A method for manufacturing a bag for use in vacuum packaging comprises forming a first panel including a tray for retaining contents within the bag and a second panel. Optionally, the tray can include a plurality of ridges or protuberances for suspending contents such that liquid can collect in the tray. Each panel comprises a gas-impermeable base layer and a heat-sealable inner layer molded from melt-extruded resin. The first panel is overlapped with the second panel, and three of four edges of the panels are heated such that the inner layers bond at the heated edges. This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention. Other features, aspects, and objects of the invention can be obtained from a review of the specification, the figures, and the claims.

Methods and devices for preserving perishable foods such as fish and meats, processed foods, prepared meals, and left-overs, and non-perishable items are widely known, and widely varied. Foods are perishable because organisms such as bacteria, fungus and mold grow over time after a food container is opened and the food is left exposed to the atmosphere. Most methods and devices preserve food by protecting food from organism-filled air. A common method and device includes placing food into a gas-impermeable plastic bag, evacuating the air from the bag using suction from a vacuum pump or other suction source, and tightly sealing the bag.
A bag for use in vacuum packaging can consist of a first panel and second panel, each panel consisting of a single layer of heat-sealable, plastic-based film (for example, polyethylene). The panels are sealed together along a substantial portion of the periphery of the panels by heat-sealing techniques so as to form an envelope. Perishable products, such as spoilable food, or other products are packed into the envelope via the unsealed portion through which air is subsequently evacuated. After perishable products are packed into the bag and air is evacuated from the inside of the bag, the unsealed portion is heated and pressed such that the panels adhere to each other, sealing the bag.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,778,173, incorporated herein by reference, discloses a method for improving the evacuation of air from the bag by forming channels in at least one of the panels with the aid of embossing techniques. Air escapes from the bag along the channels during evacuation. The embossing forms a pattern of protuberances on at least one of the panels. The protuberances can be discrete pyramids, hemispheres, etc., and are formed by pressing a panel using heated female and male dies. The first panel is overlaid on the second panel such that the protuberances from one panel face the opposite panel. The contacting peripheral edges of the panels are sealed to each other to form an envelope having an inlet at an unsealed portion of the periphery. The perishable or other products are packed into the envelope through the inlet, and the inlet is sealed. Thereafter, an opening is pierced in a part of the panel material that communicates with the channels, air is removed from the interior of the envelope through the channels and opening, and the opening is sealed. This type of bag requires two additional sealing steps after the perishable or other product is packed into the envelope. One further problem is that embossing creates impressions on the plastic such that indentations are formed on the opposite side of the panel
To avoid additional sealing steps, a vacuum bag is formed having a first panel and a second panel consisting of laminated films. Each panel comprises a heat-sealable inner layer, a gas-impermeable outer layer, and optionally, one or more intermediate layers. Such a bag is described in U.S. Pat. No. Re. 34,929, incorporated herein by reference. At least one film from at least one panel is embossed using an embossing mold to form protuberances and channels defined by the space between protuberances, so that air is readily evacuated from the vacuum bag.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,554,423, incorporated herein by reference, discloses still another bag usable in vacuum packaging. The bag consists of a first and second panel, each panel consisting of a gas-impermeable outer layer and a heat-sealable inner layer. A plurality of heat-sealable strand elements are heat bonded at regular intervals to the inner layer of either the first panel or the second panel. The spaces between strand elements act as channels for the evacuation of air. The strand elements are extruded from an extrusion head and heat bonded to the heat-sealable layer by use of pressure rolls. Separate equipment is required for producing strand elements, and a procedure of heat bonding a plurality of strand elements at regular intervals to the heat-sealable inner layer is complicated. Also, various shapes of pattern are hard to form using this process.

Method for manufacturing a sealable bag having an integrated tray for use in vacuum packaging


Method and apparatus enable optical evanescent sensing utilizing a waveguide with an annular core. The annular core can provide detectable sensitivity to a measurand due to optical interactions with contents along an inside surface of the annular core since optical properties of the contents vary with changes in the measurand.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention generally relate to an optical evanescent sensor utilizing a waveguide with an annular core.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various applications utilize optical sensors to measure parameters such as temperatures, pressures, biological compounds and chemicals in a particular environment. For example, uses of optical sensors include industrial sensing, research, medical analysis, and oil/gas recovery operations such as those occurring in a wellbore. These optical sensors can provide enhanced sensitivity, geometrical flexibility, miniaturization, durability in harsh environments with high temperatures and/or pressures, immunity from electromagnetic interference and multiplexing capabilities.
Some optical sensors function as evanescent sensors based on detection of changes in light propagating through an optical waveguide due to the optical mode penetrating evanescently into a surrounding media sensitive to a parameter being sensed. Techniques for producing evanescent sensors can rely on etching or polishing one side of an optical waveguide to produce a "D" shaped sensing element that brings the propagating mode along an interaction area in close proximity to the flat side such that a significant evanescent field is produced. However, long and complicated processes required to produce these sensing elements make such devices expensive. Further, the polishing or etching techniques used to produce the sensing element impose practical limits on a length of the interaction area that can be achieved since, for example, side-polished fiber portions are generally only a few millimeters long.
Therefore, there exists a need for an improved evanescent optical sensor that is easy to manufacture. A further need exists for a simple, flexible, monolithic, highly sensitive optical sensor element, which can be coupled to standard single mode optical fiber.

Evanescent sensor using a hollow-core ring mode waveguide


Provided is an electrooptical device, an electronic device, a control method for an electrooptical device, and the like that can easily realize various characteristics that are difficult to realize with related art. An electrooptical device uses electrophoretic particles migrating in a dispersion medium for image display. The electrooptical device includes a first electrode, a second electrode, first electrophoretic particles that are pigmented in a first color and charged in a first polarity, and second electrophoretic particles that are pigmented in the first color and charged in the first polarity. The first electrophoretic particles and the second electrophoretic particles are disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. An absolute value of a charge quantity of the first electrophoretic particles is larger than an absolute value of a charge quantity of the second electrophoretic particles.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an electrooptical device, an electronic device using the same, a control method for an electrooptical device, and the like.
2. Related Art
An electrophoretic display device is known as one example of an electrooptical device. An electrophoretic display device is configured such that electrophoretic elements including pigmented electrophoretic particles are held between a pixel electrode and an counter electrode. The electrophoretic display device displays an image by causing the electrophoretic particles to migrate through application of a voltage between these two electrodes. At this time, in the electrophoretic display device, the color of the displayed image can be changed by, for example, controlling the electrophoretic particles pigmented in different colors to migrate independently on a per-color basis. The electrophoretic elements are composed of, for example, a plurality of microcapsules that are sealed between the pixel electrode and the counter electrode. Every microcapsule includes a plurality of electrophoretic particles.
Technology related to such an electrophoretic display device is disclosed in, for instance, the following examples of related art: JP-A-2000-194021, the specification of US-A1-2011/0310461, the specification of US-A1-2006/0202949, T. Yashiro, "Novel Design for Color Electrophoretic Display", SID 2011 5.3 (hereinafter, simply "Yashiro"), and N. Hiji, "Novel Color Electrophoretic E-Paper Using Independently Movable Colored Particles", SID 2012 8.4 (hereinafter, simply "Hiji").
JP-A-2000-194021 discloses a display device in which a microcapsule includes a dispersion medium pigmented in black, and electrophoretic particles dispersed in the dispersion medium have different electrophoretic mobilities for different colors. This display device displays different tones in accordance with a difference in values of applied voltages or time periods of voltage application.
The specification of US-A1-2011/0310461 discloses an electrophoretic display device that displays a color image using red, green, blue, and white color filters.
The specification of US-A1-2006/0202949 discloses an electrophoretic display device in which a plurality of electrophoretic particles having different electrophoretic mobilities are included in a fluid. This electrophoretic display device displays an image in accordance with optical characteristics of the respective electrophoretic particles.
Yashiro discloses an electrophoretic display device that displays a color image using a configuration in which electrochromic layers are stacked on a per-color basis.
Hiji discloses an electrophoretic display device that displays a color image by independently controlling pigmented electrophoretic particles that have different thresholds.
As can be understood from JP-A-2000-194021, the specification of US-A1-2011/0310461, the specification of US-A1-2006/0202949, Yashiro, and Hiji, the characteristics of electrophoretic particles, as well as the characteristics of a liquid in which the electrophoretic particles are dispersed, are important elements in determining how an electrophoretic display device should be controlled. It is important for an electrophoretic display device to achieve further improvements in function, such as higher contrast, expansion in a temperature range of operation, extension in a time period for which a display state is retained, and reduction in a time period for which a display state is updated.

