The semiconductor memory includes a memory cell array (10) of memory cells arranged in rows and columns, and a plurality of diagonal bit lines (BLP.sub.1 -BLP.sub.N) arranged in a pattern that changes horizontal direction along the memory cell array to facilitate access to said memory cells. The bit lines are arranged non-orthogonal to a plurality of dual word lines (WL.sub.1 -WL.sub.M), where each dual word line includes a master word line (MWL.sub.i) at a first layer and a plurality of local word lines (LWL.sub.1 -LWL.sub.X) at a second layer. The local word lines are connected to the master word line of a common row via a plurality of spaced electrical connections (29), e.g., electrical contacts in a "stitched" architecture, and each local word line is connected to plural memory cells (MC). The electrical connections run in substantially the same pattern along the memory cell array as the bit lines.

As the trend towards ever increasing capacity of semiconductor memories continues, new designs are necessary to conserve space on the chip without compromising performance. As smaller and smaller memory cells become feasible, the problem of effectively accessing the cells with word lines and bit lines without adding significantly to the size of the chip, becomes more challenging.
Conventional DRAM chips employ millions of memory cells arranged in one or more arrays of rows and columns, with bit lines running parallel to the columns and word lines running parallel to the rows. Each memory cell is comprised of an access transistor (e.g., an NFET) and a capacitor such as a trench capacitor for storing charge corresponding to a data bit. The memory cells are typically located at the intersections of the word lines and bit lines. The gate electrode of each access transistor is electrically connected to the associated word line while the transistor's drain terminal is connected to the associated bit line.
In what is known as a folded-bit line architecture, "true" memory cells are located in close proximity to corresponding complementary memory cells. The true cells are connected to true bit lines and the complementary cells are connected to complementary bit lines. A true bit line and an adjacent complementary bit line form a bit line pair. The bit line pair is typically connected at one end to a sense amplifier. The term "column" is sometimes used herein to refer to a bit line pair.
Prior to reading data from a true cell, the true and complementary bit lines are precharged with a certain precharge voltage, and then left floating at that voltage. To read from the true cell, the access transistor is switched on, thereby modifying the voltage level on the true bit line due to charge sharing with the memory cell capacitor. The voltage on the complementary bit line remains at the precharge voltage, whereby a differential voltage is applied to the sense amplifier. The sense amplifier then amplifies the differential voltage to provide a solid logic level for readout and restore operations. Similarly, to read from a complementary cell, the true bit line is held at the precharge voltage while the word line coupled to the complementary cell is raised, whereby an analogous differential voltage is amplified by the sense amplifier.
A word line configuration designed to reduce memory cell access time (RC time constant of the word line) is referred to herein as a dual word line configuration. A dual word line consists of a master word line running continuously across the entire memory cell array or subarray, and a number of local word lines, either connected to or separated from each other, each electrically connecting a predetermined number of memory cells in an associated row to one master word line. One master word line and multiple local word lines are used for each row of the array. Each master word line overlies the associated local word lines on a different vertically-spaced layer, with a suitable dielectric layer separating the two layers. The master word line is composed of a low resistivity metal such as aluminum whereas the local word lines are typically composed of highly doped polysilicon with a silicide layer on top. In what is referred to as a "stitched" architecture, the local word lines are electrically connected to the associated master word line by means of periodic electrical via hole contacts (stitches) between the layers. In what is known as a "segmented" dual word line architecture, word line drivers employing FET switches are used in place of the via hole contacts. With either approach, the total resistance in the path to any given memory cell is substantially reduced. With lower word line resistance, the RC time constant associated with each word line is reduced, thereby reducing memory cell access time. The segmented architecture has the additional advantage of reduced word line capacitance; however, a drawback to this configuration is the additional complexity and space required for the local word line drivers.
Recently, a high density DRAM referred to as a "diagonal bit line (DBL)" DRAM has been developed. With the DBL-type DRAM, the effective cell size is nearly 6F.sup.2, where F is the minimum feature size of the processing technology. An example of a diagonal bit line type DRAM is disclosed in an article entitled "FA 14.6: A 1 Gb DRAM for File Applications", by T. Sugibayashi et al., ISSC95/Session 14. That article discloses a DRAM using an open bit line architecture. The open bit line architecture, however, is more susceptible to noise-related problems than a folded bit line architecture.
Referring to FIG. 1A, there is shown a portion of a diagonal bit line type DRAM employing segmented dual word lines and folded bit lines. Each memory array in the DRAM is divided into multiple memory blocks such as B1, B2 and B3. Dual word lines such as WL.sub.i or WL.sub.y extend across multiple blocks and are driven by a main word line driver 93. Local word line drivers are disposed in areas L.sub.D between the blocks. As shown in FIG. 1B, each dual word line as WL.sub.i consists of a master word line MWL.sub.i and a number P of local word lines LWL.sub.1 -LWL.sub.p. A local word line driver LWD is coupled between each local word line and the master word line. Each local word line driver operates to drive the associated local word line to permit selective access to the cells coupled to that local word line.
Folded bit line pairs such as BLP.sub.j, BLP.sub.i, BLP.sub.y are each coupled to a respective sense amplifier within sense amplifier bank 92. Each pair as BLP.sub.j consists of a true bit line BL.sub.j and a complementary bit line /BL.sub.j. The bit lines run diagonally with respect to the word lines, changing direction at twist regions 33. Direction changes occur every K word lines, where K is typically 2.sup.N, e.g., eight, sixteen, thirty-two, sixty-four, etc. As shown in FIG. 2, the true and complementary bit lines of each bit line pair are vertically spaced from one another, alternatingly overlying and underlying one another. At each twist region 33, a three dimensional twist occurs such that the vertical positions of the true and complementary bitlines change with respect to one another. This three dimensional twist will be referred to herein as a vertical twist. At twist regions 33, a change in horizontal direction can also occur. In this case, the bit lines define zigzag-type patterns in the horizontal plane along the memory array.
An example of a memory cell array employing diagonal bit line cells and vertical twists for the bit lines is disclosed in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/884,853, attorney docket numbers 96E9190US and FI8960449, by John DeBrosse et al., filed Jun. 30, 1997, assigned to the assignee herein and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety (hereafter, the DeBrosse et al. application).
In the architecture of FIG. 1A, the zigzag patterns of the bit lines, in conjunction with the locations of the local word line drivers between memory blocks, results in wasted chip area in the regions A.sub.p at the edge of each memory block. The area penalty is a function of the bit line slant angle .THETA. of the pattern and the length D.sub.T of the vertical twist regions.
Accordingly, for high density memories employing diagonal bit lines, there is a need for an improved architecture in which the above-described area penalty is reduced or substantially eliminated, such that a smaller chip size for a given memory capacity can be realized.

High density semiconductor memory having diagonal bit lines and dual word lines

International Business Machines Corporation


A method and apparatus are disclosed for vehicle occupant protection in unintentional roadway departure by a vehicle having at least one vehicle seat with a seat cushion mounted on a seat frame, the height of which is adjustable through a motor operated height adjustment device. Vehicle travel is monitored using a remote sensor and/or a vehicle dynamics sensor. The remote sensor detects edges of the road. The vehicle dynamics sensor determines vehicle dynamics parameters. Road edge signals and/or vehicle dynamics signals are processed to determine whether the vehicle is about to leave the road. Operation of the height adjustment device to move a seat cushion towards a crash-position is triggered in response to an off-road signal indicating that the vehicle is about to leave the road.

Today active-safety systems, such as collision avoidance systems with automated braking and lane keeping assistants with automated steering, provide for increased safety during vehicle travel.
One type of system, with a potentially large positive impact on accident statistics, is a Forward Collision Avoidance System (FCAS). An FCAS uses sensors based on technologies such as RADAR (RAdio Detection And Ranging), LIDAR (LIght Detection And Ranging), LASER (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) and cameras to monitor the region in front of the host vehicle. In the FCAS a tracking algorithm is used to estimate the state of the objects ahead and a decision algorithm uses the estimated states to determine any action, such as e.g. warning a driver or performing autonomous braking of the vehicle.
However, even if such active-safety systems keep getting better and better, limitations in such systems and also limitations set by the laws of physics will sometimes make accidents, such as unintentional roadway departure, unavoidable. There is of course a risk of serious consequences should a collision occur between one's own vehicle and objects aside the road. Collisions with such objects also often occur at significant speeds, why the risk for structural damages to the vehicle is substantial.
One type of impact, with potentially serious consequences for vehicle occupants, is when a vehicle leaves the road and suffers an impact to the floor of the vehicle, e.g. hits a rock or boulder after departing from the road. Such an impact to the underside of the floor of the vehicle may cause vehicle occupants serious lower spine injuries and may even lead to fatalities.

Apparatus and method for vehicle occupant protection in roadway departure


A layered imaging member comprised of a photogenerating layer of titanyl phthalocyanine prepared by depositing amorphous titanyl phthalocyanine on a substrate maintained at a temperature of from below 25.degree. to about minus 30.degree. C.; and contacting the substrate product with an aliphatic alcohol.

