A method of reducing the concentration of metal ions in pure water or ultrapure water and thereby obtaining pure water or ultrapure water. Such purified pure water or purified ultrapure water is used, for example, when washing semiconductor wafers, as a starting material of electrolytic ionic water, or for diluting washing water. A pair of carbon electrodes is disposed in an ultrapure water storage tank containing pure water or ultrapure water or in a purifying tank disposed in a line leading from an ultrapure water storage tank. A D.C. voltage is applied across the electrode pair. A carbon electrode material having a large specific surface area is chosen, and an electrode structure with which there is little detachment of carbon fragments is used. After the carbon electrode is molded, a carbon layer is formed on the surface of the molding by dipping the molding in an amorphous carbon bath. Because the carbon layer penetrates into the pores in the molding surface, the bonds between the carbon elements are strengthened, preventing carbon fragments from detaching. Because the electrode surfaces may be covered with filters, even if carbon fragments do detach, they are caught by the filters, preventing particles from entering the purified pure water or purified ultrapure water.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for purifying pure water or ultrapure water. The purified pure water and the ultrapure water are used, for example, as a solvent for etching or washing or for making electrolytic ionic water
2. Description of the Related Art
Electrolytic ionic water made by an electrolytic ionic water production apparatus has been used in various fields and particularly has been extensively used in the manufacture of semiconductor devices and the manufacture of liquid crystal devices.
Conventionally, fluorine-based solvents such as Freon, CCl.sub.3 F, have been used for washing semiconductor substrates in the manufacture of semiconductor devices. However, because these solvents have adverse affects on the environment they are sometimes avoided, and in their place a safer solvent, water, such as water as pure water or ultrapure water is used. Pure water is water of a high purity of about 5 M.OMEGA.cm to 18 M.OMEGA.cm in resistivity. Pure water has almost all impurities such as ions, small particles, microorganisms and organic substances removed from it. Ultrapure water is water of an extremely high purity, higher than that of pure water, from which suspended matter and dissolved substances have been removed by means of an ultrapure water production apparatus. Ultrapure water has a higher resistivity than pure water.
When pure water or ultrapure water is electrolyzed, the resulting product is electrolytic ionic water such as an anode ionic water, which is strongly oxidized (acidic water), and cathode ionic water, which is strong reduced (alkaline water).
Of interest in the manufacture of semiconductor devices and liquid crystal devices and the like is washing and polishing semiconductor substrate surfaces using electrolytic ionic water, such as acidic ionic water or alkaline ionic water produced from pure water or ultrapure water.
Conventionally, pure water and ultrapure water have been highly purified using an ion exchange resin technique. However, with this method, not all elements are completely removed. In particular, positive ions of sodium, potassium, calcium and zinc and the like are not easily removed even with an ion exchange resin technique. When ultrapure water is used for washing a semiconductor wafer, mobile ions such as these are adsorbed onto the wafer and cause capacitance variations and reduction in the reliability of insulating films on the wafer, hindering the manufacture of semiconductor devices.

Method for purifying pure water and an apparatus for the same


Semiconductor devices having interconnect structures with vertically offset bonding surfaces, and associated systems and methods, are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate at least partially covered by a first dielectric material having an upper surface, and an interconnect structure extending therefrom. The interconnect structure can include a plurality of conductive elements, and a continuous region of a first insulating material at least partially between the plurality of conductive elements. The plurality of conductive elements and the continuous region can have coplanar end surfaces. The interconnect structure can further include a perimeter structure at least partially surrounding the plurality of conductive elements and the continuous region. The perimeter structure can have an uppermost surface that can be vertically offset from the upper surface of the first dielectric material and/or the coplanar end surfaces.

Packaged semiconductor dies, including memory chips, microprocessor chips, and imager chips, typically include a semiconductor die mounted on a substrate and encased in a protective covering. The semiconductor die can include functional features, such as memory cells, processor circuits, and imager devices, as well as bond pads electrically connected to the functional features. The bond pads can be electrically connected to terminals outside the protective covering to allow the semiconductor die to be connected to higher-level circuitry.
One approach for bonding individual semiconductor devices to form semiconductor packages is hybrid bonding. During typical hybrid bonding processes, oxide-oxide bonds form between corresponding oxide bonding zones. The temperature and high strength of the oxide-oxide bonds can induce compression to facilitate forming metal-metal bonds between corresponding metal bonding zones. However, it can be difficult to align the oxide and metal bonding zones of a first device with the corresponding oxide and metal bonding zones of a second device. Often, these corresponding bonding zones can be misaligned, which can render the semiconductor packages inoperable.

Semiconductor interconnect structures with vertically offset bonding surfaces, and associated systems and methods


A diverter seal member for a diverter structure of a tub spout structure includes a central body, a first seal extension, and a second seal extension. The central body includes a first side, a second side, and an aperture extending completely through the central body between the first side and the second side of the central body. The first seal extension extends from the first side of the central body and around a central axis that extends axially through a center of the aperture. The first seal extension includes a first extension side, a second extension side, and an extension end. The extension end of the first seal extension extends substantially perpendicularly to the first extension side and the second extension side of the first seal extension. The second seal extension extends from the second side of the central body around the central axis of the aperture.

The present application relates to a tub spout diverter seal member for sealing a diverted tub spout structure. Typically, tub spout structures leak while the water is being diverted away from the tub spout structure (e.g., to a showerhead). These leaks are either due to manufacturing variations that are inherently formed in the tub spout during the casting process or due to wear from prolonged use of the tub spout structure over time, as various deposits (such as calcium) build up within the tub spout structure.
Furthermore, conventional tub spout seal members are not sensitive enough to prevent leaks from occurring, in particular, when operating under low water pressure (i.e., 10 pounds per square inch (psi) and lower, where normal water pressure through tub spouts is around approximately 40-45 psi). For example, conventional tub spout seal members may have leaks of up to 0.01 gallons per minute at 10 psi. Additionally, conventional tub spout seals may not prevent leaks with multiple different configurations of tub spouts in order to provide a universal tub spout seal.
Other conventional tub spout seals require the use of springs in order to automatically move the tub spout structure to an open position when the water is turned off. However, these conventional tub spout structures require multiple expensive components, such as machined brass housings, springs, and molded caps with o-rings and a piston, and therefore are expensive.
The above-described leaks cause various amounts of water (depending on the leak size) to be wasted down the drain. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a tub spout structure that does not leak at all, even under low water pressure, in order to conserve water by reducing or eliminating water waste and to comply with any leak-rate requirements from regulatory agencies. These and other advantages of the system described herein will become apparent to those reviewing the present disclosure.


Rate responsive pacing is limited in an atrial based pacing mode by the AV interval in order to avoid or minimize ventricular encroachment of atrial pacing. The AV or VA interval is used to permit rate responsiveness; modulate rate responsiveness or to determine a dynamic upper sensor rate.

