An electromagnetic survey sensing device includes at least two electrodes disposed at spaced apart locations. An electrical to optical converter is electrically coupled to the at least two electrodes. The converter is configured to change a property of light from a source in response to voltage imparted across the at least two electrodes. The device includes an optical fiber optically coupled to an output of the electrical to optical converter, the optical fiber in optical communication with a detector.

The invention relates generally to the field of electromagnetic surveying of the
Earth's subsurface. More specifically, the invention relates to electromagnetic survey systems including optical output sensors to reduce effects of electromagnetic noise on signals measured by the system.
Electromagnetic geophysical surveying of the Earth's subsurface includes "controlled source" and "natural source" electromagnetic surveying. Controlled source electromagnetic surveying includes imparting an electric field or a magnetic field into subsurface Earth formations, such formations being below the sea floor in marine surveys, and measuring electric field amplitude and/or amplitude of magnetic fields induced in response to the imparted field. Such measurements are performed by measuring voltage differences induced between spaced apart electrodes, induced in antennas and/or interrogating magnetometers disposed at the Earth's surface, or near or above the sea floor. The electric and/or magnetic fields from which the above measurements are made are induced in response to the electric field and/or magnetic field imparted into the Earth's subsurface, as stated above, and inferences about the spatial distribution of electrical conductivity of the Earth's subsurface are made from recordings of the induced electric and/or magnetic field measurements.
Natural source electromagnetic surveying includes deploying multi-component ocean bottom receiver stations and by taking the ratio of perpendicular field components, one can eliminate the need to know characteristics of the natural source.
Controlled source electromagnetic surveying known in the art includes imparting alternating electric current into the subsurface formations. The alternating current has one or more selected frequencies. Such surveying is known as frequency domain controlled source electromagnetic (f-CSEM) surveying. Another technique for electromagnetic surveying of subsurface Earth formations known in the art is transient controlled source electromagnetic surveying (t-CSEM). In t-CSEM, electric current is imparted into the Earth at the Earth's surface (or sea floor), in a manner similar to f-CSEM. The electric current may be direct current (DC). At a selected time, the electric current is switched off, switched on, or has its polarity changed, and induced voltages and/or magnetic fields are measured, typically with respect to time over a selected time interval, at the Earth's surface or water surface. Alternative switching techniques are possible. Structure of the subsurface is inferred by the time distribution of the induced voltages and/or magnetic fields. For example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/232917 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,914,433 Detection of subsurface resistivity contrasts with application to location of fluids (Wright, et al) describes a method of mapping subsurface resistivity contrasts by making multichannel transient electromagnetic (MTEM) measurements on or near the Earth's surface using at least one source, receiving means for measuring the system response and at least one receiver for measuring the resultant earth response. All signals from each source-receiver pair are processed to recover the corresponding electromagnetic impulse response of the earth and such impulse responses, or any transformation of such impulse responses, are displayed to create a subsurface representation of resistivity contrasts. The system and method enable subsurface fluid deposits to be located and identified and the movement of such fluids to be monitored.
The above methods for f-CSEM and t-CSEM have been adapted for use in marine environments. Cable based sensors have been devised for detecting electric and/or magnetic field signals resulting from imparting electric and/or magnetic fields into formations below the bottom of a body of water. See, for example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0238200 filed by Johnstad. The amplitude of electric field signals detected by electrodes on cables such as described in the Johnstad publication may be on the order of fractions of a nanovolt. Accordingly, a particular consideration in the design and implementation of electromagnetic survey receiver systems is reducing the amount of noise that may be induced in the signals detected by the various sensing elements in the receiver system. One example of such noise reduction is to include batteries at each of a plurality of receiver system stations where signal amplification devices may be located. By eliminating the need to transmit operating power along a cable associated with the receiver system, induced noise may be reduced. Battery power does not eliminate induced noise resulting from electrical signal telemetry in cable type systems such as shown in the Johnstad publication, however, because electric current carrying such signals, representative of the voltages and/or magnetic field amplitudes measured, may induce noise in the measured signals.
There is a continuing need for electromagnetic survey devices that reduce noise induced in the measured signals caused by electric power and signal transmission along receiver cables.

Fiber optic system for electromagnetic surveying


A process for forming a capacitive structure and a fuse structure in an integrated circuit device includes forming a first capacitor plate and first and second fuse electrodes in a first dielectric layer of the device. In a second dielectric layer overlying the first dielectric layer, a capacitor dielectric section overlying the first capacitor plate, and a fuse barrier section overlying and between the first and second fuse electrodes are formed simultaneously. In a conductive layer overlying the second dielectric layer, a second capacitor plate overlying the capacitor dielectric section, and a fuse overlying the fuse barrier section and contacting the first and second fuse electrodes are formed simultaneously. The capacitor dielectric section and the fuse barrier section may be defined simultaneously by selectively removing portions of the first dielectric layer during a single etching step. The second capacitor plate and the fuse may be defined simultaneously by selectively removing portions of the conductive layer during a single etching step. Thus, the invention provides for forming various structures of the capacitor and the fuse during the same photomask, patterning, and etching steps, thereby reducing fabrication cost and time.

This invention relates to the field of integrated circuit fabrication. More particularly, the invention relates to forming metal-insulator-metal capacitor structures, pad structures, and fuse structures.
Metal-insulator-metal capacitors are widely used in mixed signal CMOS integrated structures because of the ability to precisely control their capacitance based on dimensional control. Metal fuses are also widely used to provide redundancy in embedded CMOS memory, thereby increasing the yield of application-specific integrated circuits. Processes for forming a metal-insulator-metal capacitor structures and fuse structures in integrated circuits have generally required several photomask, pattern, and etch steps to form the capacitors, and several more such process steps to form the fuses. Each photomask, pattern, and etch step adds significant cost, process time, and potential for error to the overall circuit fabrication process.
What is needed, therefore, is a process for forming metal-insulator-metal capacitor and fuse structures using fewer photomask, pattern, and etch steps.
The above and other needs are met by a process for simultaneously forming a capacitive structure and a fuse structure in an integrated circuit device. The process includes forming a first capacitor plate and first and second fuse electrodes in a first dielectric layer of the device. In a second dielectric layer overlying the first dielectric layer, a capacitor dielectric section overlying the first capacitor plate, and a fuse barrier section overlying and between the first and second fuse electrodes are formed simultaneously. In a conductive layer overlying the second dielectric layer, a second capacitor plate overlying the capacitor dielectric section, and a fuse overlying the fuse barrier section and contacting the first and second fuse electrodes are formed simultaneously.
In various preferred embodiments of the invention, the capacitor dielectric section and the fuse barrier section are defined simultaneously by selectively removing portions of the first dielectric layer, such as during a single etching step. Also in preferred embodiments of the invention, the second capacitor plate and the fuse are defined simultaneously by selectively removing portions of the conductive layer, such as during a single etching step. Thus, the invention provides for forming various structures of the capacitor and the fuse during the same photomask, patterning, and etching steps, thereby reducing fabrication cost and time.
In another preferred embodiment, the process includes forming a dielectric layer over the capacitor and the fuse, and subsequently selectively removing a portion of the dielectric layer over the fuse such that a desired thickness of the dielectric layer remains over the fuse. The desired thickness of the dielectric layer over the fuse introduces a minimal amount of absorption to laser energy that is subsequently used to blow the fuse during programming of memory on the integrated circuit device. In this manner, a minimal level of laser energy is needed to blow the fuse, thereby reducing the risk of dielectric cracking caused by the absorption of excess laser energy, and reducing laser exposure of the first dielectric layer underlying the fuse structure.

Method for simultaneous formation of integrated capacitor and fuse


A barcode on a material includes at least one line having a length and a width. The line may be formed by markings on the material, and the markings may form a first row and a second row. The first row may be adjacent to the second row. The markings also forming a first column and a second column, with the first column being adjacent to the second column. The markings of the first row are offset from the markings of the second row.

Many construction and earth moving machines use hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders to move a work tool such as a bucket on a backhoe, a loader, or an excavator. The cylinder may include a cylinder rod coupled at one end to the work tool with a cylinder body having a chamber formed therein at the other end. Hydraulic fluid may be introduced into the chamber to extend the rod from the body and may also be removed from the chamber to retract the rod. Often, the rod position or the amount of the extension of the rod must be known so that movement of the work tool can be controlled or monitored.
Barcodes have been marked on cylinder rods in order to locate the position of the rod. In particular, the rod may be marked with a barcode including non-repeating segments of code, each of which correspond to a different location of the rod. In operation, a sensor is provided in the cylinder adjacent the barcode to identify a particular segment which is then associated with a corresponding rod location.
In some systems, the barcode is formed on the cylinder rod using a laser system. In these systems, the laser may heat a designated portion of the cylinder rod to anneal the surface, changing the color of the rod, thereby forming the lines of the barcode. However, such annealing may melt and redeposit a certain amount of material. In some instances, the laser energy is sufficient to remove the material through ablation, or alternatively, create plasmas capable of removing material. This results in an added surface roughness of the cylinder rod in the form of peaks and valleys, perpendicular to the direction the laser travels when marking. This added roughness may wear other materials that travel along the marked surface, such as sealing materials. Further, to get a good contrasting mark, it is often necessary to repeatedly expose the rod surface to the laser, thereby compounding the formation of peaks and valleys.
One system for forming a barcode on a surface is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,023,437 to Speicher. The '437 patent discloses creation of a barcode on a surface using individual imprinted marks to form a plurality of substantially linear rectangular arrays. The arrays are formed of a plurality of laser marks disposed adjacent each other in aligned rows and columns. However, spaces between the laser marks may be interpreted by a scanning reader to be empty bars of the barcode.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems in the prior art.


