A non-volatile semiconductor memory device has a semiconductor substrate, an element isolation region disposed in a surface of the semiconductor substrate, a well region disposed along one principal surface of the semiconductor substrate, source and drain regions arranged in the well region, a gate oxide film arranged on the surface of the semiconductor substrate between the source region and the drain region, a floating gate disposed on the gate oxide film, and an insulating film disposed on a surface of the floating gate. A control gate is capacitively coupled to the floating gate disposed through intermediation of the insulating film. A resistive element is serially connected to the control gate. Write characteristics of the non-volatile semiconductor memory device are improved as a result of a delay effect of the resistive element serially connected to the control gate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a P-channel non-volatile semiconductor memory device capable of electrical writing and reading.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, there is known a semiconductor integrated circuit including a bleeder resistor circuit capable of being trimmed by a memory. Conventionally, the bleeder resistance is adjusted by a method of mechanically cutting a fuse formed in parallel to the bleeder resistor with the use of laser light or the like.
The trimming of the bleeder resistor can therefore be performed only before the package assembly. The use of a semiconductor memory for trimming the bleeder resistor, on the other hand, enables electrical trimming even after the assembly. The following two typical benefits are obtained.
1. Quick delivery can be obtained because trimming is carried out in the packaged state before shipment.
2. High precision can be achieved because trimming covers package shift that occurs during package assembly.
In general, once the bleeder resistor is trimmed, there is no need to rewrite information. Accordingly as a memory for trimming, an ultraviolet-light-erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM) is used as a one-time programmable (OTP) memory. Further, unlike a memory IC, the memory for trimming the bleeder resistor requires small memory capacity. As compared to the memory IC, high integration and high-speed operation of a memory cell are not required. Consequently, the typical challenges required for the memory for trimming include downsizing a peripheral circuit for controlling the memory, achieving lower voltage operation, and utilizing the existing manufacturing process.
As a conventional ultraviolet-light-erasable EPROM, a non-volatile EPROM for writing information with the use of hot carriers is known.
At present, the mainstream of the non-volatile memory for writing information with the use of hot carriers is an N-channel non-volatile EPROM. One of the reasons is that the N-channel non-volatile EPROM has a higher operating speed than a P-channel EPROM.
However, as described above, the memory for trimming the bleeder resistor has small capacity and is not required to rewrite information once the information is written in trimming, and hence there is no problem even if the operating speed is lower than that of the memory IC. Further, in the P-channel EPROM, without applying such a high potential that causes avalanche breakdown between the substrate and the drain, drain avalanche hot electrons (DAHEs) are generated by applying a relatively low voltage and are injected into a floating gate, to thereby change a threshold voltage and perform writing. Thus, it is considered that the P-channel non-volatile EPROM is suitable for the memory for trimming the bleeder resistor.
The structure of a conventional P-channel non-volatile EPROM for writing information with the use of hot carriers is described below with reference to a cross-sectional view illustrated in FIG. 3.
In FIG. 3, an N-type well 11 is formed along one principal surface of a P-type semiconductor substrate 10 in which element isolation regions 12 are selectively formed. Impurities having P-type conductivity are heavily diffused in the N-type well 11, thereby forming a source region 13 and a drain region 14. On a gate oxide film 15, a floating gate 16 is formed above the substrate in which the source region 13 and the drain region 14 are formed.
A control gate 18 is formed above the floating gate 16 through the intermediation of a second insulating film 17, thereby constituting a conventional non-volatile EPROM.
The structure of electrode wiring and other members in subsequent processes (metal wiring and protective film) is similar to that of a general semiconductor device. The detailed description thereof is therefore omitted.
Next, a method of operating the conventional P-channel non-volatile EPROM is described.
In writing data, a voltage is applied between the source and the drain and to the control gate so as to generate hot carriers, and hot electrons are injected into the floating gate, to thereby fluctuate a threshold voltage. Data before and after the threshold voltage fluctuation is associated with "0" or "1".
In reading data, a potential is applied between the source and the drain, and a current corresponding to a threshold which differs depending on the presence or absence of writing is monitored, to thereby perform determination of "0" or "1".
FIG. 4 schematically illustrates the state of each of a source potential Vs, a drain potential Vd, a control gate potential Vcg, a floating gate potential Vfg, a threshold voltage variation ΔVth, and a difference Vfg−Vth(0) between the floating gate potential Vfg and an initial threshold voltage Vth(0) at the time of data writing in the conventional P-channel EPROM.
As illustrated in FIG. 4, the threshold voltage variation ΔVth caused by writing tends to be less written and saturated with time.
The reason is described below. In the case of a P-channel non-volatile EPROM, the floating gate potential Vfg decreases when hot electrons are injected into the floating gate in writing, and thus the threshold to be monitored fluctuates. When the capacitance of a capacitor formed by the gate oxide film 15 is represented by C1, the capacitance of a capacitor formed by the second insulating film 17 is represented by C2, and the quantity of electric charge of the injected hot electrons is represented by Q, the potential of the floating gate is expressed by expression 1 below.
                    Vfg        =                                                            C                                                                                1                                                              C                                                                                1                                +                                  C                                                                                2                                                                  Vcg                    +                      Q                                          C                                                                                1                            +                              C                                                                                2                                                                        (                  Ex          .                                                    1                )
In the expression 1 above, it is understood that Q<0 is established because hot electrons are injected into the floating gate in writing and hence the potential of the floating gate decreases in writing. Next, FIG. 5 schematically shows the dependence of DAHEs on the floating gate potential Vfg. DAHEs, which are used for writing in a P-channel EPROM, are generated by avalanche breakdown caused by an electric field between a pinch-off point and the drain at the time of saturated operation. The amount of generated DAHEs therefore depends on the electric field between the pinch-off point and the drain. When the initial threshold voltage Vth(0), the control gate potential Vcg, and the drain voltage Vd are constant, as shown in FIG. 5, the electric field between the pinch-off point and the drain becomes larger as the floating gate potential Vfg becomes closer to the initial threshold voltage Vth(0), and hence the amount of generated DAHEs becomes larger. However, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the floating gate potential Vfg decreases with time to increase the difference Vfg−Vth(0) between the floating gate potential Vfg and the initial threshold voltage Vth(0). When the difference Vfg−Vth(0) increases, the pinch-off point moves in a direction of weakening the electric field between the pinch-off point and the drain as shown in FIG. 5. Thus, the amount of generated DAHEs becomes smaller to deteriorate write characteristics.
Because of the above-mentioned reason, the amount of generated DAHEs becomes smaller with time, and the amount of writing is saturated.
At present, one of the problems inherent in the conventional non-volatile EPROM is erroneous writing, where data is rewritten because the threshold fluctuates when reading is repeatedly performed.
One method for preventing rewriting of data caused by such erroneous writing is a method for preventing rewriting of data by setting a deep threshold before writing so as to enlarge a memory window. In the case of preventing rewriting of data by this method, it is necessary to increase the amount of writing in order to enlarge the memory window. In the conventional non-volatile EPROM, however, the amount of writing decreases with time because of the above-mentioned reason. Thus, it has been demanded to increase the amount of writing.
Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2001-257324 proposes a method of preventing rewriting of data caused by erroneous writing without increasing the amount of writing. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating the outline of the invention described in Japanese Published Patent Application 2001-257324. In Japanese Published Patent Application 2001-257324, a semiconductor integrated circuit includes non-volatile memories (PM1 and PM2 of FIG. 6) having different threshold voltages, and two read transistors (DM1 and DM2 of FIG. 6) whose gate voltages correspond to respective floating gates of the two non-volatile memories and which are designed to detect the switch state based on the state of electric charges of the non-volatile memories. The use of the two read transistors can prevent a current from flowing through the non-volatile memories in reading, to thereby prevent rewriting of data caused by erroneous writing.
Each memory cell, however, needs to have two non-volatile semiconductor memories having different thresholds as well as two read transistors in Japanese Published Patent Application 2001-257324 although the method can prevent the threshold fluctuation caused by erroneous writing. The area of the memory cell thus becomes larger, which is disadvantageous in terms of cost. Accordingly it is beneficial to provide a non-volatile semiconductor memory device capable of improving the amount of writing as a method for preventing rewriting of data caused by erroneous writing without the need of a complicated memory cell.

Non-volatile semiconductor memory device


The present invention provides a method and apparatus for separating unreacted monomer from a polymerization process effluent stream, wherein the effluent stream comprises unreacted monomer and polymer particles. The method comprises passing the effluent stream of a fluidized-bed reactor into at least one container, feeding a high-pressure olefin through an ejector, and vacuuming at least a portion of the effluent stream from the at least one container through the ejector. The apparatus comprises a fluidized-bed reactor having a first conduit connected to a first tank, an ejector having a second conduit connected to the first tank, and a third conduit connected to the fluidized-bed reactor.