While a variety of pacing modes are available, dual chamber pacing/sensing (DDD) is commonly utilized. With a DDD mode, atrial and ventricular events are both sensed. If an expected intrinsic event is not sensed within a predetermined time window, an appropriate atrial or ventricular pacing stimulus is delivered. This mode provides a great deal of control over the patient's cardiac rhythm and the timing (e.g., the atrial-ventricular or AV delay) may be modified based upon many different factors. One of the many benefits provided by the DDD mode is the ability to maintain AV synchrony. That is, for any given atrial event there will be a specifically timed ventricular event, either intrinsic or paced.
Another beneficial feature is rate response (RR) pacing. With rate responsive pacing, a demand sensor is provided that seeks to approximate activity levels or physiological need from the patient and increase or decrease the pacing rate accordingly. For example, an accelerometer is used to sense the patient's motion. As the patient is more active, the accelerometer senses increased movement. This is recognized by the implantable medical device (IMD), which could be, for example, an implantable pulse generator (IPG) or implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) with pacing capabilities. In any event, the accelerometer's signal causes the IMD to pace at a higher rate. The assumption is that increased patient activity requires higher cardiac output and increasing the patient's heart rate (i.e., pacing rate) will lead to greater cardiac output. The higher the activity levels sensed, the higher the paced rate, up to a predetermined maximum rate. There are a variety of demand sensors the may be employed such as, a minute ventilation sensor, blood oxygen sensor, chemical sensors, motion/movement sensors, or any other device that will approximate one or more demand parameters of the patient.
Typically, rate responsiveness is a positive feature that allows patients to engage in higher activity levels than would be possible with fixed rate pacing. The combination of DDD with rate response is also generally positive in that as the pacing rate is increased, the DDD mode will adjust parameters to assure proper timing throughout the cardiac cycle.
Recently, there has been a recognition that conducted or intrinsic ventricular depolarizations are vastly preferable to ventricular pacing in general and pacing in the right ventricular apex in particular. The difficulty in facilitating this preference is that in a great many patients, the intrinsic AV delay is so long that DDD timing will almost always deliver a ventricular pace. In order to minimize or greatly reduce ventricular pacing, a protocol had been provided that, in one embodiment, utilizes an atrial based timing mode that allows a full cardiac cycle to elapse without ventricular activity; thus providing the greatest opportunity to safely allow intrinsic conduction whenever possible. These protocols are described in U.S. Ser. No. 10/755,454, filed Jan. 12, 2004, entitled "Preferred ADI/R: A Permanent Pacing Mode to Eliminate Ventricular Pacing While Maintaining Backup Support", which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/246,816, filed Sep. 17, 2002, entitled "Preferred ADI/R: A Permanent Pacing Mode to Eliminate Ventricular Pacing While Maintaining Backup Support", which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/746,571, filed Dec. 21, 2000, entitled "Preferred ADI/R: A Permanent Pacing Mode to Eliminate Ventricular Pacing While Maintaining Backup Support", recently granted as U.S. Pat. No. 6,772,005 which are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties.
As used herein, an atrial based pacing mode is a mode that is programmed to pace in the atria, but only to sense in the ventricles. True single chamber atrial pacing would imply that only a single lead is present and ventricular activity may not be sensed in the ventricle nor would ventricular pacing be deliverable. In the present context we discuss an IMD operating in an atrial based mode, but at least having ventricular sensing capabilities. Though not required, such a device would generally include ventricular pacing. However, in order to deliver ventricular pacing the device would typically mode switch to a different mode, such as DDD.
Atrial based pacing in general, as well as in the context of minimizing ventricular pacing as discussed above, may also include a rate response function. Once again, as the demand sensor indicates a greater need, the heart rate is elevated by increasing the atrial pacing rate. However, without ventricular pacing, there is no control over the ventricular timing. As such, if the AV delay is not shortened or is actually elongated by the AV node in response to the elevated pacing rate, overall timing may become skewed. That is, the A-A interval is decreasing with respect to the resting rate, but the AV delay is not correspondingly and correctly modified. As a consequence, the VA delay (ventricular to atrial delay) may be shortened. Another consequence may be Wenckebach block. Thus, given ratios of ventricular beats are not conducted with respect to the atrial rate. As such, even though the atrial rate may rise, the effective ventricular rate could actually decrease.
If the VA delay becomes too short over a prolonged period of time, negative consequences may result. The contraction of the ventricles takes a finite amount of time from initiation of a depolarization. If the contraction is not completed, a subsequent atrial contraction will attempt to force blood into a contracted ventricle. Often, this results in blood flow out of the atria and back towards the lungs or venous system, causing symptoms. Similarly, the ventricles even if not fully contracted may not be fully relaxed during the atrial contraction, resulting in diminished filling. The net effect of having inadequate VA delay is that the elevation in heart rate fails to increase cardiac output, may actually reduce cardiac output, may affect hemodynamic compromise, and/or cause patient symptoms.


The invention is a method to mark hypertext links in an image map that have been traversed. The invention actually modifies the image map of the links by inserting a marker or changing the color associated with the coordinates of a particular image link on the image map. The history files of links that have been traversed are first checked to determine if the image has changed or is otherwise out of date. The image map or a copy of the image map is then modified and displayed.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to the field of computer networks. More specifically, the invention relates to a method which indicates what sources of information a user has consulted or has linked to on a computer information network, such as the World Wide Web.
2. Background Information
Of the many uses of computers, one of the main purposes is to acquire information, of which there are several pathways. One technique is to store and retrieve information directly from the computer that an individual is using, such as from internal memory or from diskettes or tapes directly attached to the computer. In fact, the personal computer was first marketed as being a "stand-alone" computer that was not connected or networked with a larger computer or outside memory. Another technique, which has grown explosively, is to connect the computer that an individual is using, called a client, to a computer network and acquire stored information on other computers, called servers. These computer networks continuously expand so that now an individual using a personal computer had access to infinitely more information than could be stored on his/her own computer. One such worldwide computer network of information is the Internet and various computerized methods to access the information on the Internet have developed. The World Wide Web (the web) accesses the Internet. The web is a computer network of interconnected servers and clients wherein information can be obtained simply by entering the address where the information is stored, its Universal Resource Locator (URL).
In the Internet and other computer environments which cross reference computer documents or interactive programs, hypertext is an approach to information management where nonsequential information is stored in nodes and the nodes are interconnected by links. The nodes may be in the same document, another document in the same computer client, or on another computer server. Thus, hypertext information management in a computerized system, such as the Internet, allows the user to retrieve information by jumping from topic to topic, from document to document, from node to node. Typically, web documents are accessed by entering the address, its Universal Resource Locator (URL), for that node. The user can directly type in the URL or the URL may be embedded in a link which is highlighted or otherwise featured text or image on which the user may move the cursor or the mouse pointer. The link contains the URL of the node and the user then initiates some computer action, such as clicking a computer mouse or entering a key stroke, etc., to connect to the link and display the information contained in that link. Nodes might contain various kinds of data, an online and real-time computer space of hypermedia commercial, educational, and entertaining information, e.g., text, graphics, audio, video, computer-animated images, film clips of animated scenes, digital sound, etc. Examples of hypertext languages include HyperText Markup Language (HTML) or HYPERCARD.RTM.. No matter where it originates, every web document or page uses HTML.
When a user travels through the web or any computer information management system, she finds it handy to know if she has visited that information site before, so various web browsing software or other hypertext software keeps a history of the various nodes or links that the user has traversed. The software indicates if a particular link has been traversed previously changing some feature of the text, e.g., color, font, underline, etc., but this is applicable only for textual links of alphanumeric characters. In other words, only those links that are in words or other textual format indicate if the link has been travelled.
The newer standards for hypertext links, however, are graphical images or pictures or bit map links wherein a region in the picture can define a hypertext link. There are no commercially available hypertext information software, such as World Wide Web browsers, that indicate in the graphical image if that link has been previously traversed.

Indicating when clickable image link on a hypertext image map of a computer web browser has been traversed

International Business Machines Corporation


A method for providing a location service for a roaming terminal includes: receiving a start message for starting a location service from a terminal in a situation in which a session for the location service is ongoing; transmitting, by the terminal, a roaming location service start message including an indication parameter for requesting information required for an intended location measurement method and the start message to a server of a network the terminal is visiting; receiving a roaming location service start response message including a start response message and the requested information from the server; and transferring the start response message in the received location service start response message to the terminal.

