The present invention provides process cheeses comprising casein and whey protein with a ratio of casein to whey protein of from about 50:50 to about 75:25. Typically, the process cheese further comprises an emulsifier, milkfat, and may contain one or more other ingredients such as, but not limited to, whole whey, cheese, and lactic acid. The present invention provides methods for producing the process cheese of the current invention using a pre-cook or post-cook homogenization step, and/or a modified dairy protein source. The modified dairy protein source includes high viscosity whey protein, emulsified high fat whey protein powder, low calcium whey protein, and/or high solubility milk protein.

Conventional processes for making natural and processed cheese essentially utilize only casein. Generally only a few percent of whey proteins are incorporated into such cheeses since the majority of whey protein is retained in the whey and discarded as a by-product of conventional cheese-making processes. Whey proteins comprise about 14 to 24 weight percent of whole or skim milk's proteins and have a nutritional value at least comparable to that of casein. Therefore, the loss of whey proteins in conventional cheese making processes represents a costly inefficiency in these processes. The utilization of even a portion of whey proteins in the manufacture of natural and processed cheeses is of great commercial importance.
Therefore, attempts have been made to design processes which incorporate increased amounts of whey into these natural and process cheeses. However, processed cheese formulas with casein/whey protein ratios below about 3:1 give unacceptable textural characteristics (commonly expressed as "soft body"). Therefore, there remains a need for process cheeses with increased whey, which retain acceptable firmness, even with a casein to whey ratio of less than about 3:1.
Yee et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,750,177) describe natural cheeses with increased-whey protein having casein:whey ratios of 16:1 to 4:1 made from ultrafiltered cheese. The cheeses of Yee et al. require labor, time, and equipment-intensive ultrafiltered cheese, and result in cheese that has a whey protein:casein ratio that is no greater than that of the starting milk.
Czulak et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,518,616) describe methods for increasing the amount of whey protein incorporated into a natural cheese by ultra-filtering whey to form a whey protein concentrate, mixing the whey protein concentrate with milk to form an enriched milk, and then ultrafiltering the enriched milk, either before or after curding of the milk using lactic starter cultures, rennet, or combinations thereof.
The current invention provides formulations of process cheeses with casein/whey protein ratios below about 3:1 that retain a desirable firmness. The ratio of casein proteins to whey proteins in the process cheese of this invention preferably ranges from about 50:50 to about 75:25 (i.e., about 1:1 to about 3:1) as measured by gel electrophoresis. This provides major potential cost savings by allowing replacement of casein by whey proteins and/or supplementation of casein with whey proteins in a processed cheese product.

Process cheese containing increased levels of whey protein


A method for driving a plasma display panel having a plurality of first electrodes, a plurality of second electrodes, and a plurality of third electrodes provided in a direction crossing the first and second electrodes while one frame is divided into a plurality of subfields, the plurality of first electrodes being divided into a plurality of groups each including a first group and a second group, and the plurality of second electrodes being biased at a first voltage during a reset period, an address period, and a sustain period. During the address period, a second voltage is selectively applied to a plurality of first electrodes included in the first group. A third voltage lower than the second voltage is selectively applied to a plurality of first electrodes included in the second group.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a driving method of a plasma display panel (PDP).
2. Description of the Related Art
A PDP is a display panel that uses plasma generated by gas discharge to display characters or images. It includes, depending on its size, more than several scores to millions of pixels arranged in a matrix pattern. Such a PDP is classified as a direct current (DC) type or an alternating current (AC) type according to its discharge cell structure and the waveform of the driving voltage applied thereto.
The DC PDP has electrodes exposed to a discharge space, and accordingly, it allows DC to flow through the discharge space while a voltage is applied. Therefore, such a DC PDP problematically requires a resistor for limiting the current. On the other hand, the AC PDP has electrodes covered with a dielectric layer that forms a capacitor to limit the current and protects the electrodes from the impact of ions during discharge. Accordingly, the AC PDP has a longer lifetime than the DC PDP.
In general, one frame of an AC PDP is divided into a plurality of subfields, and each subfield includes a reset period, an address period, and a sustain period.
The reset period is for initializing a condition of each cell so as to facilitate an addressing operation on the cell, The address period is for selecting turn-on/turn-off cells (i.e., cells to be turned on or off) and accumulating wall charges to the turn-on cells (i.e., addressed cells). The sustain period is for causing a discharge for displaying an image on the addressed cells.
In order to perform the above-described operation, sustain discharge pulses are alternatively applied to scan electrodes and sustain electrodes during the sustain period, and reset waveforms and scan waveforms are applied to the scan electrodes during the reset period and the address period. Therefore, a scan driving board for driving the scan electrodes and a sustain driving board for driving the sustain electrodes are separately needed. In this instance, a problem of mounting the driving boards on a chassis base may be generated, and the cost increases because of the separate driving boards.
When a driving circuit formed in a sustain driving board is coupled to a scan driving board to reduce the cost of the driving boards, the length of a wire (or a conductive pattern) connected between the scan driving board and the sustain electrode is extended. Therefore, an impedance component formed at the extended sustain electrode is increased.


A variable volume oven that can be modified to adjust its volume according to the cooking load. The volume of the oven is able to be adjusted by providing a heating element that is vertically adjustable within the oven to a position that provides better convective and radiative heating to the cooking load.

Reducing the amount of energy consumption in appliances such as an oven, is a significant problem, in part because a large amount of energy is needed to heat the oven, and in part because a large amount of energy is lost to the surrounding environment. Typically, only a small portion of an oven is used for cooking. However, cooking with a conventional oven requires that the entire volume be heated. There is no particular advantage to heating the entire volume of the oven. Heating the entire volume of the oven results in longer cooking times, which increases energy consumption. The longer cooking times and increased energy consumption associated with the conventional oven are further exacerbated by heat losses from radiative and convective heat through the chamber walls of the oven to the surrounding environment. Heat losses to the surrounding environment are approximately proportional to the hot interior surface area of the oven. Heat losses are rather large with conventional ovens because there is a generally large hot interior surface. In particular, the heat losses in a conventional oven may range anywhere from 50 percent to 90 percent. Accordingly, there is a need for an oven that can better direct radiative and convective heat towards the cooking load and minimize heat losses to the environment, in order to reduce energy consumption and heating time.


A vehicle and in particular a scooter in which there is present a first and a second element separated from each other and movable relative to a base frame, the elements defining respective actuating surfaces disposed substantially in side by side relationship with each other with respect to a longitudinal extension axis of the vehicle; an alternated operation of the first and second movable elements (6, 7) allows a motion-transmitting unit (8) to convert the reciprocating motion into a rotatory motion imparted to one of the scooter wheels thereby causing advancing of the vehicle. The particular positioning and configuration of the movable elements (6, 7) allows a steady and efficient use of the scooter.

The present invention relates to a vehicle of a type moved by a user, such as a scooter.
1. Field of the Invention
However the subject matter of the invention can be utilised for any type of locomotion vehicle exploiting the action of an operator as the motive power.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known that common scooters presently widely on the market consist of a base frame or board designed to support a user or rider; the frame is equipped with a first and second wheel rotatably in engagement with said frame in such a manner as to enable movement of the scooter itself.
The structures of known type are then provided with an appropriate steering handlebar to enable the scooter to cover curved trajectories.
As regards movement, a scooter is pushed by the rider that puts one foot on the frame and pushes against the ground with the other foot giving it an advancing movement.
In addition to the above described and well known type of scooter, scooters provided with additional features have become available in recent times.
In a first type of these scooters use of an appropriate movement unit mounted on the fixed frame is provided that offers the rider the possibility of imparting an advancing movement to the scooter without pushing against the ground with one foot. In other words, the scooter is equipped with a suitable pedal to be pushed by the rider's foot for operation; the pedal is oscillatable in an alternated manner around a fulcrum and adapted to operate a movement unit capable of converting the oscillatory movement into a continuous rotatory movement directly imparted to the rear wheel. This means that the rider is able to impart an appropriate forward thrust to the scooter by moving the pedal with a single leg.
This type of scooter has had a further development involving association of a rocking lever with the support frame, said rocking lever being made of one piece construction and extending over the whole longitudinal length of the support surface of the scooter. The rocking lever is hinged in the middle on the support frame and can be oscillated around this axis.
In particular, a user riding a scooter and having one foot in correspondence with the front wheel and the other foot in correspondence with the rear wheel alternately moves his/her weight to and fro thereby causing the rocking lever to oscillate.
Linked to this rocking lever is a chain that through appropriate intermediate members, imparts a continuous rotatory motion to the rear wheel.
Therefore, this type of scooter too is able to allow movement of the vehicle without the rider being-obliged to push against the ground with one foot.
While the above described known scooters have been hitherto on the market, they however have some drawbacks and/or limits in operation.
In fact devices having means for motion generation on board are often of uncomfortable use. In fact, in the scooters provided with a driving pedal the same leg is always to be used to supply the required energy for motion.
If the rider is tired to use one foot for driving the scooter, use of the other foot is substantially impossible; in addition, to enable the scooter to advance to a convenient speed, the pedal must be operated over a long path stretch. This obviously gives rise to an uncomfortable position in addition to a considerable effort for operation.
With reference to the above described third type of scooter that is provided with an oscillatable rocking lever, it is to be pointed out that the particular arrangement of the plate necessarily involves an uncomfortable position for the rider driving the motion-transmitting unit. In fact the user rides the scooter with one foot at a position greatly advanced towards the front wheel and the other foot at a backward position, close to the rear wheel. In addition, the two feet are at different heights so that the rider's comfort is further reduced.
Finally, in order to obtain a good advancing, big travels of the oscillating end portions are required and said portions must have a suitable distance from the fulcrum. For the above reason a rider must alternately move his/her weight backward and forward, taking into account the fact that the rider's fully backward position is not only uncomfortable but also much less steady than in conventional scooters devoid of driving units.
It is also to be pointed out that in the presence of potholes or debris, positioning of the overall (scooter and rider) centre of gravity is of a fundamental importance to ensure an optimal steadiness and roadholding of the vehicle, which feature is not present in the above described scooters.