In a typical fluidized-bed polymerization system, monomer (and possibly co-monomer, liquid diluents, and/or catalyst and possibly co-catalyst) is fed into one or more reactors. The monomer (and possibly co-monomer) reacts to produce a product effluent containing polymer particles of various sizes enriched with dissolved diluents (if used), unreacted gaseous monomer, unreacted gaseous co-monomer (if used), catalyst and co-catalyst (if used). The effluent is removed from the reactor, and typically contains between about 2 to about 20 weight % gases, between about 0 to about 10 weight % liquids, and between about 70 to about 98 weight % solids. For economical operation of this process, the unreacted monomer (and possibly co-monomer and/or diluent) is typically separated from the polymer particles and then returned to the reactor(s).
As used in the industry, the term "polymer particle(s)" typically includes solid polymer particles and/or polymer particles that are enriched with dissolved diluents.
Conventional methods of making polymer particles and methods of separating the polymer particles from fluids are generally disclosed in, inter alia, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,543,399; 4,588,790; 5,028,670; 5,317,036; 5,352,749; 5,405,922; 5,436,304; 5,453,471; 5,462,999; 5,616,661; and 5,668,228; all of which are fully incorporated herein by reference.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,028,670, assigned to BP Chemicals Limited, discloses a process and apparatus for the gas-phase polymerization of olefins in a fluidized-bed reactor maintained at a temperature T1. A gaseous reaction mixture comprising olefins to be polymerized passes through the reactor and is recycled to the reactor by means of a recycling line comprising successively a first heat transfer means, a compressor, and a second heat transfer means. A readily volatile liquid hydrocarbon is introduced into the inlet of the first heat transfer means or into the recycling line, upstream and in the vicinity of the first heat transfer means. The first heat transfer means cools the gaseous reaction mixture to a temperature T2, below T1, while volatilizing the readily volatile hydrocarbon and without condensing a constituent of the gaseous reaction mixture. The second heat transfer means cools the gaseous reaction mixture to a temperature T3, below T2, in order to maintain the fluidized-bed at the desired temperature T1.
In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,436,304, assigned to Exxon Chemical Patent Inc., discloses polymerizing or copolymerizing alpha-olefins either alone or in combination with one or more other alpha-olefins in a gas phase reactor having a fluidized bed and a fluidizing medium such that the fluidizing medium entering the reactor comprises a gas and a liquid phase. During reactor operation, the product is removed from the reactor through a discharge system. The discharge of polymer product is preferably followed by separation of fluids from the polymer product. These fluids may be returned to the recycle stream line as a gas and/or as a condensed liquid.
In a still further example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,543,399, assigned to Union Carbide Corporation, discloses a process for increasing the space time yield of polymer production in a fluidized bed reactor employing an exothermic polymerization reactor by cooling the recycle stream to below its dew point and returning the resultant two-phase fluid stream to the reactor to maintain the fluidized bed at a desired temperature above the dew point of the recycle stream. On discharge of particulate polymer product from the reactor, it is desirable and preferable to separate fluid from the product and to return the fluid to a recycle line. In one such system, fluid and product leave the reactor and enter a product discharge tank. Positioned above and below the product discharge tank are at least two conventional valves, one being adapted to provide passage of product into a product surge tank. The other valve releases fluid to second surge tank. Fluid from the second surge tank is directed through a filter absorber and then through a compressor and into the recycle line.
Additional references of interest include: U.S. Pat. No. 4,543,399 to Jenkins et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,588,790 to Jenkins et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,028,670 to Chinh; U.S. Pat. No. 5,317,036 to Brady et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,352,749 to DeChellis; U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,922 to DeChellis; U.S. Pat. No. 5,436,304 to Griffin; U.S. Pat. No. 5,453,471 to Bernier; U.S. Pat. No. 5,462,999 to Griffin; U.S. Pat. No. 5,616,661 to Eisinger; U.S. Pat. No. 5,668,228 to Chinh; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,910,343 to Ozaki.
The use of a mechanical compressor(s) to aid in the recycling of unreacted monomer from the product tanks to the reactor is generally undesirable in the foregoing processes, as these mechanical compressors have relatively high capital expense and operating costs. Additionally, the pressure in the tanks is generally close to the reactor pressure for a significant amount of the discharged gases to flow unaided from the product tanks to the reactor. Accordingly, there is a need for a process that can separate polymer particles from fluids and recycle, without mechanical compression, a significant portion of the fluids. The present invention provides a solution to the aforementioned problem in that the pressure of fresh monomer delivered to the reactor is generally higher than what is necessary to run the reactor. Accordingly, high pressure monomer may be used as the motive fluid to an ejector to create low pressure in the product tank(s). The lower pressure in the tanks would eject gases, cause dissolved fluid in the polymer product to evolve and suck the free and evolved gases to the throat of one or more ejectors. The mixed stream of motive monomer and ejected monomer may be fed to the reactor without additional compression. In this manner, less energy is required to recycle monomer from the product tanks to the reactor than would be used if a compressor system were used to recycle the monomer.

Recycle of hydrocarbon gases from the product tanks to a reactor through the use of ejectors


An apparatus structure and measurement method are provided to retain high precision and high reliability of a semiconductor mechanical quantity measuring apparatus which senses a mechanical quantity and transmits measured information wirelessly. As to a silicon substrate of the semiconductor mechanical quantity measuring apparatus, for example, a ratio of a substrate thickness to a substrate length along a measurement direction is set small, and a ratio of a substrate thickness to a substrate length along a direction perpendicular to the measurement direction is set small. The apparatus upper surface is covered with a protective member. It is possible to measure a strain along a particular direction and realize mechanical quantity measurement with less error and high precision. An impact resistance and environment resistance of the apparatus itself can be improved.

The present invention relates to the contents of the application of application Ser. No. 11/217,299 filed on Sep. 2, 2005 entitled "APPARATUS FOR MEASURING A MECHANICAL QUANTITY" by T. Sumikawa et. al.
The present invention relates to a mechanical quantity measuring apparatus for measuring a mechanical quantity.
What is generally called an RF tag has been developed which uses an electricity supplied through electromagnetic induction to activate a circuit and thereby transmit a preset ID number wirelessly and which is beginning to be applied to a goods distribution management and a management of admission tickets. Attempts are currently under way to connect a physical quantity sensor to such an ID tag. For example, as disclosed in JP-A-2001-187611, a temperature sensor is connected to an RF tag circuit on a printed circuit board, and the temperature sensor mounted on the printed circuit board is then entirely molded with plastic to form an ID tag with a sensor. A sensor whose circuit is formed on a semiconductor substrate is disclosed in JP-A-05-203682 and JP-A-09-264798.
When a strain sensor and a mechanical quantity sensor applying the strain sensor, such as pressure sensor, vibration sensor and acceleration sensor, are connected to a circuit that uses an electricity supplied through electromagnetic induction or microwaves to transmit the result of measurement, however, the following problems characteristic of the mechanical quantity sensor arise. Similarly, when the measurement value of a sensor using a battery or the like as its power source is transmitted or received by electromagnetic waves, the following problems arise. Since various environmental influences are given depending upon usage conditions, a sensor capable of high precision measurement even under such conditions is desired. The above-described well-known techniques do not have concrete disclosure of examples of high precision measurement.
First, the strain sensor has a very small output for a measured strain and is very vulnerable to noises as compared with other sensors such as temperature sensor. For example, in normal use, the strain gauge is required to have a resolution of the order of 10−5 and a resistance variation (ΔR/R) in the most commonly used resistor wire type strain gauge is about 2×10−5. That is, the strain gauge is required to detect when the resistor, whose resistance is 1 in a no-strain condition, produces a resistance of 1.00002 when strained. At this time, if any noises enter the circuit, it may cause large measuring errors. Particularly when the apparatus is operated on an electric power supplied through electromagnetic induction or microwaves, the strain sensor is also subjected to a radio wave, making it easier for noises to enter the circuit. Further, when the electricity supplied by electromagnetic induction or microwaves is used, an amount of electricity that can be supplied to the strain sensor is limited considerably and is required to be set two or more orders of magnitude smaller than when a commonly marketed strain gauge and an amplifier are used. Thus, if the current flowing through the strain sensor is suppressed to 200 μA or smaller, the apparatus becomes susceptible to noises, substantially burying the signal in noises. The strain measurement is often made by directly attaching the sensor to an object being measured. Considering this condition of use, it is difficult to cover the sensor and its lead wires with a conductive material for perfect electromagnetic shield. In usual strain measurement, a strain quantity in a particular direction of an object being measured whose strain generation state is unknown, is required to be measured. A strain sensor is therefore desired which can detect a strain quantity in a particular direction at high precision.
It is therefor an object of the present invention to solve at least one of the above-described problems and provide a mechanical strain measuring apparatus capable of high precision measurement.

