An image forming apparatus including a transfer member urging unit that urges a transfer member to an image bearing drum at a line pressure of 18.62×10−3 N/mm or less and 2.47×10−3 N/mm or more, the line pressure being taken along a direction perpendicular to a recording material conveying direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrophotographic type image forming apparatus, more specifically relates to an image forming apparatus having transfer means contacting to an image bearing member through a low pressure, for electrostatically transferring a toner image adhered on the image bearing member to a recording material at a transfer region, and a guide member for restricting a conveying path of conveying the recording material to the transfer region.
2. Description of the Related Art
The electrophotographic type image forming apparatus electrically charges an image bearing drum in a uniform manner and then exposes it to form an electrostatic latent image, forms a toner image by development, transfers the toner image to a recording material, thermally fixes the toner image by fixed means, and then outputs the image-fixed recording material as an image-formed article (copy, print).
In these days, there have been used many transfer materials contacting the image bearing drum, as transfer materials for transferring the toner image from the image bearing drum to the recording material. There is an advantage that the transfer member contacting the image bearing drum reduces a bias voltage which is applied to the transfer member during the transfer.
A description will now be made of a conventional image forming apparatus.
FIG. 6 shows a conveying path of a transfer material Q between a guide member 3 and a transfer region in which a toner image on an image bearing drum 1 is transferred on to the recording material Q by a transfer member 5, in a conventional image forming apparatus.
As shown in FIG. 6, there are around the image bearing drum 1 an electrically charging roller 8 and a development roller 9. The recording material Q is nipped at a region (first contact region) where the transfer member 5 and the image bearing drum 1 contact each other. Applying a bias to the transfer member 5 from an electric source 17 causes the toner image to be transferred on to the recording material Q. The transfer member 5 is pressed to the image bearing drum 1 by a transfer member urging member 6. At a location upstream of the first contact region in a recording material-conveying direction, registration roller pair 2 are arranged, and a guide member 3 is arranged between the registration roller pair 2 and the transfer region.
The recording material Q contacts the guide member 3 at a second contact region, and then enters into the first contact region; accordingly, a positional relationship of the guide member 3 and the transfer region leads to definition of an angle of the transfer material Q entering into the transfer member 5.
When the recording material Q is conveyed to the first contact region along the transfer member 5, the toner image on the image bearing drum 1 is subjected to unfavorable transfer to thereby provide the image dispersion, before the recording material 5 enters into the first contact region under the influence of an electric field formed between the bias-applied transfer member 5 and the image bearing drum 1. In order to prevent the toner image-dispersion immediately before the first contact region (so-called pre-transfer phenomenon), it is so constructed that a tip of the guide member 3 is arranged on a side of the image bearing drum 1 with respect to a tangent line R of the image bearing drum 1 at a recording material conveying direction-wise center of the first contact region, and then the transfer material Q enters into the first contact region along the image bearing drum 1.
On the other hand, a surface of the image bearing drum 1 gets more scarred or scratched as the number of prints increases. When the image bearing drum 1 gets scarred or scratched over a predetermined amount, uneven electrical charge and so on causes an abnormal image to be formed on the print. Usually the life of the image bearing drum 1 is set to the printing-possible number of sheets in which the electrical charge-abnormal does not occur, and hence a long life image bearing drum which is capable of carrying out printing much more is desired in order to reduce the running cost. Therefore, an image forming apparatus using the transfer member 5 may be so constructed that the pressing force of the transfer member 5 pressing the image bearing drum 1 is reduced in order to prevent the image bearing drum 1 from getting scarred and scratched due to the transfer member 5 pressing the photosensitive drum 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 9-127804)
Moreover, when the pressing force is too weak, the photosensitive drum 1 easily has a shock due to a change of a sheet stance during the sheet conveying, thereby possibly providing poor images. Therefore, it is required to increase the pressing force of the transfer member 5 pressing the photosensitive drum 1 over a predetermined value in order to stably convey a paper.
However, in the above-mentioned image forming apparatus in which the pressing force of the transfer member 5 pressing the image bearing drum 1 is reduced, when using a high rigid heavy paper as the recording paper Q, the pressing force of the recording material going down the transfer member is superior to the pressing force of the transfer member 5 pressing the image bearing drum 1 due to the principle of leverage, thereby causing the transfer member 5 to separate from the image bearing drum 1, which provides the poor transfer. The poor transfer occurring by the transfer member 5 separating from the image bearing drum 1 causes the image appearance quality to be more damaged, compared with the poor image due to the pre-transfer phenomenon. Accordingly, when using a high rigid heavy paper as the recording material Q, it is more important to prevent the poor transfer occurring by the transfer member separating from the image bearing drum, compared with the poor image due to the pre-transfer phenomenon.
Here, there occurs a problem that it is difficult to prevent the transfer member from separating from the image bearing drum when using a high rigid recording material such as a heavy paper, and simultaneously reduce the occurrence of the pre-transfer phenomenon when using a low rigid recording material such as a thin paper.


