A method and apparatus in which an extruder with vacuum evacuation and gas injection means is multi-charged with a plurality of materials to extrude these over streamlined fuel-admitting pipes to make a laminated tubular feedstock serving as a moving enclosure for an intense fire with a fusible liner-layer of encapsulating glaze shielding the said feedstock outer lamination as it exits the said nozzle to telescope within a rotating perforated support tube that permits the centrifugal escape of heat-generated fluids and gases within a prior evacuated, pressure-modulated enclosure from which said gases are fractionally expelled to thermal diffusion and centrifugal/parabola/cyclotronic means providing molecular division by mass and weight after which the said divided gases are delivered into an evacuated inert media mass of particles moving in a like extrusion means to a like said rotating perforated tube but with elimination of the said laminated extruded lining replaced by a permanent solid support tube creating a torus space between it and the said perforated tube to retain the said inert media that churns in rotational passage to combine the injected gases and chemicals in formation of a product cooled by an exotherm-controlling cold gas or fluid driven through the center of said supporting tube which said cold causes the hot gases to reach liquefying vapor pressure points and exude from the said perforated tube into the enclosure for collection.

The existing processes for the production of coke from coal and the varied systems used for disposal of waste plastics and paper products are totally unsatisfactory ecologically and generally non-productive with respect to the gas driven off these processes.
Coke production for steel manufacturing as practiced now involves huge machines and ovens of great length and complexity that are grossly inefficient in heat consumption and atmospheric contamination. Volumes of toxic gases escape and such ovens are being banned by regulatory agencies.
Coke is preferred by some steel makers over the use of electric ovens, but the blast furnaces are being condemned as well. The inventor believes that a suitable means for preparing coke might lead to efforts to enclose the blast furnaces so the expelled gases could be captured and used as is taught in this process and the steel making procedure might be revived.!
Great volumes of waste plastic, carpet fibre, glass, rubber tires and paper are buried, or are simply accumulating because of landfill closing and the inability of cities and counties to provide a properly approved system for disposal that conforms to ecological laws and restrictions.
The design of conventional apparati described in the prior art foretells the use of this extraction method for the processing of coal, other ores, waste plastic, tires and even petrochemical plant "tank-bottom". Ground waste glass could be used in the fusible lining of the feedstock and in some of the extruded ore feedstock forms processed. The gases accumulated will be separated by molecular weight and mass procedures to subsequently be recombined using a processing procedure that is essentially the opposite of the hot extraction process. In this process virtually the same apparatus uses cold in the recombination of the separated gases to produce products from materials reduced in the hot process.
There are coal ores in abundance throughout the world which are most frequently of low quality BTU levels and the procedure of this invention provides a means to upgrade such by the application of controlled heats to reduce water and sulfur contents. In addition the process of this invention permits the infusion of gases or chemicals to enhance features of the coal so its BTU performance can be of uniformly high quality when shipped and thereby reduce tonnage. In the processing of such enhancement the addition of certain gases to the coal and recovery of gases in the coal combined with those added can generate recoverable gas with values to offset or exceed costs associated with this enhancement procedure.

Method and apparatus for heat treatment of an extrusion to extract chemicals and gases for injection into a second cold extrusion of inert media to combine and liquefy these in production of a product


Spectral values are calculated from sampling values of the network voltage or current using the discrete Fourier transformation. Of these values, only those that are greater than a predefined threshold value (SW) are transmitted or stored. The missing spectral values are assumed to be equal to zero to reconstruct the sampling values. In general only those spectral values are transmitted or stored that pertain to a fault and its previous and subsequent history of a few seconds.

Fault recorders are used for detecting and recording faults in electrical power supply networks; said fault recorders sample the network with a frequency that is high compared to the network frequency, so that higher-frequency faults are also detected. Network faults can be detected, for example, by comparing the network voltage sampling values in successive periods. Since, on the one hand, the full signal variation cannot be recorded, since this would require a huge number of irrelevant data to be stored and, on the other hand, mere recording of a fault is in general insufficient for analysis regarding its origin and effects, the previous history a few seconds before and the subsequent variation of current and voltage for a few seconds after their decay are recorded. The sampled values can be made available in a memory or a register for later recording, or they can also be transmitted to a central unit where they are stored and analyzed. Despite limiting the method to faults and the immediate previous and subsequent history, considerable amounts of data must be stored and/or transmitted. For example, if the fault has a duration of 0.25 seconds and the 5-second previous and subsequent history are to be recorded, a recording rate of 80 Kbyte/sec results considering a sampling rate of 5 Khz, eight channels (four for voltages and four for currents), and a digitizing resolution of 16 bits. Therefore 820 Kbytes are required for describing the assumed fault during 10.25 sec. At a transmission rate of 300 Baud, their transmission would require 6 hrs, i.e., an intolerably long time. Even at a higher transmission rate of 9600 Baud, the transmission time would not be reduced to a satisfactory level.
Therefore, European Patent Application 477,690 A1 proposes that the sampling values be subjected to data reduction prior to their storage or transmission. Different data reduction methods are known from the literature, e.g., from K. Riedel's book "Datenreduzierende Bildcodierung" [Image coding for data reduction], 1986, Franzis'-Verlag, Munich.

Method and device for monitoring power supply networks


A system can mask specific components of an application, such as a web page, displayed during a screen sharing session. As the web page is being displayed on a first computer screen (i.e., screen), the system can automatically mask specific components of the web page. Thus, when the first screen is captured, and the capture is transmitted to a second screen, the specific components of the web page that have been masked will not be displayed at the second screen.

During an action of supporting a customer using an application, such as a web page, a customer service representative or agent may request to initiate a screen sharing session with the customer. A screen sharing session is a session where a software application captures an individual's screen, and transmits the capture to a screen of a second individual. The capture can be accomplished using a software application that can be downloaded to a desktop of the customer. Thus, based on the capture, the second individual sees exactly what the first individual sees.
For example, an agent may receive a telephone call from a customer, where the customer is indicating a problem entering information into a web page, and the agent may request that the customer share his screen with the agent, so the agent can view the customer attempt to enter information into the web page. As another example, a client may initiate an instant messaging session with the agent using his desktop, rather than telephoning the agent, where the customer can also indicate a problem with the web page by entering a message in a dialog box displayed to the customer. The agent can have a corresponding dialog box displayed on the agent's screen, and similar to the telephone example, the agent may request that the customer share his screen with the agent.

Masking sensitive information in a screen sharing session


A current control device sets a target current value of a solenoid, and sets a duty ratio of a PWM signal outputted to a drive circuit of a solenoid based on the target current value. The target current value is a value that periodically varies in a dither period longer than a PWM period of the PWM signal. A setting period of the target current value and a setting period of the duty ratio are shorter than the dither period. As compared with a configuration where the duty ratio is set in the dither period, a time period from a time a basic current value is changed to a time the duty ratio is renewed is shortened. A operation responsiveness of a movable core of the solenoid improves.

For example, a solenoid is generally used for an actuator of a cylinder, an electromagnetic valve and the like. For example, JP10-19156A discloses a current control device that controls an exciting current of a solenoid of an electromagnetic valve by a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal.
In JP10-19156A, the exciting current is periodically varied in a dither period having a length of several times a pulse period of the PWM signal so as to create small oscillation of a spool of the electromagnetic valve, thereby to reduce an appearance of hysteresis characteristics caused by the static friction of the spool.
In JP10-19156A, a duty ratio of the PWM signal for generating the exciting current as a target is set according to each dither period. Therefore, if the target is changed during the dither period, this change is reflected on the duty ratio of the PWM signal when the next dither period elapses. Namely, the renewing of the duty ratio of the PWM signal delays from the timing where the target is changed. Therefore, an operation responsiveness of a movable core driven by the solenoid is low.

