An integrated circuit structure provides at least one metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor and a moat isolation structure wherein the number of processes required is substantially minimized and the formation of the MIM capacitor and the moat isolation structure effectively decouple while the number of processes common to the moat isolation structure and the MIM capacitor are maximized. Additional required processes are non-critical and tolerant of overlay positioning error.

Relatively large amounts of storage is generally required in programmable logic circuits and to support programmable digital processor circuits. Accordingly, such needs for large amounts of storage has driven the design of capacitors suitable for digital data storage to extremely sophisticated levels and scaling to extremely small sizes such that many millions of such capacitors can be formed on a chip of reasonable size in dynamic random access memories (DRAMs) and relatively large amounts of storage can be formed on the same chip with relatively large amounts of logic circuitry such as is found in microprocessors.
Regardless of the structure in which such dynamic storage is formed, substantial amounts of logic is required to selectively access individual storage capacitors or groups of storage capacitors and to determine the charge stored on them. Generally, a transistor is formed at each of the storage capacitors and one conduction terminal connected to a conductor (e.g. bit line, BL) and the other conduction terminal connected to one plate or storage node of the storage capacitor. An individual capacitor connected to the conductor can be selected by energization of the control terminal of the transistor through a further conductor (e.g. word line, WL) that may also be connected to the corresponding control terminal of other transistors connected other word lines. The bit line can be connected to a data source for writing data to the storage node or a sense amplifier for reading stored data. The logic for connecting the bit lines to a data source or sense amplifier and selectively energizing the word lines and bit lines (usually involving an address decoder) is generally referred to as the support area of the memory which may also contain addition (e.g. processor) logic.
The storage capacitors which have one plate or storage node connected to a transistor, as discussed above will generally have the other plate connected in common with all of the other storage capacitors in the memory array or at least a given portion thereof, generally referred to as the array area of the memory, through the substrate. Therefore, it has been necessary to provide isolation between array areas of the chip forming a common connection to the storage capacitors and the portion of the chip forming the support area of the memory.
In the past, such isolation was formed as a deep trench-like recess enclosing the support area of the chip and was referred to as a moat while storage capacitors were formed in recesses extending for a lesser distance into the substrate. Therefore, the recesses for the moat and for the storage capacitors had substantially different topology and isolation could be provided by the moat even if the structure inside the moat was similar to that within the storage capacitors since the capacitor dielectric could be applied directly to the semiconductor material surrounding moat as well as the capacitor recesses. The semiconductor material would thus form a capacitor plate as well as provide electrical insulation on the interior of the moat. Such a structure provided both convenience and economy since processing to form capacitors included processes which were common to the moat.
However, in an effort to provide improved characteristics and performance of the capacitors, metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor designs have recently been introduced in which metal is first deposited on the interior surface of the capacitor recesses, followed by an insulator (preferably a high dielectric constant or "Hi-K" material) and a further metal layer and metal and/or semiconductor material fill. The first metal in certain cases can be made to react with the semiconductor substrate to form semiconductor-metal alloys such as silicides. When these layers are formed within a recess having a high depth to width aspect ratio, the layers will be very thin due to reduced flux of material precursors due to tight geometry in high aspect ratio structures and increased capacitance can be achieved from the small separation of metal plates across an extremely thin insulator that is preferably a high dielectric constant (Hi-K) material (e.g. having a dielectric constant above about eight).
If the metal applied to the interior of the capacitor recesses is also applied to the interior of the moat, however, the isolation function would be defeated since current can flow through the metal on the bottom of the moat recess. The alternative of full decoupling of the formation of the capacitor and moat formation is expensive and presents at least a problem of close overlay error tolerance which can compromise manufacturing yield.

Deep trench MIM capacitor and moat isolation with epitaxial semiconductor wafer scheme


An anchor device for mounting a bodily tissue to a bone, such as for repairing ligaments and tendons, particularly ham string tissue grafts for repairing a knee joint. The anchor device is configured and sized to pass through a bone tunnel and comprises a sheath member having a bone-engagement end and bodily tissue attachment end. The bone-engagement end includes structure for selective overlapping and engaging the bone adjacent an exit opening of the bone tunnel. The bodily tissue attachment end includes structure known in the art for attaching a bodily tissue, such as a ligament, tendon, or ligament graft, to the sheath member. The anchor device further includes a camming member slidably disposed relative to the sheath member, which selectively urges the sheath member to engage the bone surface. The sheath member and camming member include interlocking features for locking the anchor device in a deployed position within the bond tunnel. The anchor device also includes structures which give the surgeon a tactile, aural or other indication when the anchor device has been deployed and locked in the deployed position. The anchor device is preferably inserted, deployed and locked by means of a system of suture cords in order to reduce the number of incisions necessary to anchor the bodily tissue to the bone.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention is in the field of devices for attaching bodily tissue to a bone. More specifically, the present invention is directed to an anchor device for attaching an end of a bodily tissue, such as a tendon, ligament or replacement graft ligament under tension to a bone for repairing or replacing a damaged tendon or ligament.
2. The Relevant Technology
Damaged tissues, such as torn or ruptured ligaments, are commonly replaced by grafts from other replacement tissues such as tendons, muscles or artificial materials. While medical techniques in replacing damaged ligaments have greatly advanced over the past few years, one problem with presently used ligament replacement and repairing techniques is the need to provide a firm and reliable fixation point for the graft replacement tissue.
In ligament replacement surgical procedures, particularly in cruciate ligament reconstruction procedures for an injured knee, a graft ligament tunnel is usually formed through bones on both sides of the joint being repaired. A replacement ligament graft is then passed through the pre-formed tunnels of both bones until the replacement ligament graft extends through both bones. Both ends of the ligament graft are then secured to the bones under tension across the joint in order to tie the two bones together in a manner that mimics the torn or broken ligament being repaired or replaced.
In the past, ligaments have been secured to the bones by means of surgical stables, screws or buttons. A problem with using staples and conventional buttons to attach both ends of a ligament graft to a bone is that both require two incisions. Once in place, staples are not easily removed in the case where adjustments are necessary. Staple removal could subject the bone to undue trauma and even result in mutilation of the bone. In addition, the graft ligament can sometimes slip out from under the staple by working its way loose. While buttons tend to be easier to remove in the case where adjustments are necessary, adjustments thereto requires severing or untying of the cords or sutures securing the ligament graft to the button and then retying of the sutures.
A variation of the surgical button known as an "ENDOBUTTON" can be used in a manner that allows for a single incision to made. The ENDOBUTTON consists of a small beam-like elongated button that can be inserted through a bone tunnel using sutures rather than a second incision, which is an improvement over ordinary surgical buttons in this regard. However, ENDOBUTTONS, like all buttons, require a suture link with the tendon or ligament graft, which provides for a more flexible and elastic linkage between the bone and tissue graft. The knot in the suture used to attach the tissue graft and ENDOBUTTON requires a knot, which introduces a certain level of risk of failure and requires proper tying to avoid risk of knot failure. Moreover, the inherent elasticity of a suture linkage results in a less rigid and secure linkage, which can decrease the ability of the tissue graft to form a strong biological adhesion or fusion with the bone tunnel. This can have both short-term and long-term negative consequences.
Finally, endosteal interference screws have the limitation of being attached to soft interior bone rather than the hard cortical bone surface. In addition, interference screws provide a considerably smaller surface area within the bone hole for biological healing and attachment of the ligament graft. This is because interference screw tends to push the ligament graft to one side of the hole, with the majority of volume within the hole being occupied by the screw. This can result in a less secure biological bond compared to other securement methods that allow for the ligament graft to make contact with more of the bone hole surface. Since the quality of bone in the tunnel is highly variable, the standard deviation of pullout strength is greatly increased in the case where interference screws are employed.
Many other procedures and devices have been developed for attaching a replacement ligament graft to bone. However, many have not proven adequate and have raised serious issues with respect to the strength, stiffness, and reliability of the ligament graft. Each of these raise important issues as to the clinical success of the procedure. In addition, many of the more innovative devices and procedures require complicated tooling.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,997,433 to Goble et al. discloses an alternative anchor device for mounting a ligament within a bone tunnel under tension. The Goble et al. device consists of a pair of stud arms defining a space at the rearward end for longitudinal receipt of a ligament end and a cylindrical stud having a hook edge at a forward end. The ligament is secured between the stud arms by means of screws, preferably in combination with a bone plug that acts as a stiffening aid. A major problem with the stud arms is that they are interposed between the ligament graft and the bone tunnel, which diminishes the overall surface area contact between the ligament graft and bone tunnel wall. This results in a substantial reduction of the tendency to form a biological bond over a large surface area of the graft ligament and the bone tunnel wall, thus compromising the long term strength and stability of the graft.
The forward end having the hook edge is compressible due to a longitudinal slot running therethrough, which allows the hook edge to be flexed or compressed inwardly against a spring-like resistance to allow for passage through a ligament tunnel. The Goble et al. device is installed by pulling the stud connected to the ligament end through the ligament tunnel, with the angled top of the hook edge acting as a camming surface that causes the hook end to compress inwardly to allow passage through the ligament tunnel. Because of the spring-like resilience of the Goble et al. device, the forward end springs outwardly back to its uncompressed state as the hook end emerges from the ligament tunnel, which causes the hook end to extend over and engage the bone cortex.
Because the forward end requires sufficient spreading force to reliably ensure that the hook end is, in fact, forced to expand outwardly by its own internal spring-driven power without any external mechanical assistance, the hook end is necessarily caused to push with substantial force against the ligament tunnel wall. Hence, although Goble et al. purports to teach the use of sutures to deploy the Goble et al. stud, in practice a threaded tool that screws into a corresponding threaded female portion of the Goble et al. stud is required to apply the force necessary to reliably force the device through the ligament tunnel. Use of this special tool adds an additional level of invasiveness and difficulty into the procedure.
In view of the foregoing, there exists a need for a simple, more easily deployed anchor device that could securely attach a bodily tissue such as a replacement ligament graft to a bone.
It would be an additional improvement in the art if such anchor device could be reliably deployed while minimizing the invasiveness of the surgery, particularly the number of incisions that would have to be made to deploy the anchor device.
In addition, it would be an advancement in the art to provide an improved anchor device that included a mechanism that provided a discernable signal or means to indicate when the anchor device has been successfully deployed and securely engaged within the bone.
It would be a further improvement in the art to provide an anchor device that allowed for broad surface contact between the graft tissue and the inner surface of the bone tunnel in order to increase the biological bond and provide a stronger, more reliable connection with the bone.
It would yet be an improvement in the art if such anchor device could be easily molded from a bio-absorbable material.
Such anchor devices for reliably and securely mounting bodily tissues such as ligaments and tendons to a bone are disclosed and claimed herein.