A laser frequency conversion device employs a dual resonant optical cavity in which closed optical paths exist for both the pump beam and the generated beam. The optical cavity is designed so that the optical paths overlap the acceptance volume in phase space for coupling power from the pump beam into the output beam. At least one of the beams is pumped by an external laser which is aligned and mode matched to the cavity mode. The frequency of the pump laser or the cavity resonance modes is selected, generally by adjustment, to cause buildup of optical power at the pump frequency. The temperature and the angle of the nonlinear material are selected for phase match in the nonlinear interaction within the material. The frequencies of the modes near the output frequency are independently selected to cause buildup of optical power at the output frequency.

This invention relates to frequency conversion means for producing coherent radiation at optical frequencies not easily available from present lasers, and more particularly relates to nonlinear optical means for doubling or mixing the output of one or more solid state lasers in an external cavity which is resonant at the wavelengths of the pump lasers and the generated wavelengths, in order to produce high conversion efficiency and high output power stability despite low input power.
It has been known since the early 1960s that certain nonlinear crystals have the property of converting a fraction of the input power at a given optical frequency into an output beam at twice the optical frequency. The same nonlinearity can mix two input beams to produce an output beam of the sum frequency.
A. Ashkin et al. [IEEE J. Quant. Elect. QE2 109-124 (1966)] described theoretically how to enhance the efficiency of doubling or mixing by resonating either the fundamental frequency or the generated frequency. They showed how the generated power depends on the optical loss inside the resonator, and pointed out the advantage of noncritical phase matching. In the case of fundamental resonance, they describe how to optimize the input coupling transmission, including the effect of mode conversion loss, as was known at the time for microwave resonators. They successfully demonstrated both doubling and mixing of a two-mode helium-neon laser with harmonic resonance only, and doubling with fundamental resonance only. They decided against using dual resonance (simultaneous resonance for both the fundamental and the harmonic), because of phasing problems on multiple passes through the crystal.
This pioneering work led to the development of singly resonant devices which used the resonant cavity of a laser to enhance the second harmonic generation. There is a large body of literature describing nonlinear conversion inside the cavity of a laser, where the laser frequency is either doubled, mixed with the output from another laser, or even mixed with the residual light from the pump laser which excites the first laser. None of this prior art is directly relevant to the invention. As explained hereinafter the present invention uses an external resonant cavity.
M. Brieger et al. [Opt. Commun. 38 423-426 (1981)] were the first to show that improved conversion efficiency can be obtained by resonating the pump laser in a cavity external from the laser resonator. Their work has been followed up by many other papers reporting similar work with singly resonant external cavities, all of which used noncritically phase matched nonlinear crystals. This work includes generation of ultraviolet light from dye and Argon lasers [H. Hemmati et al., Opt. Lett. 8 73-75 (1983)], the generation of blue light from dye lasers [J. C. Baumert et al., Appl. Opt. 24 1299-1301 (1985)], and the generation of green light from YAG lasers [W. J. Kozlovsky et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,027,361; W. J. Kozlovsky et al., IEEE J. Quant. Elect. QE24 913-919 (1988)].
Diode lasers have been used to generate blue light only in singly resonant noncritically phase matched KNbO.sub.3 [L. Goldberg et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 55 218-220 (1989); W. J. Kozlovsky et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 56 2291-2292 (1990); A. Hemmerich et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,068,546; and A. Hemmerich et al., Opt. Lett. 15 372-374 (1990)].
After more than ten years of development, this prior art can be considered to be reasonably mature. It is sufficient for producing a good conversion efficiency (1.7%-39%) in two wavelength ranges where noncritical phase matching can be used (532 and 421-432 nm) with nonlinear crystals having a high nonlinearity (LiNbO.sub.3 and KNbO.sub.3, respectively).
Nevertheless, the prior art suffers from several difficulties. Power fluctuations in the pump laser are amplified by the nonlinearity, producing instability in the output power at and above the 8% level observed by Kozlovsky et al. in their high efficiency doubled YAG output. In the ultraviolet, no high nonlinearity materials are available. Only high power dye or Argon lasers have been used to produce a UV output, but an input power of 2 W was needed to produce a 4% noncritically phase matched conversion efficiency to 257 nm [J. C. Bergquist et al. Opt. Commun. 43 437-442 (1982)]. Lower power lasers such as the desirable solid state lasers (including diode and diode-pumped lasers) are insufficient for producing usable output power in the UV even with noncritical phase matching, since the output power drops as the square of the input power. Most regions of the spectrum are inaccessible with solid state lasers and the current state of the art since they require critical phase matching, which lowers the conversion efficiency even further due to the effects of walkoff.
Ashkin et al. mentioned but rejected the use of dual resonance (harmonic resonance at the same time as the pump laser resonance) for increasing the generated power. This alternative has been rejected many times over the years. A solution to the multiple pass phasing problem was devised in 1971 by J. M. Yarborough et al. [Appl. Phys. Lett. 18 70-73 (1971)] and tested in a two-pass configuration. Unfortunately, the phase alignment obtained by this means is only maintained at a specific temperature, pressure, and humidity. The phase alignment wanders off if any of these ambient conditions change. After nine more years, P. D. Drummond et al. [Optica Acta 27 321-335 (1980)] analyzed theoretically the small signal dynamics of the dual resonant doubler and predicted an output power instability above a certain pump power threshold.
The first experimental reference to a dual resonant doubler is by H. J. Kimble et al. [Quantum Optics IV. J. D. Harvey, D. F. Walls, eds., Springer-Verlag, pp. 58-69, 1986] who doubled an Argon laser with KDP. S. F. Pereira et al. [Phys. Rev. A38 4931-4934 (1988)] later built a dual resonant doubler for producing green light from a YAG laser With MgO:LiNbO.sub.3. Both of these experiments were performed with noncritically phase matched doubling crystals in linear concave-concave cavities. Neither report describes how to obtain dual resonance in the presence of walkoff (critical phase matching). G. J. Dixon et al. [U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,276] mentioned the possibility of a dual resonant optical mixer in the context of noncritical phase matching, but again did not describe how to deal with cavity stability in the case of critical phase matching.
Finally in 1989 a critically phase matched dual resonant doubler was reported in the literature [C. Zimmermann et al., Opt. Commun. 71 229-234 (1989)]. In this work, an argon laser beam at 488 nm was doubled at 0.4% conversion efficiency in barium borate phase matched at an angle of 55 degrees. Heretofore there has been no subsequent work published respecting this approach.
The dual resonant doubler as described in the prior art suffers from several important disadvantages. Zimmermann et al. state that critically phase matched dual resonance requires a linear plano-concave cavity geometry to produce a closed round trip for both ordinary and extraordinary beams. This result rules out the desirable ring resonator, the concave-concave linear approach used in the prior noncritically phase matched work of Kimble, Pereira, et al., and many other cavity configurations.
Zimmermann et al. also describe two ways of obtaining simultaneous resonance at the fundamental and second harmonic frequencies: adjusting the overall length of the cavity using the dispersion of air as described by Yarborough et al., and adjusting the phase matching angle of the nonlinear crystal. These approaches each have unresolved difficulties. Adjusting the cavity length in air to achieve dual resonance has the problem that changes in the environment shift the phase alignment away from optimum. For example, a temperature change of 13.degree. C. in a 20 cm air path is enough to shift phase by about 90 degrees in a 700 nm doubler. Compensating for such changes in real time by length adjusting is difficult because the large motions required (a few mm) can result in serious perturbations of the cavity closed path due to undesired mechanical coupling or off-axis reflection. Also, the required displacement is too large for the most convenient actuators (such as PZTs) needed for automatic phase adjustments. Changing the phase matching angle to compensate the phase drift in air reduces the conversion efficiency (by 36% in the above example).
A doubling approach is needed which permits high enough conversion efficiency for diode and diode-pumped solid state lasers to be used despite their relatively low power. Improvements are needed which stabilize the output power fluctuations and which permit generation at more wavelengths than are now possible. Improvements are also needed which reduce the numerous sensitivities of the prior art to drifts.
My U.S. Pat. No. 5,134,622 filed Dec. 20, 1990 sets forth as one example a dual resonant mixer with two laser pump sources. Claim 18 recites such a configuration. My co-pending parent patent application Ser. No. 07/826,316 filed Jan. 24, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,206,868, describes a dual resonant mixer configuration which includes doubling a single laser pump beam. Claims 22 and 31 recite such configurations. Neither of my other related patent properties provide details about certain solutions to the problem of walkoff.
What is needed are improvements, in particular in procedures for resonator design, which optimize overlap of the pump beam with the acceptance volume in phase space for generating the output beam, allowing the conversion efficiency to be significantly enhanced.