Current control device for solenoid, storage medium storing program for controlling current of solenoid, and method for controlling current of solenoid


Sewing device for sewing first and second strips of sealing materials with respective first and second base materials. A first guide through-hole, through which the first strip of sealing material passes, is formed in a presser foot of the sewing device adjacent to a needle hole formed in the latter. A second guide though-hole, through which the second strip of sealing material passes, is formed in a feed dog member of the sewing device at a point adjacent to that needle hole. In operation, while the first and second base materials are fed by and between the presser foot and feed dog member, the first and second strips of sealing materials are simultaneously fed together with the first and second base materials, while being precisely guided by the respective first and second guide through-holes for sewing with the respective first and second base materials.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sewing device for sewing together base materials into a three-dimensional trim cover assembly which is for example used for forming a headrest or armrest for use on an automotive seat. In particular, the invention is directed to a sewing device capable of sewing together two base materials along with a strip of sealing material which includes a resin sealing tape or strip.
2. Description of Prior Arts
Many of armrests or headrests for use on automotive seat are formed by a typical process which comprises the steps of: sewing separate base materials together to form a three-dimensional trim cover assembly conforming to a predetermined shape of armrest or headrest; placing the thus-formed three-dimensional trim cover assembly in a foaming die; injecting a liquid foaming agent into the inside of the trim cover assembly; and curing that liquid foaming agent into an increased mass of foam padding filled therein.
Besides such armrest or headrest, generally stated, a resultant foamed product formed by the afore-stated foaming process is what is generally described as a foamed product integral with the trim cover assembly, which may be processed into any desired product or item for use on an automotive seat.
This kind of foamed product integral with trim cover assembly, such as armrest or headrest, has been with the problem that, during the foaming process, the liquid foaming agent is leaked out through pinholes formed by sewing needle in at least one sewn connection portion in the trim cover assembly which is preformed by sewing two separate base materials together.
Solution to the foregoing problem is by using a strip of sealing material, such as a resin sealing tape or strip, to seal the foregoing needle holes. Namely, at the step of sewing together two separate base materials, after having placed the two separate base materials on top of the other, a sewing machine is operated to sew the strip of sealing material (preferably, a resin sealing tape) with the juxtaposed two base materials along a predetermined sewing line, so that particular localized parts of the strip of sealing material are forcibly inserted together with a thread in the respective pinholes being formed by sewing needle and through the two juxtaposed base materials, thereby sealing each of the pinholes and finally producing a sealed three-dimensional trim cover assembly. Hence, subsequent thereto, at foaming steps, a liquid foaming agent injected in the trim cover assembly is assuredly prevented by the thus-sewn strip of sealing material from being leaked out through the pinholes.
However, such strip of sealing material per se is quite small in width and assumes a very narrow strip or tape. As a result, certainly, the two juxtaposed base materials can be set at a given sewing point by simply abutting all the edges of the base materials against a guide member and be easily sewn with each other, with a constant margin to seam, but, it is difficult to precisely set and retain such narrow sealing material at a given sewing point upon the top of those base materials. It is therefore actually impossible to precisely sew the sealing material with the two base materials along such constant margin to seam.
Further, in the case that the strip of sealing material underlies the two base materials, the strip of sealing material per se is not viewed and can in no way be positioned at the given sewing point, as a result of which, it is impossible to precisely sew the sealing material with the base materials along a predetermined sewing path or line.

Sewing device for sewing sealing material with base materials


A fuel cell includes an electrolyte membrane, an anode on one surface of the electrolyte membrane and having an anode catalyst layer that is supplied with fuel and contains a platinum-ruthenium alloy catalyst, and a cathode on the other surface of the electrolyte membrane and having an cathode catalyst layer that is supplied with air and contains a platinum catalyst. The anode catalyst layer and the cathode catalyst layer include divided catalyst segments, and gaps between the divided catalyst segments that are adjacent to each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fuel cell, and more particularly, to a solid polymer type fuel cell.
2. Description of the Related Art
A fuel cell has a pair of electrodes communicating via an electrolyte. One of the electrodes is supplied with fuel and the other is supplied with an oxidant for electrochemically reacting with the fuel, whereby chemical energy is directly converted to electric energy. More specifically, hydrogen gas that is fuel for a fuel cell is supplied to one electrode (anode), and oxygen that is an oxidant is supplied to the other electrode (cathode) so as to effect a reaction represented by the following Chemical Formulae (1) and (2) in the respective electrodes, whereby an electromotive force is generated.Anode: H2→2H++2e−  (1)Cathode: 2H++2e−+(1/2)O2→H2O  (2)
In recent years, as a fuel cell from which a high output is obtained, a solid polymer type fuel cell using a solid polymer electrolyte membrane as an electrolyte is attracting attention. For example, FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a structure of main portions of a conventional fuel cell. In FIG. 8, a fuel cell 101 includes an electrolyte membrane 102, an anode 103 that is in contact with one surface of the electrolyte membrane 102 and is supplied with hydrogen (fuel), and a cathode 104 that is in contact with the other surface of the electrolyte membrane 102 and is supplied with air containing oxygen (oxidant). The anode 103 includes an anode catalyst layer 105 and a fuel-side gas diffusion layer 106 (e.g. carbon paper) that is in contact with the anode catalyst layer 105 to disperse hydrogen. The cathode 104 also includes an cathode catalyst layer 107 and an air-side gas diffusion layer 108 (e.g. carbon paper) that is in contact with the cathode catalyst layer 107 to disperse air. Furthermore, the fuel cell 101 includes fuel-side bipolar plates 110 made of carbon having a fuel channel 109 that is in contact with the fuel-side gas diffusion layer 106 to supply hydrogen to the anode 103, and air-side bipolar plates 112 made of carbon having an air channel 111 that is in contact with the air-side gas diffusion layer 108 to supply air to the cathode 104.
The electrolyte membrane 102 is made of, for example, a perfluorosulfonic acid polymer that is a solid polymer electrolyte membrane. One side of the electrolyte membrane 102 is coated with the anode catalyst layer 105 mixed with, for example, a platinum-ruthenium alloy catalyst, and the other side thereof is coated with the cathode catalyst layer 107 mixed with, for example, a platinum catalyst. In addition, a fuel gasket 113 for preventing leakage of hydrogen is disposed between the electrolyte membrane 102 and the fuel-side bipolar plates 110 around the anode 103. An air gasket 114 for preventing leakage of air is disposed between the electrolyte membrane 102 and the air-side bipolar plates 112 around the cathode 104.
The fuel cell 101 with the above-mentioned structure is produced as follows. First, carbon black powder with a platinum-ruthenium alloy (e.g. atomic ratio between platinum and ruthenium is 1:1) adhering to the surface thereof is mixed with an alcohol solution of a solid polymer electrolyte of perfluorosulfonic acid type to prepare an ink for an anode catalyst layer. Carbon black powder with platinum adhering to the surface thereof is also mixed with an alcohol solution of a solid polymer electrolyte of perfluorosulfonic acid type to prepare an ink for a cathode catalyst layer. The ink for the anode catalyst layer and the ink for the cathode catalyst layer are applied to two polytetrafluoroethylene sheets (hereinafter, referred to as "PTFE sheets") by screen printing, respectively. The PTFE sheet coated with the ink for the anode catalyst layer and the PTFE sheet coated with the ink for the cathode catalyst layer are heated to dry each ink. Thereafter, the electrolyte membrane 102 is sandwiched between the two PTFE sheets so that the dried ink for the anode catalyst layer and the dried ink for the cathode catalyst layer come into contact with the respective sides of the electrolyte membrane 102 that is a perfluorosulfonic acid electrolyte membrane (e.g., Nafion film (Trade Name), produced by Dupont). The electrolyte membrane 102 in this state is subjected to hot press in the vicinity of a glass transition temperature of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, whereby the ink for the anode catalyst layer and the ink for the cathode catalyst layer are heat-sealed to the electrolyte membrane 102. Then, the two PTFE sheets are removed. Consequently, as shown in FIG. 9, the ink for the anode catalyst layer remains as the anode catalyst layer 105 on one side of the electrolyte membrane 102, and the ink for the cathode catalyst layer remains as the cathode catalyst layer 107 on the other side of the electrolyte membrane 102.
Thereafter, the fuel-side gas diffusion layer 106 is overlapped with the anode catalyst layer 105. The fuel gasket 113 is disposed around the anode catalyst layer 105. The fuel-side bipolar plates 110 are overlapped with the fuel-side gas diffusion layer 106 and the fuel gasket 113. Similarly, the air-side gas diffusion layer 108 is overlapped with the cathode catalyst layer 107, and the air gasket 114 is disposed around the cathode catalyst layer 107. The air-side bipolar plates 112 are overlapped with the air-side gas diffusion layer 108 and the air gasket 114. Accordingly, the fuel cell 101 is produced.
Next, an operation of the fuel cell 101 will be described. FIG. 10 is a view schematically illustrating the state in the electrolyte membrane 102 during generation of electric power in a conventional fuel cell. In FIGS. 8 and 10, the anode catalyst layer 105 applied to the electrolyte membrane 102 is supplied with hydrogen gas from the fuel channel 109 via the fuel-side gas diffusion layer 106. The cathode catalyst layer 107 applied to the surface of the electrolyte membrane 102 opposed to the anode catalyst layer 105 is supplied with air from the air channel 111 via the air-side gas diffusion layer 108. When an external load 115 is connected to the anode 103 via the fuel-side bipolar plates 110, and to the cathode 104 via the air-side bipolar plates 112, a hydrogen gas performs the reaction represented by the above-mentioned Formula (1) in the anode catalyst layer 105, due to the platinum-ruthenium alloy of a metal catalyst, and hydrogen ions (H+) are supplied to the electrolyte membrane 102. Electrons (e) generated together with hydrogen ions due to this reaction pass through the external load 115 to reach the cathode 104. The electrolyte membrane 102 contains sufficient water, so that hydrogen ions generated on the side of the anode 103 are hydrated to flow to the cathode 104 while being accompanied by water, and performs the reaction represented by the above-mentioned Formula (2) with electrons and oxygen to generate water. The reaction operation is repeated to allow electrons to move, whereby a current flows to the external load 115.
For example, in the case where the fuel cell 101 is kept at 80° C., the fuel channel 109 is supplied with humidified hydrogen by a bubbler (not shown) kept at 70° C., and the air channel 111 is supplied with humidified air by a bubbler kept at 70° C. (i.e., in the case of a highly humidified state), the following results are obtained: the fuel cell 101 has 0.58 V/unit cell at a current density of 0.5 A/cm2. Furthermore, in the case where hydrogen and air are similarly supplied by a bubbler kept at 70° C. with 100 ppm of carbon monoxide contained in the hydrogen, the following results are obtained: the fuel cell 101 has 0.50 V/unit cell at a current density of 0.5 A/cm2. Herein, it is assumed that carbon monoxide is contained in fuel (hydrogen), as described below. Furthermore, in the case where humidified hydrogen and air are supplied to the fuel cell 101 kept at 80° C. by a bubbler kept at 60° C. (i.e., in the case of a low humidified state), the following results are obtained: the fuel cell 101 has 0.45 V/unit cell at a current density of 0.5 A/cm2.
Thus, as described above, hydrogen ions move accompanied by water in the electrolyte membrane 102, when moving from the anode 103 to the cathode 104. Water is also generated by the reaction of Formula (2) in the cathode 104. Therefore, water is likely to be accumulated in the cathode 104, whereas the anode 103 is likely to be dried due to the movement of water.
When a gradient of a water content is formed due to the movement of water between the anode 103 and the cathode 104, a force of water moving from the cathode 104 to the anode 103 is formed. However, the anode catalyst layer 105 is formed on substantially the entire surface of the electrolyte membrane 102, and the cathode catalyst layer 107 is formed on substantially the entire surface of the electrolyte membrane 102 opposite the anode catalyst layer 105, so that hydrogen ions are hydrated in the electrolyte membrane 102 and move from the anode 103 to the cathode 104, thereby preventing the movement of water from the cathode 104 to the anode 103 due to the gradient of the water content. Furthermore, water accumulated in the cathode 104 passes through the cathode catalyst layer 107 or the air-side gas diffusion layer 108 to be partially discharged to the outside of the fuel cell 101. The cathode 104 is dense, so that discharge of water is insufficient. As a result, water is likely to be accumulated in the cathode 104, and the anode 103 is likely to be dried.
In the case of setting a highly humidified state so as to prevent the anode 103 from being dried, accumulation of water in the cathode 104 is accelerated, and water enters pores in the cathode catalyst layer 107 and the air-side gas diffusion layer 108. Therefore, sufficient air is not supplied to the cathode catalyst layer 107, and the reaction in the cathode 104 is not smoothly effected.
Furthermore, in the case of setting a low humidified state so as to prevent accumulation of water in the cathode 104, drying of the anode 103 is accelerated, and generated hydrogen ions are hydrated and cannot move to the cathode 104. This increases an ion-conduction resistance, and hydrogen ions cannot be sufficiently supplied to the cathode 104.
There is also a method in which movement of water from the cathode 104 to the anode 103 is activated by making the electrolyte membrane 102 thin and increasing the gradient of the water content between the anode 103 and the cathode 104. When the electrolyte membrane 102 becomes thin, there arises a problem of increasing the danger that the electrolyte membrane 102 is damaged.
Furthermore, in general, hydrogen as fuel is generated from manufactured gas, methanol, or the like, so that hydrogen as fuel contains carbon monoxide or the like as a sub-product. Carbon monoxide in hydrogen adsorbs to platinum of a metal catalyst. Therefore, when such fuel is used, the function of platinum as a catalyst is reduced. In order to prevent this, ruthenium is added to the anode catalyst layer 105, and a platinum-ruthenium alloy is used as a metal catalyst. However, as the added amount of ruthenium is increased, the amount of platinum is reduced accordingly. Therefore, in the case where hydrogen containing no carbon monoxide is used as fuel, it is not appropriate to use a catalyst containing a large amount of ruthenium as a metal catalyst. Thus, the composition of an appropriate metal catalyst is varied depending upon the composition of fuel, resulting in a problem in that the anode catalyst layer 105 cannot have sufficient performance, except for the case where a metal catalyst is used for the anode catalyst layer 105, and fuel allowing the metal catalyst to exhibit its function as a catalyst is supplied.