To provide a construction machine capable of encouraging an operator to perform the driving and the operation for enhancing fuel efficiency. The construction machine includes information providing means 30 to notify the operator of the information such as the operation and/or an operational method or the like to enhance the fuel efficiency. The present construction machine provides the information by monitor display on a monitor screens 26 that is provided in an operator's cabin 11. When operating machine levers 19 and 20 are positioned at a neutral position, if an engine 40 has the idle revolution number not less than a predetermined time, the information providing means 30 provides the information such as the operation or the like to enhance the fuel efficiency.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a construction machine such as a hydraulic excavator or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
For a construction machine such as a hydraulic excavator or the like, it is preferable that energy saving is carried out upon traveling and performing various operations. Therefore, when real fuel, efficiency does not attain target fuel efficiency, a conventional construction machine may be switched to energy saving operation (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2002-285890 (pp. 3-4, FIG. 1)).
In other words, the construction machine described in the above-described patent document calculates amount of the fuel consumed in fact and calculates real fuel efficiency as fuel consumption per unit time from this. Comparing this real fuel efficiency to predetermined target fuel efficiency, when the real fuel efficiency is lower than this target fuel efficiency, the operation of the construction machine is switched to the energy saving operation.
Thus, conventionally, the construction machine can perform the energy saving operation. However, according to the construction machine described in the patent document 1, the operation is switched to the energy saving operation after the fuel efficiency is lowered, namely, the operation is not switched to the energy saving operation unless the fuel efficiency is lowered. In the meantime, when the fuel efficiency is lowered in actual use of the construction machine, the operation is automatically shifted to the energy saving operation. In the meantime, according to the construction machine, it is possible to enhance the fuel efficiency by traveling or performing the operation with a low number of revolutions of an engine and by stopping wasteful idling. In other words, enhancement of the fuel efficiency or the like can be achieved by devising the driving and operation by an operator of the construction machine. However, upon traveling and performing the operation, the operator tends to ignore necessity of enhancement of the fuel efficiency, so that it is perceived that the operator is not conscious of the operation for enhancing the fuel efficiency. In other words, the operation for enhancing the fuel efficiency is only described in an instruction booklet and an operator's manual separately, so that under the current state, the operator is not conscious of the operation and the driving for enhancing the fuel efficiency when he or she performs the operation in an operator's cabin.

Construction machine with fuel use indication


A client device obtains and records inbound station information. The client device sends first electronic credential information to an inbound charging apparatus, where the first electronic credential information comprises authentication information generated by a payment system based on a user identity in the client device. The client device sends second electronic credential information and the inbound station information to an outbound charging apparatus, where the second electronic credential information comprises authentication information generated by the payment system based on the user identity in the client device.

In existing section fee buses or subways, payment methods of the buses or subways are usually as follows: swiping a bus card, buying a one-time ticket card, etc. In this solution, a passenger swipes a card when getting on a bus (getting in a station) and swipes the card again when getting off the bus (getting out of a station). A POS machine compares information obtained through reading the card two times to determine a bus fare of the passenger this time and deduct money.
At present, some mobile phone manufacturers integrate an SE chip into a mobile phone, and a bus card function can be activated in the SE chip of the mobile phone, so that users can use the mobile phone as a bus card. However, such a method needs to rely on the mobile phone to support the SE chip, and the SE chip of the mobile phone needs to be compatible with POS machines in buses or subways.
How to implement convenient payment for traffic section fees based on an existing mobile device is the technical problem to be alleviated in the present application.

Traffic section fee payment method, fee system, and payment system


The present invention provides a process for stabilizing the base course of a roadway through steps including admixing an asphalt emulsion and Portland cement with granulated base materials. The base course formed through this process is stronger and less permeable than base materials stabilized with either Portland cement or an asphalt emulsion alone. The method of base stabilization includes the steps of evaluating the base materials, designing a proportional mixture of the base materials and stabilizing agents, and forming a stabilized base course.

The present invention is directed to a method of base stabilization for use in the construction or reconstruction of roadways. More specifically, the present invention is directed to an improved method of increasing the strength and decreasing the permeability of the base course of a roadway through the addition of a unique combination of stabilizers to base materials.
A roadway is typically formed of at least four distinct courses, a subbase course, a base course, a binder course, and a surface course. Each of these courses serves a distinct and important role in the overall stability and durability of the roadway.
Stability, as used in the roadway construction industry, refers to the ability of a roadway or asphalt paving composition to resist deformation from imposed loads. If the materials needed for the roadway construction do not provide enough "stability" to satisfy the roadway design requirements, the materials may be modified with specific stabilizing agents to enhance certain qualities, such as strength and flexibility, or to decrease other qualities, such as permeability.
A specific stabilizing agent or "stabilizer" is selected to enhance a specific property. For example, stabilizers such as fly ash, Portland cement, and lime are known to increase the strength of pavement materials. Accordingly, these stabilizers are commonly added when additional strength is need.
Similarly, stabilizers such as asphalt emulsion are known to increase the flexibility and decrease the permeability of pavement materials. Accordingly, these stabilizers are used when increased flexibility or decreased permeability is desired.
The base course of a roadway, which is formed between the subbase course and the pavement course, is designed to provide strength and support to the roadway structure. The base course is typically formed of crushed stone, slag or similar materials and may include both a subgrade layer and a pavement base layer. If the base materials do not provide enough strength to accommodate the desired roadway design, the base materials are modified with stabilizers such as fly ash and Portland cement, to enhance their overall strength.
Unfortunately, a stabilizer such as asphalt emulsion, which is known to increased flexibility and decreased permeability of pavement materials, is as also understood to reduce the strength of these materials. Therefore, although asphalt emulsion is typically used to stabilize the pavement course, binder course and even a black base layer, it is not used in the stabilization of a base course layer.

Stability-enhancing admixture and improved base stabilization process for use in roadway construction and reconstruction


A class-D power amplifier, which prevents excessive response phenomenon from occurring when returning to a steady state from an abnormal state and an amplification method of the class-D power amplifier are provided. The class-D power amplifier prevents an integral control circuit or a proportional integral control circuit from becoming saturated by using sub-negative feedback loop operations, without using a high-capacity output blocking switch in an initial state or an abnormal state. Thus, suppressing pop noise due to the excessive response phenomenon caused when the class-D power amplifier returns to the steady state from the initial state or the abnormal state and reducing power consumption.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a power amplifier, and more particularly, to a class-D power amplifier for use as an audio amplifier, and an amplification method thereof.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
In the past, class-A, class-B, and class-AB power amplifiers, which perform linear amplification, have been used as mainstream audio power amplifiers. Recently, however, there has been research conducted on class-D power amplifiers, which perform amplification by utilizing switching operations based on pulse width modulation (PWM). Research has shown that class-D power amplifiers have poor linearity and superior power efficiency as compared to class-A, class-B, and class-AB power amplifiers, which have superior linearity and poor power efficiency.
Switching operations based on PWM in class-D power amplifiers result in harmonic distortion caused by high-frequency components and oscillations. To overcome such harmonic distortion, negative feedback has been used in class-D power amplifiers. In addition, because an audio power amplifier is driven with high current, it has additional functions for protecting components in an initial state or an abnormal state, such as an over-current condition or a power-failure state. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,805,020 and 6,420,930 disclose exemplary class-D power amplifiers using negative feedback.
In a conventional class-D power amplifier using negative feedback, a predetermined switch is opened in the initial state or the abnormal state and negative feedback looping is blocked, thereby preventing over-current from flowing through the load side, such as a speaker. Here, an integral control circuit or proportional integral control circuit is input with a finite error signal and reaches a saturation state. In the saturation state, the predetermined switch is closed and there is a negative feedback loop so that the class-D power amplifier enters a steady state after the initial state or exits from an abnormal state. Then, because the integral control circuit or proportional integral control circuit is in the saturation state, an output signal exhibits an unstable excessive response phenomenon while the class-D power amplifier reaches the steady state.
To remedy the unstable excessive response phenomenon, the conventional class-D power amplifier includes an output-blocking switch before the load side, which outputs the output signal to the load side after the excessive response phenomenon is removed, and then the class-D power amplifier reaches the steady state. The rated power of the output-blocking switch corresponds to power consumed by the entire amplifying system in the steady state, which results in high power consumption by the conventional class-D power amplifier.