Method and apparatus for dual resonant laser upconversion


Provided are a CMOS image sensor and a fabricating method thereof. The CMOS image sensor includes a device isolation layer, a plurality of photodiode regions, an interlayer insulating layer, a refracting layer, a planarizing layer, a color filter layer, and a plurality of microlenses. The refracting layer, with a higher refractive index than that of the interlayer insulating layer, is formed through the interlayer insulating layer on portions of the device isolation layer, to divide the interlayer insulating layer and give the divided portions thereof the characteristics of a waveguide.

In general, an image sensor is a semiconductor device that converts an optical image into an electrical signal. Image sensors can largely be divided into charge coupled devices (CCD) and CMOS image sensors.
Using CMOS fabricating technology, a CMOS image sensor can be fabricated using a simple fabrication process that consumes a relatively small amount of power and consists of a comparatively small number of photo processing steps.
Also, because a control circuit, signal processing circuit, analog/digital conversion circuit, etc. can be integrated into one CMOS image sensor chip, the product can be easy to miniaturize.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a CMOS image sensor according to the related art.
Referring to FIG. 1, a p-type epitaxial layer 11 is grown on a p-type semiconductor substrate 10 divided into device isolation regions and active regions. A device isolation layer 12 is formed on the device isolation regions of the semiconductor substrate 10, so that the active regions are divided into a first, second, and third n-type region 13, 14, and 15 by the device isolation layer 12.
Here, the first, second, and third n-type regions 13, 14, and 15 are photodiode regions.
Then, gate electrodes 17 are formed on the active regions of the semiconductor substrate 10 with a gate insulating layer 16 interposed therebetween. Insulating layer sidewalls 18 are formed on the sides of the gate electrodes 17, and an interlayer insulating layer 19 is formed on the entire surface of the semiconductor substrate 10 including the gate electrodes 17.
A first planarizing layer 20 is formed on the interlayer insulating layer 19, and a blue, green, and red color filter layer 21 is formed on the first planarizing layer 20 with color segments corresponding to the first, second, and third n-type regions 13, 14, and 15.
Also, a second planarizing layer 22 is formed on the entire surface of the semiconductor substrate 10 including each of the color segments in the color filter layer 21, and microlenses 23 corresponding to each color segment are formed on the second planarizing layer 22.
In the CMOS image sensor according to the related art having the above configuration, light is incident through each color segment of the color filter layer 21 on the corresponding first, second, and third n-type region 13, 14, and 15 (or the photodiode region).
However, the light that passes the blue, green, and red color segments can interfere with neighboring color segments, inducing a loss in the quantity of light that is focused on the photodiodes through dispersion and diffraction of the light passing through the segments of the color filter.

CMOS image sensor for improving the amount of light incident a photodiode


An optical projection unit includes first and second optical element modules. The first optical element module includes a first housing unit and a first optical element received within the first housing unit and having an optically used first region defining a first optical axis. The second optical element module is located adjacent to the first optical element module and includes a second optical element which defines a second optical axis of the optical projection unit. The first housing unit has a central first housing axis and an outer wall extending in a circumferential direction about the first housing axis. The first optical axis is laterally offset and/or inclined with respect to the first housing axis. The first housing axis is substantially collinear with the second optical axis.

The present invention relates to support units for optical sub-systems, in particular lens units, of microlithography systems. Furthermore, it relates to an optical projection system comprising such a support unit and an optical exposure apparatus comprising such an optical projection system. The invention may be used in the context of photolithography processes for fabricating microelectronic devices, in particular semiconductor devices, or in the context of fabricating devices, such as masks or reticles, used during such photolithography processes.
Typically, the optical systems used in the context of fabricating microelectronic devices such as semiconductor devices comprise a plurality of optical elements, such as lenses and mirrors etc., in the light path of the optical system. Those optical elements usually cooperate in an exposure process to transfer an image formed on a reticle or the like onto a substrate such as a wafer. Said optical elements are usually combined in several functionally distinct optical sub-systems. These distinct optical sub-systems may be formed by distinct lens units comprising a plurality of such optical elements, such as lenses and mirrors and other optical elements, of the optical system. Refractive lens units or at least mainly refractive lens units mostly have a straight axis of symmetry of the optical elements usually referred to as the optical axis. Moreover, they generally have an elongated substantially tubular design due to which they are typically referred to as lens barrels.
Due to the ongoing miniaturization of semiconductor devices there is a permanent need for enhanced resolution of the optical systems used for fabricating those semiconductor devices. This need for enhanced resolution obviously pushes the need for an increased numerical aperture and increased imaging accuracy of the optical system. Furthermore, to reliably obs lain high-quality semiconductor devices it is not only necessary to provide an optical system showing a high degree of imaging accuracy. It is also necessary to maintain such a high degree of accuracy throughout the entire exposure process and over the lifetime of the system. As a consequence, the above optical sub-systems must be supported in a defined manner in order to maintain a predetermined spatial relationship between said optical sub-systems to provide a high quality exposure process.
In many cases, several distinct lens barrels are directly connected to each other to form a mechanical lens barrel unit as it is known, for example, from EP 1 168 028 A2 to Takahashi et al. In these cases, support to the lens barrel unit is provided via a support structure contacting a flange of one of the lens barrels. Often, different lens barrels are supported separately by one or more support structures. In either case the support structures supporting the lens barrels or lens barrel units typically are designed in the manner of an open skeleton framework. Such framework support structures are known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 5,638,223 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,529,264 B1 both to Ikeda as well as from U.S. Pat. No. 6,639,740 B1, U.S. Pat. No. 6,631,038 B1, U.S. Pat. No. 6,549,347 B1, U.S. Pat. No. 6,449,106 B1, U.S. Pat. No. 6,473,245 B1 all to Spinali.
Those open support structures may allow for an accurate positioning of the lens barrels with respect to each other. However, they show the disadvantage that, depending on the required spatial relationship between the lens barrels, the light path may have to pass open areas outside the lens barrels. For these areas a gas tight and light tight enclosure has to be provided for avoiding adverse effects on the quality of the exposure process. Such an additional enclosure adds to the overall complexity of the system.
A further disadvantage of the above support structures lies within the fact that local deformations or position variations within single components of the support structure are likely to lead to position variations of the optical elements which largely affect the accuracy of the optical system and, thus, the quality of the exposure process. Furthermore, such variations cause extensive effort for re-adjusting the optical system.
Furthermore, from WO 03/012548 A1 to Kohl et al., it is known to support distinct optical sub-systems of a microlithography system via a support structure in the form of a housing-like frame structure composed of an upper frame structure element and a lower frame structure element. While the lower frame structure element supports a rather heavy elongated refractive optical sub-system in the form of an elongated lens barrel, the upper frame structure element only supports rather lightweight optical sub-systems in the form of axially short lens or lens and mirror groups.
This design may be useful for a microlithography system with only lightweight optical sub-systems located in the light path before any heavy elongated refractive optical sub-system. However, further heavy elongated refractive optical sub-systems located in the light path before said heavy elongated refractive optical sub-system mounted to the lower frame structure element, seem to be mounted to open support structures as previously described. This again leads to the above disadvantages.
Furthermore, as it is known e.g. from U.S. Pat. No. 6,873,476 B2 to Shafer, configurations of optical elements may be used in microlithography systems where certain optical elements have to be arranged off-axis. U.S. Pat. No. 6,873,476 B2 to Shafer discloses a catadioptric microlithography projection unit with a folded optical axis. One of the mirrors used has to be laterally offset from the remaining optical elements resulting in a housing structure that deviates from the cylindrical design of the remaining part of the projection unit. This leads to a very complex design of the projection unit that has considerable disadvantages with respect to its thermal and dynamic properties. Furthermore, peripheral units, such as cooling devices etc., have also to be adapted to this complex design. Finally, assembly and adjustment of the projection unit are rather complicated since simple test methods available for rotationally symmetric units may not be used.


A malware detection system and method for determining whether an executable script is malware is presented. The malware detection system determines whether the executable script is malware by comparing the functional contents of the executable script to the functional contents of known malware. In practice, the executable script is obtained. The executable script is normalized, thereby generating a script signature corresponding to the functionality of the executable script. The script signature is compared to known malware script signatures in a malware signature store to determine whether the executable script is malware. If a complete match is made, the executable script is considered to be malware. If a partial match is made, the executable script is considered to likely be malware. The malware detection system may perform two normalizations, each normalization generating a script signature which is compared to similarly normalized known malware script signatures in the malware signature store.