A magnetic disk drive device for rotary driving a magnetic disk may be provided. The magnetic disk drive device may include a drive motor for rotary driving the magnetic disk. The drive motor may include a motor hub which has motor hub support portion with a screw-type motor hub engaging portion, and a motor hub support surface for supporting the magnetic disk. The magnetic disk drive device may also include a clamp disk including a clamp disk support portion with a screw-type clamp disk engaging portion complementary to the motor hub engaging portion, and a clamp disk support surface for supporting the magnetic disk.

When a magnetic disk, i.e. a hard disk drive medium disk is assembled to the spindle motor, the disk clamp should provide sufficient clamping force to tighten the magnetic disk and eliminate relative movement of the magnetic disk to the motor hub.
In conventional hard disks, an external bolt is used to secure the disk clamp to the spindle motor. As a result, it is difficult to reduce the height of the hard disk drive. Further, the deflection of the magnetic disk is too great for magnetic disks of high areal densities.

Magnetic disk drive device, magnetic disk assembly and methods of forming the same


An transfer device for moving substrates from one position to another comprises a base and a drive arm pivotally connected to one another about a first pivot axis. A drive is connected to the drive arm for moving the drive arm through an arc about the first pivot axis. The drive arm has a free end which has a second pivot axis disposed parallel to the first pivot axis. The drive arm free end further including at least one article handling element which is rotatably disposed about the second pivot axis. A belt rotatably couples the at least one article handling element to the base such that upon movement of the drive arm through the arc in a first rotary direction the at least one article handling element is rotated in the other opposite direction to move a substrate along a straight line path.

The present invention relates generally to material transfer devices, and in particular, to an articulated arm which is coaxially driven in to effect rotation and vertical movement of substrate holders used in material transfer devices used in the production of substrates which may take the form of semi-conductor wafers and or flat panels, or other substrates, or media.
The need for high throughput transport devices which can move a substrate or workpiece between remote locations within highly confined areas as defined by a limited footprint such as found in the manufacture of wafers or panels used in the semiconductor industry are in high demand. This is because in the process of manufacturing, not just in the semiconductor industry, the need to move a workpiece from one position to the next not only requires a high throughput rate, but also accuracy of repeatability of placement of workpieces in registration at predetermined orientations on a support surface. Still a further constraint is to fabricate a positioning machine which is capable of working in a clean room environment where the existence of particulates is minimized, if not nonexistent.
Attempts have been made to fabricate placement devices which employ rotary to linear motion robotic arms which can effect straight line movement of a substrate between stations. One such arm is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,897,015. In this patent, it is disclosed to provide an end effector which is capable of carrying a substrate such as a silicon wafer from one point to another in a straight line. This is accomplished by using a series of pulleys which drivingly connect two pivot linkages about which the articulated parts travel. The dual pulley system however introduces unwanted possibilities of error by having two nonpositively connected drives control movement of the end effector, each of which drives presents a separate possibility of error through the introduction of possible belt/pulley slippage. In the device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,897,015 the slippage problem is of a furthermore problematic because of the small width belts which are used to articulate the drive mechanism.
In copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/679,845, filed on Jul. 15, 1996 and entitled BATCH LOADER ARM, there is disclosed an articulated arm which is driven between extended and retracted positions through the use of a rotary drive which is laterally offset from the Z-axis drive. While such a system has been successful, there are applications where it is more desirable to drive the articulate arm at the Z-axis thereby consolidating theta and Z-axis movements in a single drive.
Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide an article transfer mechanism for moving an article between first and second stations in a straight linear path with repeatability of movement and which mechanism is articulated by a drive which both rotates and vertically moves the mechanism about and along a given axis.
It is still a further object of the invention to provide a transport device of the aforementioned type wherein a substrate is capable of being moved as a group of stacked substrates from one position to the next or to effect greater throughput of the processing operation.
It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a transport mechanism of the aforementioned type wherein the mechanism provides a holder on which is stacked a plurality of substrates which are handled as a group and worked on by subsequent operations using the holder.
Still a further object of the invention is to provide a transport mechanism which is capable of functioning in a clean room environment.
Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following specification and appended claims.


An apparatus (10) for purifying polluted air consisting of particle phase pollutants and gaseous phase pollutants, the apparatus (10) comprising: a dust level sensor (23) to measure the amount of particle phase pollutants in the polluted air; a dust removal component (14) to remove the particle phase pollutants from the polluted air; a catalyst filtering core (17) to decompose the gaseous phase pollutants by chemical reaction; a valve (22) for selectively controlling a path of air flow within the apparatus (10) and is movable between an open position and closed position, the valve (22) being positioned downstream from the dust removal component (14); wherein if the amount of particle phase pollutants measured by the dust level sensor (23) is above a predetermined value, the valve (22) is moved to the open position to enable the air to bypass the catalyst filtering core (17); and if the amount of particle phase pollutants measured by the dust level sensor (23) is less than a predetermined value, the valve (22) is moved to the closed position to force the air to pass through the catalyst filtering core (17).

