Systems and methods for pressure expanding a tube to fit a heat exchanger fin are disclosed. The systems can include one or more pressure relief devices, and each pressure relief device can be configured to release at least some pressurized fluid via a respective auxiliary flow path in response to a pressure of the pressurized fluid being greater than a predetermined pressure relief threshold.

Conventional tube-and-fin heat exchangers are typically made using aluminum fins and copper tubes that have an outer diameter of ⅜-inch (9.525 mm). Conventionally, a mechanical expansion process is used to attach the aluminum fins to the copper tubes. A bullet or sphere, which has a diameter that is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the tube, is pushed through the tube to expand the tube's wall outwardly, thereby forming an interference fit between the external surface of the tube and the fins.
Recently, efforts have been made to expand heat exchanger tubes using a fluid in lieu of a mechanical expansion process. Such pneumatic- and hydraulic-expansion methods generally require a high level of precision with respect to the pressure provided to the tubes. This is at least in part because there is a small window of pressure values at which a tube can be expanded without rupturing the tube. A certain amount of pressure is required to cause the tube material, which is traditionally copper, to become plastic and deformable such that the wall of the tube can become expanded. Too much, pressure, however, will cause the tube material to fail such that the tube ruptures.
As will be appreciated, decreasing the size of the tube wall can impact the failure threshold of the tube, which can increase the difficulty in manufacturing heat exchangers having tubes with a diameter less than ⅜ inch (e.g., 7 mm, 5 mm).
In addition, it can be desirable to use different materials for the tubes. For example, copper, which is traditionally used for heat exchanger tubes, can be an expensive material, and the use of cheaper materials could lower the materials cost of heat exchangers. For example, various alloys, such as aluminum, may provide adequate heat transfer properties, but such materials may also require precise amounts of pressure to adequately expand the tubes without causing the tubes to rupture or otherwise fail. Indeed, some materials may require a higher level of precision with pressure than is required for copper. For example, the rupture threshold for aluminum tubes is only approximately 30-40 psi higher than the plastic threshold. That is, there is a window of only approximately 30-40 psi in which an aluminum tube can be sufficiently expanded without rupturing the aluminum tube. Because of the small window of pressure values, there can a large number of tubes that are ruptured during manufacturing. This can be expensive and time-consuming as additional tubes must be expanded to replace any ruptured tubes.
Accordingly, there is a need for systems and methods that can increase the ease by which heat exchanger tubes can be expanded during heat exchanger manufacturing and/or can decrease the likelihood of a heat exchanger tube rupturing.

Systems and methods for heat exchanger manufacturing


A biaxially oriented thermoplastic resin film has at least one surface of which has protrusions each having a height of 1 nm or more and less than 2 nm at a density of 1×107 to 1×109 protrusions per mm2. The thermoplastic resin film is capable of suppressing generation of coarse protrusions and contaminants, and defects in a processing process while having slipperiness.

Thermoplastic resins are used in various industrial fields because they have favorable processability. In addition, products obtained by processing the thermoplastic resins into a film shape play an important role in today's life in industrial applications, optical product applications, packaging applications and so on. In recent years, downsizing and enhancement of integration of electronic information devices have progressed, and accordingly, smoothness has been required for a film as a base material. On the other hand, in handling of these film products, slipperiness thereof is particularly important, and when slipperiness is low, the problem may arise that wrinkles and scratches are generated during a production process and a processing process. Thus, the demand for smoothness and slipperiness of the surface of the film is more and more increasing. However, when smoothness is enhanced, slipperiness tends to be reduced, and it is difficult to obtain a film excellent in both smoothness and slipperiness.
In recent years, a dry film resist (DFR) using a polyester film as a substrate has been often used for production of printed circuit substrates, semiconductor packages, flexible substrates and the like. Generally, DFR has a sandwich structure in which a photosensitive layer (photoresist layer) is sandwiched between a base material film composed of a polyester film and a protective film (cover film) composed of a polyolefin film or the like. For preparing a conductor circuit using the DFR, the following operation is generally carried out.
That is, a protective film is peeled off from DFR, and the DFR is laminated to a substrate/conductive base material layer in such a manner that the exposed surface of a resist layer and the surface of the conductive base material layer such as, for example, a copper foil on the substrate come into close contact with each other. Next, a reticle printed with a conductor circuit pattern is placed on a base material composed of a polyester film, and from above the reticle, a resist layer mainly composed of a photosensitive resin is irradiated with light to be exposed. Thereafter, the reticle and the polyester film are peeled off, and unreacted components in the resist layer are then dissolved and removed with a solvent. Etching is performed with an acid or the like to dissolve and remove exposed portions in the conductive base material layer. As a result, photoreaction portions in the resist layer and conductive base material layer portions corresponding to the photoreaction portions remain as such. Thereafter, the remaining resist layer is removed to form a conductor circuit on the substrate. Since a conductor circuit is formed in this method, a polyester film as a substrate is required to have high light permeability which enables light to be transmitted without disturbance.
Particularly, in recent years, polyester films for dry film resist substrates which are excellent in smoothness, i.e. which are excellent in permeability, has a low haze, is capable of attaining high resolution, have been required with downsizing and weight saving of OA equipment and IT equipment.
In addition, smartphones have recently come into wide use, and accordingly, downsizing and capacity enhancement of multilayer ceramic capacitors have progressed. Thus, as release films to be used for production of multilayer ceramic capacitors, demand for polyester films having high smoothness and having no defects on the film surface and in the film have rapidly increased. As surface characteristics of a polyester film to be used as a base material, the quality of a smooth surface thereof tends to easily affect the quality of a green sheet product after processing. In addition, the quality of a rough surface tends to affect the quality of a green sheet product after processing. For example, undulations on a smooth surface subjected to green sheet processing may associated with the quality of a multilayer ceramic capacitor, or protrusions on the rough surface side may be transferred to a green sheet at the time of winding the green sheet, leading to generation of scratches and dents, although such a problem has not been raised for conventional polyester films.
Members to be used for a liquid crystal display or the like include a polarizing plate, a retardation polarizing plate or a retardation plate, and the polarizing plate is normally composed of a polarizing film, a surface protecting film, a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer and a release film. The polarizing film has a structure in which a polarizer that is obtained by adsorbing a polarizing element such as iodine or a dichroic dye to a hydrophilic film such as a polyvinyl alcohol-based film, and orienting the polarizing element and that has a polarizing axis and an adsorption axis is covered with a cellulose-based film from the upper and lower sides, or coated with an acryl-based resin. As the surface protecting film, a transparent plastic film such as a polyester film is used which has low moisture permeability and less deformation such as elongation. The surface protecting film and the polarizing film are bonded to each other with an adhesive, and as the adhesive, one that firmly adheres to the surface protecting film, but can be easily peeled off from the polarizing film even after elapse of days. The pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is formed of a pressure-sensitive adhesive or the like for gluing the polarizing film to a liquid crystal cell, and the release film is formed of a polyester film or the like. In production of such a polarizing plate, the optical properties, such as a light transmittance, a degree of polarization and a haze of a polarizing film as a raw material are inspected before the polarizing film is used, but defects may be generated due to mechanical stress, ingress and sticking of contaminants and the like to the polarizing film in a production process of the polarizing plate. Thus, in examination of ingress of contaminants and defects for final products, inspection with human eyes is performed by a cross nicol method (transmitted light is observed in a state in which the polarizing surfaces of two polarizing plates are orthogonal to each other, and the film is sandwiched therebetween while the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction of the film are aligned with the polarizing surfaces of the orthogonal polarizing plates, respectively). In visual inspection of an actual polarizing plate, the polarizer and the film in the cross nicol method is replaced by a polarizing plate to be inspected, and the polarizing plate is superposed on a normal analyzer in such a manner that the polarizing surface of the polarizing plate is orthogonal to the polarizing surface of the analyzer. Thus, in principle, defective spots such as ingress of contaminants and defects in the polarizing plate appear as bright spots, and therefore defects can be visually inspected. However, at present, a biaxially oriented polyester film used as a release film of a polarizing plate is apt to cause light leakage at the time of inspecting a polarizing plate by the cross nicol method, and thus there arises the problem that it is difficult to perform accurate visual inspection, so that bright spots indicating ingress of contaminants and defects in the polarizing plate are overlooked.
In addition, when used as a substrate for a magnetic recording medium, high density recording is always required for a magnetic recording medium, and in order to achieve further high density recording, thinning of the magnetic layer and fine particle magnetization. It is effective to further improve the smoothness of the magnetic layer surface by using the body.
In a substrate for a magnetic recording medium, which is obtained using ferromagnetic hexagonal ferrite powder, in recent years, roughening of not only a smooth surface but also a running surface is restricted due to thinning of a magnetic layer, a non-magnetic layer, a back coat layer and a substrate itself. When the film is stored in a roll form as a magnetic recording medium in a production process, there is the problem that protrusions formed on the running surface are transferred to the magnetic surface to form dents on a smooth magnetic layer surface, so that smoothness of the magnetic layer surface is deteriorated, leading to degradation of electromagnetic conversion characteristics. Merely by reducing the particle diameter and concentration of particles contained on the running surface side of the substrate for improving the smoothness of the magnetic layer surface, coarse protrusions cannot be improved yet because the position regulation in the thickness direction of the particle is insufficient. In addition, when the smoothness of the running surface is improved, the runnability, winding, slittability, and the durability of the surface are insufficient.
Therefore, requirements for improvement of properties such as runnability, winding property, and surface smoothness to be attained in parallel are problems that are always raised for high-density recording.
It is known that for meeting the above-mentioned requirements, it is effective to form fine protrusions to the extent that slipperiness can be imparted to the film surface while smoothness is not affected. For example, for forming fine protrusions on the film surface, a film containing substantially spherical silica particles typified by colloidal silica is known (Patent Document 1). In addition, a polyester film is known in which a thin film layer containing fine particles for forming surface protrusions is stacked on a base layer (Patent Document 2).