In general, a mobile communication system has a function part for calculating the location of a terminal in a mobile communication network to provide a location service that transfers the location of the terminal to a certain entity in a periodic manner or according to a corresponding request.
A network structure related to the location service differs depending on an internal network structure, such as a 3GPP network, a 3GPP2 network, etc. Currently, there are several methods for calculating the location of the terminal, including a cell-ID method for transferring an ID of a cell to which a mobile terminal belongs, a method for calculating the location of a terminal through triangulation by measuring time taken for radio signals to reach each base station from the terminal, and a method of using a GPS (Global Positioning System).
In order to provide the location service to a user, a large quantity (amount) of signals and location information need to be transferred between the mobile terminal and a location server.
Recently, positioning technologies standardized for providing the location service (namely, location services provided based on the location of a mobile terminal) are increasingly used.
These technologies can be provided generally through a user plane for transmitting user data and a control plane for transmitting control data, one of which is a secure user plane location (SUPL) technique that provides the location service through the user plane.
A SUPL-based network includes a SUPL agent, a SUPL location platform (SLP), a SUPL enabled terminal (SET), and the like.
The SUPL agent is a logical service access point that requests location information of a target SET from the SLP, receives measured location information of the target SET from the SLP, and uses it. The SLP is an entity that accesses network resources to obtain location information of the target SET according to a request from the SUPL agent, and performs roaming and resources management, and the like. The SET performs procedures defined at the SUPL along with the SLP through a user plane bearer.
There are two types of location services based on the SUPL: The first service refers to a periodic triggered service that provides the location of the target SET (i.e., terminal) according to a pre-set period; the second refers to an area event triggered service that provides the location of the target set (i.e., terminal) when pre-set conditions in relation to a particular area are met.
The area event triggered service will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.
FIG. 1 illustrates the concept of an area event triggered service according to the related art.
As shown in FIG. 1, there are four types of area event triggered services. In FIG. 1, the points at which location measurement is made are indicated as asterisks.
As shown in FIG. 1(a), a first area event triggered service is a location service for continuously monitoring to locate the terminal 10 in a previously designated geographic area 50, which is also called an inside location service. A second area event triggered service as shown in FIG. 1(b) refers to a location service that monitors whether or not the terminal 10 enters the previously designated geographic area 50, which is also called an entering location service.
FIG. 2 illustrates implementation of the area event triggered service as shown in FIG. 1.
As shown in FIG. 2, the previously designated geographic area 50 may have a rectangular shape, a circular shape, or a polygonal shape. Thus, the geographical area should be implemented as coordinate values. However, it causes a significant amount of load to a system when the terminal 10 is monitored as to where it is.
Thus, an Area-id has been proposed to implement the location service (inside service) as to where the terminal is located within the previously designated geographic area 50 or the location server (entering service) as to whether or not the terminal 10 enters the previously designated geographic area 50.
The area-id parameter is a list of IDs of cells. In case of the inside service and the entering service as shown in FIG. 2, the Area-id parameter includes a set of IDs of cells fully included in the previously designated geographic area 50. In case of the inside service, when the area-id parameter is provided, the terminal 10 compares a cell-id of a cell in which the terminal 10 is currently located with a cell-id in the Area-id parameter, and if the both cell-ids are consistent, the terminal 10 performs precise positioning (i.e., precise location measurement) (A-GPS) to monitor where the terminal 10 is located in the previously designated geographic area 50. In case of the entering service, when the Area-id parameter is provided, the terminal 10 compares a cell-id of a cell in which the terminal 10 is currently located with a cell-id of the Area-id parameter, and if the both cell-ids are consistent, the terminal performs positioning to monitor whether the terminal 10 has entered the previously designated area 50.
The area triggered service is implemented in the related art through signal flow as shown in FIG. 3.
FIG. 3 illustrates a signal flow of an area event triggered service according to the related art.
As shown in FIG. 3, the related art area event trigger service is implemented by a SUPL-based network. The SUPL-based network includes a SUPL agent 11, a V-SLP (Visiting-SUPL Location Platform), an H-SLP (Home SUPL Location Platform), an SET (SUPL Enabled Terminal) and the like. FIG. 3 shows the case where the target SET 12 has roamed to a visiting network, and in order to perform location measurement in the visiting network, the V-SLP as well as the H-SLP is illustrated.
The signal flow illustrated in FIG. 3 shows location measurement by the V-SLP 21. The signal flow will now be described.
A) In order to request the area triggered location service to check where the target SET 12 is located in the previously designated geographic area, the SUPL agent 11 transmits a location service request message, e.g., an MLP (Mobile Location Protocol) TLRR (Triggered Location Reporting Request) message, to an H-SLP (Home-SUPL Location Platform) 22. The H-SLP 22 refers to an SLP of a home network to which the target SET 12 has registered. The location service request message includes an ms-id, a client-id, and a qop. The ms-id is an ID of the target SET 12, the client-id is an ID of the SUPL agent 11, and qop, an acronym of Quality of Position, indicates accuracy (time delay, spatial precision) in location measurement.
When the H-SLP 22 receives the location service request message, it authenticates the SUPL agent 11 and checks whether the SUPL agent 11 has an authority for the service requested by the SUPL agent 11 via the client-id in the location service request message. Also, the H-SLP 22 checks whether to apply a subscriber privacy to the SUPL agent 11 based on the ms-id in the location service request message.
B) The H-SLP 22 checks whether the target SET 12 is currently in SUPL roaming, and also checks whether the target SET 12 supports the SUPL.
C) Subsequently, in order to start the area event triggered service, the H-SLP 22 transmits a session initiation message, i.e., a SUPL INIT message, to the target SET 12. The session initiation message includes a session-id parameter, a trigger_type parameter indicating a type of a location service, a posmethod parameter indicating an intended (desired) location measurement method, an SLP mode parameter indicating a proxy/non-proxy mode. Meanwhile, if it is required to notify about the target SET 12 according to the result of checking whether to apply the privacy in step A), the H-SLP 22 may include a notification element in the session initiation message. In addition, before transmitting the session initiation message, the H-SLP 22 may calculate hash of the session initiation message to verify validity, and store the calculated hash.
D) The target SET 12 analyzes the received session initiation message, namely, the SUPL INIT message, and performs a required procedure for establishing a stable connection. In this case, if the SUPL agent 11 does not have authority, the target SET 100 may not perform any operation.
The target SET 12 checks whether the session initiation message includes a notification element. If the session initiation message includes a notification element, the target SET 12 checks a rule according to the notification element, and performs a corresponding operation. Also, the target SET 12 checks whether to use the proxy/non-proxy mode according to the SLP mode parameter included in the session initiation message. If the proxy mode is used, the target SET 12 establishes a stable connection to the H-SLP 22 by using an address of the H-SLP 22 provided from the home network.
E) In order to start the requested area event triggered service, the target SET 12 transmits a start message, e.g., a SUPL TRIGGERED START message, to the H-SLP 22. In this case, although a location measurement method designated in the posmethod parameter included in the received session initiation message, i.e., the SUPL INIT message, is not supported by the target SET 12, the target SET 12 transmits the start message. The start message includes a session-id parameter, a location ID indicating an ID of the cell in which the target SET 12 is located, and a SET capabilities parameter indicating capability information of the target SET 12. In addition, the start message includes hash of the received session initiation message. The SET capabilities parameter includes information about a supported location measurement method (e.g., SET-Assisted A-GPS or SET-Based A-GPS) and a location measurement protocol (e.g., RRLP, RRC, TIA-801) related to the supported location measurement method.
F) When the start message, i.e., the SUPL TRIGGERED START message, is received, in order to inform the V-SLP 21 that the target SET 12 is going to start SUPL location measurement, the H-SLP 22 transmits a roaming location service start message including the start message, i.e., the SUPL TRIGGERED START message, for example, an RLP SSLIR (RLP Standard SUPL Roaming Location Immediate Request) message to the V-SLP 21.
In this case, the roaming location service start message, e.g., the RLP SSLIR, includes information about a geographic area previously designated by the SUPL agent 11.
G) The V-SLP 21 determines an intended position measurement method to be used for the area event triggered session, includes a start response message, namely, a SUPL TRIGGERED RESPONSE message, in a roaming location service start response message, e.g., an RLP SSRLIA (RLP Standard SUPL Roaming Location Immediate Answer) message, and transmits the roaming location service start response message to the H-SLP 22.
In this case, the start response message includes a session-id parameter and a posmethod parameter. The start response message includes information about the geographical area previously designated by the SUPL agent 11. Also, the start response message may include an area-id, an ID of cells with respect to the previously designated geographical area.
H) The H-SLP 22 forwards the received start response message to the target SET 12.
I) Subsequently, in response to the location service request message from the SUPL agent 11, the H-SLP 22 transmits a response message, e.g., an MLP (Mobile Location Protocol) TLRA (Triggered Location Reporting Answer) message. The response message, i.e., the MLP TLRA message, includes a req-id parameter indicating a request ID.
Through such procedure, requesting of the area triggered location service with respect to the target SET 12 is performed. A follow-up location measurement procedure will now be described.
J) If the Area-ids are included in the start response message received in step H), the target SET 12 compares an area-id of the area in which the target SET 12 is currently located, and the received area-id. If it is determined that positioning should be performed according to the comparison result, the target SET 12 attempts a connection to a packet data network.
Subsequently, in order to start a session for position measurement with the V-SLP 21, the target SET 12 transmits a location session initiation message, e.g., SUPL POS INIT message, to the H-SLP 22. In this case, the location session initial message may include at least a session-id parameter, a location ID (lid) parameter indicating an ID of a cell to which the target SET 12 belongs, and a SET capabilities parameter. In this case, the target SET 12 provides its location if possible.
K) The H-SLP 22 includes the location session initiation message, e.g., the SUPL POS INIT message, in a roaming location message, e.g., an RLP SSRP (RLP Standard SUPL Roaming Position) message, and transmits the roaming location message to the V-SLP 21.
L) The target SET 12 and the V-SLP 21 exchange a plurality of positioning messages (i.e., location measurement messages) via the H-SLP 22.
M) When the positioning is completed, the V-SLP 21 includes a report message, e.g., a SUPL REPORT message, in a roaming location message, e.g., an RLP SSRP message, and transmits the roaming location message to the H-SLP 22. If the positioning has been performed by the V-SLP 21, the report message, i.e., the SUPL REPORT message, includes the measured location.
N) The H-SLP 22 forwards the received report message, i.e., the SUPL REPORT message, to the target SET 12. The target SET 12 may release the stable connection with the H-SLP 22. The report message includes the positioning value (i.e., location measurement value).
O) In order to check whether or not the area triggered condition is met, the target SET 12 compares the positioning value with the event area.
P) The target SET 12 transmits the SUPL REPORT message including the session-id and the positioning value to the H-SLP 22.
Q) The H-SLP 22 includes the positioning value in an MLP TLREP message, and transmits the same to the SUPL agent 11.
R) If the SUPL agent 11 has requested a report message several times, the target SET 12 waits until another report message is additionally received.
S) When a final report message is received, the H-SLP 22 transmits an end message, e.g., a SUPL END message, to the target SET 12 and transmits a roaming location message including the end message, e.g., an RLP SSRP message, to the V-SLP 21, in order to terminate the area event triggered session.
FIG. 4 illustrates another example of a signal flow of the area event triggered service according to the related art. FIG. 4 shows the case where the target SET 12 has roamed to the visiting network, and in order to perform location measurement in the visiting network, the V-SLP as well as the H-SLP is illustrated.
The signal flow illustrated in FIG. 4 shows location measurement by the H-SLP 22. The signal flow will now be described.
A) to I) steps are the same as those illustrated in FIG. 3, so the content of FIG. 3 will be quoted as it is.
J) If the area-id parameters are included in the start response message received in step H), the target SET 12 compares the area id of the area in which the target SET 12 is currently located, and the received area id. If it is determined that location measurement should be performed according to the comparison result but the target SET 12 has not established a data connection yet, the target SET 12 attempts a connection to the packet data network.
Subsequently, in order to start a session for location measurement with the V-SLP 21, the target SET 12 transmits a location session initiation message, e.g., SUPL POS INIT message, to the H-SLP 22. In this case, the location session initial message may include at least a session-id parameter, a location ID (lid) parameter indicating an ID of a cell to which the target SET 12 belongs, and a SET capabilities parameter. In this case, the target SET 12 provides its location if possible.
K) In order to obtain the location based on the Location ID (lid) received in step J), the H-SLP 22 transmits the RLP SRLIR message to the V-SLP 21.
L) The V-SLP 21 converts the Location ID (lid) into a location measurement value, includes the corresponding result in an RLP SRLIA messages, and transmits the RLP SRLIA message to the H-SLP 22.
M) The target SET 12 and the H-SLP 22 exchange a plurality of positioning messages,
N) When the precise positioning is completed, the H-SLP 22 transmits a report message to the target SET 12. If the precise positioning has been performed by the H-SLP 22, the report message includes the precise positioning value (i.e., precise position measurement value).
N) The H-SLP 22 forwards the received report message, i.e., the SUPL REPORT message, to the target SET 12. The target SET 12 may release the stable connection with the H-SLP 22. The report message includes the precise positioning value (i.e., precise location measurement value).
O) In order to check whether or not the area triggered condition is met, the target SET 12 compares the precise positioning value with the event area.
P) The target SET 12 transmits the SUPL REPORT message including the session-id and the precise positioning value to the H-SLP 22.
Q) The H-SLP 22 includes the precise positioning value in the MLP TLREP message, and transmits the same to the SUPL agent 11.
R) If the SUPL agent 11 has requested a report message several times, the target SET 12 waits until another report message is additionally received.
S) When a final report message is received, the H-SLP 22 transmits the end message, e.g., the SUPL END message, to the target SET 12 and transmits a roaming location message including the end message, e.g., the RLP SSRP message, to the V-SLP 21, in order to terminate the area event triggered session.
In the related art as described above, if the target SET is located in the home network without roaming, namely, in a non-roaming case, unlike the cases illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the V-SLP 21 is not required and the H-SLP 22 generates the SUPL TRIGGERED RESPONSE message and transmits it to the target SET 12. That is, in case of the non-roaming case, unlike the cases of FIGS. 3 and 4, the H-SLP 22 can directly generate the SUPL TRIGGERED RESPONSE message. In this case, the H-SLP 22 may properly select one of a GEOGRAPHIC_AREA parameter and the Area-id parameter, namely, the ID of the cells of the previously designated geographic area, and include the same in the SUPL TRIGGERED RESPONSE message, such that an application identified by a Client-ID in the MLP TLRR message from the SUPL agent 11.
Meanwhile, if the target SET is roamed to the visiting network as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the V-SLP 21 generates the SUPL TRIGGERED RESPONSE message and the H-SLP 22 merely transfers the SUPL TRIGGERED RESPONSE message which has been generated by the V-SLP 21 to the target SET 12. Thus, the H-SLP 22 cannot select one of the GEOGRAPHIC_AREA parameter and the Area-id parameter, namely, the ID of the cells of the previously designated geographic area, and include the same in the SUPL TRIGGERED RESPONSE message, such that an application identified by a Client-ID in the MLP TLRR message from the SUPL agent 11.
Namely, the inventor of the present invention recognizes that, although the location measurement method intended by the H-SLP 22 or the location measurement method requested by the application of the SUPL agent 11 is possibly based on the geographic area or the Area-ID, the ID of the cells, the V-SLP 21 transmits both the GEOGRAPHIC_AREA parameter indicating information about the geographic area and the Area-id parameter, the ID of cells with respect to the previously designated geographic area, to the H-SLP 22, so network resources are not necessary.
For example, although a particular application identified by a Client-ID in the MLP TLRR message from the SUPL agent 11 requests the geographic area-based location measurement method and a different application requests the Area-ID-based location measurement method, because there is not procedure for the H-SLP to inform the V-SLP about the requested location measurement methods, the V-SLP have no choice but to simply include both the GEOGRAPHIC_AREA parameter and the Area-id parameter, namely, the ID of the cells of the previously designated geographic area, in the SUPL TRIGGERED RESPONSE message.
When the SUPL TRIGGER RESPONSE message includes both the GEOGRAPHIC_AREA parameter and the Area-id PARAMETER, the target SET 12 should measure the location by combining the both parameters.
Namely, the SUPL TRIGGERED RESPONSE message does not provide information about whether the target SET 12 can select one of the two parameters, so the target SET 12 measures the location by combining the both parameters.
Although the particular application identified by the Client-ID of the MLP TLRR message from the SUPL agent 11 requests an Area-id-based position measurement, because the target SET 12 receives both the Graphic Target Area and the Area Id through the TRIGGERED RESPONSE message, the target SET 11 should perform location measurement through a combining method of the Geographic Target Area and the Area Id.
However, unlike the area event triggered method combining the Geographic Target Area and the Area Id as shown in FIG. 3, in the area event triggered method using only one Area id, the location measurement may be performed based on the Area-ID without the necessity of performing precise positioning of step L as shown in FIG. 3. However, the precise positioning in step L is performed and its results are transmitted and received. That is, the unnecessary procedure is performed.
Thus, the target SET 12 unnecessarily consumes battery power for the unnecessary precise positioning.