In a fingerprint recognition apparatus, a first recognition section is formed on a center portion of a transparent substrate and a second recognition section is formed on the transparent substrate adjacent to the first recognition section. The first recognition section recognizes an image pattern from an object making contact with the transparent substrate to generate a first recognition signal and the second recognition section senses a biological signal so as to check whether or not the first recognition signal is obtained from a human being. Accordingly, the fingerprint recognition apparatus may check that whether or not the object having the image pattern is obtained from a human being, thereby recognizing the image pattern with high accuracy and improving reliability thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for recognizing an image, and more particularly to an apparatus for recognizing an image, capable of recognizing an image pattern from a human being with high accuracy.
2. Description of the Related Art
An amorphous-silicon thin film transistor liquid crystal display apparatus (a-Si TFT-LCD apparatus), which is a kind of flat panel display, is widely applied to an electronic instrument, for example, such as a notebook computer, a monitor, a television set, a mobile communication system, a hand-held electronic appliance and so on.
Also, since the a-Si TFT-LCD, generally, includes a photosensitive material that is chemically changeable in response to a light, the a-Si TFT-LCD may be broadly used to biometrics industries as a photoelectric sensor.
The biometrics industries relate to a personal verification system using inherent biological properties, for example, such as a fingerprint, a voice, a facial feature, a hand or an eye iris. In view of cost, convenience and accuracy, a personal verification system using the fingerprint among the inherent biological properties is widely used.
A conventional fingerprint recognition apparatus includes a photoelectric sensor, for example, such as a sensing TFT, a switching TFT, a storage capacitor, or the like.
An operation mechanism for carrying out recognition of the fingerprint recognition apparatus using the photoelectric sensor is as follows.
The sensing TFT receives a light emitted from a light source and reflected corresponding to a fingerprint image printed on a human finger. When the sensing TFT is turned on in response to the light, the storage capacitor charges an electron charge in proportion to an amount of the light received into the sensing TFT. The amount of the light received into the sensing TFT may be different according to a position from which the light is reflected because a reflectance between a light reflected from a ridge portion that is protruded portion of the human finger and a light reflected from a valley portion that is recessed portion of the human finger is different from each other. Thus, the amount of the electron charge charged into the sensing TFT may be varied due to the amount of the reflected light from the fingerprint image.
The switching TFT reads out the amount of the electron charge charged into the storage capacitor and outputs a signal corresponding to the amount of the electron charge through a sensing signal output line to an external.
As described above, the conventional fingerprint recognition apparatus may recognize the fingerprint image based on the reflected light from the fingerprint image of the human finger while the human finger does not directly make contact with the fingerprint recognition apparatus. Also, even if an object having the fingerprint image is not the human finger, the conventional fingerprint recognition apparatus recognizes the fingerprint image as a biological signal, for example, such as the fingerprint of the human finger, when the object makes contact with the fingerprint recognition apparatus.
That is, although the fingerprint image printed on an object, for example, such as a paper or the like, makes contact with the fingerprint recognition apparatus, the fingerprint recognition apparatus recognizes the fingerprint image printed on the object as a normal biological signal from the human finger. As a result, an accuracy of the fingerprint recognition apparatus for verifying a normal user may be lowered.


In one aspect of the present invention, a method and an apparatus are provided for determining a cumulative defect measure for a wafer lot. A wafer lot is selected for inspection. At least one wafer from the lot for inspection is selected. The wafer comprises a plurality of process layers and at least some of the process layers are selected for inspection for defects. The number, type, and kill ratio of the defects on each layer of the wafer selected are determined from inspection. A cumulative defect measurement for the wafer is determined based upon the number, type, and kill ratio of the defects on all inspected layers on the wafer. The cumulative defect measurement for the wafer is extrapolated to determine a quantified indication of a defectiveness of the selected wafer lot.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to improving the yield and processing of semiconductor devices, and, more particularly, to measurement of cumulative defect analysis in semiconductor processes.
2. Description of the Related Art
The proliferation of the high technology industry has resulted in many innovations that improve our ability to create useful electronic devices. One commodity that is at a premium in the high technology industry is the semiconductor device. Semiconductor devices have become integral components in high technology products. The demands placed upon the high technology sector has created the need for new and creative solutions for issues regarding semiconductor designing, testing, and manufacturing. Many of these design, test, and manufacturing issues are not readily contemplated by many in the field. One such issue arises when defect data is collected during processing of semiconductor wafers.
The manufacture of integrated circuits (IC) is a complex and lengthy process involving hundreds of steps and rigorous manufacturing control. A variety of films, both conductive and insulative, are applied in successive steps to a semiconductor substrate (wafer). Each semiconductor wafer is subdivided into individual units, called die, and identical patterns are printed onto each die. The smallest features of these patterns extend into the sub-micron regime, hundreds of times smaller than a human hair.
During fabrication, several hundred potentially usable die are formed on the surface of a wafer. However, for a variety of reasons, such as manufacturing errors, not all of the die will result in a useful semiconductor product. Yield is a term used by the semiconductor industry to indicate the amount of usable die divided by the number of possible good die. Yield is typically expressed as a percentage since manufacturing processes are not perfect. Yield is of paramount importance to the IC manufacturer; companies stand to lose millions of dollars in profits if wafers do not yield according to projections. Defects introduced during the manufacturing process may cause die to fail, driving yield down. Thus, it is very important to monitor the yield of various manufacturing processes used to make semiconductor devices.
Defects can be generated by process tools, humans, or the environment in the manufacturing facility (the fab). Small particles, scratches, and residues from process tools are some of the types of defects that can corrupt a die. IC manufacturers utilize multi-million dollar tools to inspect wafer surfaces at critical points in the process in order to monitor the viability of the product. Some of these inspection tools generally use digital image comparison or laser scattering methodologies to xe2x80x9cscanxe2x80x9d the wafers and determine the presence of defects. The defect information (number, location on the wafer, size, etc.) for each wafer is then typically fed into a large database for further analysis. Technicians on the factory floor review the defects located by the scan tools using sophisticated microscopes and classify the defects (e.g., embedded particle, surface flake, pattern defect, etc.); these classifications are also fed into the database.
There are many types of defect analysis, yet no true industry-wide standard techniques exist. The current state-of-the-art relating to defect analysis leaves much room for improvement. Quite often, wafers reach the end of a process line and yield poorly. Vast amounts of resources are then fielded to investigate and determine the cause or causes of poor yield.
The present invention is directed to overcoming, or at least reducing the effects of, one or more of the problems set forth above.
In one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for determining a cumulative defect measure for a wafer lot. A wafer lot is selected for inspection. At least one wafer from the lot for inspection is selected. The wafer comprises a plurality of process layers and at least some of the process layers are selected for inspection for defects. The number, type, and kill ratio of the defects on each layer of the wafer are determined. A cumulative defect measurement for the wafer is determined based upon the number, type, and kill ratio of the defects on all inspected layers on the wafer. The cumulative defect measurement for the wafer is extrapolated to determine a quantified indication of a defectiveness of the selected wafer lot.
The present invention further provides for an apparatus for determining a cumulative defect measure for a wafer lot, comprising a wafer processing line. A process control system interfaces with the wafer processing line and is capable of controlling the wafer processing line. A communication system, interfacing with the process control system, is capable of sending and receiving data. A system control is coupled to the communication system, and is capable of controlling the process control system. The apparatus of the present invention further comprises a means for calculating a cumulative defect measure for a wafer lot.