Apparatus and methods for mounting a ligament graft to a bone


A process for the preparation of a composite sheet is disclosed. The composite sheet comprises a film support and transparent solid fine particles fixed thereon. The support has a surface that can be swelled with an aqueous or organic solvent. The process comprises the steps of (1) bringing the support into contact with the solvent to swell the surface of the support, whereby rendering the surface adhesive, (2) bringing the particles into contact with the adhesive surface, whereby fixing a part of the particles onto the surface; and then (3) moving the support in a solvent to remove the particles that are not fixed onto the surface from the support. An apparatus for the preparation of the composite sheet is also disclosed.

A composite sheet comprises a support and transparent solid fine particles attached thereon. The present specification hereinafter sometimes refers to the transparent solid fine particles as beads.
Japanese Patent Provisional Publication Nos. 6(1994)-347621, 6(1994)-347622, 6(1994)-347623, 6(1994)-347624 and 6(1994)-347625 disclose a composite sheet having the beads, which can be used as a retroreflective sheet. Glass beads are generally used in the retroreflective sheet.
The retroreflective sheet returns light to a light source. The sheet has been used on a surface of a guide-post, which preferably reflects light toward a light source, namely a headlight of a car. The glass beads function as fine spherical lenses in the retroreflective sheet.
The optical sheet having the beads can also be used as a light diffusing sheet. The sheet can be attached on a liquid crystal display (LCD) to enlarge the angle of field of the LCD, which usually has a narrow angle. The beads preferably have a diameter smaller than the matrix of the liquid crystal. The light diffusing sheet comprises a transparent film having a surface filled with such small beads. The light diffusing sheet can also function as a protective film of a polarizing plate. Accordingly, the number of the layers in the LCD can be reduced by using the sheet. The transmittance of the LCD increases with decreasing the number of the layers. The transmittance is the most important factor of the LCD. If one layer is deleted from the LCD, the transmittance increases by about 8%.
The light diffusing sheet can also be used as a screen for a projected image. An image projected from a liquid crystal projector has a problem of moire, which is caused by stripes of a color filter in the liquid crystal projector. The composite sheet having the beads can solve the problem by diffusing light while keeping the surface transmittance of the screen.
According to the prior art, a layer comprising a binder should be provided on a sheet to fix the beads.
Japanese Patent Provisional Publication Nos. 6(1994)-347621, 6(1994)-347622, 6(1994)-347623, 6(1994)-347624 and 6(1994)-347625 disclose a process for the preparation of the optical composite sheet, which comprises the steps of forming the layer comprising the binder on a support, arranging beads on the layer, and pressing them, for example between nip rollers to embed the beads in the layer.

Process for the preparation of composite sheet comprising support and transparent solid fine particles


A potty for toilet training has a base with a hollow space, a seat with a big hole in its middle and mounted on the base, and receptacle received in the hollow space. Child's condition detecting circuit detects a first condition when a child sits on the seat and begins to relieve himself or herself, and a second condition when he or she rises from the seat. Responding to a result of the first condition, a trigger signal generating circuit generates a trigger signal and stops generation of the trigger signal in response to a result of the second condition. Responding to the trigger signal, a sound/melody generating circuit informs parents that their child begins to relieve himself or herself, generates a natural sound to entertain him or her during evacuation, informs the parents that their child has risen from the seat after stool in response to the stop of the trigger signal, and generates a congratulatory melody or voice message. An aural sound generating circuit amplifies the sounds and message and converts them into audible sounds through a speaker. The potty can provide motivation for the child to go to stool by himself or herself.

According to Freudianism, babyhood of one- .about. twenty four-month old infants is the important stage for basic formation of character, and most of the two- .about. six-year old infants can relieve themselves in a given place and in the correct body position through several toilet-training and trials and errors. If motivation is provided to children in this babyhood to show their intention to evacuate, they can easily go to stool by themselves. This toilet training helps children with becoming well rounded.
Babyhood is a very important stage of the life of human being because the babyhood is the stage for basic formation of emotion, custom and character. It is preferred to let the infants naturally acquaint themselves with interest with the correct emotion as well as with the correct custom.
A conventional potty includes a push button and a melody generator provided to an animal-shaped head portion. This melody generator of the conventional potty goes into action by pressing the push button regardless of relieving motion of the infants. The conventional potty scarcely lets the infants naturally early accustom themselves to relieve themselves in a given place and in the correct body position.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,535,456 granted to the present inventor discloses a potty for generating a sweet sound, such as sweet melody or sweet voice message stimulating interest of the infants when an infant relieves oneself in a correct body position such that the urine reaches a predetermined position of the potty, thereby letting the infants to naturally accustom themselves early to relieve themselves in a given place and in the correct body position. This potty, however, may stimulate children's interest in the use of the potty, and does not allow the children to relieve themselves at rest. The conventional potty does not let parents know the point of time when they have to remove excreta and clean their child with toilet paper after stool, so the parents pay attention to their children.
In addition, the '456 patent's potty has a first switch provided in a given portion of the seat and operated by pressure caused by the weight of an infant sitting on the seat. Thus, as the infant changes his or her pose, the first switch may be turned off. Since a second switch is provided in a given portion of the bottom of the bowl, it does not go into action until the infant urinates when he or she passes feces, and causes a delay in response and malfunction. Its sound generator simply produces a sound within a predetermined period of time, and does not generate various melodies or voice messages which can help infants with going to stool by themselves.
Dean's U.S. Pat. No. 5,008,964 discloses a child's toilet including a potty chair base with a hole in the middle, a potty chair having a chair seat and a removable waste receptor inserted into the hole of the potty chair base, a pressure sensing switch positioned between the chair seat and potty chair and closed when a child sits on the chair seat, and a moisture sensing circuit detecting the introduction of urine or feces into the waste receptor.
Whenever the switch is closed by the infant sitting on the chair seat, a tune generating circuit produces a musical sound converted from musical sound data that is read out of a data storage circuit to entertain the infant. When a signal is output by evacuating, speech message data from the data storage circuit is converted through a speech generating circuit to be produced as a congratulatory voice.
Therefore, Dean's '964 patent plays a sweet song or melody when an infant sits on the potty chair, and when detecting urine or feces introduced into the waste receptor, it provides him or her with congratulatory sound, which stimulates interest of him or her in the use of the potty, thus making the toilet training for infants easier.
However, since Dean's '964 patent plays a melody automatically whenever an infant sits on the potty chair, using the potty as a toy by the infant causes an unnecessary consumption of dry batteries. In case that it takes time for an infant to relieve himself or herself and all the vocal messages are output, parents do not know the point of time when the infant rises from the potty chair, and have to pay attention to him or her. In addition, when the child rises from the potty chair without relieving himself or herself until a song or vocal message ends, the parents also have to pay attention to their child because the potty does not have any function informing them thereof. An electronic circuitry for performing this function may be complicated and expensive.