Class-D power amplifier capable of eliminating excessive response phenomenon when returning to a steady state from an abnormal state and an amplification method thereof


Provided is a stable water base ink composition which has a sufficiently high concentration as ink for an ink jet-recording apparatus and writing instruments and prevents the recorded images and the written characters from being blurred or disappearing with water and sweat and which has such an excellent light fastness that the images and the characters do not deteriorate over a long period of time and does not cause a change in physical properties and precipitates. A water base dispersion liquid containing colored resin fine particles is prepared by emulsion-polymerizing a vinyl monomer in the presence of a hydrophobic dye and then diluted with water or a water soluble organic solvent, whereby the water base ink composition is produced.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a water base ink composition, more specifically to a water base ink composition for an ink jet-recording apparatus capable of being used in an ink jet system recording apparatus which is commercially available, and a water base ink composition for writing instruments which is not blurred in writing and is useful for writing instruments such as a sign pen and a ball point pen.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Ink compositions comprising water soluble acidic dyes or basic dyes dissolved in water base media and additives such as humidifiers, pH controllers and preservatives are known as conventional ink compositions for ink jet-recording apparatuses.
However, these ink compositions have the defects that the printed parts are blurred and the images become unclear and that since the dyes are water soluble, the recorded images are blurred or disappear with sweat and water or the colors become turbid by color mixing. Originally, water soluble dyes are inferior in light fastness and have the problem that preservation of the printed matters over a long period of time causes the images to deteriorate. Further, these ink compositions have the defects that preservation thereof over a long period of time and repeated printing cause a change in the physical properties of the inks and produce precipitates, so that nozzles are clogged or cause marked troubles in discharging to bring about inferior printing.
Dyes and pigments have so far been known as coloring components for water base inks used for writing instruments such as water base sign pens and water base ball point pens.
Inks using dyes have the defect that since the dyes are water soluble, the written characters and the drawn lines are blurred or disappear with sweat and water, so that the written characters and the drawn lines become unclear. Thus, the inks are inferior in so-called water resistance. Further, there is the problem that the dyes themselves are inferior in light fastness, so that the written characters and the drawn lines deteriorate during a long period of time.
On the other hand, inks using pigments have no problems on water resistance and light fastness but the pigments are flocculated and precipitated during a long period of time to bring about the problems such as clogging at pen points and inferior writing. In inks for writing instruments, the pigments are required to be finely dispersed, and therefore it is difficult to disperse various organic pigments to increase the color number of the inks.


A multi-layer fuel tube comprising at least three thermoplastic resin layers, said at least three thermoplastic resin layers comprising (A) a layer of polyamide 11 resin and/or polyamide 12 resin, (B) layer of polyamide 6, and (C) a layer of polyamide containing 0.05 to 30% by weight of a layered silicate uniformly dispersed therein.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multi-layer fuel tube which allows little permeation of an alcohol/gasoline mixed fuel or the like through the tube wall, is excellent in properties including impact resistance, and is particularly suitable for a multi-layer fuel tube used in an automobile.
2. The Description of the Related Art
Fuel tubes conventionally used for automobiles are made of a metal or a resin. However, substitution of resin tubes for metal tubes is recently being investigated in order to solve the problem of corrosion by anti-freezing agents and in order to respond to the requests for reducing the weight of automobile bodies for the purpose of improving fuel efficiency.
Resin tubes, however, allow considerable permeation of fuel through the tube walls in comparison with the metal tubes. Particularly, conventional tubes of polyamide 11 resin or polyamide 12 resin allow permeation by alcohols. To use such a resin fuel tube for an alcohol/gasoline mixed fuel, the thickness of the tube must be increased, which disadvantageously results in reducing the flexibility of the tube and increasing the weight and the cost of the material and, thus, decreased productivity. Also, resin tubes do not have suitable properties, including the impact resistance at low temperatures and stiffness, to be used under severe conditions as automobile fuel tubes.
To solve the above problems, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 5-293916 proposes a multi-layer tube, for fuels, which comprises a polyamide resin containing 1.5 to 10% by weight of a layered silicate uniformly dispersed therein. However, this fuel tube of a resin composition still does not sufficiently prevent permeation of an alcohol/gasoline mixed fuel through the tube walls.
The object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art, that is, to provide a multi-layer fuel tube which can significantly reduce or prevent the permeation of an alcohol/gasoline mixed fuel through the tube walls and has excellent properties such as the impact resistance at low temperatures and stiffness.
The present invention resides in a multi-layer fuel tube comprising at least three thermoplastic resin layers, said at least three thermoplastic resin layers comprising (A) a layer of polyamide 11 resin and/or polyamide 12 resin, (B) a layer of polyamide 6, and (C) a layer of polyamide containing 0.05 to 30% by weight of a layered silicate uniformly dispersed therein.


An apparatus for interfacing with a control system, and in particular a home automation system. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises an integrated LCD touch screen and motion sensor. The motion sensor is used to illuminate a backlight to the touch screen when a person approaches the apparatus. The sensitivity of the motion sensor may be adjusted through a graphical user interface displayed on the touch screen. In addition, the backlighting may be adjusted so that the illumination is at a specific level with the screen is on, i.e., when the motion sensor has been tripped, and a specific level when the screen is off. The apparatus may further comprise an IR receiver for receiving commands via a remote. In addition, the apparatus may be powered from a local bus or an external power supply. The apparatus may comprise a communications port for receiving customized pages from a computer.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to displays, and more particularly, but not necessarily entirely, to programmable displays for interfacing with control systems.
2. Background Art
Liquid crystal displays (LCDs) are used in a variety of applications, including computers, flat screen televisions and instrumentation. Most LCDs require an illumination source, or backlight unit, for backlighting the LCD so that the image displayed on the LCD can be seen by a viewer. In designing such a backlight unit, the designer has to consider a number of design parameters. For example, the rated life of the backlight unit is an important consideration since frequent replacement of the backlight unit, or the light source therein, is costly and time consuming. The brightness of the display must be at a certain level in order for a viewer to see the image. Further, design concerns include the amount of time it takes for the backlight unit to begin operation after being turned on, the operating temperature of the backlight unit, the power consumption of the backlight unit, the stability of the brightness of the backlight unit over a temperature range and the amount of electromagnetic interference generated by the backlight unit.
The custom installation world is becoming more and more complex as a multitude of home control devices have become available. With this complexity, and these options, comes the need for a simple way to control every aspect of the integrated home. The skillful installer can accomplish much with a programmable keypad. However, there are many situations where a multi-page LCD touch screen is the only practical solution to provide the flexibility needed to satisfy a user.
Currently, there are many color touch screens on the market. Interestingly, most, if not all, of these can be integrated with existing home automation systems. However, these color touch screens come with a very high price and require extensive training to become proficient in designing attractive custom screens and in integrating with the automation system. Most touch screens cannot be viewed without a backlight. The backlight is needed to illuminate make the touch screen easy for a human to observe. One problem in the art is that the backlights have a limited life. In order to preserve this life, most touch screens have a timeout feature whereby the screen turns off after a period of time, perhaps 15 to 30 seconds. In order to turn screen on, a person simply touches the screen.
Despite the advantages of known display apparatuses, improvements are still being sought. For example, many of the displays lack useful features that make them adequate for their intended purposes.
The prior art is thus characterized by several disadvantages that are addressed by the present invention. The present invention minimizes, and in some aspects eliminates, the above-mentioned failures, and other problems, by utilizing the methods and structural features described herein.
The features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by the practice of the invention without undue experimentation. The features and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.