Method and apparatus for measuring cumulative defects


In a polarization transforming optics having a polarizing beam splitter (PBS) for transforming x-direction incident light flux from a metal halide light source into a single linearly (z direction) polarized light flux beam heading in the y direction and delivering the beam to, preferably, a light valve of a liquid crystal display (LCD) in a coordinate space, the PBS splits the incident light flux from the light source into split light flux beams, separates the split light flux beams into linearly polarized light flux beams having polarizing directions which are orthogonal to each other, and delivers two linearly polarized outgoing light flux beams having polarizing directions which are orthogonal to each other and heading in directions parallel to a polarizing direction plane. One of the two outgoing light flux beams is deflected by a single mirror to have the same heading direction and polarizing direction as those of the other. The PBS is constructed by jointing together, for example, a quadrangular pyramidal prism and two triangular pyramidal prisms. A PBS film is formed at each joint interface and a surface in contact with air of each prism acts as a total reflection mirror surface. No wave plate is used to provide a compact apparatus having a high light utilization efficiency.

The present invention relates to polarization transforming optics, polarizing beam splitters (PBS's) and liquid crystal displays (LCD's) and more particularly to a polarization transforming optics, a PBS and a LCD which are suitable for applications in which polarized light is used as illumination light for a liquid crystal light valve.
Available as an LCD utilizing polarized light is, for example, a liquid crystal projector using a TN (twisted nematic) type liquid crystal light valve.
Conventionally, this type of apparatus uses a polarization transforming optics of the type in which only flux of unidirectional, linearly polarized light is derived from flux of unpolarized light from a light source by means of a polarizer such as a polarizer plate made of polyvinyl alcohol or PBS to illuminate the liquid crystal light valve, and the attainable utilization efficiency of light is 50% even at its maximum.
Contrary to this, an LCD has been proposed including a polarization transforming optics in which light flux from a light source is separated by using a PBS into two linearly polarized light flux beams heading in directions which are orthogonal to each other and the polarizing plane of at least one of the two linearly polarized light flux beams is rotated so that the direction of linear polarization of the one linearly polarized light flux beam may coincide with that of the other linearly polarized light flux beam. Then, the two light flux beams delivered from the polarization transforming optics are used as illumination light for a liquid crystal light valve to obtain a light utilization efficiency which is 50% or more.
An example of the conventional PBS will be detailed below. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a conventional PBS 60. In the PBS 60, triangle pole prisms 61 and 62 each having right-angled isosceles triangular base are jointed together to form a cubic shape as a whole. Each of the triangle pole prisms 61 and 62 is the same as a so-called right-angled prism or triangular prism. Formed at a joint interface between the triangle pole prisms 61 and 62 is a PBS film 63 which is an optical multi-layer thin film.
A polarizing separation operation will be described by referring to an instance where flux of light 9 heading in the x direction of Cartesian coordinates shown in the figure impinges upon the PBS 60, on the assumption that the incident light flux 9 is unpolarized light containing equally a polarized component 9y in the y direction and a polarized component 9z in the z direction, and that the incident light flux 9 has a cross-sectional form which is square like each side of the cube. The incident light flux 9 reaches the PBS film 63 by which it is split into two beams of linearly polarized outgoing light flux 64 and 65 having polarizing directions which are mutually orthogonal. More specifically, the P polarized outgoing light flux 64 transmitting through the PBS film 63 and heading in the x direction contains only a y-direction polarized component 64y corresponding to the polarized component 9y of the incident light flux 9 and the S polarized outgoing light flux 65 reflected by the PBS film 63 and heading in y direction contains only a z-direction polarized component 65z corresponding to the polarized component 9z of the incident light flux 9. Of the two beams of outgoing light flux 64 and 65 heading in a plane parallel to the xy plane, the outgoing light flux 64 has the polarized component 64y which is parallel to the xy plane but the outgoing light flux 65 has the polarized component 65z which is vertical to the xy plane.
Therefore, in order to realize a polarization transforming optics by using the conventional PBS 60, there is needed, in addition to a mirror for deflecting and transforming the heading direction of at least one of the two beams of outgoing light flux 64 and 65 into the heading direction of the other, an optical element for rotating the polarizing plane of at least one of the two beams of outgoing light flux 64 and 65 to transform the linear polarization direction of the one outgoing light flux into that of the other outgoing light flux.
In connection with the conventional polarization transforming optics using the PBS, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Nos. Sho 61-90584, Sho 63-168622, Sho 63-271313, Hei 2-39084, Hei 2-69715, Hei 2-189504, Hei 2-239219 or Eurodisplay '90 (Holland) Lecture No. 2.6, for example, disclose a proposed polarization transforming optics which uses a PBS, a 1/2 wave plate or two 1/4 wave plates and a mirror. The PBS takes part in polarizing separation, the 1/2 wave plate or two 1/4 wave plates take part in rotation of a polarizing plane and the mirror takes part in deflection of a heading direction.
Also, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Nos. Sho 61-122626, Sho 61-126516, Sho 63-168626 or Hei 2-93580, a polarization transforming optics has been proposed which uses a PBS, a 1/4 wave plate and a mirror. The PBS takes part in polarizing separation, the 1/4 wave plate in rotation of a polarizing plane and the mirror in deflection of a heading direction.
Further, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Sho 63-197913, Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-open No. Hei 1-88902, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei 2-64613, The Institute of Electronic Information and Communication Engineers of Japan, 1st Year of Heisei, Autumn Nationwide Meeting Lecture, Summary C-34 or "Flat Panel Display", '91, pp 225-231, a polarization transforming optics has been proposed which uses a PBS and two or more mirrors. The PBS has the polarizing separation function and the two or more mirrors have the heading direction deflecting function and the polarizing plane rotating function.