Electrooptical device, electronic device, and control method for electrooptical device


An optical fiber temperature distribution measurement device configured to receive Raman back scattering lights obtained by inputting a pulsed light into an optical fiber and to measure a temperature distribution along a longitudinal direction of the optical fiber is provided. The device includes a first filter device. The first filter device includes: a threshold value setting circuit configured to set a threshold value in accordance with a change in an amount of noise overlapped with a measured signal, the measured signal indicating one of an intensity distribution and a temperature distribution of the Raman back scattering lights along the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber; a filter configured to eliminate a frequency component of the measured signal, the frequency component being larger than a predetermined first frequency; a determination circuit configured to determine if the measured signal is over the threshold value; a synthesizing circuit configured to select and synthesize one of the measured signal processed by the filter and the measured signal unprocessed by the filter in accordance with a determination result from the determination circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical fiber temperature distribution measurement device configured to measure a temperature distribution of an optical fiber along a longitudinal direction of the optical fiber, and a method of measuring an optical fiber temperature distribution.
Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-038696, filed Feb. 28, 2013, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of Related Art
There have been widely carried out research and developments regarding distribution measurement devices configured to use optical fiber as sensors and to measure the distribution of a physical quantity of optical fiber, wherein the distribution is defined in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber. One of the distribution measurement devices is an optical fiber temperature distribution measurement device which is configured to measure a temperature distribution along the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber by measuring Raman back scattering light (Stokes light and anti-Stokes light) generated in the optical fiber. The optical fiber temperature distribution measurement device is also referred to as R-OTDR (Raman Optical Time Domain Reflectometry).
Specifically, the optical fiber temperature distribution measurement device described above is configured to repeatedly supplying a pulse of laser via a side of the optical fiber into the optical fiber and sequentially receiving Raman back scattering lights (Stokes light and anti-Stokes light) from the side of the optical fiber, where the Raman back scattering light is generated by propagating the pulse of laser in the optical fiber. The temperature distribution along the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber is obtained by calculating the intensity ratio of the Stokes light to the anti-Stokes light at each measuring point along the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber (to be exact, by calculating the ratio of the average value of the intensity of the Stokes light to the average value of the intensity of the anti-Stokes light).
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2012-27001 discloses an example of an optical fiber temperature distribution measurement device in the related art. Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2002-278585 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. H11-174267 disclose a technique for eliminating noises in the related art. Specifically, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2002-278585 discloses a noise elimination device configured to eliminate small-amplitude random noises (specifically, noises included in a sound signal such as a human voice and a music). Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. H11-174267 discloses a non-linear digital filter for an optical pulse tester configured to reduce the amount of noises overlapped with an OTDR waveform.
Indexes indicating a performance of an optical fiber temperature distribution measurement device include a "temperature resolution" and a "spatial resolution". The "temperature resolution" is an index indicating the minimum measurable temperature difference, while the "spatial resolution" is an index indicating the minimum fiber length needed to measure a certain temperature change. For example, SEAFOM (Subsea Fiber Optic Monitoring Group) defines the average of 2σ as the "temperature resolution", where a is the standard deviation of measured values obtained by repeatedly measuring an optical fiber having a constant temperature twenty times (measurement results at measuring points more than 51 points), and defines the minimum fiber length needed to measure a hot spot (a spot where a temperature difference is over 20° C.) as the "spatial resolution".
Recently, improvements of the temperature resolution and the spatial resolution have made it necessary for optical fiber temperature distribution measurement devices to measure a temperature distribution more precisely. Especially, requirements for a correct measurement of a temperature distribution at a distant position from the optical fiber temperature distribution measurement device (for example, at a position which is closer to a first end than to a second end opposite to the first end, a laser is incident into the second end) are increased. Thus, it is necessary to improve the temperature resolution at the position near one side of the fiber.
Since the temperature resolution relates to an S/N ratio which is the ratio of a signal component (a received signal of Raman back scattering light) to a noise component, it is necessary to increase the level of the signal component or to decrease the level of the noise component in order to improve the temperature resolution. Methods of increasing the level of the signal component include a method of increasing the intensity of a laser input into the optical fiber. Methods of decreasing the level of the noise component include a method of narrowing a band of an optical filter used to separate the Raman back scattering light (Stokes light and anti-Stokes light) (a first method), and a method of performing a filtering process in the related art for the received signal of the received Raman back scattering light (a second method).
In the method of increasing the level of the signal component, when the intensity of the laser input into the optical fiber is larger than a certain value, stimulated Raman scattering is generated in the optical fiber and the intensity of the Stokes light increases rapidly. Thus, the measurement error of the temperature increases. In the first method of decreasing the level of the noise component, since there are limitations to the technique of narrowing the band of the optical filter, the improvements of the temperature resolution is not expected much. In addition, the optical filter is more expensive than an electrical filter.
In the second method of decreasing the level of the noise component, the noise component can be decreased using a simple filter of the related art, but the waveform of the signal component may be degraded. Thus, it is not easy to improve the temperature resolution. The degradation of the waveform of the signal component is caused by the facts that the waveform of the signal component obtained by measuring the optical fiber varies in accordance with the measuring condition, and that a noise overlapped with the signal component is a white noise (a noise including various frequency components).
An aspect of the present invention provides an optical fiber temperature distribution measurement device which enables the temperature resolution to be improved.

Optical fiber temperature distribution measurement device and method of measuring optical fiber temperature distribution


The horizontal and vertical projection histograms of an image to be processed are calculated. The autocorrelation values of the calculated horizontal and vertical projection histograms are calculated, and horizontal and vertical object sizes until the autocorrelation values decrease to predetermined thresholds are calculated. The aspect ratio estimate value of the circumscribed rectangle of an object serving as a comparison region candidate in the image to be processed is calculated on the basis of the calculation results. The comparison region candidate is corrected on the basis of the aspect ratio estimate value, determining a final comparison region.

As a conventional technique of calculating the homothetic ratio of two images, a technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-248827 is known. In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-248827, the homothety between a reference image and a check image is calculated to perform similarity collation (similarity comparison) between them. At this time, both the homothetic ratio and the translation amount of a comparison region between the projection waveforms of the reference image are calculated. Homothetic transformation and position correction are performed on the basis of the homothetic ratio and translation amount to achieve a detailed comparison.
In order to calculate the translation amount and homothetic ratio, they are estimated for combinations of the peak positions of the projection waveform of a reference image and those of the projection waveform of a check image. Estimate homothetic transformation parameters including translation amounts and homothetic ratios which are estimated for respective combinations are generated. Of the estimate homothetic transformation parameters, a parameter of high likelihood is determined as a homothetic transformation parameter.
However, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-248827, many combinations of the peak positions of the projection waveform of a reference image and those of the projection waveform of a check image must be used to estimate the translation amount and homothetic ratio. No sufficient number of peaks of the projection waveform may be obtained from an image having a small feature. To the contrary, many features require a long time for calculation processing. The peaks of the projection waveform may vary due to factors such as noise and a stain, failing to obtain an accurate result.
In this manner, simultaneous calculation of the translation amount and homothetic ratio has both a merit and demerit.
It is safer to robustly calculate the translation amount and homothetic ratio at different stages while avoiding the influence of factors such as noise and a stain, than to simultaneously calculate the translation amount and homothetic ratio. This calculation method is preferably employed to efficiently implement similarity comparison.
The present invention has been made to overcome the conventional drawbacks, and has as its object to provide an image processing apparatus capable of efficiently executing similarity comparison between images at high precision, a control method therefor, and a program.

Image processing apparatus, control method therefor, and program


An apparatus includes a memory and storage circuitry. The storage circuitry is configured to receive at least one request causing execution of a sequence of memory commands in the memory, to identify that, although a first memory command appears in the sequence before a second memory command, the execution of the second memory command would improve a performance of the execution of the first memory command, and to execute the second memory command and then to execute the first memory command with the improved execution performance.

In various data storage applications, a host issues a sequence of memory commands for execution in a memory. Various techniques are known in the art for processing sequences of memory commands. Some techniques improve performance by modifying the order in which the commands are executed.
For example, U.S. Patent Application Publication 2009/0172263, whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, describes a storage controller connected to a Flash memory module. An execute loop in the storage controller is used to carry out tasks related to reading or writing data from the module. The loop includes reading a data structure from a queue and carrying out a task specified by the data structure, unless resources required by the task are not available, in which event the loop moves on to another data structure stored in another queue. Data structures bypassed by the loop are periodically revisited, until all tasks required are completed. Data structures store state information that is updated when tasks are completed.

Command order re-sequencing in non-volatile memory


A piezoelectric body comprising a powder compact 1 formed from conductive powder comprising a conductive polymer and a dopant, and an ion donor 2, to generate an electromotive force by stress change, and an electric generator or a polymer actuator comprising the piezoelectric body.

