An array substrate and a method for fabricating the same are disclosed. The method includes steps of providing a substrate (20), a first metal layer including patterns of gate electrodes (21, 24) of a first and second TFTs, an active layer (27) and a gate insulation layer (28) are formed on the substrate; forming an etch stop layer film and a photoresist sequentially on the substrate (20), and allowing the photoresist to form a first, second and third regions through gray-scale exposing and developing; forming a pattern of an etch stop layer (29), a connection via hole (30), and a contact via hole (31) respectively in the first, second and third regions through a patterning process; and forming source electrodes and drain electrodes (22, 23,25, 26) of the first and second TFTs. Photoresist of different thicknesses are disposed according to etch depths, thereby avoiding the over-etch of relatively shallow via holes.

Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode (AMOLED) displays have the advantages of self-luminous, wide viewing-angle, high contrast ratio, thin and compact as well as low power consumption and are currently one of the most interested flat panel display technologies. An AMOLED array substrate generally has a 2T1C (two Thin Film Transistors (TFTs) and one capacitor) configuration or a 6T2C (six TFTs and two capacitors) configuration with a complementary structure, wherein an active layer of the TFT is made of amorphous silicon, low temperature poly-silicon (LTPS), or an oxide semiconductor material such as IGZO. Taking the 2T1C configuration as an example, in a pixel unit, one of the two TFTs functions as the switch TFT and the other TFT functions as the drive TFT; the drain electrode of the switch TFT is electrically connected to the gate electrode of the drive TFT by way of a contact via hole. A current flowing through the drive TFT is adjusted by controlling a gate voltage of the drive TFT (i.e., a drain voltage of the switch TFT), thereby further controlling luminance of an organic light emitting layer corresponding to each of the pixel units.

Array substrate and method for fabricating the same


A turbine having a stationary shroud ring formed about rotor blades. The stationary shroud ring may include an inner shroud segment. The inner shroud segment may include a cooling configuration that includes a crossflow channel. The crossflow channel may extend lengthwise between an upstream end and a downstream end, and, therebetween, include a junction point that divides the crossflow channel lengthwise into upstream and downstream sections, with the upstream section extending between the upstream end and the junction point, and the downstream section extending between the junction point and the downstream end. The crossflow channel may have a cross-sectional flow area that varies lengthwise such that a cross-sectional flow area of the upstream section decreases between the upstream end and the junction point, and a cross-sectional flow area of the downstream section increases between the junction point and the downstream end.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to hot gas path components within the turbine of a gas turbine engine, and, more specifically, but not by way of limitation, to the interior structure and cooling configuration of stationary shrouds formed about turbine rotor blades.
Gas turbine engines include compressor and turbine sections in which rows of blades are axially stacked in stages. Each stage typically includes a row of circumferentially-spaced stator blades, which are fixed, and a row of rotor blades, which rotate about a central turbine axis or shaft. In operation, generally, the compressor rotor blades are rotated about the shaft, and, acting in concert with the stator blades, compress a flow of air. This supply of compressed air then is used within a combustor to combust a supply of fuel. The resulting flow of hot expanding combustion gases, which is often referred to as working fluid, is then expanded through the turbine section of the engine. Within the turbine, the working fluid is redirected by the stator blades onto the rotor blades so to power rotation. Stationary shrouds may be constructed about the rotor blades to define a boundary of the hot gas path. The rotor blades are connected to a central shaft such that the rotation of the rotor blades rotates the shaft, and, in this manner, the energy of the fuel is converted into the mechanical energy of the rotating shaft, which, for example, may be used to rotate the rotor blades of the compressor, so to produce the supply of compressed air needed for combustion, as well as, rotate the coils of a generator so to generate electrical power. During operation, because of the high temperatures, velocity of the working fluid, and rotational velocity of the engine, many of the components within the hot gas path become highly stressed by extreme mechanical and thermal loads.
Many industrial applications, such as those involving power generation and aviation, still rely heavily on gas turbine engines, and because of this, the design of more efficient engines is an ongoing objective. Even incremental advances in machine performance, efficiency, or cost-effectiveness are meaningful in the competitive markets that have evolved around this technology. While there are several known strategies for improving the efficiency of gas turbines—for example, increasing the size of the engine, firing temperatures, or rotational velocities—each generally places additional strain on hot gas path components that are already highly stressed. As a result, there remains a general need for improved apparatus, methods or systems for alleviating such stresses or, alternatively, enhancing the durability of such components so they may better withstand them. For example, the extreme temperatures of the hot gas path stress the stationary shrouds formed about the rows of rotor blades, causing degradation and shortening the useful life of the component. Novel shroud designs are needed that optimize coolant and sealing efficiency, while also being cost-effective to construct, durable, and flexible in application.


A computer system includes multiple processing threads that execute in parallel. The multiple processing threads have access to a global environment including different types of metadata enabling the processing threads to carry out simultaneous execution depending on a currently selected type of lock mode. A mode controller monitoring the processing threads initiates switching from one type of lock mode to another depending on current operating conditions such as an amount of contention amongst the multiple processing threads to modify the shared data. The mode controller can switch from one lock mode another regardless of whether any of the multiple processes are in the midst of executing a respective transaction. A most efficient lock mode can be selected to carry out the parallel transactions. In certain cases, switching of lock modes causes one or more of the processing threads to abort and retry a respective transaction according to the new mode.

There has been an ongoing trend in the information technology industry to execute software programs more quickly. For example, there are various conventional advancements that provide for increased execution speed of software programs.
One technique for increasing execution speed of a program is called parallelism. Parallelism is the practice of executing or performing multiple things simultaneously. Parallelism can be possible on multiple levels, from executing multiple instructions at the same time, to executing multiple threads at the same time, to executing multiple programs at the same time, and so on. Instruction Level Parallelism or ILP is parallelism at the lowest level and involves executing multiple instructions simultaneously. Processors that exploit ILP are typically called multiple-issue processors, meaning they can issue multiple instructions in a single clock cycle to the various functional units on the processor chip.
There are different types of conventional multiple-issue processors. One type of multiple-issue processor is a superscalar processor in which a sequential list of program instructions are dynamically scheduled. A respective processor determines which instructions can be executed on the same clock cycle, and sends them out to their respective functional units to be executed. This type of multi-issue processor is called an in-order-issue processor since issuance of instructions is performed in the same sequential order as the program sequence, but issued instructions may complete at different times (e.g., short instructions requiring fewer cycles may complete before longer ones requiring more cycles).
Another type of multi-issue processor is called a VLIW (Very Large Instruction Width) processor. A VLIW processor depends on a compiler to do all the work of instruction reordering and the processor executes the instructions that the compiler provides as fast as possible according to the compiler-determined order. Other types of multi-issue processors issue out of order instructions, meaning the instruction issue order is not be the same order as the order of instructions as they appear in the program.
Conventional techniques for executing instructions using ILP can utilize look-ahead techniques to find a larger amount of instructions that can execute in parallel within an instruction window. Looking-ahead often involves determining which instructions might depend upon others during execution for such things as shared variables, shared memory, interference conditions, and the like. When scheduling, a handler associated with the processor detects a group of instructions that do not interfere or depend on each other. The processor can then issue execution of these instructions in parallel thus conserving processor cycles and resulting in faster execution of the program.
One type of conventional parallel processing involves a use of coarse-grained locking. As its name suggests, coarse-grained locking over a large segment of shared data prevents conflicting groups of code from operating on different processes at the same time based on use of lockouts. Accordingly, this technique enables non-conflicting transactions or sets of instructions to execute in parallel.
Another type of conventional parallel processing involves a use of fine-grain locking. As its name suggests, fine-grain locking over a small region of memory prevents conflicting instructions from being simultaneously executed in parallel based on use of lockouts. This technique therefore enables non-conflicting instructions to execute in parallel.

Methods and apparatus to implement parallel transactions


In some examples, a method including wirelessly communicating, using an external medical device, with an implantable medical device via a telemetry head device, wherein the telemetry head device includes a power source configured to supply operational power to the telemetry head device; determining a first power level of the power source while the external medical device wirelessly communicates with the implantable medical device via the telemetry head device; suspending wireless communication between the implantable medical device and the external medical device based on the determined first power level. The wireless communication may be resumed, e.g., at the point communication was suspended, upon determining that the power level of the power source has been increased after the communication was suspended.