The air pollutants exist in two major physical phases: particle phase pollutants and gaseous phase pollutants. The particle phase pollutants are pollutants with significant physical sizes including dust particles, airborne bacteria and mold. They may be composed and be bound together by different matters with different compositions. The gaseous phase pollutants are pollutants with simple chemical structures. The size of the gaseous phase pollutants are small from angstrom to nano-scale. Odor molecules and volatile organic compounds are examples of gaseous phase pollutants.
To eliminate the particle phase pollutants or pollutants with significant physical sizes, electrostatic precipitator or high efficiency particulate air filter are always employed. The removal efficiency may reach to 80% to 99.9%. However, it is not always easy to remove the gaseous phase pollutants.
Oxidants such as ozone and hydroxyl radicals are generated from an ozone generator or ionizer. They are very good reactants and can decompose the harmful and small molecular matters. Use of oxidants has been widely used for air purification. However, the rate of air purification depends on the concentration of the oxidants. When the ozone and hydroxyl radical are directly released into the air, their concentrations are immediately diluted. On another hand, these oxidants bombard other non-target molecules in the fluid and become decayed. Therefore, they cannot effectively oxidize the pollutants and organic molecules. Consequently, most ionizers cannot effectively purify the air. Only high concentration of ozone can effectively clean the air. To address this problem, some air purifiers use a catalyst for air cleaning. For example, when a photo-catalyst is being irradiated under a UV lamp, oxidants are generated. An oxidation or reduction reaction of the pollutants occurs.
There are also some air purification methods which involve the adsorption of pollutants into the pores of molecular sieves, based on the size, orientation, shape, and hydrophilicity of the molecule of the pollutants. Within the pores of the molecular sieves, chemical reactions are performed and the pollutants are decomposed. In these air purification systems, the two pollutant phases are drawn into the systems at the same time. Particle phase pollutants are first trapped in the particle filter. The gaseous phase pollutants are drawn into the catalyst filtering core where a chemical reaction occurs for decomposing the gaseous phase pollutants. However, even a high efficiency particulate air filter with a very high efficiency cannot remove all particles phase pollutants. In heavy polluted areas, such as a smoking area, the polluted air drawn into the system containing particle filter and catalyst filtering core results in un-filtered particles being deposited on the surface of the catalyst. This blocks the active sites of the catalyst and hinders the catalytic reaction. Consequently, the gaseous phase pollutants cannot be effectively eliminated. The accumulation of the particle phase pollutants on the surface of the catalyst leads to other problems such as becoming an incubation area for the growth of bacteria. Using such air purifiers which contain the contaminated catalyst filtering core may release the originally collected pollutants (for example, bacteria, odor, dust). The filter needs to be frequently replaced. This is environmentally un-friendly as the unwanted contaminated catalyst filtering core creates a secondary pollution problem.


The unnecessary portion of the separator which prevents the short-circuit between the cathode and the anode In the center of a cylindrical cell is cut off using cutting apparatus or laser beam to increase the inner space of the cell and the electrolyte, and to have higher cell capacity and lower inner pressure of the can while producing gas.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a group of winding electrodes. More particularly, is relates to a group of winding electrodes removing an unnecessary separator in the center of cylindrical nickel-hydrogen cell to increase the inner space and the electrolyte solution of the cell, and to have higher capacity and lower pressure of a can while producing a gas.
(b) Description of the Related Arts
A group of winding electrodes such as a cylindrical cell and a condenser has a separator to prevent a short-circuit of the cathode and the anode. The present invention relates to a technology of a group of winding electrodes having cathode, anode and separator. A cylindrical cell, especially a cylindrical nickel-hydrogen cell, is described as an example.
More and more portable electronic devices such as a camera, a camcorder, a portable CDP, a radio, a cassette, a notebook computer, a pager and a cellular phone, etc. require a cell having higher capacity and longer durability.
In general, a cell is a device that converts chemical energy into electric energy by means of contact potential difference and it has many kinds of thereof. Electrochemical cells and batteries are technologically identified as a nonchargeable primary cell or a rechargeable secondary cell or a fuel cell that converts combustion heat into electric energy or a solar cell that converts light energy into electric energy. Electrochemical cells and batteries are classified by the composition of electrolyte and shape of the cells and batteries. The composition of electrolyte and shape are alkaline, solid or nonaqueous cells and cylindrical, button or coin types respectively.
In these kinds of cells, a cylindrical cell (jelly-roll type) discharges current and is composed of a cathode, an anode, a separator to prevent a short-circuit of the cathode and the anode, electrolyte, a positive terminal, and a negative terminal. To describe specifically, the structure of a nickel-hydrogen cell is illustrated in FIG. 5. The cylindrical nickel-hydrogen cell is composed of a cathode (13) coated with Ni(OH).sub.2 as a positive active material, an anode (15) of hydrogenated alloy coated with a negative active material which is mainly composed of LaNi.sub.5, MmNi.sub.5, Ti--Fe or Ti--Ni alloy, a separator (17) which is made of a nonwoven fabric and a cellophane tape to prevent a short-circuit of the cathode (13) and the anode (15), a cap (19) as a positive terminal, and a case (11) as a negative terminal and packaging equipment, and besides a gasket (21), a safety vent (23), a cover plate (25), an insulating tube (27),and an insulating plate (29).
The process for producing a cylindrical nickel-hydrogen cell is as follows. First, cathode is manufactured by coating a slurry of a positive active material, drying, and rolling on a metallic support, and then an anode is manufactured by coating a slurry of a negative active material, drying, and rolling on a metallic support. After that, a separator is laid between the cathode and the anode, and is wound. In this wound assembly of electrodes and the separator is inserted into a can. After that, an electrolyte is poured into the can and a cap assembly is mounted in the mouth of the upper part.
A detailed description about the charge and the discharge reaction of the cylindrical nickel-hydrogen cell manufactured according to the above method is as follows.
A hydrogenated alloy is used as a negative active material, nickel hydroxide is used as a positive active material and potassium hydroxide(KOH) aqueous solution is used as an electrolyte. The hydrogenated alloy store hydrogen ions produced by cleavage of water in the electrolyte during the charging process, and releases hydrogen ions into the electrolyte during the discharging process. The charge and discharge reactions are as follows. ##STR1##
In the above reactions, M is a hydrogenated alloy that can absorb and emit hydrogen ions, identified as an AB.sub.5 group that is made of rare earth elements or an AB.sub.2 group that is made of Ti, Zr, V, etc. According to the above reaction, a cell performs a charge and discharge more than hundreds of times.
The process for producing the cylindrical nickel-hydrogen cell comprises locating the cathode (13) and the anode (15) in the opposite side of the separator (17) and winding the separator (17) using a mandrel as shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a cylindrical cell inserted the plates and the separator therein. As shown in FIG. 3, when winding the cathode (13) and the anode (15), the portion which the separator is not piled on the plates, is overlapped in the center of the cell. The portion cannot make a role of the separator (17), which prevents short-circuit of the cathode (13) and the anode(15), to be unnecessary. The separator (17) is occupied the space, in which the electrolyte solution contains, therefore the problems that the electrolyte solution amount in the cell is decreased to have lower cell capability and the shorter durability.


A two-part device for producing a toy wheel from cylindrical playing blocks composed of a hard foam, the device has a cutting device having a trough for insertion of a playing block and a guide for a separating tool extending at an angle to the trough, a joining device which has a circular-ring-shaped trough for insertion of playing block segments cut with the cutting device from the playing blocks, and a wheel shaft hole which is coaxial to the trough of the joining device for passing a wheel shaft.