This invention is generally directed to photogenerating pigments such as titanyl phthalocyanines and processes for the preparation thereof, and more specifically, the present invention is directed to processes for obtaining titanyl phthalocyanine polymorphs or crystal forms, including the known Type IV, reference for example U.S. Pat. No. 4,898,799, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference, Type X and layered photoconductive members comprised of the aforementioned titanyl phthalocyanine polymorphs, especially the Type IV and the Type X. In embodiments, the present invention is directed to a process for the preparation of titanyl phthalocyanines by the application of titanyl phthalocyanines to a cooled supporting substrate, like aluminum, and thereafter treating the substrate with a solvent, like an alcohol. In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a process for the preparation of a high purity titanyl phthalocyanine, especially titanyl phthalocyanine Type IV, by applying titanyl phthalocyanine Type II to a substrate cooled to a temperature below 25.degree. C., and preferably from between about -10.degree. to about -30.degree. C.; permitting the substrate to attain room temperature, about 25.degree. C. and subsequently treating, for example, by dipping the substrate into an aliphatic alcohol with 1 to about 12 carbon atoms like methanol. Advantages associated with the processes of the present invention are the provision of a high purity titanyl phthalocyanine, especially Type IV, which purity ranges from about 95 to about 99.5 percent in embodiments, and wherein the titanyl phthalocyanine Type IV contains minimal, or substantially no Type If titanyl phthalocyanine; and superior photosensitivity for the titanyl phthalocyanine obtained, that is for example E.sub.1/2 =0.8 to 1.0 ergs/cm.sup.2 at .lambda.=800 nanometers as compared to a sensitivity of E.sub.1/2 =1.3 to 3.2 ergs/cm.sup.2 at .lambda.=800 nanometers for a number of prior art obtained titanyl phthalocyanines where, for example, the substrate temperature was retained above room temperature during the deposition. Layered imaging members with the aforementioned Type IV as a photogenerator, a charge transport, especially an aryl amine as illustrated herein, and a supporting substrate possess excellent photosensitivity. The titanyl phthalocyanines, especially the known polymorph IV and the X form, can be selected as organic photogenerator pigments in photoresponsive imaging members containing charge, especially hole transport layers such as known aryl amine hole transport molecules. The aforementioned photoresponsive imaging members can be negatively charged when the photogenerating layer is situated between the hole transport layer and the substrate, or positively charged when the hole transport layer is situated between the photogenerating layer and the supporting substrate. The layered photoconductive imaging members can be selected for a number of different known imaging and printing processes including, for example, electrophotographic imaging processes, especially xerographic imaging and printing processes wherein negatively charged or positively charged images are rendered visible with toner compositions of the appropriate charge. Generally, the imaging members are sensitive in the wavelength regions of from about 550 to about 850 nanometers, thus diode lasers can be selected as the light source. Titanyl phthalocyanines may also be selected as intense blue light stable colorants for use in coatings, such as paint, inks, and as near infrared absorbing pigments suitable for use as IR laser optical recording materials.
Titanyl phthalocyanines, including Type IV, as photogenerating pigments in layered photoconductive imaging members are known. The use of certain titanium phthalocyanine pigments as a photoconductive material for electrophotographic applications is known, reference for example British Patent Publication 1,152,655, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 3,825,422 illustrates the use of titanyl phthalocyanine as a photoconductive pigment in an electrophotographic process known as particle electrophoresis. Further, as mentioned in the textbook Phthalocyanine Compounds by Moser and Thomas, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference, polymorphism or the ability to form distinct solid state forms is well known in phthalocyanines. For example, metal-free phthalocyanine is known to exist in at least 5 forms designated as alpha, beta, pi, X and tau. Copper phthalocyanine crystal forms known as alpha, beta, gamma, delta, epsilon and pi are also described. These different polymorphic forms are usually distinguishable on the basis of differences in the solid state properties of the materials which can be determined by measurements, such as Differential Scanning Calorimetry, Infrared Spectroscopy, Ultraviolet-Visible-Near Infrared spectroscopy and, especially, X-Ray Powder Diffraction techniques. There appears to be general agreement on the nomenclature used to designate specific polymorphs of commonly used pigments such as metal-free and copper phthalocyanine. However, this does not appear to be the situation with titanyl phthalocyanines as different nomenclature is selected in a number of instances. For example, reference is made to alpha, beta, A, B, C, y, and m forms of TiOPc (titanyl phthalocyanine) with different names being used for the same form in some situations. It is believed that five main crystal forms of TiOPc are known, that is Types I, II, III, X, and IV. In Japanese 62-256865 there is disclosed, for example, a process for the preparation of pure Type I involving the addition of titanium tetrachloride to a solution of phthalonitrile in an organic solvent which has been heated in advance to a temperature of from 160.degree. to 300.degree. C. In Japanese 62-256866, there is illustrated, for example, a method of preparing the aforementioned polymorph which involves the rapid heating of a mixture of phthalonitrile and titanium tetrachloride in an organic solvent at a temperature of from 100.degree. to 170.degree. C. over a time period which does not exceed one hour. In Japanese 62-256867, there is described, for example, a process for the preparation of pure Type II (B) titanyl phthalocyanine, which involves a similar method to the latter except that the time to heat the mixture at from 100.degree. to 170.degree. C., is maintained for at least two and one half hours. Types I and II, in the pure form obtained by the process of the above publications, apparently afforded layered photoresponsive imaging members with excellent electrophotographic characteristics.
In Mita EPO Patent Publication 314,100, there is illustrated the synthesis of TiOPc by, for example, the reaction of titanium alkoxides and diiminoisoindoline in quinoline or an alkylbenzene, and the subsequent conversion thereof to an alpha type pigment (Type II) by an acid pasting process, whereby the synthesized pigment is dissolved in concentrated sulfuric acid, and the resultant solution is poured onto ice to precipitate the alpha-form, which is filtered and washed with methylene chloride. This pigment, which was blended with varying amounts of metal free phthalocyanine, could be selected as the electric charge generating layer in layered photoresponsive imaging members with a high photosensitivity at, for example, 780 nanometers.
In Mitsubishi Laid Open Japanese Application 90-269776, laid open date Nov. 5, 1990, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference, there is illustrated the preparation of titanyl phthalocyanines by the treatment of phthalocyanines, such as metal free, metal phthalocyanines, or their derivatives with solvents containing at least trifluoroacetic acid, or mixed solvents of trifluoroacetic acid and halogenated hydrocarbons such as methylene chloride. In Example I of this Japanese Laid Open Application the preparation of the C-form of TiOPc is described. Other forms obtained are described in Examples II and III.
Processes for the preparation of specific polymorphs of titanyl phthalocyanine, which require the use of a strong acid such as sulfuric acid, are known, and these processes, it is believed, are not easily scalable. One process as illustrated in Konica Japanese Laid Open on Jan. 20, 1989 as 64-17066 (U.S. Pat. No. 4,643,770 appears to be its equivalent), the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference, involves, for example, the reaction of titanium tetrachloride and phthalonitrile in 1-chloronaphthalene solvent to produce dichlorotitanium phthalocyanine which is then subjected to hydrolysis by ammonia water to enable the Type II polymorph. This phthalocyanine is preferably treated with an electron releasing solvent such as 2-ethoxyethanol, dioxane, N-methylpyrrolidone, followed by subjecting the alpha-titanyl phthalocyanine to milling at a temperature of from 50.degree. to 180.degree. C. In a second method described in the aforementioned Japanese Publication, there is disclosed the preparation of alpha type titanyl phthalocyanine with sulfuric acid. Another method for the preparation of Type IV titanyl phthalocyanine involves the addition of an aromatic hydrocarbon, such as chlorobenzene solvent to an aqueous suspension of Type II titanyl phthalocyanine prepared by the well known acid pasting process, and heating the resultant suspension to about 50.degree. C. as disclosed in Sanyo-Shikiso Japanese 63-20365, Laid Open in Jan. 28, 1988. In Japanese 171771/1986, Laid Open Aug. 2, 1986, there is disclosed the purification of metallophthalocyanine by treatment with N-methylpyrrolidone. Other prior art includes Japanese Publications 62-67044, 63-20354, 120564 and 228265; and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,664,997 and 4,898,799.
To obtain a TiOPc-based photoreceptor having high sensitivity to near infrared light, it is believed necessary to control not only the purity and chemical structure of the pigment, as is generally the situation with organic photoconductors, but also to prepare the pigment in the correct crystal modification. The disclosed processes used to prepare specific crystal forms of TiOPc, such as Types I, II, III and IV, are either complicated and difficult to control as in the preparation of pure Types I and II pigments by careful control of the synthesis parameters by the processes described in Mitsubishi Japanese 62-25685,-6 and -7, or involve harsh treatment such as sand milling at high temperature, reference Konica U.S. Pat. No. 4,898,799; or dissolution of the pigment in a large volume of concentrated sulfuric acid, a solvent which is known to cause decomposition of metal phthalocyanines, reference Sanyo-Shikiso Japanese 63-20365, and Mita EPO 314,100.
Generally, layered photoresponsive imaging members are described in a number of U.S. patents, such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,265,900, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference, wherein there is illustrated an imaging member comprised of a photogenerating layer, and an aryl amine hole transport layer. Examples of photogenerating layer components include trigonal selenium, metal phthalocyanines, vanadyl phthalocyanines, titanyl phthalocyanines, and metal free phthalocyanines.
In copending application U.S. Ser. No. 537,714 (D/90087), the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference, there are illustrated photoresponsive imaging members with photogenerating titanyl phthalocyanine layers prepared by vacuum deposition. It is indicated in this copending application that the imaging members comprised of the vacuum deposited titanyl phthalocyanines and aryl amine hole transporting compounds exhibit superior xerographic performance as low dark decay characteristics result and higher photosensitivity is generated, particularly in comparison to several prior art imaging members prepared by solution coating or spray coating, reference for example U.S. Pat. No. 4,429,029 mentioned hereinbefore.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,153,313 (D/90244), the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference, there is illustrated a process for the preparation of phthalocyanine composites which comprises adding a metal free phthalocyanine, a metal phthalocyanine, a metalloxy phthalocyanine or mixtures thereof to a solution of trifluoroacetic acid and a haloalkane; adding to the resulting mixture a titanyl phthalocyanine; adding the resulting solution to a mixture that will enable precipitation of said composite; and recovering the phthalocyanine composite precipitated product.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,166,339 (D/90198), the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference, there is illustrated a process for the preparation of titanyl phthalocyanine which comprises the reaction of titanium tetrapropoxide with diiminoisoindoline in N-methylpyrrolidone solvent to provide Type I, or .beta.-type titanyl phthalocyanine as determined by X-ray powder diffraction; dissolving the resulting titanyl phthalocyanine in a mixture of trifluoroacetic acid and methylene chloride; adding the resulting mixture to a stirred organic solvent, such as methanol, or to water; separating the resulting precipitate by, for example, vacuum filtration through a glass fiber paper in a Buchner funnel; and washing the titanyl phthalocyanine product.
Disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,198,155 (D/91153) entitled "Titanium Phthalocyanines and Processes for the Preparation Thereof" with inventors James D. Mayo, Terry L. Bluhm, Cheng K. Hsiao, Trevor I. Martin and Ah-Mee Hor; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,182,382 (D/91154) entitled "Processes for Titanyl Phthalocyanines" with inventors James D. Mayo, James M. Duff, Trevor I. Martin, Terry L. Bluhm, Cheng K. Hsiao and Ah-Mee Hor, is a process for the preparation of titanyl phthalocyanine which comprises the treatment of titanyl phthalocyanine Type X with a halobenzene, the disclosures of which are totally incorporated herein by reference.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,206,359 (D/91151), the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference, are processes for the preparation of titanyl phthalocyanine (TiOPc) polymorphs, which comprises, for example, the solubilization of a titanyl phthalocyanine Type I in a mixture of trifluoroacetic acid and methylene chloride, adding the resulting mixture slowly, for example dropwise, to an aliphatic alcohol with from 1 to about 12 carbon atoms, such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, and the like; precipitation of the desired titanyl phthalocyanine, such as Type X, separation by, for example, filtration, and optionally subjecting the product to washing, and thereafter treating the Type X titanyl phthalocyanine obtained with a halo, such as a chlorobenzene, to obtain Type IV titanyl phthalocyanine. The product can be identified by various known means including X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD).
The disclosures of all of the aforementioned publications, laid open applications, copending applications and patents are totally incorporated herein by reference.