Apparatus for measuring a mechanical quantity


The present invention generally includes a load lock chamber for transferring large area substrates into a vacuum processing chamber. The load lock chamber may have one or more separate, environmentally isolated environments. Each processing environment may have a plurality exhaust ports for drawing a vacuum. The exhaust ports may be located at the corners of the processing environment. When a substrate is inserted into the load lock chamber from the factory interface, the environment may need to be evacuated. Due to the exhaust ports located at the corners of the environment, any particles or contaminants that may be present may be pulled to the closest corner and out of the load lock chamber without being pulled across the substrate. Thus, substrate contamination may be reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention generally relate to a load lock chamber for transferring large area substrates into a vacuum processing environment.
2. Description of the Related Art
When processing substrates to manufacture flat panel displays, organic light emitting displays (OLEDs), solar panels, and semiconductors, multiple processes may be performed in order to achieve the desired end product. Some of the processes may be performed under vacuum. Examples of vacuum processes that may be used include plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), physical vapor deposition (PVD), etching, and others.
When multiple vacuum processes are performed, it may be beneficial to have the different chambers coupled to a common transfer chamber. By coupling a plurality of processing chambers to a common vacuum chamber, the substrate may have a first process performed on it in a first chamber. Thereafter, the substrate may be removed into the transfer chamber and then inserted into the second chamber where a second, separate process may occur. To reduce the evacuation time, the transfer chamber may be maintained at a vacuum level similar to the vacuum level of the processing chambers.
Prior to and/or after the vacuum processing, the substrates may move through a non-vacuum environment. The substrates may enter and exit the system through a factory interface that is maintained at atmospheric pressure. Thus, there may be an abrupt change in vacuum level between the transfer chamber and the factory interface.
A load lock chamber may be used to reduce and/or prevent the abrupt pressure change. The load lock chamber may be evacuated to a pressure substantially identical to the pressure of the transfer chamber to permit the substrate enter and/or exit the transfer chamber. Additionally, the load lock chamber may be vented to atmosphere so that the pressure of the load lock chamber is substantially identical to the pressure of the factory interface. Thus, the load lock chamber may reduce and/or prevent an abrupt pressure change between the factory interface and the transfer chamber.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a load lock chamber capable of maintaining a vacuum.

Load lock chamber for large area substrate processing system


A method and apparatus for processing a line-graphic in a 2 bytes character mode of a display adapter unit, whereby a line-graphic code can be prevented from being misdiscriminated as a 2 bytes character code in the 2 bytes character mode and be thus processed as a line on a screen. The apparatus comprises a code discriminator for retrieving the most significant bit of each of character codes inputted therein to discriminate whether each of the character codes is a 1 byte character code or a 2 bytes character code and generating a 1 byte/2 bytes character code discriminate signal depending on each of the retrieved most significant bit values, a line-graphic discriminator for decoding each of the character codes inputted therein and generating a line-graphic code discriminate signal if line-graphic codes are inputted successively above a predetermined number of times in accordance with the decoded result, such that the line-graphic codes are processed as 1 byte character codes, and an AND gate for ANDing output signals from the code discriminator and the line-graphic discriminator and outputting the ANDed signal as the final 1 byte/2 bytes character code discriminate signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to a display adapter unit for a computer, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for processing a line-graphic in a 2 bytes character mode of a display adapter unit, whereby a line-graphic code can be prevented from being mis-discriminated as a 2 bytes character code in the 2 bytes character mode and thus processed as a line on a screen.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a computer, generally, binary values of 0 to 255 may be used to represent all characters, numbers and symbols designated by a disk operating system (DOS). The former or first 128 values (0-127) may be used to represent general numbers, characters and punctuations and are known as a set of ASCII characters. The latter or last 128 values (128-255) may be used as extended ASCII characters.
On the other hand, in a case (for example, Hangul or Chinese character) where each characters cannot be represented by only 1 byte , 2 bytes data may be used to represent one character. 128-255 values are applied to 2 bytes character codes and the most significant bit (the eighth bit:MSB) of each of the codes is "1". In this case, the most significant bit MSB is used for identification and the remaining 7 bits are data bits.
For this reason, in a case where a computer is operated in a 2 bytes character mode such as, for example, Hangul or Chinese character, in order to use 1 byte character codes capable of representing alphabetical characters or extended ASCII characters in an application program of the 2 bytes character mode, there is a necessity for discriminating between the 2 bytes and 1 byte character codes.
A conventional method of discriminating the 1 byte character code from the 2 bytes character code is performed by utilizing a 1 byte/2 bytes character code discriminator 1 as shown in FIG. 1, which is a block diagram of the code discriminator 1. The 1 byte/2 bytes character code discriminator 1 retrieves the most significant bit MSB of each of character codes CR inputted therein to discriminate whether the most significant bit MSB value is "1" or "0 ". If the most significant bit MSB value is "1", the character code CR is the 2 bytes character code. On the contrary, if the most significant bit MSB value is "0", the character code CR is the 1 byte character code.
The operation of the 1 byte/2 bytes character code discriminator 1 is performed as shown in FIG. 2.
Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a flowchart illustrating the operation of the 1 byte/2 bytes character code discriminator 1. In operation, the 1 byte/2 bytes character code discriminator 1, upon inputting the character codes CR at its input terminal IN, decodes the character codes CR to discriminate whether the most significant bit MSB value of each of the codes is "1" or "0". If the most significant bit MSB value of the current inputted character code is "0" as a result of decoding 1 byte of the code, the 1 byte/2 bytes character code discriminator 1 discriminates the current inputted character code as the 1 byte character code and thus outputs a 1 byte character code discriminate signal (H/E="0") at its output terminal OUT. As a result, the current inputted character code is processed as the 1 byte character code.
On the other hand, if the most significant bit MSB value of the current inputted character code is "1" as a result of decoding the 1 byte of the code, the 1 byte/2 bytes character code discriminator 1 decodes 1 byte of the next inputted character code. If the most significant bit MSB value of the next inputted character code is "0" in accordance with the decoded result, the 1 byte/2 bytes character code discriminator 1 discriminates the current and next inputted character codes respectively as the 1 byte character codes and thus outputs the 1 byte character code discriminate signals (H/E="0") at its output terminal OUT. As a result, the current and next inputted character codes are processed as the 1 byte character code, respectively.
On the contrary, if the most significant bit MSB value of the current inputted character code is "1" and the most significant bit MSB value of the next inputted character code is "1", the 1 byte/2 bytes character code discriminator 1 discriminates a combination of the current and next inputted character codes as the 2 bytes character code and thus outputs a 2 bytes character code discriminate signal (H/E="1") at its output terminal OUT. As a result, the combination of the current and next inputted character codes is processed as the 2 bytes character code, since the most significant bit MSB values of the inputted two successive character codes are "1" all.
On the other hand, in a case where 1 byte characters are used to execute an application program in the 2 bytes character mode, ASCII application codes in which the most significant bit MSB values all are "1" may be used as line-graphic codes for depicting lines, perhaps horizontal lines. As a result, in this case, the character codes in which the most significant bit MSB values all are "1" are inputted successively. Namely, the most significant bit MSB values of the two successive character codes are "1" all. This causes the above-mentioned conventional 1 byte/2 bytes character code discriminator 1 to mis-discriminate the line-graphic codes to be processed as the 1 byte character codes, as the 2 bytes character codes. For this reason, when the application program is executed to depict graphics such as, for example, tables in the 2 bytes character mode using the 1 byte character codes, graphic lines of the tables to be depicted may be represented as 2 bytes characters in the application program.
For instance, as shown in FIG. 3A, in the 1 byte character mode, row lines P1 and row-coloum cross points P2 of a table are displayed normally on the screen, while, in the 2 bytes character mode, codes C4 for depicting the row lines P1 may be displayed as specified 2 bytes characters (for example, " . . . " in Hangul mode) on the screen as shown in FIG. 3B. As a result, it is difficult for the user to grasp the table on the screen.

Method and apparatus for processing a line-graphic in a 2 bytes character mode of a display adapter unit


A differential transmission circuit includes differential signal transmission and reception units connected by a differential signal wiring having an inductor unit composed of magnetically coupled first and second inductors provided on first and second signal lines, an input-side capacitor unit including a first input-side capacitor having one terminal connected to a first inductor signal input terminal and the other terminal grounded and a second input-side capacitor having one terminal connected to a second inductor signal input terminal and the other terminal grounded, and an output-side capacitor unit including a first output-side capacitor having one terminal connected to a first inductor signal output terminal and the other terminal grounded and a second output-side capacitor having one terminal connected to a second inductor signal output terminal and the other terminal grounded.