The present invention relates to a two-part device for producing a toy wheel of cylindrical playing blocks which are composed of hard foam.
Such playing blocks are disclosed for example in the German patent document DE 197 49 493. The known playing blocks are molded and foamed from an agricultural raw material by injection molding. The playing blocks have an approximately cylindrical shape with spherical end surfaces. They are self-adhesive by moistening and thereby can be connected with other playing blocks.
Accordingly it is an object of present invention to provide a device with which a toy wheel can be produced from playing blocks of the above mentioned type.
The device in accordance with the present invention has a cutting device with a trough, in which a playing block can be inserted. In an angle inclined to the trough, the cutting device has a guide for a separating tool, for example a knife or a saw, so that a playing block inserted in the cutting device can be exactly cut through at a predetermined angle to its imaginary longitudinal axis. With double cutting of the playing block at axially spaced points, a playing block segment can be produced, whose end surfaces are arranged at an angle relative to one another. From a plurality of such playing block segments, a circular ring can be produced, whereby the end surfaces of the playing block segments are located in radial planes of the circular ring.
The inventive device has a joining device with a circular-ring-shaped trough for insertion of a number of the playing block segments, which are produced in the above described manner in the cutting device. By insertion in the circular ring-shaped trough of the joining device, the playing block segments abut against one another to form the above mentioned circular ring and are connected with one another, for example by glueing.
It is advantageous when the playing blocks are adhesively connected by moistening, so that no additional adhesive as an additional material is needed. The joining device can have a wheel shaft hole which is coaxial to its circular ring-shaped trough. In the wheel shaft hole, a wheel shaft for example a round wood rod, a straw stalk or the like can be introduced, and is held coaxially to the circular ring formed in the trough of the joining device from inserted playing block segments. A circular cover disk composed for example of paper board and provided with a central opening can be fitted on the wheel shaft. The circular ring formed of the playing block segments can be arranged on it, and they are glued together. The wheel shaft plugged in the wheel shaft hole orients the cover disk concentrically to the circular ring assembled from the playing block segments.
Finally, the circular ring which is assembled from the playing block segments and provided at one side with a cover disk can be withdrawn from the joining device, placed on its wheel side, and after piercing of the wheel shaft, provided with a cover disk on its second side. The wheel disk orients the second cover disk with respect to the first cover disk already applied on the circular ring, coaxially to the circular ring. The toy wheel is finished.
The present invention has the advantage that in a simple and child-friendly manner the manufacture of substantially circular toy wheel is possible. The toy wheel has wheel shaft openings for passage of a wheel shaft at both sides of the toy wheel, which is concentrical to the toy wheel. The toy wheel produced in accordance with the present invention rolls well, it is stable and has a diameter which is many times greater than the diameter of the used, cylindrical playing boxes. Furthermore, the present invention has the advantage that it makes producing possible at any number of identical toy wheels.
Preferably, the cutting device has two guides, which are arranged at a distance from one another and at an angle to the trough of the cutting device. During cutting of a playing block inserted in the cutting device with the aide of the two guides, a plane block segment is produced which can be assembled with further, identical playing block segments to form the circular ring. The distance between the two guides of the cutting device from one another and there angle towards the trough of the cutting device are selected so that the separating or end surfaces of the playing block segments are located in radial planes of the circular ring assembled from the playing block segments in the inventive joining device.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the guide of the cutting device is a slot, in which for example a saw, a knife or separating tool can be guided. This type of guidance is simple and allows the use of available knives or separating tools so that no special separating tool is needed.
It is advantageous when the slot is deeper than the trough of the cutting device. Thereby the playing block inserted in the trough of the cutting device can be completely cut through.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, the cutting device has an abutment surface for the separating tool, for leading, the separating tool before the separating tool reaches the slot which serves as a guide of the cutting device. The abutment surface is located in one plane with a slot side wall, an abutment surface increases the slot at one side.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, the device has a knife with a blade, a saw with a blade or a separating tool. The separating tool has a lateral thickening which extends substantially parallel to and at a distance from a blade of the separating tool. In a saw, the blade has an imaginary line over the saw teeth. The lateral thickening can be formed for example as a bead. The lateral thickening can be formed also for example by a blade, plate or the like of a separating tool with a wedge-shaped cross-section.
The lateral thickening can be one-sided or two-sided. When the separating tool is introduced into the slot of the cutting device, the lateral thickening limits a penetration depth of the separating tool of the slots. The lateral thickening prevents sitting of the blade of the separating tool on the bottom of the slot and therefore prevents a dulling of the separating tool. In addition, the penetration of the separating tool in the slot is dimensioned so that, a playing block inserted into trough of the cutting device is completely cut through.
The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the present invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Two-part device for producing a toy wheel from cylindrical playing blocks composed of a hard foam


A method of inspecting defect of a mask is provided. In this method, a database for storing a plurality of virtual simulation models is created. The virtual simulation models are determined by a plurality of factors including an optical effect and a chemical effect during the transferring the pattern of a mask to the photoresist layer on a wafer. A mask defect image is acquired. A simulation contour of the mask defect image is generated from at least one virtual simulation model in the database. Next, the acceptability of the mask is determined.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to an inspection method. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of inspecting a photomask defect.
2. Description of Related Art
In the fabrication of integrated circuits, a pattern on a wafer or the various types of material layer on the wafer is formed by a transfer from a photomask pattern. A typical approach is to form a photoresist layer on a wafer, followed by projecting the pattern of the photomask on the photoresist layer via an exposure process. Thereafter, a development process is performed to the required pattern in the photoresist layer. With a subsequent etching process, the pattern in the photoresist layer is transferred to the wafer or the material layer on the wafer.
As the device dimension continues to reduce and integrated circuits become more complicated, it is important to form an accurate pattern on a photomask. The current fabrication techniques of a photomask can not assure the formation of a perfect photomask without defects. Unfortunately, defects are normally present in a newly fabricated photomask; thus, it is necessary to inspect the photomask to determine whether it is acceptable for used, or a repair or a remake of the photomask is required. On the other hand, even the photomask is acceptable for use, it is necessary to subject the photomask to an inspection prior to its use in the patterning of a wafer to ensure the stability of the process and to obviate defects being generated during the process to affect the accuracy of the to-be-formed pattern.
A typical method of inspecting defects on a photomask includes actually forming a photoresist layer on a wafer, followed by performing an exposure-and-development process to transfer the pattern from the photomask to a photoresist layer. Then, by evaluating the pattern in the photoresist layer to determine whether the photomask passes the inspection. However, the conventional approach is very time-consuming and non-economical.