Photogenerating titanyl phthalocyanine and processes thereof


A system of interconnecting trainers is provided. The trainers may share power and/or exchange control signals, resulting in reduction in weight/size and increase in portability. Some of the trainers may include a rechargeable battery to allow the trainers to operate without being connected to an AC outlet. A power source selector switch may select an external AC power source or the internal battery to be used by the trainer. Some the trainers may include one or more DC and/or AC signal distribution relays that may receive control signals from student designed circuits or controllers and may provide DC and/or AC signals to other trainers. Some of the trainers may include built-in devices such as oscilloscopes, signal generators with displays, multimeters, and pneumatic devices.

Instructional trainers are systems that are used to teach students the design and analysis concepts of building circuits, using programmable logic controllers (PLCs), controlling pieces of industrial equipment such as motors or pneumatics devices, etc. The instructional trainers may include electrical devices, mechanical devices, electro-mechanical devices, optical devices, pneumatic devices, etc. The instructional trainers may be used as a part of a training course and are typically set up in a lab with access to electrical outlets and bench space.


A semiconductor device includes a control circuit for carrying out gamma correction of a supplied signal, and a memory for storing data used in the gamma correction. The control circuit and the memory are constituted by TFTs, and are integrally formed on the same insulating substrate. A semiconductor display device includes a pixel region in which a plurality of TFTs are arranged in matrix; a driver for switching the plurality of TFTs; a picture signal supply source for supplying a picture signal; a control circuit for carrying out gamma correction of the picture signal; and a memory for storing data used in the gamma correction of the picture signal. The plurality of TFTs, the driver, the control circuit, and the memory are integrally formed on the same insulating substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a semiconductor display device. Particularly, the present invention relates to a semiconductor device in which a nonvolatile memory for storing data and other logic circuits are integrally formed on an insulating substrate by using an SOI (Silicon On Insulator) technique. Moreover, the present invention relates to a semiconductor display device in which pixels and peripheral circuits such as a driving circuit and a memory are integrally formed on an insulating substrate by using the SOI technique.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a technique for manufacturing a semiconductor device, such as a thin film transistor (hereinafter referred to as a TFT), in which a semiconductor thin film is formed on an inexpensive glass substrate has been rapidly developed. The reason is that the demand for an active matrix type liquid crystal display panel (liquid crystal panel) has increased.
The active matrix type liquid crystal panel is constructed such that a TFT is disposed for each of several tens to several millions of pixel regions arranged in matrix, and an electric charge going in and out of each pixel electrode is controlled by the switching function of the TFT.
FIG. 14 shows a conventional active matrix type liquid crystal display device. As shown in FIG. 14, the conventional active matrix type liquid crystal display device includes a source line side driver 1401, a gate line side driver 1402, a plurality of pixel TFTs 1403 arranged in matrix, and a picture signal line 1404.
The source line side driver and the gate line side driver include a shift register, a buffer circuit, and the like, and are integrally formed on the same substrate as an active matrix circuit in recent years.
Thin film transistors using amorphous silicon formed on a glass substrate are disposed in the active matrix circuit.
There is also known a structure in which quartz is used for a substrate and a thin film transistor is formed of a polycrystalline silicon film. In this case, both a peripheral driving circuit and an active matrix circuit are constituted by thin film transistors formed on the quartz substrate.
There is also known a technique in which a thin film transistor using a crystalline silicon film is formed on a glass substrate by using a technique such as laser annealing. When this technique is used, an active matrix circuit and a peripheral driving circuit can be integrated on a glass substrate.
In the structure as shown in FIG. 14, a picture signal supplied to the picture signal line 1404 is selected by a signal from a shift register circuit of the source line side driver (shift register for horizontal scanning). Then the designated picture signal is supplied to the corresponding source signal line.
The picture signal supplied to the source signal line is selected by a thin film transistor of a pixel and is written into the designated pixel electrode.
The thin film transistor of the pixel is operated by a selection signal supplied from a shift register of the gate line side driver (shift register for vertical scanning) through a gate signal line.
This operation is sequentially repeated at suitable timing by signals from the shift register of the source line side driver and signals from the shift register of the gate line side driver, so that information is sequentially written into the respective pixels arranged in matrix.
In recent years, an active matrix type liquid crystal display device has been often used for a note-sized personal computer. In the personal computer, a multi-gradation liquid crystal display device is required to realize such functions that plural pieces of software are concurrently started up or a picture from a digital camera is taken in and is processed.
Moreover, the demand for a liquid crystal projector which can project a television signal such as a high-definition television signal and can meet a large screen, has increased. In this case as well, the quality of a supplied picture depends on the degree of the fineness of gradation display.
Like this, for the purpose of providing a high quality picture, it is important to what degree the gradation display can be made fine. As a method of gradation display, there are a case (analog gradation) of supplying an analog signal such as a video signal or a television signal to a source line and a case (digital gradation) of supplying a digital signal such as a data signal from a personal computer or the like.
In the analog gradation, as described above, an analog picture signal to be supplied to the picture signal line is sequentially selected by a signal from the source driver, and the designated picture signal is supplied to the corresponding source line.
In the digital gradation, a digital signal to be supplied to the picture signal line is sequentially selected, and after the selected signal is D/A converted, the designated picture signal is supplied to the corresponding source line.
In the case of the liquid crystal display device, even when any gradation display is used, there is a relation between the voltage (V) applied to a liquid crystal and the strength of transmitted light as indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 15. However, it is assumed that the liquid crystal display device uses a TN (twisted nematic) mode and a normally white mode in which the device becomes in a light state when a voltage is not applied.
As is understood from FIG. 15 as well, since there is a nonlinear relation between the voltage applied to the liquid crystal and the strength of the transmitted light, it is difficult to make gradation display according to an applied voltage.
In order to compensate the above, a means as gamma correction is adopted. In the gamma correction, a picture signal is gained and correction is made so that the strength of transmission light is linearly changed according to an applied voltage. By this gamma correction, excellent gradation display can be obtained. The relation between the applied voltage and the strength of the transmitted light in the case where the gamma correction is carried out is indicated by a solid line in FIG. 15.
However, in order to apply the gamma correction to a picture signal, an IC circuit is additionally required so that a circuit must be provided on the outside of the liquid crystal panel. Thus, it has been actually impossible to miniaturize a product.

Thin film transistor display device with integral control circuitry

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


A method of optimizing a planetary gear system for continued operation after failure of a planet gear includes providing a planetary gear system and reducing a backup ratio of a planet gear of the planetary gear system by reducing a rim thickness of the planet gear.