A variety of medical devices are used for chronic, i.e., long-term, delivery of fluid therapy to patients suffering from a variety of conditions, such as chronic pain, tremor, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, urinary or fecal incontinence, sexual dysfunction, obesity, spasticity, or gastroparesis. For example, pumps or other fluid delivery devices can be used for chronic delivery of therapeutic agents, such as drugs, to patients. These devices are intended to provide a patient with a therapeutic output to alleviate or assist with a variety of conditions. Typically, such devices are implanted in a patient and provide a therapeutic output under specified conditions on a recurring basis. As another example,
One type of implantable fluid delivery device is a drug infusion device that can deliver a fluid medication to a patient at a selected site. A drug infusion device may be implanted at a location in the body of a patient and deliver a fluid medication through a catheter to a selected delivery site in the body. Drug infusion devices, such as implantable drug pumps, commonly include a reservoir for holding a supply of a therapeutic fluid, such as a drug, for delivery to a site in the patient. The fluid reservoir can be self-sealing and accessible through one or more ports. A pump is fluidly coupled to the reservoir for delivering the therapeutic substance to the patient. A catheter provides a pathway for delivering the therapeutic substance from the pump to the delivery site in the patient.
As another example, a variety of medical devices are used for chronic, e.g., long-term, delivery of electrical stimulation therapy to patients suffering from conditions that range from chronic pain, tremor, Parkinson's disease, and epilepsy, to urinary or fecal incontinence, sexual dysfunction, obesity, spasticity, and gastroparesis. As an example, electrical stimulation generators are used for chronic delivery of electrical stimulation therapies such as neurostimulation, muscle stimulation, target organ stimulation, or the like. Electrical stimulation may be delivered in the form of series of electrical pulses that form a stimulation waveform that may be characterized by a number of the different shapes and forms. Typically, such devices provide therapy continuously or periodically according to parameters contained within a program. A program may comprise respective values for each parameter in a set of therapeutic parameters specified by a clinician. For example, a program may define characteristics of the electrical pulses defining the stimulation waveform, including pulse width, pulse frequency, constant voltage or constant current amplitude, and electrode polarity (anode or cathode).

Medical device communication with wireless telemetry head


A communication system housing a plurality of terminals capable of processing one or more media is provided with an available terminal information storage section for storing a terminal or terminals to be used for each user, an available media information storage section for storing a medium or media or a media realization scheme or schemes to be used for each terminal, a determination section for determining a combination of one or more media or one or more media realization schemes and a terminal combination of one or more terminals to be used by each user in accordance with the contents of the available terminal information storage section and the available media information storage section for each of users engaged in communications according to communication requests and a control section for controlling setting of call/connections based on the media combination and the terminal combination determined by the determination section.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a communication system for providing multimedia services and a communication control method of controlling the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
The developments of electronic equipment, computer technology and communication technology in recent years enable us to transfer various media, including not only sounds but also images (video and still images) and data, among terminals. Multimedia services can now be provided for allowing us to freely transfer these.
It is needless to say that in order to use various media when attempting to utilize such services, called users must be fully equipped to accept such media. Terminals used by called users may not function to respond to communication requests including a plurality of media. The called users may be equipped with terminal devices capable of dealing with all kinds of media, telephone terminal for processing simply sounds, visual telephone terminals and the like for processing video and still images and sounds or facsimile and telephone sets for processing image information and sounds. Indeed, functions vary in accordance with the kinds of terminal units built up on the called user.
Individual terminals may not be able to process all of the plurality of media contained in the communication request. However, by combining the functions of various terminals, it is possible to deal with the plurality of media contained in such requests.
Conventionally, in such situations, in order to accept the plurality of media contained in the communication requests, it was necessary for users (calling users) sending such communication request to recognize what kinds of media the terminals used by the called users could process and then start a connection request for each terminal. For this reason, it has been difficult to perform predetermined communications due to complexity of preparatory states for practical purposes.
Therefore, in order to utilize various media when attempting to use multimedia services, the terminal units built in the called user must be fully corresponded to the various media.
For conferencing communication by using an audio terminal and a data terminal, there is available a technique disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 63-1140, which provides a method of making connections to these terminals when a request for starting conference is made. According to this method, upon receiving a particular number indicating a request for starting conference conducted by combining sounds and data, connections are made to the prefixed audio and data terminals.
Consequently, this method lacks general applicability and thus may not provide a high level of freedom for combined connections.

Communication system and communication control method for the same


Communicating an audio message to a listener of an audio player device. An audio message file is generated at a workstation and sent to the audio player device via a network. In response to receipt of the audio message file, the audio player device halts play of a song or other audio content that was being played by the audio player device at a time of receipt of the audio message file, and plays the audio message file. Alternately, the audio player device plays the audio message file after completion of play of the song or other audio content that was being played by the audio player device at a time of receipt of the audio message file.

Known MP3 players play audio, such as music. An MP3 player can load audio content such as a song from an external storage device such as a hard drive, CD/DVD or a memory stick. Alternately, an MP3 player can download the audio content from a server via a network. The MP3 player can either store the downloaded audio content in internal storage for subsequent fetching and playing or play it in real time as it is downloaded from the server, i.e. "streaming" mode. A WiFi enabled MP3 player can also download audio content via a wireless connection to a local WiFi port. The user can manually select each unit of audio content, for example, each song, for playing, or initiate playing of songs in a predetermined order.
Various forms of electronic communication are also well known today, such as e-mail and instant messaging.
An object of the present invention is to expand electronic communication.

System, method and program for controlling MP3 player

International Business Machines Corporation


A cartridge for propelling a pair of wire-tethered contact darts for disabling a remote target with an electrical discharge. The cartridge comprises two bores each having one wire-tethered dart in front of an electrically activated pyrotechnic. A cartridge contains two separated straight bores, which each launch a single dart assemblage with a single primer of standard manufacture. A single 200 large rifle primer can launch a single dart assemblage reasonably accurately to 30 feet from the cartridge. Each assemblage is deflected to a predicted angle of flight when it collides with a center hinged cover as it exits the cartridge. This arrangement allows for longer flight distances and tighter, but still effective, dart spreads throughout the travel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of electrical discharge weapons and specifically to a method and apparatus for improving their effectiveness.
2. Background Art
Stun pistols are weapons that connect a shocking power supply to a remote human target. Peace officers routinely use stun pistols to incapacitate violent suspects when lethal force is not justified. Stun pistols have a lower lethality than conventional side arms.
A stun pistol fires a pair of electrically opposed darts toward a target. Each dart has a trailing conductor, which remains connected to an alternate pole of a shocking supply. When both of the paired darts contact the target, a shock is passed between the darts through the target.
Both darts and tethered conductors are contained within the single Y shaped bore of an ammunition cartridge prior to firing. A variation of such a cartridge is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,654,867 to Murray (April, 1997). Looking at FIG. 12 therein, the dart assemblages 69, 67, 62 and 71, 77, 64 are each seated in the bore in front of a single metal cased propelling primer 78 at the bore exits along with a portion of their tethered conductor (not shown). Each conductor then feeds from the back of its dart assemblage and out through the bore to one of two wire storage chambers (not shown) in the cartridge and, then, alternatively, to either supply contact 83 or supply contact 78, which is also the propelling primer. Desirably, the lower or angle launched dart assembly 71, 77, 64 is connected to supply contact 83 to avoid arcing shorts between the alternate 69, 67, 62 assemblage and the 83 contact when attempting to pass a shock through a remote target.
When the stun pistol's power supply is energized, the sparking current passes through the tethered conductor from 83 to 64, arcs between 64 and 62, passes through the remaining tethered conductor from 62 to 82 and, then, sparks from 82 to 78 and ignites the detonating powder (typically a mixture comprising lead styphnate and glass frit, which aids percussion ignition) contained therein. The dart assemblages are propelled forward and the circuit opens until it again completes through a remote human target. A Berdan type 200 large rifle primer, with its anvil removed for electrical ignition, can launch both darts to a distance of up to 15 feet from the pistol without a projectile drop significant enough to effect aiming accuracy. The bore is not rifled to spin the darts, so with wire drag and gravitation forces, the flight of the darts follows a standard downward trajectory arc, which is mitigated by dart velocity, which, among other things, reduces the time of flight to the target as the dart will remain in flight only for the time it would take for the dart to drop most directly from the launcher horizontally to ground. Depending on the transformer orientation, the current might also follow a reverse path from 78 to 83 to ignite the propellant charge.
Stun pistol cartridges are small, compact, easily transportable rounds, which are suitable for loading into a small handheld firearm. Depending upon the ammunition manufacturer, the nearest perimeter of each bore exit is between ⅛th inch to 6/8th inch distant from the other. However, when contacting a target, the darts must be at least 7 inches distant from each other for the stun pistol shocks to pass through enough musculature to incapacitate an assailant. Stun pistols incapacitate by rigidly fixating joints. Each shock causes the muscle in its path to contract. Stun pistol pulses are repeated at a rate where the muscle cannot fully return to a relaxed state between shocks. The muscle remains in a temporarily shortened or taunt state while the train of pulses passes through it. Thereby, joints may become fixated, and if enough of the musculoskeletal system is involved, the target is incapacitated. Accordingly, manufacturers angle one or both of the cartridge bores from horizontal, so the darts will become more distant from each other in flight from the bore exits to the target. Depending upon ammunition manufacturer, launching angles are between 7° and 11°. This means that the darts may not be sufficiently distant from each other to pass an incapacitating shock train during the first 3 feet to 4 feet of flight and are likely too distant to both land in a target to complete a shocking circuit after 15 feet of flight. The best effective stun pistol range is from 8 feet to 12 feet. Depending on the manufacturer, a stun pistol's high tension pulse train occurs at a frequency of 10 to 25 pulses per second and a power of between 2.5 and 25 watts.
It is quite risky for a peace officer, armed with a stun pistol, to be within 15 feet, even 21 feet, of a violent suspect. Should the officer miss the suspect when firing or the stun pistol fail to incapacitate the suspect for another reason, the suspect might easily reach and attempt to overpower the officer before he or she could draw their side arm or other weapon. In the ensuing scuffle, the officer might lose his or her side arm and be killed or injured with it.
Of course, there are additional obstacles to improving stun pistol range. As stated, the cartridge launches its darts by explosion of a primer without any other propellant charge in much the same way that the original Louis Flobert (1819-1894) rim fire cartridge, using only a modified percussion cap, launched its projectile or BB pellett. As stated, a single 200 large rifle primer will launch both cartridge darts reasonably accurately to 15 feet from a cartridge's Y bore. However, to launch both darts with reasonable accuracy to 21 feet from a cartridge's Y bore, the primer cup must have the full propellant charge from both a 200 large rifle primer and a 400 small rifle primer. To launch both darts with reasonable accuracy to 30 feet from a cartridges Y bore, the primer cup must have the full propellant charge from two 200 large rifle primers. Moreover, even when launched with propellant from both a 200 large rifle primer and a 400 small rifle primer, the darts may not have sufficient force to impale into a target that is 21 feet distant from the cartridge. While the muzzle velocity of the darts is about 200 feet/second, the impact velocity after a 21 foot flight is only about 50 feet/second.
As observed, primers are intended to detonate a propellant powder by convection or, in other words, flash ignition. Primer ignition is not normally, itself, intended to propel projectiles. The routine inconsistency of the mixture of detonating powder in the primers causes bullet velocity spreads of from 15 fps to 100 fps. While this variation is normally not problematic where bullets are also propelled by the primer detonated propellant powder to typical muzzle velocities of over 1000 fps, the variation is a problem when projectiles are propelled by the detonating charge alone.
Optimally, the primer gases envelop a propellant powder's grains with enough thermal energy, conductivity and depth, so the surfaces of the grains are kept above their kindling point from primer flash until each grain completely ignites. The energy available to flash ignite the propellant powder is the energy supplied by the discharging primer less the energy used to heat the other normally highly heat conductive components of the system, like the cartridge's metal case and bullet and the metal firearm receiver. The gases enveloping the powder grains are typically heating to 5300° F.
Of course, if the detonating charge in the primer is increased, heating within a cartridge case will increase. Such increases are problematic for stun pistol cartridges. As the primer flash enlarges, it can even melt wiring that is distant from the primer within the cartridge. The wire tethered at the dart assembly is 36 AWG copperweld insulated with a 0.005 to 0.075 wall of Tefzel. The melt point of copper is just 1981° F. If the wire melts away and detaches from the assemblage, the dart will launch to a remote human target without its tethered conductor, and the shocking circuit will, of course, not complete through the target. This is a minor risk even when the stun pistol darts are launched by a single 200 large rifle primer, which contains its standard charge of detonating powder. Some manufacturer's primers burn "hotter" than others. In ascending order of "hotness" are Remington, CCI/Speer and Winchester primers. CCI/Speer primers are typically specified for stun pistol ammunition. Using, even, CCI/Speer 200 "magnum" rifle primers, which burn hotter than the standard 200 primer, results in a statistically significant number of wire tethers melting, as certainly does adding propellant from a 400 small rifle primer or doubling the charge in a 200 large rifle primer. Doubling the charge will also melt portions of the necessarily insulative plastic cartridge cases, which are shot from high impact D305 ABS plastic.