In the fields using electromagnetic motors such as robots, cutting machines, automobiles, etc., demand has been mounting to reduce the weight of driving systems. However, because the power densities of the electromagnetic motors depend on the weight of motors, the weight reduction of actuators utilizing the electromagnetic motors is limited. To obtain large power with reduced size and weight, actuators without using electromagnetic motors are desired.
As actuators, which can be made smaller in size and weight, polymer actuators have recently been attracting much attention. Known as the polymer actuators are a gel actuator using a conductive polymer gel, a polymer membrane actuator using a conductive polymer membrane, etc.
An example of the conductive polymer membrane actuator may be a conductive polymer membrane and metal electrodes attached to their surfaces. The metal electrodes are formed on the conductive polymer membrane by such methods as chemical plating, electroplating, vapor deposition, sputtering, coating, pressure-bonding, welding, etc. When potential difference is provided to an assembly of a conductive polymer membrane and metal electrodes in a water-containing state, the conductive polymer membrane bends and deforms, and the assembly can be utilized as a driving force.
A phenomenon generating stress such as strain, etc. by applying voltage, like an actuator, is called "negative piezoelectric effect," and a phenomenon generating voltage by applying stress such as pressure, tension, etc., is called "positive piezoelectric effect." It is known that the piezoelectric body showing a negative piezoelectric effect also shows a positive piezoelectric effect. It is considered that a combination of negative and positive piezoelectric actuators is efficiently driven. For example, when voltage is applied to one actuator, it turns the electric energy to movement, which is transmitted to the other actuator. Part of the transmitted kinetic energy can be recovered as electric energy by the other actuator. Such an actuator utilizing both positive and negative piezoelectric effects is very efficient.
JP8-36917A describes a piezoelectric element produced by stretching a ferroelectric copolymer film of trifluoroethylene and vinylidene fluoride, and pauling the resultant ferroelectric, single-crystal film with a paraelectric or hexagonal phase while keeping the surface of the stretched film substantially free. When voltage is applied to this piezoelectric film with metal electrodes bonded to both sides in a water-containing state, the piezoelectric film extends or contracts on one side, so that it curves as a polymer film actuator. However, it is difficult to control the displacement amount and position of a bending actuator. In the case of the positive piezoelectric effect, it is difficult to control electric energy by the displacement amount and position. In addition, this actuator is not efficient because of failing to obtain high electric energy corresponding to the stress applied.
JP2001-294642A describes a polyurethane elastomer-based actuator produced from polyisocyanate and at least one selected from the group consisting of polyols having amide groups and polyols comprising amide-group-containing polymers. When an electric field is applied to the polyurethane elastomer-based actuator in a state where it contains 0.01-50% by weight of moisture, the polyurethane elastomer exhibits amplified strain in an electric field direction. It also describes that when voltage is applied to a 2-mm-thick polyurethane elastomer sheet sandwiched by electrodes and containing water, the sheet undergoes thickness change by strain. However, this polyurethane elastomer-based actuator is inefficient because it utilizes small thickness change as displacement. On the other hand, when the positive piezoelectric effect is to be used, it is difficult to achieve efficiently controllable energy conversion, because very small displacement should be used to generate electric energy, resulting in the likelihood that too large a force is applied to the sheet.
As discussed above, although piezoelectric polymers constituting actuators generate electric energy by stress change, the conventional polymer actuators mostly in the form of films are not suited to generate electric power by stress change. Polymer actuators capable of using the positive piezoelectric effect effectively have not been known yet.

Piezoelectric body, electric generator and polymer actuator


A dental treating apparatus has a head unit having a holder for drivably holding a cutting tool, a hand piece body connected to the head unit for transmitting power to drive the cutting tool, and a controller for controlling the driving of the cutting tool. The dental treating apparatus further has a conductive body disposed in an inside of the hand piece body for transmitting an electric signal, contact members electrically connecting the cutting tool or the holder with the conductive body, a connection failure detector for applying a predetermined input signal to the conductive body and detecting a connection failure of the contact members based on a response to the input signal obtained via the cutting tool, and a notifier for notifying a user based on the detection result of the connection failure detector.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dental treating apparatus with a hand piece, more specifically, to a dental treating apparatus having an electrical contact with respect to a cutting tool for cutting and enlarging an inner wall of a root canal of a tooth or a holder for holding the cutting tool.
2. Description of the Background Art
As for a dental treating apparatus with a hand piece, a dental hand piece for treating a root canal used for treating a root canal by cutting and enlarging the root canal of a tooth and for measuring a length of the root canal is provided. For example, following patent documents disclose specific examples of the hand piece for treating the dental root canal.
In a dental hand piece for treating a root canal disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,213,480, an installation unit of a head unit to be installed on a hand piece body is configured by a conductive member. Accordingly, by installing the head unit on the hand piece body in the hand piece for treating the dental root canal as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,213,480, the installation unit of the head unit is electrically connected to a conductive member (such as a driving and transferring mechanism) configuring a root canal length measuring circuit in the hand piece body.
Also, in the dental hand piece for treating the root canal as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,213,480, the installation unit of the head unit is electrically connected with a tool holding mechanism for mounting the cutting tool on the head unit via a brush mechanism provided in the installation unit of the head unit. Thereby, the dental hand piece for treating the root canal as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,213,480 can configure one of signal transmitting circuits for measuring a root canal length to the cutting tool (as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of U.S. Pat. No. 3,213,480).
Further, in a dental hand piece for treating a root canal as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,213,539, a terminal pin connected to a lead in a hand piece body, a contact plug, and a contact jack are disposed in a head unit. In the dental hand piece for treating the root canal as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,213,539, a contact is attached to the contact jack via a contact plate on a lower surface of the head unit. Here, the contact is configured to be rotated in a vertical direction or a horizontal direction, or slid to contact with a cutting tool. Thereby, the dental hand piece for treating the root canal as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,213,539 can configure one of signal transmitting circuits for measuring a root canal length to the cutting tool.
Moreover, in a dental hand piece for treating a root canal as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,638,796, a hand piece body is configured by conductive member, and an insulated and coated conductive wire for transmitting a root canal length measurement signal is disposed in a hand piece where a tip end of the conductive wire is bifurcated. Also, in the dental hand piece for treating the root canal as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,638,796, one of the bifurcated conductive wire is caused to contact with a head unit shaft member (a tool holder) via contact means and the other is connected to a U-shaped elastic wire. The U-shaped elastic wire is configured to contact with a tool installed on the tool holder.
In the dental hand piece for treating the root canal as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,213,480, a brush mechanism as an electrical contact is provided in the installation unit of the head unit to sandwich a rotation body (a rotor) as the tool holding mechanism such that the hand piece configures one of the signal transmitting circuits to the cutting tool for measuring the root canal length. In the dental hand piece for treating the root canal as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,213,480, however, there is a problem in that even if connection error occurs between the rotor and the brush mechanism since the brush mechanism wears out due to receiving repeated rotations of the rotor, it cannot be externally determined whether or not the connection error occurs between the rotor and the brush mechanism.
Also, in the dental hand piece for treating the root canal as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,213,480, when the connection failure occurs between the rotor and the brush mechanism, a display of a measurement result of a root canal length changes or the display blinks on and off in some cases. In the dental hand piece for treating the root canal as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,213,480, however, even if a failure occurs in the signal transmitting circuit itself for measuring the root canal length, the display of the measurement result of the root canal length changes or the display blinks on and off in some cases in a similar manner. Accordingly, it is difficult to determine whether the connection error occurs between the rotor and the brush mechanism or the failure occurs in the signal transmitting circuit itself for measuring the root canal length from merely the display of the measurement result of the root canal length.
In the dental hand piece for treating the root canal as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,213,539, since the contact contacts with the cutting tool on the lower surface of the head unit, an electrical contact point between the contact and the cutting tool is externally exposed. Accordingly, in the dental hand piece for treating the root canal as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,213,539, even if the contact wears out due to receiving the repeated rotations of the cutting tool to cause a connection failure between the contact and the cutting tool, the wear of the contact can be easily determined by viewing an appearance. It should be noted that it is conceivable that there are some cases where the connection failure between the contact and the cutting tool cannot be determined by merely viewing the appearance when a film of an insulator is formed on a surface of the contact to cause a connection failure between the contact and the cutting tool, for example.
In the dental hand piece for treating the root canal as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,638,796, the contact means connected to the one of the bifurcated conductive wire is configured to contact with the tool holder in the head unit and the U-shaped elastic wire connected to the other of the bifurcated conductive wire is configured to contact with the tool outside the head unit. In the dental hand piece for treating the root canal as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,638,796, however, there is a problem in that even if connection error occurs between the tool holder and the contact means since the contact means wears out due to receiving repeated rotations of the tool holder, it cannot be externally determined whether or not the connection error occurs between the tool holder and the contact means.