In planetary gear systems, a planet gear or a pinion gear is typically designed to fail by gear tooth breakage. In cases where a planet gear tooth breaks off from the planet gear, the planetary gear system can experience a catastrophic failure when the broken tooth remnants become enmeshed between planet gears and the sun gear and/or between the planet gears and the ring gear. This failure mode can cause the planet teeth or pinion teeth to catastrophically lock up due to interference with the mating teeth of the sun gear or ring gear. While a catastrophic failure of a planetary gear system in some applications may be an expensive inconvenience, such a failure in an aircraft propulsion system, such as, but not limited to, the propulsion system of a helicopter, can lead to fatal crashes and/or significant damage to the aircraft. Despite these concerns, some studies nonetheless champion the promotion of planet gear tooth breakage as a preferred, primary, and desired failure mode of the planet gears.

Planet gear having failure mode optimized for continued planetary gear system operation


In a method for the production of an insulated plate for a gradient coil, bodies that serve as spacers for the creation of flow paths for a casting resin are produced on a base by a plate having apertures therein being used to spread the bodies on the base or to mold the bodies on the base from a moldable material.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for the manufacture of an insulation board for a gradient coil, of the type wherein bodies that serve as spacers during the manufacture of the flow paths for the casting resin are mounted on a base.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Gradient coils for magnetic resonance imaging scanners (MRI scanners) are designed such that several coil conductor layers, which are used to generate magnetic fields, are electrically insulated from each other by interleaving insulation boards. After the assembly of the coil, the interstices inside the coil are filled with a casting resin under a vacuum. In order for the gradient coil to function as desired, all interstices must be perfectly filled, because defects such as contraction cavities, improperly impregnated spots, or air pockets may result in partial discharges or short circuits. Defects of this kind can even cause a total failure of a gradient coil. Defects must also be prevented due to the significant forces that arise during the operation of the magnetic resonance imaging scanner.
In order to facilitate the flow of the casting resin into the interstices, it has already been proposed to put a suitable spacer between the individual layers of copper coils and insulation layers in order to hold open the flow path for the filling compound in the right direction. For example, mutually interconnected plastic pins are used as such spacers. It is also possible to wind plastic strings around the coil with regular spacing between them. These plastic strings are then squeezed in order to hold open the flow path for the rising casting resin.
DE 103 15 539 A1 discloses a gradient coil in which the insulation layers have elevated spots, between which flow paths are created for the casting resin. These elevated spots can be produced, for example, by applying a reaction resin as a chain around the insulation layer, which is subsequently cured at an increased temperature. It is difficult to produce these elevated spots in such a manner so that they all have the same distance from each other. As another option, it has been proposed for the elevated spots be stamped. A disadvantage of this method is that it requires relatively expensive tools. In addition to the initial high cost, once a certain pattern of elevated spots is created it cannot be changed so that in practical application, a large number of different and costly tools would be needed.
Furthermore, DE 41 41 514 A1 discloses a gradient coil system in which U-shaped profiles are uniformly distributed as spacers in an interstice between every two shells to be insulated. These profiles are, at least approximately, as large as the distance between the shells to be insulated. The interstices filed with a casting resin then form a structure with a high shearing stiffness.

Method for the manufacture of an insulation board


A method (300) and system for pre-loading preferred access contact information can include a transceiver (28), memory (24) for pre-storing preferred access contact information for a predetermined merchant in an electronic phonebook or a speed dial number slot, a presentation device (26) and a processor (22) coupled to the transceiver and memory of a portable communication device (20). The processor can be programmed to track accesses to the preferred access contact information from the memory and report the number of accesses to a server accessible by the transceiver. The processor can be programmed to automatically present an advertisement stored in memory to a user when the user accesses the preferred access contact information. Note, the manufacturer of the portable communication device 20 can charge a fee to the predetermined merchant for pre-storing the preferred access contact information in the electronic address book or in a speed dial storage slot.

Consumers generally don't want to waste time being placed on hold when calling a call center for services, particularly a service they use regularly. Many companies such as car rental companies, airlines companies, travel agents, and credit card companies have special VIP 800 phone numbers that are given to preferred clients that prevents them or reduces the chances from being placed on hold for an extended period of time. These business service providers are constantly looking for advertising channels that gives them access to these preferred business customers and further ways to develop brand loyalty.

Method and system of pre-loading preferred access contact information in memory


A circulation system is capable of dual functions of providing an electrode discharge machine with water or oil to serve as a finishing fluid for the process of drilling fine holes in a work piece of an aluminiumn, steel, or tungsten steel material. The circulation system comprises an oil-water separating tank, a water filtration tank, an oil filtration tank, a water purifying device, and a control computer. The water purifying device is connected in parallel with a discharge conduit from the water filtration tank for recirculating flow to the oil-water separating tank.

The water is generally used as a finishing fluid of the conventional electrode discharge machine in view of the fact that the finishing chore of a work piece of a steel material can be done rapidly, safely and economically. In addition, the finishing fluid of water is not detrimental to the environment. However, the use of water as the finishing fluid of the conventional electrode discharge machine is not suitable for drilling the fine holes in a work piece made of an altiminium or tungsten steel material because of the facts that the quality of water plays an important role in then stability of the conductivity of the fine holes, and that the fine holes can not be drilled with precision, and further that the water conductivity is so undermined as to prolong the drilling process. When the drilling process is done on a workpiece of an aluminum material, the water and the aluminiumn can be caused by the electric discharge to form the aluminiumn oxide on the surface of the workpiece, thereby resulting in the poor conductivity of the workpiece. The above shortcomings can be easily overcome by using the electrode discharge machine oil in place of water. However, the conventional electrode discharge machine is not provided with a fluid circulating system capable of dual functions of circulating water or oil interchangeably. It must be pointed out here that the use of oil as a finishing fluid of the electrode discharge machine can result in an increase in the cost of the drilling process as well as the risk of the environmental pollution.

System for circulating the finishing fluids of electrode discharge machine


A floor structure for a manufactured building is formed of a steel I-beam frame having a horizontal upper surface to which is secured a plurality of adjacent composite floor panels. Each panel is formed of a resin impregnated, kraft paper, honeycomb core or inner section having opposed faces and a continuous outer periphery; a wooden frame about the periphery of the honeycomb core; and full hard steel skins secured to opposite sides of the frame and across opposed faces of the honeycomb core. The floor structure can further polyurethane foam insulation panels spaced beneath, and parallel to, the floor panels, and supported by brackets attached to the steel frame and to floor panels, brackets to secure the structure to ground anchors, and conductive tape to ground the panel surfaces.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to improvements in the construction of manufactured buildings, e.g., modular or mobile homes. The invention relates in particular to a floor structures for such buildings, and to composite structural panels used to construct these floor structures, as well as to other components used as a part of the floor structures.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Modular buildings, also known as manufactured buildings, are constructed at least in part at a remote site. The entire building can be constructed at the production facility, and then moved to a permanent location where the building is positioned on a foundation. In other instances, components of the building, e.g. wall, floor or ceiling components, are manufactured at the remote site, and assembled at the final destination. This type of construction is widely used to construct residential buildings, commonly known as a mobile homes, or manufactured housing, as well as in other residential and commercial structures.
Manufactured building are comprised of a supporting floor structure adapted to be positioned on a foundation, or on a wheeled support. This floor structure supports walls and other components of a building, which may be constructed of prefabricated panels. Insulation, an outer covering, and utilities, are then added to complete the building structure. In the case of mobile homes in particular, tie-downs are also used to anchor the building.
The floor structure conventionally used prior to the present invention is composed of oriented strand board over 2.times.6 southern white pine, and suffers from several deficiencies. Of major concern is the fact that connecting points of the building can be loosened by flexing of the floor structure during transport of the building, or during severe adverse weather conditions, resulting in weakening or even collapse of the building. A conventional floor structure is also easily subject to damage from fire or water.


Systems and methods are provided for preparing a plurality of slurry particles. The system includes: a tank configured to contain and provide the slurry particles, a sampling module configured to sample at least one slurry particle within the tank and obtain at least one parameter related to a particle size, and a controller coupled to the tank and the sampling module, configured to vibrate the slurry particles within the tank based on the at least one parameter.

Semiconductor devices are often fabricated through multiple processes, including a rough polishing and/or a finish polishing for generating a smooth surface on a wafer. The finish polishing is usually performed using a slurry which often contains a mixture of minerals, sludge or other suitable materials dispersed in liquid. For example, the slurry contains colloidal silica which is a compound of amorphous anhydrous silicic acid in a colloidal state. In addition, the slurry may include a chemical solution containing abrasive grains used for chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) or wafer lapping.

Systems and methods for monitoring and controlling particle sizes in slurries

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited


A method for recirculating fluid in a well system includes drilling a first well bore from a surface to a subterranean zone, and drilling an articulated well bore that is horizontally offset from the first well bore at the surface and that intersects the first well bore at a junction proximate the subterranean zone. The method also includes drilling a drainage bore from the junction into the subterranean zone, and receiving gas, water and particles produced from the subterranean zone at the junction via the drainage bore. The gas, water, and particles are received from the junction at the surface, and the water is separated from the gas and the particles. The method also includes determining an amount of water to circulate, and recirculating a portion of the separated water according to this determination.