It is to be noted that the use of a mirror or a prism for deflection of an optical axis and rotation of an image is known in the art. For example, Optical Engineering Handbook, pp 518-519 shows that an amici prism having two mirror surfaces functions to rotate an image. Since the polarizing plane rotates concomitantly with the image rotation, it is known that two or more mirrors have the function of rotating the polarizing plane.
However, the prior art polarization transforming optics using the PBS faces problems as below.
The polarization transforming optics using the PBS, the 1/2 wave plate or two 1/4 wave plates and the mirror, disclosed in, for example, the aforementined Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Sho 61-90584 includes, in addition to the PBS of a cubic form, one right-angled prism having half the volume of the PBS and a wave plate in the form of a flat plate. When the volume of the wave plate having a small thickness is neglected, the polarization transforming optics has a volume which is 1.5 times the cubic form of the PBS and so can be relatively compact. In the wave plate, however, the phase difference of birefringence has great dependency upon wavelength and hence the utilization efficiency of light is degraded when white light is incident on the wave plate. For example, the aforementioned Eurodisplay '90 (Holland) Lecture No. 2.6 shows that while the ideal light utilization efficiency is twice the conventional light utilization efficiency which is 50%, the actually obtained light utilization efficiency is only 1.34 to 1.5 times the conventional 50% light utilization efficiency. In addition, when the optics is applied to a projection type LCD, flux of light from a light source is very high in intensity of illumination and therefore light-proof capability of the wave plate is a matter of importance.
The polarization transforming optics using the PBS, 1/4 wave plate and mirror, disclosed in, for example, the aforementioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Sho 61-122626 includes, in addition to the cubic PBS, the 1/4 wave plate and a planar reflector. When the volume of the wave plate and planar reflector each having a small thickness is neglected, the polarization transforming optics has a volume which corresponds to one cube of the PBS and so can have a minimum size. However, because of the use of the wave plate as in the case of the just above-described prior art, there occur problems of degradation in light utilization efficiency and light-proof capability of the wave plate. Especially, in the aforementioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Sho 61-90584, only one of the two beams of synthesized light flux passes once through the wave plate but the other does not. Contrary to this, in the prior art of '26, one of the two beams of synthesized light flux passes once through the 1/4 wave plate once and the other passes through three times. Accordingly, in comparison with the prior art of '84, the degradation in the light utilization efficiency is aggravated. In addition, intensity of illumination light incident on the wave plate further increases, making the problem of light-proof capability of the wave plate more serious.
The polarization transforming optics using the PBS and the two or more mirrors, disclosed in, for example, the aforementioned Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-open No. Hei 1-88902 includes, in addition to the cubic PBS, four right-angled prisms each having a volume which is half the volume of the PBS. The rotation of the polarizing plane is effected using a total reflection surface of the right-angled prism, with the result that the light utilization efficiency is higher than that of the prior art using the wave plate and the problem of light-proof capability does not occur. But, in addition to the cubic PBS the four right-angled prisms each having a volume which is half the volume of the PBS are also used and consequently a total volume is three times the cubic volume, resulting in an increased size which is two to three times the size of the prior art using the wave plate. Accordingly, an LCD using the polarization transforming optics is also increased in size. Further, as the size of the prism increases, a large glass material is required for use as the prism, raising the cost. Especially, in order to obtain a PBS having an excellent polarization capability (contrast ratio) for incident white light, a glass material having a larger refractive index than that of BK7 must be used. But such a glass material is in general more expensive than BK7 and because of a large amount of the material being used, the cost is raised drastically.
The aforementioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Sho 63-197913 shows the polarization transforming optics using the PBS and the two mirrors. Assumptively, when right-angled prisms are used in place of the mirrors, two right-angled prisms each having a volume which is half the volume of the cubic PBS are used in addition to the PBS and a relatively small total volume results which is twice the cubic volume. But, two beams of light flux delivered from the polarization transforming optics are displaced from each other by a width of each light flux beam in both the longitudinal direction (z direction) and lateral direction (x direction) and there results a synthesized light flux having a cross-sectional form which is not rectangular, demonstrating unsuitability of the polarization transforming optics for an LCD using a rectangular liquid crystal light valve. Conceivably, the mirrors may be inclined to cause heading directions of the two light flux beams to be deflected inwards by the same angle, so that the two light flux beams intersect with each other to provide light suitable for illumination of the liquid crystal light valve. In this case, however, the displacement between the two light flux beams is large amounting up to about 1.41 times the width of each light flux and consequently the deflection angle must be increased, with the result that the incident angle to the liquid crystal light valve is increased to degrade the contrast performance. If a color separation/synthesis optical system of, for example, dichroic mirrors is interposed between the liquid crystal light valve and polarization transforming optics, the incident angle to these mirrors is also increased to degrade color purity and aggravate color shading.
In the polarization transforming optics of the aforementioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Nos. Sho 61-90584, Sho 61-122626 and so on, because of the use of the wave plate, the light utilization efficiency is degraded and the problem of light-proof capability is raised and in the polarization transforming optics of the aforementioned Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-open No. Hei 1-88902, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Sho 63-197913 and so on, the two or more mirrors are needed in addition to the PBS. Especially, in an application to an LCD, the distance between optical axes of the two beams of light flux delivered from the PBS has to be reduced, thus requiring at least four mirrors. Accordingly, the size of the optical system is increased and the size of a glass material used therefor is also increased, raising the cost.