In an evaluation tool for use in evaluating an LSI, a piezo-diffusion-resistor unit and a temperature monitor unit are disposed close to each other in a first layer, for example, near a corner area and a central area on an Si substrate. A polysilicon resistor array is disposed on that area of the Si substrate which excludes locations where the piezo-diffusion-resistor unit and temperature monitor unit are disposed. Over these elements, an Al wiring layer, or a second layer, is provided with an interlayer insulation film interposed. Thus, the evaluation tool is provided with a stepped structure which is substantially similar to a structure of an actual LSI product.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device for use in evaluating an integrated circuit device. More particularly, this invention relates to an evaluation tool for evaluating initial characteristics and reliability of an LSI (Large Scale Integrated Circuit).
Recently, the integration density of LSIs has been increased more and more. On the other hand, the possibility of occurrence of a passivation crack or Al slide in the LSI has become higher. It is known that such drawbacks occur due to a thermal stress (shearing stress) resulting from a temperature variations in a resin-sealed package. In general, the thermal stress applied to the resin-sealed package increases as the wiring becomes finer or the chip becomes larger in size.
The passivation crack is a factor of deterioration in the humidity resistance of the resin-sealed package. In particular, in the case of a product with double-layer AL wiring, a crack occurring in an interlayer insulation film deteriorates insulation between wiring layers. Depending on a pattern design (layout), an Al slide may cause inter-wire short or break of wire.
A method using TEG (TEST Element Group) is known as a prior-art method for diagnosing occurrence of defects such as passivation cracks or Al slide. This method was made public in the xe2x80x9c19th Symposium of Reliability and Maintenancexe2x80x9d of the Science and Technology Association (June 1989). According to this method, a TEG, in which a plurality of Al wire elements having varying widths in a range of 1 xcexcm to 90 xcexcm are two-dimensionally arranged, is assembled on a resin-sealed package. With this structure, the surface of a chip is observed before and after a thermal stress is applied to the chip in a thermal shock test, etc. Thereby, a region on the chip, where a passivation crack or Al slide has occurred, is quantatively evaluated.
There is known another method wherein a stress within a package is measured using a stress measuring element in which diffused resistance layer patterns (unit cells) with different piezoresistance coefficients are two-differentially arranged.
In the TEG or the stress measuring element, however, the Al wire elements are resistance layer patterns are arranged only two-dimensionally. Thus, their structures are greatly different from the structure of products with double-layer Al wiring. Therefore, neither of the above-described prior-art methods is suitable for finally evaluating products. In the prior art, for this reason, it is imperative to evaluate actual products one by one.
The object of the present invention is to provide an evaluation tool (a semiconductor device for use in evaluating integrated circuit devices) capable of quantatively and precisely evaluating the initial characteristics and reliability of LSIs, and dispensing with evaluation using actual products.
In order to achieve this object, there is provided an evaluation tool comprising: a stress sensor, a temperature sensor and a resistor group which are all disposed on a semiconductor substrate; and a wiring layer provided on the stress sensor, the temperature sensor and the resistor group, with an insulation film interposed.
According to this invention, there is also provided an evaluation tool comprising: a semiconductor substrate; a stress sensor disposed at each of at least two locations including a central area and a corner area of the semiconductor substrate; a temperature sensor disposed close to the stress sensor at each of at least two locations including the central area and the corner area of the semiconductor substrate; a resistor group disposed in an array fashion on the semiconductor substrate excluding the locations where the stress sensor and the temperature sensor are provided; and a wiring layer provided on the stress sensor, the temperature sensor and the resistor group, with an insulation film interposed, the wiring layer being divided into a plurality of areas with different line widths ranging from several xcexcm to several-hundred xcexcm.
According to the evaluation tool of the present invention, defects which may actually occur in LSIs can be reproduced with higher fidelity. Thus, evaluation with a structure substantially equal to the structure of an actual product can be made.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter.

Semiconductor device for use in evaluating integrated circuit device


A method using a field-accessed database system identifies an object by a data identifier, and stores and/or retrieves object data using the associated data identifier. In one mode of operation, a field terminal uploads to a database object-based data and employs the associated data identifier to group the uploaded object data with object data relating to other objects having substantially similar data identifiers. In another mode of operation, the system identifies one or more data products stored in a database and previously grouped according to an identified object's data identifier, and a field terminal downloads from database one or more data products related to the identified object and processes downloaded data products for user access. In another mode of operation, called discover mode, field terminal selects data products in a database using a selection algorithm based on terminal location and downloads these data products from this database, prior to receiving user input used to select final data products of interest to access using field terminal.

Due to the evolution of well-known social networks such as MySpace and Facebook, it has become commonplace for a user to upload digital data products comprising photo, video, and/or audio data to a social network database to share with other users. In a social network, data products are generally organized according to user, and they are accessed through a web page that presents links to data products identified using, for example, thumbnails and brief descriptions.
According to the Facebook web site (http://www.facebook.com/press/info.php?statistics, retrieved May 8, 2010), Facebook has more than 400 million active users, 50% of its active users log on to Facebook in any given day, the average user has 130 friends, and people spend over 500 billion minutes per month on Facebook. According to the MySpace web site (http://www.myspace.com/pressroom?url=/fact+sheet/, retrieved May 8, 2010), MySpace has more than 113 million monthly active users worldwide and more than 70 million total unique users in the United States. Social network Flickr, having over 35,000,000 users, allows users to upload photos and share them with other users. The Internet-based service "Yelp!" allows users to identify a venue of interests such as a restaurant based on proximity to a user's location, and download data such as photos and brief reviews relating to a venue of interest. "Yelp!" also allows users to upload data related to a selected venue of interest, such as photos and brief reviews, to the "Yelp!" database. According to the "Yelp!" web site, as of March 2010, "Yelp!" reports 31,000,000 visitors accessed "Yelp!" in the prior 30 days, and "Yelp!" users have written over 10,000,000 reviews (http://www.yelp.com/about, retrieved May 29, 2010).
In another field of endeavor, the evolution of GPS locator system applications has led to compact GPS locator systems that provide maps and voice queues to aid in navigation based on location and orientation. Examples include units from Magellan and Garmin, which can be purchased at consumer electronics stores.
In another field of endeavor, the evolution of compact mobile computing devices connected to a wireless digital network, such as the iPhone, produced by Apple, Inc., has led to the development and distribution of a variety of applications that make use of the GPS locator system and other locator systems to identify the location the mobile computing device and download data related to the identified location. Examples of downloaded data include digital maps and listings of nearby restaurants. The "Yelp!" iPhone application establishes user location using built-in iPhone GPS capability and identifies venues of interest according to proximity.
In another field of endeavor, the Google Earth application establishes user location and downloads image information according to a user's location. This image information includes digital maps, satellite imagery, and ground-based imagery. Using Google Earth and the Google application Picasa, an image may be geotagged to link it to a particular location.
What is lacking in the art is a field-accessed database method and system that allows a member of a user community to identify an object by a data identifier, and to store data corresponding to an identified object by employing its data identifier to group it with other data related to the same object, for retrieval by other members of the user community seeking data on the same object. What is further lacking is a system and method that accomplishes storage and/or retrieval of data in this manner using data identifiers that specify the location of an object.

Method and system for storing, retrieving, and sharing data using a field-accessed database system comprising a mobile unit


An occupant protection device including a wrap for holding an inflatable air bag cushion in a folded shape. The wrap includes a tear seam forming a substantial “U” shape. The tear seam directs the initial airbag deployment toward the bottom of the airbag module and between the lower rim of a steering wheel and a driver. The wrap protects a fifth percentile female in close proximity to the lower rim of the steering wheel.

The present invention relates generally to the field of airbag modules.
In conventional airbag systems, airbag modules include a folded airbag covered with a cover. In the event of a vehicle collision, an inflator, i.e. a gas generator, ejects gas to deploy and inflate the airbag rapidly to a position adjacent a vehicle occupant. The deploying airbag pushes against and opens the cover.
In conventional driver's side airbag systems, the airbag module includes a retainer to which the folded airbag is mounted. The cover overlies the folded airbag and is also secured to the retainer. The cover is positioned between the folded airbag and the occupant. The airbag is generally positioned within the steering wheel. When collision involving the vehicle is imminent or has occurred, as detected by a sensor, the inflator is activated to deploy the airbag.
Conventional airbag systems may also include a fabric cover that encapsulates all or at least part of the folded airbag, such as discussed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,145,879 (incorporated by reference herein in its entirety). The aforementioned patent discusses a heat shrinkable fabric cover with a predetermined region of weakness that extends along the length of the cover and folded airbag. However, such conventional fabric covers do not direct the deploying airbag in any manner.
The airbag is deployed out of the steering wheel and toward the driver. However, for certain conventional airbags, individuals positioned near a lower rim of the steering wheel, such as a fifth percentile female, are in danger of coming into contact with the lower rim of the steering wheel and missing the airbag.
Thus, there remains a need to protect a driver positioned close to a steering wheel during a collision. In particular, there remains a need to protect a fifth percentile female driver positioned close to the lower rim of the steering wheel during a collision.