A semiconductor memory device includes a fuse set configured to form a current path including at least one of a plurality of fuses in response to address information corresponding to a plurality of memory cells and to output a redundancy address corresponding to a programming state of the plurality of fuses where the plurality of fuses are programmed with address information corresponding to a target memory cell to be repaired among the plurality of memory cells, and at least one current controlling unit configured to control a driving current flowing through the current path according to at least one detection signal.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor design technology, and more particularly, to a fuse set for outputting a redundancy address corresponding to accessing a target memory cell to be repaired.
An integration level of a semiconductor memory device has increased incredibly. Thus, a semiconductor memory device such as a Double Data Rate Synchronous DRAM (DDR SDRAM) includes more than thousands of memory cells. If one of the memory cells fails, a semiconductor memory device thereof cannot perform a desired operation. In probability, a very small number of memory cells fail due to advanced manufacturing technology of a semiconductor memory device. However, even if a semiconductor memory device includes a very small number of failed memory cells, the semiconductor memory device may be dismissed as a defective product. This is unacceptable in terms of product yields. In order to overcome the problem, a semiconductor memory device includes not only a normal memory cell but also a redundancy memory cell. If a normal memory cell fails, it is replaced with one of redundancy memory cells. Hereinafter, a failed normal memory cell that should be replaced with one of redundancy memory cells is referred to as a target memory cell to be repaired.
Meanwhile, a semiconductor memory device includes a fuse set for programming an address corresponding to a target memory cell to be repaired. Here, the programming is a set of processes for storing an address in a fuse set corresponding to a target memory cell to be repaired. The fuse set outputs a programmed address as a redundancy address. Therefore, in case of accessing a target memory cell to be repaired, a semiconductor memory device compares an address inputted corresponding to the target memory cell to be repaired with a redundancy address outputted from a fuse set and redirects it to the redundancy memory cell instead of the target memory cell to be repaired.
An electric cutting-off method and a laser cutting method were used to program a plurality of fuses. Here, the electric cutting method cuts off a target fuse by applying excessive current to and melting down the target fuse. The laser cutting-off method cuts off a target fuse by blowing the target fuse using a laser beam. In general, the electric cutting-off method was widely used because the electric cutting-off method is simpler than the laser cutting-off method.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a conventional semiconductor memory device.
Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional semiconductor memory device includes a memory bank 110, a column decoder 130, and a plurality of fuse sets 150.
The memory bank 110 includes first to nth memory cell arrays each of which is a group of a plurality of memory cells where n is a natural number. Each of the first to nth memory cell arrays 111, 112, and 113 includes a normal memory cell array and a redundancy memory cell array. The column decoder 130 decodes a column address applied from an external device and selects a corresponding memory cell based on the decoded column address. The fuse set 150 outputs a column address programmed corresponding to a target memory cell to be repaired as a redundancy address.
Hereinafter, an operation of a conventional semiconductor memory device when a target memory cell to be repaired is accessed will be described.
The semiconductor memory device activates a corresponding word line by decoding a row address. Then, a plurality of fuse sets 150 output address information programmed in response to a cell array activation signal MATY<1:n> (see FIG. 2), which is memory cell array information including the activated word line, as a redundancy address YRA<3:9> (see FIG. 2). The column decoder 130 outputs a selection signal to access a redundancy memory cell by comparing an address inputted corresponding to a target memory cell to be repaired with the redundancy address YRA<3:9>. Such a sequence of processes guarantees the semiconductor memory device to access a redundancy memory cell that normally operates when the semiconductor memory device performs a read operation and a write operation.
FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram illustrating a plurality of fuse sets 150 shown in FIG. 1. For convenience in description, a fuse set outputting a third redundancy address YRA<3> will be described as an example among a plurality of fuse sets.
Referring to FIG. 2, the fuse set includes a plurality of fuses 210, a plurality of selectors 230, a latch unit 250, a precharging unit 270, and an output unit 290.
The plurality of fuses 210 program address information corresponding to a target memory cell to be repaired. The plurality of fuses 210 include a node A and a first fuse to an nth fuse F1, F2, . . . , Fn connected to a plurality of selectors 230, respectively.
The plurality of selectors 230 include a first NMOS transistor to an nth NMOS transistor N1, N2, . . . , and Nn which form a source-drain path between the first to nth fuses F1, F2, . . . , and Fn and a ground supply voltage (VSS) terminal and have a gate receiving first to nth cell array activation signals MATY<1:n>. Here, the first to nth cell array activation signals MATY<1:n> are signals corresponding to a memory cell array including an activated word line among the first to the Nth memory cell arrays 111, 112, and 113 (see FIG. 1).
The latch unit 250 latches a logical level value according to a programming state of a selected fuse in response to the first to nth cell array activation signals MATY<1:n> among a plurality of fuses 210. The latch unit 250 includes a first inverter INV1 and a second inverter INV2.
The precharging unit 270 initializes the latch unit 250. The precharging unit 270 includes a first PMOS transistor P1 forming a source-drain path between an external supply voltage VDD terminal and a node A which is an input terminal of the latch unit 250 and a gate for receiving a reset signal RST. The reset signal RST is a signal transiting from a logical 'low' to logical 'high' when a semiconductor memory device is activated. The first PMOS transistor P1 is turned on before activating the semiconductor memory device and drives the nose A with external supply voltage VDD. The reset signal RST will be described again with reference to FIG. 3.
The output unit 290 receives an output signal of the latch unit 250 and outputs a third redundancy address YRA<3>. The output unit 290 includes a third inverter INV3 for receiving an output signal of the latch unit 250.
Meanwhile, each of the plurality of fuse sets 150 has the same structure described above and outputs a corresponding redundancy address. That is, a plurality of fuse sets 150 output programmed addresses as third to ninth redundancy addresses YRA<3:9> in response to the first to nth cell array activation signals MATY<1:n>. The semiconductor memory device performs an access operation of a redundancy memory cell using the outputted third to ninth redundancy addresses YRA<3:9>.
FIG. 3 is a timing diagram describing a circuit operation of a plurality of fuse sets 150 of FIG. 2. For convenience in description, a fuse set outputting a third redundancy address YRA<3> will be described as an example among the plurality of fuse sets 150. Also, the first fuse F1 will be exemplarily described among a plurality of fuses 210. That is, circuit operations when the first fuse F1 is cut off and when the first fuse F1 is not cut off will be described.
At first, a circuit operation when the first fuse F1 is cut off will be described.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the reset signal RST transits from logical 'high' to logical 'low' in response to a precharging command PRC. Therefore, the first PMOS transistor PM1 is turned on and the node A is driven with an external supply voltage VDD. Accordingly, the latch unit 250 is initialized to logical 'high'. Then, when the active command ACT is applied, the reset signal RST transits from logical 'low' to logical 'high'. The first PMOS transistor P1 is turned off, and the node A sustains logical 'high' by the second inverter INV2 of the latch unit 250. Meanwhile, the first cell array activation signal MATY<1> is activated from logical 'low' to logical 'high' in response to the active command ACT. Here, although the first NMOS transistor N1 is turned on, the node A sustains logical 'high' because the first fuse F1 is cut off.
Hereinafter, a circuit operation when the first fuse F1 is not cut off will be described. The circuit operation before the active command ACT will be omitted because it is identical to that when the first fuse F1 is cut off. The first cell array activation signal MATY<1> is activated from logical 'low' to logical 'high' in response to the active command ACT. The first NMOS transistor N1 is turned on and the node A transits from logical 'high' to logical 'low' because the first fuse F1 is not cut off.
FIG. 3 is a timing diagram illustrating operations when a fuse set normally operates. As shown, a logical level of a third redundancy address YRA<3> is decided according to whether the first fuse F1 is cut off or not. That is, the third redundancy address YRA<3> becomes logical 'high' when the first fuse F1 is cut off and the third redundancy address YRA<3> becomes logical 'low' when the first fuse F1 is not cut off. The third redundancy address YRA<3> is compared with an address applied corresponding to a read command RD and a semiconductor memory device decide whether or not to access a redundancy memory cell according to the comparison result.
Meanwhile, when the first fuse F1 is cut off, a current path if formed between the node A and an external supply voltage VDD terminal by the second PMOS transistor P2 of the second inverter INV2. The formed current path is referred to as a pull-up current path. That is, the node A sustains logical 'high' because the node A is driven with a pull-up driving current I_PU flowing through the pull-up current path. When the first fuse F1 is not cut off, a current path (hereinafter pull-down current path) is formed between the node A and the ground supply voltage VSS terminal as well as the pull-up current path. That is, the node A is driven by current generated oppositely by the pull-up driving current I_PU and a pull-down driving current I_PD flowing through the pull-down current path. In ideal case, the node A transits to logical 'low' because the pull-down driving current I_PD is greater than the pull-up driving current I_PU.
Meanwhile, according to the development of a fabrication technology of a semiconductor memory device, a very small scale design-rule such as a sub-micron level design-rule has been applied to design an internal circuit of a semiconductor memory device. Since a semiconductor memory device is densely integrated based on the sub-micron level design-rule, a typical chip has been decreasing in size rapidly. However, since such sub-micron level circuitry elements vary in properties according to manufacturing process characteristics, a supply voltage, and temperature variation, related problems have occurred.
FIG. 4 is a timing diagram illustrating malfunctioning of a plurality of fuse sets 150 of FIG. 2. For ease of description, signals identical to those shown in FIG. 3 will be described.
Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, operation states of a semiconductor memory device vary according to the manufacturing process characteristics, supply voltage, and temperature variation. Accordingly, the pull-up driving current I_PU and the pull-down driving current I_PD may be changed. In other word, if the first cell array activation signal MATY<1> is activated without cutting off the first fuse F1, the node A of FIG. 3 is driven by a ground supply voltage VSS according to an increase of the pull-down driving current I_PD. However, in FIG. 4, the node A is not driven by the ground supply voltage VSS because the pull-down driving current I_PD does not become sufficiently greater than the pull-up driving current I_PU or because the pull-up driving current I_PU become excessively large. That is, a voltage level of the node A becomes vague. Finally, the vague voltage level of the node A makes an incorrect third redundancy address YRA<3> to output according to a threshold voltage of the first inverter INV1. Such an incorrect third redundancy address YRA<3> causes a problem of misreading an address corresponding to a normal memory cell as a target memory cell to be repaired or misreading an address corresponding to a target memory cell to be repaired as a normal memory cell.
As described above, a plurality of fuse sets 150 (see FIG. 1) form a pull-up driving path and a pull-down driving path including a corresponding fuse according to 0th to nth cell array activation signals MATY<1:n> and generate third to ninth redundancy addresses YRA<3:9> through the pull-up driving current I_PU and the pull-down driving current I_PD. However, the operation state changes according to variation of a manufacturing process, a supply voltage, and a temperature due to down-sized elements according to the development of a manufacturing technology. Such variation of the operation state becomes a critical factor to change the pull-up driving current I_PU and the pull-down driving current I_PU. The changed pull-up driving current I_PU and pull-down driving current I_PD make a plurality of fuse sets 150 to output incorrect third to ninth redundancy addresses YPA<3:9>.
The number of memory banks has increased in order to satisfy a demand of a user such as a mass capacity semiconductor memory device. If a semiconductor memory device has a plurality of fuse sets corresponding each of memory banks as shown in FIG. 1, the number of the fuse sets increases in proportion to the increment of the memory banks. That is, power consumption of the semiconductor memory device increases corresponding to the increment of the fuse sets.

Semiconductor memory device including a fuse set and a current controlling unit


A system and method for calibrating an optical module. The optical module including a microprocessor with non-volatile memory is provided at a calibration station for measuring calibrated value of a device parameter against raw values starting from minimum value in each of multiple zones of a primary parameter with one or more secondary parameters at least being set to a basis calibration point to determine coefficients for generating a N-spline function for the multiple zones and multiple multipliers for each zone corresponding to multiple calibration points. The coefficients and multiple multipliers are stored in the non-volatile memory and reused respectively for calculating a basis calibrated value based on any current raw value of the primary parameter a N-spline function in particular zone and for determining a final multiplier by interpolation of the multiple multipliers associated with the one or more secondary parameters, leading to a calibrated value for any condition.