Method and apparatus for improving the effectiveness of electrical discharge weapons


A method for operating an optical sensor which has a light receptor that receives line-by-line reflected or returned light for a complete picture. At least some of the received pictures are compressed with a picture compression algorithm. To process the picture and more quickly store it in a memory-saving manner, the optoelectronic sensors compress the picture simultaneously with its receipt by the receptor. Optoelectronic sensors for use in this manner can be a code laser or a laser scanner for determining distance or generating separation pictures.

The present invention relates to optoelectronic sensors, and especially to code readers, and to a method for operating such sensors, which involves receiving reflected light of a complete picture or visual representation line-by-line with a light receptor and compressing at least some of the pictures with a picture compression algorithm.
Optoelectronic sensors such as code readers read codes, such as one-dimensional bar codes or two-dimensional matrix codes, and they operate according to a variety of principles. Code readers which employ the scanner principle read the code by scanning a light beam over the object in question, for example a label carrying a bar code. Light reflected or returned by the object is received by a light receptor and converted into electronic signals. Bar code information is derived from amplitude information of the electronic signals.
Two-dimensional codes are typically read with code readers that operate on the camera principle. The object in question is illuminated with surface lighting or line-like light fields, which results in light that is reflected or returned by the object and received by a one- or two-dimensional receiver array, for example a CCD or CMOS line or matrix sensor. By making use of the amplitude differences of the received pixels, the code and therefrom code information can be derived.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,703,349 discloses a portable code reader which compresses received pictures prior to further processing them to facilitate, for example, their wireless transmission.
The compression of pictures is also useful for a variety of other applications. Such applications include, for example, the storage of selected pictures, such as reference pictures or pictures containing errors, which can be used for the subsequent analysis of errors, or test pictures with which the sensor can learn certain parameters, and similar uses.

Method for operating optoelectronic sensors and sensor


A system and method for wireless communication is disclosed. In one embodiment of a method, a user of a wireless device initiates a communication session during which a wireless data session can be triggered from a voice session and a voice session can be triggered from a wireless data session. During the communication session, data is shared between the wireless data channel and the voice channel.

Access to data and services through electronic networks has become a necessary part of everyday personal and business life. Especially since the Internet became widely accessible, many people increasingly rely on accessing Internet data and services through a variety of devices. Businesses, or enterprises, also use networks to make specific data and services available to employees, partners, and customers. Traditionally, the devices used to access networks were wired to the network. Examples include wired computers and wired telephones. Increasingly, however, people want to be able to access network data and services anywhere using portable, wireless devices such as wireless telephones and hand-held personal data assistants (PDAs). Enterprises now seek the ability to provide wireless access to data and services that is just as complete and easy as wired access. The arrival of wireless Internet telephone devices makes it possible to integrate voice and data services that combine the advantages of either access method. Integration of multiple communication channels such as voice and wireless data has, however, proven challenging.
Traditional multi-channel integration approaches to, for example, customer relations management (CRM), only involve computer telephone integration/interactive voice response (CTI/IVR), web, email, chat, and voice over Internet protocol (IP). Existing integration approaches have the disadvantage of sharing multiple data sources that at best facilitate one channel process (e.g., voice channel with screen pops for a call agent). The lack of channel integration in traditional approaches hinders a satisfactory solution to wireless access to enterprise data and applications, or services.
Without effective integration, accessing a wireless applications protocol (WAP) site for the first time is difficult for several reasons. A standard web browser with a keyboard makes it relatively easy to locate a new web site or directly enter a uniform resource locator (URL). Mobile wireless devices have limited input and user interface capability, however, compared to a computer with a standard web browser. A WAP telephone, for example, doesn't easily allow the typical hyperlinking, searching, bookmarking, or URL entry required to effectively navigate. This creates a significant barrier to the use of a WAP site.
Another disadvantage of traditional techniques for accessing WAP sites is that access to homepages is complicated and inefficient. Typically, homepages in the WAP/HDTP world are controlled by the carrier or must to be manually entered by the user on a wireless device. In the former case, which is characteristic in the United States, to go to a URL for an enterprise site not on carrier's homepage, the user must go through the inconvenience of finding the "goto place" and entering the URL. To avoid this, a large enterprise (e.g. America Online™) might have to pay to be on the carrier's homepage. In the latter case, the user has to enter the URL using the awkward wireless device configuration. In either case, a new URL change results in an awkward data entry process.
Another disadvantage of traditional techniques for accessing WAP sites is inferior device location technology. For many applications, the current location of the wireless device is important. For example, map services or yellow page services may be keyed to the location of the wireless user in order to provide only pertinent information. While multiple location technologies exist, not all are expected to be available and operational in every network, for every device, and at each location within the network. Furthermore, the position measurements retrieved from the location networks may require further processing to obtain the desired data format or related information (e.g., directions to a site). Besides location processing, there is also a need to obtain proper authorization for locating a mobile device. Current approaches lack the ability to mediate among network entities, preferences, authorizations, and related functions.
Another disadvantage of traditional techniques for accessing WAP sites is a cumbersome method for handling sign-on processes for multiple, disparate applications. Some "single sign-on" services exist for providing a more uniform user experience when signing on to different applications. Existing single-sign-on services, however, typically impose a single authentication scheme to which all participating applications must conform.
Another disadvantage of traditional techniques for accessing WAP sites is the difficulty of moving between sites and managing the wireless sessions on each site. Existing systems may not allow a wireless user to maintain multiple sessions, including leaving one site for another, and returning to the original location at the original site.
Traditional techniques for accessing WAP sites rely on desktop-based or client-based cookie management. Some network-based cookie systems provide only cookie store and deliver mechanisms, but do not provide privacy management and security management. Current network-based cookie systems do not support multiple devices of the same user.
Current methods for registering a wireless device with a web site have several disadvantages. For example, to verify the phone number of the device entered by a user at registration, current methods send a short message service (SMS) message containing a code to the device. The user must enter the code in the registration process to continue. This verification process requires the user to switch between wireless device modes of WAP browsing and the wireless device's internal SMS message application. This increases the number of steps involved in completing the registration. On many wireless devices, the WAP browser will not maintain its state while the SMS message is being accessed. Therefore, the user must re-enter the WAP registration application to supply the code. Because use of the registration application in most cases will require the manual entry of a URL into a wireless device, re-entry involves repeating that manual entry, thus imposing a major barrier to use of the application.
Many wireless device users choose to receive messages and alerts of many different kinds on their devices. Existing wireless alert systems usually integrate the delivery of alerts with the generation of alerts. The delivery mechanism is normally one-way based and does not deal with two-way based actionable alerts. Furthermore, existing wireless alert systems do not handle escalation, which may be desirable when a message is not responded to within some time period.