Subterranean deposits of coal, also referred to as coal seams, contain substantial quantities of entrained methane gas. Other types of formations, such as shale, similarly contain entrained formation gases. Production and use of these formation gases from coal deposits and other formations has occurred for many years. Substantial obstacles, however, have frustrated more extensive development and use of gas deposits in subterranean formations.
One recently developed technique for producing formation gases is the use of a dual well system including a vertical well bore that is drilled from the surface to the subterranean formation and an articulated well bore that is drilled offset from the vertical well bore at the surface, that intersects the vertical well bore proximate the formation, and that extends substantially horizontally into the formation. This horizontal well bore extending into the formation may then be used to drain formation gases and other fluids from the formation. A drainage pattern may also be formed from the horizontal well bore to enhance drainage. These drained fluids may then be produced up the vertical well bore to the surface.
Although such a dual well system may significantly increase production of formation gases and fluids, some problems may arise in association with the use of such a system. Such problems may include surging of gases being produced and build-up of particles from the formation (such as coal fines), both of which may reduce the efficiency of production from the dual well system. Such problems may also occur with single well systems.

Method and system for recirculating fluid in a well system


A semiconductor device includes a first wiring layer which is provided above a semiconductor substrate and includes a first insulating film and a wiring buried in the first insulating film, a second insulating film provided above the first wiring layer, a third insulating film provided on the second insulating film, and a capacitor element provided on the third insulating film. The wiring includes an upper surface having a protruding portion. The capacitor element includes a lower electrode provided on the third insulating film, a capacitor insulating film provided on the lower electrode, and an upper electrode provided on the capacitor insulating film.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device. In particular, the present invention relates to a semiconductor device including a MIM element and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Up to now, semiconductor devices including metal-insulator-metal (MIM) elements are described in JP 11-87650 A and JP 2007-49089 A.
JP 11-87650 A describes a semiconductor chip including a memory cell array region and a peripheral circuit region. In the peripheral circuit region of the semiconductor chip, first wiring layers connected with impurity semiconductor regions are formed on an upper surface of an interlayer insulating film. Upper portions of the first wiring layers are covered with cap insulating films. A spin-on-glass (SOG) film is formed on the cap insulating films over the entire surface of a substrate. The SOG film is polished by a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) method to planarize the surface thereof. Therefore, according to JP 11-87650 A, a focus margin of a subsequent photolithography process can be improved. In the memory cell region, capacitor elements are formed in an upper layer than the polished SOG film.
JP 2007-49089 A describes a technology for improving the reliability of a MIM element even in the case where dishing occurs in a wiring or erosion occurs on an upper surface of the wiring when the MIM element is formed over the wiring. Specifically, the surface of an interlayer insulating film located on the wiring is planarized and then a lower electrode is formed, so the interlayer insulating film and the lower electrode become substantially flat. Therefore, even when a lower layer of the interlayer insulating film has unevenness, a capacitor element can be prevented from being affected by the unevenness. The technology described in JP 2007-49089 A has a predetermined effect on unevenness caused by recesses resulting from dishing or erosion on the upper surface of the wiring.
As a result of concentrated studies, the inventor(s) of the present invention found a new phenomenon that the reliability of the capacitor element formed over the wiring is reduced because of leakage or the like when protrusions such as hillocks are produced on the upper surface of the wiring.
Hereinafter, a point that protrusions such as hillocks are produced on the upper surface of the wiring in a wiring forming process is described with reference to a specific example.
FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, 8A, 8B, and 9 are cross-sectional views showing a process for manufacturing a semiconductor device. FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, 8A, 8B, and 9 show steps for forming a copper wiring by a damascene method and then forming a capacitor element over the copper wiring.
As shown in FIG. 7A, trenches are formed in a silicon oxide film (hereinafter, referred to as SiO2 film) 203 and then a barrier metal layer (not shown) for preventing copper diffusion is formed. Subsequently, the trenches are filled with copper by, for example, plating, and then polished by a CMP method to form a copper wiring 205.
Next, a diffusion prevention film 207 for covering the copper wiring 205 is formed on the SiO2 film 203 by a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method (FIG. 7B), and then an SiO2 film 209 is laminated on the diffusion prevention film 207 (FIG. 7C). Examples of materials for the diffusion prevention film 207 include silicon carbonitride (hereinafter, referred to as SiCN) and silicon carbide (hereinafter, referred to as SiC). The SiO2 film 209 is polished by a CMP method (FIG. 8A). After that, a conductive film 245, an insulating film 247, and a conductive film 249 are formed in the stated order on the SiO2 film 209 (FIG. 8B) and processed into a predetermined shape to form a capacitor element 221 over the copper wiring 205 (FIG. 9). The capacitor element 221 includes a lower electrode 215, a capacitor insulating film 217, and an upper electrode 219.
When the diffusion prevention film 207 is to be formed by a CVD method during the manufacturing process, a silicon substrate (not shown) is normally heated at approximately 200° C. to 450° C. In this case, it is found that a part of an upper surface of the copper wiring 205 may protrude due to heating, thereby forming a protruding portion 235 (FIG. 7B).
When the protruding portion 235 is formed, a step portion 237 is provided corresponding to the shape of the protruding portion 235 at the time of formation of the diffusion prevention film 207. A cavity portion 241 or a recess portion 243 is provided in the SiO2 film 209 formed on the diffusion prevention film 207 (FIG. 7C). In some cases where such poor film formation of the SiO2 film 209 occurs, the upper surface of the SiO2 film 209 is not sufficiently planarized even after the SiO2 film 209 is polished by the CMP method, so a recess portion 239 is left (FIG. 8A). When the capacitor element 221 is to be formed while the recess portion 239 is left, as shown in FIGS. 8B and 9, a step portion 251, a step portion 253, and a step portion 255 are formed in the conductive film 245, the insulating film 247, and the conductive film 249, respectively. Therefore, it is likely to cause poor film formation in a part of the insulating film 247, that is, a part of the capacitor insulating film 217 or to reduce a withstanding voltage of the capacitor insulating film 217, thereby causing a leakage defect of the capacitor element 221.
As described above, when the capacitor element 221 is to be formed on the SiO2 film 209 while the SiO2 film 209 is not sufficiently planarized, the reduction in reliability, such as a reduction in withstanding voltage of a part of the capacitor insulating film 217 occurs. This causes a reduction in yield of the capacitor element 221 and the reduction in reliability thereof at the time of use.
In the case where the hillock-shaped protruding portion is produced, even when the technologies of JP 11-87650 A and JP 2007-49089 A which are described in "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION" are used, there is still room for improvement in terms of suppressing the reduction in reliability of the capacitor element.
JP 11-87650 A describes the technology for reducing the influence of a step having a relatively large curvature (global step) on an upper layer. The global step is formed in the vicinity of a boundary between the memory cell array region and the peripheral circuit region. Therefore, there is room for improvement in terms of eliminating a local step in the memory cell array region.
The technology described in JP 2007-49089 A is effective for recesses produced by dishing occurring during the CMP of the Cu wiring located under the MIM element, etching or erosion which is caused during cleaning after the CMP, or the like. However, when apart of the upper surface of the Cu wiring becomes a protrusion, the technology may be ineffective. Specifically, as described in JP 2007-49089 A, when the single-layer insulating film is formed on the diffusion prevention film and the surface thereof is planarized by a CMP method, it is necessary to excessively thicken the insulating film in order to eliminate an isolated protrusion such as the protruding portion 235. However, this is unrealistic. The insulating film formed on the protruding portion 235 has a defect just above the protruding portion 235, so a recess may become larger because of the chemical action of the CMP.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Semiconductor device including capacitor element provided above wiring layer that includes wiring with an upper surface having protruding portion


A tire pressure measuring device is disclosed. The device includes a data generating impact module for striking a pneumatic tire, generating data correlative to the force imparted to the tire as a function of time and transmitting the data to a data gathering module. A data gathering module receives the data from the data generating impact module and communicates the data to a data processing module. A data processing module receives the data from the data gathering module, processes the data to determine the pressure of the pneumatic tire and communicates the determined pressure of the pneumatic tire to a tire pressure display. A tire pressure output display receives the determined pressure of the pneumatic tire and displays the calculated pneumatic tire pressure.