An organic transistor is capable of emitting light at high luminescence efficiency, operating at high speed, handling large electric power, and can be manufactured at low cost. The organic transistor includes an organic semiconductor layer between a source electrode and a drain electrode, and gate electrodes shaped like a comb or a mesh, which are provided at intervals approximately in the central part of the organic semiconductor layer approximately parallel to the source electrode and the drain electrode. The organic semiconductor layer consists of an electric field luminescent organic semiconductor material such as compounds of naphthalene, anthracene, tetracene, pentacene, hexacene, a phthalocyanine system compound, an azo system compound, a perylene system compound, a triphenylmethane compound, a stilbene compound, poly N-vinyl carbazole, and poly vinyl pyrene.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an organic transistor, and especially relates to an organic electro luminescent (EL) transistor that is useful as a self-luminous organic EL display, and capable of switching and luminescence functions by combining an organic light emitting diode (LED) and an organic transistor.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, research has actively been carried out about organic EL elements because it has become clear that the organic EL elements are superior to luminous devices that deploy inorganic materials for reasons such as (1) a lightweight structure can be provided, (2) a wide area display can be easily obtained, and (3) various luminescences can be obtained. An organic EL display using an organic EL element provides high luminosity with a thin shaped configuration and a fast response speed, and is therefore considered to be a promising next-generation display device that will replace liquid crystal displays that are presently used. Further, an organic semiconductor material is attracting attention as a material to replace amorphous silicon or poly silicon in TFTs (thin film transistors) that are used as display driving (controlling) devices.
Research of organic transistors has been actively conducted since the beginning of the 1980s, and fundamental characteristics of low molecular and high polymer organic compounds for semiconductor film have been studied. However, because an organic semiconductor material as above has lower electric charge transfer speed and higher resistance than an inorganic semiconductor material, the organic semiconductor material has seldom attracted attention for practical applications. Starting recently, research of organic semiconductor materials is being actively conducted for application to a wide area display element of the next generation, so that present liquid crystal displays, which are often used in portable electric devices, can be replaced with displays using organic material that features lightweight and flexibility. For example, TFT that is formed with a pentacene film on a highly doped silicon substrate, which realizes electric charge transfer speed of 0.52 cm2/V-sec, is proposed (JP,10-270712,A).
TFT formed with pentacene has shown problems in that vacuum membrane formation is required to form pentacene into a thin film, and that adhesion of pentacene to a substrate is weak. Then, C. J. Drury et al. proposed a totally-organic TFT that employed polyimide for the substrate, poly vinyl phenol (PVP) as an insulated material, poly thienylenevinylene (PTV) as a semiconductor material, and doped poly aniline as an electrode material, which realizes an electric charge transfer speed of 3×10-4 cm2/V-sec (APL Vol. 73, No. 1 (1998) 108).
However, the electric charge transfer speed attained by the TFT proposed by J. Drury et al. is still low, and improvements are desired. From these facts, it has become important that improvements be based on total technology. That is, in order to attain an electric charge transfer speed comparable to amorphous silicon, the technology of TFT structures and the technology of TFT production processes have to be added to the technology concerning organic semiconductor material.
As for organic semiconductor materials, for example, (1) low molecular compounds such as pentacene and metal phthalocyanine, (2) short chain oligomers such as C3-C8 n-thiophene, and (3) long chain polymers such as poly thiophene and poly phenylenevinylen are available. The long chain polymer is known as a π-conjugate system conductive polymer, wherein an electric charge moves along a low molecular compound, an oligomer, and a polymer by conjugation of atomic orbits between adjacent atoms that are multimeric. Depending on the conjugation status of orbits of adjacent molecules, electron transfer between the molecules becomes possible. An organic thin film of a low molecular compound or a short chain oligomer is known to show the highest degree of charge transfer among organic materials, and the low molecular compound or the short chain oligomer that shows such a high degree of charge transfer is made into an ordered arrangement, and formed into a thin film by vacuum evaporation. In the ordered arrangement of the thin film, atomic orbits overlap, which overlap is considered to facilitate the transfer of an electric charge between adjoining molecules. A long chain polymer that has great solubility provides a low cost film by spin-coating and dip-coating, which certainly is an advantage. However, a problem is that the electric charge transfer speed is low because the ordered arrangement is not available. Thus, an organic semiconductor material that has sufficiently high electric charge transfer speed has not been found.
As mentioned above, while an organic semiconductor material offers a possibility that TFT will be realizable with cheaper and easier membrane formation technology, such as vacuum evaporation, spin-coating, dip-coating, printing, and ink jetting, which is an advantage, there is a problem in that the electric charge transfer speed is lower than desired. Typical electric charge transfer speed is 0.001-0.1 cm2/V-sec in the small molecular compounds and the short chain oligomer, and 0.0001-0.01 cm2/V-sec in the long chain polymer. The highest electric charge transfer speed of an organic semiconductor material reported so far is 0.7 cm2/V-sec of a pentacene thin film.
Under the state of the art as described, even if TFT having an electric field effect transistor (FET) structure is simply employed as a driving unit of an organic EL element, the electric charge transfer speed is still low, and it is difficult to obtain a desired operation speed at desired power consumption.
Another approach is to use an electrostatic induction n-type transistor (SIT) as a switching element that provides comparatively favorable ON current value at a low electric charge transfer speed. SIT is a transistor in which electric current flows vertically through an active layer, while, generally, in TFTs, electric current flows horizontally through an active layer.
FIG. 11 is an outline sectional drawing of a SIT. A SIT generally includes a P+ gate 103 that is inserted in a semiconductor layer 104 that is sandwiched by an N+ source electrode 101 and an N+ drain electrode 102. When voltage is applied to the P+ gate electrode 103, a depletion layer 105 (two regions shown by dotted lines in FIG. 11) expands in the semiconductor layer 104. As the voltage is increased, the two regions grow and touch each other at a certain voltage, which is called the contacting voltage. When the gate voltage is smaller than the contacting voltage, SIT will be in an ON state. In order to turn the SIT to an OFF state, it is necessary to apply a negative voltage between the P+ gate 103 and the N+ source electrode 101 such that the potential level is raised. That is, the current IDS that flows between the N+ source electrode 101 and the N+ drain electrode 102 is a function of the height of a potential barrier produced by the voltage applied to the P+ gate 103 and drain voltage VD. A SIT that operates in this manner is called a normally-ON SIT, which features (1) providing high speed operation because no carrier is injected from the gate, (2) providing high ruggedness (large current can flow) because no current concentration is present, (3) being a voltage driven device, (4) showing an unsaturated current-voltage characteristic, and the like.
As for a SIT using an organic semiconductor, a vertical type TFT is reported (Kudo et al., T.IEE Japan, Vol. 118-A, No. 10, (1998) P1166-1171), wherein copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) is sandwiched by a source electrode and a drain electrode, and a gate electrode consists of slit-like aluminum formed by vacuum evaporation, and embedded in the copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) that is an organic material. All films of this TFT are formed by the vacuum evaporation method on a glass substrate. Further, in order to form a Schottky barrier near the interface of an organic molecule film of CuPc, which is formed by vacuum evaporation, and the slit-like aluminum gate electrode of the SIT, the slit-like aluminum is exposed to the atmosphere immediately after carrying out the vacuum evaporation so that the aluminum surface is oxidized. Problems with this SIT are that: since all the films are formed by the vacuum evaporation method, costs of production equipment becomes high, and, therefore, productivity becomes low; and because the process includes exposure to the atmosphere for oxidizing the metal, control is difficult, and reproducibility is not satisfactory.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


The present disclosure relates to the field of door fittings, particularly door fittings comprising a privacy latch for a sliding door. In one particular aspect the present disclosure is suitable for use for securing interior or exterior doors, including doors for bathrooms, changing rooms, shower or toilet cubicles to give users the option of privacy. The present disclosure stems from the realization that smooth movement of a latch hook between a locked and unlocked condition can be obtained by use of a guide.

It is to be appreciated that any discussion of documents, devices, acts or knowledge in this specification is included to explain the context of the present disclosure. Further, the discussion throughout this specification comes about due to the realisation of the inventor and/or the identification of certain related art problems by the inventor. Moreover, any discussion of material such as documents, devices, acts or knowledge in this specification is included to explain the context of the disclosure in terms of the inventor's knowledge and experience and, accordingly, any such discussion should not be taken as an admission that any of the material forms part of the prior art base or the common general knowledge in the relevant art in Australia, or elsewhere, on or before the priority date of the disclosure and claims herein.
Doors normally require a latch mechanism so that they can be secured in the closed position. Interior doors tend to have a simple latch, the main body of which is located adjacent to the closing edge of the door. The latch can be manually operated by a handle, such as a lever or knob that turns, moving an internal latch mechanism. As the handle is moved, a latch hook engages/disengages with a plate that is attached to the door jamb or door frame, thus securing/releasing the door.
Sliding door locks often do not include protruding handles such as levers or knobs, for aesthetic or practical reasons. In particular, protruding handles are not suitable for use with cavity sliding doors, that is, door panels which are typically hidden from view by sliding them into a wall cavity. Protruding handles would stop the door from being entirely slid into the cavity, or particularly large wall cavities would be required.
Protruding door handles are therefore often replaced by a pair of recessed cups mounted on either side of the door panel, one of the cups housing an actuation lever and the other typically including an emergency release device. The lever is manually rotated to extend or retract a bolt from the face plate. A strike plate is mounted on the door frame opposite the closing edge of the door and includes an opening complimentary to the bolt. When the door is closed, the bolt can be extended from the latch body, which in turn causes the hook to extend from the bolt and engage the strike plate to retain the door in the closed position. To open the door, the hook disengages from the strike plate and retracts into the bolt, and the bolt in turn retracts into the latch body.
Sliding door locks generally include a lock bolt of generally rectangular cross section with a longitudinal axis parallel to the side edges of the door and a transverse axis normal to the bottom and top edges of the door.
For example Australian patent 782549 (Gainsborough Hardware Industries Ltd), U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,452,928, 5,529,351 and 5,816,629 disclose cavity sliding door locks in which the hook extends from and retracts into, the bolt.