Method for providing location service for roaming terminal


A method and an apparatus for dividing a flat glass panel (14) are described. The panel (14) which is to be divided and which is raised away from its substrate is securely held in its part regions by two clamping devices (10, 12) which are pivoted in opposite directions about a common pivot axle (4) and thus exert on the panel (14) a bending resulting in breakage along the score line (30). Simultaneously exerted on the clamping devices (10) which are, moreover, arranged to be displaceable in the direction of their connection line is a force which presses the clamping devices apart and which at the moment of breakage of the glass panel results in the two part panels moving apart, so that the broken edges cannot strike against one another. The part panels can be deposited again on a substrate after breaking. The invention further provides for marginal strips to be broken off the panel (14) to be divided, in the raised state thereof directly before dividing.

Within the scope of the present invention, flat glass panels are to be understood to be both panels of glass and panels of glass ceramics which in general have not yet been ceramized and possibly of further materials for which the method described may be used.
In the continuous manufacture or drawing of flat glass, the glass strip, after it has cooled, is scored at predetermined intervals in a direction transverse to the direction of drawing and is broken along the score lines transverse to the direction of drawing to form so-called untrimmed panels. These untrimmed panels still have irregular edges from the drawing process, so that for the lateral straightening of the untrimmed panels marginal strips, so-called rims, also have to be broken off after scoring. Further, the belt width of the drawing plant in general does not correspond exactly to the width for the products to be manufactured, so that the untrimmed panels have to be divided yet again into two or more finished panels after their edges have been straightened.
To this end, the untrimmed panels are removed in accordance with a known procedure from the continuous drawing plant and are subjected to so-called centre breakage in a separate apparatus. To this end, the untrimmed panel was securely clamped by means of one side and a freely projecting part panel was broken off by bending, and then fell onto a conveyor located somewhat lower down in order to be delivered to further processing from there. Here, it is disadvantageous for a continuous production flow that one has to operate here on two planes and that the separated-off part panel has to fall a distance, albeit a small one, after which, moreover, it does not lie back in a strictly horizontal alignment, so that with separated-off part panels there is a risk of breakage. The marginal strips to be separated off and no longer re-usable are generally broken off and disposed of by hand.
The scoring and breaking of glass is a process which is known per se and which functions unproblematically simply with applied bending stress if both or one of the parts to be broken can fall down freely. This applies for example to the marginal strips, which do not need to be held even during breaking and can fall down freely at least for a certain distance directly after breaking off. However, it is more problematic to divide a glass panel into two part panels to be further processed, since they both have to be held securely during the breaking procedure by bending in order to prevent unintentional shattering of a part panel to be re-used. This secure holding of the part panels to be produced results, however, in the edges of the separating point which have become free striking against one another directly after breaking by the application of a bending stress, as a result of which undesired edge chippings are produced.

Method and apparatus for dividing flat glass panels


The present disclosure relates to a silencer module for a silencer bank of an air handling unit. The silencer module includes a support shell having a first inner wall and a second inner wall opposite the first inner wall. The silencer module also includes a first baffle coupled to the first inner wall, where the first baffle includes a first perforated baffle sheet, and a second baffle coupled to the second inner wall, where the second baffle includes a second perforated baffle sheet. The silencer module further includes an air flow gap that extends between the first perforated baffle sheet and the second perforated baffle sheet, where the air flow gap has a width that is substantially constant along a dimension of the first perforated baffle sheet and the second perforated baffle sheet that extends generally parallel to a direction of air flow through the air flow gap.

This disclosure relates generally to heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to a silencer assembly for air handling units.
This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present techniques, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light and not as an admission of any kind.
A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system may be used to thermally regulate an environment, such as a building, home, or other structure. In many cases, an air handling unit of the HVAC system may direct a flow of fresh outdoor air into a building to provide ventilation and improved air quality within the building, while discharging a flow of return air from the building into an ambient environment, such as the atmosphere. Particularly, the air handling unit may include a fan assembly or other flow generating device that facilitates air circulation throughout ductwork of the building. In certain cases, operation of the fan assembly and/or other components of the air handling unit may generate audible noise that propagates through the air handling unit and into the ductwork. Unfortunately, the audible noise generated by the air handling unit may be unpleasant to occupants within the building or persons situated near the building ductwork.