Method and system for wireless voice channel/data channel integration


Disclosed is a DRAM circuit that incorporates an improved reference cell, has half the capacitance of the memory cell, does not require a particular reference voltage, and can be formed using the same fabrication processes as the memory cell. This DRAM circuit comprises a memory cell with a single trench capacitor and a reference cell having two trench capacitors. The two reference cell trench capacitors are connected in series through a merged buried capacitor plate such that they provide half the capacitance of the memory cell trench capacitor. Additionally, the reference cell trench capacitors have essentially the same structure as the memory cell trench capacitor so that they can be formed in conjunction with the memory cell trench capacitor. Also disclosed are a design structure for the above-described memory circuit and a method for forming the above-described memory circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The embodiments of the invention generally relate to dynamic random access memory (DRAM) circuits and, more particularly, to a DRAM circuit with a reference cell having two trench capacitors connected in series as well as a design structure for such a circuit and an associated method of forming such a circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Ground sensing or VDD sensing schemes of DRAM circuits (e.g., embedded DRAM (eDRAM) circuits) provide many advantages in improving memory performance. However, such sensing schemes require a unique reference cell for providing a reference voltage for sensing. A conventional reference cell in a DRAM circuit comprises two access transistors and a single capacitor. The capacitor in the reference cell is exactly the same as the capacitor in the memory cell. Therefore, in order to differentiate reference cell data from the memory cell data and provide a reference voltage, the reference cell requires a particular power supply voltage, VREF. VREF should provide a large amount of current and be very stable during high frequency operation. However, as the operation frequency of DRAM circuits and of eDRAM circuits in particular increases, it is becoming more and more difficult to provide a stable, high current, VREF to the reference cell capacitor. Consequently, using VREF as a sensing reference creates lot of noise and degrades sensing operation and memory performance. Therefore, there is a need in the art for a DRAM circuit reference cell that uses an alternative means for providing a sensing reference.

Dynamic random access memory circuit, design structure and method


A semiconductor circuit apparatus comprises a substrate and a circuit block including a memory formed on the substrate. The circuit block performs regular operations at a first power supply voltage in an active mode, and a part of the circuit block is stopped and the memory keeps stored data at a second power supply voltage smaller than the first power supply voltage in a power save mode. The memory holds the stored data during the power save mode, resulting in higher speed return to a regular active mode, as well as power consumption reduction.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a semiconductor circuit apparatus, more particularly, a semiconductor circuit apparatus having a power save mode and an active mode.
2. Description of Related Art
Semiconductor technological advances and more multifaceted and sophisticated products have given rise to demand for faster, more sophisticated, larger scale and less power consumption semiconductor circuits. In order to meet such demand, semiconductor chips with system on chip structure, in which multiple circuit blocks of different functions are formed, are widely used. Further, semiconductor circuit chips which have multiple operation modes are proposed to reduce the power consumption. Such electrical products have a standby mode, which is a power save mode, in which a part of the circuit is deactivated so that the standby power consumption is reduced.
One typical example of electric device with the standby mode is a handheld mobile device, such as a cellular phone and PDA (Personal Digital Assistance). Since the mobile devices use a battery as a power supply and there is a demand for long continuous use, the reduction of power consumption of semiconductor circuit chips is highly demanded. Furthermore, as more sophisticated cellular phones are introduced, more sophisticated and higher operation speed semiconductor circuit chips are significantly required.
Though a cellular phone needs to operate constantly in preparation for incoming calls, not all the circuit needs to operate constantly. Power consumption reduction is accomplished by activating only the necessary circuits during the standby period. An increase of the drive voltage results in higher speed circuit, but an increase in the drive voltage can lead to increased power consumption. Therefore, a technique is proposed which reduces the drive voltage and the thickness of gate insulating film of a device to accomplish reduced power consumption, as well as achieving high speed operation with increased on-current.
FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of a related semiconductor circuit apparatus having multiple circuit blocks and a standby mode as an operation mode. A semiconductor circuit apparatus comprises the first circuit block 1001, the second circuit block 1002 and I/O circuit part 1003. The first and second circuit blocks 1001, 1002 have a processor, a memory, an analog circuit portion part and a digital circuit part, respectively. Each of circuit blocks 1001-1003 has an interface control circuit.
FIG. 11 shows the power supply voltage levels in an active mode and a standby mode. Vdd1, Vdd2 and Vdd3 correspond to the voltage levels of the first circuit block 1001, the second circuit block 1002 and I/O circuit part 1003, respectively. When entering the standby mode from the regular active mode, power supply to the second circuit block 1002 is stopped and only the first circuit block 1001 and I/O circuit part 1003 operate. The first circuit block 1001 contains a circuit which controls switching to the active mode and a memory for storing data necessary to return to the active mode.
In the above semiconductor circuit apparatus, the thicknesses of gate insulating films of respective circuit blocks may be set to different values. Specifically, it follows: I/O circuit part 1003>first circuit block 1001>second circuit block 1002. Thinner gate insulating films of the second circuit block 1002 which operates in the active mode allow high speed operation of the circuit block. Furthermore, thicker gate insulating films of the first circuit block 1001 and I/O circuit part 1003 which operate in the standby mode afford a reduction in leak current and reduction in power consumption in the standby mode. A semiconductor circuit apparatus configured as above is disclosed in Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 2003-188351. Besides, Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 2001-156260, for example, discloses a technique varying the gate insulating film thickness from circuit block to circuit block.
The above mentioned circuit configuration can reduce the power consumption by using the standby mode. It has now been discovered that in the transition to the standby mode in the above semiconductor circuit apparatus, it is needed to fix input signals from the second circuit block 1002 to other circuit blocks, and also needed to clamp to ground or separate output signals from other circuit blocks to the second circuit block 1002 in order to stop the power supply to the second circuit block 1002. Thus, the sequence to stop power supply to the second circuit block 1002 is necessary, as well as an interface control circuit.
Also, a regular power-on sequence is needed to return from the standby mode to the active mode and resume the power supply to the second circuit block since each node level is undefined. The circuit configuration and sequence for mode switching is thus complicated, and it takes long time to go into the active mode from the standby mode. And, the leak current control by changing only the thickness of a gate oxide film can not meet the requirements of both the operation performance during the active mode and leak current reduction during the standby mode.

Semiconductor circuit apparatus with power save mode


A construction accessory for use with a construction panel includes a flange having an inner surface adapted to face the construction panel and an outer surface opposite the inner surface. The flange further includes at least one perforation extending through the flange between the inner surface and the outer surface and a depression in the inner surface. The depression is in communication with said at least one perforation.