Dental treating apparatus with hand piece


An apparatus for polishing chemically and mechanically a wafer includes a membrane supporter and a membrane. The membrane has a pressure portion that is divided into a plurality of regions, and a partition portion extending from the border between the plurality regions. The partition portion of the membrane is fixed to a slider that can move up and down in a guide groove formed in the membrane supporter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a chemical mechanical polishing apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to the polishing head of a chemical mechanical polishing apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Integrated circuits are typically formed on substrates, particularly silicon wafers, by the sequential deposition of conductive, semiconductive or insulative layers. After each layer is deposited, it is etched to create circuitry features. As a series of layers are sequentially deposited and etched, the surface of the wafer becomes increasingly non-planar. This non-planar surface presents problems in the photolithographic steps of the integrated circuit fabrication process. Therefore, there is a need to periodically planarize the wafer surface.
Chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) is a typical process used for this purpose. The CMP process is well-suited for use in connection with large-diameter wafers because the CMP process produces excellent uniformity in planarizing wide areas in addition to narrow ones.
The CMP process makes use of mechanical friction and a chemical agent for finely polishing a wafer surface. In the mechanical aspect of such polishing, a wafer is placed on a rotating polishing pad and is rotated while a predetermined load is applied thereto, whereby the wafer surface is polished by the friction created between the polishing pad and the wafer surface. In the chemical aspect of such polishing, the wafer surface is polished by a chemical polishing agent, referred to as slurry, supplied between the polishing pad and the wafer.
Typical CMP apparatus are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,423,716, 6,210,255, and 6,361,419. In these CMP apparatus, a wafer is held by a polishing head with the surface of the wafer to be polished (the process surface or polishing surface) facing a polishing pad. Then the wafer surface to be polished is placed against the polishing pad. At this time, the polishing head exerts a controllable pressure at the rear surface of the wafer.
More specifically, the polishing head includes a flexible membrane that provides a mounting surface to which the wafer is adhered, and a retaining ring to prevent the wafer adhered to the membrane from leaving the polishing head. The polishing head also includes a chamber and, and air inlets leading into the chamber. The membrane is expanded by feeding air into the chamber via the inlets. Thus, the load on the wafer is controlled by the amount of air fed into the chamber of the polishing head. Frequently, it is necessary to exert pressure on the wafer that varies from region to region across the wafer. To this end, a plurality of chambers may be formed in the polishing head and the membrane may include a fixing portion that extends upwards from the border between adjacent regions of the wafer and is fixed in a membrane supporter. The portions of the membrane corresponding to the various regions of the wafer are expanded when air is supplied into each of the chambers. However, a portion of the membrane corresponding to the border between the regions of the wafer, i.e., the portion of the membrane fixed to the membrane supporter, is not expanded. Accordingly, the lower surface of this portion of the membrane forms a concavity that prevents the CMP process from polishing the wafer with a high degree of uniformity.

Polishing head and chemical mechanical polishing apparatus


An assembly can include a valve seat for an exhaust bypass valve of a serial turbocharger system; and a gasket that includes a planar portion that defines a perimeter and that includes a tab that extends from the perimeter of the planar portion for engagement with the valve seat to secure the gasket to the valve seat. Various other examples of devices, assemblies, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.

An exhaust bypass valve is often used to control operation of serial turbocharger systems. Such a valve may be operated to physically divert exhaust or alter pressures in exhaust pathways, for example, to direct exhaust flow partially or fully to one of multiple turbines in a system. During operation, a typical exhaust bypass valve experiences high exhaust pressure on one side and lower pressure on the other side. To effectively seal the high pressure environment from the low pressure environment, considerable force is required to maintain contact between a valve and a valve seat. In a sealed state of a valve and valve seat, pressure differentials may challenge one or more inter-component seals and result in detrimental exhaust leakage. Various technologies described herein have potential to reduce cost as well as provide for effective exhaust bypass valve sealing.

Valve seat and gasket for exhaust gas bypass for turbocharger


The invention is an indicator lamp for warning signal to a person who approaches the vehicle to steal a vehicle. The indicator lamp includes a lamp unit including a light emitting diode (LED). The indicator lamp includes a light guide including an elongated portion and a cover portion. The elongated portion receives a light from the LED at one end and conveys the light to a light emitting end. The cover portion covers the LED of the lamp unit and is integrally formed with the elongated portion. The light guide connects with the lamp unit at the cover portion. The indicator lamp prevents rainwater from the top from entering the lamp unit.

The present invention relates to an indicator lamp for a vehicle interior, and specifically relates to the indicator lamp that enables to be attached to a door trim where rainwater can be fallen.
An indicator lamp is installed in a device of the vehicle interior. The indicator lamp indicates status information of the device, such as setting information, an on/off information or an abnormal information. The device is mainly located in an instrument panel. Recently, the large numbers of vehicles have been stolen, and an antitheft device has been developed. An indicator lamp, which indicates the working status of the antitheft device, is located in the instrument panel, above the instrument panel, or on a sun visor. The indicator lamp is also used as a warning lamp to a person who approaches the vehicle. In this case, the indicator lamp should be highly visible. Thus, the indicator lamp is preferably located in the door, especially in upper part of a door trim. The indicator lamp requires high reliability and low power consumption during times when the engine of the vehicle is stopped. Therefore, a light emitting diode (LED) is desirable to be used for the indicator lamp because the LED works with low power consumption.
The door of the vehicle includes a lot of devices, for example, a glass, a glass elevation device, a door lock device, and an audio device. The door trim includes an inside door handle and a storage space for maps and magazines. The door trim also includes thick buffering parts for protecting a passenger and for insulating noise. Therefore, space for installing the indicator lamp in the door or the door trim is restricted by many devices and parts. Because the door trim is elaborately designed parts, the indicator lamp is limited by the door trim design in its size and its attachment structure. In case the indicator lamp is located on the upper part of the door trim, the indicator lamp is required to be waterproofed because rainwater falls on the upper part of the door trim when the door or window is open.
As shown in FIG. 1, a light source of a lamp unit 1 is an LED lamp 2. The LED lamp 2 includes an LED chip (not shown) that is bonded on a metal lead frame 3 and is enclosed by epoxy resin. The lamp unit 1 includes a bezel 7 on a top of a casing 8. The lead frame 3 extends to a connector 5 through a circuit part 4.
The lamp unit 1 needs space or an insulating material therein to avoid electrical short. Thus, the lamp unit 1 needs to have a wide housing. In case that the lamp unit 1 is longer than the lead frame 3, the lead frame 3 has to be extended by a connection 6. When the lamp unit 1 includes a printed substrate, the lamp unit 1 needs to have a wide housing. The epoxy resin of the LED lamp 2 is visible as a light emitting part, the appearance of the light emitting part is less attractive. Because the LED lamp 2 is located near the bezel 7 of the lamp unit 1, water can directly come in the LED lamp 2 when it rains. Thus, the lamp unit 1 is not water proof.


Provided are string similarity assessment techniques. In one embodiment, the techniques include receiving a plurality of input strings comprising characters from a character set and generating hashtables for each respective input string using a hash function that assigns the characters as keys and character positions in the strings as values. The techniques may also include determine a character similarity index for at least two of the input strings relative to each other by comparing a similarity of the values for each key in the their respective hashtables; determining a total disordering index based representative of an alignment of the at least two input strings by determining differences between a plurality of index values for each individual key in their respective hashtables and determining the total disordering index based on the differences; and determining a string similarity metric based on at least one character similarity index and the total disordering index.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to assessments of string similarity, and more particularly, to techniques for determining a similarity or distance between character strings and providing metrics of similarity or distance.
While numeric data is easy to compare and correlate, the same cannot be said for character strings. For example, techniques to compare strings must assess if cat is similar to bat and how similar both are to chat. The approach used to determine this similarity can be defined by the edit distance or the number of character insertions, deletions, and transpositions to transform one character string to another. This edit distance is also known as Damerau-Levenshtein distance. While this metric produces useful measures of similarity, algorithms traditionally used to compute this distance have a O(nm) running time, where m and n are the length of the input strings. Faster running algorithms do exist that run in linear time, but these algorithms are limited by aspects such as machine word size or limit the range of the input strings they can operate on.

System and method for determining string similarity


Described herein are various embodiments of an electronic information storage apparatus and an associated method and system. For example, according to one illustrative embodiment, a disk drive comprises a base and at least one disk that are rotatably attached to the base. The at least one disk can include a burnished and lubricant-free outer surface. The disk drive can also include an actuator coupled to the base. The actuator can comprise a read/write head that is positionable in a reading/writing relationship with the at least one disk to define a lubricant-free space intermediate the read/write head and the outer surface. The disk drive can further include a read/write head loading and unloading ramp that is attached to the base. The ramp can include a ramp surface that is positioned proximate a periphery of the at least one disk.