Polarization transforming optics, polarizing beam splitter and liquid crystal display


A communication system according to the present invention includes a plurality of ad hoc communication networks each formed by one or more communication units and one gateway and includes a monitoring server that monitors the ad hoc communication networks. The monitoring server determines on the basis of a monitoring result of load states of the gateways and a monitoring result of a congestion state of radio traffic whether it is necessary to carry out load distribution control for moving a communication unit subordinate to a first gateway to be subordinate to a second gateway set around the first gateway and, when determining that it is necessary to carry out the load distribution control, instructs at least one gateway of the first gateway and the second gateway to broadcast-deliver a signal including control information and instructing reselection of a gateway set as a participation destination.

In recent years, a form for applying, as a network infrastructure for various kinds of automatic metering for electricity, water service, and gas, ad hoc communication in which a plurality of communication units communicate with one another by radio and multi-hop to form a wide area network has been examined. By using the ad hoc communication, it is possible to realize an automatic metering system that covers a wide range area while suppressing facility costs (see Non Patent Literature 1)
In route establishment in the ad hoc communication, a network is built by exchanging route information among radio communication terminals (the communication units). A plurality of systems for means for exchanging the route information and the route establishment (a routing protocol) are examined and standardized by an IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) (see Non Patent Literatures 2 and 3).
In the automatic metering system, a job application for performing collecting of meter reading data and monitoring and control of the network is operated through the ad hoc communication network infrastructure. However, it is unrealistic from the viewpoints of the number of multi-hops and collection traffic to provide the network infrastructure from the communication unit to a job server (a server that collects meter reading data) in a data center through the ad hoc communication of the same radio media. Therefore, a system model is assumed in which distributedly-arranged gateways, which relay the ad hoc communication network and an existing IP network, perform communication medium conversion and protocol conversion to thereby enable communication between the job server and the communication units.

Communication system and automatic metering system


A method for programming a flash memory device includes applying a program bias to a memory cell of a plurality of memory cells within a memory cell string. Each memory cell string comprises a source select line, a plurality of memory cells and a drain select line. A first pass bias is applied to at least one of the memory cells in a source select line direction relative to the memory cell to which the program bias has been applied. A second pass bias is applied to the memory cells in a drain select line direction relative the memory cell(s) to which the first pass bias has been applied.

The present invention relates to flash memory devices and, more particularly, to a method for programming a flash memory device, which prevents interference between memory cells when the memory cells are programmed.
A memory cell array of a NAND flash memory device includes a plurality of memory cell strings connected to bit lines. Each of the memory cell strings includes a drain select transistor, a plurality of memory cells and a source select transistor. A gate terminal of each of the memory cells is connected to a word line, and operates in response to a signal received from the bit line and the word line.
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional method for programming a flash memory device. The flash memory device includes memory cell string having seven memory cells. The method for programming the flash memory device is performed such that electrons move to a floating gate in a channel of a memory cell. The memory cell may be selected by Fowler Nordheim (FN) tunneling.
A voltage applied to word lines WL0 to WL6 while programming the memory cell string is at least 15 V. A selected memory cell string in which the selected memory cell is included is maintained at 0 V. The 0 V at the selected memory cell string increases the potential difference between the word lines and the channel by a maximum amount, thereby facilitating FN tunneling.
When a memory cell string has not been programmed, (i.e., an unselected memory cell string) electrons are not moved by FN tunneling. Thus, the potential difference between the word lines and the channel is minimized. When memory cell string is programmed, a negative potential exists at the floating gate even though a high word line voltage is applied. Accordingly, the potential at the channel is significantly decreased and lowers a channel boosting potential level.
A conventional method of maintaining the channel at a high boosting potential level applies a high gate voltage to all unselected word lines. However, the load of a flash memory device maintains a high word line voltage, and a pass disturb phenomenon (i.e., an incomplete program phenomenon) occurs at unselected memory cell strings resulting in unreliable memory devices.