Multifunctional devices and digital cameras of recent years transmit large volumes of digital signals at a high speed in response to demands for a higher speed and a higher brilliance. To transmit the large volumes of data at a high speed, the number of transmission paths is increased or a transmission speed is increased. For the former case, the number of transmission paths that can be increased is limited in a downsized and high density electronic printed wiring board. Also, in the case of the transmission via a cable, an increase in the wiring number of cables directly causes a cost increase. Furthermore, a fluctuation in timings between signals is conspicuous by a skew along with an improvement in the transmission speed, and it is difficult to satisfy setup/hold. For that reason, a differential serial transmission system capable of transmitting the large volumes of data at a high speed with the fewer transmission paths is being widely used. In the differential serial transmission system, low speed parallel signals such as data, addresses, and control lines from a transmission side IC are serialized and output as differential signals to the transmission paths, and the serial signals as the transmitted differential signals are deserialized on a reception side IC to be converted into the parallel signals. It is noted that clock signals transmitted from the transmission side IC to the reception side IC may be of a clock embedded-type transmission system in which the clock signals are included in the above-described parallel signals to be serialized and transmitted or a transmission system or a clock independent-type transmission system in which only the clock signals are transmitted separately, apart from the above-described parallel signals.
On the other hand, in a case where the high speed signals are transmitted on a long lossy transmission path such as the cable, electromagnetic waves are emitted by harmonic components included in the differential signals while the cable functions as an antenna, which may affect operations of other devices. For that reason, electromagnetic interference (EMI) from the device is to be suppressed.
Also, the data signals are transmitted by way of rectangular waves in the serial transmission. FIG. 8A conceptually illustrates a spectrum of a normal mode component of the transmitted signal. As may be understood from FIG. 8A, the spectrum of the normal mode component is represented by a sinc function. Here, in the serial transmission at a high speed, a bare minimum spectrum of the normal mode for data reproduction on the reception side IC is a first envelope part in FIG. 8A.
On the other hand, FIG. 8B conceptually illustrates a spectrum of a common mode component of the transmitted signal. The common mode component is a component that causes a problem as radiation noise, which is generated from unbalance of the differential signals. In FIG. 8B, when a frequency is at 500 MHz, 1 GHz, and 1.5 GHz, very large signals of the common mode component are generated. These frequencies at 500 MHz, 1 GHz, and 1.5 GHz are frequencies where the signal of the normal mode component becomes zero in FIG. 8A. That is, at the frequency where the spectrum of the normal mode signal illustrated in FIG. 8A disappears, the signal of the common mode component with a large amplitude is generated.
It is described in PTL 1 that a band limiting on the data spectrum is carried out by using a low-pass filter (LPF) so that an intersymbol interference does not occur because a frequency band provided to the transmission path used for the serial transmission is not regarded as indefinite.
FIG. 8C illustrates a simplified configuration of the LPF described in PTL 1. In FIG. 8C, one of the differential serial signal transmission paths is structured by an inductor 51 and a pair of pi-type filters composed of two capacitors 53 and 55. In addition, the other differential serial transmission path is structured by an inductor 52 and a pair of pi-type filters composed of two capacitors 54 and 56. This LPF is inserted between a differential signal transmission unit and a differential signal reception unit, and a cutoff frequency is set as a maximum frequency of the first envelope, so that a frequency component higher than the first envelope is removed. According to this, a high-pass unused spectrum is removed with respect to the normal mode component, and a high-pass unused spectrum is removed at the same characteristics also with respect to the common mode component.
However, in the above-described related art LPF, the common mode component is also suppressed at a performance equivalent to the suppression of the normal mode component in the unused high frequency band, but the common mode component that becomes the cause of the radiation noise also exists in a frequency band lower than or equal to the cutoff frequency of the LPF. To elaborate, in the related art LPF, since the suppression with respect to the common mode component in the frequency band of the first envelope is insufficient, a further improvement in the LPF is sought after.

Differential transmission circuit and printed circuit board


A color image forming apparatus including: an image forming section which forms an image based on image information on an image carrier provided in the image forming section; a detection section which detects a print mark for color misalignment correction formed on the image carrier by the image forming section, and outputs print mark detection information; and a control section for executing color misalignment correction control based on the print mark detection information outputted from the detection section, wherein, the control section obtains a trend of a color misalignment amount of the print mark by statistically processing data of the result of the print mark detection, calculates an execution timing of color misalignment correction base on the obtained trend, and executes the color misalignment correction at the calculated execution timing.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a color image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a recording medium suitably applicable to a tandem system color printer and a color copying machine having photosensitive drums and an intermediate transfer belt for executing a color misalignment correction mode and a color MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) thereof.
2. Description of Prior Art
In recent years, a tandem system color printer and color copying machine and a color MFP thereof have been used often. This kind of color image forming apparatus, to maintain optimally the print quality (color reproducibility) of a color image, superimposes yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (BK) for reproducing red, green, and blue of a document image on an intermediate transfer belt. To superimpose reproducibly each color of Y, M, C, and BK, in an image forming unit, it is essential to correct positively color misalignments (hereinafter, referred to as a color misalignment correction mode).
Regarding the color misalignment correction mode, a color misalignment detection mark (hereinafter, referred to as a registration mark) for position detection formed on the intermediate transfer belt or a conveying transfer belt is detected by a detection section (hereinafter, referred to as a registration sensor) for color misalignment detection such as a reflection sensor, and the color misalignment amounts of registration marks of the other colors to the reference color registration mark are calculated and are fed back to each image forming unit of Y, M, and C so as to eliminate the color misalignment amounts, and the laser writing timing is corrected, thus a good color image can be obtained.
In relation to an apparatus having such a color misalignment correction mode, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication 5-188697 (JPA5-188697), an image forming apparatus is disclosed. According to this image forming apparatus, regarding the color registration correction timing, the correcting section, according to the cumulative time measured from the point of time when the image forming apparatus is powered, so as to postpone slowly the correction process start interval, controls the correction process start timing. When the apparatus is structured like this, for color misalignments due to the environmental temperature, the image formation interruption time can be minimized.
Further, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication 8-305108 (JPA8-305108), an image forming apparatus and a registration correction method therefor are disclosed. According to the registration correction method, from the registration execution history, the necessity of execution of the color misalignment correction mode is decided sequentially. By use of such a method, there is no need to perform a useless correction.
Furthermore, according to the image forming apparatus disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication 9-244332 (JPA 9-244332), there are two kinds of color registration correction timing modes available and from the difference between the temperature of the exposure section and another intra-apparatus temperature, the color misalignment correction mode is selected. When the apparatus is structured like this, an image displacement can be corrected at optimum timing.
Further, according to the image forming apparatus disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication 2004-198946 (JPA2004-198946), registration pattern marks are formed between recording sheets and the color misalignment correction process is performed. When the apparatus is structured like this, the color misalignment can be corrected without causing downtime.
On the other hand, according to the image forming apparatus relating to the conventional example, there are the following problems imposed.
i. Conventionally, in consideration of changes in the fixing temperature, the number of fed sheets, and the time period from the preceding correction, there are found many cases in which a correction condition is decided as a set value, and the execution time of the next color misalignment correction process is decided, and they are set as fixed values. However, even in consideration of all the conditions, it is difficult to take a perfect correlation between the image misalignment amount and the time period. As mentioned above, whether or not to execute the color registration correction process is often decided by the intra-apparatus temperature rise and number of fed sheets. If the interval of the color registration correction process is set short, the productivity and toner consumption are influenced, so that the color registration correction process is limited.
ii. According to JPA5-188697, regarding the color registration correction timing, according to the cumulative time measured from the point of time when the image forming apparatus is powered, the correction process start interval is postponed slowly, though if the concerned interval is set long, there is a fear of reduction in the image quality.
iii. According to JPA8-305108, from the registration execution history, the necessity of execution of the color misalignment correction mode is decided sequentially, though if the color misalignment time does not come and the color misalignment correction mode must be executed, it is difficult to judge the necessity. A color misalignment occurrence cause is fluid and in the transition period between the preceding correction process and the present correction process, stable images are not always outputted at the preceding correction amount.
iv. According to JPA9-244332, from the difference between the temperature of the exposure section and another intra-apparatus temperature, the color misalignment correction mode is selected, though it is very difficult to confirm completely the effect of the mounting position of the temperature sensor and the time period from the point of time when the preceding correction process ends on an image by the concerned temperature sensor.
v. According to JPA2004-198946, registration pattern marks are formed on an endless belt corresponding to the intervals between recording sheets and the color misalignment process is performed. In this case, it is difficult to determine the appropriate timing of color registration correction mode since data of color misalignment amount usually deviate in large extent.
vi. By the way, as shown in FIG. 16, a method for forming images at both ends outside the image area Ia on an intermediate transfer belt 6 and during forming the images on the intermediate transfer belt 6, executing the color misalignment correction mode may be considered. According to this kind of outside-image pattern detection example, it is necessary to mount a photosensitive drum with a width W′ covering the image area and an intermediate transfer belt with a width equal to the width W′, thus it results in obstruction to reduction in cost of the image forming apparatus.
Therefore, the present invention was developed to solve the aforementioned problems and is intended to provide a color image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a recording medium for shortening overall the color misalignment correction time compared with the conventional color misalignment correction mode and improving the productivity of the concerned apparatus.