Biaxially oriented thermoplastic resin film


A display device and a method for controlling the same are disclosed. The method for controlling a display device comprises a display unit configured to display visual information, including a private region and a public region; a control input sensing unit configured to detect a control input and to deliver the detected control input to a processor; and the processor configured to control the display unit and the control input sensing unit. In this case, the processor may display a control object in the private region, detect a first control input, move the control object from the private region to a first position of the public region based on the detected first control input and display a control indicator corresponding to the control object in a second position of the private region. In this case, the second position may be set based on the first position of the control object.

Field of the Invention
The present specification relates to a display device and a method for controlling the same.
Discussion of the Related Art
Recently, enlargement and light weight of a display device have been accelerated. Also, a thickness of the display device has been gradually thinned in accordance with miniaturization of parts. With this trend, a wall-hanging type TV has been popularized. Also, an enlarged display device has detected an input of a user, and has performed an operation based on the detected input. This interactive enlarged display device may be used as a device that interacts with a user in various places such as an exhibition center, a theater, a fashion store, an information desk, a restaurant, a hotel lobby, and a gallery. Also, it seems that the trend towards enlargement and light weight of the display device will continue in the future. Accordingly, it seems that use of an enlarged display which is interactive with a user will be increased rapidly.
The enlarged display device may be used by a plurality of users. In more detail, the enlarged display device may have a size enough to be used by a plurality of users. At this time, the display device used by a plurality of users needs to identify use regions for the respective users from each other. Also, it is required to restrict or identify some use regions of the enlarged display device by considering features of the users or features of a public region. Accordingly, the need of a method for identifying and controlling use regions among a plurality of users in an enlarged display device has been required.

Display device and method for controlling the same


This invention relates to a method of discriminating an article which includes steps of finishing the article to make it have a smooth base surface, applying a transparent reflective film on the base surface of the article, the transparent reflective film being provided with a plurality of transparent spherical particles forming a first region and a plurality of transparent spherical particles forming a second region which have different distances from the base surface, distance between the transparent spherical particles in the first region and the base surface being just equal to focal length of the first transparent spherical particles in the first region, distance between the transparent spherical particles in the second region and the base surface being shorter than focal length of the transparent spherical particles in the second region, coating the transparent reflective film with a transparent protecting film, whereby the first region will be more bright than the second region when the light is vertically projected on the article, but will be less bright than the second region when light is slantwise projected on the article.

As we know, the problem of counterfeiting could happen in any country. It is human nature for some individuals to seek gains through crimes. Hence, many attempts have been developed to prevent counterfeiting, but none of them are satisfactory in use.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of discriminating an article which may make the article be able to be discriminating from the counterfeited one.


A method for identifying potential targets as far away as possible is disclosed. In a simple background scene such as a blue sky, a target may be recognized from a relatively long distance, but for some high clutter situations such as mountains and cities, the detection range is severely reduced. The background clutter may also be non-stationary further complicating the detection of a target. To solve these problems, target detection (recognition) of the present invention is based upon temporal fusion (integration) of sensor data using pre-detection or post-detection integration techniques, instead of using the prior art technique of fusing data from only a single time frame. Also disclosed are double-thresholding and reversed-thresholding techniques which further enhance target detection and avoid the shortcomings of the traditional constant false alarm rate (CFAR) thresholding technique. The present invention further discloses improved spatial fusion techniques for target detection (recognition) employing multiple sensors instead of employing the more conventional single sensor techniques. If spatial fusion is implemented with more than three sensors, then target detection can be enhanced by also using post-detection techniques. Moreover, since the pre-detection and the post-detection technique are complementary to each other, a combination of these two integration techniques will further improve target detection (recognition) performance.