The present invention relates to optical module calibration techniques. More particularly, the present invention provides a system and method for calibrating general purpose device parameter of an optical module. Specifically, the system and method are implemented with control logic being fully coded in an internal logic control unit with non-volatile memory before being applied for the characterization of various devices within the optical module.
In an optical module, it may not be known in advance, especially when designing system control logic, exactly how various internal devices will behave. For example, optical module for network communication usually includes multiple different devices manufactured in a high mix environment and needs to be integrated together and operated under one internal logic control unit. The mix of devices may change from time to time. This is particularly true for such optical networking module to select different WDM (wave division multiplexed) or DWDM (dense wave division multiplexing) devices, transmitters, receivers, or transceivers, RF modulator, subsystem for communicating to a host, and/or analog control units, all possibly having different constructions and being designed for different channel wavelengths. Thus, it is inefficient to dedicate a production line or testing station to a particular module or component. Instead, optical modules require a calibrated version of multiple device parameters to be communicated with the host and internal controls also require calibration in order to function properly.
Therefore, it is desired to have improved system and method for optical module calibration that cover various calibration requirements with a minimum of physical memory space requirements and with a minimum of additional overhead at the time of calibration.

System and method for calibration of an optical module


A laser power supply including circuitry for converting standard, 115-120 volt, AC power from a wall outlet to current pulses for powering a laser, to generate a pulsed laser output beam having laser pulse amplitude and duration matching pre-selected parameters. In a preferred embodiment, the invention powers an argon laser tube and generates output laser beam pulses having power in the range from about 50 milliwatts to 2 watts, and duration in the range from about 0.01 second to 2 seconds. The invention converts standard AC power to current pulses having controlled duration, average amplitude, and ripple amplitude for powering a laser, and can produce laser output beam pulses with a turn-on time of less than 1 millisecond, with a switching frequency in the range from about 10 to 20 KHz without significant overshoot. A preferred embodiment of the invention powers a gas laser tube, and includes a magnet control circuit which enables the laser tube magnet in the absence of a special magnet control signal received at the magnet control circuit from a fiber optic link. The invention is particularly suitable for powering gas laser systems for use in ophthalmic and surgical applications, but is also useful for powering other types of laser systems. An important advantage of the invention is that its ability to accept standard, AC power from a wall outlet enables the inventive apparatus to be moved conveniently between treatment rooms (for use in any of the rooms), without the expense and inconvenience of installing special wiring.

It is conventional to employ continuous wave laser systems for ophthalmic surgery and other medical applications. However, conventional continuous wave laser systems have produced large amounts of waste heat when used in such applications, and for this reason have employed external cooling water supplies (or other external cooling means) to dissipate waste heat.
Some conventional continuous wave laser systems have employed mechanical shuttering devices in the laser beam path to convert the laser output beam mechanically into a pulsed output beam. However, such mechanical shuttering devices are slow, and typically produce audible clicking noises whenever the user actuates the system, which undesirably tends to cause the patient being treated to flinch.
The present invention employs electronic switching to produce a pulsed laser output beam (for ophthalmic and other medical applications) in a silent and efficient manner, without moving mechanical parts, and in a manner reducing the laser system's duty cycle (and hence the time-averaged heat generated by the system). The inventive electronic pulsing circuitry is also much faster (i.e., results in much shorter pulse rise times) than mechanical beam chopping means. Furthermore, the inventive electronic pulsing technique allows the laser system to operate with a self-contained, internal cooling means, so that the system does not require external water connections and is portable.
Another important advantage of the electronic pulsing circuitry of the invention is that it accepts standard, 115-120 volt, AC power from a wall outlet, and converts such standard power to a pulse (having controlled duration and amplitude) for powering a laser. The ability to accept power from a standard wall outlet is useful, in that it enables the inventive apparatus to be moved conveniently between treatment rooms (for use in any of the rooms), without the expense and inconvenience of installing special wiring.

Method and apparatus for supplying pulsed power to an ophthalmic laser system


A drive arrangement for a bicycle includes a crank having a crank mounting portion, a front sprocket having a front sprocket mounting portion attached to the crank mounting portion and a front chain engaging portion, an axle assembly, a plurality of rear sprockets located about an axis of the axle assembly, a chain configured to engage with the front chain engaging portion of the front sprocket and the plurality of rear sprockets, a gear changer having a gear changer mounting unit located about the axis of the axle assembly and having a first mounting portion spaced apart from a second portion mounting portion. The gear changer is configured to move the chain between an axially innermost rear sprocket and an axially outermost rear sprocket and a control unit is configured to control movement of the gear changer.

A bicycle may be equipped with a drive arrangement, such as a chain drive assembly. Drive arrangements may be used to transmit torque from a rider to a rear wheel to propel the bicycle forward. For example, a drive arrangement may transmit torque from a front sprocket assembly, through a chain, and to a rear sprocket assembly to drive a rear wheel. A drive arrangement may be referred to as a drivetrain.
Sprocket assemblies for bicycles may contain one or more individual sprockets. Front sprockets are commonly referred to as chainrings. Chainrings may be attached with various attachment devices. For example, a chainring may be attached with chainring bolts or may be mounted directly to a crank of a bicycle. A plurality of rear sprockets may be referred to as a cassette. A cassette is configured to attach to a freewheeling component of a rear wheel. For example, a cassette may attach to a freehub body of a rear wheel using a keyed and/or threaded connection.
Alignment of a front sprocket assembly with a rear sprocket assembly affects the performance of the chain. For example, a front sprocket assembly having a single chainring may have a single rear sprocket of a cassette in substantial alignment with the single chainring. When the chain connected the single chainring to this substantially aligned single rear sprocket, the chain is under little or no lateral load. However, when the chain is moved laterally to another of the sprockets of the cassette, for instance by movement of a rear gear changer of the drive assembly, the chain experiences some lateral loading.
Chain misalignment from front sprockets to rear sprockets may be referred to as chain skew or cross-chaining. Chain skew increases as the radial distance between the front sprocket axis and the rear sprocket axis decreases and as the axial distance between the engaged front sprocket and the engaged rear sprocket increases. A bicycle having a wide range of sprockets on the rear wheel and a single front sprocket is particularly defined by high levels of chain skew. A drive arrangement having multiple front sprockets arranged ascending in size moving outboard and multiple rear sprockets descending in size moving outboard may be shifted by an experienced user to avoid situations of maximum chain skew while still using the highest and lowest effective gear ratios. In contrast, use of the full range of gear ratios in a drive arrangement having a single front sprocket and multiple rear sprockets requires maximum chain skew of the system.
The chain may be configured to laterally flex sufficiently to engage with rear sprockets of variable axial offsets relative to a front sprocket assembly. For example, the chain may flex to engage with twelve (12) or more rear sprockets while maintaining engagement with a single front sprocket. The chain may also be configured to resist lateral flex to facilitate shifting sprockets. For example, a rear gear changer, which may also be known as a derailleur may move a non-tensioned portion of the chain between the chainring and the cassette laterally. Lateral movement of this portion of the chain may in turn result in lateral movement of the chain engaged with the cassette to engage a different rear sprocket.
Various features of the drive arrangement may be employed to maintain chain engagement. For example, teeth of the sprockets may be configured to limit play of the chain when it is engaged thereon. Because chains often comprise alternating and overlapping inner and outer link plates, teeth may be configured to engage alternatingly thin and thick spaces formed between these plates. For example, a chainring may comprise an even number of alternating thick and thin teeth disposed about its circumference.
Shifting between sprockets of a rear sprocket assembly may be facilitated with various shifting features. For example, shift ramps on an outboard side of a sprocket may facilitate an inboard shift from a relatively outboard sprocket to the sprocket having shift ramps. Teeth on the rear sprockets may be configured to control the chain in a specific orientation to facilitate operation of certain shifting features. For example, a rear sprocket may comprise alternating thick teeth, each of which is wider in an axial dimension than a gap between two inner link plates. In such a way, the chain may only engage this rear sprocket in one configuration with regard to whether inner or outer link plates encompass a given tooth. Therefore, shifting features, such as a shift ramp on an adjacent inboard sprocket, may be optimized for interaction with either inner or outer plates of the chain.
Coaxial alignment features may be employed on the drive arrangement. For example, a single component may be used as a reference for alignment of various other components of the arrangement. For example, both a rear derailleur and a cassette may be coaxially aligned with an axle. Alignment from a drivetrain component, such as this axle, may reduce inaccuracies across various applications due to at least one of wheel or frame tolerance variations. Coaxial alignment of the rear derailleur with the cassette may also facilitate a consistent radial distance between portions of the rear derailleur and the cassette across various rotations of the rear derailleur.
Various components of the drive arrangement may be configured to engage with each other for alignment purposes. For example, a hub mounting device may engage a hub axle and a rear derailleur. A hub body rotates about the hub axle and a freehub body engages the hub body. The freehub body may be configured to rotate relative to the hub body. For example, the freehub body may rotate relative to the hub body in one circumferential direction and remain fixed to the hub body in an opposite circumferential direction to facilitate coasting and power transmission, respectively. A cassette may ride on the freehub body. Thus the cassette and the rear derailleur may share a common alignment reference. Controlling this common alignment reference may facilitate more precise alignment of other components. For example, chain alignment on the rear sprockets by the rear derailleur may be more precise.
The drive arrangement may also be configured for stiffness to aid in precision and/or alignment. For example, a mounting unit may be configured to increase stiffness of the rear derailleur relative to the rear sprocket assembly. Increased stiffness between components may increase the precision of alignment of the chain on the rear sprocket assembly by the rear derailleur.
A relatively stiffer rear derailleur may benefit from a more protected configuration. For example, a rear derailleur, being exposed during a crash or impact of the bicycle on its drive side, may be mounted with an intentionally weak mount, which may be referred to as a derailleur hanger. The intentionally weak derailleur hanger serves to protect the frame of the bicycle and the rear derailleur in the event of such a crash or impact by deflecting first. A rear derailleur configured for greater stiffness may omit an intentionally weak mount. In this configuration, it may be beneficial to locate the rear derailleur at a relatively inboard position so as to protect the rear derailleur and frame in the event of an impact.