As more and more computers are interconnected through various networks, such as the Internet, computer security also becomes increasingly more important. In particular, computer security in regard to external attacks from malware has become, and continues to become, increasingly more important. Malware, for purposes of the present discussion, is defined as unwanted computer attacks. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that malware includes, but is not limited to, computer viruses, Trojan horses, worms, denial of service attacks, abuse/misuse of legitimate computer system functions, and the like. The primary defense against malware is anti-virus software.
FIGS. 1A and 1B are pictorial diagrams illustrating how anti-virus software currently operates. In particular, FIG. 1A illustrates how anti-virus software detects known malware and prevents the known malware from reaching and infecting a computer. Alternatively, FIG. 1B illustrates a common weakness of anti-virus software, particularly how anti-virus software is unable to detect and prevent modified malware from reaching and infecting a computer. What is meant by "reaching" the computer is getting past the anti-virus software. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize anti-virus software almost always resides on the computer it is protecting, and operates on incoming data as it physically arrives at the computer. Thus, while incoming data, including malware, may be located at the computer, for purposes of the present invention, the incoming data does not actually "reach" the computer until it gets past the anti-virus software.
As shown in FIG. 1A, malware 102 is directed over a network 106 to the computer 110, as indicated by arrow 108. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the malware 102 may be directed to the computer 110 as a result of a request from the computer, or directed to the computer from another network device. However, before the known malware 102 infects the computer 110, anti-virus software 104, which is typically installed on the computer 110, intercepts the malware and examines it. The anti-virus software scans the incoming data (malware) as a file, searching for identifiable patterns, also referred to a signatures, associated with known malware. If a malware signature is located in the file, the anti-virus software 104 takes appropriate action, such as deleting the known malware/infected file, or removing the malware from an infected file, sometimes referred to as cleaning the file. In this manner, anti-virus software 104 is able to prevent the known malware 102 from reaching and infecting the computer 110, as indicated by the arrow 112.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that almost all unknown malware are actually rewrites or reorganizations of previously released malware. Indeed, encountering an absolutely novel malware is relatively rare, as most "new" malware are actually rewrites or rehashes of existing malware. Malware source code is readily available and it is a simple task for a malicious party to change variable names, reorder lines of code, or somehow superficially modify the malware. This is especially true with script-based malware, as scripts are essentially text files that are interpreted by a script processor/interpreter on a host computer.
The end result of rehashing or rewriting an existing malware is that the static appearance of the malware is superficially altered while the functionality of the malware typically remains the same. Unfortunately, current anti-virus software operates only on the static signatures of known malware. Thus "new" malware, while it may functionally identical to its "parent" malware, is not detected nor stopped by current anti-virus software 104 due to the pattern matching system of the anti-virus software.
FIG. 1B is a pictorial diagram illustrating how current anti-virus software is unable to prevent a modified malware from reaching a computer. As shown in FIG. 1B, known malware 102 undergoes a modification process 114, such as a rehash or rewrite, resulting in modified malware 116. As mentioned above, the modified malware 116 will most likely have a different static appearance, though its functionality may be the same. As mentioned above, because the static appearance is modified, the modified malware 116 is not a "known" malware to the anti-virus software 104.
The modified malware 116 is directed through the network 106 to the computer 110, as indicated by arrow 118. As described above, the anti-virus software 104 attempts to identify the modified malware 116 to determine whether it is known malware and should be stopped. As the modified malware 116 is, as yet, an unknown modification, and because the signature of the modified malware is not the same as the original malware 102, the anti-virus software 104 fails to identify the modified malware 116 as malware, and permits it to proceed to the computer 110, as indicated by arrow 120. Upon reaching the computer 110, the modified malware 116 is able to perform its destructive purpose. It is only after an anti-virus software provider identifies a signature pattern for the modified malware 116 and then updates the anti-virus software 104, that the anti-virus software 104 is able to protect the computer 110 from the modified malware 116.
Constantly evaluating unknown malware to identify a static signature and then updating anti-virus software with the new signature is a costly process. It is also inefficient, especially when considering that the modified malware 116 is only superficially modified from its parent, i.e., the known malware 102. It would be helpful if the malware could be identified, not just by its static signature, but also by its functionality. However, currently the only way to evaluate the functionality of malware is to permit it to execute on a computer 110. Of course, this is entirely unacceptable as the ill effects of the malware would run its course on the computer.
In light of the above-identified problems, what is needed is a system and method for evaluating the functionality of an executable script to determine whether the executable script is malware without actually executing the script on the computer. The system and method should also operate in addition to, or separately from, current anti-virus software to protect a computer against rewritten or reorganized malware scripts. The present invention addresses this and other issues found in the prior art.

System and method for detecting malware in executable scripts according to its functionality


Provided is a remote user interface (RUI). An RUI server inserts a newly defined object to a user interface (UI) page so as to manage control ownership of an application, and a RUI client controls an application of the RUI server after obtaining control ownership of the corresponding application by using the newly defined object. Accordingly, RUI clients can control the application of the RUI server without conflict, even when a separate plug-in program is not installed in the RUI clients.

1. Field of the Invention
Methods and apparatuses consistent with the present invention relate to a remote user interface (RUI), and more particularly, to a method of an RUI server providing a user interface to an RUI client.
2. Description of the Related Art
Studies for improving a home network technology are actively being conducted by various industry standard groups, such as DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance), HAVi (Home Audio-Video Interoperability), and UPnP (Universal Plug and Play).
In a home network, remote user interface (RUI) technology may be used for a device to control functions of another device. In brief, the RUI technology is based on a client-server architecture, in which an RUI client receives a user interface (UI) from an RUI server, such that a user can control the RUI server via the UI in the RUI client.
CEA-2014, which is the standard for an RUI, defines an UPnP network, and a protocol and frame work for an RUI in the Internet. According to CEA-2014, an UPnP device (an RUI server) provides an UI as a web page in a CE-HTML form, and a user remotely controls an application of the UPnP device through the web page. CE-HTML is a particular version of HTML and is based on XHTML.
FIG. 1 is a diagram for describing a conventional communication method between a RUI server and an RUI client according to the CEA-2014 standard.
In order to use an RUI in a home network, discovery for the RUI server should be performed first. Since CEA-2014 is based on an UPnP network, the RUI server is discovered via an UPnP discovery process. In FIG. 1, the RUI client and a control point (CP) are separately illustrated, but when an UPnP CP is embedded in the RUI client, the RUI client directly searches for the RUI server. If the CP is not embedded in the RUI client and a separate CP transmits an UI of the RUI server to the RUI client, the CP not embedded in the RUI client also searches for the RUI client via the UPnP discovery process.
After the UPnP discovery process, the RUI client obtains an UI page by referring to a uniform resource locator (URL) including the UI page in an UPnP device description. In more detail, an XHTML browser of the RUI client requests the UI page to a web server of the RUI server. Since the UI page is formed to control an application of the RUI server, the RUI client controls the application of the RUI server by using the UI page. The conventional method is described in detail in documents such as the CEA-2014 standard, and thus detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.
As described above, a conventional RUI is based on a structure of general web server-HTML browser. The general web server does not manage access of a browser, and only returns a page that is required by the browser. Accordingly, a web server is not aware whether a request of a certain browser for a page is granted, and thus the web server cannot manage access of the RUI client.
However in the CEA-2014 standard, when the web server does not simply provide information to the RUI client but controls the provided information, i.e. functions of the RUI server through the UI page, authority of the RUI client should be controlled. This is because conflicts may occur when a user controls a device while another user controls the same device.
Accordingly, when access or session between the RUI client and the RUI server is to be managed, a separate database for managing access of each user is included in the web server, or the RUI client uses a plug-in, such as active X, for each application. However generally, a consumer electronics (CE) device uses various operating systems and does not have sufficient resources, and thus additional plug-ins cannot be freely installed.

Method and apparatus for managing control ownership for application of remote user interface server


Disclosed is a nitric oxide-releasing polyvinylpyrrolidone-based polymer derived from N-vinylpyrrolidone monomer and at least one nitric oxide releasing N2O2− group, in which the N2O2− group is attached to a 2 pyrrolidinone group or a group derived therefrom in the N-vinylpyrrolidone monomer, and the polymer is optionally in combination with a substrate. The NO-releasing polymer can be part of a medical device or pharmaceutical composition and is useful for treating a biological disorder, such as healing a wound, restenosis, and/or promoting angiogenesis.

The therapeutic efficacy of nitric oxide (NO) has been demonstrated across many different treatment methods. For example, NO has cytotoxic, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and vasodilator properties. Nitric oxide also has been shown to dramatically reduce thrombocyte and fibrin aggregation/adhesion and smooth muscle cell hyperplasia while promoting endothelial cell growth (Cha et al., Haematologia (Budap), 30(2): 97-106 (2000); Lowson et al., Anesth. Analg., 89(6): 1360-1365 (1999); Riddel et al., Vitam. Horm., 57: 25-48 (1999); Gries et al., Circulation, 97(15): 1481-1487 (1998); and Liischer, Schweiz Med. Wochenschr., 121(51-52): 1913-1922 (1991)). Wounds are known to be deficient in nitric oxide, and as a result, application of NO has been shown to also have beneficial effects on wound healing by, e.g., promoting angiogenesis and tissue remodeling, since NO plays a role in collagen formation. See, e.g., Cortivo et al., Nanomedicine, 5: 641-656 (2010).
Diabetics often suffer from chronic impaired healing, and attempts to use NO therapy have been made. For instance, NO derived from the NO donor molsidomine has been shown to enhance healing in patients with diabetes (Witte et al., Br. J. Surg., 89: 1594-1601 (2002)). S-nitrosothiols have been used as NO donors in polymer blends comprising poly(vinyl methyl ether-co-maleic anhydride) (PVMMA) and poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (PVP) (Li et al., Molecular Pharmaceutics, 7(1): 254-266 (2010)).
However, the delivery of nitric oxide in a stable, nontoxic, and prolonged manner remains a concern. Thus, there remains a desire to provide alternative treatments to improve wound healing and promote angiogenesis with nitric oxide in a manner that is stable, biocompatible, and preferably, bioabsorbable.