Sensor systems incorporating a plurality of sensors (multi-sensor systems) are widely used for a variety of military applications including ocean surveillance, air-to-air and surface-to-air defense (e.g., self-guided munitions), battlefield intelligence, surveillance and target detection (classification), and strategic warning and defense. Also, multi-sensor systems are used for a plurality of civilian applications including condition-based maintenance, robotics, automotive safety, remote sensing, weather forecasting, medical diagnoses, and environmental monitoring (e.g., weather forecasting).
To obtain the full advantage of a multi-sensor system, an efficient data fusion method (or architecture) may be selected to optimally combine the received data from the multiple sensors to generate a decision output. For military applications (especially target recognition), a sensor-level fusion process is widely used wherein data received by each individual sensor is fully processed at each sensor before being output to a system data fusion processor that generates a decision output (e.g., "validated target" or "no desired target encountered") using at least one predetermined multi-sensor algorithm. The data (signal) processing performed at each sensor may include a plurality of processing techniques to obtain desired system outputs (target reporting data) such as feature extraction, and target classification, identification, and tracking. The processing techniques may include time-domain, frequency-domain, multi-image pixel image processing techniques, and/or other techniques to obtain the desired target reporting data.
It is advantageous to detect or identify image elements or targets as far away as possible. For example, in battle situations, candidate or potential targets should be detected early, increasing the likelihood of an early detection of a target or other object. For a simple background scene such as a blue sky, a target may be recognized from a relatively long range distance. However, for some high clutter situations such as mountains and cities, the detection range is severely reduced. Moreover, such clutter situations are often complicated to process. For example, the background may be mixed with different clutter types and groups. Also the background clutter may be non-stationary. In these types of situations, the traditional constant false alarm ratio (CFAR) detection technique often fails.
Spatio-temporal fusion for target classification has been discussed in the art. The fusion is conducted in the likelihood function reading domain. In general, the likelihood functions (pdfs) are obtained from training data based on single sensor and single frame measurements. Therefore, fusion is conducted using the likelihood readings of the features extracted from measurements of single sensor and frame, only one set of likelihood functions needs to be stored for a single sensor and frame, no matter how many sensors and frames are used for fusion. On the other hand, if the detection process uses thresholding technique instead of likelihood functions, the features values can be directly fused from different sensors and time frames in the feature domain for target detection.
Spatial fusion is defined as the fusion between different sensors, and temporal fusion is defined as the temporal integration across different time frames within a single sensor. Accordingly, it is desirable to develop and compare different spatial fusion and temporal integration (fusion) strategies, including pre-detection integration (such as additive, multiplicative, MAX, and MIN fusions), as well as the traditional post-detection integration (the persistency test). The pre-detection integration is preferably conducted by fusing the feature values from different time frames before the thresholding process (the detection process), while the post-detection integration is preferably conducted after the thresholding process.

Target detection improvements using temporal integrations and spatial fusion


A method for preventing damage to valve faces and valve seat faces and also for preventing partial gas escape, which is mainly caused by solid particles generated by the reaction between incomplete combustion materials produced during engine operation and additive agents included in lubricant oils as well as by adherence of metal dust on the faces by filtering out selected particles.. The solid particles are produced by the reaction of carbon as an incomplete combustion material in an engine with calcium, zinc, phosphorus, magnesium and so on which are included in the additives of the lubricant oils as well as with solid impurities generated by incombustibles included in fuel, and also with metal dust. Particles and impurities bigger than 1 .mu.m are removed by filter device composed of many piled thin papers, while the same smaller than 1 .mu.m are retained in the lubricant oil. The valve face and the valve seat face surfaces are maintained clean and smooth.

This invention relates to a method of maintaining clean surfaces for valve seat faces in internal combustion engines to be used in motor cars and other vehicles.
Up to the present time, an inlet port and an exhaust port are formed on a cylinder head in which a piston reciprocates. These ports open and close in turn by the operation of the relative valves linked with said piston. An inlet valve is seated on the inlet port while an outlet valve is seated on the exhaust port. Valve seat face and valve face which contact each other are highly ground and polished so that good sealing can be obtained thereon.
After burned gases are ejected by the cylinder, in this exhaust gas, incomplete combustion materials exist, which are caused by plural factors such as incombustibles included in the fuel, or carbon, water and other substances generated by combustion. The carbon, acid and other similar substances which result from the incomplete combustion materials react with calcium, zinc, phosphorus, magnesium and other elements included in additive agents of lubricant oils during combustion, and this reaction produces some solid particles. On the other hand, in the lubricant oil, there exist impurities included in the fuel and metal dust on the inner surface of the cylinder, shafts and bearings. When these solid particles, impurities and metal dust are adhered on the valve faces or the valve seat faces, it badly damages the faces and sealing is lost, and this allows gas to escape partially and results in the deterioration of engine compression. This deterioration is a bad influence on combustion efficiency and increases specific fuel consumption thereof, while in case of a motor car the function of engine braking is remarkably lowered.
The additive agents used in the lubricant oils are detrimental when their original role is fulfilled. It is very important to maintain the engine performance to overcome the explained situations, so that it may promote the engine quality and realize the economization of the fuel consumption as well as it maintains the good engine braking through the prevention of the bad influences caused by the adherence of the solid particles and metal dust on the valve faces and the valve seat faces, which are generated and invited by the reaction between the incomplete combustion and the additive agents included in the lubricant oils.
In the past, the deterioration of the engine compression which brings worse fuel consumption and inferior engine braking was generally believed to be dependent upon hysteresis of a liner fatigue or a ring fatigue.
According to the knowledge of this inventor, however, the source of this deterioration is mainly due to the solid particle and metal dust adhered on the valve faces or the valve seat faces, not by the hysteresis.

Method for maintaining clean surfaces for valve seat faces of internal combustion engine


A disk player supports a disk between two opposing longitudinal disk guides, one with a moving belt running along it. The belt frictionally engages an edge of the disk to roll the disk along the opposite guide. A stocker includes supports spaced apart at intervals that allow the disk to be inserted between adjacent supports. The supports are lined with a non-woven cloth to prevent abrasion and to cushion the disk when it is in the stocker. The supports are narrower than the disk so that the disk edge protrudes from the stocker at the sides permitting the guides to engage the disk edge when it is in the stocker. To assemble the lining material to the stocker, a sheet of non-woven cloth is folded, accordion-style, and a comb of projecting elements lined up with and pushed into recesses formed in the sheet. The projecting elements with the sheeting folded about them are then lined up with the spaces between the supports and inserted, forcing the lining material into the spaces. The lining material is then retained in the spaces by passing a single retaining shaft through a series of holes in the sheet at the rear end of the stocker.

The present invention relates to a disk transporting device that accepts large and small disks, such as CDs, through an insertion aperture and transfers them to prescribed positions for storage and playback.
Japanese utility model publication no. 60-106250, Japanese utility model 61-24851, Japanese laid-open publication no. 2-7263 and other references describe disk players, each of which employs a pair of endless tractor drive belts to transfer the disk between an eject position and a playback position. In these devices, the drive belts are supported at remote points to form oblong loops with taut spanning portions of the belts positioned on either side of, and parallel to, a disk transfer path. The disk inserted between the belts is frictionally engaged by the drive belts at opposite points on its edge and pulled along when the drive belt is revolved. The distance separating the spanning portions of the belts must be roughly equal to the diameter of the disk so that the disk may be inserted between the belts and carried along when the belts are revolved. To avoid interfering with the rotation of the disk when it is played back, the drive belts are separated by distance greater than the disk diameter so the belts clear the disk completely.
There are two standard size formats for compact disks, the recording media containing optically encoded data. These are 8 cm and 12 cm. Prior art devices employing belt drive systems, such as those described above, are capable of transporting only one type of disk because of the great difference in separation between the drive belts required to accommodate the different sized disks.

Disk holder with disk protective material


A fuel distributor, for example that is usable as a fuel rail for mixture-compressing spark-ignition internal combustion engines, includes a main body, on which a plurality of high-pressure outlets are provided. The main body includes at least one dividing wall that at least largely separates an inflow region from a damping region within the main body. The main body is made up of at least two profiles that are joined to each other.

German Patent 10 2014 205 179 A1 describes a fuel rail for an internal combustion engine. The known fuel rail features an elongated housing having a cavity, a fuel inflow into the cavity and at least two fuel outflows from the cavity for one fuel injector each. In that case, disposed in the cavity is a body which has one groove that connects the two fuel outflows to each other, and one groove radially encircling the body in the area of the fuel inflow. The body having the two grooves is used as an insert which ensures a direct supply of fuel from a pump to the injectors. The body can have an inner volume which is used for damping, but is not located in the direct fuel flow.
The fuel rail known from DE 10 2014 205 179 A1 has the disadvantage that the insert is costly to produce, since it is realized as a thick-walled pipe having grooves. In addition, the known fuel rail is restricted to a radial feed of fuel, resulting in a limited field of application.