Method for programming a flash memory device


Disclosed are a method for cleaning a substrate, an apparatus for cleaning a substrate, and a method for fabricating a semiconductor device using the same. The method may include cleaning a substrate in a wet process, providing a supercritical fluid onto the substrate to remove moisture from the substrate, and cleaning the substrate in a dry process to remove defect particles from a substrate, which are produced by the supercritical fluid.

In general, a semiconductor device is fabricated by a plurality of unit processes. The unit processes include a deposition process, a lithography process, an etching process, and a cleaning process. The cleaning process is performed to remove a contamination material (e.g., particles) from a surface of a substrate. The cleaning process is classified into a wet cleaning process and a dry cleaning process. In the wet cleaning process, for example, a chemical solution is used to remove particles from the substrate. In the dry cleaning process, for example, plasma is used to clean the substrate.

Substrate cleaning method, substrate cleaning apparatus, and method for fabricating a semiconductor device using the apparatus


A novel fluorine-containing copolymer elastomer having bromine groups as cross-linkable groups, which comprises about 45 to about 80% by mole of tetrafluoroethylene, about 50 to about 20% by mole of a perfluoro(vinylether) represented by the following general formula: EQU CF.sub.2 .dbd.CFO(CF.sub.2).sub.2 (OCF.sub.2)nOCF.sub.3. where n is an integer of 1 to 5, and about 0.2 to about 5% by mole of a bromine-containing unsaturated monomer compound, sum total being 100% by mole, gives vulcanization products having distinguished resistances to chemicals, low temperature and heat.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fluorine-containing copolymer elastomer, a process for producing the same and a composition containing the same, and more particularly to a novel fluorine-containing copolymer elastomer having bromine groups as cross-linkable groups, which can give vulcanization products having distinguished resistances to chemicals, low temperature and heat, a process for producing the same and a composition containing the same.
2. Description of Related Art
Fluorine-containing elastomers prepared by copolymerization of tetrafluoroethylene with perfluoro(methyl vinyl ether) have distinguished resistances to chemicals and heat, and thus are used as various machine parts such as O-rings, diaphragms, etc. at positions requiring higher resistances to chemicals and heat. However, these fluorine-containing elastomers have a poor resistance to low temperature and accordingly are not applicable to positions requiring a resistance to low temperature.
To improve the resistance to low temperature, while maintaining high resistances to chemicals and heat, it was proposed to replace the CF.sub.3 group of perfluoro(methyl vinyl ether) CF.sub.2 .dbd.CFOCF.sub.3 with a perfluoroalkyl group having an ether bond.
One known example thereof is copolymerization of tetrafluoroethylene with a compound having the following general formula: EQU CF.sub.2 .dbd.CFOCF.sub.2 CF(CF.sub.3)O!nC.sub.3 F.sub.7
as disclosed in JP-B-61-57324, JP-B-62-34246, JP-B-63-25003, JP-A-60-23407, etc., where no improvement of the resistance to low temperature as desired for the copolymer was obtained without the n value larger from the viewpoint of molecular structure, whereas a larger n value made the molecular weight larger and consequently considerably lowered the polymerizability. This was a serious disadvantage.
To improve the resistance to low temperature, it was also proposed to add a plasticizer such as a perfluoropolyether compound represented by the following general formula: EQU RfOCF(CF.sub.3)CF.sub.2 O!nRf'
where Rf and Rf' each are a perfluoroalkyl group, to the fluorine rubber. Addition of such a plasticizer improve the resistance to low temperature of fluorine rubber vulcanization products, but the plasticizer tend to bleed out of the vulcanization product surfaces and dissipate when used under high temperature conditions for a long time, and thus the resistance to low temperature is gradually lost. Even at a relatively low service temperature, dissipation of the plasticizer is not negligible under high vacuum conditions.
Furthermore, the resistance to low temperature can be improved by blending with other elastomer having a good resistance to low temperature, for example, fluorosilicone rubber, but the preferable proper characteristics such as resistance to chemicals will be deteriorated.

Copolymer elastomer, process for producing the same and composition containing the same


A sensor-based item transport system, and a method therefore are described. The system includes, for example, a cart station, within a restricted area including a plurality of automated drive. A light curtain is adjacent to the cart station. A first sensor and a second sensor are spaced apart from the first sensor within the cart station. A first mode associated with the light curtain is maintained causing an alarm system associated with the light curtain to remain armed. The first mode is caused to change to a second mode associated with the light curtain, the second mode causing the alarm system to be muted, based at least in part on the identity of the cart. The identity is determined based at least in part on one or more signals received from the first sensor and the second sensor.

Modern shipment systems, such as those in sort systems, mail order warehouses, supply chain distribution centers, airport luggage systems, and custom-order manufacturing facilities, often utilize mobile robotic devices to move items and/or storage containers within a workspace. Coordinating tasks between the various components of these systems can be cumbersome. As shipment systems grow, the challenges of simultaneously completing a large number of relocating, storing, and other shipment-related tasks utilizing these components becomes non-trivial. In systems tasked with responding to large numbers of diverse task requests, inefficient utilization of system resources, including space and equipment can result in lower throughput, unacceptably long response times, an ever-increasing backlog of unfinished tasks, and, in general, poor system performance.