The present invention relates to a cured product having excellent stain resistance and low gloss, a method of manufacturing the same, and an interior material including the cured product. The cured product according to the present invention is formed by sequentially applying light in different specific wavelength ranges to a composition to cure the composition, thereby being capable of realizing a low gloss of 9 or less, based on a 60 degree gloss meter, without use of a matting agent and excellent stain resistance and exhibiting excellent abrasion resistance. Accordingly, the cured product may be usefully used as an interior material such as a flooring material.

In general, residential flooring, which is generally used to finish floors of living rooms and rooms of detached houses or apartments, provides a hygienic space by blocking dust and chilly air from a cement floor. Such residential flooring is printed with various beautiful patterns, thereby providing decorative effects such as changing an indoor atmosphere to make it cozy according to customer demand. When a surface of such existing flooring is contaminated with contaminants, a user cannot easily remove traces of the contaminants. Such flooring with traces of contaminants cannot fulfill basic functions thereof.
To address such a problem, Korean Patent Application Publication No. 2015-0078897 discloses a technology of forming a surface treatment layer on an uppermost layer of a flooring material, thereby imparting stain resistance, as well as abrasion resistance and scratch resistance, to the flooring material. However, in the case of conventional flooring, stain resistance is decreased as gloss decreases, whereby difficulty in cleaning greatly increases. Accordingly, it is difficult to impart natural gloss, as in a natural material, while maintaining high stain resistance. In particular, when conventional flooring materials, to which stain resistance is imparted, are contaminated by oil-based magic-marker marks and other pollutants, the contaminants are erased from a flooring material having a gloss of 10 or higher, but are not erased from a flooring material having a gloss of 8 or less, based on a 60 degree gloss meter. In addition, stain resistance is rapidly decreased due to abrasion of silicon included in an ultraviolet-cured surface treatment composition for treating surfaces of the flooring materials. In addition, a conventional ultraviolet-cured surface treatment composition includes an increased amount of silica as a matting agent so as to lower the gloss of a flooring material treated therewith. Since such silica is porous and has a very low apparent specific gravity, fine dust, moisture, oil, and the like are easily adsorbed and stain resistance is rapidly decreased, as the content of the silica increases. In addition, traces such as fingerprints, footprints, and sweat stains remain on a surface of a floor material surface-treated with the matting agent, and the appearance of the floor material becomes cloudy like fog.
Accordingly, there is an urgent need for development of a material having a surface contact area and thus having improved stain resistance to the extent of preventing easy contamination by oil stains, food stains, pencil marks, dust, and ingrained stains at home, while realizing the gloss of a flooring material in a low state without a matting agent.

Low-gloss cured product having excellent stain resistance, and manufacturing method therefor


An optical shutter device for use, e.g., in an optical printer includes a plurality of electrooptic chips each having a plurality of very small segments for optical modulation. The optical shutter device has a voltage adjusting circuit which individually supplies the driving voltage to the chips depending on the light transmitting characteristics intrinsic to the chips. Thus, even when the chips have different light transmitting characteristics, the image produced by the chips will have a uniform intensity.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an optical shutter device using an electrooptic material such as PLZT, or the like, for the optical modulation purpose used, for example, in an optical printer, and more particularly, to an optical shutter device wherein a plurality of chips of an electrooptic material each having a plurality of very small segments for the optical modulation purpose per a unit of dot are connected to each other.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In an optical shutter device of the type referred to above which uses an electrooptic material such as PLZT or the like, the quantity of the transmitting light passing through the PLZT chips is changed depending on the intensity of the driving voltage impressed on each of the plurality of very small segments of the chips as well as the length of the applying time. For example, when the optical shutter device is installed in an electrophotographic optical printer, the quantity of the transmitting light through the optical shutter device can be varied. Thus, it is possible to change the amount of light irradiated on the photoconductive photosensitive body. Accordingly, the electric charges on the photoconductive photosensitive body is decreased proportionally to the radiated light thereon, resulting in formation of a latent image which may be of a two tone image or a gray level image.
The conventional optical shutter device of the above-mentioned type has, however, the following problems.
The electrooptic material used in the optical shutter device is obtained through sintering at high temperatures and with high pressure, and therefore, the size of one chip of the electrooptic material is limited. If the optical shutter device is used in the optical printer, for example, it is necessary for the optical shutter device to have a length approximately equal to the length of one recording line, i.e., the recording width. Therefore, a plurality of the chips are aligned in a line to obtain the required optical shutter device. However, the half-wave voltage (or half-wavelength voltage) which is the voltage impressed across the electrooptical material to obtain the maximum transparency, differs for each chip because Of the variation of the electrooptic coefficient between the chips or the variation of gaps between independent electrodes and a common electrode. If the same driving voltage is impressed for recording, the recording results in non-uniform operation due to the difference of the characteristic of the electrooptic material, and the variation in the distance between the electrodes. As such, it is required to use chips of the electrooptic material having the characteristic as uniform as possible, which however lowers the yield of the chips for the optical shutter device, leading eventually to an increase of the cost of the optical shutter device itself.


A method for use in encrypting data using a computer. The method comprises receiving data to be encrypted, defining a set of byte codes comprising user byte codes, storing a transformation vector defined from the set of byte codes, retrieving the transformation vector from the memory, transforming a block of the data from the data to be encrypted, translating values of the user byte codes from the block of data across the transformation vector, randomly selecting one or more reversible operations to perform, performing the reversible operations during the translation of the values of the user byte codes from the block of data, and inserting the translated values of the user byte codes into an encrypted block of data.

Symmetric key encryption is a form of encryption where the same key information is used to encrypt and decrypt the desired data. Symmetric key encryption can be used on either a stream of data or discrete blocks of data. Symmetric key encryption is known to be faster and stronger in general than alternative asymmetric key encryption methods and can be used whenever it is possible to ensure the security of the key information among the parties who are allowed access.
There have been several different standards of symmetric key encryption. The Data Encryption Standard (DES) was designed by IBM in the 1970's. DES is a block encryption standard with discrete blocks of data of 64 bits and a key size of 56 bits. In some form, DES was considered the standard encryption method until it was replaced by the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). DES is now considered insecure based on its relatively small key size and the fact that it can be reliably broken in short periods of time using modern computer hardware. AES has a block size of 128 bits and a key size of 128, 192, or 256 bits. It was first published in the late 1990's, and is currently considered a standard for symmetric key encryption and is considered by the U.S. government to be sufficient to protect classified information.
In current encryption systems, there is a tradeoff between the strength of the encryption against breaking and the cost of implementing the encryption method. In many cases, the strength of the encryption method is heavily reliant on the size of the key used, as in DES and AES. In the most extreme case, a symmetric key encryption can be made unbreakable by using what is known as a one-time pad (OTP). In an OTP encryption, the key used is perfectly random, is the same length as the data being encrypted, and can only be used once. Assuming that the key is secret and known only to the allowed parties, an OTP encryption is considered mathematically unbreakable. However, the cost of implementing an OTP is high, requiring that each party share very large keys using a sufficiently secret method for each message that they want to send.
A good symmetric key encryption method has a reasonable cost for sharing and storing of the key information and running the encryption algorithm, but it must also result in a strong encryption that is not realistically breakable.

Cryptographic system of symmetric-key encryption using large permutation vector keys


Portions of a product are obtained from a supply of the product and are weighed and distributed by an apparatus having a plurality of picking units, a computer and a distribution device. Each picking unit provides for gripping and removing a portion of a product from a supply of the product, for weighing and recording the weight of the removed, gripped portion, and for feeding the recorded weight of the removed, gripped portion to the computer. The computer, which is preprogrammed for a predetermined total weight and to combine a plurality of recorded weights to give a total weight substantially equal to the preprogrammed weight and to actuate release of a combination of portions from the picking units, computes the recorded weights to combine the recorded weights to give a total weight of a combination of a plurality of the portions substantially equal to the preprogrammed weight and then actuates release of the combination of portions which give the total weight for distribution.