Silencer assembly for air handling unit of an HVAC system


During repeated cycling of alkaline manganese dioxide cells, it is critical to ensure that adequate barrier protection is formed and maintained between the anode and cathode of the cell to prevent shorts from occurring between the cathode and the anode. However, the potential also exists for anodic zinc to migrate via the absorbent separator and create a short path to the cathode. To prevent this, cells can be fabricated whereby a separator barrier is placed into the cells, a hot melt sealant is metered into the cell so that the sealant flows under the separator barrier, the separator barrier is pushed down and seated into the hot melt. The end result is a separator barrier which is sealed at the bottom of the cell and at both sides of the separator barrier and virtually eliminates shorts from developing between the electrodes.

Alkaline electrochemical cells having zinc anodes and manganese dioxide cathodes have achieved commercially success in recent years. Particularly when manufactured in the cylindrical configuration, such cells constitute important sources of portable electrical energy. Alkaline zinc manganese dioxide cells provide substantially more energy vis-a-vis Leclanche cells when used in high current continuous discharge applications.
Historically, alkaline zinc manganese dioxide cells have been used mainly in primary batteries. To date, significant reductions in battery performance after a few recharge cycles delayed the commercialization of secondary alkaline zinc manganese dioxide cells. Several principal problems contributed to this delay.
One problem endemic to such cells arises from the frequency at which they fail due to shorts developing between the metallic anode and the manganese based cathode. Shorts develop because on repeated discharge anodic zinc tends to migrate towards the cathode. Although the electrodes are separated from one another by a barrier-type separator, pathways may develop between the electrodes. For example, if the physical contact between the separator barrier and the bottom of the cell is disrupted, a short can easily develop.
In prior art cells, the seating of the separator barrier within the cell to reduce shorts between the electrodes in alkaline manganese dioxide cells was accomplished in several ways. U.S. Pat. No. 5,108,852 for a Manganese Dioxide Cathode for a Rechargeable Alkaline Cell and Cell Containing the Same, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, discloses one such method. In this method, a plastic disc is placed in the bottom of the cell. Then a convolute separator barrier is placed on the disk and a hot melt material is metered to the inside of the separator barrier so that a seal forms only at the interior surface of the separator barrier. An example of a cell constructed in this way is depicted in FIG. 1. Battery Technologies, Inc. of Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada has manufactured batteries having such a structure.
During repeat cycling of alkaline manganese dry cells, it is critical to ensure that adequate barrier protection is formed and maintained between the anode and cathode of the cell to prevent shorts from occurring between the cathode and the anode. With the design depicted in FIG. 1, it is possible for anodic zinc to migrate through the absorbent and over the top of the plastic disk thereby creating a shorting pathway to the cathode, as depicted in FIG. 2. Additionally, the manufacture of this type of cell involves additional steps, e.g., the disk must be constructed and then placed within the cell and the cell must be spun during metering of the hot melt.
Another method to prevent shorting is taught by Swiss Patent Application No. 669,479. Specifically directed to rechargeable alkaline zinc manganese dioxide cells, this reference utilizes a separator tube as part of a barrier system to prevent an abrupt capacity loss due to shorting experienced in cells after extended cycle life. The Swiss patent teaches three separate approaches, all using a barrier system assembled outside the cell and kept in place in the cell by a hot melt sealant. The first approach involves using a separator tube having only one open end. The closed end of separator tube is affixed to the bottom of the cell with a hot melt sealant. The second approach affixes a separator tube on a plastic disk which is affixed to the bottom of the cell with a hot melt sealant, whereas in the third approach the separator tube is bent inward before being affixed to the plastic disk.
Since the separator tubes disclosed by the Swiss patent all involve completely sealed arrangements, difficulties are encountered in obtaining a sufficient distribution of electrolyte, i.e., the appropriate electrolyte gradient between the electrodes. In order to overcome this problem, several additional manufacturing steps must be taken. Additionally, the insertion of a separator assembly into the cell further reduces the speed in which batteries can be manufactured utilizing the teachings of Swiss Patent Application No. 669,479.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a rechargeable alkaline manganese dry cell with an insulating barrier at the positive (cathode) end of the cell that completely separates the cathode and anode compartments.
Another object of the present invention is to provide continuous protection against shorting on cycled discharges in rechargeable alkaline manganese dry cells and batteries.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide rechargeable alkaline manganese dioxide cells and batteries having a simplified overall design.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide rechargeable alkaline manganese dioxide cells and batteries that are easy to manufacture.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the drawings and the description of the invention.


A leadframe, a package assembly and methods for manufacturing the same are disclosed. A plurality of electronic devices are stacked in a plurality of levels in the package assembly. The leadframe includes a plurality of leads having interconnect areas. The plurality of leads are grouped so that the interconnect areas of each group of leads have a height corresponding to one level of electronic devices. In the package assembly, the interconnect areas of each group of leads are soldered to one level of electronic devices. The leadframe and the package assembly result in increased packaging density, less usage of bonding wires in the package assembly, and improve reliability. The method for manufacturing the package assembly reduces adverse effects of a reflow process on properties of the electronic devices, and thus further improves reliability of the package assembly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to semiconductor package, and more particularly, to a leadframe, a package assembly and methods for manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
With an increasing demand for miniaturization, light weight and multiple functions of electronic devices, a semiconductor package is developed towards a high packaging density so that a package size can be reduced. A package assembly using a leadframe and encapsulating a plurality of integrate circuit chips has attracted attention. In such package assembly, arrangement of the integrated circuit chips and their connections have significant effects on the package size and properties of the electronic devices.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional multi-chip package assembly 100. In package assembly 100, two integrated circuit chips 120 and 130 are arranged side by side on a leadframe 110. The leadframe 110 includes a plurality of finger-like leads 111. Each lead 111 has an upper surface with an interconnect area thereon. Conductive bumps 121 are provided at a lower surface of a first integrated circuit chip 120, with their ends soldered to the interconnect areas of some of the leads 111 by solders 122. Contact pads of a second integrated circuit chip 130, at a lower surface, are soldered to the interconnect areas of other ones of the leads 111 by solders 131. The leadframe 110 and the integrated circuit chips 120 and 130 are encapsulated by an encapsulant 160. At least some portions of the leads 111 in the leadframe 110 are exposed from the encapsulant 160, for electric connection with external circuits, such as a PCB (i.e. printed circuit board).
FIGS. 2a to 2d are cross sectional views illustrating various steps of a method for manufacturing the conventional package assembly 100. The first integrated circuit chip 120 is placed on a leadframe 110, with solder balls 122 contacting the leadframe 110, as shown in FIG. 2a. A reflow process is performed so that the solder balls 122 are melted to form solders 122, as shown in FIG. 2b. Thus, the first integrated circuit chip 120 is secured on some of the leads in the leadframe 110 by the solders 122. A second integrated circuit 130 is then placed on the leadframe 110. Another reflow process is performed so that the second integrated circuit chip 130 is secured on other ones of the leads in the leadframe 110 by the solders 131, as shown in FIG. 2c. The leadframe 110 and the integrated circuit chips 120 and 130 are then encapsulated by an encapsulant 160 (for example, epoxy resin) to form a package assembly 100, as shown in FIG. 2d.
In such conventional package assembly, the integrated circuit chips 120 and 130 are arranged side by side on the leadframe 110. The integrated circuit chips 120 and 130 may be electrically coupled to each other by sharing some leads in the leadframe 110. Alternatively, the integrated circuit chips 120 and 130 may be electrically coupled to each other by attaching bonding wires.
Nevertheless, the arrangement of the integrated circuit chips 120 and 130 side by side is disadvantageous in terms of the packaging density, because the resultant package assembly 100 occupies an area larger than a sum of footprints of the integrated circuit chips 120 and 130. Moreover, the integrated circuit chips 120 and 130 are subjected to reflow for two times before encapsulation by the encapsulant 160. The second reflow process may cause an undesirable reflow of the solders 122 of the first integrated circuit chip 120, which has been subjected to reflow already. Consequently, the interconnect may be damaged.
A stacked package assembly is also proposed, in which a plurality of integrated circuit chips are stacked on a leadframe. An integrated circuit chip in the lowermost level is secured on a leadframe by soldering. Integrated circuit chips in an upper level may be secured by adhesion on top surfaces of integrated circuit chips in a lower level. The integrated circuit chips in the upper level may be electrically coupled to the leadframe by bonding wires. Although the stacked package assembly can reduces its footprints, the bonding wires are used in the package assembly, which results in a complex bonding process and an increased manufacture cost. The electronic devices may suffer from poor electrical contacts of the bonding wires, or even failure.
Thus, it is desirable that the packaging density of the package assembly is increased while its reliability is improved.

Multi-level leadframe with interconnect areas for soldering conductive bumps, multi-level package assembly and method for manufacturing the same

Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) Ltd.