The present invention discloses a butterfly valve including: a valve body, an inner valve seat, a valve core, a valve stem and at least one positioning ring. The valve body has an inlet end, an outlet end, and an axial passage communicating with the inlet end and the outlet end. A valve stem mounting hole is provided between the inlet end and the outlet end in the valve body. The valve body further is provided with a valve seat mounting portion in the axial passage at a position corresponding to the valve stem mounting hole. The inner valve seat is fixedly mounted to the valve seat mounting portion, which is cylindrical and is provided with radial through hole in the side wall corresponding to the valve stem. the valve core is plate-shaped and mounted in the inner valve seat, a radial through hole is provided therein. The valve stem passes through the valve stem mounting hole, the radial through hole of the inner valve seat and the radial through hole of the valve core. The positioning ring is mounted in the valve body at an axial side of the inner valve seat and form a hermetic connection with the inner valve seat. The butterfly valve of this invention has good tightness.

The opening way of the existing butterfly valve is that the middle shaft of the valve core rotates, which drives both sides of the valve core to rotate to open, and the tightness of the valve is usually poor. Especially when the butterfly valve is mainly made of plastic, its tightness will be worse after high temperature sterilization.


An algorithm and architecture are disclosed for performing multi-argument associative operations. The algorithm and architecture can be used to schedule operations on multiple facilities for computations or can be used in the development of a model in a modeling environment. The algorithm and architecture resulting from the algorithm use the latency of the components that are used to process the associative operations. The algorithm minimizes the number of components necessary to produce an output of multi-argument associative operations and also can minimize the number of inputs each component receives.

Several conventional architectures exist for calculating an output of multi-argument associative operations. An associative operation is an operation that can process inputs in any order. For example, mathematical operations that are associative operations include, but are not limited to addition, subtraction and multiplication. Associative properties are maintained when performing certain combinations of operations, such as addition and subtraction, but associative properties are not maintained when performing other combinations of operations, such as addition and multiplication. The conventional architectures include components for implementing operators that perform the associative operations. An operator performs a function on two or more operands or inputs and can, for example, perform the mathematical operation of addition.
One example of a conventional architecture is a serial architecture. Using the serial architecture, only one component is necessary despite the number of inputs (N). Assuming that it takes one clock cycle to perform the operation on two operands, the number of cycles necessary to calculate the output of the multi-argument associative operations is equal to the number of inputs minus one (i.e., the number of Cycles=N−1). FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a serial architecture 100 that receives four inputs. To calculate the output 190, the serial architecture calculates a first output (not shown) using a first input 102 and a second input 104 in a first cycle. The serial architecture 100 then calculates a second output (not shown) using the first output and a third input 106 in a second cycle. Using the second output and a fourth input 108, the serial architecture calculates the output 190 in a third cycle. Thus, for a multi-argument associative operation that has four inputs, the serial architecture 100 requires three cycles to calculate the output. If the serial architecture had eight inputs, the serial architecture would require seven cycles to calculate the output. In this manner, a serial architecture calculates the output of a multi-argument associative operation in series.
Another conventional architecture is a tree or parallel architecture. For a multi-argument associative operation that has a number of inputs that is greater than two, the tree architecture uses multiple components to calculate the output of the operation. The components in the tree architecture can operate in stages such that all components in the same stage operate during the same cycle.
For a multi-argument associative operation that has N inputs, the number of cycles required to calculate the output is equal to log2(N), assuming it takes one clock cycle per operation. FIG. 2 illustrates a tree architecture 200 for a multi-argument associative operation that has eight inputs. The tree architecture has a first stage 202, a second stage 204 and a third stage 206.
The first stage 202 includes a first component 210, a second component 220, a third component 230, and a fourth component 240. The first component 210 receives a first input 212 and a second input 214 and produces a first output 216. The second component 220 receives a third input 222 and a fourth input 224 and produces a second output 226. The third component 230 receives a fifth input 232 and a sixth input 234 and produces a third output 236. The fourth component 240 receives a seventh input 242 and an eighth input 244 and produces a fourth output 246. Each of the components 210, 220, 230 and 240 calculates each output 216, 226, 236 and 246, respectively, during a first cycle.
The second stage 204 includes a component 250 and a component 260. The component 250 receives the first output 216 and the second output 226 from components 210 and 220, respectively, and produces an fifth output 256. The component 260 receives the third output 236 and the fourth output 246 from components 230 and 240, respectively, and produces a sixth output 266. Each of the components 250 and 260 calculates each output 256 and 266 during a second cycle.
The third stage 206 includes a component 270 that receives the fifth output 256 and the sixth output 266 from the components 250 and 260, respectively, and produces an output 280 during a third cycle.
In yet another conventional architecture, the tree architecture is combined with the serial architecture to form a serial/tree architecture. The serial/tree architecture attempts to take advantage of the smaller number of cycles required by the tree architecture and the smaller number of components required by the serial architecture. FIG. 3 illustrates a serial/tree architecture 300 for a multi-argument associative operation that has eight inputs. The serial/tree architecture 300 has a first stage 302 and a second stage 304.
The first stage 302 includes a component 310 and a component 350. The component 310 receives a first input 312, a second input 314, a third input 316, and a fourth input 318 and produces a first output 320. The component 350 receives a fifth input 352, a sixth input 354, a seventh input 356, and an eighth input 358, and produces a second output 360. The components 310 and 350 each calculate a first preliminary output (not shown) using the first and second inputs 312 and 314 and the fifth and sixth inputs 352 and 354, respectively. After calculating the first preliminary output the component 310 calculates a second preliminary output (not shown) using the first preliminary output and the third input 316 during a second cycle. The component 350 also calculates a second preliminary output (not shown) using the first preliminary output and the seventh input 356 during the second cycle. On a third cycle, the components 310 and 350 each calculate an output 320 and 360, respectively. The component 310 calculates the output 320 using the second preliminary output and the fourth input 318 and the component 350 calculates the output 360 using the second preliminary output and the eighth input 358. The outputs 320 and 360 are used by the second stage of the serial/tree architecture to calculate the output 380 of the multi-argument associative operations. In this manner, the second stage 304 includes a third component 370 that receives the first output 320 and the second output 360 and produces an output 380 in a fourth cycle.
Comparing the serial/tree architecture to the tree architecture it is observed that the serial tree/architecture provides a reduction in the number of components required to calculate an output of a multi-argument associative operation, but it requires more cycles.
The conventional architectures for calculating an output of multi-argument associative operations do not efficiently use the latency of the components, while minimizing the number of components required to calculate an output. For example, the tree architecture minimizes the number of cycles necessary to calculate the output, but uses a large number of components to do it and the serial architecture minimizes the number of components, but requires the number of cycles to be one less than the number of inputs. While the serial/tree architecture provides a compromise between the tree and serial architecture, the serial/tree architecture does not fully take advantage of the latency of the components. By minimizing the number of components that are used to implement multi-argument associative operations, it is possible to reduce the area required to implement the associative operations as well as the cost of implementing the multi-argument associative operations. Further, by minimizing the number of components that are used, a reduction in the complexity of implementing the associative operations can be realized. An algorithm and architecture are therefore desired that minimizes the number of components required to calculate the output of multi-argument associative operations by using the latency of the components.