The present invention relates to a weighing and distributing apparatus, and more particularly, to an automatic weighing and distributing apparatus which weighs a number of portions of a product and selects a plurality of portions whose combined weights are substantially equal to a preprogrammed weight.
Existing combination weighing machines comprise vibrator chutes to transport the product through the machine and pockets with load cells to weigh the product. Such machines are unsuitable for products such as spaghetti and leaf spinach which tend to stick to the vibrator chute surface and interlace around the chute and pocket edges, as well as for diced products with sticky surfaces which cannot be carried through.

Obtaining, weighing and distributing portions of a product


A manufacturing method of an electro line for a liquid crystal display device includes depositing a barrier layer made of a conducting material on a substrate, depositing a copper layer (Cu) on the barrier layer, wet-etching the Cu layer using a first etchant, and dry-etching the barrier layer using a second etchant using the wet-etched Cu layer as an etch mask.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (LCD) device and more particularly, to a manufacturing method of an electro line for a liquid crystal display (LCD) device.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device is widely used for notebook computers and desktop monitors, etc. because of its superior resolution, color image display and quality of displayed images.
In general, a liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes two substrates spaced apart and facing each other, and a liquid crystal material layer interposed between the two substrates. Each of the first and second substrates includes an electrode, whereby the electrodes of each of the first and second substrates face each other. When a voltage is applied to each of the electrodes, an electric field is induced between the electrodes. Accordingly, an alignment of the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal material layer is changed by the varying intensity or direction of the induced electric field. Thus, the LCD device displays an image by varying transmittance of light through the liquid crystal material layer according to the arrangement of the liquid crystal molecules.
An active matrix LCD device, which has pixels in a matrix type, has been widely used because of high resolution and fast moving images. An array panel of the active matrix LCD device includes a plurality of thin film transistors (TFTs) and a plurality of pixel electrodes, each of which connects with each of TFTs.
A related art LCD device will be described hereinafter more in detail.
FIG. 1 is a plan view of an array substrate for a related art liquid crystal display device. In FIG. 1, a gate line 14 is formed horizontally in the context of the figure and a data line 20 is formed vertically in the context of the figure. The gate and data lines 14 and 20 cross each other to define a pixel region "P". At the crossing of the gate and data lines 14 and 20, a thin film transistor "T" is formed as a switching device, and the thin film transistor "T" is electrically connected to the gate and data lines 14 and 20. A pixel electrode 30 is formed in the pixel region "P", and the pixel electrode 30 is connected to the thin film transistor "T" through a drain contact hole 28.
The thin film transistor "T" includes a gate electrode 12 extended from the gate line 14, an active layer 18 overlapping the gate electrode 12, a source electrode 22 extended from the data line 20 and overlapping the active layer 18, and a drain electrode 24 spaced apart from the source electrode 22 and overlapping the active layer 18.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along the line II-II of FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, a gate electrode 12 is formed on a transparent substrate 1 and a gate insulator 16 is formed on the gate electrode 12. An active layer 18 made of amorphous silicon is formed on the gate insulator 16 and is positioned over the gate electrode 12. An ohmic contact layer 19 is formed on the active layer 18, and the ohmic contact layer 19 is made of doped amorphous silicon. Source and drain electrodes 22 and 24 are formed on the ohmic contact layer 19 and spaced apart from each other. The active layer 18 exposed between the source and drain electrodes 22 and 24 is a channel "ch" of a thin film transistor. A passivation layer 26 is formed on the source and drain electrodes 22 and 24, and the passivation layer 26 has a drain contact hole 28 exposing the drain electrode 24. A pixel electrode 30 is formed in a pixel region "P" on the passivation layer 26 and is connected to the drain electrode 24 through the drain contact hole 28.
Scanning signals or data signals from outer integrated circuits (not shown) are supplied to a liquid crystal panel including the array substrate illustrated above through the gate line or the data line. Each transistor turns on/off in regular sequence according to the scanning signal transmitted through the gate line. When the thin film transistor turns on, the data signal transmitted through the data line is supplied to the pixel electrode via the thin film transistor.
Recently, scanning time is becoming shorter and signaling speeds are increasing due to the large area and high resolution of the LCD device. The gate and data lines are made of material having low resistivity such as aluminum (Al) or aluminum alloy to prevent signal delay. However, Al is easily corroded by acid.
Therefore, copper (Cu), which has lower resistivity than Al and has strong chemical corrosion resistance, has been proposed as a material for the gate and data lines.
However, Cu has poor adhesive strength to a glass substrate, which is widely used as a substrate for the LCD device, and is easily diffused into a layer including silicon in relatively low temperature of about 200 degrees.
To solve the above problem, a structure having a titanium (Ti) layer as a barrier layer has been proposed.
FIGS. 3A to 3C show a manufacturing process of a gate line including a Cu layer in the related art.
In FIG. 3A, a gate line 32, which is composed of a titanium (Ti) layer 32a and a copper (Cu) layer 32b, is formed in a first region "A" on a substrate 1. A manufacturing process of the gate line 32 is as follows. First, the Ti layer 32a and the Cu layer 32b are subsequently deposited on the substrate 1. The Ti layer 32a functions as a barrier between the Cu layer 32b and the substrate 1. A photoresist pattern (not shown) is formed on the Cu layer 32b by coating, exposing, and developing a photoresist resin. The Cu layer 32b and the Ti layer 32a are subsequently etched using the photoresist pattern as a mask. Next, the photoresist pattern is stripped.
The Ti layer 32a is etched by an etchant including a fluoride ion (F−). HF may be used as the etchant. The HF removes not only the Ti layer 32a but also the substrate 1, which is made of glass including silicon (Si). Therefore, the substrate 1 is also etched by a thickness of "C" in a second region "B", which does not have gate line 32 thereon, and the substrate 1 has a surface that is not flat.
As shown in FIG. 3C, a new gate line 34 is formed in place of the gate line 32 of FIG. 3A on the surface of the substrate 1 which is not flat. A reworking process of the gate line is shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C.
In FIG. 3B, the gate line 32 of FIG. 3A is removed. At this time, while the gate line 32 of FIG. 3A is removed, the substrate 1 in the second region "B" is also removed. Accordingly, the surface of the substrate 1 in the second region "B" has a step "D" above the surface of the substrate 1 in the region "A", wherein the step "D" is larger than the thickness "C". The flatness of the substrate 1 is much lower than in FIG. 3A.
In FIG. 3C, new gate line 34 is formed on the substrate 1 through the process in FIG. 3A. At this time, the gate line 34 may be formed on a borderline between the first region "A" and the second region "B" because of a process margin. Then, the gate line 34 has an uneven surface along the step "D" of the substrate 1, which leads to poor patterns being formed on the gate line.
FIG. 4 shows a manufacturing process of source and drain electrodes including a Cu layer in the related art. In FIG. 4, a gate line 32 is formed on a substrate 1 and a gate insulator 36 is formed on the gate line 32. The gate line 32 is made of two layers of a Ti layer 32a and a Cu layer 32b. The Ti layer 32a functions as a barrier between the Cu layer 32b and the substrate 1. An active layer (not shown) and an ohmic contact layer (not shown) are subsequently formed on the gate insulator 36. Though not shown in the figure, source and drain electrodes made of a Ti layer and a Cu layer are formed on the ohmic contact layer by depositing and patterning the Ti layer and the Cu layer. The Ti layers of the source and drain electrodes are etched by an etchant including a fluoride ion (F−). Thus, the gate insulator including silicon may be etched by the etchant, and the gate electrode 32 may be exposed in a step area "E", where the gate insulator 36 has worse properties than in other regions.

Manufacturing method of electro line for liquid crystal display device


A light box includes a lower casing and an upper casing pivotally connected to the lower casing. A lighting element is pivotally mounted to the inner side of the lower casing. A plurality of pairs of spaced ridges are provided on both longitudinal sides of the inner periphery of the lower casing. A plate is pivotally received in the inner side of the upper casing at an upper side thereof. The lower side of the plate is selectively supported by one of the pairs of the ridges. A hologram is provided on one side of the plate which faces the lighting element. When the upper casing is opened to a pre-determined extent, the lighting element is switched on. Under adjustment of the inclination of the hologram plate and the lighting element, a viewer may appreciate various images contained in the hologram.

The present invention relates to a hologram light box and, more particularly, to a hologram light box in which a hologram is stored and displayed.
As well known, a hologram is a medium which enables the storage of three-dimensional visual information, usually multiple images, on a two-dimensional plane, such that a change in the light source will cause a change in the image seen by a viewer. The hologram can be, in mass production, reprinted on transparent plastic material or similar articles. Also known is that a change in the incident angle of the light source provides a great diversity of images and color changing to a viewer.
There is, however, limitation in displaying the three-dimensional image stored in the hologram as lacking associated devices. Therefore, holograms are usually displayed in a hand-held manner, which tends to damage the holograms.
Therefore, there has been a long and unfulfilled need for a device for displaying and storing holograms.