An axisymmetric nozzle for a gas turbine engine has divergent flaps and seals disposed about a central longitudinal axis thereof. The divergent flaps and seals each have an inner surface defining cooling air inlet holes at an upstream portion, cooling air exit holes at a downstream portion, and cooling air channels disposed within the divergent flap and seal, and communicating at a first end with the inlet holes and at a second end with the exit holes for conducting cooling air therethrough. Some of the exit holes of the divergent flap are disposed along lateral edge regions thereof. The divergent seals are interposed between adjacent divergent flaps, and each include lateral edge regions extending laterally beyond the exit holes. The lateral edge regions of each divergent seal have an outer surface overlying at least a portion of the exit holes of an adjacent divergent flap.

Gas turbine engines for aircraft achieve thrust by discharging hot gases through the exhaust nozzle. Efficient operation for multi-mission application dictates the use of variable area convergent/divergent nozzles. Variable convergent/divergent configuration is achieved in axisymmetric nozzles by the use of a plurality of circumferentially arranged flaps. Overlapping seals are located between adjacent flaps. The hinge arrangement must be provided between each convergent flap or seal and each divergent flap or seal. Variations may be made during operation, of the throat and terminal discharge openings.
Specifically, such variable geometry exhaust ducts for aircraft gas turbine engines frequently use axisymmetric arrangement of adjacent flaps to define the periphery of the exhaust duct. Overlapping seal members operate to seal between the adjacent flaps. An intermediate transverse hinge in the flap and seal members between a convergent section and a divergent section provides the desired convergent/divergent arrangement. The duct may accordingly be configured to define a variable throat area and variable exit area which is necessary for optimum engine performance, particularly in high speed aircraft installations using after burning for thrust augmentation.
The convergent/divergent flaps guide the engine exhaust. It is usual to also supply exterior flaps on a one-to-one basis with the divergent flaps, located outboard of the nozzle surrounding the nozzle. This protects the internal mechanism of the nozzle and provides a smoother appearance. It also provides a proper aerodynamic exterior avoiding cracks or openings which could induce flow perturbations.
Maximum thrust and operating efficiency of a gas turbine engine is achieved when the engine exhaust passes through the exhaust nozzle which controls the expansion of the exhaust gases. Maximum operating efficiency generally requires that the nozzle be configured to exit the exhaust stream at substantially the same pressure as the surrounding ambient atmosphere.
With aircraft operating both at subsonic and supersonic speed the exhaust nozzle pressure ratio varies over a wide range. Variable throat convergent/divergent nozzles are used to achieve proper operation for the various operating conditions.
In the divergent section, gas turbine engine nozzles incorporate a plurality of circumferentially arranged divergent flaps. Each of the divergent flaps has a "gas side", the surface of the divergent flap exposed to the exhaust gas of the engine, and an "air side", the surface of the divergent flap opposite to the gas side. Divergent seals are located between, and overlap, adjacent divergent flaps to prevent the escape of the exhaust gas through the gaps between the divergent flaps.
Such gas turbine engine nozzles operate with gas at an extremely high temperature level such that cooling of the nozzle surfaces is required. A known method includes passing a forced flow of cooling air through a liner which is lining both the convergent flaps and the convergent seals. This cooling flow is then dumped at the throat adjacent to the surface of the divergent section to film cool that section. Unfortunately, the cooling flow does not generally cool the lateral edge regions of divergent seals in a conventional axisymmetric nozzle configuration.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a nozzle configuration that overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks and disadvantages.

System and method for cooling lateral edge regions of a divergent seal of an axisymmetric nozzle


A method for fabricating a nonvolatile memory device including successively forming a first oxide layer, an electrically conductive layer, a second oxide layer, a nitride layer and a third oxide layer on a semiconductor substrate. The method also includes patterning the third oxide layer, forming spacers at sidewalls of the third oxide layer, forming a trench in the substrate by selectively etching the substrate with the third oxide layer as a mask, filling the trench with fourth oxide layer, and removing the third oxide layer, the nitride layer and the second oxide layer. Before filling the trench with the fourth oxide layer, a liner oxide layer is formed on inner walls of the trench. The fourth oxide layer is high density plasma (HDP) oxide and tetrafluoroethane (Si(OC2H5)4). During the filling the trench, lower corners of the conductive layer are made have rounded structure or bird's beak structure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to semiconductor memory device technology. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for forming a floating gate in flash nonvolatile memory devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Flash memory is widely used and known as a strong competitor to other nonvolatile memory devices, such as EPROMs and EEPROMs, and to some DRAM applications. The flash memory is capable of retaining the stored data without continued supply of electrical power, and typically has a stacked gate structure of a floating gate and a control gate. The floating gate, which is placed between the control gate and the semiconductor substrate, is isolated by a tunnel oxide layer. Electrons trapped into the floating gate modify the threshold voltage of the transistor. Electrons are trapped in the floating gate by Fowler-Nordheim tunneling or hot electron injection (HCI) through the tunnel oxide. Electrons are removed or erased from the floating gate by Fowler-Nordheim tunneling.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a floating gate in conventional flash memory cell.
Referring to FIG. 1, the floating gate 13 is formed on a semiconductor substrate 10, which is interposed by a tunnel oxide layer 12. In the semiconductor substrate 10, an isolation layer 11 made by shallow trench isolation (STI) technique is formed. The isolation 10 defines active regions where microcircuit elements such as memory cells are to be formed. The STI isolation has been developed to replace the traditional local oxidation of silicon (LOCOS) isolation according to demands of miniaturization of integrated circuit devices.
When the floating gate is formed by using the STI technique, oxide thinning problem in interfaces between the active and isolation regions is inevitable. The oxide thinning causes an increase of leakage current to degrade the programming and reading characteristics of the memory devices.

Method for forming floating gate in flash memory device


A method of forming a magnetic structure having layers with different magnetization orientations provided by a common magnetic bias layer includes the steps of depositing an antiferromagnetic layer between first and second ferromagnetic layers. During the deposition of the first and second ferromagnetic layers, magnetization fields of different orientations are employed separately to induce different directions of magnetization in the first and second layers. The different directions of magnetization in the first and second layers are sustained, through the process of exchange coupling, by the interposed antiferromagnetic layer which serves as the bias layer. A magnetic structure thus fabricated, can be used as a read transducer capable of generating differential signals with common mode noise rejection, and can be used as a magnetic pole for a magnetic head with reduced Barkhausen noise.

Presently known magnetic heads or transducers incorporate magnetoresistive (MR) sensors for detecting magnetically recorded data. A magnetoresistive transducer can read information on a recording medium with much narrower track widths and yields better signal-to-noise ratio. Also, the output signal generated during the data reading process is independent of the traveling speed of the recording medium.
A typical magnetoresistive head includes a magnetoresistive sensor located between two magnetic shield layers. Disposed between the magnetoresistive sensor and the magnetic shield layers are insulating layers. During the data reading mode, the magnetic shields shunt away stray fields, thereby confining the magnetic flux that emanates from a record medium and which is sensed by the MR sensor. The changes in magnetic flux correspondingly vary the resistivity of the magnetoresistive sensor. A direct electric current passing through the magnetoresistive sensor generates a varying voltage which represents the data stored in the recording medium.
Implementations of MR read heads at a miniaturized scale encounter various practical problems. First, the MR sensor needs to be properly biased. The ferromagnetic layer in its natural state comprises a multiple number of magnetic domains separated by domain walls. These domain walls are highly unstable. During normal operations, the constant merging and splitting of the domain walls generate undesirable signal noise, commonly called Barkhausen noise, which degrades the performance of the magnetic head. To suppress the signal noise, hard magnetic bias layers are normally attached to the ferromagnetic layers for the purpose of aligning the magnetic domains in a single domain configuration. Furthermore, to position the ferromagnetic layer in the linear operation region, another bias, called transverse bias, needs to be provided to the ferromagnetic layer. A soft adjacent layer formed of a material with relatively high coercivity and minimal magnetoresistive response is disposed adjacent to and spaced from the ferromagnetic layer to provide the necessary transverse bias. Exchange coupling between antiferromagnetic (AFM) and ferromagnetic (FM) materials is also used to achieve such biases. In more recent recording devices, such as spin valve heads, the AFM/FM structure becomes the critical part of the device. An AFM/FM structure with superior magnetic properties will enhance devices such as spin valve heads, dual MR heads and dual spin valve heads. Also in inductive devices wherein lamination is used to reduce eddy current and extend high frequency performance, insulating AFM materials may be used as lamination spacers to strengthen signal domain structure in the pole pieces of the inductive head. This approach can significantly reduce signal noise and enhance high frequency performance.
For the above reasons, there is a need to provide a method of fabricating magnetic transducers and magnetic film structures that can interact with storage media having narrow recorded data tracks with high linear recording densities, yet sufficiently sensitive to sense only the data signals recorded on the magnetic media with undesirable signal noise screened out.