The invention provides a pair of co-rotating fluid powered wheel and generator pairs each rotating about a single vertical axis. Each wheel/generator is mounted on a respective axle one of which is solid and the other tubular. Separation of fluid flow into 2 streams engages the wheels for rotation in opposite directions. Folding paddles collapse and extend to engage the moving fluid.

Power generators have been known for many years and are often combined in multiple units to increase available power. Such generators are activated by moving wind or water and utilize the kinetic energy of the moving fluid to provide mechanical energy usually in the form of rotation of mechanical components. The moving fluid interacts with a series of paddles which rotate under the force of the movement. When connected to an electrical generator electric power is produced. Wheels may have fixed or movable paddles each of which interact with a moving fluid such as water or air in turn to provide the source of work. Movable paddles typically enhance the work available from the moving fluid stream by confining water and wheel interaction for desirable rotation.


The invention relates to a method of processing a substrate. The substrate has one side and a side opposite to the one side. The substrate has, on the one side or on the side opposite to the one side, at least one recess. The method comprises providing a protective film and applying the protective film to the side of the substrate having the at least one recess so that at least a central area of a front surface of the protective film is in direct contact with the side of the substrate having the at least one recess. The method further comprises applying pressure to the protective film so that the protective film enters into the at least one recess along at least part of a depth of the recess, and processing the one side of the substrate and/or the side of the substrate opposite to the one side.

When processing a substrate, such as for example a semiconductor wafer, it is important to protect the sides of the substrate from damage and contamination. This requirement is particularly pronounced if devices, e.g., semiconductor devices, are formed on a side of the substrate.
For example, in a semiconductor device fabrication process, a wafer, as a substrate, having a device area with a plurality of devices, commonly partitioned by a plurality of division lines, is processed so as to be divided into individual dies. This fabrication process generally comprises a grinding step for adjusting the wafer thickness and a cutting step of cutting the wafer along the division lines to obtain the individual dies. The grinding step is performed from a back side of the wafer which is opposite to a wafer front side on which the device area is formed. Moreover, also other processing steps, such as polishing and/or etching, may be carried out on the back side of the wafer. The wafer may be cut along the division lines from its front side or its back side.
Protection to a substrate side may be provided by attaching thereto a protective film or sheeting. In particular, in order to protect devices formed on a wafer, e.g., from breakage, deformation and/or contamination by debris, grinding water or cutting water, during processing of the wafer, such a protective film or sheeting may be applied to the front side of the wafer prior to processing.
Such protection of a side of the substrate is particularly important if a recess, such as a trench, a groove, a cut or the like, is present on the side. For one thing, such recesses are prone to contamination, for example, by debris or water, which may accumulate therein. For another thing, the presence of the recess may result in an inhomogeneous distribution of pressure during processing, such as grinding, polishing or cutting, thus increasing the risk of mechanical damage to the substrate, e.g., substrate breakage.
Therefore, the use of a protective film or sheeting is of particular importance when processing substrates with one or more recesses on a side thereof.
However, the side of the substrate to which the protective film or sheeting is attached may be damaged by the adhesive force of an adhesive layer formed on the protective film or sheeting or may be contaminated by adhesive residues when the film or sheeting is peeled off from the substrate. In particular, such residues may remain in a recess formed on the substrate side. This issue is particularly problematic if sensitive devices, such as for example MEMS, are formed on the side of the substrate to which the protective film or sheeting is applied. In this case, the device structure may be severely compromised.
Hence, there remains a need for a reliable and efficient method of processing a substrate having a recess on one of its sides which allows for any risk of contamination and damage to the substrate to be minimised.


Provided is a protection method and system for computer security. The protection method for computer security includes the steps of storing portable storage device information in the portable storage device as a first password; storing the first password in BIOS firmware; generating a second password and storing the second password in the portable storage device and the BIOS firmware; and comparing the first password and second password of the portable storage device with those of the BIOS firmware. Accordingly, protection for computer security can be achieved. According to the present invention, a password is not required to remember. It is unnecessary to install any device drivers. Computer security and a user's identity can be protected simultaneously, and no additional chip or device is required to achieve password authentication. Therefore, the present invention can simplify the protection steps, reduce costs, and enhance the performance of computer security protection.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a protection method and system for computer security, and more particularly, to a protection method and system for computer security by utilizing a Basic Input Output System (BIOS) and a portable storage device.
2. the Prior Arts
With the extensive applications of computer technology in life and work, computer security issues have gained much attention. Traditional protection method for computer security requires setting up a BIOS password, logging in a password to gain access to a system, and so on. However, although the use of passwords may confirm a user's identity, confidentiality and protection of setting up a BIOS password and logging in a password to gain access to a system may be weaken. In addition, passwords may be cracked by many password cracking methods. The method of logging in a password to confirm a user's identity is not secure.
Moreover, a portable storage device such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) flash drive containing a bootable portable operating system may be used to provide computer security protection. A USB flash drives is a data storage device including flash memory, reader and writer with an integrated USB interface. The portable storage device contains password encryption that is designed in a chip to confirm the user's identity. Accordingly, the performance of computer security protection may be improved by the encrypted secure portable storage device. However, the portable storage device is required to pre-install device drivers.
In addition to the above computer security protection method, the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) technology is a standard for a secure cryptoprocessor that is a microprocessor designed to secure a computer by integrating cryptographic keys into devices. As such, the performance of computer security protection may also be improved by the TPM technology. However, the user's identity may not be confirmed by such TPM technology.
Further, a BIOS electromagnetic lock may be used to enhance computer security protection and confirm a user's identity. The BIOS electromagnetic lock is connected to a motherboard of a computer, and includes an electromagnetic lock and a smart sensor. The BIOS electromagnetic lock may lock the computer internally by controlling a computer case. Additionally, the computer may be unlocked through the Internet and pre-setting a BIOS password. Therefore, the electromagnetic lock may be preset up by the BIOS with a view to controlling the state of the electromagnetic lock.
In summary, some problems with regard to computer security protection required to be solved are as follows:
1. A user's identity is confirmed only by logging in a password. The password may be cracked easily, thereby being less secure.
2. It is necessary to install device drivers when using a portable storage device.
3. Computer security and a user's identity cannot be protected simultaneously.
4. Additional chips or device are required to achieve password authentication, thereby increasing costs.
Accordingly, solutions to the problems described above have been long sought, but prior developments have not taught or suggested any solutions and, thus, solutions to the problems have long eluded those skilled in the art. Therefore, there is a heretofore-unaddressed need to overcome defects and shortcomings described above.

Protection method and system for computer security

CELESTICA TECHNOLOGY CONSULTANCY (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.


A shield case including a base portion made of a nonmetal material and having a mounting surface on which the electronic component is mounted, a cover portion made of a metal material and covering surroundings of the electronic component and a metal plate abutting with an outer surface of the base portion and having an end portion projecting outward from the base portion. A side-wall end portion of the cover member includes a first end abutting with the mounting surface of the base portion, and a second end extending in a thickness direction of the base portion and abutting with the end portion of the metal plate.

A shield case is configured such that an electronic component is stored therein, and the shield case prevents an electromagnetic wave generated from the electronic component from being radiated to outside the case and prevents the electromagnetic wave from entering the case from outside the case. When the shield case is formed by use of a thick metal material, a shielding property improves. However, this is unfavorable from the viewpoint of weight reduction, cost, and processability. It is necessary to provide, in a base portion on which an electronic component is to be mounted, a passage for cooling the component. In a case where the base portion is made of a nonmetal material, it is difficult to incorporate a metal plate for shielding into the base portion, and it is necessary to incorporate a metal material into an outer periphery of the base portion. Further, in order to secure insulation from the electronic component, it is preferable that the base portion be made of a nonmetal material.
In a case where a shield case in which an electronic component is stored is made of a nonmetal material, such a technology has been known that a metal plate is provided inside the nonmetal material in consideration of a shielding property. For example, in JP 2013-110358 A, side walls of the shield case are manufactured by use of resin, and a metal plate is provided inside the resin, so that a shielding property is secured.