Hard disk drives ("HDDs") are widely used to store digital data or electronic information for enterprise data processing systems, computer workstations, portable computing devices, digital audio players, digital video players, and the like. Generally, HDDs store data on a disk with a surface of magnetic material. A transducer head, e.g., read/write head, includes a writing component that magnetically polarizes areas of the magnetic material with one or two polarities to encode either binary zeros or ones. Thus, data is recorded as magnetically encoded areas or bits of magnetic polarity. A transducer head also includes a reading component that detects the magnetic polarity of each bit or area and generates an electrical signal that approximates the magnetic polarity. The signal is processed to recover the binary data recorded on the magnetic material.
Referring to FIG. 4, the disk 40 of conventional HDD 38 includes a substrate layer 42, a magnetic layer 44, and a protective layer 46 defining an exterior surface 48 of the disk. The transducer head 50 moves, e.g., flies, over the exterior surface 48 of the disk 40 to perform read/write operations.
Under certain conditions during operation, the transducer head 50 may contact and cause damage to the exterior surface 48. Accordingly, in an attempt to improved flyability and durability, and to reduce damage to the exterior surface 48 of the disk 40 due to contact between the transducer head 50 and the exterior surface 48 of the disk, conventional HDDs, such as HDD 38, deposit a layer of lubricant 52 on the protective layer 46 between the protective layer 46 and the transducer head 50. Generally, the lubricant layer 52 is used to reduce friction between the transducer head 50 and exterior surface 48, as well as reduce surface wear on the exterior surface 48 if and when the transducer head contacts the exterior surface.
As the transducer head 50 moves over the disk 40, the transducer head 50 desirably is spaced-apart a predetermined distance FHPA, i.e., flying height, relative to the disk 40 such that the transducer head does not regularly contact the disk 40. In the case of prior art HDD 38, the FHPA is equal to the distance between the transducer head 50 and the lubricant layer 52.
Conventionally, the lubricant of the lubricant layer 52 is a functional lubricant, such as FOMBLIN Z-DOL and Z-Tetraol. Functional lubricants include molecules with one or more functional end groups specifically designed to have a strong interaction with the disk surface, which enables each molecule to remain flat and have a good adhesion on or bond to the exterior surface 48. Further, because the functional lubricant layer 52 is used to cushion the transducer head 50 against contact with the disk 40, the lubricant must resist evaporation. Accordingly, functional lubricants typically have high molecular weight and thus low evaporation rates. For example, functional lubricants typically have molecular weights that are greater than about 2,000 g/mol and no detectable evaporation loss within about 5-10 years under normal operation temperatures, such as about 65° C.
According to some conventional manufacturing techniques, the storage disk 40 for conventional HDD 38 of FIG. 4 is made by (1) depositing a magnetic layer 44 on a substrate 42; (2) depositing a protective layer 46 on the magnetic layer 44; (3) polishing, buffing, wiping, or burnishing the protective layer; and (4) depositing a functional lubricant layer on the protective layer 52 that remains in place during operation of the HDD. In some conventional HDD manufacturing processes, the media or disk is burnished using a functional lubricant. Because functional lubricants are designed to bond with the disk, burnishing may cause damage to the disk, which can reduce the disk's resistance to corrosion.
According to another known manufacturing technique, a non-functional lubricant layer is deposited on the protective layer, and the protective layer is buffed and wiped using the non-functional lubricant. The non-functional lubricant layer is then removed from the protective layer, and a functional lubricant layer is permanently placed on the protective layer prior to operation of the conventional HDD.
Regardless of whether the first lubricant is a functional or non-functional lubricant, most conventional HDD manufacturing processes use a degreasing or cleaning procedure to remove the first lubricant used in the burnishing step. This degreasing or cleaning procedure typically requires the use of a solvent, which introduces additional tooling steps, personnel, materials, maintenance, floor area, solvent disposal problems and ultimately costs.
Although a lubricant layer between the transducer head and exterior surface of a disk may, in some instances, improve flyability and durability, and reduce friction and surface wear, the lubricant can introduce several shortcomings. For example, the efficiency and performance of HDDs are limited by the use of a lubricant layer. The distance between the transducer head and the magnetic layer is a factor in the efficiency and performance of HDDS. To increase the recording density of an HDD, the distance between the transducer head and magnetic layer must be decreased. In other words, the smaller the distance between the transducer head and the magnetic layer, the greater the ability to increase the areal or bit density of the disk, i.e., the amount of data that can be stored on the disk for a given area of the disk.
As shown in FIG. 4, the distance DPA between the transducer head 50 and the magnetic layer 44 of conventional HDD 38 is equal to the sum of the flying height FHPA, thickness of the lubricant layer 52, and thickness of the protective layer 46. Because the lubricant layer 52 has a minimum physical value equal to the molecular diameter of the lubricant, the distance DPA cannot be smaller than the sum of the flying height FHPA, thickness of the protective layer 46, and the molecular diameter of the lubricant without degrading the lubricant. Accordingly, one known shortcoming of using a functional lubricant layer on the protective layer is that the minimum distance between the transducer head and magnetic layer, and thus the recording or areal density, is physically limited by the physical properties, e.g., molecular weight or minimum thickness, of the lubricant.
Another known shortcoming of maintaining a functional lubricant layer between the exterior surface of the disk and the transducer head is lubricant build-up on the transducer head during normal operation of the HDD. For example, four conventional HDDs have been tested to determine the amount of lubricant build-up on the transducer head after normal operation. The lubricant build-up measured on the transducer heads was between 0.33 nm (3.3 Å) and 2.8 nm (28 Å). Lubricant build-up on the transducer head can damage the head, increase the head or glide noise, and increase the flying height of the transducer head. For example, according to tests, the increase in flying height was proportional to the increase in lubricant build-up on the transducer head. Ultimately, lubricant build-up can lead to poor performance, lower yield, and possibly failure of the HDD. Accordingly, to avoid lubricant build-up, many conventional HDDs have high flying heights.

Electronic information storage apparatus with non-lubricated media

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherland B.V.


Methods of modulating a radio transmitter. An amplitude modulation signal is generated based on in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) components of an information signal, and so that it has a reduced predetermined characteristic compared to the magnitude of the I and Q components of the information signal. A complex signal is formed that has substantially the same phase angle variation as the I and Q components of the information signal so that the product of the complex signal and the amplitude modulation signal is substantially equal to the information signal.

This invention relates to wireless communication transmitters, and more particularly to methods and radio transmitters that use pseudo-polar modulation to modulate phase and amplitude of an information signal.
It has long been known that any type of radio carrier modulation can be described in terms of a complex modulation, and the complex modulation can in turn be described either in terms of Cartesian (Real and Imaginary) waveform components or in terms of Polar (Amplitude and Phase) components. A single sideband signal (which varies in both phase and amplitude) can be formed from a constant-amplitude signal that is modulated in phase angle, with the phase part of the SSB signal and then modulating the constant-amplitude signal in amplitude with the amplitude part of the SSB signal.
There are many other forms of modulation apart from SSB that consist of varying phase and amplitude. One way to contain the transmission of a signal to an allocated channel, with minimum spectral spillover to adjacent channels, involves amplitude variation. This is because a signal modulated in phase alone is not perfectly bandlimited. A linear power amplifier is generally used to more faithfully reproduce the amplitude variations for containing the transmission spectrum. The linear power amplifier must pass the amplitude peaks without distortion, and therefore operates with a mean that is lower than its maximum output, and which may be lower than its maximum efficiency. Such linear amplifiers still however produce some distortion even when operated below their clipping point, because their amplitude-in to amplitude-out transfer characteristics are not completely linear.
Polar modulation may be used to reduce such distortion. Using polar modulation, an amplifier operates with a constant amplitude drive signal, and therefore does not need to have a linear amplitude-in to amplitude-out characteristic. The desired amplitude modulation is then applied after amplification, for example by modulating the power supply to the amplifier. However, this can give rise to another form of distortion, called AM-to-PM conversion, in which the amplitude modulation causes an inadvertent phase modulation. Feedback and feedforward techniques may be used to compensate for the known AM-PM tendency by adjusting phase modulation that is dependent on the amplitude modulation.
Polar modulation is supposed to produce a transmission that is more tightly spectrally contained than either a purely phase-modulated signal or a purely amplitude-modulated signal would be alone. Ideally, the out-of-band components of the amplitude modulation part cancel the out-of-band components of the phase modulation part. However, complete cancellation is prejudiced by errors in either part, such as due to different bandwidth restrictions, delay in the amplitude modulator compared to the phase modulator, and/or limited sampling rates.

Pseudo-polar modulation for radio transmitters


The use of the electride form of 12CaO-7Al2O3, or C12A7, as a low work function electron emitter in a hollow cathode discharge apparatus is described. No heater is required to initiate operation of the present cathode, as is necessary for traditional hollow cathode devices. Because C12A7 has a fully oxidized lattice structure, exposure to oxygen does not degrade the electride. The electride was surrounded by a graphite liner since it was found that the C12A7 electride converts to it's eutectic (CA+C3A) form when heated (through natural hollow cathode operation) in a metal tube.