Fuel distributor for internal combustion engines


A shelf support beam (80, 130, 200) for use in a shelving unit (10) to support a shelf (22). A structural member (82, 132, 202) has a C-shaped cross-section. A web (94, 144, 216) separates a top flange (96, 146, 220) from a bottom flange (112, 162, 234). The top flange (96, 146, 220) is configured to support the shelf (22). The web (94, 144, 216), the top flange (96, 146, 220), and the bottom flange (112, 162, 234) define a channel (92, 142, 214) of the member (82, 132, 202). The channel (92, 142, 214) defines a cavity height (C1, D1, E1). The top flange (96, 146, 220) and the bottom flange (112, 162, 234) define a top flange width (C2, D2, E2) and a bottom flange width (C3, D3, E3), respectively. A ratio of the cavity height (C1, D1, E1) to a sum of the top flange width (C2, D2, E2) and the bottom flange width (C3, D3, E3) is greater than 1, is at least 1.20, or is about 1.40. The C-shaped cross-section has a moment of inertia (98, 148, 238) of greater than 0.40, greater than 0.45, or at least 0.46. The top flange (96, 146, 220) includes an elevated portion (100, 150, 222) and a lower or shelf support portion (104, 154, 226) separated by a sidewall (106, 156, 230).

Shelving units are commonly used for storing various items in a space-efficient manner. Such units typically include four vertical support posts arranged at corners of a generally rectangular pattern. Horizontal front and rear shelf support beams extend between the two front corner support posts and between the two rear corner support posts. Shorter horizontal shelf support beams are often positioned on opposing sides of the unit and extend between a front corner support post and a rear corner support post. In a conventional arrangement, such shelving units define multiple shelves and supporting beams one above the other with the corner support posts and shelf support beams of metal. For example, these components are often formed of sheet metal or steel and, in combination with shelves, are generally referred to as steel shelving or storage units.
As loads are applied to a shelving unit, such as by loading heavy items onto a shelf, each shelf may bow or bend. Bowing and bending beyond a limit can lead to shelving failure, particularly when bowing results in strain beyond the unit's capacity. For example, undue bowing or bending of a shelving unit under load could permanently deform the shelf, allowing the shelf to pull away from the shelf support beams of the shelving unit thereby rendering the shelf and/or shelving unit inoperable for future use, or the shelf could catastrophically fail.
While metal shelving units are generally successful for their intended purpose and remain useful and popular with consumers, manufacturers and other providers continually strive to improve upon their design and load-carrying capacity. In this regard, it is desirable to significantly increase the load capacity of shelving units without a significant increase in manufacturing cost and/or without a significant increase in weight of the shelving unit.

Shelf support beams and shelving units utilizing same


Disclosed herein is a coaxial feeding-type plasma processing chamber or an opposed electrode-type plasma processing chamber using an Etch-tunnel comprising: a cylindrical treatment chamber having a gas-introducing mechanism and a gas-exhausting mechanism, and equipped with a heating mechanism at the periphery thereof; an external electrode disposed in close contact to the outer periphery of the cylindrical treatment chamber; and a metal cylindrical member disposed coaxially at a predetermined gap to the inner wall of the cylindrical treatment chamber and a having a plurality of small apertures in the side wall thereof,. the gas-introducing mechanism being composed of a gas-introducing pipe having a plurality of gas-blowout means and disposed along the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical treatment chamber, and a gas reservoir connected by way of a pipeline; the gas-exhausting mechanism being composed of a gas-exhausting pipe having a plurality of gas-suction apertures and disposed along the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical treatment chamber and a vacuum means connected by way of a pipeline; and at least the gas-exhausting pipe being disposed to the inside of the metal cylindrical member.

The present invention relates to a plasma processing chamber for a plasma processing apparatus and, more in particular, to a plasma processing chamber with an improved utilizing-efficiency for plasma gases and an improved exhausting-efficiency for reaction gases.
The plasma processing chamber (hereinafter referred to as a plasma processing reactor) is as a reactor for use in low temperature plasma etching, low temperature plasma ashing, plasma CVD or the like and it includes various types, depending on the electrode structure, such as a coaxial feeding-type plasma processing reactor (cylindrical coaxial plasma processing reactor) and an opposed electrode-type plasma processing reactor using an Etch-tunnel.
The coaxial feeding-type plasma processing reactor is mainly composed of a cylindrical treatment chamber having a gas-introducing pipe and a gas-exhausting pipe connected to a vacuum system, an external electrode disposed in close contact with the outer periphery of the cylindrical treatment chamber and a cylindrical inner electrode disposed coaxially to the inside of the cylindrical treatment chamber at a predetermined gap therefrom and having a plurality of small apertures in the side wall thereof.
The opposed electrode-type plasma processing reactor using the Etch-tunnel has a structure in which a metal cylindrical member in the plasma processing reactor is not used as an inner electrode but used as an Etch-tunnel, and the electrodes are opposingly disposed in close contact with the outer periphery of the cylindrical treatment chamber.
Then, in any of the plasma processing reactors, wafers to be processed are contained to the inside of the cylindrical inner electrode or the Etch-tunnel and applied with plasma processing.
In the old plasma processing reactor, since the gas-introducing pipe and the gas-exhausting pipe are disposed externally to the cylindrical treatment chamber, such plasma processing reactor has the following drawbacks.
A plasma gas is generated between the external electrode and the cylindrical inner electrode in the coaxial feeding-type plasma processing reactor, or generated between external electrodes in the opposed electrode-type plasma processing reactor using the Etch-tunnel. Radicals which effectively act in the plasma processing, flow to the inside of the cylindrical inner electrode or Etch-tunnel, thereby contributing to the plasma processing. In this instance, since the flowing resistance upon passage through the cylindrical inner electrode or Etch-tunnel is not negligible, there is a drawback that a considerable amount of a plasma gas is exhausted directly to the gas-exhausting pipe connected with the vacuum system and can not be utilized effectively.
Further, the reaction exhaust gases generated upon plasma processing are removed by vacuum-sucking from the cylindrical inner electrode or Etch -tunnel by the gas-exhausting pipe. In this instance, since the flowing resistance upon passage through the cylindrical inner electrode or Etch-tunnel is not negligible, there is a drawback that the gas can not be exhausted efficiently.
An object of the present invention is to provide a plasma processing reactor with an improved utilizing-efficiency for plasma gases and an improved exhausting-efficiency for reaction exhaust gases.
As a result of an earnest study of the present inventors et al, it has been found that in a plasma processing reactor comprising: a cylindrical treatment chamber having a gas-introducing mechanism and a gas-exhausting mechanism and equipped with a heating mechanism at the periphery thereof; an external electrode disposed in close contact with the outer periphery of the cylindrical treatment chamber; and a metal cylindrical member disposed coaxially at a predetermined gap to the inner wall of the cylindrical treatment chamber and having a plurality of small apertures formed in the side wall thereof,
the gas-introducing mechanism being composed of a gas-introducing pipe having a plurality of gas-blowout means and disposed along the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical treatment chamber and a gas reservoir connected by way of a pipeline, and the gas-exhausting mechanism being composed of a gas-exhausting pipe having a plurality of gas-suction means and disposed along the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical treatment chamber and a vacuum means connected by way of a pipeline,
by disposing at least the gas-exhausting pipe to the inside of the metal cylindrical member, the utilization efficiency of the plasma gas and the exhaustion efficiency of the reaction exhaust gas can be improved in case carrying out the plasma processing in the said plasma processing reactor. The present invention has been accomplished based on the above mentioned finding.