A system and method is provided for reducing latency for automatic speech recognition. In one embodiment, intermediate results produced by multiple search passes are used to update a display of transcribed text.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to speech recognition systems and, more particularly, to a system and method for latency reduction for automatic speech recognition using partial multi-pass results.
2. Introduction
Automatic speech recognition (ASR) is a valuable tool that enables spoken audio to be automatically converted into textual output. The elimination of manual transcription represents a huge user benefit. Thus, whether applied to the generation of transcribed text, the interpretation of voice commands, or any other time-saving application, ASR is presumed to have immense utility.
In practice, however, ASR comes at a great computational cost. As computing technology has improved, so has the complexity of the computation models being applied to ASR. Computing capacity is rarely wasted in the ever continuing search for accuracy and speed in the recognition of speech.
These two criteria, accuracy and speed, in particular represent the thresholds by which user adoption and acceptance of the technology are governed. Quite simply, if the promise of the technology exceeds the practical benefit in real-world usage, the ASR technology quickly moves into the category of novelty, not usefulness.
Conventionally, high accuracy ASR of continuous spontaneous speech requires computations taking far more time than the duration of the speech. As a result, a long latency exists between the delivery of the speech and the availability of the final text transcript. What is needed therefore is a mechanism that accommodates real-world ASR latencies without sacrificing application usefulness.

System and method for latency reduction for automatic speech recognition using partial multi-pass results


A retractable speed bump and a method for retracting a speed bump. The retractable speed bump may include a retractile element, a chassis, and a hydraulic mechanism. The hydraulic mechanism may include a hydraulic cylinder including a hollow cylindrical shape, a hydraulic piston including a solid cylindrical shape, a first connecting rod, an oil sealing member, a return spring, a spring retainer, and a floating gasket. Responsive to downward movement of the first connecting rod at a speed higher than a threshold, the hydraulic cylinder may prevent downward movement of the first connecting rod and responsive to downward movement of the first connecting rod at a speed lower than the threshold, the hydraulic cylinder may allow downward movement of the first connecting rod.

In the interest of safety to other vehicles and nearby pedestrians, the speed of motorized vehicles should be kept to a safe level. Excessive vehicular speed, especially on roads through residential areas and in parking lots, create a dangerous environment for drivers and pedestrians alike. To that end, speed limits are posted on roads, with the local speed limit being dependent on the type and location of the road. Unfortunately, many drivers disregard these posted speed limits.
Other methods, which drivers cannot disregard, are employed on some roads to keep the speed of vehicles at a safe level. It is common for speed bumps to be placed across roads in neighborhoods, parking lots, and other area where it is desirable to ensure that vehicle speeds are limited. Such speed bumps are usually elongated and mounted areas of asphalt or cement that traverse the width of the road, or the width of a driving area of a parking lot, to ensure that each vehicle encounters the speed bump. The speed bumps are usually painted or physically treated in some manner to alert drivers to the presence of the speed bump.
The dimensions of the speed bumps are, generally, such that a vehicle must slow down to a lower speed to pass over the speed bump without jarring the vehicle. Passing over a speed bump at a higher speed, as is known for many drivers, causes a very undesirable jolt to the vehicle and its occupants. In this manner, speed bumps cause drivers to slow down to a low speed to pass over the speed bump.
Speed bumps are typically installed at intermittent locations along a road or parking lot, but close enough to each other so that vehicles traveling between adjacent speed bumps do not have enough linear road space to accelerate to an unsafe speed, considering the low speed to which the vehicle has to slow down to pass over the speed bumps. The speed bumps can be spaced apart by any desired distance, which usually depends on the type, shape, and location of the road. For example, speed bumps in a parking lot should be placed relatively close together to drastically limit the speed of vehicles to perhaps 10 mph, but speed bumps on a residential street can be placed further apart to limit the speed of vehicles to perhaps 20 mph or 30 mph. Therefore, speed bumps prevent vehicles from traveling at unsafe speeds along an expanse of a road, in a parking lot, or other driving areas.
However, such speed bumps can be very inconvenient and frustrating because they do not discriminate between vehicles driving at different speeds. Speed bumps are, generally, installed to urge drivers traveling too fast to slow to a lower speed to pass over the speed bump. However, drivers that already are traveling at a safe speed do not need the added deterrent of the speed bump to maintain their vehicles at a safe speed. Therefore, although a speed bump is necessary to slow down a fast driver, the speed bump is not necessary and may be a nuisance, for a slower, safer driver who does not exceed the speed limit.
Therefore, speed bumps indiscriminately affect all drivers, even those traveling at a safe speed. This indiscriminate effect on vehicles traveling over speed bumps has caused many people to be opposed to the installation of speed bumps where they are otherwise needed, thereby contributing to an unsafe environment for other drivers on the road and nearby pedestrians. There is, therefore, a need for an automatic retractable speed bump that is operative based on the speed of the vehicle that contacts the speed bump. There is also a need for an automatic speed bump that provides a bump for vehicles that encounter the speed bump traveling over a predetermined speed, but does not provide a bump for vehicles traveling below the determined speed.

Retractable speed bump and a method for retracting a speed bump


A substituted boric acid compound, a pharmaceutical composition including the same, and an application thereof. The substituted boric acid compound is a compound represented by formula (I), or a crystal form, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, a prodrug, a stereoisomer, a hydrate, or a solvent compound thereof. The boric acid compound has proteasome inhibitory activity, good pharmacodynamic/pharmacokinetic performance, good applicability, and high safety, and can be used for preparing drugs for treating diseases related to proteasomes.

Proteasome is a large multivalent complex enzyme, which is involved in many important physiological and biochemical processes in the cell, such as DNA repairing, cell cycle running, signal transduction, antigen presentation, protein transmembrane localization, and the like, and plays a major role in balancing important intracellular enzymes. The function of the proteasome is achieved by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway (UPP). UPP not only catalyzes the degradation of abnormal proteins, but also participates in many regulation and regeneration and processing of proteins. The catalytic process of these proteins involves an important biochemical mechanism for the pathogenesis of human disease.
Proteasome inhibitors affect the expression of cell growth-related proteins, cytokines and signaling molecules by inhibiting the activity of proteasomes, thereby interfering with the original proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of cells, and inhibiting the growth of tumor cells more significantly.
Proteasome inhibitors mainly include peptide aldehydes, peptide boronic acids, peptide epoxy ketones, peptide vinyl sulfones, beta lactones and other kind of compounds. The peptide boronic acid proteasome inhibitor Bortezomib (trade name VELCADE) is the first proteasome inhibitor for clinical use and was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) in 2003 and 2006, respectively. The peptide epoxy ketone proteasome inhibitor Carfilzomib (trade name Kyprolis) was approved by the FDA in 2012 for the treatment of multiple myeloma and became the second marketed proteasome type antitumor drug. The peptide boronic acid proteasome inhibitor Ixazomib citrate (trade name Ninlaro) was approved by the FDA in 2015 for the treatment of multiple myeloma and became the second marketed peptide boronic acid proteasome inhibitor. The marketed and reported boronic acid proteasome inhibitors, such as those in WO2005/021558, WO2005/016859, WO2006/086600, WO2009/02044, WO2010/012222, WO2011/109355, WO2011/026349, WO2011/087822, WO2013/092979, and the like, are proteasome inhibitors have a peptide skeleton, which have low stability in vivo, short half-life in plasma, and rapid clearance (Miller et al. J Med Chem, 2015, 58: 2036-41).
Therefore, there is still a need in the art to develop proteasome inhibitors that have inhibitory activity against the proteasome or better pharmacodynamic properties.

Substituted boric acid compound, pharmaceutical composition comprising same, and application thereof