Room 910, 9/F., Tower A, Hunghom Commercial Centre, 37-39, Ma Tau Wai Rd.


A charged particle beam drawing equipment includes charged particle beam source, first and second shaping aperture masks with first and second opening portions for rotation adjustment, detection section to detect charged particle beam intensity distribution in a plane parallel to the second mask, the beam being emitted from the source and passing through the opening portions, rotation angle control section to control relative rotation angle between the masks, acquisition section to acquire relative rotation angle between the masks such that deviation in relative rotation angle between the masks falls within a predetermined range based on detection results obtained by changing the relative rotation angle between the masks plural times by the control section and by detecting the beam by the detection section for each rotation angle, and instruction section to instruct the rotation angle control section such that the relative rotation angle between the masks be the acquired rotation angle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a charged particle beam drawing equipment for use in a lithography process, a method of adjusting an aperture mask in the drawing equipment, and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Related Art
With a finer and highly denser integrated circuit, there has been a demand for a charged particle beam emitting apparatus for emitting a charged particle beam or a focused ion beam which is capable of making stable operation as a semiconductor device mass-production device, achieving high throughput, and achieving finer processing capability.
In recent years, a technique for mass-production has been developed for a charged particle beam drawing equipment as well. Such a technique includes a variable shaping beam (VSB) system for producing rectangular and triangular beams of arbitrary sizes by using a plurality of apertures and a cell projection exposure system having a repetition cell (CP) mounted in advance on an aperture mask. In these systems, the position and rotation precision of the aperture are reflected on drawing precision. Thus, it is important that the aperture mask is adjusted with high precision. As the adjustment time becomes longer, equipment operability is lowered. However, a shorter adjustment time is desired.
One of the conventional aperture mask adjusting methods includes a knife edge system using an edge of an opening portion of each aperture mask (Japanese Patent No. 3102632). In this system, it is mandatory that control means for scanning a charged particle beam is precisely adjusted. Thus, a time interval required for adjusting a rotation angle of an aperture mask becomes longer by a time interval required for adjusting the control means with high precision. In addition, it is necessary that the edge of the opening portion of each aperture mask is precisely formed. However, it is difficult to form the edge of the opening portion of each aperture mask with high precision. Therefore, the conventional aperture mask adjusting method cannot be simply used because it requires a long time interval or a precisely formed edge.

Charged particle beam drawing equipment, method of adjusting aperture mask, and method of manufacturing semiconductor device


First brush bristles of an alignment stage cleaning mechanism are pressed on a wafer suction stage of the alignment stage before a semiconductor wafer is transported onto the alignment stage, in which state the wafer suction stage rotates to thereby remove dust attached to the wafer suction stage. Moreover, second brush bristles of a wafer chuck table cleaning mechanism are moved on and along a surface facing downward of a wafer chuck table to thereby remove dust attached to the surface facing downward of the wafer chuck table.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a transport method and a transport apparatus for a semiconductor wafer (hereinafter, also referred to as a "wafer" for short).
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, the following procedure has been adopted. In grinding (back grinding) of the back surface of a wafer having been finished with a pattern forming processing, for example, a protective tape is applied to the front surface of the wafer in advance and, also, a portion of the protective tape extending out from the wafer periphery is also cut off. Moreover, the wafer the front surface of which is all protected with the protective tape is suction-held by a sucking disc at the front surface thereof and subjected to grinding and, thereafter, the back surface thereof is suction-held at part thereof to change places of the wafer and transfer to various processing tables.
In recent years, there has been a tendency that a wafer thickness after grinding the back surface of a wafer is thinner and thinner. As a result of the tendency, a rigidity of a wafer itself thus ground to be thinner is reduced, thereby generating a warp in the wafer even with a slight stress generated in a surface thereof.
A wafer with such a warp, when being transferred while part of a front or back surface thereof is suction-held, suffers deficiency in vacuum suction and shifts its position during transfer, leading to an inconvenience to disable the transfer to have a stably high accuracy. Hence, the front or back surface of a wafer has been held by vacuum suction using an area nearly as large as the whole of the front or back surface thereof when being held with a wafer holding means such as an alignment stage or a wafer chuck table.
In recent years, however, the front and back surfaces of a wafer have been brought into contact with a wafer holding means such as an alignment stage or a wafer chuck table at nearly the whole surface areas of the wafer; therefore, dust (foreign matter) generated by the contact are conspicuously accumulated on the wafer holding means and dust attached to a wafer increases with a rise in the number of handled other wafers, which has resulted in occurrence of defective products, and in turn in reduction in production yield.

Transport method and transport apparatus for semiconductor wafer


Utilization of an electrical link separate from an optical transmission path to gather information identifying the number and types of optical devices in the optical path and utilization of this information to adjust the power output level of an optical transmitter and to transmit the power output level to optical receivers connected to the optical transmitter by the optical path. Each optical receiver is responsive to the number and types of optical components in the path between the optical receiver and the optical transmitter and the power output level to adjust the sensitivity of the optical receiver. Each optical component is associated with an electrical identification circuit connected to the electrical link which specifies the information on the electrical link concerning the optical component including the performance characteristics of the optical component.

The capability of being able to adjust the output power of an optical transmitter in response to changing conditions within a transmission system and to transfer that output power information to each optical receiver is very important in large optical transmission systems. One such optical system is commonly called the fiber-in-the-loop (FITL) system which will provide optical fiber connections to residential homes. In such systems, there are a large number of optical components in various optical paths, and it is a difficult problem to maintain records which specify the number and type of optical components in each optical path. The number and type of optical components is particularly important in optical transmission systems since attenuation is introduced into the optical transmission path by the optical fibers, splices, connectors, splitters, combiners, etc. The present residential telephone systems illustrate the problems of maintaining accurate records of installed equipment and cables in the residential environment.
One prior art method for correcting this type of situation with respect to the output power level is to manually adjust the optical transmitter and optical receivers by physically adjusting the transmitters and receivers or by entering information into a computer controlling the transmission system and having the computer adjust each individual receiver and transmitter. The problems with a manual adjustment procedure are expense and probability of human errors.
In another prior art method, U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,302 discloses an optical receiver feeding back information to an optical transmitter to adjust the output of the optical transmitter. There are two problems with this prior art solution. First, it only functions where a transmitter is driving a single receiver, and second, it requires an additional optical transmitter and receiver for the feedback path which is expensive. In addition, no provision is made for the adjustment of the optical receiver.
Another prior art method which does not require manual entry of data is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,295,043. This patent discloses the use of a connector which identifies the length of attached cable by predefined electrical contacts placed on the connector of the cable. Different connectors are used for different lengths of optical fiber when the cable is being assembled. The receiver then automatically adjusts to the cable length based on the electrical contacts and assumes a predefined transmitter output. This method does allow a receiver to adjust for particular lengths of optical fiber in a given transmitter output. However, it does not allow two lengths of optical fiber cable to interconnect the transmitter and receiver. Nor does the method allow for multiple optical receivers to be connected to one optical transmitter.
There exists a need for a method which determines the optimal power output from an optical transmitter on the basis of optical components in the various paths connecting optical receivers to the optical transmitter and which communicates the output of the optical transmitter to each individual optical receiver so that each optical receiver can adjust its sensitivity to match the output of the optical transmitter.
In systems using duplicated optical transmission subsystems, an active one of two optical transmitters transmits to a plurality of receivers. If it becomes necessary for the inactive one of the optical transmitters to become active, the optical receivers must adjust to the difference between signal levels of the two optical transmitters when the optical paths from the optical transmitters to the optical receivers having different attenuations. The time required for the optical receivers to adjust causes data to be lost which can not be tolerated in some systems.
There exist a need for for a method which will allow an inactive optical transmitter to start transmitting to optical receivers without the optical receivers having to adjust for a difference in signal levels.

Multipath optical transmission system controller


The invention provides a method for updating a user profile on a server (2) based on user content items on a client (1), the server (2) being able to communicate with the client (1) via a communication network (3), comprising the following steps: a) for each of at least a part of said user content items on the client (1), providing characteristic information suitable to identify a respective user content item; b) transferring the characteristic information of the user content items from the client (1) to the server (2); c) comparing the characteristic information of the user content items with characteristic information suitable to identify the server content items; and d) updating the user profile on the server (2) based on the comparison carried out in c).

In personalized streaming data services such as personalized mobile phone based radio or personalized internet radio stations a user has to update his profile on the server manually.
Generally the manual update of the user profile on the server works as follows: First, a user is provided with a selection of server content items. Second, feedback is given by the user indicating which of the content items of the selection he likes/dislikes. Third, the feedback is transferred to the server to update the user profile on the server.
The abovementioned process requires a considerable amount of time due to a large number of manual feedback steps to be carried out by the user until the user profile on the server satisfyingly represents the user's actual preferences.