Hollow cathodes are the primary electron source in space propulsion applications, as well as in many ground-based devices such as gaseous lasers and plasma processing sources. They are often preferable to filament sources due to their increased robustness and lifetime. Hollow cathodes are cylindrical in shape, and consist of an orificed tube with a low work function material along the inner surface. See, e.g., Goebel, D. M., and Katz, I. (2008), Fundamentals of Electric Propulsion: Ion and Hall Thrusters, New York: Wiley; and Polk, J. et al. (2006, Jul. 9-12), "Characterization of Hollow Cathode Performance and Thermal Behavior," AIAA-2006-5150, Sacramento, Calif. The ease with which the electrons are emitted from the insert is related to the work function of the material. See, e.g., Coulombe, S. and Meunier, J.-L (1997), "Thermo-field emission: a comparative study," J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys., 30, 776-780; Murphy, E. L. and Good, R. H. (1956), "Thermionic Emission, Field Emission, and the Transition Region," Physical Review, 102, 1464-1473; and Parlini, J. et al. (1993), "Thermo-field emission and the Nottingham effect," Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, 26, 1310. Lower work function indicates equivalent emission can be obtained at lower temperatures, improving the power efficiency because lower temperature cathodes lose less heat. A low temperature cathode has the potential to be extremely efficient and could be fabricated from inexpensive materials instead of refractory metals.
The calcium aluminate phase of 12CaO-7Al2O3 (C12A7), is one of several alumina-lime phases found in common alumina-based cements. C12A7 has a naturally formed nanostructure, in which subnanometer-sized cages form a three-dimensional crystal lattice. See, e.g., Y. Toda et al. (2007), "Work Function of a Room-Temperature, Stable Electride [Ca24Al28O64]4+(e−)4," Advanced Materials, 19(21), 3564-3569. The unit cell consists of twelve cages. Although this cage structure is similar to those found in clathrate phases of ice and in zeolites, there is a difference in that the unit cell of C12A7 is positively charged; that is, there are four fewer electrons on the atoms that comprise the framework cage of C12A7 than are needed to neutralize the cage. The positive charge is counteracted by two atomic oxygen ions (O2−) that are clathrated (floating) within two of the twelve subcages. New properties can be imparted to C12A7 if the free oxygen ions are substituted with anions like O− and H−, and when four electrons are substituted for the two O2− ions to form C12A7 electride, the only inorganic electride known to be stable at high temperature. See e.g., S. Matsuishi et al. (2003), "High-Density Electron Anions in a Nanoporous Single Crystal: [Ca24Al28O64]4+(4e−). Science, 301, 626-629; and S. Kim et al. (2007)," Fabrication of room temperature-stable 12CaO 7Al2O3 electride: a review," Journal of Material Science, 18, S5-S14. The stability of the C12A7 electride is attributable to the unique cage structure as well as the fully oxidized nature of the lattice.
The work functions of current state-of-the-art hollow cathode insert materials lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6) and cerium hexaboride (CeB6) are near 2.7 eV, while the work function of barium-impregnated porous tungsten (Ba—W) is near 2.1 eV (D. Goebel et al. (2007), "LaB6 Hollow Cathodes for Ion and Hall Thrusters," Journal of Propulsion and Power," 23(3), 552-558. LaB6 and CeB6 are generally heated to approximately 1900 K to obtain sufficient levels of emission, while Ba—W is heated above 1300 K. See e.g., D. Goebel et al., supra. These temperatures require well-made heaters and good thermal insulation. Ba—W cathodes, while operating at lower temperatures, are more susceptible to both poisoning and high rates of evaporation if operated at high current See. e.g., D. Goebel et al., supra. By contrast, the work function of C12A7 electride has been measured in field emission tests to be as low as 0.6 eV, due to its unique charged lattice structure. See, e.g., S. Kim et al. (2006), "Synthesis of a Room Temperature Stable 12CaO.7Al2O3 Electride from the Melt and Its Application as an Electron Field Emitter," Chem. Mater., 18(7), 1938-1944; and J. E. Medvedeva et al. (2007), "Electronic band structure and carrier effective mass in calcium aluminates, Physical Review B, 76, 155107-1-155107-6; and Y. Toda et al. (2004), "Field Emission of Electron Anions Clathrated in Subnanometer-Sized Cages in [Ca24Al28O64]4+(4e−)," Advanced Materials, 16(8), 685-689.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Colorado State University Research Foundation


The present invention relates to a container which includes an applicator structure, preferably in the form of a spoon secured to the open end of the container in which food is stored. Squeezing and/or tilting of the container allows food to pass through the interior of the spoon and be delivered to an infant's mouth. A valve structure is disposed in flow-regulating relation between the food within the container and the applicator spoon. The valve may be moved between an open and closed position to prevent spillage and/or selectively allow food to pass onto the spoon when feeding of the infant is desired.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a food container having a spoon or like applicator structure attached thereto wherein food may be delivered from the interior of the container to the spoon applicator to facilitate feeding of infants or others who cannot easily feed themselves.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The existence of feeding bottles or containers made from a squeezable material and used in combination with some type of applicator such as a nipple, spoon, etc. are quite well known in the prior art. Prior art devices have recognized a spillage or leakage problem associated with these "baby bottles." In order to overcome such problems, the prior art provides a round tab-like structure inserted relative to the spoon, nipple or like applicator at a location to block the flow of food therethrough. Such insertion of the round tab requires disassembly or disconnection of the spoon or like applicator from the remainder of the container. When dissembling the bottle from the spoon, it is of course necessary that the operator handle and touch inside portions of both the applicator and the container. This very possibly may cause the food within the container to become contaminated either from the hands of the user or by contaminants in the atmosphere.
After disassembling, the user must also find a clean place to store the tab and keep this tab away from the infants in order to avoid swallowing and possibly choking if such tab comes within the reach of the infant. An additional problem associated with such prior art structures is that the tabs frequently become lost. The existing baby bottle with spoon or like applicator is not convenient for traveling long or short distances because if the tab is not inserted, it does not provide an easy, hygienic way of keeping the food within the interior of the container and prevent spillage or leakage.
When carrying such a prior art bottle inside a diaper bag or any other type of carrier structure the parents use, the prior art bottle or container can easily be tilted or inadvertently oriented in an attitude to facilitate leakage of the food from within the container through the applicator spoon. This obviously results in the surrounding articles or the interior of the bag becoming stained.
Accordingly, an important feature of the present invention is to provide a valve structure that will allow the applicator spoon to be separated from the supply of food within the hollow interior of the container. When being used, such a valve structure may be easily positioned into an open position which allows the food to easily flow from the interior of the bottle to the applicator spoon merely by tilting and possibly gently squeezing the container. When not in use, the valve structure may be positioned in a closed position which prevents the food from pouring or leaking from the interior of the bottle into the applicator spoon should the bottle be tilted sideways or inverted. Such a valve structure would also prevent the loss of food due to leakage. This is important if the prepared food is the only food available due to a special formula or preparation.


The present disclosure provides novel unbridged group 4 indacenyl-containing metallocene compounds. The catalyst system may be used for olefin polymerization processes.

Polyolefins are widely used commercially because of their robust physical properties. For example, various types of polyethylenes, including high density, low density, and linear low density polyethylenes, are some of the most commercially useful. Polyolefins are typically prepared with a catalyst that polymerizes olefin monomers.
Other references of interest include: US 2015/0322184, A. Calhoun, et al. Polymer Chemistry, Chapter 5, pages 77-87; US 2016/0244535; U.S. Ser. No. 15/145,320, filed May 3, 2016; WO 2011/012245, and PCT/US2016/034784.
There is a need for new and improved catalyst systems for the polymerization of olefins, in order to achieve increased activity or enhanced polymer properties, to increase conversion or comonomer incorporation, or to alter comonomer distribution. There is also a need for supported catalyst systems and processes for the polymerization of olefins (such as ethylene) using such catalyst systems to provide ethylene polymers having the unique properties of high stiffness, high toughness and good processability.