Construction accessories come in a variety of different configurations, shapes and sizes, and serve a variety of different functions in both interior and exterior construction applications. Construction accessories have various uses such as supporting panels, supporting coatings of construction fluid materials, producing durable straight lines, smooth curves and arches, providing soffit ventilation, controlling expansion and contraction, and protecting comers and edges. Construction accessories further protect and preserve edges of construction panels, such as wallboard, from impact and condensation. Examples of construction accessories include corner beads, casing beads, control joints, expansion (slip) joints, channel reveals, soffit vents, shadow reveals, drip reveals, vented drip reveals, weep screeds, L-beads, J-beads, arc beads, panel edges and drip casing beads. The construction accessories are typically extruded or molded from a variety of different materials such as aluminum, zinc, galvanized steel, and various polymer and vinyl compounds.
Construction accessories typically include at least one flange which is configured to extend adjacent to a construction panel or substrate. Many construction accessories are additionally intended for use with construction fluid materials such as stucco, plaster, finishing compounds and polymer or cement-based matrixes. The flanges of such construction accessories are typically manufactured with perforations or apertures extending through the flange to allow the construction fluid materials to flow through the apertures and bond or anchor to the construction panel or substrate. However, because the flange often abuts the substrate, the construction fluid material does not adequately flow between the flange and the construction panel or substrate. As a result, the amount of construction fluid material between the flange and the substrate is insufficient to properly bond to the substrate. Consequently, the construction fluid material cracks upon drying and hardening.
This problem is exacerbated when the flange is made out of a vinyl compound such as polyvinylchloride and when the construction fluid material is relatively thin such as with cement matrixes including high quantities of the acrylic modifiers. Construction accessories formed from vinyl compounds such as polyvinylchloride (PVC) are generally preferred over construction accessories formed from other materials such as zinc, aluminum or galvanized steel due to several factors such as the durability, corrosion resistance, solid color, paint adhesion properties, ignition resistance, electrical conductivity, impact resistance, and expansion and contraction characteristics. Moreover, construction accessories formed from vinyl compounds are generally less expensive as compared to equivalent products manufactured in galvanized steel, zinc or aluminum. However, forming adequate bonds to construction accessories formed from vinyl compounds is extremely difficult. As a result, some construction accessories formed from vinyl compounds have been provided with striations. These striations have a V-shaped cross-section and are conventionally formed in surfaces of the construction accessories facing away from the construction panel or substrate. Each striation has converging side surfaces which are spaced apart from one another slightly less than 1/16 of a inch at the top of the V-shaped cross-section. Despite the purported advantages of striations, such striations do not effectively increase the bonding of cement modified construction fluid materials to construction accessories formed from vinyl compounds.


There is disclosed a substituted anthryl derivative is represented by the following general formula (1). The use of the substituted anthryl derivative allows the production of an organic electroluminescence device showing an extremely pure luminescence hue, and an optical output with high luminous efficiency, high luminance, and long life

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an organic electroluminescence device, and more particularly, to a device from which light is emitted by applying an electric field on a thin film made of an organic compound.
2. Related Background Art
An organic electroluminescence device (hereinafter, simply referred to as an organic EL device) is a device that includes a thin film made of a fluorescence compound between an anode and a cathode, generates an exciton from the fluorescence compound by injection of an electron and an electron hole (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a hole) from each electrode, and uses light to be radiated when the exciton returns to the ground state.
The study conducted by Eastman Kodak Company in 1987 (Tang and SA Van Slyke, Appl. Phys. Lett., 51, p. 913, (1987)) reported light emission at about 1,000 cd/m2 by an applied voltage of about 10 V from a device including a function-separated two-layer structure having an anode made of ITO and a cathode made of magnesium-silver alloy where an aluminum quinolinol complex is used as each of an electron-transporting material and a light-emitting material and a triphenylamine derivative is used as a hole-transporting material. In this case, related patent documents include U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,539,507, 4,720,432, and 4,885,211.
In addition, light emission at spectra ranging from ultra-violet through infra-red can be allowed by changing the type of a fluorescence organic material. Recently, various compounds have been studied actively and described in many publications such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,151,629, 5,409,783, and 5,382,477, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. H02-247278, H03-255190, H05-202356, H09-202878 and H09-2275756.
Furthermore, in addition to the organic EL devices using low molecular weight materials as described above, an organic EL device using a conjugated polymer has been reported from the group of the Cambridge University (Nature, 347, 539 (1990)). This report has confirmed light emission from a monolayer by film formation with polyphenylene vinylene (PPV) in a coating system. Patents related to an organic EL device using a conjugated polymer include U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,247,190, 5,514,878, and 5,672,678, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. H04-145192 and H05-247460.
Recently, furthermore, an organic phosphorescence device using an iridium complex such as Ir (ppy)3 (Appl. Phys. Lett., 75, 4 (1999)) has been attracting attention and high luminous efficiency thereof has been reported.
Recent advances in organic EL devices are remarkable and the characteristics thereof allow the formation of light-emitting devices having high luminance with a low applied voltage, the variety of emission wavelengths, high-speed responsiveness, low profile, and lightweight, suggesting the possibility for extensive uses. However, organic EL devices still involve many problems in durability, such as chronological changes by prolonged use, and degradation with atmospheric gases containing oxygen, humidity, or the like. When applications of organic EL devices to full-color displays and so on are taken into consideration, under the present circumstances, blue-, green-, and red light-emissions with extended-life, high conversion rate, and high color purity have been demanded.
Examples of the materials and organic EL devices containing anthracene rings include a phenyl anthracene derivative disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H08-012600. In particular, when a phenyl anthracene derivative was used as a blue light-emitting material or an electron-injection transporting material, the phenyl anthracene derivative was believed to allow the formation of a good organic film because of its low crystallinity. However, the luminous efficiency and useful life of the phenyl anthracene ring were insufficient in practical application.
An aminoanthracene derivative and a diaminoanthracene derivative have been disclosed as other examples in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. H09-157643 and H10-072579, respectively. In the documents, those materials were believed to generate green light-emission when they were used as light-emitting materials. However, devices prepared from those materials showed insufficient luminous efficiencies and their useful lives were still insufficient in practical application.
Japanese Patent No. 3008897 disclosed as another example a device using a particular bianthryl compound as a light-emitting material, which was believed to attain light emission with high luminance. However, the publication describes nothing about luminous efficiency and useful life.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-008068 disclosed as still another example a device using a particular anthracene compound having an olefin portion as a light-emitting material, which was believed to attain light emission from yellow to red. However, the device showed insufficient luminous efficiency in practical application.
Furthermore, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-284050 disclosed as another example a device that contains an anthracene derivative having a particular structure, an electron-transporting compound, and another fluorescence compound in a light-emitting medium layer. This device was believed to provide a red light-emitting device with improved reliability. However, the device showed insufficient luminous efficiency in practical application. In addition, it was difficult to obtain blue light emission because of its device configuration.

Substituted anthryl derivative and electroluminescence device using the same


According to one embodiment a microelectromechanical (MEMS) switch is disclosed. The MEMS switch includes a top movable electrode, and an actutaion electrode with an undoped polysilicon stopper region to contact the top movable electrode when an actuation current is applied. The undoped polysilicon stopper region prevents actuation charging that accumulates over time in a unipolar actuation condition.

Micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) devices have a wide variety of applications and are prevalent in commercial products. One type of MEMS device is a MEMS radio frequency (RF) switch. A typical MEMS RF switch includes one or more MEMS switches arranged in an RF switch array. MEMS RF switches are ideal for wireless devices because of their low power characteristics and ability to operate in radio frequency ranges. MEMS RF switches show their promising applications in cellular telephones, wireless computer networks, communication systems, and radar systems. In wireless devices, MEMS RF switches may be used as antenna switches, mode switches, and transmit/receive switches.
Traditionally, in MEMS switch architecture, dielectric such as oxide or nitride is used on the actuation electrode to prevent electric short when the movable top electrode makes contact with the actuation electrode. However, in a unipolar actuation condition, where voltage is applied in the same polarity, charges are constantly trapped in the non-conductive dielectric and accumulate there over time. This phenomenon is known as "actuation charging". The result of actuation charging is device failure because the trapped charges produce adequate electrostatic force to hold the movable electrode closed.
In order to prevent the actuation charging problem in MEMS switches, bipolar actuation has been used to retrieve charges injected into the dielectric with the opposite polarized voltage. However, such an approach requires a special and expensive bipolar actuation chip design, sometimes costing more than the MEMS device itself.

Mechanism to prevent actuation charging in microelectromechanical actuators


The present disclosure describes implantable therapeutic devices and methods for endovascular placement of devices at a target site, such as an opening at a neck of an aneurysm. In particular, selected embodiments of the present technology comprise a coil loop, or tip, on a portion of the implantable device. The coil tip can provide a soft and/or smooth interface with the aneurysm and can provide improved coverage of the neck of the aneurysm.