A clip device for holding flexible tubing in a coiled arrangement, where one end of the tubing is connected to an external device, such as an infusion pump. The clip has a bore formed through it at one end so that the clip may be slidably and permanently mounted on the flexible tubing. The clip also includes two C-shaped channels, one located at the bottom of the clip and the other along a side of the clip, that are sized to receive and frictionally engage the loops formed in the flexible tubing. The tubing is then coiled and firmly held in the coiled state by looping and engaging each loop in one of the C-shaped channels. The clip is capable of firmly holding the tubing in a coiled state, but the C-shaped channels are shaped and oriented on the clip such that when a user needs to use the flexible tubing, the user may pull on the free end of the flexible tubing whereby the loops are released from the C-shaped channels resulting in the uncoiling of the tubing. The tubing can also be quickly re-coiled and held by the clip in a coiled state again, ready for re-use.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device which holds flexible tubing in a coiled state and yet permits quick uncoiling and recoiling of the tubing. More particularly, the present invention relates to a clip, permanently mounted to a piece of flexible medical tubing, which has channels for firmly holding the tubing in a tight and easy to access coil, yet wherein the channels are shaped and oriented such that a user pulls on one end of the tubing to quickly uncoil the tubing and use it for its intended purpose.
2. The Prior State of the Art
Flexible medical tubing is widely used in many procedures in modern hospitals, doctors, offices and the like. Although capable of being used for a variety of applications, medical tubing is frequently used to deliver intravenous fluids to a patient via a catheter. In this context, it is necessary for the tubing to remain completely sterile. At the same time, the tubing must be readily available to the medical technician for its intended purpose.
One example of such an application is arterial angiograph. This procedure involves injection of an x-ray sensitive dye into a catheter positioned in an artery to enable a clinician to observe accurately if obstructions are present in arteries, veins and ducts in various organs. A motor driven syringe, or infusion pump, is used to infuse the dye into the catheter.
Connected to the infusion pump is a portion of sterile flexible medical tubing. This piece of tubing is configured with a standard luer connector at each end. During initial set up procedures as shown by way of Example in the FIG. 1, one end of the sterile tubing 16 is connected to the infusion pump nozzle 14, and the opposite end 20 is left unconnected. However, it is imperative that the tubing remain sterile. Thus the tubing cannot simply hang from the infusion pump nozzle 14 because of the possibility it will come in contact with the infusion pump 12 or console 21, or some other non-sterile surface.
To prevent the tubing from coming in contact with a non-sterile surface, the prior practice has been to wrap the tubing 18 into a coil and to then tie-off the free end 20 by entwining it about a portion of the coil. This procedure has proven unsatisfactory for several reasons. First, the coil of tubing 18 often becomes unwrapped, either because it has not been tied of sufficiently or it is inadvertently knocked and uncoiled by a technician. As a result, the tubing may come in contact with a non-sterile surface and must be replaced. This wastes time and materials.
Another problem with the prior practice occurs when the technician must prime the pump with the injection dye. This is done by holding the bottle of dye with one hand and uncoiling the free end 20 of the tubing and placing it in the bottle with the other. This is often awkward and difficult to do, especially where the technician is rushing to complete the procedure.
Thus, the prior practice of tying off the end of the tubing to hold it in a manageable coil is often cumbersome and ineffective. The inability to quickly access the coiled tubing or a frequent need to replace a contaminated tubing adds both cost and time to the entire angiogram procedure.


Provided herein are methods for prophylactic treatment of renal disorders comprising administration of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), or fragment, analog, complex or aggregate thereof, or any combination thereof, to an individual suspected of having, predisposed to, or at risk of developing a renal disorder.

Renal disorders are a major health concern in the United States, with an estimated 11.5 percent of adults ages 20 or older in the U.S. having physiological evidence of a chronic kidney disease (Levey et al. Annals of Internal Medicine 2009, 150:604-612). Renal disorders include short-term disorders that may cause temporary changes in kidney function such as kidney infections, obstruction from kidney stones, sepsis, hypovolumia, trauma, and some medications; chronic disorders where impaired kidney function may be permanent; and total kidney failure. When the kidneys lose about ninety percent or more of their function, an individual is diagnosed with "end-stage renal disease (ESRD)."

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

ACTH prophylactic treatment of renal disorders


A pressure washer wand is connectable to a source of fluid. The pressure washer wand includes a housing that defines an interior and a flow path disposed substantially within the interior. The flow path includes an inlet in fluid communication with the source and an outlet. A valve at least partially defines a portion of the flow path and is movable between a closed position and an open position in which fluid travels from the inlet to the outlet. A user interface is movable between an actuated position in which the valve is open and a non-actuated position in which the valve is closed. A lock member is substantially disposed within the interior and is movable between a locked position in which the lock assembly inhibits movement of the user interface, and an unlocked position.

The present invention relates to a pressure washer system that includes a trigger-actuated gun. More particularly, the present invention relates to a trigger-actuated gun that includes a lock mechanism that reduces unwanted actuations of the trigger.
Pressure washers use high-pressure liquid, typically water, to clean surfaces such as driveways, decks, walls, and the like. Generally, the pressure washer includes a pump that operates to provide the high-pressure fluid through an output hose or passageway. A gun is in fluid communication with the pump and the passageway and includes a trigger mechanism that is actuated by the user to discharge the high-pressure fluid. Generally, the user squeezes the trigger with one hand and supports the discharge end of the gun with the other hand during use.


When recording to an optical disk under zoned constant linear velocity (ZCLV) or partial constant angular velocity (PCAV) control, a plurality of super link points are dynamically set in the packet link areas. In this way, packet units recorded on a track of the optical disk are kept continuous.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of data recording on an optical disk, and more particularly, to a method of seamless ZCLV/PCAV recording for packet writing.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally speaking, in a rewritable optical disk drive, there are several methods of speed control of data writing to an optical disk (CD-R or CD-RW).
(1) Constant Linear Velocity, CLV:
CLV means that the optical disk is controlled such that a track length passing by an optical pickup head per unit time is constant. That is to say, when the optical pickup head accesses the inner region of an optical disk, a spindle motor rotates faster. On the contrary, when the optical pickup head accesses the outer region of an optical disk, the spindle motor rotates slowly. Under the control of CLV, the rotating speed of the spindle motor is related to the position of pickup head relative to the optical disk. That is, when the optical pickup head is moving from the inner to the outer region of the optical disk, the rotating speed of the spindle motor is gradually slowing down. Generally, a 1× optical disk drive is defined as the relative velocity between the optical pickup head and the optical disk is from 1.2 m/s to 1.4 m/s with 4.3218 MB/s transmission rate. Other optical disk drive with higher speeds are defined as integer multiples of the above values, such as 2×, 4×, 8×, 16×, 20×, etc.
(2) Constant Angular Velocity, CAV:
CAV means that the rotating speed of the spindle motor is constant. That is, when the rotating speed of the spindle motor is constant, the transmission rates in the inner and the outer region of the optical disk differ substantially. In other words, when the optical pickup head accesses the inner region of the optical disk, the transmission rate is lower; on the contrary, when the optical pickup head accesses the outer region of the optical disk, the transmission rate is higher.
(3) Zoned Constant Linear Velocity, ZCLV:
ZCLV improves a drawback of CLV, which is that the transmission rate is constant, so as to yield improvements in the transmission rate. Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a diagram of data transmission rate versus time on an optical disk 10 when performing data writing under ZCLV. FIG. 2 shows each region in the optical disk 10. In this case, the optical disk 10 is divided into three zones according to the time points A and B on the track. Before the time point A (10:0:0), the data transmission rate is 16× for performing data writing. Between the time points A (10:0:0) and B (50:0:0), the data transmission rate is 20× for performing data writing. And after the time point B (50:0:0), the data transmission rate is 24× for performing data writing.
Under ZCLV, the transmission rate close to the outer region of the optical disk is much higher resulting in increased speed of data writing in the optical disk. When changing from a region to another region, the optical disk drive has to reestablish a CLV control in the new region. That is, an adjustment of the spindle motor is performed at the starting point of each region to make the data transmission rate proper. Then, writing data in the new region is started. While the optical pickup head moves from the inner to the outer region of the optical disk, the rotating speed of the spindle motor slows for maintaining the constant linear velocity in the region. The total time for data writing in the optical disk by using ZCLV control is smaller than that by using CLV control.
(4) Partial Constant Angular Velocity, PCAV:
Please refer to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a diagram of data transmission rate versus time on an optical disk 10 when performing data writing under PCAV. FIG. 4 shows each region in the optical disk 10. In this case, the optical disk 10 is divided into a CLV region and a CAV region according to the time point C on the track. Before the time point C (50:0:0), the spindle motor provides a constant rotating speed; therefore, the transmission rate at the initial position is 16×. Approaching the time point C (50:0:0), the transmission rate increases to 24×. After the time point C (50:0:0), the transmission rate stays at 24× CLV for performing data writing.
In the prior art, performing data writing under ZCLV or PCAV must provide accurate time points of the optical disk drive. That is to say, when performing data writing, an accurate time point for changing the transmission rate should be obtained first. Then, the rotating speed of the spindle motor is adjusted after the time point. Generally speaking, these time points are called super link points. As mentioned above, the time points A, B and C are super link points.
Data writing is controlled at different transmission rates before and after super link points. Thus, during the process of data writing, when reaching a super link point, the optical disk drive must stop writing and reaccelerate the spindle motor until the spindle motor rotates at the predetermined rotating speed. Then the optical disk drive continues writing data subsequent to the super link point. Generally, when an optical disk drive writes data, data is continually written along the track. However, data is discontinuously written at the super link points; therefore, during data access, an error message will be generated when the optical pickup head access data from super link points. Nowadays optical disk drive control chips can correct data by an error correct code when decoding data before and after a super link point.
A packet writing mode (or "packet write") is introduced in the specification of orange book. Please refer to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a diagram of packets in packet writing. Packet writing means that the optical disk drive uses a packet unit for writing data on the track of an optical disk. As shown in FIG. 5, each packet unit 20, 30 and 40 respectively includes a run in area 22, 32 and 42, and a run out area 26, 36 and 46. And user data areas 24, 34 and 44 are between the run in areas 22, 32 and 42 and the run out areas 26, 36 and 46. There are packet link areas 50 and 60 between the packet units 20, 30 and 40 for connecting the packet units. For instance, the packet link area 50 is between the packet units 20 and 30, and the packet link area 60 is between the packet units 30 and 40. Only data stored in the user data areas 24, 34 and 44 can be accessed. The run in areas 22, 32 and 42, run out areas 26, 36 and 46, and packet link areas 50 and 60 cannot be accessed.
In general, when an optical disk drive writes data under ZCLV or PCAV, accurate time points should be provided as super link points. Due to the greater part of a packet unit being the user data area, during packet writing under ZCLV or PCAV according to the prior art, the majority of the super link points are located in the user data area of the packet unit. Because super link points represent switches in transmission rate, if a super link point is located in a user data area, it will make data in the user data area discontinuous. Additionally, when performing data writing subsequent to the super link point, the optical disk drive has to reaccelerate the spindle motor for performing data writing. This reduces the efficiency when the optical disk drive writes data.