A wafer chuck for holding a wafer during electropolishing and/or electroplating of the wafer includes a top section, a bottom section, and a spring member. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the top section and the bottom section are configured to receive the wafer for processing. The spring member is disposed on the bottom section and configured to apply an electric charge to the wafer. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the spring member contacts a portion of the outer perimeter of the wafer. In one alternative configuration of the present invention, the wafer chuck further includes a seal member to seal the spring member from the electrolyte solution used in the electropolishing and/or electroplating process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to methods and apparatus for holding and positioning semiconductor workpieces during processing of the workpieces. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system for electropolishing and/or electroplating metal layers on semiconductor wafers.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, semiconductor devices are manufactured or fabricated on disks of semiconducting materials called wafers or slices. More particularly, wafers are initially sliced from a silicon ingot. The wafers then undergo multiple masking, etching, and deposition processes to form the, electronic circuitry of semiconductor devices.
During the past decades, the semiconductor industry has increased the power of semiconductor devices in accordance with Moore""s law, which predicts that the power of semiconductor devices will double every 18 months. This increase in the power of semiconductor devices has been achieved in part by decreasing the feature size (i.e., the smallest dimension present on a device) of these semiconductor devices. In fact, the feature size of semiconductor devices has quickly gone from 0.35 microns to 0.25 microns, and now to 0.18 microns. Undoubtedly, this trend toward smaller semiconductor devices is likely to proceed well beyond the sub-0.18 micron stage.
However, one potential limiting factor to developing more powerful semiconductor devices is the increasing signal delays at the interconnections (the lines of conductors, which connect elements of a single semiconductor device and/or connect any number of semiconductor devices together). As the feature size of semiconductor devices has decreased, the density of interconnections on the devices has increased. However, the closer proximity of interconnections increases the line-to-line capacitance of the interconnections, which results in greater signal delay at the interconnections. In general, interconnection delays have been found to increase with the square of the reduction in feature size. In contrast, gate delays (i.e., delay at the gates or mesas of semiconductor devices) have been found to increase linearly with the reduction in feature size.
One conventional approach to compensate for this increase in interconnection delay has been to add more layers of metal. However, this approach has the disadvantage of increasing production costs associated with forming the additional layers of metal. Furthermore, these additional layers of metal generate additional heat, which can be adverse to both chip performance and reliability.
Consequently, the semiconductor industry has started to use copper rather than aluminum to form the metal interconnections. One advantage of copper is that it has greater conductivity than aluminum. Also, copper is less-resistant to electromigration (meaning that a line formed from copper will have less tendency to thin under current load) than aluminum.
However, before copper can be widely used by the semiconductor industry, new processing techniques are required. More particularly, a copper layer may be formed on a wafer using an electroplating process and/or etched using an electropolishing process. In general, in an electroplating and/or an electropolishing process, the wafer is held within an electrolyte solution and an electric charge is then applied to the wafer. Thus, a wafer chuck is needed for holding the wafer and applying the electric charge to the wafer during the electroplating and/or electropolishing process.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a wafer chuck for holding a wafer during electropolishing and/or electroplating of the wafer includes a top section, a bottom section, and a spring member. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the top section and the bottom section are configured to receive the wafer for processing. The spring member is disposed on the bottom section and configured to apply an electric charge to the wafer. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the spring member contacts a portion of the outer perimeter of the wafer. In one alternative configuration of the present invention, the wafer chuck further includes a seal member to seal the spring member from the electrolyte solution used in the electropolishing and/or electroplating process.

Methods and apparatus for holding and positioning semiconductor workpieces during electropolishing and/or electroplating of the workplaces


The object of this invention is to make life easier for the newborn parents. Heartbeat sound is known to produce a calming and soothing effect particularly when it is the mother's identical heartbeat which the infant came to know during gestation. Mothers, in general, prefer that their newborn listen to their own heartbeat, sound recognized by the infant, and not a composite of several ones as used in Hughes', mores, to an artificial or simulated heartbeat as described by numerous inventions. This invention provides a practical method for the mother to record her own heartbeat, which is played back by a device automatically activated by the crying of the baby. The object is to lure the baby into believing that his/her mother is present when needed based on hearing comforting familiar heartbeat even though she is not physically present. The recorded mother's heartbeat is achieved by the use of a stethoscope fitted with a diaphragm in one end of the acoustical tube and the other end plugs in a microphone record of the device. The mother may rep eat her recording to obtain best results. The parent will place the device besides the crib, on standby mode, the sound is played back activated by the crying of the baby and remains activated until a pre-determined time interval of about 6 minutes after the crying has stopped. Continuous playback may be obtained by switching On S1, in FIG. 1a. Periodical checkings on the newborn are strongly suggested.

This invention related to a special device that enables the mother to record her own heartbeat on a memory device which in turn played back activated by the crying of her baby, or by a noise loud enough to, awaken the newborn, which serves as a calmer and soother sound to sleep. This device is placed safely beside the crib.
(1) Field of the Invention
Infants recognize their own mother's heartbeat. This sound becomes a great comfort, to a stressed baby only second to the mother's holding and cuddling. Thus, true mother's heartbeat sound becomes a very effective way for calming and soothing a crying infant to sleep.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Several devices were made to simulate the heartbeat and sleep inducing effect to newborn babies, among them U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,811 which provides a heartbeat simulator in a baby blanket pressure activated; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,888,233 which provides a figure with simulated heartbeat. U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,912 by Hughes mentions that "he had a womb sounds, including the heartbeat developed for him by inserting a microphone into a large number of wombs. An average sound was obtained then produced a composite sound by referring the former to the original sounds". No defined method was described in the invention to obtain the average and the composite sounds such as heartbeat, pulse rate, and the other womb sounds. Playback is also pressure activated; U.S. Pat. No. 3,2,92,610 describes an animated doll equipped with a transducer in the form of a combination of recording and sound reproducing appliance, a record player; this is used to distract the infant, or the child, to sleep.

Baby calmer kit using mother's heartbeat sound


A passive component structure includes an insulating substrate having a centered hollow portion and provided on a surface with a coil holding zone having at least one spiral receiving recess; at least one coil held in the coil holding zone and including a winding portion received in the spiral receiving recess and connected to a first and a second terminal; an insulating encapsulation member covering at least the insulating substrate and the winding portion of the coil; and a magnetic unit engaged with the hollow portion of the insulating substrate. With these arrangements, the passive component structure can include only one coil and be configured into an inductor, or can include two coils and be configured into a transformer. Therefore, the passive component structure has the advantages of having simple structure, reduced volume and improved insulation, and can be flexibly applied to make different electronic elements at reduced cost.

An inductor is a general passive component, which includes a magnetic substrate, a metal coil connected to the magnetic substrate, and a magnetic cover closed to an upper end of the magnetic substrate. The metal coil includes two legs, which are separately assembled to the magnetic substrate. The two legs of the coil are bent inward to respectively form an electrode pin. The electrode pins are connected to a bottom side of the magnetic substrate for further connecting to a circuit board. The magnetic cover is bonded to the magnetic substrate using an adhesive.
A transformer is another type of passive component, which includes a drum-shaped magnetic element having a plurality of windings wound therearound. The windings are separately electrically connected to terminal electrodes and sheet magnetic elements to form the transformer. In addition, a general transformer further includes other elements, such as bobbins, conductors, insulating members and other magnetic elements. To meet relevant safety codes, the insulation of the traditional transformer usually can be achieved in three different manners. In the first manner, isolation tapes and Teflon sleeves are used. In the second manner, the double-slot feature of the bobbin and a cover are used. In the third manner, the double-slot feature of the bobbin and the filling of epoxy resin are used. However, while all the above three manners for achieving the insulation of the conventional transformer can give the transformer an insulation satisfying the safety codes, they include relatively complicate procedures.
Further, the existing inductor and transformer have completely different manufacturing methods and could not be made using a common substrate. As a result, the existing inductor and transformer require more time to make and are relatively complicate in structure, which is of course not economical.
It therefore tried by the inventor to develop a passive component structure that can include only one coil and be configured into an inductor or include two coils and be configured into a transformer to therefore provide the advantages of having simple structure, reduced volume and improved insulation, and being flexibly applied to make different electronic elements at reduced cost.


An embossed paper laminate having two laminae. The laminae are embossed so that each embossed site of one lamina is adhesively joined to the nonembossed region of the other lamina. The laminate is made by two close tolerance pattern rolls juxtaposed to form a nip. Each pattern roll has radially extending protuberances which contact the periphery of the other pattern roll intermediate its protuberances. The laminae are fed through the nip in face-to-face relationship and are embossed and adhesively joined to the other lamina by the radially extending protuberances.