An NMR pulse sequence and signal processing method is disclosed for measurement of fast decay response signals from materials containing a fluid state. The proposed pulse sequence and processing method are applicable in borehole NMR logging as well as measurements of attributes of man-made or natural materials. The disclosed pulse sequence comprises a series of short NMR pulse trains separated by intervals which are shorter than the time required for polarization of nuclear magnetization in bulk fluids of the fluid state. By stacking response signals to increase the signal to noise ratio, time domain data is obtained that generally corresponds to transverse decay components as short as about 0.5 ms. Various attributes of the materials being investigated can be derived in a single measurement.

No single logging tool or measurement technique is presently available that can correctly identify properties of the rock formation, such as its porosity, in all circumstances. For example, bulk density measurements can only be used if the density of the rock matrix is known; sonic transit time measurements may be used if the transit times both for the rock and the fluids are known. A number of techniques, referred to as "crossplot techniques", exist that compare different measurements to estimate formation porosity in situ. However, none of these techniques is truly independent of the rock's geological make-up.
Another approach frequently used during open-hole logging is to perform bulk conductivity measurements in order to identify and separate oil-bearing zones which have low conductivity, from water-bearing zones which have high conductivity. However, in practice the interpretation of measurement data is typically obscured by the presence of highly-conductive clay attached to or interspersed with sand grains. Due to the fact that no simple measurement exists for generating quantitative in situ estimates of the amount of clay and the water volume bound to the clay, the interpretation of in situ conductivity data is still more of an art than a science.
The amount and type of clay in a formation is interesting to reservoir and to production engineers in its own right. For example, swelling and/or dislodging of certain clay particles may clog an otherwise permeable sand. Conventional logging tools have been often characterized in terms of their response to clay minerals and/or clay-bound water. In fact, most conventional logging measurements (such as neutron-absorption cross section, bulk density, natural gamma-ray radiation, spontaneous electric potential, sonic wave transit time, photoelectric absorption factor, etc.) respond in a qualitative way to the presence of clay in the formation being investigated, mostly because clays tend to accumulate heavy minerals. More information is contained in D. V. Ellis, "Well Logging For Earth Scientists," Elsevier 1987, chapter 19: "Clay Typing and Quantification from Logs," which chapter is incorporated herein by reference. Still, no single reliable method exists currently for estimating the parameters of the clay present in a formation. FIG. 1 shows the standard rock porosity model which provides an illustration of the issues discussed above. In particular, as shown in FIG. 1, the total porosity space is occupied by water and hydrocarbons. The volume excluded from what is designated in the figure as "effective porosity" is the clay-bound water fraction.
It is well known that the signal measured by NMR logging tools is proportional to the mean density of hydrogen nuclei in the fluid that occupies the pore space. Pulsed NMR measurements performed downhole are sensitive to the amount of hydrogen atoms from liquid or gaseous materials, but not from solid-state rock. Therefore, in principle, NMR is a truly lithology-independent porosity measurement. However, with reference to FIG. 1, current logging tools register only part of the total porosity of the formation because hydrogen nuclei in the rock matrix and those associated with clay particles relax too rapidly to be detected and measured under the limited signal-to-noise (SNR) conditions available downhole.
Accordingly, it is clear that the difference between a "total porosity" measurement (derived, for example, from a bulk density measurement, neutron absorption and/or sonic transit time) and the NMR-measured porosity can be interpreted as the amount of clay-bound water. See for example the disclosure in U.S. Pat. No. 5,557,200 assigned to the assignee of the present application, which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes. However, prior art methods require the use of separate techniques to measure the total porosity of a formation. In fact, obtaining an accurate estimate of this total porosity is still relatively difficult. Furthermore, an NMR measurement itself can be depressed by fluid effects, such as deficient hydrogen index, long polarization times T1, etc.
It has been recognized in the past that specific applications of NMR logging can be performed with less than full recovery of magnetization. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,389,877 to Sezginer et al. describes a method by which a moving NMR logging tool is used to quantify the amount of capillary-bound fluid volume BFV. However, in the patented method the clay-bound volume is not recorded, nor is the log interpretation improved. The patent merely records a sub-set of the data required for interpreting an NMR log. In particular, it requires that other logging tools provide an estimate of total porosity of the formation.
The method of the present invention, described in greater detail below, uses prior art logging tools and measurement apparatuses to obtain previously unavailable data relating to the composition of a geologic structure. In particular, a novel pulse sequence, signal processing technique and a method of interpretation of NMR measurements are proposed and used to obtain in a single experiment characteristics of the formation including its total porosity and clay mineral content which may then be used to determine additional key petrophysical parameters. In addition, the method of the present invention can also be used to measure properties of various porous materials having a fluid state.
Additional references which provide further background information include:
1. Ellis, D. V.: Well Logging for Earth Scientists, Elsevier, New York, N.Y. (1987) 305. PA0 2. Miller, M. N. et al.: "Spin Echo Magnetic Resonance Logging: Porosity and Free Fluid Index Determination," paper SPE 20561 presented at the 1990 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Proceedings, 321. PA0 3. Morriss, C. E. et al.: "Field Test of an Experimental Pulsed Nuclear Magnetism Tool," paper GGG presented at the 1993 Annual Logging Symposium of the Society of Professional Well Log Analysts. PA0 4. Chandler, R. N. et al.: "Improved Log Quality With a Dual-Frequency Pulsed NMR Tool," paper SPE 28365 presented at the 1994 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Proceedings, 23. PA0 5. Ellis, D. V.: Well Logging for Earth Scientists, Elsevier, New York, N.Y. (1987) 439-469. PA0 6. Korringa, J., Seevers, D. O. and Torrey, H. C.: "Theory of Spin Pumping and Relaxation in Systems With a Low Concentration of Electron Spin Resonance Centers," Phys. Rev. 127 (1962) 1143. PA0 7. Fripiat, J et al.: "Thermodynamic and Microdynamic Behavior of Water in Clay Suspensions and Gels," J. Colloid. Interface Sci. 89 (1982) 378. PA0 8. Woessner, D. E.: "An NMR Investigation Into The Range of the Surface Effect on the Rotation of Water Molecules," J. Magn. Reson. 39 (1980) 297. PA0 9. Prammer, M. G.: "NMR Pore Size Distributions and Permeability at The Well Site," paper SPE 28368 presented at the 1994 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Proceedings, 55. PA0 10. Freedman, R. and Morriss, C. E.: "Processing of Data From an NMR Logging Tool," paper SPE 30560 presented at the 1995 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Proceedings, 301. PA0 11. Prammer, M. G. et al.: "Lithology-Independent Gas Detection by Gradient-NMR Logging," paper SPE 30562 presented at the 1995 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Proceedings, 325. PA0 12. van Olphen, H. and Fripiat, J. J.: Data Handbook for Clay Minerals and Other Non-Metallic Minerals, Pergamon Press, New York, N.Y. (1979). PA0 13. Hower, J. and Mowatt, T. C.: "The Mineralogy of Illites and Mixed-Layer Illite Montmorillonites," The American Mineralogist, 51, (May-June 1966) 825.

Pulse sequences and interpretation techniques for NMR measurements


A system and method of processing a print job of a customer and including advertising with the print job includes defining a network communication link between the customer and a print processing system controller having a plurality of advertisements registered therewith. The print processing system controller receives a data file for the print job from the customer via the network communication link and associates at least one of the advertisements with the print job based on the data file.

Typically, advertising is conducted for specific consumer segments in specific media forms. As such, an advertiser attempts to define a respective consumer segment to whom to target the advertising as well as an effective media form for conveying the advertising.
As one form of advertising, print advertising often accompanies printed material. Thus, establishing a nexus between the print advertising and the printed material is advantageous to the advertiser. For example, if a consumer creating and/or reading the printed material has an interest in an aspect of the printed material, then assumedly the consumer may have an interest in a subject matter of the print advertising.
An advertiser, therefore, can target print advertising to a consumer based on an aspect of accompanying printed material. Targeting print advertising to the consumer, however, is often difficult since the advertiser is not always aware of when printed material relevant to the subject matter of the print advertising is being printed.
Accordingly, a need exists for processing a print job of a customer and directing advertising to the customer. More particularly, a need exists for targeting advertising to the customer based on an aspect of the print job including a content of the print job.

Print processing system and method with print job advertising

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.