Many of the currently available surgical approaches for closing openings and repairing defects in anatomical lumens and tissues (e.g., blood vessels), septal defects, and other types of anatomical irregularities and defects are highly invasive. Surgical methods for clipping brain aneurysms, for example, require opening the skull, cutting or removing overlying brain tissue, clipping and repairing the aneurysm from outside the blood vessel, and then reassembling tissue and closing the skull. Surgical techniques for repairing septal defects are also highly invasive. The risks related to anesthesia, bleeding, and infection associated with these types of procedures are high, and tissue that is affected during the procedure may or may not survive and continue functioning.
Minimally invasive surgical techniques have been developed to place occlusive devices within or across an opening or cavity in the body, such as in the vasculature, spinal column, fallopian tubes, bile ducts, bronchial and other air passageways, and the like. In general, an implantable device is guided along a delivery catheter and through a distal opening of the catheter using a pusher or delivery wire to deploy the device at a target site in the vasculature. Once the occlusive device has been deployed at the target site, it is detached from the pusher mechanism without disturbing placement of the occlusive device or damaging surrounding structures.
Minimally invasive techniques are also highly desirable for treating aneurysms. In general, the minimally invasive therapeutic objective is to prevent material that collects or forms in the cavity from entering the bloodstream and to prevent blood from entering and collecting in the aneurysm. This is often accomplished by introducing various materials and devices into the aneurysm. One class of embolic agents includes injectable fluids or suspensions, such as microfibrillar collagen, various polymeric beads, and polyvinylalcohol foam. Polymeric agents may also be cross-linked to extend their stability at the vascular site. These agents are typically deposited at a target site in the vasculature using a catheter to form a solid space-filling mass. Although some of these agents provide for excellent short-term occlusion, many are thought to allow vessel recanalization due to their absorption into the blood. Other materials, such as hog hair and suspensions of metal particles, have also been proposed and used to promote occlusion of aneurysms. Polymer resins, such as cyanoacrylates, are also employed as injectable vaso-occlusive materials. These resins are typically mixed with a radiopaque contrast material or are made radiopaque by the addition of a tantalum powder. Accurate and timely placement of these mixtures is crucial and very difficult because it is difficult or impossible to control them once they have been placed in the blood flow.
Implantable vaso-occlusive metallic structures are also well known and commonly used. Many conventional vaso-occlusive devices have helical coils constructed from a shape memory material or noble metal that forms a desired coil configuration upon exiting the distal end of a delivery catheter. The function of the coil is to fill the space formed by an anatomical defect and to facilitate the formation of an embolus with the associated allied tissue. Multiple coils of the same or different structures may be implanted serially in a single aneurysm or other vessel defect during a procedure. Implantable framework structures are also used in an attempt to stabilize the wall of the aneurysm or defect prior to insertion of filling material such as coils.
Techniques for delivering conventional metallic vaso-occlusive devices to a target site generally involve a delivery catheter and a detachment mechanism that detaches the devices, such as a coil, from a delivery mechanism after placement at the target site. For example, a microcatheter can be initially steered through the delivery catheter into or adjacent to the entrance of an aneurysm either with or without a steerable guidewire. If a guidewire is used, it is then withdrawn from the microcatheter lumen and replaced by the implantable vaso-occlusive coil. The vaso-occlusive coil is advanced through and out of the microcatheter and thus deposited within the aneurysm or other vessel abnormality. It is crucial to accurately implant such vaso-occlusive devices within the internal volume of a cavity and to maintain the device within the internal volume of the aneurysm. Migration or projection of a vaso-occlusive device from the cavity may interfere with blood flow or nearby physiological structures and poses a serious health risk.
In addition to the difficulties of delivering implantable occlusion devices, some types of aneurysms are challenging to treat because of structural features of the aneurysm or because of particularities of the site. Wide-neck aneurysms, for example, are known to present particular difficulty in the placement and retention of vaso-occlusive coils. Aneurysms at sites of vascular bifurcation are another example where the anatomical structure poses challenges to methods and devices that are effective in treating the typical sidewall aneurysms.
In view of such challenges, implanting conventional embolic coils, other structures, or materials in the internal space of an aneurysm has not been an entirely satisfactory surgical approach. The placement procedure may be arduous and lengthy because it often requires implanting multiple devices, such as coils, serially in the internal space of the aneurysm. Higher risks of complication from such sources as anesthesia, bleeding, thromboembolic events, procedural stroke, and infection are associated with such longer procedures. Moreover, because placement of structures in the internal space of an aneurysm does not generally completely occlude the opening, recanalization of the original aneurysm may occur, and debris and occlusive material may escape from within the aneurysm to create a risk of stroke or vessel blockage. Blood may also flow into the aneurysm after the placement of embolic devices, which may increase the risks of complication and further enlargement of the aneurysm.
Despite the numerous conventional devices and systems available for implanting embolic materials in an aneurysm and for occluding physiological defects using minimally invasive techniques, these procedures remain risky and rarely restore the physiological structure to its normal, healthy condition. It is also challenging to position conventional implantable devices during deployment, prevent shifting or migration of such devices after deployment, and preserve blood flow in neighboring vessels following after deployment.

Systems and methods for enclosing an anatomical opening, including coil-tipped aneurysm devices


A mobile communication system includes base stations, a mobile services switching center, a digital transmission system connecting the base stations to the mobile services switching center, and a network termination of an ISDN base rate access. The digital transmission system has at least one data link connection operating at the rate of the ISDN basic rate access, and digital time division trunk circuits. At least one base station comprises an ISDN basic rate access block for connecting the base station to said data link connection operating at the rate of the ISDN basic rate access. The digital transmission system comprises a switching means positioned between the base station and the mobile services switching center for connecting said ISDN basic rate access block of the base station through the data link connection operating at the rate of the ISDN basic rate access to a digital trunk circuit. The mobile communication system comprises a base station controller between the mobile services switching center and the switching means of the fixed network for controlling the base station. The switching means is arranged to connect said ISDN basic rate access block of the base station through the data link connection operating at the rate of the ISDN basic rate access to the time division trunk circuit leading to the base station controller.

In mobile communication or mobile telephone networks of the prior art, a base station (BTS) of the network is connected to a base station controller (BSC) either by the use of a digital data link connection of 2048 kbit/s, with altogether 32 time slots of 64 kbit/s, or only some of those time slots.
The problem with the solutions of the prior art has been the high expenses: for a base station, it is necessary to allocate either an entire data link connection of 2048 kbit/s, typically a cable or radio link connection, or several connections, e.g. n separate connection of 64 kbit/s.
The drawback of fixed connections of 2048 kbit/s is that the transmission capacity offered by such a connection is often too high, i.e. part of the transmission capacity remains unused. For most base stations, about 100 to 500 kbit/s would be sufficient. The systems of the prior art are thus inflexible as regards the allocation of transmission capacity, since it is not possible to select only the required, smaller transmission capacity for use.
The drawback with the use of n separate connections of 64 kbit/s is that the base stations have not been designed for such a data transmission rate. The transmission of a bit stream from the base station to the data link connection is therefore not easy.

Mobile communication system and a base station in a mobile communication system


A device for mutually locking the actuation of at least two power switches. The device includes an energy accumulator, such as a spring, assigned to each of the power switches and loaded by the rotation of a switching shaft, to thereby actuate a flexible transmission leading to an evaluation apparatus which can prevent actuation of one of the switches. The energy accumulator improves the reliability of the mechanical locking mechanism and allows a lighter transmission to be used. Plural switches may be locked or activated by connecting two flexible transmissions to a single switching shaft and to two different evaluation apparatuses.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a device for mutually locking the actuation of at least two power switches, with the position of a switching shaft of each power switch being supplied, via a mechanical transmission, to a mechanical evaluation apparatus, which releases or locks the actuation of the power switch.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A locking device of this type has been disclosed by German Patent 44 09 172 A1. The transmission means described therein are wire triggers or sheathed-wire Bowden controls, which may be of considerable length in some switching systems. Depending on the arrangement of the power switches to be mutually locked, it may also be necessary to arrange the flexible transmission means with a plurality of bends with different curvatures. It has been found that actuating the flexible transmission means consumes a surprisingly high amount of energy, although tests performed on the Bowden controls or wire triggers have found little friction.
It is also known that a system of tie rods can be used for mutually locking power stitches (German Patents 38 41 315 A1 and 44 09 172 A1). Also in these devices, it was found that actuation required considerable amounts of energy.