A fusion gene is provided comprising the cDNA of Renilla luciferase and the cDNA of the "humanized" Aequorea green fluorescent protein. The fusion gene was used to produce a novel protein, the "Renilla-GFP fusion protein," which displayed both the luciferase activity of Renilla luciferase, and the green fluorescence of GFP. The Renilla-GFP fusion gene is useful as a double marker for monitoring gene expression quantitatively in UV light and by enzyme activity.

Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) is a light emitting protein purified from the jellyfish Aequorea victoria. GFP can emit green light by accepting energy transfer from sources that include exogenous blue light and Renilla luciferase catalyzed reactions. The gene for GFP was cloned and its cDNA is a powerful reporter gene in a variety of living systems, including bacteria, fungi, and mammalian tissues. The UV light stimulated GFP fluorescence does not require cofactors and the gene product alone can be sufficient to allow detection of living cells under the light microscope.
By modifying the wild type GFP protein, red-shifted GFP variants with bright emission have also been produced. These variants include EGFP, GFPS65T and RSGF. Recently, GFP was expressed in a human cell line and in vivo. C. Kaether, H. H. Gerdes. Visualization of protein transport along the secretory pathway using green fluorescent protein. FEBS-Lett. 1995; 369:267-71. "Humanized" GFP was synthesized with nucleotide changes that did not change the amino acid sequences with one exception.
Renilla luciferase is an enzyme purified from Renilla reniformis. The enzyme catalyzes the oxidative decarboxylation of coelenterazine in the presence of oxygen to produce blue light with an emission wavelength maximum of 478 nm. In Renilla reniformis cells, however, this reaction is shifted toward the green with a wavelength maximum of 510 nm due to an energy transfer to a Green Fluorescent Protein.
The gene for Renilla luciferase (ruc) was cloned and its cDNA was shown to be useful as a reporter gene in various living systems. D. C. Prasher, V. K. Eckenrode, W. W. Ward, F. G. Prendergast, M. J. Cormier. Primary structure of the Aequorea victoria green-fluorescent protein. Gene 1992; 111:229-33. By providing appropriate promoters to the cDNA as gene cassettes, the gene was expressed in bacteria, transformed plant cells, and mammalian cells. The high efficiency of Renilla luciferase is a useful trait as a marker enzyme for gene expression studies.
Given the properties of GFP and Renilla luciferase, it would be useful to have a single protein combining the functions of both Renilla luciferase enzymes and GFP to monitor gene expression quantitatively by UV light excitation or qualitatively by enzyme activity measurements.

Construction and expression of renilla luciferase and green fluorescent protein fusion genes


The isolation, purification, cloning and expression of a papaya xylanase gene is presented. This gene can be utilized to identify other related xylanase genes from other plants, especially dicots. Once cloned, xylanase genes can be utilized to create transgenic plants exhibiting controlled growth, abscission, dehiscence and/or fruit and vegetable ripening characteristics.