Nitric oxide-releasing diazeniumdiolated polyvinylpyrrolidone-based polymers, and compositions, medical devices, and uses thereof

The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services


The present invention provides a container for dispensing individual paper products that includes a housing, a cover hingedly or removably attached to the housing wherein the cover defines a dispensing opening, a means for elevating paper products, and a plunger disposed in the interior area of the housing. The plunger is urged toward the dispensing opening by the means for elevating paper products. The container may be included in a system for dispensing paper products that further includes a cartridge containing paper products. The cartridge defines a dispensing opening and a second opening wherein the means for elevating paper products extends through the second opening into the interior area of the cartridge to contact the paper products and urge the paper products toward the dispensing opening.

Various types of dispensers for paper products have been developed to provide ready availability of the paper products to users. Such dispensers are often provided in public places such as restaurants or rest rooms where customers remove from the dispenser a desired amount of paper products for personal use. In some high traffic areas, such as fast food restaurants, a large number of customers may use a paper product dispenser such as a napkin dispenser in a short period of time. Therefore, dispensers have been developed that hold a large number of paper products for use by a large number of consumers.
For many applications, it is desirable to have a large dispenser that is embedded in a countertop. This is particularly desirable when open counter space above the countertop is needed for visibility or other reasons. Unfortunately, large recessed dispensers are subject to a number of drawbacks. First, because access to the body of the dispenser is limited by the structure supporting the countertop, it can be difficult to load large quantities of napkins into a recessed dispenser. Second, if paper products are not properly loaded into the dispenser, the paper products may jam as they are removed thereby preventing further removal of paper products by users. Third, a person refilling a large dispenser is more likely, due to the larger number of paper products involved, to drop some of the paper products onto a floor. Any dropped paper products are then unsanitary and must be discarded, thereby creating more waste and defeating certain benefits of the larger dispenser.
Therefore, there is a need for large inverted and/or recessed dispensers that reduce the incidence of waste of paper products due to dropping of the paper products during refilling of the container. There is likewise a need for such dispensers that reduce the incidence of jamming of paper products and the resultant inability to dispense further paper products, and further that supports the weight of paper products and moves the paper products toward the dispenser opening so that individual paper products are readily removed.

Container and cartridge for dispensing paper products


A method for reforming a lubricating oil which includes holding stably a container (6) containing a lubricating oil (5) on a stand (4) being insulated from the earth with four high-voltage insulators (3), and applying an electrostatic potential of 30 to 50 volts by the use of an electrostatic charge generating device (7), to thereby charge electrons to the lubricating oil (5). The charge of electrons converts an unsaturated hydrocarbon (1a) and an aromatic hydrocarbon (2a) in the lubricating oil (5) to a saturated hydrocarbon (1b) or (2b) and a naphthenic hydrocarbon (2c), which reduces the viscosity of the lubricating oil. Accordingly, the use of the lubricating oil (5) in an internal combustion engine lowers the friction resistance therein, which leads to a decrease in the fuel consumption of the engine. The method allows, therefore, the enhancement of fuel economy, in combination with the suppression of oxidation of the lubricating oil itself.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for reforming a lubricating oil used in an engine with a sliding region, as well as the reformed lubricating oil and, more particularly, relates to a method for reforming a lubricating oil that is suitable for the lubricating oil used in an internal combustion engine, as well as such a lubricating oil.
2. Description of the Related Art
Current energy problems are extremely important issues, both environmentally and in terms of their effect on the future makeup of human society. Reducing the consumption of petroleum-processed fuels such as gasoline, in particular, plays a major role in protecting the environment and conserving energy, and is also directly linked with cost reductions for both companies and individuals. However, improving the mechanical construction of the internal combustion engine, which functions as the power source for transport machines such as automobiles, ships, and aircraft, in order to enhance fuel efficiency, requires enormous investment in terms of facilities and time for research and development.
Furthermore, as it is difficult to improve the internal combustion engine construction of transport machines that are already in operation, fuel consumption efficiency is improved by reducing the friction loss within the sliding regions of the internal combustion engine. Improving the quality of the lubricating oil used for lubricating the sliding regions is a typical method used to reduce friction loss within an internal combustion engine. For example, methods for improving the lubricating oil include methods for adjusting the viscosity of the base oil itself and methods in which an additive is mixed with the lubricating oil.
However, the lubricating oil inside an internal combustion engine deteriorates, that is, oxidizes with the passage of time and operation of the internal combustion engine. As this oxidation progresses, the viscosity of the lubricating oil rises, increasing the sliding resistance. As a result, incomplete combustion becomes increasingly likely to occur within the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine, and impurities such as carbon produced by incomplete combustion accumulate inside the combustion chamber. Furthermore, as the viscosity of the lubricating oil increases, consumption of the lubricating oil itself also accelerates.
These types of problems can also occur with lubricating oils that have been improved using the conventional methods described above, and the above conventional methods do not prevent the progression of oxidation of the lubricating oil. Accordingly, conventional lubricating oils need to be changed within a relatively short cycle, and if improved high grade lubricating oils such as those described above are used, the running costs are considerable.
The present invention provides a method for reforming a lubricating oil and the reformed lubricating oil, which suppress oxidation of the lubricating oil itself as far as possible, while minimizing the friction loss within the internal combustion engine and reducing the fuel consumption.

Method for reforming lubricating oil used in lubricating an engine with a sliding region


The tractor unit of an articulated road vehicle includes an angle sensor unit arranged to sense the angular position of the trailer relative to the tractor and to cause the rear view mirror for the driver to move so that he can always see the trail end of the trailer. According to this invention the sensor unit is deflectable mounted on the tractor unit so that it can be moved out of harms way when hit, e.g., by a trailer.

An articulated road vehicle comprises a tractor unit to which can be coupled a trailer. The tractor unit is generally fitted with a rear view mirror on each side of the driver's cab. When driving in a straight path, these mirrors provide adequate visibility to the rear corners of the trailer. However, when the tractor unit is rotated relative to the trailer, either when reversing or whilst negotiating a tight turn in the forward direction, the rear corners of the trailer are outside the field of view of the mirrors. In order to combat this problem, an angle sensing apparatus may be arranged on the tractor to vary the position of the rear view mirrors according to the angle between the tractor and the trailer so that the driver can always see, using the mirror, along the length of the trailer. Such apparatus is disclosed in EP-A-094817, U.S. Pat. No. 3,950,080, U.S. Pat. No. 4,609,265, U.S. Pat. No. 4,679,158; WO88/04619.
One type of angle sensing device is described and claimed in our GB patent 2259064B and includes a lever connected to a potentiometer mounted on the tractor, the potentiometer acting as a sensor, adjacent to the coupling of the tractor and trailer, and an elastic member extending from the lever which can be detachably connected to a mounting point on the trailer. Information about the angle of rotation of the trailer relative to the tractor is provided to a control unit in the cab of the tractor unit which in turn actuates drive means to rotate the mirror accordingly about a generally vertical axis. In many cases it is preferable to mount the sensor to the rear of the coupling point and detachably mount the elastic member on a convenient point under the trailer. It has been discovered that in different sensor mounting positions there is a risk of damage to the sensor as the trailer is coupled or decoupled. It is accordingly one object of the invention to provide means for mounting an angle sensor on the tractor unit of an articulated road vehicle which reduces the risk of damage to the sensor at least during the coupling and decoupling of the trailer unit.

Articulated mounting for trailer angle sensor


The subject inventive arrangement extends the width of a light-reflective coupler to be offset behind a successive coupler that creates an additional angled reflective surface that apportions light towards an outboard side rather than towards the primary optical axis direction and controls to redirect light at specific angles or enhances light distribution spread so as to improve lighting effects and enhance vehicle appearance. The present invention relates to automotive lighting modules that include multiple light sources a light guide, light-reflective couplers, optical facets, a light-exit face and a light-guiding portion. Coupler profiles are formed by a curved facet and a joined angled facet where associated couplers are juxtaposed and offset from adjoining couplers. Angled surfaces include multiple light reflecting facets adapted to receive collimated light, which are directed towards a vehicle's outboard side. Each coupler's curved facet receives other collimated light directed towards a forward direction of the vehicle.