Thin film magnetic structure having ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic layers


A method of fabricating a steam turbine nozzle box is provided, wherein the method includes forming an annular chamber defined by a radially outer wall and a radially inner wall and coupling a plurality of inlets in flow communication with the annular chamber such that steam is discharged from each of the plurality of inlets into the chamber at an oblique discharge angle with respect to an inlet axial centerline.

This invention relates generally to steam turbines and, more particularly, to a nozzle box for use with a steam turbine.
At least some known steam turbines include a nozzle box that facilitates channeling fluid towards a first stage of a turbine. At least some known nozzle boxes each include a plurality of inlets, an annular region, and a plurality of discharge nozzles. The inlets channel steam into the annular region. Because the steam discharged from each inlet typically varies in pressure, the annular region facilitates mixing the steam discharged from the various inlets to provide a substantially evenly distributed pressure of steam throughout the region. The steam is discharged from the annular region through the plurality of nozzles towards the first stage of turbine rotors.
The annular regions of at least some known nozzle boxes have a circular cross-section. Moreover, at least some known nozzle box inlets are oriented such that steam is discharged into the annular region in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to a line extending tangentially to the region. However, the circular cross-section of the annular region and the orientation of the inlets may result in an uneven flow distribution throughout the annular region such that portions of the annular region may be deprived of steam flow. Such uneven flow may create an uneven steam pressure distribution which may induce vibrations within the turbine when the steam is discharged through the nozzles at uneven pressures. Continued operation with such vibrations may decrease the useful life of the turbine and/or increase maintenance costs associated with the turbine.

Steam turbine nozzle box and methods of fabricating


An apparatus includes a holder to support an indenter relative to a sample, a depth sensor, and a controller. The operations include applying a first force on the sample with the indenter and determining a first depth of the indenter based on data generated by the sensor, moving the indenter from the first depth to a greater predetermined depth, then applying the first force on the sample with the indenter and determining a second depth of the indenter based on second data generated by the sensor, and determining a value indicative of hardness of the sample based on a difference between the first depth and the second depth. The apparatuses described can use a single scale for hardness that enables hardness values for different materials to be compared to one another.

Hardness testing systems can be used to assess a hardness of a sample of material. In a Rockwell test, an indenter applies specified loads to a sample of material and the hardness is determined based on the difference between indentation depths at two different points in the loading cycle. In a Brinell test, an indenter applies a load to a sample of material to form an indentation on the sample. An image capture system captures imagery of the indentation so that dimensions of the indentation can be measured. These dimensions of the indentation are used to determine the hardness of the sample.

Hardness testing system using multiple depth measurements and related methods


A method and apparatus are disclosed for using a general purpose input-output (GPIO) interface to test a user input device such as a wireless keyboard or mouse. Operation of key-scan logic can be tested by the GPIO interface by temporarily disconnecting the outputs of the various rows and columns and substituting signals generated by a test algorithm into the input terminals of the key-scan logic. The test signal is processed by the key scan circuitry and a key-scan output signal is generated. This key-scan output signal is then compared to a known reference output signal to determine if the key-scan logic and associated circuitry is operating properly. Other embodiments of the GPIO testing system can be used to test other user devices such as a computer mouse/scrolling device.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to digital computers; and more particularly to a method and apparatus for detecting errors in human interface devices for communicating with digital computers.
2. Related Art
There are many user input devices for use with a digital computer, including standard keyboards, touchpads, mice and trackballs. In order to ensure accurate operation of a user input device, it is important to have a means to test operation of the circuitry in the device. Prior art methods for performing such tests are typically conducted at the factory at the time the device is fabricated. Some prior art testing techniques for keyboards and mice include direct testing of the actual device by electromechanical devices, such as robots. Other prior art techniques using testing algorithms are typically performed by electronic devices in the factory with no means to test the device once it has left the factory.
Wireless communication technology has advanced rapidly over the past few years and there has been rapid development of wireless technologies for providing communication between input/output devices and their "host" computers. These "wireless" input devices are highly desirable since they do not require any hard-wired connections with their host computers. However, the lack of a wired connection also requires that the wireless input devices contain their own power supply, i.e., that they be battery powered.
To extend the life of its batteries, a wireless input device often supports power saving modes of operation. For example, a wireless interface may include circuitry to provide for various levels of "power-down" modes to reduce power consumption when the device is inactive. When activity is detected, the interface circuitry will transition to a powered-up mode to facilitate communications between the user interface device and the computer and will then return to a power-down mode after a predetermined interval of inactivity of the user interface device.
When a wireless device transitions from one of the various power-down modes to powered-up mode, it is useful to perform a quick check of the circuitry to ensure that the device is in proper condition for error-free operation. Likewise, after a wireless device has been powered-down to change the batteries, it is important to perform a self-test of the device's circuitry after the device returns to a powered-up state. In both of these situations, it is essential that the test consumes minimum power.
Heretofore, there has not been any power-conserving method or apparatus that provides for effective testing of a user input device, such as a keyboard or mouse, once the device has left the factory. Thus, there is a need in the art for a method and apparatus for testing a user input device such as a keyboard or mouse while consuming a minimal amount of power, thereby allowing a wireless input device to operate in an error-free condition for an extended period on a single battery life.

Error detection in user input device using general purpose input-output


A new and distinct cultivar of Nemesia plant named xe2x80x98Nemplumxe2x80x99, characterized by its upright and outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit; small green leaves; and numerous dark purple-colored flowers.

Nemesia caerula cultivar xe2x80x98Nemplumxe2x80x99.
The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Nemesia plant, botanically known as Nemesia caerula and referred to by the name xe2x80x98Nemplumxe2x80x99.
The new Nemesia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Auckland, New Zealand. The objective of the program is to create new compact Nemesia cultivars with numerous flowers and unique flower colors.
The new Nemesia originated from a cross by the Inventor of the Nemesia caerula cultivar xe2x80x98Monkey Bumxe2x80x99, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with the Nemesia caerula cultivar xe2x80x98RCU 1xe2x80x99, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent on or about Oct. 30, 1998. The cultivar xe2x80x98Nemplumxe2x80x99 was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Auckland, New Zealand on or about Apr. 16, 1999.
Asexual reproduction of the new Nemesia by terminal cuttings taken in a controlled environment in Auckland, New Zealand since September, 1999, has shown that the unique features of this new Nemesia are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.
The new Nemesia has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.
The following characteristics have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of xe2x80x98Nemplumxe2x80x99 and distinguish xe2x80x98Nemplumxe2x80x99 as a new and distinct cultivar:
1. Upright and outwardly spreading plant habit.
2. Freely branching habit.
3. Small green leaves.
4. Numerous dark purple-colored flowers.
Plants of the new Nemesia differ primarily from plants of the female parent, the cultivar xe2x80x98Monkey Bumxe2x80x99, in the following characteristics:
1. Plants of the new Nemesia have darker green leaves than plants of the cultivar xe2x80x98Monkey Bumxe2x80x99.
2. Plants of the new Nemesia have dark purple-colored flowers whereas plants of the cultivar xe2x80x98Monkey Bumxe2x80x99 have light purple-colored flowers.
Plants of the new Nemesia differ primarily from plants of the male parent, the cultivar xe2x80x98RCU 1xe2x80x99, in the following characteristics:
1. Plants of the new Nemesia are not as compact as plants of the cultivar xe2x80x98RCU 1xe2x80x99.
2. Plants of the new Nemesia are more floriferous than plants of the cultivars xe2x80x98RCU 1xe2x80x99.
3. Plants of the new Nemesia have dark purple-colored flowers whereas plants of the cultivar xe2x80x98RCU 1xe2x80x99 have red purple-colored flowers.
Plants of the new Nemesia can be compared to plants of the cultivar xe2x80x98Blueberry Sachetxe2x80x99, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Encinitas, Calif., plants of the new Nemesia differed from plants of the cultivar xe2x80x98Blueberry Sachetxe2x80x99 in the following characteristics:
1. Plants of the new Nemesia were denser and bushier than plants of the cultivar xe2x80x98Blueberry Sachetxe2x80x99.
2. Plants of the new Nemesia flowered about one week later than plants of the cultivar xe2x80x98Blueberry Sachetxe2x80x99.
3. Plants of the new Nemesia had dark purple-colored flowers whereas plants of the cultivar xe2x80x98Blueberry Sachetxe2x80x99 had blue-colored flowers.


A measurement bridge circuit includes a first branch and a second branch. The first branch contains a first resistor which is sensitive to measured variables and an invariable resistor connected in series. A first tap point is located between the first resistor and the invariable resistor. The second branch contains a second resistor which is sensitive to measured variables and a variable resistor arrangement connected in series. The variable resistor arrangement includes a first component having an invariable electrical resistance value and a second component having a variable electrical resistance value. The second component is connected in parallel with the first component in order to vary a total electrical resistance value for the variable resistor arrangement. A second tap point is located between the second resistor and the variable resistor arrangement.

