document 8 reports a 10.5 km optical fiber quantum key distribution at 1550 nm wavelength with a key distribution rate of 45 kHz. A high-speed single-photon detector is crucial for efficiently performing quantum key distribution. A key distribution over an optical fiber is performed by using light of 1550 nm wavelength, and a single photon detector operating at 10 MHz. In order to supress after pulse generation, a single photon is detected by the discharge pulse counting. Furthermore, by setting a dead time in the single photon detection, after pulsing is neglected and the number of bit errors in the quantum key distribution is reduced. In the quantum key distribution, achieved is the key distribution rate of 45 kHz with the bit error rate of 2%. The length of the optical fiber is 10.5 km.
Patent document 1: JP2003-142724A
Patent document 2: JP2003-243694A
Patent document 3: JP2003-282933A
Patent document 4: JP2003-289298A
Patent document 5: JP2005-114712A
Non-patent document 1: A. Yoshizawa, and H. Tsuchida, "A single-photon detector using a thermoelectrically cooled InGaAs avalanche photodiode", Jpn. J. Appl. Phys., vol. 40, no. 1, pp. 200-201, 2001
Non-patent document 2: D. Stucki, G. Ribordy, A. Stefanov, H. Zbinden, J. G. Rarity, and T. Wall, "Photon counting for quantum key distribution with Peltier coold InGaAs/InP APD's", J. Mod. Opt., vol. 48, no. 13, pp. 1967-1982, 2001.
Non-patent document 3: N. Namekata, Y. Makino, and S. Inoue, "Single-photon detector for long-distance fiber optic quantum key distribution", Opt. Lett., vol. 27, no. 11, pp. 954-956, 2002.
Non-patent document 4: S. Cova, M. Ghioni, A. Lacaita, C. Samori, and F. Zappa, "Avalanche photodiodes and quenching circuits for single-photon detection", Appl. Opt., vol. 35 no. 12, pp. 1956-1976, 1996.
Non-patent document 5: D. S. Bethune, W. P. Risk, and G. W. Pabest, "A high-performance integrated single-photon detector for telecom wavelengths", J. Mod. Opt., vol. 51, no. 9-10, pp. 1359-1368, 2004.
Non-patent document 6: A. Tomita and K. Nakamura, "Balanced gated-mode photon detector for quantum-bit discrimination at 1550 nm" Opt. Lett., vol. 27, no. 20, pp. 1827-1829, 2002.
Non-patent document 7: P. L. Voss, K. G. Koprulu, S.-K. Choi, S. Dugan, and P. Kumar, "14 MHz rate photon counting with room temperature InGaAs/InP avalanche photodiodes", J. Mod. Opt., vol. 51, no. 9-10, pp. 1369-1379, 2004.
Non-patent document 8: A. Yoshizawa, R. Kaji, and H. Tsuchida, "10.5 km fiber-optic quantum key distribution at 1550 nm with a key rate of 45 kHz", Jpn. J. Appl. Phys., vol. 43, no. 6A, pp. L735-L737.

High-speed single-photon detector in telecommunication wavelength band


A drive unit for a vehicle includes: an engine (2); a compound motor (3) having a first rotor and a second rotor that are differentially rotatable with each other; and an automatic transmission (4A) that delivers power output of the engine (2), which is input via the compound motor (3), to an output shaft (33), in which the first rotor is connected to an input side of a gear pair that corresponds to an even shift speed and the second rotor is connected to an input side of a gear pair that corresponds to an odd shift speed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a drive unit for a vehicle that delivers power output of an engine to an automatic transmission via a motor that includes a plurality of rotors.
2. Description of Related Art
A drive unit for a vehicle has been known that includes a compound motor having a winding rotor and a magnet rotor that can differentially rotate with each other and being provided with a stator on the outer side of the magnet rotor and that delivers power output of an engine to a transmission via the compound motor (Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-274536 (JP 2009-274536 A)). The other prior art documents that relate to the present invention include Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-25911 (JP 2011-25911 A), Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-526710 (JP 2010-526710 A), and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-54938 (JP 2005-54938 A).
Various types of an automatic transmission have been developed for vehicles such as an automatic transmission of a planetary gear type (AT), a continuously variable transmission (CVT), an automated manual transmission (AMT), and a dual clutch transmission (DCT). The AMT has an advantage over the others in terms of power transmission efficiency due to the relatively small number of friction engagement elements such as a clutch and a brake.
When the AMT is installed in the drive unit for a vehicle, the AMT interposes a neutral state during changing of a shift speed, which leads to disconnection of torque transmission. In a unit disclosed in JP 2009-274536 A, the power output of an engine, which is routed through a compound motor, is delivered to an input shaft of a transmission.


Techniques for flexible electronic subscriber identity module (eSIM) deployment to a wireless device by a network server, including generation of multiple eSIMs using an identical eSIM identifier value, such as an identical integrated circuit card identifier (ICCID) value, and subsequent selection of an eSIM based on capabilities of the wireless device. Multiple eSIMs that correspond to different sets of wireless device capabilities are generated without knowledge of the wireless communication standards that a wireless device supports. The multiple eSIMs include a first eSIM that includes fifth generation (5G) wireless communication protocol information and a second eSIM that excludes 5G wireless communication protocol information. The network server selects an eSIM from the multiple eSIMs based on whether the wireless device is 5G capable. After selection and binding of a profile package that includes the eSIM, the remaining eSIMs that use the identical ICCID value are deleted, for security enforcement against cloning.

Wireless mobile network operators (MNOs) continue to upgrade wireless networks to support newer wireless communication standards, including fourth generation (4G) Long Term Evolution (LTE) and Long Term Evolution Advanced (LTE-A) technologies as well as fifth generation (5G) technologies. Wireless devices continue to evolve to incorporate newer, configurable wireless credentials, such as eSIMs that can be loaded to and subsequently activated on an electronic universal integrated circuit card (eUICC) of a wireless device. To support newer 5G wireless communication standards, specifications for eSIMs for 5G enabled wireless devices are being developed. Rather than a universal eSIM that can be loaded to a 5G-capable wireless device or to a non-5G-capable wireless device, standards are proposed for 5G eSIMs and non-5G eSIMs. As such, MNOs need to determine a proper eSIM type to load to a wireless device based on the wireless device's wireless communication capabilities. As these capabilities may be unknown when an eSIM is assigned to a wireless device, there exists a need for flexible eSIM assignment and deployment that accounts for different wireless device capabilities.

Flexible electronic subscriber identity module deployment