Efforts to improve outboard lit appearance of vehicle lamps is an on-going endeavor among Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) and the numerous component/system suppliers. Of particular interest is the desire to improve the outboard lit appearance to be uniform while meeting homogeneity and regulation requirements. The present invention is directed to one such innovation solution and provides a lighting or signaling device that can improve outboard lit appearance while still meeting homogeneity and regulation requirements.
Known vehicle lamp optical devices include a light guide to provide different lighting and signaling functions. In particular, a light guide with multiple light sources is designed to transmit a generated light beam towards a vehicle's forward direction. Furthermore, optical device components include a plurality of light-coupling reflectors (a.k.a. "couplers"), a light-exit face and a light guiding portion that connects the couplers with the light-exit face. Such known optical device components are not designed to send the light towards an outboard/side of the vehicle instead of being directed toward the vehicle's front side.
Among the literature that may pertain to this technology includes patent documents: U.S. Pat. No. 7,639,918 B2 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,686,497 B2; U.S. Publication US 2015 0233 539 A1, all incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
Thus among various objectives that the subject invention addresses is an objective to apply a multi-light sourced light-guide system via enhanced light-effect control, lighting efficiency and an improved photometry arrangement. Another objective is to increase light distribution spread to meet lighting homogeneity and regulatory requirements. Another objective is to improve efficiencies by directing generated waste light or bleed-light to the side of a vehicle. And yet another objective is to achieve a brighter lit aspect and visibility along an outboard side light-emitting face of vehicle lamp modules.
The invention herein overcomes one or more of the problems and shortcomings of the known mentioned optical device components and associated generally known limitations of optical devices with restricted light direction.

Motor vehicle light guide and reflective coupler system for outboard homogenous lit appearance of lamp module


An object of the invention is to smoothen the loading of a battery pack, to ensure the electric connection between the battery pack and the main body of a mobile electronic apparatus, and to reduce the manufacture cost. In the invention, a mobile electronic apparatus comprises collision avoiding mechanisms (4) including: generally sector-shaped ascent/descent portions (41A) and suitably shaped push-up portions (41B) disposed higher than and corresponding to connecting terminals (22) disposed in the battery chamber (22), on inner wall faces (21A/21B) formed on the two sides along the loading (α) direction of the battery pack (3) so as to form the battery chamber (21) and near the corner portions intersecting abutting wall faces (21C) perpendicular to the inner wall faces (21A/21B) for forming the battery chamber (21); and riding portions (42) formed on the back face of the battery pack (3) confronting the ascent/descent portions (41A) and the push-up portions (41B) on the two widthwise sides of the battery pack (3) and ascending/descending while sliding on the sector-shaped faces of the push-up portions (41B) thereby to ride over the connecting terminals (22) disposed in the battery chamber (21). When the battery pack (3) is loaded into the battery chamber (21), its riding portions (42) can ride on the ascent/descent portions (41) so that they can safely ride over the connecting terminals (22).

A mobile telephone generally used a removable battery pack for its power source. This battery pack is usually formed into a thin plate shape so that it is loaded into a battery chamber formed in the lower portion of the back of the body casing of the mobile telephone.
A conventional mobile telephone such as a rod-shaped (or straight type) mobile telephone and its battery pack are specifically described with reference to FIG. 17.
As shown, a casing 101 on the side of a body 100 of the mobile telephone is formed generally into a box shape. In the back side of the casing 101, there is formed a battery chamber 102, which is provided on its floor face side with a plurality of spring terminals 103. These spring terminals 103 are disposed in the widthwise (X) direction for electric contact to a later-described battery pack 200.
On the other hand, the battery pack 200 has a body portion 201 formed into a thin box- or plate-shape, and is provided back electrodes 202 at the portion corresponding to the disposed position of the sprint terminals 103 of the battery chamber 102, i.e., at the upper end portion of the back face portion.
Moreover, the battery pack 200 is provided in the battery chamber 102 with a pair of left and right push-up projections 104 for preventing the back side of the battery pack 200 from coming into forcible contact with the spring terminals 103 in the battery chamber 102 when the battery pack 200 is loaded into the battery chamber 102. At the same time, the battery pack 200 is provided, on the two sides of one end portion (or the leading end side) on its back, with riding projections 203 for engaging with those push-up projections 104.
When the battery pack 200 is to be loaded into the battery chamber 102, therefore, the riding projections 203 on the battery pack 200 ride over the push-up projections 104 on the side of the battery chamber 102, thereby to prevent the back of the battery pack 200 from contacting with the spring terminals 103 on the side of the battery chamber 102.
Usually, however, the push-up projections 104 on the side of the battery chamber 102 and the riding projections 203 on the side of the battery pack 200 are formed generally into a square pole shape. The battery pack 200 performs such a riding action that its leading end portion having the riding projections 203 are once pushed up generally in the upward (Z) direction by the push-up projections 104 and then abruptly fall down just after they passed the spring terminals 103.
Thus, according to the mobile telephone thus constructed, the battery pack 200 makes such straight motions, in which it abruptly falls down at a substantially right angle of about 90 degrees to the floor face of the battery chamber 102 so that the loading action of the battery pack 200 cannot be kept away from any rattling.
In this mobile telephone, moreover, the battery pack 200 is loaded while its back sliding on the spring terminals 103, even if the back of the battery pack 200 does not forcibly collide against the spring terminals 103 of the battery chamber 102. As a result, the crests of the metallic spring terminals 103 scrape the back of the battery chamber 102 made of a synthetic resin, bit by bit. The contact/conduction with the back electrodes 203 of the battery pack 200 may fail.
In view of the background thus far described, the invention has an object to provide a mobile electronic apparatus, which can smoothen the loading of a battery pack and ensure the electric connection between the battery pack and the body of a mobile electronic apparatus.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A voltage regulator with an adaptive bandwidth, including a first buffer chain, a voltage generating unit, a trimming capacitor unit, a second buffer chain, and a control unit. The first buffer chain delays a clock signal using an external voltage as a supply voltage. The voltage generating unit generates a regulated voltage on the basis a reference voltage. The trimming capacitor unit controls a load capacitance of the voltage generating unit. The second buffer chain delays the clock signal using the regulated voltage as a supply voltage. The control unit adjusts the load capacitance by detecting a delay difference of clocks output from the first and second buffer chains.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device, and more particularly to a voltage regulator which is used in a semiconductor memory device and has an adaptive bandwidth.
Semiconductor memory devices are used in various fields. Typically, semiconductor memory devices are used to store a variety of data. Semiconductor memory devices are required to have a high capacity, a high operating speed, a small size, and a low power consumption because semiconductor memory devices are used in various portable devices, such as desktop computers or notebook computers.
In a synchronous clock system requiring a high operating speed, it is important to reduce jitter of a clock tree. The clock tree represents a multi-stage buffering unit disposed between a clock source and a latch in order to control a delay of a clock reaching latches inside a chip receiving the clock from the clock source. The clock tree is used in a CPU or a controller, as well as in a semiconductor memory device, which is a synchronous clock system using a clock.
In the case of the system using the clock tree, jitter of the clock tree is often generated according to noise included during the supply of power, degrading the performance of the system.
In order to reduce the jitter of the clock tree, a voltage regulator is used for separating the power of the clock buffer from noise environments. The voltage regulator can reduce jitter by reducing the noise from the supplied power.
However, the use of a voltage regulator has the following problems. Bands of frequency components are different in each supplied power, and resonance frequencies of the voltage used to generate a system clock are different. In this case, the frequency component of the supplied voltage is different from that used to generate the system clock. Thus, interference between frequencies and noise is increased. Even though a voltage regulator is used, noise is not almost reduced due to interference between frequencies. Therefore, the efficiency that can be obtained from a voltage regulator is much degraded.

Voltage regulator for a synchronous clock system to reduce clock tree jitter


A thin jack includes a body, a piston support post, and a dividing piston. The body has a receiving chamber which opens down, a limiting piston circumferentially disposed on the receiving chamber, and upper and lower passages penetrating the body and being in communication with the receiving chamber. The piston support post is movably received in the receiving chamber and is in fluidtight sliding contact with the limiting piston. The dividing piston is disposed at the piston support post, is in fluidtight sliding contact with the receiving chamber, corresponds in position to the limiting piston to confine the dividing piston to the receiving chamber, and divides the receiving chamber into upper and lower receiving spaces in communication with the upper and lower passages, respectively. Accordingly, elevation of the body is controllable while lifting an object, and users can keep raising the thin jack without moving the thin jack horizontally.

To lift an object which otherwise rests on the ground and is spaced apart therefrom by a narrow gap, a thin jack is required. Referring to FIG. 1 through FIG. 3, there are shown schematic views of a conventional thin jack 1. The thin jack 1 consists of a hydraulic hole 2, a hydraulic chamber 3, and a support post 4. Oil is introduced into the hydraulic chamber 3 through the hydraulic hole 2 to elevate the support post 4, thereby lifting an object 1000.
Referring to FIG. 3, after lifting the object 1000, users put at least a support 5 in the vicinity of the thin jack 1 to support the object 1000, drain the oil from the hydraulic chamber 3 to lower the support post 4 back to its initial level shown in FIG. 1, and eventually remove the thin jack 1 from below the object 1000.
As indicated above, the support post 4 will not descend to thereby allow the thin jack 1 to be removed from below the object 1000, unless the oil is drained from the hydraulic chamber 3. However, it takes time to drain the oil from the hydraulic chamber 3.
In addition, the thin jack 1 is not capable of lifting the object 1000 by a distance larger than the longest possible distance traveled by the support post 4 of the thin jack 1.
Furthermore, to raise the thin jack by means of a plurality of underpinning block (not shown) with a view to solving the problem described in the preceding paragraph, the users have to move the thin jack 1 repeatedly. However, conventional thin jacks are not lightweight enough to be moved repeatedly but easily by average users.
Accordingly, it is imperative to provide a thin jack which is not only capable of controlling elevation of a support post of the thin jack while lifting an object, but also allow users to raise the thin jack continuously and easily without moving the thin jack horizontally.