Method of seamless ZCLV/PCAV recording for packet writing


Step stools and storage, step supports having open, forwardly-facing storage cubbies for use in confined spaces, such as closets. Some of the storage, step supports have steps which are fixed relative to other steps while other storage, step supports are provided with one or more relatively movable steps and are movable from a storage position to a step position.

The ability to maximize storage capacity in a confined space, such as a closet, is often desirable. Storing items in a closet can entail storing the items at a height which is not readily reachable by a person of average height. It is also desirable to have ready access to items which are stored within reach.


Coating and filler materials for localized thermal processing of glazed ceramics and other brittle and low thermal conductivity materials. The coating materials include oxide compositions that exhibit coefficients of thermal expansion which are less than about 8xc3x9710xe2x88x926/xc2x0 C. and glass transition temperatures which are less than about 400xc2x0 C. The filler materials include particulate oxide materials which do not substantially react during localized thermal processing of glazed ceramics and other brittle and low thermal conductivity materials. The coating and filler materials are useable together as a composite material for repairing cavities having depths greater than about 2 mm.

This invention relates to localized thermal processing of glazed ceramics and other brittle and low thermal conductivity materials. More particularly, this invention relates to coating and filler materials for use in such processing, the coating materials having coefficients of thermal expansion of less than about 8xc3x9710xe2x88x926/xc2x0 C. and glass transition temperatures of less than about 400xc2x0 C., and the filler materials having coefficients of thermal expansion of about 0.5xc3x9710xe2x88x926/xc2x0 C.
Vitreous coating materials, commonly referred to as glazes or enamels, are used on many ceramics and other brittle and low thermal conductivity materials for aesthetic and functional purposes. Ceramic whitewares are coated with glazes for decorative and sanitary purposes. Conductive glazes are used on ceramic electrical insulators to remove charges. Glazes are also used in ceramic electronic packages for hermetic sealing and bonding. Enameled cast iron is coated with porcelain enamels for decorative and functional purposes.
Glazed ceramic manufacturing processes often yield a certain percentage of product that have surface defects. These defects can detract from the appearance of the article and create functional problems that render the article unusable. Consequently, methods have been developed for repairing certain types of surface defects in glazed ceramics. One such repair method involves enlarging the hole by drilling, filling the hole with a glaze material similar to the original, and re-firing the entire part at maximum temperatures near 1200xc2x0 C. for many hours. Unfortunately, new flaws may initiate at secondary sites during re-firing, thus, frustrating the repair efforts. Moreover, this method is expensive, energy intensive, and time consuming.
Another repair method considered for use in repairing glazed ceramics is laser welding. Laser welding methods typically employ a carbon dioxide (CO2) laser operating at a wavelength of 10.6 xcexcm. Such lasers are used because they are stable and capable of delivering high, readily absorbed output power such that temperatures of 1800xc2x0 C.-1900xc2x0 C. over a few square millimeter area can be rapidly achieved to fuse refractory materials within a few seconds. The rapid heating can also produce undesirable cracking within and near the irradiated region due to the brittle and low thermal conductive nature of ceramics which permit high thermal gradients and high stresses to develop.
Laser induced thermal stress problems have been addressed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,427,825 which discloses a method for localized glazing of ceramics that maintains a non-destructive level of thermal stresses within the irradiated region by appropriate control of the laser""s energy. This is accomplished by applying a fusing radiant energy to a fusion zone on the surface of the glazed ceramic article and annealing the fusion zone by applying annealing radiant energy to an annealing zone on the surface of the article which encompasses the fusion zone. The annealing radiant energy limits the thermal stress to a level during cooling which is less than the fracturing stress of the ceramic material, so that cooling can be accomplished without inducing cracks in the surface.
The glazes coating the ceramics described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,427,825 typically have melting temperatures near 1200xc2x0 C., and coefficients of thermal expansion of 6-7xc3x9710xe2x88x926/xc2x0 C. The engineering of these two parameters has been found to be critical in laser fusion performance, particularly in laser sealing of vitreous coatings over brittle substrates. The high melting temperature requires the absorption of considerable energy to fuse the coating to the substrate. Consequently, the non-destructively high thermal gradients and the thermal expansions in the range noted, can still increase thermally-induced strains beyond critical limits, thus resulting in permanent damage to the coating and the substrate.
Accordingly, coating materials are needed which have coefficients of thermal expansion and glass transition temperatures sufficiently lowered to a point where the strain induced by a rapid change in temperature during localized thermal processing, remains below the elastic strain limit. There is also a need for filler materials that can be used for repairing deep defects via localized thermal processing.
The present invention relates to coating and filler materials for localized thermal processing of glazed ceramics and other brittle and low thermal conductivity materials. The coating materials comprise oxide compositions that exhibit coefficients of thermal expansion which are less than about 8xc3x9710xe2x88x926/xc2x0 C. and glass transition temperatures which are less than about 400xc2x0 C. The filler materials comprise particulate oxide materials which do not substantially react during localized thermal processing of glazed ceramics and other brittle and low thermal conductivity materials.
The coating and filler materials are useable together as a composite material for repairing cavities having depths greater than about 2 mm.

Coating and filler materials for use in localized thermal processing of glazed ceramics


A plasma processing method for a plasma processing device is provided. The plasma processing device includes a reaction chamber, multiple Radio Frequency (RF) power supplies with different RF frequency outputs apply RF electric fields to the reaction chamber, the output of at least one pulse RF power supply has multiple output states, and the processing method includes a match frequency obtaining step and a pulse processing step. In the match frequency obtaining step, the output state of the pulse RF power supply is switched to make the reaction chamber have multiple impedances to simulate the impedances in the pulse processing step. The output frequencies of the variable frequency RF power supply are adjusted to match the simulated impedances. The adjusted output frequencies are stored as match frequencies. In the subsequent pulse processing step, the fast switched impedances are instantly matched by the stored match frequencies.

In the existing semiconductor processing, plasma processing apparatuses are widely used to process semiconductor wafers, so as to obtain micro dimension semiconductor devices and conductive connections. The plasma apparatus usually includes Capacitively Coupled Plasma (CCP) reaction chamber or Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) reaction chamber. These apparatuses usually have two RF power supplies, one is used to ionize the reaction gas inputted into the reaction chamber to generate plasma, and the other one is used to control the ion energy incident to the surface of the wafer.
The plasma processing device as shown in FIG. 1 includes a reaction chamber 100. A base 22 is contained by the reaction chamber, and a lower electrode is included in the base 22. A fixing device for fixing the substrate to be processed, such as an electrostatic chuck 21, is provided above the lower electrode, and a wafer 20 is fixed on the upper surface of the electrostatic chuck 21. An edge ring 10 surrounding the electrostatic chuck and the wafer is also provided. In the reaction chamber 100, a gas showerhead 11 is provided right above the base, and the gas showerhead is connected to a gas source 110, for supplying gas to the reaction chamber uniformly. Capacitive coupling is formed by the gas showerhead functioning as an upper electrode and the lower electrode in the base. A first RF power supply 31 is electrically connected to the lower electrode via a match 1, a second RF power supply 32 is electrically connected to the lower electrode via a match 2, and both of the first RF power supply and the second RF power supply have a fixed RF frequency. Since the impedance of the plasma will change when parameters such as gas pressure of the plasma, RF power and plasma concentration change, the parameter of the input power and the impedance need to be adjusted continuously to minimize the reflected power. In the plasma processing, both the first RF power supply 31 and the second RF power supply 32 supply powers to the lower electrode, and the match 1 and the match 2 can adjust the impedance via interior adjustable components respectively to minimize the RF reflected power. The frequency of the RF power source 31 or 32 may also be adjusted to much quickly adjust the input impedance. However, both the adjusting of the impedances of the matches 1, 2 and the adjusting of the frequencies of the RF power sources 31, 32 described above are achieved by moving an mechanical component (such as a variable capacitor or a variable inductor driven by a machine). In addition, in the procedure for minimizing the reflected power, the mechanical component described above moves in any direction, then the mechanical component is controlled to move to an appropriate position according to the feedback value of the reflected power, and therefore the procedure for sweeping the impedance of the match or the frequency of the RF power supply takes a long time, which reaches a second level, such as a time greater than 1 second.
Presently, a pulse plasma processing technology is required in many plasma processing. In some time periods of the processing, the RF power supply does not continuously supply powers, the output power will alternatively change between an on state and an off state or a high power state and a low power state; the waveform of the output power is in a pulse form, so it is referred to pulse plasma processing. The alternate frequencies are generally about 10K-100 KHZ, and the duty cycle of the on-off state may be adjusted in a range of 10%-90% according to requirements. In this way, each switching between the on state and the off state or between the high power state and the lower power state will cause fast change of the impedance in the reaction chamber, and the time of each change is in a millisecond level or even in a microsecond level. In the traditional art, auto frequency tuning (AFT) in the match circuit or the RF power supply is employed, and since the response time is much longer than millisecond level, the requirement of the pulse plasma processing can not be met.
Therefore, in view of the above reasons, there is a need for a fast impedance matching method in the pulse plasma processing by using only the existing hardware or by simply adjusting the existing hardware conditions.