This invention is in the field of molecular biology. In particular, this invention relates to the isolation, purification, cloning and expression of plant xylanases, nucleotide sequences encoding plant xylanases and further relates to the control of fruit and vegetable softening, as well as the control of growth, abscission and dehiscence in plants.
The ability to market high quality fruits and vegetables is dependent upon on the control and regulation of several interrelated factors. These factors include the regulation and control of plant growth, abscission and dehiscence processes as well as the control of softening of fruits and vegetables.
Xylans are a significant component of plant cell walls and are regarded as hemicellulose. Xylanases are enzymes involved in the breakdown and release of xylose oligomers from cell wall xylans. Xylanases are grouped with other cell wall hydrolases that degrade hemicelluloses and are referred to as hemicellulases. However, the role of hemicellulases in wall softening has not received much study (Lashbrook et al., 1998). For convenience sake, each of the references and articles cited herein are listed with their complete citations at the end of the application before the claims section.
Abscission is a process involved in the loss of vegetative buds, branches, roots, sepals, petals, anthers, ovaries, fruit, leaves, fruit, and flowers in plants in response to developmental cues (e.g. Infertile flower, leaf senescence, ripe fruit, etc) and environmental stresses (e.g. Frost, insufficient light, high temperature, defense reaction to herbivore, fungi and bacteria) (Sexton, 1995). As such, control of abscission is critical to maximizing yields and fruit and vegetable quality. Abscission is an active metabolic process resulting in the weakening of the cell walls, of anything from 1 to 20 rows of cells in genetically determined abscission zones. Cell wall hydrolases such as polygalacturonase, glucanases, pectin methyl esterase, cellulases and hemicellulases are thought to be involved.
Dehiscence is the spontaneous and sometimes violent opening of a fruit, seed pod, or anther to release the seed or pollen. This process shares a number of feature in common with abscission. Both dehiscence and abscission are a consequence of cell wall dissolution at a predetermined position. Cell wall hydrolases such as glucanases, polygalacturonases and hemicellulases are possibly involved.
During the final stage of fruit development, ripening occurs that involves a number of changes and an important change is softening. This softening is thought to be the result of cell wall modification due to the activity of cell wall hydrolases. These hydrolases are developmentally regulated during fruit ripening. Fruit and vegetable ripening and associated cell wall changes often involves increases in exo- and endo-polygalacturonase, pectin methyl esterase, cellulase, glucanase, xyloglucanase, xyloglucan endo-transglycosylase and xylanase activities. Transgenic plants with antisense constructs to many of these enzymes to inhibit activity have not reduced fruit softening (Arrowsmith and de Silva, 1995; Brummell et al., 1994; Giovannoni et al., 1989; Tieman et al., 1992). Plants with reduced xylanase activity have not, as yet, been created.
Plant cell wall breakdown is important element in the loss of structural integrity and hence plays an important role in growth, abscission, dehiscence and fruit softening. There is an overlap between the cell wall changes that occur during fruit softening and the wall changes that occur during growth, dehiscence and abscission (Taiz, 1984; Lashbrook et al., 1994; Kalaitzis et al., 1997; Lashbrook et al., 1998; McManus et al., 1998; Peterson et al., 1996; Jenkins et al., 1996; Meakin and Roberts, 1990; Jenkins et al., 1994; Osborne, 1989; Fischer and Bennett, 1991). The processes all involve coordinated wall breakdown and in the case of dehiscence and abscission involve wall separation. While much is known about abscission, dehiscence and fruit ripening processes generally in plants, little is known about the role of plant xylanases in growth, abscission, dehiscence and fruit softening in these processes.
There is thus a need to identify plant xylanase genes and gene products and to determine their role in growth, abscission and dehiscence as well as fruit and vegetable ripening and softening. In particular, there is a need to isolate, purify and clone xylanase genes and gene products so that xylanase activity may be controlled and regulated in plants.
In order to meet these needs, the present invention is directed to purified, isolated, sequenced and cloned plant xylanase. The present invention is further directed to transgenic plants expressing cloned xylanase genes. In the transgenic plants of the invention, dehiscence and abscission processes and/or fruit and vegetable ripening processes are controlled and/or regulated.
The xylanase DNA of the invention may be isolated from any plant, preferably a dicotyledenous plant. Representative dicotyledenous plants include but are not limited to papayas, tomatoes, eggplant, potato, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, mango, pears, plum, papayas, melons, cucumbers, avocados, peaches, apples, apricots, grapes, cherries, plums, nectarines, kiwi, raspberry, strawberries, lettuce, cranberry, sugar beet, tobacco, walnut, almond, cotton, sesame, oilseed rape, flax, soybeans, peas and the like. Representative monocotyledenous plants include, but are not limited to banana, pineapple and the like.
In general, the invention features substantially pure xylanase DNA or protein obtained from a plant, more particularly a dicotyledenous plant, most particularly a papaya. The xylanase protein of the invention is capable of hydrolyzing xylan 1,4-beta-xylose-xylose bonds.
The xylanase protein of the invention comprises polypeptide sequences substantially identical to the sequences shown in SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4 or SEQ ID NO:25.
In another related aspect, the invention features substantially pure DNA having a sequence substantially identical to the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 24 or functional equivalents thereof. Such nucleotide sequences include those shown in SEQ ID NO:26-SEQ ID NO:33. In preferred embodiments, such DNA is cDNA or is genomic DNA. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, functional equivalents of the invention include, for example, those nucleotide sequences which encode the same polypeptide (but which by virtue of the degeneracy of the genetic code posses a different nucleotide sequence); sequence which code substantially the same polypeptide but wherein there may be more conserved amino acid substitution (i.e. the substitution of an amino acid for one similar properties); sequences which encode substantially the same polypeptide (which preferably share 50% amino acid identity and more preferably 60% identity) but wherein there may be one or more amino acids deletions or truncations; and sequence which hybridize under standard conditions to the complete nucleotide shown in SEQ ID NO: 24. A functional equivalent would be an antisense nucleotide sequence. In a related aspect, the DNA of the invention may be linked to a heterologous nucleic acid. Such heterologous nucleic acide can be any nucleotide sequence different from that of the xylanase DNA of the invention. The heterologous DNA may be a promoter. In related aspects, the invention also features a vector and a cell (e.g., a plant) which includes such substantially pure xylanase DNA. In various preferred embodiments, the vector-containing cell is a prokaryotic cell, for example, E. coli or Agrobacterium or, more preferably, a plant cell.
The invention is further directed to isolated and purified oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences substantially identical to those sequences selected from SEQ ID NO:5-SEQ ID NO:23.
The invention also provides a method for isolation from a plant a DNA sequence encoding an xylanase comprising, probing a DNA library prepared from plant tissue with oligonucleotide probes comprising a conserved sequence from plant xylanase, particularly papaya endo-xcex2-1,4-xylanase cDNA. The library can either be genomic or cDNA. The most preferred nucleotide sequences for papaya are xyl-31, xyl-32, xyl-41, xyl-42, xyl-43 and xyl-44, SEQ ID NO:18-SEQ ID NO:23. The preferred sequences for general isolation from other plant species for those skilled in the art would be xyl-11 to xyl-23, SEQ ID NO:5 to SEQ ID NO:17.
The present invention further includes multiple types of xylanase nucleic acid constructs including (1) xe2x80x9csensexe2x80x9d constructs encoding xylanase proteins, which can increase or reduce the expression of xylanase in plant species and (2) xe2x80x9cantisensexe2x80x9d constructs containing DNA, which can be used to produce xylanase antisense RNA to reduce expression of xylanase in plants. Optimal amounts of antisense RNA in transgenic plants will selectively inhibit the expression of genes in these plants which are involved in xylanase activity. The constructs may include nucleotides capable of encoding peptides having sequences such as SEQ ID NO:4 and 25.
Some of these constructs will direct constitutive production of transcripts. Other constructs will direct expression in specific organs and/or specific tissue layers of the transgenic plant. These organs will include leaves, petioles, stems, flower organs, seeds, fruits or photosynthetically active parts of the plant. Tissue layers will include but may not be restricted to the epidermis and adjacent cell layers. Such organ and tissue specific expression can be directed by organ and tissue specific promoters.
The present invention also provides recombinant cells and plants containing these constructs. The constructs are introduced into recombinant plants by transformation.
In one embodiment, the first category of DNA constructs include: a promoter selected from but not limited to constitutive, tissue-specific, fruit-specific, cell-type specific, seed-specific, flower-specific, fruit-specific, epidermis-specific promoters, a promoter specific to cell layers adjacent to the epidermis or a promoter specific to photosynthetically active plant tissues, which functions in plant cells to cause the production of an RNA sequence. In this embodiment, the DNA coding region sequences encode proteins which can be used to increase the activity of plant xylanase in transgenic plants. The DNA coding region will further include a region 3xe2x80x2 to the coding regions the 3xe2x80x2 nonranslated region which functions in plant cells to cause the addition of polyadenylate nucleotides to the 3xe2x80x2 end of the RNA sequence promoter.
In another embodiment, a second category of DNA construct will include a constitutive promoter, seed-specific, flower-specific, fruit-specific, abscission zone-specific, dehiscence-zone specific, epidermis-specific promoter, a promoter specific to cell layers adjacent to the epidermis or a promoter specific to photosynthetically active plant tissues, which functions in plant cells to cause the production of an RNA sequence. The DNA construct will also include DNA sequences which can produce antisense RNA molecules. These RNA molecules can selectively inhibit the accumulation of transcripts encoding proteins which encode plant xylanase thereby reducing xylanase expression and activity.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of producing genetically transformed plants which express a gene or genes involved in xylanase activity. In this method, a recombinant, double-stranded DNA molecule is introduced into the genome of a plant cell. In this embodiment, the DNA sequence will include a promoter which functions in plant cells to cause the production of an RNA sequence in flowers, seeds, fruit, other plant tissues or organs achieved, for example, by use of tissue specific promoters to regulate transcription of the introduced sequence. In addition, the sequence will include a DNA coding sequence encoding proteins involved in xylanase activity in plants. Alternatively, the sequence will be a template to the synthesis of antisense RNA inhibiting xylanase activity. The DNA sequence will also include a 3xe2x80x2 non-translated region which functions in plant cells to cause the addition of polyadenylate nucleotides to the 3xe2x80x2 end of the RNA sequences. The method also includes obtaining transformed plant cells and regenerating from the transformed plant cells genetically transformed plants. The DNA sequence can be introduced into a plant by a sexual cross.
The present invention is also directed to transgenic cells such as bacterial, yeast, fungi, plant and mammalian cells expressing the DNA sequences of this invention. The present invention is also directed to purified xylanase protein isolated from the transgenic cells of the invention. The present invention is also directed to purified antibodies directed to the xylanase protein of the invention. The antibodies may be monoclonal or polyclonal.


A transceiver used in a radio unit for wireless communication, comprises: a circuitry board including a transmitter and a receiver; a first connector on a first side of the circuitry board, wherein the first connector is configured to be connected to an interface card; a second connector on a second side of the circuitry board, wherein the second side is opposite the first side and the second connector is configured to be connected to a digital card via a flexible circuit; and a pair of transmit port and receive port located on the second side of the circuitry board, wherein the transmit port is coupled to the transmitter and the receive port coupled to the receiver, respectively. When the transceiver is part of a split-mount radio unit (SRU), the first connector is connected to the interface card and the second connector is not in use. When the transceiver is part of an all-outdoor radio unit (AOU), the second connector is connected to the digital card and the first connector is not in use.