Color image forming apparatus and image forming method

Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.


A bendable wireless charging apparatus having an operational bend radius of approximately 90 degrees is disclosed, which includes a flexible substrate, a receiving coil, a battery, a flexible EMI-shielding layer and a control module. The receiving coil is disposed on a surface of the substrate, and is electrically connected to the control module. The battery, which may also be flexible, is located beneath another surface of the substrate. The EMI-shielding layer is disposed between the receiving coil and the battery.

Recently, with the development of non-contact (i.e., wireless) charging technology, inductive wireless charging devices for wirelessly charging portable electronic devices have been introduced. Wireless power transfer may be defined as a resonant wireless transfer of power through magnetic induction between coils located at a power transmitting unit (PTU) and coils located at a power receiving unit (PRU). The PRU then transmits the received power to a battery for various types of portable electronic devices.
Wearable electronics, in particular, require thin and light batteries to ensure the comfort and safety of the wearer. As wearable electronics assume more complex shapes, there is a demand for batteries that can curve and flex along with the wearer's body. Although some flexible batteries have been disclosed, these batteries tend to includes various rigid or brittle components, such as ceramic separators, that limit the degree to which they may be bent. The PRU itself is also considered another challenge to be integrated with aforementioned flexible batteries. The receiving coil is typically formed from thick metal wire that is not readily bendable.
There is a need in the art for a wireless charging device that is bendable, along with a battery, particularly a flexible battery. Such a system may be used in bendable electronic devices such as portable, wearable electronics.

Nano and Advanced Materials Institute Limited


The synthesis of taxol and other tricyclic and tetracyclic taxanes.

The present invention is directed to the synthesis of taxol and other tricyclic and tetracyclic taxanes and novel intermediates thereof.
The taxane family of terpenes, of which taxol is a member, has attracted considerable interest in both the biological and chemical arts. Taxol is a promising cancer chemotherapeutic agent with a broad spectrum of antileukemic and tumor-inhibiting activity. Taxol has the following structure: ##STR1## wherein Ac is acetyl.
The supply of taxol is presently being provided by the bark from Taxus brevifollia (Western Yew). However, taxol is found only in minute quantities in the bark of these slow growing evergreens. Consequently, chemists in recent years have expended their energies in trying to find a viable synthetic route for the preparation of taxol. To date, the results have not been entirely satisfactory.
A semi-synthetic approach to the preparation of taxol has been described by Greene, et al. in JACS 110, 5917 (1988), and involves the use of a congener of taxol, 10-deacetyl baccatin III which has the structure of formula II shown below: ##STR2## 10-deacetyl baccatin III is more readily available than taxol since it can be obtained from the needles of Taxus baccata. According to the method of Greene et al., 10-deacetyl baccatin III ("10-DAB") is converted to taxol by attachment of the C-10 acetyl group and by attachment of the C-13 .beta.-amido ester side chain through the esterification of the C-13 alcohol with a .beta.-amido carboxylic acid unit.
Denis et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,924,011 disclose another process for preparing derivatives of baccatin III or of 10-deacetylbaccatin III of general formula ##STR3## in which R' denotes hydrogen or acetyl. As reported, an acid of general formula: ##STR4## in which R.sub.1 is a hydroxy-protecting group, is condensed with a taxane derivative of general formula: ##STR5## in which R.sub.2 is an acetyl hydroxy-protecting group and R.sub.3 is a hydroxy-protecting group, and the protecting groups R.sub.1, R.sub.3 and, where appropriate, R.sub.2 are then replaced by hydrogen.
Other semisynthetic approaches for the preparation of taxol and for the preparation of other taxanes which possess tumor-inhibiting properties have been reported in recent years, but each of these approaches requires 10-DAB or baccatin III as a starting material. As such, the supply of taxol and other taxane derivatives remains dependent at least to some extent upon the collection of various parts of plants from the remote corners of the world and the extraction of 10-DAB and/or baccatin III therefrom.


An embodiment of a hearing assistance device comprises a housing, a power source, a radio circuit, an antenna and a transmission line. The radio circuit is within the housing and electrically connected to the power source. The antenna has an aperture, and the radio circuit is at least substantially within the aperture. The transmission line electrically connects to the antenna to the radio circuit. Various antenna embodiments include a flex circuit antenna.

Examples of hearing assistance devices, also referred to herein as hearing instruments, include both prescriptive devices and non-prescriptive devices. Examples of hearing assistance devices include, but are not limited to, hearing aids, headphones, assisted listening devices, and earbuds.
Hearing instruments can provide adjustable operational modes or characteristics that improve the performance of the hearing instrument for a specific person or in a specific environment. Some of the operational characteristics are volume control, tone control, and selective signal input. These and other operational characteristics can be programmed into a hearing aid. A programmable hearing aid can be programmed using wired or wireless communication technology.
Generally, hearing instruments are small and require extensive design to fit all the necessary electronic components into the hearing instrument or attached to the hearing instrument as is the case for an antenna for wireless communication with the hearing instrument. The complexity of the design depends on the size and type of hearing instrument. For completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aids, the complexity can be more extensive than for in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids, behind-the-ear (BTE) or on-the-ear (OTE) hearing aids due to the compact size required to fit completely in the ear canal of an individual.
Systems for wireless hearing instruments have been proposed, in which information is wirelessly communicated between hearing instruments or between a wireless accessory device and the hearing instrument. Due to the low power requirements of modern hearing instruments, the system has a minimum amount of power allocated to maintain reliable wireless communication links. Also the small size of modern hearing instruments requires unique solutions to the problem of housing an antenna for the wireless links. The better the antenna, the lower the power consumption of both the transmitter and receiver for a given link performance.
Both the CIC and ITE hearing instruments are custom fitted devices, as they are fitted and specially built for the wearer of the instrument. For example, a mold may be made of the user's ear or canal for use to build the custom instrument. In contrast, a standard instrument such as a BTE or OTE is designed to fit within the physiology of several wearers and is programmed for the person wearing the instrument to improve hearing for that person.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Antennas for standard fit hearing assistance devices


A rigid support bracket mounts a transformer to an electrical light fixture. The bracket is formed with end portions adapted to receive fasteners therethrough for mounting the bracket to the electrical fixture. The rigid support bracket resists undesired shifting or bending of the bracket before and during transformer installation, thus providing easy and quick installation of a transformer to a light fixture.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates generally to a support device for supporting a transformer within a light fixture and more specifically to a rigid light fixture mounting bracket that fits within a light fixture.
2. Description of the Related Art
Transformers are used to magnetically couple alternating current voltages from one point in a circuit to another, or to increase or decrease the alternating current voltage. Transformers are generally mounted within fixtures so that they will not shift during operation and touch other conducting or grounded devices which could damage the transformers and fixtures.
Traditionally, in order to prevent shifting of a fixture enclosed transformer, the transformer has been affixed to a mounting bracket or the like which mounts the transformer to the fixture and prevents the transformer from shifting during operation. More recently, transformers have been mounted inside small fixtures. Therefore, the mounting bracket must also be adapted to fit inside any of various types of small fixture, each of which typically requires a mounting bracket having a shape that conforms to the particular structural configuration of a particular fixture. For example, FIG. 1 shows a prior art light fixture P comprising a upper light fixture housing 10, transformer 12, transformer mounting bracket 14, light bulb socket 16, and a lower lamp housing 18. Transformer mounting bracket 14 is typically formed of a material such as a steel strip which is capable of being bent into the particular shape that will fit within the particular relatively small upper light fixture housing 10 in which the bracket is installed. As shown in FIG. 2, the bottom surface of the transformer 12 is attached to the top surface of transformer mounting bracket 14. Additionally, FIG. 2 shows in further detail a typical shape of a prior art transformer mounting bracket 14 designed to fit the type of light fixture seen in FIG. 1.
Referring further to FIG. 1, transformer mounting bracket 14 is attached to fixture housing 10 by aligning transformer mounting bracket apertures 20 with mating apertures (not shown) of fixture housing 10 and attaching them together with fasteners, such as screws. Additionally, the lower lamp housing 18 is attached to the transformer mounting bracket 14 by aligning lens first bracket member apertures 22 with lower lamp housing apertures 24 and attaching them together with screws.
It is critical that the transformer mounting bracket screw receiving apertures 20 correctly align with the corresponding apertures of the fixture housing. A major problem with the prior art transformer mounting device is that the traditional transformer mounting bracket is formed of a material that can bend and otherwise contort before, during, or after installation. Relatively heavy transformers increase stress on their corresponding mounting brackets and, thus, typically bend the mounting bracket from its initial preferred shape. If the mounting bracket is bent from its original positioning alignment, its apertures will not align with the screw receiving apertures of the fixture housing. Furthermore, the lens mounting bracket apertures may not properly align with the apertures of the lower lamp housing, making it difficult to attach the lower lamp housing to the fixture housing. Bending of the transformer mounting bracket from its original preferred shape, causes an installer of such a fixture much aggravation as he or she tries to bend the bracket to its preferred shape, thereby possibly causing damage to the fixture, transformer, and the lower lamp housing.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a support brace for a transformer mounting bracket, which, when permanently attached thereto, prevents the resulting rigid light fixture mounting bracket of the invention from bending from its desired form.
It is another object of this invention to provide a rigid light fixture mounting bracket to make installation of transformers into light fixtures quick and easy.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a rigid light fixture mounting bracket which is inexpensive and durable.
Other objects will become apparent as the description proceeds.