The present disclosure relates to a variable resistor arrangement, to a measurement bridge circuit, to a method for calibrating a measurement bridge circuit and to a corresponding control device and computer program product.
In a circuit which is based on the electrical equilibrium in two strings, for example, the possibility of adjusting the resistance of at least one of the strings is necessary owing to component tolerances and manufacturing tolerances. For example, individual resistances of a cascaded arrangement of resistors can be bridged or short-circuited by means of irreversible adjustment methods, such as laser trimming or zener zapping, in order to match a resultant resistance of the arrangement. In the event of a disturbance to the equilibrium, for example owing to component aging in the strings, renewed adjustment is necessary. For this purpose, the cascaded arrangement can be replaced and adjusted.
A device for adjusting sensor signals is known from DE 4 115 288 A1.

Variable resistor arrangement, measurement bridge circuit and method for calibrating a measurement bridge circuit


A filter cleaning apparatus for removing dust and debris from a stationary filter having a dust and debris collecting surface. The apparatus includes a longitudinally extending duct having a lengthwise slot formed therein. A belt in the duct extends across the slot whereby the duct and the belt together define a plenum. The belt has an opening formed therein adjacent the slot and in fluid communication with the plenum. The belt is mounted for movement along the slot such that the opening may be repositioned along the length of the slot. A nozzle is mounted on the belt for movement therewith and extends outwardly from the belt. The nozzle has an inlet distal from the belt. The inlet has a width substantially transverse to the length of the slot which is greater than a corresponding width of the opening in the belt. The inlet is in fluid communication with the opening and thereby the plenum. The apparatus further includes a belt driver for moving the belt along the slot.

Textile manufacturing plants generate large quantities of dust and lint which must be removed from the work environment to ensure worker comfort and safety. Removal is normally achieved by drawing lint and dust containing air from the work area and conveying it through a filtration system where the dust and lint is collected on filters. Normally, the filtration apparatus includes a housing enclosing a plurality of filters and a fan to convey air through the filters. Water spray nozzles may be provided as well. When air passes through the filter surface, lint and dust is deposited on the filter. A particular concern for air filtration systems collecting large particles, such as lint, heavy sawdust and the like, is that larger particles collecting on the filter surface, and in particular, on a pre-filter, tend to clog the surface quickly and thus reduce the filtration efficiency.
One approach to pre-filtering is to provide a roll type filter. A web of filter media initially wound on a first roll is drawn across the filter area. As the filter media web collects dust and debris and the pressure drop across the filter media becomes too great, the filter media web is wound onto a second roll opposite the first roll. Typically, the filter media cannot be reused and is discarded once the initial roll is depleted.
There exists a need for convenient and cost-effective apparatus for pre-filtering air in industrial facilities.

Filter cleaning system including individually driven belt mounted extending nozzles


Examples are disclosed that relate to computing devices and methods for identifying an approved input device. In one example, a method comprises: receiving a plurality of input signals from a plurality of target user-actuatable input components operated by a user, applying a plurality of rules to the plurality of input signals to generate a confidence score, and comparing the confidence score to a threshold score to determine if the plurality of target user-actuatable input components are associated with an approved input device.

Many types of input devices may be used to provide input to computing devices. Some input devices may include a keyboard, mouse or video game controller. Certain input devices may provide an advantage over other input devices that are typically used with a particular computing device, such as a gaming console. In some examples, intermediate devices may allow users to connect these "unapproved" input devices to a particular computing device to gain an advantage over other input devices.


The microcomputer reads phase difference angle data latched at the leading edge and the trailing edge of a binary logic signal composed depending on the polarity of each phase voltage of an a.c. power supply and compares the phase difference angle data with a predetermined value. Then, proportional plus integral operation is performed about the compared deviation so as to reduce the deviation to zero. The resulting value is sent to an integrating circuit in which the integrating operation is cleared and re-started each time the integrated value reaches a predetermined value. The leading inclination of the integration signal obtained by the integrating circuit changes depending on the value of the input signal. By latching the value of the integration signal at the leading edge and the trailing edge of the logic signal, the phase difference angle data can be modified. As such, if the a.c. power frequency is changed out of a constant state, the microcomputer automatically operates to direct the read phase difference angle to a command value as close as possible and to pick up a signal synchronized with the phase of an a.c. power supply and matched to a predetermined value from the latch circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for feeding a digital signal synchronized with a phase of an a.c. power supply.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In order to control a thyristor leonard system and a cyclo-converter which are capable of performing control of the phase for voltage adjustment or a power source system for recovering power, the system having a pulse width modulation system converter provided with a self-quenchable switching element, a control system for those systems, in general, requires a signal synchronized with a phase of the d.c. power supply so that the control system works in synchronization with the phase of an a.c. power supply.
With recent remarkable developments in microcomputers, microcomputers have been widely used in phase control units of thyristors as well as other control units.
To detect a phase-synchronized signal for a microcomputer, therefore, various kinds of phase locked loop circuits have been made practically available.
FIG. 1 shows an arrangement of a representative phase locked loop circuit.
As shown, a voltage detector 1 steps down a supply voltage and outputs phase voltage signals U, V, W to a logic detector circuit 2. The logic detector circuit 2 serves to transform the voltage signals U, V, W into a logic level "1" or "0" depending on the polarity of each signal and to feed logic signals 2a to 2c to a ROM 3 in which those logic signals 2a to 2c are applied, to lower rank addresses A0 to A2 of the ROM 2. The upper rank addresses A3 to A6 of the ROM 3 receive frequency-divided signals 7a to 7d sent from a frequency divider circuit 7. The ROM 3 stores pieces of binary voltage information 3a to 3c at the addresses corresponding to those address signals. Each binary voltage information 3a to 3c is read from a data output terminal D0 to D2 of the ROM 3 and is provided to an adder 4. The ROM 3 has the other data output terminal D3 from which a frequency-division clearing signal 3d is read, and is provided to the frequency dividing circuit 7. This clearing signal 3d serves to limit the division of an electric angle 180.degree. into 12 partial frequencies. The adder 4 serves to add the corresponding voltage signal to each binary voltage information 3a to 3c and provided the added signal 4a to a voltage smoothing circuit 5. The voltage smoothing circuit 5 serves to smooth the added signal 4a and feed a smoothed voltage signal 5a to a voltage oscillation circuit 6. The voltage oscillation circuit 6 transforms the smoothed voltage signal 5a into the corresponding pulse frequency signal 6a, for example, a frequency corresponding to 12-fold power frequency f.sub.s. The frequency divider circuit 7 divides the pulse signal 6a into divided frequency signals 7a to 7d of 1/16, 1/8, 1/4 and 1/2.
In the case where no voltage abnormality or no phase slippage appears in the a.c. power source, the ROM 3 specifies each binary data stored at each phase interval 15.degree. (180.degree./120 to the corresponding address so that the ROM 3 may output a voltage signal 3a of "1" at a first 90.degree. interval (0.degree. to 90.degree.), a signal 3a of "0" at a second 90.degree. interval (90.degree. to 180.degree.), a signal 3a of "1" at a third 90.degree. interval (180.degree. to 270.degree.), and a signal 3a of "0" at a fourth 90.degree. interval (270.degree. to 360.degree.) and voltage signals 3b, 3c for the other two phases (V and W phases) at the data output terminals D0, D1, D2. The voltage signals 3b and 3c are respectively shifted by 120.degree. and 240.degree. with respect to the voltage signal 3a of the reference phase.
In case the voltage detecting signals U, V, W are in normal states, the ROM 3 serves to output the voltage signals 3a, 3b, 3c for keeping the output voltage 5a of the voltage smoothing circuit 5 constant. The voltage signals 3a, 3b, 3c are shifted by 120.degree. with respect to each signal and have iterative values of "1" and "0" at each 90.degree. interval for each phase.
This results in keeping an output pulse signal 6a of the voltage oscillating circuit 6 at a constant frequency pulse and this state means that the voltage detecting signals U, V, W are synchronized with the phase voltage of an a.c. bus. In case an abnormal state takes place in the voltage signals U, V and W at each of 12-divided phase intervals, the phase of each voltage information 3a to 3b is shifted and this results in changing the output voltage 5a of the smoothing circuit 5, thereby entering the output signal 6a of the voltage oscillating circuit 6 into an intermittent oscillating state. That is, the output signal 6a is not made to be a constant frequency pulse.
Actually, if the foregoing PLL feeds a signal synchronized with a phase of the a.c. power source under the control of the microcomputer when controlling the power source, the microcomputer works on the output signal 6a of the voltage oscillating circuit 6 used as a fundamental clock of the microcomputer.
The accuracy of the foregoing power source phase synchronizing apparatus depends on the accuracy of the voltage smoothing circuit 5 and the voltage oscillating circuit 6. In case the supply frequency is shifted by a rate of 10%, the voltage oscillating circuit 6 enters into an intermittent oscillating state, resulting in phase-slipping phenomenon. This phenomenon is brought about especially when the power source led to the a.c. bus is changed from a commercial power source to a non-utility generator.
As will be understood from the above description, if the phase-slipping phenomenon appears in the phase locked loop, an abnormal state takes place in the control of the system using the synchronized signal as a fundamental clock of the microcomputer, resulting in fatal damage to the overall system.
In addition, the peripheral components around the voltage smoothing circuit 5 and the voltage oscillating circuit 6 are composed of analog circuits and this is one of the factors for lowering reliability of the overall system.

Apparatus for generating digital signal synchronized with phase of power supply