Plasma processing method and plasma processing device

Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment Inc, Shanghai


A semiconductor memory stores multiple messages such as multiple sound clips and includes storage cells dedicated to storage of samples that constitute the messages and EOM cells dedicated to storage of marks identifying boundaries of the messages. In one embodiment, a set of the EOM cells are together in a row of an array, and each such EOM cell is associated with storage cells in the same column of the array. Each EOM cell is erased together with associated storage cells. To avoid overerase of EOM cells, a write process for a storage cell asserts a write pulse to the associated EOM cell. Write pulses resulting from writing of multiple storage cells associated with an EOM cell, change a threshold voltage of the EOM cell from the erased state to a partially programmed state. The EOM cell associated with a boundary of a message can be programmed to a state that differs from the partially programmed state.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to circuits and methods for recording multiple messages in a semiconductor memory, and particularly relates to marking the boundaries of messages stored in an analog memory.
2. Description of Related Art
Semiconductor memories can record, store, and playback continuous signals such as sound or voice signals. For example, an analog memory can record a voice signal from a microphone by periodically sampling the voice signal and writing samples in a sequence of memory cells. Reading the memory cells in the recorded sequence and sequentially applying voltages read from the memory cells to an amplifier and speaker system plays back the voice signal. As used herein, a message is a signal of limited duration that may be stored in a semiconductor memory. The amount of memory (i.e., the number of memory cells) required to store a message depends upon the duration of the message and the sampling frequency used when recording the message. Current memories have sufficient capacity to store multiple short messages in a single memory chip or array. However, memory systems that store multiple messages must identify the boundaries of individual messages so that a selected message can be played back without sequentially reading through all messages or can be erased without disturbing other messages.
One method for identifying the boundaries of messages in a memory uses special memory cells that are not used for recording samples but instead are set to identify the end of a message. For example, in a recording system that sequentially writes samples in rows of a memory array, the last memory cell in each row can be reserved for storing an end-of-message (EOM) mark. At the end of a message, the last memory cell in the last row containing samples for the message is programmed to create the EOM mark for the message. The EOM marks identify messages for playback or erase and identify memory that is available for recording of new messages.
The above described system for marking the boundaries of messages in a memory is not well suited for Flash memories. In Flash memories, entire sectors of memory cells are simultaneously erased. If the memory cells reserved for EOM marks are part of a sector containing samples, the EOM marks are erased each time the sector is erased. However, such cells may be rarely programmed, i.e. only when an associated row is the last row of a message. Accordingly, the EOM cells dedicated to marking the ends of messages may be repeatedly erased without being programmed and can become overerased. The overerased cells can disrupt operation of the memory for example, by conducting even when not selected during a read or programming. Accordingly, a system and process for recording multiple messages is sought that resists overerasing of memory cells and is better suited to Flash memory.

Memory architecture for recording of multiple messages


In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a circulating valve for use in sand control and related well operations includes a mandrel that can be rotated in a housing after a weight-responsive clutch is released. As the mandrel is rotated to the right, a reverse lead groove system engaged by a pawl causes a valve sleeve element to shuttle down and up between positions closing and opening a flow path between the annulus above a packer and a zone in the well below the packer.

To control the entry of sand from a producing formation into a well bore, it has become a fairly common practice to form a gravel pack which lines the well bore in the production interval. Prior to the placement of a gravel pack, it may be desirable to perform certain treatments and squeeze operations which involve high rates of injection. To perform such operations, a special valve is needed which can be repeatedly opened and closed to either communicate the casing annulus above a packer with a zone in the well below it, or isolate the annulus and zone. Such valve apparatus should also be compatible in operation with the requirements for setting a packer which is connected to its lower end. For example a packer may require torque to uncouple a J-slot control so that the slips and packing elements can be set.
A general object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved valve apparatus for controlling fluid communication between the well annulus above a packer and a zone in the well therebelow.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved valve apparatus of the type described which can be opened and closed an unlimited number of times as necessary to perform a plurality of operations in a well.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved valve apparatus of the type described which is manipulated by weight and rotation of the running string to control fluid below the annulus above a packer and a zone below it.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved valve apparatus of the type described which includes a releasable clutch which is engaged to allow the transmission of torque to set a packer and then is disengaged to allow multiple openings and closings of a flow path between the annulus above the packer and the well bore therebelow.


The disclosed invention is intended to decrease the power consumption of a pulse latch circuit. A pulse latch circuit that operates in sync with a pulsed clock signal, including a first operation mode in which shifting test pattern scan data is performed and a second operation mode in which shifting the test pattern scan data is not performed, comprises the following circuits: a first latch circuit that is able to latch input data in sync with the clock signal; a second latch circuit that is connected to the first latch circuit and is able to latch the test pattern scan data to be shifted in sync with the clock signal; and a control circuit that stops supply of the clock signal to the second latch circuit during the second operation mode. By thus stopping the supply of the clock signal to the second latch circuit, decrease the power consumption is achieved.

The present invention relates to a pulse latch circuit and a power saving technique for use therein and relates to a technique that is effectively applicable to a semiconductor integrated circuit such as, for example, a microcomputer.
Component circuits that are important for performance enhancement and power saving of a semiconductor integrated circuit are memory elements typified by flip-flop (hereinafter abbreviated to "FF") circuits or latch circuits. Here, a "FF circuit" means a memory element that captures an input signal on the rising edge of a clock and a "latch circuit" means a so-called level-sensing type circuit that transfers an input signal to an output terminal during an "H" (high level) period of a clock and retains an output signal during an "L" (low level) period of a clock. A variety of circuits and clock systems have been proposed with the aim of the speed-up and power saving of the FF circuits or latch circuits. As the size of semiconductor integrated circuits becomes larger, adaptation for a technique of a design (design for test, DFT) providing an easy way of testing FF circuits is becoming necessary from a perspective of the testing cost.
A technique intended for speed-up by replacing the FF circuits by pulse latch circuits is known. For example, according to a technique described in Patent Document 1, in a semiconductor integrated circuit including a clock pulse generating circuit which generates a pulsed clock signal, a predetermined combinational logic circuit, a pulse latch circuit that can latch input data to the pulsed clock signal, located before or after the combinational logic circuit, the influence of uncertainty of the clock edges is eliminated by setting the pulse width of the pulsed clock signal to fulfill a certain condition.
[Patent Document 1] A brochure of Internal Publication No. WO 2004/038917A1

Pulse latch circuit and semiconductor integrated circuit


An anode target is roratably supported by a rotating mechanism having a rotary body and a staionary body. A fitted portion between the rotary body and the stationary body is formed of bearing areas having dynamic pressure type sliding bearings and a non-bearing area having a clearance between the rotary body and the stationary body larger than that in the bearing areas. The rotary body facing the non-bearing area is positioned where a time for heat transfer from the anode target is shorter than the rotary body facing the bearing areas. Thus, the characteristics of heat radiation from the anode target can be improved, and a stable bearing operation can be maintained.