There is need for fast and accurate methods and apparatus for measuring tire pressure. The following patents and published applications illustrate the efforts of others to address the problems identified and solved by the disclosure herein. As can be seen, there are a vast array of efforts already existing to provide a solution to the problems confronted when measuring tire pressure, but none provides the combination of features and advantages presented in the instant disclosure.
These references include: U.S. Pat. No. 7,882,732 entitled "Apparatus for Monitoring Tire Pressure," was issued to Haralampu, et al. on Feb. 8, 2011; U.S. Pat. No. 7,817,024, entitled "Vehicle Tire Warning System," was issued to Ru on Oct. 19, 2010; U.S. Pat. No. 7,555,931 entitled "Non-destructive Testing of the Lining of a Process Vessel," was issued to Palmer on Jul. 7, 2009; U.S. Pat. No. 6,959,594 entitled "External Mount Tire Pressure Sensor System," was issued to Huang on Nov. 1, 2005; U.S. Pat. No. 6,748,791 entitled "Damage Detection Device and Method," was issued to Georgeson, et al. on Jun. 15, 2004; U.S. Pat. No. 6,736,004 entitled "Ultra-wide Band Soil/Tire Interaction Radar," was issued to Evans, et al. on May 18, 2004; U.S. Pat. No. 6,343,506 entitled "Tyre Pressure Determination," was issued to Jones, et al. on Feb. 5, 2002; U.S. Pat. No. 6,339,960 entitled "Non-intrusive Pressure and Level Sensor for Sealed Containers," was issued to Costley, et al. on Jan. 22, 2002; U.S. Pat. No. 5,962,779 entitled "Method for Determining Tire Inflation Status," was issued to Bass on Oct. 5, 1999; U.S. Pat. No. 5,837,897 entitled "Testing Vehicle Tires," was issued to Jones, et al. on Nov. 17, 1998; U.S. Pat. No. 5,117,835 entitled "Method and Apparatus for the Measurement of Intracranial Pressure," was issued to Mick on Jun. 2, 1992; U.S. Pat. No. 4,996,516 entitled "Indicator of Under Inflated Tire," was issued to Mason on Feb. 26, 1991; U.S. Pat. No. 4,630,470 entitled "Remote Sensing of Vehicle Tire Pressure," was issued to Brooke, et al. on Dec. 23, 1986; U.S. Pat. No. 4,479,386 entitled "Insulation Bonding Test System," was issued to Beggs, et al. on Oct. 30, 1984; U.S. Pat. No. 4,089,226 entitled "System for Residual Tire Life Prediction by Ultrasound," was issued to Kraska, et al. on May 16, 1978; U.S. Patent Application Publ. No. 2002/0038570 entitled "Remote Pressure Indicator for Sealed Vessels Including Vehicle Tires," was applied for by Burns on Aug. 2, 2001; U.S. Patent Application Publ. No. 2009/0315694 entitled "Piezoelectric Triggering Mechanism," was applied for by Sinnett, et al. (as a PCT) on Mar. 14, 2006; and U.S. Patent Application Publ. No. 2010/0089161 entitled "Vibration Based Damage Detection System," was applied for by Taheri (as a POT) on Feb. 15, 2008.
These references are discussed in greater detail as follows.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,882,732 generally discloses an apparatus for monitoring the pressurization in a tire. The device has a magneto-mechanical pressure sensor in or on the tire and an electromagnetic excitation system. The electromagnetic excitation system interrogates the magneto-mechanical pressure sensor. The apparatus also has a receiver. The receiver receives information from the electromagnetic excitation system. The apparatus also has a data interpretation system for translating the received information into the tire pressurization state. The data interpretation system is connected to a display, which communicates the tire pressurization state to an operator. Thus, an apparatus for monitoring tire pressure in a tire 12 has magneto-mechanical sensors 20 embedded in or on tire 12 and an exciting system 22 external to the tire 12, as disclosed in FIGS. 1-2, 11-13, and further at Col. 8 Line 61 to Col. 10, Line 18; Col. 11, Line 3 to Col. 12, Line 3 and in Claims 1-2, 5 and 7-10.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,817,024 generally discloses an air pressure sensor (2) for a vehicle tire warning system includes a tubular housing (21) defining a chamber (218). An air pressure actuating device is seated in the chamber and is moveable back and forth in the chamber in response to air pressure change in the vehicle tire. A switch device to electrically connect a high air pressure warning circuit or a low air pressure warning circuit operates under the drive of the air pressure actuating device. The chamber of the tubular housing is communicated to the atmosphere via a connecting pipe (29).
U.S. Pat. No. 7,555,931 generally discloses a process for the non-testing of a refractory lined process vessel including the steps of: (a) striking an external wall of a process vessel internally lined with a refractory material with an impulse hammer; (b) measuring selected frequency characteristics of the refractory lined process vessel; and (c) analyzing the measured frequency characteristics and determining the integrity of the internal lining of refractory material from the measured frequency characteristics. More specifically, nondestructive testing of a pressure vessel includes the steps of: striking the exterior wall of a vessel to generate accelerator frequencies recorded on a data logger, as further disclosed in FIGS. 1-20; Col. 5, Line 29 to Col. 6, Line 40 and in Claims 1-7, 11, 13, 15-28 and 30-31.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,959,594 generally discloses an external mount tire pressure sensor system with a stretch sensor having a variable resistance longitudinal displacement characteristic. The stretch sensor is coupled to a processor which samples the resistance of the stretch sensor periodically. The sensor body is attached to the external side wall of a pneumatic tire so that the body is displaced by the tire side wall and the resistance is a function of internal tire pressure. When the processor determines that the pressure is below a threshold value, an RF generator is activated by the processor to generate a low tire pressure signal. This signal is converted by a receiver to a warning for the driver.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,748,791 generally discloses a damage detection device used to detect damage in bonded and laminated composite structures. A tap hammer or tap coin containing an acceleration sensor is connected to a circuit that can measure the width of an impact signal and then display the result. The result correlates to local stiffness of a structure. A method of determining the desired signal width and the method of using the damage detection device includes tapping a known good region and then tapping a suspect region. Readings from the two areas are used to determine whether the suspect region is within an acceptable range. The circuit determines the desired signal width by measuring from the time the impact signal exceeds a threshold to the time it falls below the threshold. Thus, an inspection device includes a hand-held hammer 10, 12, with an accelerator 13, connected to an oscilloscope and read out display 18. Cf. FIGS. 1-3; Col. 3, Line 50 to Col. 5, Line 29 and Claims 1-5.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,736,004 generally discloses a radar system for vehicle tire testing and analysis. The system may be mounted within the casing of a vehicle tire to measure the location of the inner casing of the tire (tire deformation) as well as the location of the tire/soil interface (tire footprint). The radar system may also be used to determine soil characteristics by analyzing the reflected signals. The system may have particular use in testing tires for use with on- or off-road surfaces. The system may also be used to monitor tire deformation, traction, footprint, and soil characteristics.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,343,506 generally discloses a method and apparatus for determining tire pressure in automotive vehicles. The apparatus uses twin spaced parallel and non-transverse piezoelectric cables which are traversed by a vehicle to produce a voltage pulse having a shape or profile characteristic of the tire pressure. Waveform analysis on the basis of a software algorithm and/or look-up calibration data enables numerical pressure determination. The system is adapted for remote automotive vehicle tire pressure sensing under normal conditions of vehicle use.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,339,960 generally discloses a method and apparatus for determining the internal pressure of a sealed container. The method includes: first, exciting a lid of the container so as to create at least two modes of vibration having separate frequencies, wherein said frequencies are fundamental, f1, and a second frequency, preferably the second axi-symmetric mode, f2. Next, the vibration resulting from said exciting is detected to determine f1, and f2. Then, f2, which is indicative of internal pressure, is used to calculate a first value for internal pressure using a first mathematical model that is calibrated to the lid on the sealed container. Then, f1, which is indicative of volume of contents, is used to calculate the volume of contents in the sealed container using a second mathematical model that is calibrated to the lid on the sealed container, wherein a natural frequency of said lid is a function of said internal pressure and said volume of contents. Next, the volume of contents is compensated for to determine a second value for internal pressure, in which the second value for internal pressure is more reliable than said first value for internal pressure. The apparatus for determining the internal pressure of a sealed container of the invention includes: means for exciting a lid of the container so as to create at least two modes of vibration having separate frequencies, wherein said frequencies are fundamental, f1, and a second frequency, preferably the second axi-symmetric mode, f2; detecting means for detecting vibration resulting from the exciting of said container to determine f1, and f2 calculating means for calculating a first value for internal pressure of said container using f2; calculating means for calculating the volume of contents of said container using f1; wherein a natural frequency of said lid is a function of said internal pressure and said volume of contents; and calculating means for compensating for said volume of contents to determine a second value for internal pressure, wherein said second value for internal pressure is more reliable than said first value for internal pressure. Thus, a non-intrusive pressure sensor for sealed containers is disclosed. The sensor includes an accelerometer 2 connected to the lid of a pressure container with an impulse from an impact hammer producing a frequency 7 and calibrated to read vessel internal pressure. More detail is disclosed in FIGS. 5 A-E; Col. 7, Line 1 to Col. 8, Line 31 and in Claims 1-6.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,962,779 generally discloses a method and device for determining the inflation status of a vehicle tire while the tire is installed on the vehicle. A first signal is recorded representing the weight (Y) on a scale plate with respect to time when the tire is rolling on the scale plate. A second signal is recorded representing the weight (X) on a deformation bar with respect to time when the tire is rolling over the deformation bar. The maximum Y of the first signal and the maximum X of the second signal are determined. A ratio R is calculated by dividing the maximum X of the second signal by the maximum Y of the first signal. The calculated ratio R (=X/Y) is compared with a predetermined value for the ratio R pertaining to the maximum Y of the first signal. Apparatus is provided to give an under-inflation signal if the calculated ratio is below the predetermined value. Predetermined values for the ratios are obtained by determining, for a large number of combinations of vehicles and tires, the ratio R as a function of tire pressure. A threshold is calculated for each combination of vehicles and tires. A curve is fitted of predetermined values for the ratios R through points having as coordinates the corresponding maximum value Y of the weight on the scale plate with respect to time when the tire is rolling on the scale plate and the corresponding ratio pertaining to the threshold. The curve of predetermined values is fitted so as to define a smooth curve that is an envelope which lies below all threshold data but is as close to the data as possible. Thus, a tire inflation status apparatus comprising an impact means 20, load cells 14, 40, and computer 60 is disclosed. See FIGS. 1-3: Col. 3, Line 41 to Col. 5, Line 37 and Claims 1-4.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,837,897 generally discloses a method and apparatus for testing inflated vehicle tires to determine internal physical characteristics such as tire pressure. The apparatus includes a waveform transceiver that subjects a tire to be tested to a transmitted waveform. The transceiver also transmits an ultrasonic waveform from a location external to the tire under test. Additionally, the transceiver receives the ultrasonic waveform from a tire under test at a location external thereto. A processor is provided for interpreting the received waveform with reference to the decay or attenuation of the amplitude of the waveform with time to provide a measure of the internal physical characteristic. Thus, a vehicle tire testing apparatus is disclosed having an ultrasonic transducer 14 external to the wall 28, a processor and a display 29, as more fully shown in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6; Col. 4, Line 6 to Col. 5, Line 26 and Claims 1-5.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,117,835 generally discloses a method and apparatus for non-invasively measuring changes in intracranial pressure (ICP) in a patient's skull which allow trends in such pressure to be diagnosed over time. A generation of a predetermined vibration signal is applied to a first location on a skull. An output vibration from another location on the skull is detected. Data characteristics of the two signals are stored. These steps are repeated and the data is analyzed to diagnose changes in ICP over time.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,996,516 generally discloses an indicating device adapted to indicate a severely underinflated tire. The device is activated by the enlargement in the diameter of the underinflated tire caused by centrifugal force acting on the tread, and may be especially useful on dual wheels, although it will work on others as well. The device includes a contact device which is contacted by an expanding tire. That contact tilts a switch to cause a circuit to be completed to light a signal lamp in the cab of the truck.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,630,470 generally discloses apparatus and a method for determining the tire pressures of vehicles as they pass an instrumented checkpoint on a roadway. Rigid corrugations on the roadway set the tires into vibration with a waveform which is a function of tire pressure. The complex waveforms from each tire of a given vehicle are subjected to a spectral analysis and the results of such analyses are compared to each other to determine which, if any, of said tires have produced a spectrum different from the normal spectra produced by the other tires. Thus, no apparatus mounted on the vehicles is being checked. A vehicle tire 19 pressure sensor 25 has energy impulse means which are instrumented to produce mechanical vibration wave forms. A processor 29 to measure the tire pressure is disclosed, as shown in FIGS. 2-5; Col. 3, Line 23 to Col. 5, Line 32; Col. 6, Lines 1-22 and Claims 1 and 5-6.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,479,386 generally discloses a method and a system for testing the bonding of foam insulation (22) attached to metal. The system involves the use of an impacter (10) which has a calibrated load cell (12) mounted on a plunger (14), and a hammer head (16) mounted on the end of the plunger (14). When the impacter (10) strikes the insulation (22) at a point to be tested, the load cell (12) measures the force of the impact and the precise time interval during which the hammer head (16) is in contact with the insulation (22). This information is transmitted as an electrical signal (20) to a load cell amplifier (28) where the signal (20) is conditioned and then transmitted to a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) analyzer (34). The FFT analyzer (34) produces energy spectral density curves (power plotted against frequency in Hertz) which are displayed on a video screen (39). An operator, by observing the frequency point at which the curve terminates, may determine the quality of the bond. Specifically, the termination frequency of the energy spectral density curve may be compared with a predetermined empirical scale to determine whether a high quality bond, good bond, or debond is present at the point of impact. For future reference and use, data from the FFT analyzer (34) are recorded on a magnetic disk (41) and/or a hard copy is produced by a printer (43) system.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,089,226 generally discloses a residual tire life prediction system. The system uses a clock to trigger a bang generator that provides pulses of electrical energy to a pulse-echo transducer. The transducer converts pulses of electrical energy to pulses of ultrasonic vibration. The transducer is located on the tread of a steel belted tire to transmit pulses of ultrasonic energy into the tire and to receive reflected ultrasonic energy from plies of the tire casing. The transducer converts the reflected ultrasonic energy to provide bursts of electrical signals. The transducer is connected to a time varying gain control circuit that has its output connected via a full-wave rectifier to a first gate and to an input of a voltage level detector. The clock is also connected to a first time-delay circuit that is operative after a delay, subsequent to the pulse of the bang generator, to enable a second gate. This is connected to the output of the voltage level detector that provides a signal when it receives the signal based on the reflection from the outer steel belt. This is relayed to a second time-delay circuit that provides an enable signal at its output after a predetermined delay for a predetermined period of time to the first gate. This opens the first gate for passage of signals from the rectifier to a peak sensing device that provides an output signal to a digital panel meter for display of the value of the maximum amplitude passing through the first gate. Thus, the system includes a pulse-echo transducer 11, bang generator 17 and amplifier circuit 20 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; Col. 6, Line 31 to Col. 8, Line 41, and Claims 1-5 and 17.
U.S. Patent Application Publ. No. 2002/0038570 generally discloses a compact, robust, and inexpensive magnetically coupled pressure gauge. The gauge includes a spiral-faced or helical bellows coupled for rotating a magnetic field source (permanent magnet) within a pressure vessel. The orientation of the magnetic field is externally sensed and correlated to pressure within the pressure vessel. Applications contemplated include measuring pressure in pressure vessels and pressure of pneumatic vehicle tires without breaching the integrity of the particular pressurized vessels. Embodiments included a visual, manual tire pressure monitoring system.
U.S. Patent Application Publ. No. 2009/0315694 generally discloses a piezoelectric triggering mechanism (10) includes a piezoelectric element (12), such as the transducer of a SAW device, that is configured to crack or break upon being subjected to excessive levels of mechanical force or other triggering mechanisms, thus generating a burst of electromagnetic energy. The large impulse of energy can then be conditioned (14) through resonant circuits or antennae and modulated (16) with an identification pattern through appropriate structures (such as SAW electrodes) to send a breakage indication signal to a remote receiver (18). Piezoelectric elements (12) may be integrated with a pneumatic tire structure to provide indication upon pressure loss or tire failure. Piezoelectric elements (12) may also be integrated with safety support features of some tire structures to provide indication of tire operation in a run-flat mode of operation. Related aspects of the present piezoelectric triggering technology employ a piezoelectric element (12) in a trigger detection method, which may involve detection of such occurrences as breach of security via opening of a sealed access structure or breakage of a glass panel, deployment of an airbag, loss of pressure or excess deflection in a tire, presence of smoke in a given location, and other rupture and sensor applications.
U.S. Patent Application Publ. No. 2010/0089161 generally discloses methods to assess damage on a joint. These include energizing the joint, detecting the vibration of the joint using one or more signal generating sensors, processing the signal(s), and applying a damage index to the processed signal(s). The damage index incorporates a processed control signal generated by a sensor(s) at or near the joint when the joint was healthy, i.e., in a substantially undamaged state. In another embodiment, a pipeline having at least two pipe segments and at least one joint connecting the two pipe segments is provided. At least one signal generating sensor is affixed to the pipeline and is capable of detecting vibration at or near the joint. At least one signal processor capable of EMD processing the signal is provided. An output device (e.g., computer monitor, LED display, a light bulb, an electronic alarm, or other sound or light generating device) is provided. Thus, a piezoelectric sensor with accelerometer capable of detecting an impulse hammer measurable response is disclosed, as described in FIGS. 1-3; Paragraphs [0011]-[0025], [0081]-[0082] and Claims 1, 15, 21 and 27.
Thus, a problem associated with devices that precede the present disclosure is that they do not provide, in combination with the other features and advantages disclosed herein, a tire pressure measuring system that is self-contained and may be conveniently used by a single operator, without special devices or sensors attached to the tire or a need to analyze data obtained from these devices or sensors, as is done in typical modal analyses, in order to determine the tire pressure.
Yet another problem associated with devices that precede the present disclosure is that they do not provide, in combination with the other features and advantages disclosed herein, a tire pressure measuring system that does not require special modification of the roadway to measure tire pressure.
Still a further problem associated with devices that precede the present disclosure is that they do not provide, in combination with the other features and advantages disclosed herein, a tire pressure measuring system that does not require access to, or even location of, the tire valve as is required when using pencil type, digital strain type or Bourdon tube type gauges.
An additional problem associated with devices that precede the present disclosure is that they do not provide, in combination with the other features and advantages disclosed herein, a tire pressure measuring system that does not require special devices or sensors mounted on the vehicle, the vehicle wheel well, the vehicle wheel, or the tire.
Another problem associated with devices that precede the present disclosure is that they do not provide, in combination with the other features and advantages disclosed herein, a system to measure tire pressure that provides precise pressure data rather than reporting simply if the tire is sufficiently inflated or not.
An even further problem associated with devices that precede the present disclosure is that they do not provide, in combination with the other features and advantages disclosed herein, a tire pressure measuring system that is impervious to damage from road conditions upon which the vehicle rests or travels.
Still another problem associated with devices that precede the present disclosure is that they do not provide, in combination with the other features and advantages disclosed herein, a tire pressure measuring system that insensitive to ballast that may be in the tire, for instance that which is often found in tires used for agricultural applications.
A yet further problem associated with devices that precede the present disclosure is that they do not provide, in combination with the other features and advantages disclosed herein, a tire pressure measuring system that is simple to calibrate for a variety of types and sizes of pneumatic tires.
And yet another problem associated with devices that precede the present disclosure is that they do not provide, in combination with the other features and advantages disclosed herein, a tire pressure measuring system that does not require seating it on a tire valve.
A still further problem associated with devices that precede the present disclosure is that they do not provide, in combination with the other features and advantages disclosed herein, a tire pressure measuring system that provides excellent display resolution and is easy to read.
A further problem associated with devices that precede the present disclosure is that they do not provide, in combination with the other features and advantages disclosed herein, a tire pressure measuring system that provides accurate and precise pressure reading over a wide range of pressures.
Another problem associated with devices that precede the present disclosure is that they do not provide, in combination with the other features and advantages disclosed herein, a tire pressure measuring system that does not require a precise impulse to yield a precise measure of tire pressure, merely an impulse that is within the range usually associated with an impact by a hand-held hammer.
There is a demand, therefore, to overcome the foregoing problems while at the same time providing a tire pressure measuring system that is simple and rapid to use by a single operator, while being self-contained and yielding precise and accurate values of tire pressure.