In order to create a wear-resistant surface armoring suited for autogenous wear protection for the rolls of high-pressure roll presses for pressure disintegration of granular material using nap bolts (grid armoring), which also comprises a high serviceable life span even under the effect of high-pressure loads, it is proposed to give the nap bolt the shape of a mushroom, whose head projects outward from the roll body and whose shaft is sunk into the corresponding recess or bore of the roll body in such a way that an open space remains between the base of the bore and the lower end of the shaft of the bolt.

The invention relates to a wear-resistant surface armoring for the rolls of high-pressure roll presses for the pressure disintegration of granular material, having a plurality of nap bolts that are made of hard material and are mounted in corresponding recesses of the roll body, which bolts project from the roll body and form between themselves pockets for the acceptance of pressed-together fine granular material.
In rolling crushers and roll mills, brittle material to be crushed is drawn into the nip that separates the two rotatably mounted rolls from one another, which rolls can be rotated in directions opposed to one another, and is there subjected to pressure disintegration. What is referred to as interparticle crushing in the nip of a high-pressure roll press is also known, in which the individual particles of the material to be crushed, drawn into the nip by friction, are mutually crushed in a bed of material, i.e., in a grist pressed together between the two roll surfaces with the application of a high pressure. Of course, the roll surfaces are thereby exposed to extraordinarily high stress and a high degree of wear.
It is therefore known to make the surfaces of interparticle crushing roll presses resistant to wear by mounting a plurality of pin-shaped nap bolts at spaced intervals in blind holes in the roll body, which bolts project in the manner of spikes from the holes in the roll body (EP-B-0 516 952, U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,477, FIG. 2). The pin-shaped nap bolts should thereby project outward from the roll surface at such a height, and should be arranged at such a spacing from one another, that during operation of the roll press the intermediate spaces or pockets on the roll surface between the pin-shaped nap bolts remain filled with the pressed-together fine granular material, forming what is known as an autogenous wear protection for the roll surfaces. However, during operation of a high-pressure roll press armored in this way, the danger cannot be entirely excluded that damages can arise in the coating surface of the roll by means of the formation of fissures as a result of the high pressure that acts on the notch points present in the recesses/bores of the roll body via the pin-shaped nap bolts, in particular given laterally acting forces, which damages cause a shortening of the serviceable life of the armoring.
It has also already been proposed (EP-A-0 578 239) in rolled armorings with pin-shaped nap bolts of the type described above, to fashion the radially inner (lower) ends of the nap bolts with a hemispherical or dome shape, and to let the nap bolts be supported with these shaped ends on correspondingly hemispherical blind hole ends of the recesses provided in the roll body, in order to reduce the influence of notch tensions. However, the expense for the manufacture of dome-shaped blind hole ends and bolt ends of this sort is not inconsiderable; a snug seating of the bolt end in the correspondingly shaped blind hole base must be ensured; and, moreover, the pin-shaped nap bolt with its hemispherical end in its blind hole can tend to tip under the action of the high roll pressure force. Moreover, with the use of previously known nap bolts, due to their relatively small diameter, it cannot be excluded that the material to be processed becomes "coiled around" the bolts during roll press operation, particularly in case of a higher degree of dampness of the material to be processed. This has an adverse effect on the dispersion characteristic of the material being pressed, and can cause erosion of the base material between the nap bolts.

Wear-resistant surface armoring for the rolls of high-pressure roll presses for the pressure disintegration of granular material


A magnifying cosmetic mirror for use in applying cosmetics at the eye. The cosmetic mirror is constructed to have a base mirror and side mirrors extending at obtuse angles from opposite sides of the base mirror. The side mirrors are constructed as magnifying mirrors, such as spherical concave mirrors, of a focal length that provides a magnifying view of the eye when placed above the base mirror. The magnification of the side mirrors is selected according to the separation of the side mirrors from one another, and the angles at which they extend from the base mirror.

This invention is in the field of mirrors for use in the application of cosmetics to the eyes. Embodiments of the invention are directed to mirrors used to apply mascara, eyeliner, false eyelashes, and other cosmetics at or near the eyes.
Many women, and indeed some men, frequently apply cosmetics of various types at or near their eyes. These cosmetics include those commonly referred to as "mascara", which are in the form of a liquid, cake, or cream composition of pigments, oils, waxes, and preservatives for darkening, thickening, lengthening, or visibly defining one's eyelashes. Other types of eye cosmetics include false eyelashes, which may be in the form of individual lashes, eyelash extensions, or full sets of lashes, and which are attached to one's eyelashes or eyelids by way of an adhesive. Eye liner and eye shadow are other types of eye cosmetics applied to the eyelid.
The application of eye cosmetics of these various types to one's own eyes is necessarily awkward. It is easier to apply these cosmetics, particularly false eyelashes, to a closed eye—but of course the eyes must be open in order to accurately place the cosmetics. Precise application of eye cosmetics to one's own eyes, especially with the precision required to attach individual false eyelashes, is thus difficult if not impossible using a conventional plane mirror.


An inheritance context is created for a graphics primitive object that is a property of a visual element. The inheritance context can be used to make some element information (e.g., information in resource dictionaries, name dictionaries, and inheritable properties that reside in the element tree containing the visual element) available to the graphics primitive object.

In some interactive systems, visual elements can be implemented in an interface. In some such systems, the visual elements are organized in a tree structure (i.e., an element tree). The various elements of the element tree can have properties and resources that can be "inherited" by other "child" elements of the element tree. Further, the visual elements may be implemented using graphics primitives such as brushes, pens, transforms, geometry and the like. For example, a button being displayed in a user interface (UI) can be implemented so that it has a specified background color. However, the graphics primitives are generally not linked to the element tree in a way that allows the graphics primitives to use the inheritance features of the element tree. This background information is not intended to identify problems that must be addressed by the claimed subject matter.

Inheritance context for graphics primitives


An electronic arrangement and method for providing a signal characterized by reduced phase noise having a signal source for providing a stimulus signal, a modulator coupled to the signal source for generating a modulated signal as function of the stimulus signal and a local oscillator signal, and a mixer combining the stimulus and modulated signals to generate a mixed signal that includes a component characterized by a mathematical difference of the stimulus signal and the modulated signal. The modulated signal substantially identical to the stimulus signal and being offset by a frequency of the local oscillator signal, so that the difference component of the mixed signal results in a local oscillator signal wherein the stimulus signal phase noise generated by the signal source has been mathematically cancelled.

A vector network analyzer (VNA) is an instrument that measures amplitude and phase properties of electrical networks. VNAs are often used to characterize two-port networks, although networks having a greater number of ports can also be characterized. A VNA having two test ports permits measurement of four S-parameters—S11, S21, S12, and S22. The basic architecture of a VNA typically includes a signal generator, a test set, two or more receivers, and a display unit. The signal generator provides a test signal for the VNA, and the test set routes the signal generator output to the device under test and then to the receivers. A reference channel is also split from the incident wave and routed directly to the receivers to serve as a phase reference. The receivers measure the magnitude and phase of the signal thereby allowing characterization of the electrical network.
Present day VNAs, although sophisticated and armed with a robust array with data processing and display features, do little to minimize phase noise, which may be introduced from the signal generator. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a VNA that eliminates, or at a minimum, significantly reduces phase noise.
Additionally, other electronic components in numerous RF applications, such as communication, radar, and imaging applications, may benefit from an electronic circuit and method that significantly reduces phase noise.

Electronic arrangement and vector network analyzer characterized by reduced phase noise


A vacuum means for detecting transverse seal areas dividing unsealed areas in adjacent plies of a moving, multiple ply web includes vacuum ports defining a gap through which the web moves. Unsealed web areas are sucked against the ports. When a sealed area enters the gap, it is sucked to one or the other port, uncovering the opposite port. The ensuing pressure differential is sensed to indicate a seal entering or passing the gap. Seal signals are produced and used to control accurate cutting at the seals to separate the web into individual pouches. Control and circuitry apparatus and methods are disclosed.