The fourth-generation (4G) wireless networks represent the next wave of mobile multimedia networks currently in development and the 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) mobile networks are becoming a reality. Among others, the backhaul point-to-point microwave radios is a key part of this whole 4G network and plays an important role to the network success.
Point-to-Point Microwave Radios have a very wide range of frequency bands, typical licensed bands include 6 GHz, 7 GHz, 8 GHz, 10 GHz, 11 GHz, 13 GHz, 15 GHz, 18 GHz, 23 GHz, 26 GHz, 28 GHz, 32 GHz, 38 GHz and 42 GHz, plus unlicensed bands at sub 6 GHz, 60 GHz and the latest light license band of E-band (71-86 GHz). The covered modulations include QPSK, 16 QAM, 32 QAM, 64 QAM, 128 QAM, 256 QAM and extends to latest 512 QAM and 1024 QAM, and future even higher modulation such as 2048 QAM and 4096 QAM. The covered bandwidth includes popular international bandwidth of 3.5 MHz/7 MHz/14 MHz/28 MHz/56 MHz and North America's FCC bands of 5 MHz/10 MHz/20 MHz/30 MHz/40 MHz/50 MHz and coming new 112 MHz, 250 MHz and 500 MHz channel bandwidths.
In order to support these different radio configurations, frequency bands, modulations, capacity offerings, it is becoming more and more important to develop a point-to-point microwave radio with common mechanics, common interface to antenna, common software, and common automatic test equipment (ATE) for achieving such goals as low cost of deployment and maintenance and short time to market, etc. Moreover, both the operators and equipment vendors/manufacturers also prefer that their microwave equipment complies with a flexible unified architecture that supports various platforms, which is scalable, interchangeable, and shares common elements for all capacities and frequency bands.

Flexible unified architecture for point-to-point digital microwave radios


A parking brake system for an automotive vehicle includes an internally articulated pedal arm having an upper pedal arm which is connected with a cable operated parking brake actuator, and a lower pedal arm which is pivotably attached to the upper pedal arm such that the lower pedal arm has both a stowed position and a deployed position.

Most automotive vehicles have a service brake system applied by means of a foot pedal. Such service brakes were actuated mechanically on early model vehicles. At the current time, however, service brakes are most often applied by means of hydraulic, electro-hydraulic, or air power. Parking brakes, on the other hand, are typically mechanically applied via a lever. In early vehicles, such levers were extremely long devices designed to be grasped by the driver and pulled back to set the parking brake.
In many vehicles produced today, a parking brake lever is mounted in a center console between two front seating positions of the vehicle, such that the vehicle driver is able to pull up on the lever to set the parking brake. Unfortunately, this arrangement demands a great deal of space in the vehicle's center console, which space could otherwise be devoted to more productive uses. Although a foot pedal actuator will save precious space within the vehicle's center console, a special problem arises in the context of smaller vehicles, because although it is possible to mount a parking brake with a foot pedal, say to the cowlside panel located to the driver's extreme left, it is sometimes not possible to mount the pedal while providing adequate clearance for the driver's outboard leg. An internally articulated parking brake pedal according to the present invention solves the problem of packaging a foot-operated parking brake, which by definition is not mounted within the center console of the vehicle, thereby providing additional space for other uses within the vehicle.

Internally articulated parking brake assembly for automotive vehicle


A universal contraceptive and prophylactic device, and method of using the device, having a condom support device of annular configuration and including an inwardly opening groove formed on the periphery thereof, a securing device that secures the support device in place on person's body, the condom includes an elongate tubular sheath formed of thin, flexible fluid impermeable material, the condom has a closed end an open end and is sized to fit loosely about an erect male organ.

Various types of contraceptive and prophylactic devices have been developed in the prior art for the purpose of preventing the exchange of body fluids between partners during sexual intercourse. Because of the AIDS epidemic, the use of such devices to provide so-called "safe sex" has become of supreme importance to the public, and many efforts have been made to provide improved forms of protection.
Male condoms are the most common form of device to prevent conception as well as the sexual transmission of disease. However, many men are reluctant to use male condoms because of reduced sexual sensation. Female condoms have also been developed so that women can protect themselves and ensure that they are not at risk during sexual intercourse. In addition, universal contraceptive and prophylactic devices have been designed for use either by a male or female. Even though male and female condoms are readily available at the present time, the spread of the HIV virus has not been significantly slowed by the use of such condoms due to the fact that they have not proved to be satisfactory to the general public because of certain shortcomings thereof. A drastically improved device is now required which will be readily accepted by the public in order to make efforts at arresting the spread of the HIV virus successful.
Since the practice of "safe sex" is literally a matter of life and death for everyone, people should not depend on their sex partner to take necessary precautions, but rather should have the ability to personally ensure that they are properly protected. It is accordingly highly desirable to provide a universal device which can be used by either men or women and which will be sufficiently attractive to use so that there will be no objection to its use by either sex partner.
The present invention is designed to enhance rather than to diminish sexual gratification, and therefore should receive quick acceptance by the general public. The use of the invention device thereby provides the only cost effective means to effectively stop the spread of HIV virus at the present time.

Universal contraceptive and prophylactic device

1105 Marbelle Club, 840 S. Collier Blvd.


A Graphic User Interface, for use with electronic phonebooks, links graphic information, e.g., a graphic identifier such as a logo or picture, to a phone number that may be called using the graphic identifier. The Interface, incorporated in a telephone, enables users to send stored graphical information, tied to selected phone numbers, to other users' phones for use or storage, by scrolling through stored graphics, displayed by the Interface on the phone, to locate a graphic associated with a person or place to be called, and then, by pressing the SEND, the particular phone number or numbers linked to the selected graphic are activated and the call or calls are made. When a connection is established with a receiving number, a set of stored graphics with tied numbers may be downloaded from the memory of the sending phone to the memory of the receiving phone for similar use. The Interface can be utilized, e.g., by Advertisers to send logos/graphics and numbers to phones that are turned ON in a particular area to receive the graphical information and create area specific databases of their own in memory including the graphic associated numbers of persons and places that a receiving phone may use to call in the same manner. General advertising information may also be transmitted with graphics and tied phone numbers for viewing and response.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to telephones and, more particularly, to telephones, such as cellular phones, containing electronic phonebooks and a Graphic User Interface for such phonebooks.
2. Prior Art
In the new wireless world, people do not think of connecting with a place, a phone number, or a name, such as found in a phone directory, but rather with a particular person or entity. Still, existing phone equipment for the most part requires directory-type dialing or data entry in memory for normal functioning instead of being more compatabile with the present mobile, intuitive society. Also, currently, computers, the Internet, and PDAs have become more icon-based, so that cellular phone and PCS handsets should be more graphically oriented, particularly in view of the availability of Dot Matrix Displays which can allow cell phones to display graphics, logos, and black & white pictures.
Current telephones, including cellular phones, have the capability of storing names and numbers in an electronic phonebook, but the user must manually enter the information and then remember which person or place is related to the name or number when accessing the information later. The user may get some respite from number entry with this technology since the phone can be automatically dialed using the information if it is properly recalled. In this regard, present SMS technology allows for the ability to send an alphanumeric message tied to a phone number, but in general there is a need for a more user-friendly format with more use of graphics and reduced burdensome user input in sending and managing messages and information.
Problem to be Solved
Present phone technology is still not sufficiently user-friendly and digital cellular phones need to utilize greater graphical capabilities to offer enhanced, easier, informative, and more personal service.
Objects
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide telephones, including cellular phones, with a capability that allows the user to tie a picture, icon, or other graphical representation to a person, place, or entity so that recognition can be quick and easy and the icon may be used to initiate a phone call to the tied person.
It is another object of the invention to provide a telephone, such as a cellular phone, with the capability of sending and receiving graphical and phone number information.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a phone, such as a cellular phone, with a Graphic User Interface for use with an electronic phonebook in accessing graphical information tied to selected phone numbers stored in the phonebook and sending the graphical information and tied numbers to a graphically selected receiving phone.