The object of the invention is to provide an improved vehicle display device that can avoid transmitting noise generated by vibration of a power source, as well as, can prevent the vibration of the power source from being transmitted into the other members or areas.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle display device.
(2) Description of the Related Art
While a combination meter for displaying a plurality of meters in a vehicle generally has employed a liquid crystal display for providing information in a form having a digital appearance to the vehicle operator regarding engine speed, fuel level, and an unlimited variety of other information which had been provided in traditional analogue form (see Japanese Patent Publications No. 62-58112 and No. H11-248490), it is a mere change in a displaying device. In this regard, there has been a drawback that the indication is not stereoscopic, but merely planer.
To solve the afore-mentioned problems, the present inventors have proposed a vehicle display device for visualizing a region surrounded by a circular partitioning member on the display field of a liquid crystal display, the circular partitioning member being positioned in front of the display field, and the circular partitioning member traveling linearly across the display field by the drive of the power source such as a motor. Due to such a partitioning member, more stereoscopic displays of indication can be achieved in comparison with conventional vehicle display devices (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-241626)
However, when the partitioning member travels across the display field of the liquid crystal display by the driving of power source such as a motor, the afore-mentioned construct inevitably takes undesired effects, for example, noise, vibrations and the like. Vibration of the power source and the noise caused by the vibration can also be transmitted into the circular partitioning member during the movement. In this case, the circular partitioning member will vibrate, thus providing a vehicle operator with inconvenience in connection with the recognition of information displayed on the display field of the liquid crystal display.
To solve the afore-mentioned drawbacks and disadvantages, the present inventors had focused on an improved vehicle display device that can avoid transmitting noise generated by vibration of the power source, as well as, can prevent the vibration of the power source from being transmitted into the circular partitioning member. Unexpectedly and surprisingly, the present inventors could attain to the afore-mentioned object by positioning the circular dial member in front of the display field of the display in such a manner that the circular dial member can travel linearly across the display field of the display and can surround at least a part of the display field. Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be explained in greater detail hereinafter.