A display control apparatus includes a first controller, a detector, and a second controller. The first controller performs control to divide a display region of a display into divided regions arranged in a first direction, for which attributes of images are determined, and to collectively display images in the divided regions according to each classification item. The display includes a specifying unit specifying a position in the display region and an operation on the displayed image. The detector detects a scrolling operation in a second direction intersecting the first direction. When the scrolling operation is detected and particular divided regions in which images belonging to the same classification item are displayed exist, the second controller performs control to scroll images collectively displayed according to each classification item in the second direction at speeds at which predetermined positions of the displayed images are synchronous among the particular divided regions.

Technical Field
The present invention relates to a display control apparatus and method, an image display apparatus, and a non-transitory computer readable medium.
Summary
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a display control apparatus including a first controller, a detector, and a second controller. The first controller performs control to divide a display region, displaying an image, of a display into multiple divided regions arranged in a first direction, for which attributes of images to be displayed in the individual divided regions are determined, and to collectively display images of the determined attributes in the individual divided regions according to each classification item. The display includes a specifying unit that specifies a position in the display region and an operation on the image displayed in the display region. The attributes include images of the same classification item among different attributes. The detector detects a scrolling operation, performed via the specifying unit, of specifying scrolling of a displayed image in a second direction intersecting the first direction. The second controller performs, when the scrolling operation is detected by the detector and when multiple particular divided regions that are divided regions in which images belonging to the same classification item are displayed exist, control to scroll images collectively displayed according to each classification item in the second direction at speeds at which predetermined positions of the displayed images are synchronous among the particular divided regions.

Display control apparatus and method, image display apparatus, and non-transitory computer readable medium


A method of forming an implantable electrode having electrode contacts on an electrode carrier having a coating includes providing a solution of silicone and dexamethasone dissolved in a solvent, applying the solution to the electrode carrier or to a substrate, and subjecting the solution to a two-step heat treatment process that includes a first heat treatment between about 50 and 90° C. for about 1 to 3 hours and a second heat treatment at an elevated temperature between 90° C. and 140° C. for about 2 hours in order to form the coating.

Implantable auditory prostheses have been developed, such as cochlear implant systems, to improve impaired hearing in patients. In implantable systems, it is important to minimize the physical trauma caused by the insertion and placement of the stimulation electrode in order to reduce the risk of further hearing loss due to the insertion process itself. The use of a drug, before, during and/or after implantation, may help to minimize the trauma, and the stimulation electrode may be used to deliver the drug locally. For example, the stimulation electrode may be formed from a silicone material embedded with the drug or the silicone material may have a coating embedded with the drug so that the drug is released over time to the surrounding tissue. In some cases, however, it is difficult or not possible to control the release of the drug from the silicone or coating in a desired way.
U.S. Patent Appl. No. 2009/0197850 describes a coating containing a drug in a polymer. The release can be controlled by the degree of crystallinity of the polymer.
U.S. Patent Appl. No. 1997/010011 discloses a method for coating an implantable prostheses with a layer comprising an hydrophobic elastomeric material and a biologically active species by: applying a formulation containing polymeric material in solvent mixture and an amount of finely divided biologically active species; curing said polymeric material; and wherein the average particle size of the finely divided biological species in the coating formulation is selected to affect delivery kinetics. In general, the particle size is determined during the evaporation of the solvent.
U.S. Patent Appl. No. 20090197850 describes an implantable device that includes a drug, and a polymer layer having a crystalline structure, wherein the structure of the polymer becomes less crystalline when the polymer is exposed to an electric signal, and if the electric signal is terminated, the structure of the polymer returns back to essentially the same degree of crystallinity or a more crystalline structure than when the polymer was exposed to the electric signal.
FIG. 1 schematically shows some components of a typical cochlear implant system in a human ear. The cochlear implant system includes an external microphone which provides an audio signal input to an external signal processor 111 which implements one of various known signal processing schemes. The processed signal is converted by the external signal processor 111 into a digital data format, such as a sequence of data frames, for transmission by an external coil 107 into a receiving stimulator processor 108. Besides extracting the audio information, the receiving stimulator processor 108 may perform additional signal processing, such as error correction, pulse formation, etc., and produces a stimulation pattern (based on the extracted audio information) that is sent through to an implanted stimulation electrode. The stimulation electrode is typically made of a flexible silicone electrode carrier with wires embedded within the silicone that are connected to stimulation contacts on the surface of the carrier. The stimulation electrode includes an electrode lead 109 and an electrode array 110, which is gently inserted into the scala tympani of the cochlea 104. Typically, the electrode array 110 includes multiple stimulation contacts 112 distributed along its surface that provide selective electrical stimulation of the cochlea 104. The electrode contacts may also be used for sensing neural tissue response signals, e.g., the stimulation electrode may also function as a measurement electrode.
Other parts of the ear are also shown in FIG. 1. The ear usually transmits sounds, such as speech sounds, through the outer ear 101 to the tympanic membrane (eardrum) 102, which moves the bones of the middle ear 103 (malleus, incus, and stapes) that vibrate the oval window and round window openings of the cochlea 104. The cochlea 104 is a long narrow duct wound spirally about its axis for approximately two and a half turns. The cochlea 104 forms an upright spiraling cone with a center called the modiolus where the axons of the auditory nerve 113 reside. In response to received sounds transmitted by the middle ear 103, the fluid-filled cochlea 104 functions as a transducer to convert mechanical motion and energy and, in response, to generate electric pulses which are transmitted to the auditory nerve 113, and ultimately to the brain. As mentioned above, in patients with a cochlear implant system, the implanted electrode array 110 provides the electrical stimulation to the cochlea 104.

Implantable electrode with dexamethasone coating


A symbol timing recovery circuit and method of a digital television is disclosed including: an analog-to-digital converter (10) for sampling a received analog signal by a symbol clock to be converted to digital data; demodulator (20) for recovering a carrier wave, demodulating the digital data to a baseband signal and generating a segment signal; a segment synchronizing signal detector (40) for detecting a segment synchronizing signal from the segment signal; a phase error detector (50) activated by the segment synchronizing signal, for receiving the segment signal and detecting a phase error of synchronizing symbols of the segment synchronizing signal; and a symbol clock is phase adjuster (60) for adjusting the phase of the symbol clock according to the phase error of the synchronizing symbols to be supplied to the analog-to-digital converter as the symbol clock.

Digital receivers should use a demodulator synchronized with the symbol transition of an input digital signal for optimal demodulation. Since the receiver including a channel equalizer is usually operated by a digital circuit, a received analog signal can be converted to a digital signal through an analog-to-digital converter at an accurate sampling time. That is, since a signal processing operation is carried out after the analog signal is converted to the digital signal, the digital receiver can implement a normal operation when data is accurately generated at the sampling time.
In digital high picture quality television systems, the GA (Grand Alliance) system uses, as a carrier wave, a pilot signal having a direct current (DC) value of about 1.25 during data transmission so as to easily recover the carrier wave at a receiving end. Therefore, data received from the receiver includes the DC component by the pilot signal. If a timing error component is directly detected from the received data, it is difficult to detect a correct timing error value by the influence of the DC component.

Symbol timing recovery circuit and method


An improved alkylation reactor design is disclosed. The design uses reactor effluent recycle to reduce the difference in temperature across the reaction zone improving selectivity and insuring the maintenance of a liquid phase in the reactor.

Monoalkylated aromatic compounds are important for a variety of uses, especially as intermediate compounds in the manufacture of detergents. Two common reactions for producing monoalkylated aromatic compounds are alkylation of aromatic compounds, and transalkylation of polyalkylated aromatic compounds. Monoalkylated aromatic compounds include linear alkylbenzenes (LAB), which are used to form linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LABS), a common compound used in detergents. Monoalkylated aromatic compounds also include such compounds as ethylbenzene and cumene which are important precursors for the production of styrene and phenols.
Monoalkylated benzenes are formed by reacting benzene with an olefin compound over a catalyst. One such catalyst is beta type zeolites and has been used for benzene alkylation commercially since 1996. Since then new catalysts have been developed and along with a better understanding, new processes. One aspect of benzene alkylation has been the use of high benzene to olefin ratios for the production of alkylbenzene production.
Currently, monoalkylated benzenes are desired, and polyalkylated benzenes are by-products that need to be removed or need to be recycled to try and produce more monoalkylated benzenes. The method of reducing the amount of polyalkylated benzenes is to increase the benzene to olefin ratio. However, the industry is striving to reduce the benzene to olefin ratio in order to save recycle fractionation and energy cost, and the usual method is to use many small beds with decreasing ratios as the benzene and olefins pass through successive beds, yet the lowest ratios tend to be about 5 at the final beds in the process.
Improvements in the process can save raw materials, energy, and reduce costs.