Cellulosic fibrous structures are a staple of everyday life. Cellulosic fibrous structures are used as consumer products such as paper towels, toilet tissue, and facial tissue.
Multiple lamina cellulosic fibrous structures are very well known in the art of consumer products. Such products are cellulosic fibrous structures having more than one, typically two, laminae superimposed in face-to-face relationship to form a laminate. Frequently these laminae are embossed for aesthetic reasons, to maintain the laminae in face-to-face relation as the laminate is used by the consumer, or to provide spacing between the laminae.
During the embossing process, the laminae are fed through a nip formed between juxtaposed axially parallel rolls. Discrete protuberances on these rolls compress like regions of each lamina into engagement and contacting relationship with the opposing lamina. The compressed regions of the laminae provide an aesthetic pattern and provide for joining of and maintaining the laminae in face-to-face contacting relationship.
Embossing is typically performed by one of two processes, knob-to-knob embossing, wherein protuberances on axially parallel rolls juxtaposed to form a nip therebetween are registered with protuberances on the opposing roll, and nested embossing where the protuberances of one roll mesh between the protuberances of the other roll. Examples of knob-to-knob embossing and nested embossing are illustrated in the prior art by U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,414,459 issued Dec. 3, 1968 to Wells and commonly assigned; 3,547,723 issued Dec. 15, 1970 to Gresham; 3,556,907 issued Jan. 19, 1971 to Nystrand; 3,708,366 issued Jan. 2, 1973 to Donnelly; 3,738,905 issued Jun. 12, 1973 to Thomas; 3,867,225 issued Feb. 18, 1975 to Nystrand and 4,483,728 issued Nov. 20, 1984 to Bauernfeind. Commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Des. 239,137 is Mar. 9, 1976 to Appleman illustrates an emboss pattern found on commercially successful paper toweling.
The consumer presented with an embossed cellulosic fibrous structure as a consumer product typically desires the product to have a high quality cloth-like appearance, to have a relatively thick caliper and to have an aesthetically pleasing pattern. All of these attributes must be provided without sacrificing the consumer products' other desired qualities of softness, absorbency, and bond strength between the laminae.
Different attempts have been made in the art to improve upon the embossments caused by the embossing processes. For example, attempts have been made in the art to provide embossed patterns having different depths, and asymmetric embossments. In some of these attempts, the asymmetric embossments have different orientations on each lamina of the consumer product. Other attempts have been made in the art to provide embossments having a certain size and representing a particular surface area of the embossed sheet. Yet other attempts in the art teach a particular angle, relative to the machine direction of manufacture, for the embossments. Examples of such attempts are illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,320,162 issued Mar. 16, 1982 to Schulz, et al.; 4,659,608 issued Apr. 21, 1987 to Schulz and 4,921,034 issued May 1, 1990 to Burgess et al.
Other attempts have been made in the art to provide embossments having crests and depressions which are joined in a particular configuration, or which provide patterns corresponding to the apparatus used to manufacture the cellulosic fibrous structure. At least one attempt in the art teaches a particular apparatus having meshed protuberances which come within a very short distance of the opposite roll. Yet this arrangement produces merely the nested embossments discussed above. Examples of such attempts in the art include U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,940,529 issued Feb. 24, 1976 to Hepford, et al., 4,325,773 issued Apr. 20, 1982 to Schulz, and 4,487,796 issued Dec. 11, 1984 to Lloyd et al.
Still other attempts in the art teach particular sizes of the protuberances and recesses on the roll used to form the embossed cellulosic fibrous structure. One example of such an attempt is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,961,119 issued Jun. 1, 1976 to Thomas.
It is apparent from the foregoing attempts, that the resulting cellulosic fibrous structures are still made according to one of the two known basic processes--either knob-to-knob embossing or nested embossing. However, the cellulosic fibrous structures made according to either process encounter certain drawbacks, discussed below, when the cellulosic fibrous structures are used as a consumer product such as paper towels, toilet tissue, or facial tissue.
What is needed in the art is a different type of embossing process which gives the cellulosic fibrous structure a thicker -caliper and a quilted cloth-like appearance, so that the consumer is presented with a consumer product which has the appearance of quality and yet does not allow the laminae to readily separate during use.

Dual ply cellulosic fibrous structure laminate


A thin-film transistor (“TFT”) array substrate includes: a TFT including an active layer, a gate electrode, a source electrode, a drain electrode, a first insulating layer disposed between the active layer and the gate electrode, and a second insulating layer disposed between the gate electrode, and the source and drain electrode; a pixel electrode including a transparent conductive oxide and disposed in an opening defined in the second insulating layer; a capacitor including a first electrode disposed on a layer on which the active layer is disposed, and a second electrode disposed on a layer on which the gate electrode is disposed; a pad electrode disposed on the second insulating layer and including a material substantially the same as a material in the source electrode and the drain electrode; a first protective layer disposed on the pad electrode; and a second protective layer disposed on the first protective layer.

1. Field
Exemplary embodiments of the invention relate to a thin-film transistor ("TFT") array substrate, an organic light-emitting display device including the TFT, and a method of manufacturing the TFT array substrate.
2. Description of the Related Art
A flat panel display apparatus, such as an organic light-emitting display apparatus and a liquid crystal display ("LCD") apparatus, typically includes a thin-film transistor ("TFT"), a capacitor, wires that connected therebetween, for example.
Such a flat panel display apparatus further includes a substrate, and the TFT, the capacitor and the wires may be provided in fine patterns on the substrate using a photolithographic process, in which a pattern is transferred using a mask, for example.
The photolithographic process is performed using a series of processes including applying a photoresistor, exposure, developing, etching, stripping (or ashing), etc. However, in the photolithographic process, the more processes using a mask, the higher mask manufacturing costs, and the number of operations of a manufacturing process.

Thin-film transistor array substrate, organic light-emitting display device including the same, and method of manufacturing the thin-film transistor array substrate


A semiconductor device includes an active region on a semiconductor substrate. The active region is defined by a device isolation layer and includes gate-recesses. The semiconductor device further includes gate electrodes in the gate-recesses, a contact recess in the active region between the gate-recesses, a cell pad that covers at least a portion of the active region between the gate-recesses and that fills at least a portion of the contact recess, and a bit line electrically connected to the cell pad.

It is desirable to increase integration density of semiconductor devices, for example, by increasing a number of devices on a further reduced area without sacrificing performance of the devices. For this purpose, many studies have been conducted to change the locations and directions of word lines and bit lines and shapes and structures of entire devices. However, there is still much room for improvement in structures of semiconductor devices to further increase the integration density while maintaining a high performance of the semiconductor devices.


A pattern cutting apparatus for paper margin, is characterized by having a plurality of lower mold holes of perforate pattern disposed in alignment and paralleled to the distal end of a cutting space, and guide mold holes sharing the common shape with the lower mold holes disposed on a protruding portion of a guide mold board positioned in spaced parallel relationship above said lower mold holes for inserting an upper mold body sharing the common shape.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention refers to a pattern cutting apparatus for paper margin, more particularly for cutting along paper or cardboard margins to complete serial perforate patterns for decoration.
2. Prior Art
At present, conventional similar products provide with a cutting apparatus for cutting out multiple shapes of stickers from colored papers to glue on paintings, comprising likely structure disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,278. This prior art is applied to cut out multiple shapes of paper slips from colored papers, and those remained colored papers are left useless in irregular shapes.

Pattern cutting apparatus for paper margin


An energy supply system including an electrical energy storage system having multiple storage modules, in particular a battery system, an ascertaining device for ascertaining state variables of the storage modules and an energy transmission device for energy transmission between the storage modules and a downstream electrical device. It is provided that the energy transmission device has multiple d.c. chopper converters, which are connected to one another in parallel and/or in series at the output end, and each of the d.c. chopper converters is connectable to a storage module of the energy storage system, and the energy supply system has a trigger device for triggering the d.c. chopper converters as a function of the ascertained state variable of the respective connected storage module. Also described is a method for operating an energy supply system.

Such an energy supply system and a method for operating an energy supply system are known from wind power plants, for example, but also from electric drives or hybrid drives of motor vehicles.
To be able to make available the power and energy required for the respective application, storage modules configured as storage cells are connected in series and to some extent also in parallel. A plurality of storage modules is connected in series to achieve the high operating voltage required in the motor vehicle for the electric motor of the electric drive or hybrid drive by adding up the voltage of the individual storage modules configured as storage cells in the electrical energy storage system, i.e., the total voltage of same. The energy storage system is configured, for example, as a battery system having a plurality of battery cells. The high operating voltage may be decoupled from the following energy transmission devices, which are configured as electronic power components such as inverters. Since the total output current of the electrical energy storage system configured as a battery system flows in each of the battery cells in a series connection of the storage modules configured as battery cells, the charge transport taking place through electrochemical processes within the battery cells, the failure of a single battery cell in the extreme case means that the entire configuration is no longer able to provide electrical energy for a downstream electrical device.
An ascertaining device configured as a so-called battery management system is generally used to allow prompt detection of an imminent failure of a battery cell; this system is connected or connectable to both poles of each battery cell and determines such operating parameters as the voltage and temperature of each battery cell at regular or selectable intervals and determines from this at least one state variable such as the state of charge (SOC) of the cell. However, high voltages and/or high currents flow at the poles of the battery cells due to the series connection and/or parallel connection of the cells. This requires a great effort with little flexibility of the electrical operating data of the battery system at the same time.
In addition, the following problems arise for a series connection of a plurality of battery cells to achieve a high total voltage: for different operating states of the device to be operated by the battery, e.g., an electric machine, conditions for the operating voltage to be supplied, the maximum current and the stored energy are formulated, which may be combined only when a larger number of battery cells is linked together than would actually be necessary to meet the requirements. This increases the price as well as the weight and volume of the battery system, which are problematical in particular in an electric automobile. Assembly of the battery system, i.e., connecting the individual cells to one another, takes place at high total voltages of up to 1000 V because of the voltages of the individual battery cells which are added up due to the series connection, which is why a replacement of the battery system, individual cells or modules cannot be carried out in local workshops or in the case of a stationary application it may be carried out only by specially trained personnel using special tools. This results in a high logistical effort for maintenance of battery systems in the event of a defect. In addition, parts of the ascertaining device are in contact with a correspondingly high electric potential. To switch the battery system to be voltage-free, i.e., to separate the actual battery from the load, power circuit breakers, which are typically configured as contactors and are very expensive for the high currents and voltages to be expected here, must be provided.
The object of the exemplary embodiments and/or exemplary methods of the present invention is to introduce an energy supply system and a method for operating such an energy supply system for overcoming the aforementioned disadvantages of the related art.

Energy storage system and method for operating same