Abstract: The afore-mentioned object can be achieved by a vehicle display device comprising a circular dial member positioned in front of a display field of a display, at least partly surrounding the display field, and traveling linearly across the display field in cases where a movable member connected thereto is driven by a power source, the power source being coupled to a support member through a damper.


A device for limiting overload currents by means of a semiconductor element with at least one controllable semiconductor having an electron source (source), an electron acceptor (drain) and a control electrode (gate) controlling the electron flow, which device has characteristic curves typical of a field-effect transistor (FET). In the case of alternating voltage, two FETs are connected in series, in complementary fashion. Means are provided for internally obtaining the control voltage required for driving the semiconductor element from at least part of the load current and/or from at least part of the voltage drop across the semiconductor element.

In the case of protective switchgear, such as power switches, motor protection switches or automatic cut-outs, and in the case of automatic circuit-breakers in general, it is desirable to sense overload currents, in particular short-circuit currents, quickly and to limit the overload currents to minimum possible values and finally to disconnect the overload currents. In the case of substantially mechanical automatic circuit-breakers, for example automatic cut-outs, use is made of so-called instantaneous trips, in which both the magnetic circuit is optimally designed and a magnet armature, often a plunger armature, quickly and forcibly makes impact with the contact system. Nevertheless, it has not been possible in practice to achieve contact opening times any shorter than about one millisecond. In this case, the short-circuit current continues to increase unhindered until contact opening. Only after contact opening is an arc produced, quickly conducted into an arc chamber and cooled at quenching plates, splitting the arc. The high arc voltages which this generates have the effect of limiting the short-circuit current and finally disconnecting it.
In the case of known automatic circuit-breakers, with a prospective short-circuit current of 6 kA, cos phi=0.6 and psi=60.degree., it is scarcely possible to obtain current time values any less than 4 ms for the rise time to the peak value, with a switching current of 4000 A, and an integral of the square of the current over time of 30,000 A.sup.2 s.
It has been suggested to use semiconductors for the current limitation in protective switchgear. This approach, however, is hampered or prevented in practice by various circumstances: 1) semiconductor elements generally have an inadequate current-limiting effect and an insufficient permissible energy absorption; 2) semiconductor elements generally have, in normal operation, a forward resistance of above 10 milliohms at 16 A; and 3) semiconductor elements also generally have an insufficient dielectric strength.
PCT International Application WO 93/11608 describes a power switch which acts as a current limiter for limiting overload currents by means of a semiconductor element with at least one controllable semiconductor with an electron source (source), an electron acceptor (drain) and a control electrode (gate) controlling the electron flow, which current limiter has characteristic curves of a field-effect transistor (FET), the load current flowing through the semiconductor element and, in the case of alternating voltage, two FETs being antiserially connected. In this case, an external control voltage is provided.


A computer device (200) includes a deployment unit (220) which deploys an application program (100) into a runtime execution environment (203) based on configuration information from a plurality of configuration files (120), including at least one base configuration file (122) and one or more supplementary configuration files (123), wherein a merge unit (220) uses the one or more supplementary configuration files (123) to act upon and modify the configuration information provided in the base configuration file (122). A method of providing configuration files in a computer device (200) includes modifying configuration information provided in the base configuration file (122) using the one or more supplementary configuration files (123) to provide a merged configuration file (124), and deploying the application program (100) into the runtime execution environment (203) based on configuration information from the merged configuration file (124).

As one example, US2010/138825A1 by Harrop (assigned to VMware, Inc.) describes a mechanism for providing configuration files using configuration templates.
In general terms, a configuration file contains configuration information which defines how an application program will interact with various resources provided by a computer device, and defines how the runtime execution environment of this computer device needs to be adapted in order to support the application. Traditionally, the configuration file would be written in a text-based format such as ASCII. More recently, the configuration information is written in a markup language such as XML. The configuration information may be structured to follow a predetermined schema. It is desired that the configuration files should be robust and suitable even for open-ended runtime execution environments that bring together resources from many different sources and vendors. The complex nature of modern computer devices means that a large volume of configuration information is often required. The configuration information may be distributed among many different parts of the application and may be supplied in several different formats, even within the same application.
There is a desire to make operation of the computer device more efficient, in particular by reducing the workload required to deploy an application program into a runtime execution environment. Therefore, it is known to provide templates containing frequently-needed configuration information. These templates may exist in multiple versions, and from multiple sources.
When an application is deployed, two or more configuration files may be encountered having the same file name. Thus, a file name conflict may occur in relation to the intended runtime instance of the application program. In this situation, the deployment process may display a warning to the user and require manual intervention to resolve the file conflict. Usually, the user may choose only one of the configuration files in preference to any of the others. As a result, configuration information in the other, not-chosen, configuration files is typically ignored or lost.
The example embodiments have been provided with a view to addressing at least some of the difficulties that are encountered in current computer devices, whether those difficulties have been specifically mentioned above or will otherwise be appreciated by the person of ordinary skill in the art from the discussion herein. At least in some of the following example embodiments, it is desired to provide an improved mechanism for providing configuration files of an application program in a computer device.

Computer device and method of providing configuration files in a computer device


Process for conjugation of bacterial saccharides including Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae saccharides by reductive amination are provided herein.

Bacterial capsular polysaccharides have been widely used in immunology for many years for the prevention of bacterial disease. A problem with such a use, however, is the T-independent nature of the immune response. These antigens are thus poorly immunogenic in young children. This problem has been overcome through conjugating the polysaccharide antigens to a carrier protein (a source of T-helper epitopes) which may then be used to elicit a T-dependent immune response, even in the first year of life.
Various conjugation techniques are known in the art. Conjugates can be prepared by direct reductive amination methods as described in, US200710184072 (Hausdorff) U.S. Pat. No. 4,365,170 (Jennings) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,673,574 (Anderson). Other methods are described in EP-0-161-188, EP-208375 and EP-0-477508. The conjugation method may alternatively rely on activation of hydroxyl groups of the saccharide with 1-cyano-4-dimethylamino pyridinium tetrafluoroborate (CDAP) to form a cyanate ester. Such conjugates are described in PCT published application WO 93/15760 Uniformed Services University and WO 95/08348 and WO 96/29094. See also Chu C. et al Infect. Immunity, 1983 245 256.
Reductive amination involves two steps, (1) oxidation of the antigen, (2) reduction of the antigen and a carrier protein to form a conjugate. The oxidation step may involve reaction with periodate, however oxidation by periodate may lead to size reduction (WO94/05325).

Conjugation process of bacterial polysaccharides to carrier proteins