Photo screen scroll graphic user interface


A method for fabricating an FBAR device includes (a) preparing a substrate; (b) forming an insulating layer on the substrate; (c) forming a sacrificial layer on the insulating layer; (d) forming a plurality of sacrificial regions for forming air-gaps by selectively removing the sacrificial layer; (e) forming a membrane support layer on the insulating layer with the selectively removed sacrificial layer; (f) forming a membrane layer on the sacrificial regions and the membrane support layer; (g) forming a plurality of active regions on the sacrificial regions of the membrane layer so that a thickness of the active region corresponding to a series resonator differs from a thickness of the active region corresponding to a shunt resonator of the FBAR; (h) forming lower electrodes on the membrane layer including the active regions; (i) forming a piezoelectric layer on the lower electrodes; (j) forming upper electrodes on the piezoelectric layer; and (k) forming the air-gaps by removing the sacrificial regions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) device and a method for fabricating the film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) device, and more particularly to a film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) device which comprises a membrane layer having a plurality of active regions and provides different resonant frequencies by providing different thicknesses of the active regions of series resonators and shunt resonators and by controlling the thicknesses, respectively, and a method for fabricating the film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, components for a mobile communication terminal such as radio frequency (RF) components have been developed to satisfy the trends of miniaturization and high-functionality of mobile communication terminals. Among the radio frequency (RF) components for mobile communication terminals, a filter is an essential component and serves to select a desired signal from many sky waves or to filter specific signals.
Particularly, as usable frequency bands of the mobile communication terminal increase, super high frequency (SHF) devices are required more and more. However, with the super high frequency (SHF) devices, it is difficult to satisfy the miniaturization and the low-cost trend required in mobile communication terminals. For example, a resonator or a filter which is operated at a frequency of more than 1 GHz has a large size, thereby not being integrated. Further, a dielectric resonator is replaced with a crystal resonator or a surface acoustic resonator. However, the crystal resonator and the surface acoustic resonator increase an insertion loss and cannot accomplish integration, miniaturization, and low cost.
In order to solve the aforementioned problems, a film bulk acoustic wave resonator ("FBAR", or may be referred to as a thin film resonator "TFR") using the resonance of a piezoelectric layer, has been developed and is now practically used.
Conventionally, the film bulk acoustic wave resonator (FBAR) device is a thin film type device, in which a thin film made of piezoelectric material such as ZnO or AlN is formed on a semiconductor substrate made of silicon or GaAs, thereby inducing resonance by piezoelectricity of the thin film. The film bulk acoustic wave resonator (FBAR) device is low-priced, miniaturized, and has a high quality. The film bulk acoustic wave resonator (FBAR) device can be used in radio communication equipment at various frequency bands (900 MHz˜10 GHz) and military radar. Further, the film bulk acoustic wave resonator (FBAR) device can be micro-miniaturized to have a size less than one hundredth of that of a dielectric filter or a lumped constant (LC) filter, and has an insertion loss less than that of a surface acoustic wave device.
FIG. 1a is a circuit diagram of a conventional film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) device for a thin film filter, and FIG. 1b is a graph of the conventional film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) device for the thin film filter. FIG. 1a shows the ladder type conventional film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) device comprising a series resonator 11 and a shunt resonator 12 connected to the series resonator 11. That is, a film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) filter is fabricated by the composition of the series resonator 11 and the shunt resonator 12. Herein, different resonant frequencies of the series resonator 11 and the shunt resonator 12 are determined by the total thickness of a stack structure of the resonator including a piezoelectric layer. The difference of center frequencies between the series resonator 11 and the shunt resonator 12 is obtained by the difference of thicknesses of upper surfaces of the series resonator 11 and the shunt resonator 12. Herein, the stack structure of the resonator determines the resonant frequency of the resonator, and usually comprises a lower electrode, the piezoelectric layer, and an upper electrode.
That is, the film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) device resonates due to the coupling between mechanical stress and load on the piezoelectric layer. The resonant frequency has a length of half an acoustic wave progressing within the device having the same thickness of the stack structure of the resonator comprising the piezoelectric layer and the electrodes. Therefore, the resonant frequency is determined by the total thickness of several layers of the stack structure of the resonator comprising the lower electrode, the piezoelectric layer, and the upper electrode.
The aforementioned film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) filter is shaped in a ladder type. The ladder type film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) filter is disclosed by "Thin Film Bulk Acoustic Wave Filters for GPS by K. M. Lakin et al. (Lakin), IEEE Ultrasonic Symposium, 1992, pp. 471–476". According to this paper, the ladder type film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) filter is formed by the composition of the series resonator and the shunt resonator. Each of the series resonator and the shunt resonator has a different center frequency.
Further, the film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) device comprises the lower electrode, the piezoelectric layer, and the upper electrode, which are formed on the silicon substrate in order. Herein, an electric field is applied to the upper and the lower electrode, and then a bulk acoustic wave is generated on the piezoelectric layer. In order to maintain the high quality (high-Q), the bulk acoustic wave must be prevented from affecting the silicon substrate. Therefore, in order to prevent the bulk acoustic wave from affecting the silicon substrate, a structure for separating the piezoelectric layer from the silicon substrate is required. Electrical characteristics the film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) device such as an insertion loss and a transducer gain, and a practical use of the film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) device depend on the aforementioned separation structure. The separation structure is mostly divided into a reflecting layer structure using Bragg reflection and an air-gap structure. The reflecting layer structure is very complicated and takes long time to manufacture. Further, compared to the air-gap structure, the reflecting layer structure deteriorates an insertion loss and reflective characteristics and reduces effective bandwidth. Therefore, the air-gap structure has been used now.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the conventional film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) device. With reference to FIG. 2, the conventional film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) device 20 comprises a piezoelectric layer 22, which is supported by an outer circumference of a well 24 formed on an upper surface of a substrate 26. An upper electrode 28 and a lower electrode 30 are formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the piezoelectric layer 22. The upper electrode 38 and the lower electrode 30 correspond to the well 24. The electrical connection between the upper electrode 38 and the lower electrode 30 is accomplished by an upper terminal 36 and a lower terminal 38. A stack structure 32 of the conventional film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) device 20 is formed by the piezoelectric layer 20, the upper electrode 28 and the lower electrode 30. Herein, the stack structure 32 of the film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) device 20 expands or contracts in the direction of the arrow 34 according to a direction and a level of a voltage provided between two electrodes 28 and 30.
As described above, in the conventional film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) device 20, a center frequency of the resonator depends on the total thickness of the stack structure 32 comprising the piezoelectric layer 20, the upper electrode 28 and the lower electrode 30. Therefore, in order to provide different center frequencies, the thickness of the upper electrode 28 or the lower electrode 30, or the thickness of the piezoelectric layer 20, must be adjusted.
Further, it is difficult to finely control the resonant frequency by the adjustment of the thicknesses of the electrodes or the piezoelectric layer. Moreover, it is not easy to simultaneously manufacture a transmission filter and a reception filter on the same substrate.

Method for fabricating film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) device