Device for mutually locking the actuation of at least two power switches


Flip chip ball grid array semiconductor devices and methods for fabricating the same. In one example, a near chip scale method of semiconductor die packaging may comprise adhering the die to a substrate in a flip chip configuration, coating the die with a first polymer layer, selectively removing the first polymer layer to provide at least one opening to expose a portion of the die, and depositing a first metal layer over the first polymer layer, the first metal layer at least partially filling the at least one opening to provide an electrical contact to the die, and including a portion that substantially surrounds the die in a plane of an upper surface of the first metal layer to provide an electromagnetic shield around the die.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to semiconductor device packages and methods for fabricating the same. More particularly, at least one embodiment is directed to a flip chip semiconductor device package and packaging method.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Presently, there are several semiconductor packaging techniques that are well received in the radio frequency (RF) component industry. However, these packaging techniques are relatively complex and make meeting cost and operational requirements difficult, especially as operating frequencies move higher and size becomes critical.
One widely used packaging technique is the "chip and wire" packaged die, which includes an encapsulated die coupled to a package carrier. The package carrier, either a substrate or metal lead frame, provides the connection from the die to the exterior of the package. In standard chip and wire packaging, the interconnection between the die and the carrier is made using bond wires. The die is attached to the carrier face up, and a wire is bonded first to the die, then looped and bonded to the carrier. Chip and wire packaged dies suffer from relatively large size and parasitic inductances, as well as having manufacturing problems with certain substrate materials.
An example of a chip and wire packaged die 100 is illustrated in FIG. 1. The die 102 is attached face up to a package carrier 104, including a metal lead frame 106, by bond wires 108. The bond wires are typically about 1-5 millimeters (mm) in length. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the lead frame 106 extends substantially beyond the edges of the die 102 in the horizontal direction. This contributes to the relatively large size of chip and wire packaged die. Even if the die itself is small, the "keep out" area (i.e., area in which no other components may be placed) on the substrate or PCB to which the die is to be attached is much larger as it must also accommodate the lead frame. Furthermore, the bond wires 108 used to connect the die to the lead frame cause series parasitic inductances due to the wire diameter and length, which may be detrimental to the overall electrical and/or RF performance of the component. A further disadvantage of the chip and wire package is that the active devices on the die 102 are separated from the carrier 104 (which may comprise a ground and/or cooling plate) by the full thickness of the die substrate. As shown in FIG. 1, a device 110 (such as a field effect transistor) is located on the upper surface of the die, far from the carrier 104, which makes thermal management of the device 110 more difficult. A common solution is to connect the device 110 to the carrier 104 by vias 112. This solution is acceptable in silicon substrates, although it does add to manufacturing complexity. However, Gallium arsenide (GaAS) substrates are very brittle and can easily break when vias, particularly a large number of vias, are drilled through the substrate.
An alternative packaging technique to the standard chip and wire package, is flip chip packaging. Flip chip describes the method of electrically connecting the die to the package carrier. In contrast to standard chip and wire packaging that uses bond wires to connect the die to the carrier, the interconnection between the die and the carrier in flip chip packaging is made through a conductive "bump" that is placed directly on the die surface. The bumped die is then "flipped over" and placed face down with the bumps connecting the die to the carrier directly. Flip chip packaging may often be used with ball grid array (BGA) type packaging. In the BGA type package, the side of the carrier opposite to that on which the die is attached has an array (generally in a grid formation) of solder balls attached thereto. This array of solder balls (or bumps) replaces the metal lead frame of a standard package.
An example of a flip chip BGA package is illustrated in FIG. 2. The die 102 is coupled to the carrier 104 which may be typically a rigid laminate or similar structure. The carrier 104 may include a ground and/or cooling plate (not shown). The flip chip connection between the die 102 and carrier 104 is generally formed in one of two ways: using conductive adhesive or, more commonly, solder. In case of solder connections, the bumped die, with solder bumps 114, is attached to the carrier 104 by a solder reflow process, very similar to the process used to connect the BGA balls 116 to the package exterior. Vias 120 may be used to interconnect the solder bumps 114 (i.e., die connections) with the balls 116 of the BGA, so as to allow connections to the die from the exterior of the package. After the die is soldered, an underfill 118, generally an epoxy, is added between the die 102 and the carrier 104. The epoxy underfill 118 is used to control the stress in the solder joints caused by the difference in thermal expansion between the die 102 (generally silicon or GaAs) and the carrier 104.
In the flip chip design, the device 110 is very close to the carrier 104, which as discussed above may include a ground/cooling plate, making thermal management easier. In addition, the chip is directly coupled to the carrier 104, eliminating the parasitic inductances associated with the bond wire connections of chip and wire packages. Flip chip BGAs have seen acceptance in the silicon arena, but are disfavored in the GaAs analog arena, largely due to added size of the BGA pattern, particularly caused by limits in bump to bump spacing, and the fragile GaAs material.


A method is provided for electroforming metal integrated circuit structures. The method comprises: forming an opening such as a via or line through an interlevel insulator, exposing a substrate surface; forming a base layer overlying the interlevel insulator and substrate surface; forming a strike layer overlying the base layer; forming a top layer overlying the strike layer; selectively etching to remove the top layer overlying the substrate surface, exposing a strike layer surface; and, electroforming a metal structure overlying the strike layer surface. The electroformed metal structure is deposited using an electroplating or electroless deposition process. Typically, the metal is Cu, Au, Ir, Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Pt, or Ag. The base, strike, and top layers can be deposited using physical vapor deposition (PVD), evaporation, reactive sputtering, or metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD).

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to integrated circuit (IC) and liquid crystal display (LCD) fabrication and, more particularly, to a method for electroforming metal wiring and related structures.
2. Description of the Related Art
In current integrated circuit and display applications, physical vapor deposition (PVD) aluminum/copper/silicon alloys are used to form interconnects and electrically conductive wires (traces) on the various circuit layers. Generally, these wires are formed on a scale of magnitude in the region of 1 to 1000 microns. These wires are patterned subtractively, by etching a conformal deposition of metal through a photoresist mask. Alternatively, copper damascene process is used, which forms a patterned trench structure, fills the trench with metal, and polishes excess metal deposited overlying the trench. However, these subtractive processes limit the shapes into which the resultant metal structures can be formed. For example, it is difficult to form a metal structure that is re-entrant or one with an intentional overhang; a structure where the top cross-sectional area is greater than the bottom cross-sectional area.
On a vastly different scale, on the order of a millimeter, printer circuit board (PCB) processes form multi-layered boards with electrically conductive metal wires. Issues of chemical compatibility, substrate material consistency, and the rigorous exclusion of contamination prevent the direct scaling of PCB metallization technology to ICs, displays, and advanced multi-chip modules (MCMs). The larger size of PCBs permits macroscopic processes such as direct printing and pattern transfer to be used. However, these macroscopic processes cannot be used for ICs and LCDs due to the severe dimensional tolerances involved.
The deposition of metals on large IC substrates requires the use large chamber, expensive/complicated atmosphere and temperature control equipment. Often the IC and LCD processes require the use of vacuum chambers. PCB processes, on the other hand, require less sophisticated equipment, such as baths and plating devices.
Advantageously, the successive use of PCB additive deposition processes permits the easy formation of microscopic metal structures containing enclosures. These enclosure structures can be filled with a second material such as an insulator, which then might form a coaxial transmission line or other such structure. These structures cannot be obtained easily using conventional subtractive technology, since a re-entrant structure must be formed, in order to close off the inner volume.
It would be advantageous if IC and LCD metal structures could be formed using an additive deposition process.
It would be advantageous if conventional PCB electroplating processes could be adapted to IC and LCD processes, to provide a low cost, low thermal budget solution for metal deposition.
It would be advantageous if electroless deposition processes could be adapted to IC and LCD processes.


A gaming device such as a slot machine may be operated in an automated play mode in which the need for player input is reduced or eliminated. Game play cycles may be continuously performed in the automated play mode without player input. One or more parameters for controlling the automated play mode may be determined based on player input and/or data or a program stored in the gaming device and/or data or a program stored in a controller in communication with the gaming device. Termination of the automated play mode may result from player input and/or may be determined on the basis of a parameter that may be determined on the basis of player input or may be determined automatically by the gaming device or by a controller in communication with the gaming device.

A typical session at a slot machine may last two hours or more, and may include approximately 1,000 game play cycles or "spins". Conventional slot machines are somewhat disadvantageous for players in that if the player wishes to take a break for a few moments, as, for example, to sip a drink, have a conversation with a companion or to stretch his or her legs, it may be necessary to interrupt the gaming session. This is inconsistent with a typical player's objective, which is to maximize the number of game play cycles that he or she engages in, so as to maximize the opportunities for winning a jackpot.
Moreover, some slot machine players are of an advanced age, such that repeatedly pulling a slot machine arm or repeatedly pressing a button to initiate a game play cycle may be physically demanding.
It accordingly would be desirable to provide a slot machine that is easier and/or more convenient to play than conventional slot machines, and/or that can accommodate a player's desire to take a break while continuing to play the slot machine.
Also, from the point of view of the casino, it is desirable that the player's gaming experience be improved, and that longer and/or more continuous playing sessions be facilitated.

Method and apparatus for automatically operating a game machine


An image forming apparatus having a second storage device such as an HDD mounted thereon, when it receives an input of a job, determines a necessity of an input processing of image data into the second storage device, a necessity of an output processing of image data from the secondary storage device, and a timing of the input processing and the output processing in the job. Then, the image forming apparatus switches an output buffer, which is an area set in a primary storage of the image forming apparatus and is used for the output processing of image data from the secondary storage device, to a buffer for use in the input processing or to a buffer for use in the output processing in accordance with a result of the determination.

Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus and a controlling method, more particularly to an image forming apparatus having a mass storage device as a secondary storage device and a method for controlling the image forming apparatus.
Description of the Related Art
There has been a processing device provided with a mass storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive), or the like as a secondary storage device. Such a processing device accesses a primary storage, which is also referred to as a main memory, when it stores and reads data into and from a mass storage device which is a secondary storage device. In other words, the processing device reserves a storing buffer in the main memory when it stores data into the mass storage device, and reserves a reading buffer when it reads data from the mass storage device. Further, there has been a known technique of using a reading buffer of a main memory as a second storing buffer and using a regular storing buffer and the second storing buffer as toggle buffers to increase a storage speed when data is to be stored into a mass storage device.
For example, operations of an image forming apparatus include an operation of performing image forming for printing after completing reading of all pages of a document. The operation described above may be, for example, so-called booklet printing of arranging image data of each page such that a booklet can be obtained when printed objects are stacked and valley-folded in a lengthwise direction, printing of adding images such as page numbers associated with all of pages, or the like. When the image forming apparatus receives other print job before completion of an operation of reading a document, it can perform a printing operation for the print job in parallel with the operation of reading a document of the previous job. However, if the image forming apparatus performs the printing operation for the later print job in parallel with the reading operation for the previous job, the order of job processing becomes different from the order of job receiving. Therefore, the image forming apparatus is configured so as not to start processing of other job until the processing of the previous job is completed even when a next job is received before completion of the reading operation.
In this case, there has been a problem that the image forming apparatus becomes slow in the reading operation for the previous job and also becomes slow in starting of processing for the next job if the reading buffer of the main memory is not used as the second storing buffer in the operation of storing into the mass storage device the image data obtained by reading the previous job, in other words, if the toggle buffer method is not employed.
Therefore, application of the toggle buffer method to the image forming apparatus is considered.
If the image forming apparatus uses the toggle buffer method to execute Scan-To-Box (the operation of storing image data, which is obtained by executing a scanning operation, into the mass storage device), the reading buffer of the main memory is used as the second storing buffer in addition to the storing buffer. Accordingly, the storage speed of storing image data into the mass storage device can be increased.
During the execution of this operation, there is a case where an instruction of operation with reading from the mass storage device, such as Box-To-Print (the operation of reading image data from the memory device and printing the same), is given. In this case, the image forming apparatus already uses the reading buffer of the memory as the second storing buffer through the operation described above. Therefore, the image forming apparatus cannot start the reading operation with use of the reading buffer, such as the BOX-to-PRINT, until the reading buffer is provided, in other words, until the previous storing operation is completed. Therefore, there has been a problem that starting of the next printing is delayed.

Buffer management technology in image forming apparatus


An apparatus for shaping coil ends of a generator's stator having a plurality of sets of U-shaped large and small conductor segments. The apparatus includes four twister cylinders holding connection ends of the large and small conductor segments in four radial layers at an axial end of the stator, a rotating mechanism rotating the twister cylinders alternately in opposite directions, an elevating mechanism moving the twister cylinders in the axial direction of the stator, and a controller synchronously controlling the rotating mechanism and elevating mechanism.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for manufacturing a stator of a rotary electric machine and, particularly, a method and an apparatus for shaping conductor members of a stator of an AC generator for a vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, an AC generator's stator for a vehicle is equipped with a plurality of U-shaped conductor segments to satisfy the demand for increase in power supply.
PCT application 92/06527 discloses a method of manufacturing such a stator. Conductor members in radially outside and inside layers of the slots of a generator's stator are bent by a bending tool in circumferential directions first and, subsequently, bent in radial directions to connect each of the conductor members in the outside layer to one of the inside layer. Because the conductor members are not held by the tool after the bending rotation, the coil-ends of the stator winding can not be formed as compact as possible.
Although JP-A-60-241748 discloses an apparatus which bends the conductor members in both circumferential and radial directions. However, this apparatus has a projection member for forming electrical insulation spaces between the conductor members, and this may cause damage to the surface of the conductor members.

Apparatus for manufacturing rotary-electric-machine stator


A main voltage step-up circuit includes a coil which one end thereof is connected to a power supply; a main switching element which is connected between the other end of the coil and a ground potential, and which is controlled by the main control circuit; a diode which is connected to the other end of the coil; a smoothing capacitor which is connected to the diode and is a ceramic capacitor; and an auxiliary voltage step-up circuit which is connected to the other end of the coil. The auxiliary voltage step-up circuit is ON when the main step-up voltage circuit is OFF, and compensates a potential change in the smoothing capacitor. The auxiliary voltage step-up circuit includes an auxiliary switching element which is connected between the other end of the coil and a ground potential; and an auxiliary control circuit which controls the auxiliary switching element.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device, and in particular, to a driving circuit of a white light emitting diode which configures a light source of a backlight.
2. Description of the Related Art
A small liquid crystal display device of a Thin Film Transistor (TFT) type in which a thin film transistor (TFT) is used as an active element has been widely used in a display unit of a mobile phone or the like. The liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel, and a backlight which irradiates the liquid crystal display panel with light.
As a light source of the backlight, a white light emitting diode is used in the small liquid crystal display device. In the liquid crystal display device in which the white light emitting diode is used as the light source of the backlight, the white light emitting diode is driven with a constant current using a voltage which is stepped up in a main step-up voltage circuit, in an LED driving circuit which drives the white light emitting diode. An LED backlight driving circuit which drives an LED backlight is disclosed in JP2011-138666A.
In general, an LED driving circuit includes a main step-up voltage circuit which drives a white light emitting diode, and the main voltage step-up circuit includes a smoothing capacitor.
In addition, in a liquid crystal display device which uses a white light emitting diode as a light source of a backlight, in general, brightness of the backlight is adjusted by a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) control which varies a duty ratio in periods of ON/OFF of the white light emitting diode.
When brightness of the backlight is adjusted by a PWM control, a current which flows in the white light emitting diode fluctuates between 0% and 100%. When a ceramic capacitor is used as the smoothing capacitor of the main voltage step-up circuit in a LED driving circuit, there is a problem in that the ceramic capacitor generates a sound since voltages at both ends of the ceramic capacitor fluctuate.
In order to solve the problem, as the smoothing capacitor of the main voltage step-up circuit, in the related art, an aluminum electrolytic capacitor, or a functional polymer capacitor has been used, instead of the ceramic capacitor.
However, in the aluminum electrolytic capacitor, or the functional polymer capacitor, there are problems such as (1) a life span is shorter than the ceramic capacitor, (2) internal resistances are high, (3) shapes of components are large, (4) a usable temperature range is small, and the like.


The present disclosure describes a method and apparatus for displaying character selection during a user input process. A method of displaying character selection during a user input process comprises: determining a character entry area; receiving one or more original characters from a user via the character entry area; identifying a plurality of character choices corresponding to the one or more original characters; determining a character selection area based on an optimal viewpoint range centered around the character entry area; and displaying the character choices in the character selection area.

Currently, the most commonly-used methods for displaying a character selection area, which comprises a plurality of characters and/or terms (hereinafter referred to as "character choices") for a user to choose from, display the character selection area either as a vertical array or a horizontal array of character choices. For instance, the commonly-used smart ABC input method for inputting characters/terms displays the character choices in a vertical rectangular area. On the other hand, the commonly-used pinyin (a Romanization system to transcribe Chinese characters/terms based on the pronunciation in Mandarin Chinese) input method for inputting characters/terms displays the character choices in a one-level horizontal rectangular area.
FIG. 1 illustrates a vertical character selection area with the smart ABC input method. After a user enters a pinyin, the characters already chosen by the user are displayed in the box in the upper left-hand corner. During the user input process, the character selection is displayed in a rectangular area, or box, on the right-hand side of the display. In this example, after the pinyin "pin' is entered by the user, the character selection box on the right-hand side displays a list of character choices: "1: pin-1, 2: pin-2, 3: pin-3, 4: pin-4, 5: pin-4, 6: pin-6, 7: pin-7, 8: pin-8, 9: pin-9" (note: each of these Chinese characters is pronounced as "pin" in Mandarin Chinese but the meaning of which is different from that of one another). The next set of character choices can be obtained by the user by clicking on the next page icon. The chosen character is displayed in the box in the upper left-hand corner. Upon choosing one or more desired characters/terms, the user may input the chosen character(s)/term(s) for further processing.
FIG. 2 illustrates a horizontal selection area for inputting characters/terms by the pinyin input method. The pinyin entered by a user is displayed in the box on the upper portion, and the character choices are displayed in the lower box. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, after the user enters the pinyin "qian jin" as a term including two Chinese characters, the lower horizontal box displays the following character choices: "1: qian jin-1, 2: qian jin-2, 3: qian jin-3, 4: qian jin-4, 5: qian jin-5" (note: each of these Chinese terms is pronounced as "qian jin" in Mandarin Chinese but the meaning of which is different from that of one another). Of course, the next set of character choices can be obtained by the user by clicking on the next page icon. The user can select the desired character or term with the respective number key representing the desired character or term.
Between the abovementioned vertical and horizontal display of character selection boxes, the human eye tends to move faster horizontally than vertically. Accordingly, the search and selection speed tends to be much faster when the character selection is displayed horizontally. However, whether the display of character selection boxes is horizontal or vertical, when the list of character choices is long it will still take the eye some time to sweep across the displayed characters/terms. Thus, a longer search and selection time tends to result, which may not be conducive for users to speedily select the desired character/term. Ultimately, selection of the desired character/term by a user may not be optimized, and undesirable visual fatigue on the user's part may result as well.

Method and apparatus for displaying character selection during user input