Flexible sealed pouches are currently used in many packaging applications. By way of example only, pouches are used to package individual servings of granular materials such as sugar, sweeteners, powders for beverages such as hot chocolate, liquid condiments such as mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard or the like, and other food stuffs or consumer goods.
In one form of pouch packaging, a web of pouch material is fed from a supply roll. The web is folded longitudinally and transverse seals are formed to provide a train of serially disposed pouches, open along a top edge and connected side-by-side by virtue of the seals. The pouches are separated from each other by cutting the train transversely along the seal locations, and are then transported about a filler wheel for filling and top end sealing.
It is desirable to separate or cut the pouches one from the other in a manner to provide uniform sized pouches. Stated in another way, it is desirable to form pouches having side seals of equal width relative to other pouches.
In order to fulfill this goal, it is desirable to cut the pouches in the center of the transverse seals with an equal width of the seal disposed on each side of the cut, and on each pouch side. It is thus necessary to provide a means by which the cutter or knife is operated in a manner so as to produce such cuts repeatably in the seal center for all pouch line speeds utilized.
One method of accomplishing this would be to mark or "register" the web to indicate the center of each seal, sense the mark or register, and drive the cutter in response to such sensing after any system delay.
Such methods have certain inherent disadvantages. For example, the register sensing method requires an indexed or registered web, and a means for sensing the web.
Accordingly, it has been one objective of the invention to provide improved apparatus and methods for sensing the location of transverse seals across a multiple ply or moving web.
It has been another objective of the invention to provide improved apparatus and methods for separating pouches from a train of interconnected pouches.
Another objective of the invention has been to provide improved methods and apparatus for detecting seal areas between pouches in an unregistered, non-indexed train of pouches.
Another objective of the invention has been to provide an improved seal sensing and control system for consistently establishing a cut within sensed transverse areas of a multiple ply web and within a fine tolerance range.
To these ends, a preferred embodiment of the invention comprises running a two-ply intermittently sealed web through a gap between two opposed ports, each connected to a vacuum. As the unsealed web portions are drawn across the ports, they are pulled apart and against the respective ports. This seals the ports to establish a non-zero or static pressure on the vacuum sides of the port. When the seal area moves through the gap, the vacuum at each port tries to pull the web toward the respective ports. Due to the seal, however, the material can be pulled only to one side or the other. When this pulling occurs, the sealed laminate remains stuck to one side or the other. The opposite port is opened, breaking the vacuum. This port opening causes a pressure change which is sensed to signal the introduction of the seal area to the gap between aligned, opposed vacuum ports. As the web continues, the seal passes the vacuum ports and the web material again is pulled out to cover each vacuum port. This reestablishes a threshold pressure in the system which event can be sensed to indicate seal passage. Seal position and width is thus sensed for the pouch line speed. These sensing signals are utilized to drive a controller for operating a downstream cutter on a delay sufficient to divide or separate the pouches down the middle of the seal area. Moreover, in order to maintain the cuts at the center of each seal area within desirable tolerances, a central loop is used for comparison and correction. This comprises an encoder driven from the master filler wheel axis or servo, with encoder counts divided by a predetermined pouch pitch or length setting (in the longitudinal web flow direction). This encode signal is compared in a programmable logic controller to the seal sensing signal frequency to establish an error and the system is operable to repeatedly collapse that error at a slew rate controller to avoid over correction. A slaved axis or servo for the web drive feeding the cutter is thus controlled as a function of web speed, predetermined pouch pitch, sensed seals and a comparatively generated error to maintain the seal position relative to the cutter within an acceptable tolerance range for the application.
It will be appreciated that the invention has many uses or applications for both intermittent and continuous motion machines, not only for pouches but in many applications where intermittent seals must be accurately sensed. No web register is required, nor are any change parts required due to varied web line speeds and web materials.

Intermittent seal sensing apparatus and methods for pouch webs


An output adapting device of a plug-in power system is used to connect an output terminal of the plug-in power system with an input terminal of an electronic device, so as to transmit the power from the plug-in power system to the electronic device. The adapting device includes an output adapting terminal and an input adapting terminal respectively corresponding to the output terminal and the input terminal, in which corresponding pins of the corresponding terminals have identical potential, and at least one corresponding pair of pins of the output adapting terminal and the input adapting terminal have different potential. Furthermore, the adapting device also includes an adapting unit for adapting and outputting the power from the output adapting terminal to another pin with identical potential of the input adapting terminal. Therefore, the output terminal of the plug-in power system can be standardized for widely applying in various electronic devices.

Power supply is used to convert city electricity into DC power for the electronic apparatus. Take PC (Personal Computer) as example. Generally, the power supplies used for PC have two kinds of standards, AT and ATX, which respectively support motherboards with different standards (which are decided by the level of CPU used therein). Currently, no matter what the standard the power supply is, the power output is always achieved by connecting a bundle of several power output lines, which includes power plug, to the power socket of the system and then supplying power to the system (for example, for supplying power to the mother board and/or the related peripherals).
When the user wants to upgrade the peripherals in the computer, such as, CD burner, hard disk drive, or interface cards for particular functions, for normally operating the peripherals, usually, the power supply might also be upgraded for providing more powers so as to avoid the power supply from insufficiency. However, when exchanging the power supply for upgrading or maintaining, there are many connectors connected thereto have to be pulled out, for example, the connectors between the power supply and the motherboard, the hard disk drive and CD-ROM drive. In this manner, not only the operation consumes time and work, the power connector or the power line also might easily be broken. Although the power output lines of some power supplies are designed to be easily removed, the frequent assembling and disassembling are still inconvenient.
Therefore, a power supply which is directly plugged in the electronic apparatus is developed, so as to solve the problems described above. For example, R.O.C. Patent No. M306351, entitled "Improved Power Supply Structure", provides a plug-in power supply, in which the power supply and the computer mainframe, which needs power supply, respectively have corresponding power connecting port and power socket, so as to form the electric connection therebetween. Moreover, R.O.C. Patent NO. I259753, entitled "Removing Mechanism of Removable Power Supply Module", discloses a removable power supply including a power connector unit, wherein the power connector unit includes a connector socket and a connector plug which can be connected with each other, and the connector plug is fixedly mounted at one end of the removable power supply and the connector socket is connected with the power circuit of the computer mainframe.
Consequently, the power supply and the electronic apparatus have to equip with corresponding connecting terminals of identical transmission interface or standard and capable of assembling with each other, so that the power supply can be fixedly plugged into the electronic apparatus for providing power. However, since the electronic apparatuses in the market are numerous and possibly equipped with different connecting terminals, for example, different potentials of connecting pins, the electronic apparatuses have to be supplied by power supplies with particular connecting terminals, namely, one kind of power supply might only be suitable for only one single electronic apparatus and can not be adjusted or changed for applying to other electronic apparatuses, thereby limiting the application of power supply.

Output adapting device of plug-in power system


A method of making a semiconductor device for an integrated circuit chip. An interim gate electrode stack formed includes a top silicon portion patterned from a second silicon layer, a sandwiched oxide portion patterned from an etch stop oxide layer, and a bottom silicon portion patterned from a first silicon layer formed on a gate dielectric layer over a substrate. Etching the second silicon layer is stopped at the etch stop oxide layer. A spacer structure is formed about the interim gate electrode stack, and then the top silicon portion and the sandwiched oxide portion are removed. The spacer structure height may be reduced. A metal layer is formed over the bottom silicon portion of the interim gate electrode stack and over source and drain regions of the substrate, all of which are silicided at the same time to form a fully silicided (FUSI) gate electrode and silicided source and drain regions.