The rotary anode type X-ray tube has a structure that an anode target for radiating X-rays is rotatably supported by a rotating mechanism, and an electron beam is emitted to the anode target rotating at a high speed to irradiate the X-rays from the anode target. The rotating mechanism for supporting the anode target is comprised of a rotary body, a stationary body and the like, and bearings are disposed between the rotary body and the stationary body. For a bearing section, there is used a rolling-element bearing such as a ball bearing or a dynamic pressure type sliding bearing which has helical grooves formed on a bearing surface and supplies a liquid metal lubricant such as gallium (Ga) or gallium (Ga)-indium (In)-tin (Sn) alloy to the helical grooves and the like.
A conventional rotary anode type X-ray tube will be described with reference to FIG. 21. The rotary anode type X-ray tube shown in FIG. 21 has a dynamic pressure type sliding bearing in a bearing section. A rotary anode type X-ray tube 1 shown in FIG. 21 is housed in a housing vessel 2. The rotary anode type X-ray tube 1 has a cathode 4 and an anode target 5 mutually opposed in a vacuum vessel 3. The anode target 5 is connected to a rotary shaft 7 or the like of a rotating mechanism 6 and rotatably supported by the rotating mechanism 6. The rotating mechanism 6 has a rotary body 8 connected to the rotary shaft 7 and a stationary body 9 fitted to the rotary body 8.
The bottom end opening of the rotary body 8 is sealed with a thrust ring 10, and the stationary body 9 is extended to the outside through the thrust ring 10. And, a hole 11 forming a cooling passage through which a cooling medium flows is formed in the stationary body 9 along the tube axis. The bottom end of the stationary body 9 is connected air-tight to fix to a sealing ring 12 for sealing one end of the vacuum vessel 3. And, a stator 13 is disposed outside of the vacuum vessel 3.
When the rotary anode type X-ray tube 1 operates, the rotary body 8 and the anode target 5 are rotated at a high speed by a rotating magnetic field generated by the stator 13. Under this condition, an electron beam e generated by the cathode 4 is accelerated by a high voltage between the anode and the cathode and impinged on the anode target 5 to emit X-rays. The X-rays are guided outside as indicated by arrow Y through an output window W1 disposed on the vacuum vessel 3 and an output window W2 disposed on the housing vessel 2.
The anode structure of the above-described rotary anode type X-ray tube 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 22. The rotary body 8 has a three-layered structure comprising an intermediate cylinder 8a connected to the rotary shaft 7, an inner cylinder 8b connected to the inside of the intermediate cylinder 8a, and an outer cylinder 8c connected to the exterior of the intermediate cylinder 8a. A blackened film 14 for radiating heat is formed on the exterior surface of the outer cylinder 8c. The bottom end opening of the inner cylinder 8b is sealed with the thrust ring 10.
The stationary body 9 is fitted into the inner cylinder 8b of the rotary body 8. The bottom end of the stationary body 9 passes through the thrust ring 10 to extend below it. Dynamic pressure type sliding bearings are disposed in the fitted surface of the inner cylinder 8b and the stationary body 9. For example, radial dynamic pressure type sliding bearings 15a, 15b are disposed on two remote portions in a tube axial direction on the external surface of the stationary body 9. And, dynamic pressure type sliding bearings 16a, 16b are disposed in a thrust direction on the top end surface of the stationary body 9 and the bottom stepped surface of the stationary body 9.
Herringbone pattern helical grooves 17 as shown in FIG. 23 are formed in pair on the radial dynamic pressure type sliding bearings 15a, 15b. Herringbone pattern helical grooves 18 are formed on the dynamic pressure type sliding bearings 16a, 16b in the thrust direction as shown in FIG. 24. A liquid metal lubricant of gallium or gallium alloy is supplied to the helical grooves 17, 18 and the gap of the fitted portion between the inner cylinder 8b and the stationary body 9. A non-bearing area 19, which is provided in the area interposed between the two bearings 15a, 15b disposed on the external surface of the stationary body 9, has a larger gap between the inner cylinder 8b and the stationary body 9 than those formed between the bearings 15a, 15b and the inner cylinder 8b and does not operate as a bearing. The gap of the non-bearing area 19 serves as, for example, a liquid metal lubricant storage section.
The gap between the inner cylinder 8b and the stationary body 9 is determined to have a bearing size so that the rotary body 8 can rotate stably. A specific size of the gap for the bearing section is variable depending on a rotating speed of the rotating part, a shape of the shaft, or the like. For example, the dynamic pressure type sliding bearings 15a, 15b have the gap between the inner surface of the inner cylinder 8b and the outer surface of the stationary body 9 determined to be about 1/1000 or less of the diameter of the stationary body 9 at the bearing sections as shown in FIG. 22.
When the rotary anode type X-ray tube 1 operates, the temperature of the anode target 5 increases by the irradiation of the electron beam. To release the heat of the anode target 5 to outside of the X-ray tube 1, the rotary anode type X-ray tube 1 using the dynamic pressure type sliding bearing employs the following method (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publications No. HEI 2-244545, No. HEI 5-144395, No. HEI 6-76772, No. HEI 7-226177 and No. HEI 9-171789, U.S. Pat. No. 5,838,763, etc.). For example, the heat of the anode target 5 is conducted to the rotary body 8 connected to the anode target 5. The heat is then conducted from the rotary body 8 to the stationary body 9 through the liquid metal lubricant in the bearing portions. And, the heat is radiated from the stationary body 9 to the outside of the X-ray tube 1. A passage for the cooling medium is formed in the stationary body 9.
According to the above-described method of releasing the heat from the conventional rotary anode type X-ray tube, an increase in temperature of the bearing section becomes great. For example, in the anode structure shown in FIG. 22, the heat of the anode target 5 is conducted from the rotary shaft 7 to the intermediate cylinder 8a and from the intermediate cylinder 8a to the stationary body 9 through the inner cylinder 8b and the bearing 15b. Thus, the heat of the anode target 5 is directly conducted to the bearing section, so that the increase in temperature of the bearing section becomes great.
Besides, as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. HEI 2-244545 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,838,763, when the anode target and the rotary body are mutually contacted to have a large contact area, quantity of heat conducted from the anode target to the rotary body increases, and the temperature of the bearing section becomes higher. As a result, there is a problem that the bearing-forming material and the liquid metal lubricant react to each other to make the bearing surface rough or the bearing gap size is varied by the reaction product. Such a problem has an adverse effect on the bearing operation, and the bearing operation cannot be maintained stably.
When the rotating anode type X-ray tube starts to operate, the rotary section of the rotating mechanism rotates, shearing energy is applied to the liquid metal lubricant and changes to heat, and the bearing section generates heat. The heat from the anode target is also applied to the bearing section as described above. Thus, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. HEI 7-226177 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. HEI 9-171789 disclose a structure that a connecting portion having a heat resistant structure such as a cylinder is disposed between the anode target and the rotary body to decrease heat to be conducted to the rotary body.
To dispose the connecting portion, the anode target is connected to the connecting portion, and the connecting portion is connected to the rotary body of the rotating mechanism. For the coupled portion between the anode target and the connecting portion and the coupled portion between the rotary body and the connecting portion, either of them is integrally formed, and the other is mechanically contacted and fixed with a screw part. Such a coupling structure has high heat resistance, and an adequate heat transfer effect cannot be obtained. Magnitude of heat resistance is variable depending on the surface roughness of the contact portion, and a heat resistance value is variable depending on processing accuracy. When the heat resistance value is variable, for example, a temperature difference is caused in the rotary body within one tube or a temperature difference is caused in the rotary body depending on a tube. In such a case, it is necessary to design considering variations in temperature, and enhancement of the heat transfer effect is disturbed.
Besides, according to the conventional rotary anode type X-ray tube, to transfer the heat of the anode target from the rotary body to the stationary body through the bearing surface, the heat is finally transferred to the cooling medium flowing through the cooling passage formed in the stationary body. Quantity of heat transferred to the cooling medium becomes larger as the effective contact area between the stationary body and the cooling medium becomes larger. The effective contact area depends on a portion where heat is transferred effectively (e.g., a part of the cooling passage having a high surface temperature) in the surface area of the cooling passage. But, heat of the anode target is transferred to the cooling medium through a small region having a short distance among the heat routes from the rotary body to the cooling passage in the stationary body. Then, the effective contact area cannot be made adequately large, resulting in degradation of the operation characteristics of the bearing section.
This invention provides a rotary anode type X-ray tube which basically makes good conduction of heat of the anode target through a rotating mechanism and the like. Specifically, it is to provide a rotary anode type X-ray tube which suppresses the dynamic pressure type sliding bearing section from having a temperature increase and can maintain a stable bearing operation. And, it provides a rotary anode type X-ray tube which suppresses variations in heat transferred from the anode target to the rotary body of the rotating mechanism. Besides, it provides a rotary anode type X-ray tube having an improved heat transfer characteristic from the rotary body of the rotating mechanism to the stationary body.