Alkylation reactor design with effluent recycle and impure benzene regeneration


A barrier device to prevent insects from entering an opening of a vent in fluid connection with an interior of a building includes a body which includes a housing. The housing includes a first end adapted to be placed in fluid connection with the vent opening and a second end. The barrier device further includes a mesh barrier positioned adjacent the second end, opposite the first end, through which fluid (gas and liquid) can pass. However, insects of a predetermined range of size cannot pass through the mesh barrier. The mesh barrier has an effective open area at least as large as an open area of the opening of the vent.

The following information is provided to assist the reader in understanding technologies disclosed below and the environment in which such technologies may typically be used. The terms used herein are not intended to be limited to any particular narrow interpretation unless clearly stated otherwise in this document. References set forth herein may facilitate understanding of the technologies or the background thereof. The disclosure of all references cited herein are incorporated by reference.
Insect infestations can be a mere nuisance or can create health problems. Moreover, infestations of sufficient number of insects can cause malfunction of various types of systems or machinery. Recently, the non-indigenous halyomorpha halys, also known as the brown marmorated stink bug, or simply the stink bug, has been causing considerable problems in the United States. The stink bug, which is an insect in the family pentatomidae, is native to Asia (China, Korea, Japan and Taiwan) and was accidentally introduced into the United States. The stink bug is considered to be an agricultural pest.


After an IP address of a concentrator is changed by a management server (management platform), a server and the concentrator acquire the changed IP address of the concentrator at each communication, and changes encryption settings so that a set encryption key will be associated with the changed IP address.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a communication system and an encryption setting method for setting encryption of communication between a concentrator for which an IP address is dynamically set by a management server and a server.
2. Description of the Related Art
For management of utilities, optimization of distribution, and the like, sensor network systems including multiple wireless terminals with sensors (hereinafter referred to as field devices) placed in fields and being configured to gather and control information therefrom have been used. In related art, sensor network systems have been built in some regions by using local network environments. With the spread of carrier networks in recent years, however, field devices can transmit sensor data to servers in remote data centers by using existing public networks in regions without the need of building new network environments, and sensor network systems can thus be built in regions whether or not the regions are large or small. Furthermore, with the sophistication of information processing systems, machine-to-machine (M2M) systems in which field devices and servers operate under autonomous control without human intervention are also becoming widespread.
In such a wide area sensor network system or M2M system, the amount of data transmitted by a field device to a server is small, which is often smaller than 1 KB of data transmitted some dozen times a day on a periodic basis. In recent years, to meet the need for operation of these systems, many public network use plans with reduced minimum use charges for using the public networks and pay-as-you-go or graded charging according to packet communication volumes are provided. In such a public network use plan, reduction of the packet communication volume will be important since the packet communication volume is reflected in the use charge.

Communication system, management server, server, concentrator, and encryption setting method


A method includes providing and adding a measured dose amount of manufactured metallic nanoparticle material to a carrier material for pre-treatment of the carrier material prior to use of the carrier material and the manufactured metallic nanoparticle material in the sub-surface earth activity. Another method includes accessing a sub-surface earth opening used with a sub-surface earth activity, introducing an amount of manufactured metallic nanoparticle material into the sub-surface earth opening, and treating a sub-surface earth condition present at a sub-surface earth location accessible via the sub-surface earth opening. The sub-surface earth condition is treated with the manufactured metallic nanoparticle material. Another method includes accessing a product from a sub-surface earth location that is extracted in conjunction with the sub-surface earth activity, measuring and introducing a dose amount of manufactured metallic nanoparticle material with the product from the sub-surface earth location.

Many industrial processes benefit from the use of biocides to reduce corrosion or otherwise aid the process. Microorganisms are one common cause of corrosion. Sulfate-reducing bacteria ("SRB"), for example, oxidize organic compounds found in many drilling fluids and reduce sulfates to sulfides, in particular, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and hydrosulfide ions (HS−). Boreholes, or deep subterranean holes drilled into the earth, often expose anaerobic conditions which promulgate SRB and other potentially harmful microorganisms.
Since bacteria are the ultimate cause of one major source of corrosion, biocides are often included with conventional drilling fluid and in source water. These biocides are intended to kill or reduce the bacteria, H2S, organic carbons, and metals that often prevent successful outcomes in geotechnical engineering boreholes. Examples of biocides used in drilling fluid include chlorine, glutaraldehyde, sodium hydroxide, and sodium hypochlorite. However, conventional biocides used in drilling and other industrial processes have significant drawbacks. Typical biocides are dangerously toxic and/or are relatively expensive to use in adequate volumes. Many biocides break down or dissipate quickly and, therefore, must regularly be replaced, which leads to increasing costs. Also, some biocides require relatively high concentrations to be effective, which can have detrimental effects on the surrounding ecosystem or to well workers or other personnel. One drawback that has drawn particular concern in recent years is toxicity of biocides. Toxic biocides may be leaching from well bores into aquifers or other unintended locations. The potential environmental drawbacks of using these biocides in drilling fluids may result in further regulation and increased cost in the future. Disposing of drilling fluids that contain these toxic biocides results in significant costs and concerns. Additionally, the high concentrations of conventional treatment materials may contribute to the corrosion of casings, pumps, pipelines and other engineered materials. Also, recovered drilling fluids or produced water may contain elevated concentrations of various toxic chemicals, metals, and hydrogen sulfide, and other gases.

Metallic nanoparticle biocide in industrial applications


A method of receiving a signal of a user equipment in a multi-node system including a plurality of nodes and a base station for controlling the plurality of nodes is provided. The method includes: receiving a reference parameter from the base station; and receiving a node-specific signal from at least one node among the plurality of nodes, wherein a virtual cell parameter required for decoding of the node-specific signal is determined based on the reference parameter, and the node-specific signal is identified by each of the plurality of nodes.

A data transfer amount of a wireless network has been rapidly increased in recent years. It is because various devices, e.g., a smart phone, a tablet personal computer (PC), or the like, that require machine-to-machine (M2M) communication and a high data transfer amount have been introduced and propagated. To satisfy the required high data transfer amount, a carrier aggregation (CA) technique, a recognition radio technique, or the like for effectively using more frequency bands, and a multiple antenna technique, a multiple base station cooperation technique, or the like for increasing data capacity within a limited frequency have recently drawn attention.
In addition, the wireless network has been evolved in a direction of increasing density of a node capable of accessing to an area around a user. Herein, the node implies an antenna (or antenna group) which is separated from a distributed antenna system (DAS) by a certain distance or farther. However, the node is not limited to this definition, and thus can also be used in a broader sense. That is, the node may be a pico-cell eNB (PeNB), a home eNB (HeNB), a remote radio head (RRH), a remote radio unit (RRU), a relay, a distributed antenna, etc. From UE perspective, UE may recognize a node in a logical sense, not a physical node itself. UE can recognize a node by the reference or pilot signal that the node transmits. Accordingly, a reference or pilot signal can represent a node no matter how the reference or pilot signal is transmitted physically. Therefore, the terminology 'node' includes logical node as well as physical node.
A wireless communication system having such a node with higher density can provide higher system performance by cooperation between nodes. That is, better system performance can be achieved when one base station controller manages transmission and reception of respective nodes and thus the nodes operate as if they are antennas or an antenna group for one cell, in comparison with a case where the respective nodes operate as an independent base station (BS), advanced BS (ABS), node-B (NB), eNode-B (eNB), access point (AP), etc., and thus do not cooperate with each other. Hereinafter, a wireless communication system including a plurality of nodes is referred to as a multi-node system.
If each node of the multi-node system performs scheduling and handover by having its own identifier (ID), then such a multi-node system can be regarded as a multi-cell system. If each cell (i.e., node) of the multi-cell system has overlaid coverage, such a multi-cell system is called a multi-tier network.
The multi-node system can operate according to two methods, that is, a method 1) in which the multi-node system can be utilized as a multi-cell system by assigning a different cell ID to each node and a method 2) in which all nodes can operate as one cell while operating as a virtual cell by assigning a common cell ID to each node. The virtual cell implies a device which is not recognized as an independent node in a legacy user equipment (UE), but is recognized as an independent node in an advanced UE. For example, a UE that operates based on 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) long term evolution (LTE) can be the legacy UE, and a UE that operates based on an LTE-advanced (A) can be the advanced UE.
In a case where the multi-node system operates according to the method 2) above, the UE has to know a transmission parameter of each virtual cell in order to receive a virtual cell specific signal. A method of directly reporting all transmission parameters of the virtual cell results in significant increase in signaling overhead.
Accordingly, there is a need for a method and apparatus for receiving a virtual cell specific signal by a UE in a multi-node system.

Method and apparatus for receiving signal in multi-node system