As technology progresses and higher switching speeds are sought, the physical size of semiconductor devices continues to decrease. For some time metal gates were the norm for metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) devices. Early MOS devices often had metal gate electrodes made from aluminum or alloys of aluminum. Aluminum was preferred for its ease of deposition and etching, its favorable adhesion to SiO2 and Si surfaces, and its lack of corrosion issues. However, aluminum had some downsides, such as electromigration and spiking into shallow junctions. The downsides were often overcome by alloying aluminum with copper or silicon. However, as multiple levels of metal interconnects at the back-end-of-the-line, aluminum and aluminum alloys were not able to withstand the high thermal budgets needed for deposition and annealing of intermetal dielectrics due to aluminum's low melting and alloying temperatures.
In the early 1970's, doped polysilicon gate electrodes began to be used. This also lead to complementary-MOS (CMOS) technology that provided the ability to tailor the work function of the gate electrode for negative-channel MOS (NMOS) and positive-channel MOS (PMOS) devices. The work function of the gate electrode did not require a lot of attention in the design because the threshold voltage for the device depended more upon other factors, such as substrate doping, gate oxide charge, and gate oxide thickness. And because operating voltages were high relative to today's standards for high-speed logic devices, the gate electrode was not as critical in the control of the threshold voltage setting.
Scaling down the physical size of semiconductor devices continued due to technical and economic factors. For example, the output or drive current of a device available to switch its load devices increases linearly as its physical channel length decreases. Also, the current required by load devices to achieve switching decreases as their gate area and physical channel length decreases. Because the drive current requirement to switch the load devices depends, at least in part, on the total load capacitance and area, there is also a strong motivation to reduce the size of the complete device, not only its physical channel length. And economically, it is desirable to increase the number of devices yielded from each wafer, which further drives the device dimensions smaller. But as device dimensions decrease, new technical issues arise.
Doped polysilicon gate electrodes are now being found to be inadequate compared to metal silicided gates. Transistor physical gate length (or channel length) is reaching a point where doping levels in polysilicon can no longer be increased sufficiently to support the electrical potential profiles desired. In CMOS devices where the polysilicon gate electrode is doped with an opposite conductivity type than the channel in the substrate, there is a tendency for the gate electrode to deplete and invert when the device is biased into substrate inversion for operation. Any depletion of the polysilicon surface at the gate dielectric acts as an additional dielectric region, which increases the equivalent oxide thickness (EOT) of the gate dielectric. A push to increase boron concentrations in the polysilicon gate dielectric to minimize depletion, together with the trend of thinning the gate dielectric, has lead to increased boron diffusion through the gate dielectric and into the channel of the PMOS device. This alters the threshold voltage in an uncontrollable and undesirable way.
As a result of the recent issues with traditional doped polysilicon gate electrodes discussed above (at least in part), there has been a return to the use of metal gate electrodes in the form of metal silicided gate electrodes, especially in dual-work function gate electrodes. Fully silicided (FUSI) gate electrodes are often preferred because the interim silicon gate electrode structure may not need to be doped prior to silicidation and because a FUSI gate electrode behaves more like a metal gate electrode.
However, there are already many well established processes in place for making semiconductor devices with doped polysilicon gate electrodes. Thus, it would be highly desirable to have a process that integrates the formation a FUSI gate electrode with minimal changes to the current process flow used to make devices with a doped polysilicon gate electrode.
It is also often desirable to silicide the source and drain regions of a device. Hence, it would be further desirable to able to silicide the gate electrode while siliciding the source and drain regions, but without having to completely redesign the current process flow used for making devices with a doped polysilicon gate electrode.

Method of making fully silicided gate electrode


One embodiment of the invention is directed to a process for assembly of a covered housing comprising placing a first frame strip coupled with a fabric portion, under a shoulder on a first end of a housing, pulling the fabric portion toward a second end of a housing, placing a second frame strip coupled with the fabric portion, under a shoulder on the second end of the housing, placing a third frame strip coupled with the fabric portion, under a first main body shoulder of the housing, and placing a fourth frame strip coupled with the fabric portion, under a second main body shoulder of the housing.

There are many challenges for assembling fabric to a unique shaped housing. If using a unique speaker housing shape, such as a cylinder shape, it is difficult to create tension in the fabric both vertically and horizontally around the cylindrical shaped component after the fabric is assembled to a cylindrical shape. The tension needs to be high enough so that the fabric cannot simply be pulled off the housing. Accordingly, a traditional sock assembly where a fabric sock that is open on both ends is slipped over a rectangular or cylinder housing would not work because the tension along the length of the sock cannot be well controlled. Moreover, a traditional sock assembly generally requires a cap on each end to mechanically hold the sock in place. If the cap also includes additional features or controls (e.g., buttons, etc.) or connectors, these may be damaged or compromised when applying pressure to fit the cap onto the housing. This creates additional challenges particularly for portable-type speakers that have limited space for controls. Other challenges include how to assemble one piece of fabric to substantially cover the speaker housing without cosmetic issues, such as seams and visible wrinkles.


Techniques for providing identity-enabled interfaces for deployment are presented. Specifically, an agent of an enterprise infrastructure authenticates and acquires an agent identity for interacting with a cloud processing environment. Once the agent is deployed in the cloud processing environment, enterprise policy can be enforced within the cloud processing environment on actions occurring within the cloud. The agent acts as an Application Programming Interface between the enterprise and the cloud processing environment. The reverse is also achievable, where a cloud deploys an agent to the enterprise to deploy a cloud interface within the enterprise for policy enforcement.

The Internet is rapidly evolving to include an operational mode called Cloud Computing and Cloud Storage. The intent of these new modes is the reduction of enterprise data centers and the excess capacity contained in such. In order to provide services to customers, the enterprise is often compelled to host high levels of excess capacity (sometimes over 80%) to take care of unanticipated traffic (e.g., a national emergency such as Sep. 11, 2001 (planes hitting the Twin-Towers in New York City, N.Y.) and anticipated traffic (e.g., the Christmas consumer buying season). The cloud operational characteristics allow an enterprise to quickly utilize computing and storage capacity in the cloud when increases in traffic or some other increase in the need for computing and storage resources is needed. However, this capability must be supported by an appropriate API by cloud providers, which heretofore is unavailable.

Techniques for identity-enabled interface deployment


A system for humidifying air while generating a tornado-like air flow pattern highlighted by water aerosol is described. The system includes air flow devices which generate a circular tornado-like air flow, a water aerosol generator, and a means of injecting the water aerosol into the circular air pattern to produce a visible tornado. Air is blown parallel to and within two opposing parabolic plates, creating a circular flow pattern. Air is exhausted out the top of the device at the center point between the plates, creating an updraft. Water aerosol wafts into the bottom of the circular air flow, gets caught in the upwardly spinning air flow, and exits through the top of the device. A model of a tornado is created and maintained. Also, the water aerosol humidifies the air in the room as it exits the device.

Man has always been fascinated by weather, especially violent weather. The tornado is the supreme example of violent weather. People of all walks of life are fascinated by tornados and enjoy watching TV news, movies and pictures of them. However, as Benjamin Franklin stated over 200 years ago, "Some people are weatherwise, but most people are otherwise." Very few people have any understanding of how tornados work.
It is desirable to satisfy the fascination people have with tornados by educating and entertaining them with a tornado model on a safe, easy to understand scale. Furthermore, it is desirable to add a practical application to this model by utilizing water aerosol comprising the tornado to humidify the surrounding room air.
Humidifying room air helps to alleviate health ailments associated with extremely dry air, which commonly occurs in homes and businesses located in dry or cold climates. Conventional humidifiers use ultrasonic aerosol generators or thermal evaporators to generate water aerosol which are subsequently blown into the room air.
The present invention provides for the effective display of a small scale tornado-like model while also efficiently humidifying the surrounding room. The present invention also provides for scaling so that a display/humidifier can be constructed to meet a wide variety of display and humidifying needs. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, a system for generating small scale tornado-like air flow patterns is used to deliver water aerosol to room air for the purposes of humidifying the air, while educating the user on the workings of tornadoes and entertaining the user by allowing interaction with the tornado flow.


A process is managed by creating a future revision of a base. Data are input into the future revision of the base. The future revision of the base is made current, revising the base. A control tracks the authorization of the base revision, storing the authorization of the future revision of the base.

Tracking business processes traditionally is a data-oriented activity. This makes sense: processes are all about manipulating data, so orienting the process around how the data are tracked is an intuitive solution. For example, consider an organization chart. As shown in FIG. 1, organization chart 105 typically includes a chief executive officer 110, along with other officers not shown in FIG. 1. Eventually, somewhere down the hierarchy, are the departments. FIG. 1 shows three departments: Department A 115, Department B 120, and Department C 125. Each department includes some employees, shown by employee lists 130, 135, and 140, respectively.
Now consider what happens when an employee changes department. For example, consider Employee 5 moving from Department A 115 to Department B 120, as shown by arrow 145. Traditionally, Employee 5 is deleted from employee list 130 and added to employee list 135.
But what if Employee 5 was the only employee who worked on a project assigned to Department A 115 when Employee 5 was with Department A 115? If the project is assigned back to Employee 5, it will be associated with Department B 120, which does not have any familiarity with the project. The wrong department (Department B 120) will be working on the project.
Data changes, such as moving Employee 5 from Department A 115 to Department B 120, typically requires authorization. If authorization and the data change process are tracked at all, the information about the data change is stored as part of the data object. For example, the employee information can store who authorized a promotion or additional training for an employee. But data changes are tracked only in very limited cases, requiring special-purpose implementation every time such information is to be stored. Additionally, the data change information is usually incomplete. Finally, typically the lifecycle of the data change authorization is not tracked.
The present invention addresses these and other problems associated with the prior art.