Algorithm and architecture for multi-argument associative operations that minimizes the number of components using a latency of the components


The present invention discloses a process to produce staggered dent profiled material sheets in response to the application of either excess pressure or underpressure. A rectangular, staggered dent-profiled structure is achieved when a material sheet, in curved form, is supported by regularly spaced-apart support elements and then excess pressure or underpressure is applied. As a result of the pressure dents appear on the material sheet in the direction of the support elements as well as by self-organization. Hexagonal dent profiled structures are generated when flexible support elements are used. The dent profiling can result from a semi-continuous or continuous operation. Segment-wise dent profiling can be achieved when the material sheet is successively bent in peripheral direction over a segment of regularly spaced-apart support elements and then dent profiled under pressure. Continuous operation is achieved when only a small segment, comprising of two or more individual dents, is successively dented in peripheral direction. The continuous operation occurs because the material sheet repeatedly dent profiles itself over the entire surface of the material sheet, thus permitting continuous dent-profiling. The resulting dent-profiling of the present invention enhances many beneficial characteristics of the material sheets, such as stiffness, smoothness, heat transfer, and acoustic qualities, without requiring use of a sophisticated mold or complex machinery.

This is a U.S. national stage patent application based on International Patent Application PCT/EP94/01043, filed on Apr. 3, 1994 and claiming priority dates of Apr. 6, 1993 (filing date of German patent DE 43-11978-C1) and Jan. 25, 1994 (filing date of German patent DE 44-01974-A1).
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention discloses method and apparatus for a dent stiffening process for sheet material or foil in which the wall is curved at regular distances.
2. Background Art
For economic and material reduction purposes thin-walled equipment or components are required in numerous technical applications which nevertheless have to have good strength, or shape stability. As these equipment are often component parts utilized in energy and environmental related applications, the walls should ideally have favorable inflow and heat-transmission properties. For weight and economic reasons, thin-walled and dimensionally stable constructions are also required in the packaging, design, interior fittings and building trades. In addition to structural rigidity, foil or thin-walled equipment should also have good optical features.
There are numerous known deformation processes which produce thin-walled materials with an increased structural rigidity. A well-known example is the beaded seam in cans or drums. Beads have the disadvantage that they only achieve a one-dimensional structural rigidity. When a multi-dimensional structural rigidity is required, the process requires sophisticated multi-dimensional matrix molds.
One drawback of the present profiling technology is that normally the wall deformation is achieved by mechanical means, where rolling or impressing is applied, or by hydraulic means, where pressure is put on a matrix. This alters the wall thickness while the original smooth wall surface quality is degraded. Only when the mold has a smooth surface, which normally means that its manufacture was very sophisticated, can a smooth surface of the deformed wall be achieved.
It is known from published German patent application # DE-OS 25 57 215 that there is a hydraulic molding technology in which thin-walled tubes or cylindrical containers obtain a uniformly staggered dent structure. According to that patent, the interior cylindrical walls are supported by thrust rings or a helix and then excess pressure is externally applied to achieve the dent deformation. In this type of hydraulic profiling technology, which is quasi-exempt from mechanical contact, a high quality surface finish is achieved. The uniformly staggered dent structure of the tube walls results in an increase in the rigidity compared to the non-deformed smooth wall.
This hydraulic dent profiling process does, however, have considerable disadvantages. As this process is limited to tube and cylinder walls, it is not possible to produce large dent-profiled sheet metal or foil with variable, geometric dimensions in the dented structure. Another disadvantage of this dent profiling process is that in order to bend sheet metal into a cylindrical form with perfect roundness, the two-cylinder rounding machining, which is the best known method, is used. (In this method, sheet metal is rolled over a rigid roller, which presses on a flexible bottom roller. This method is described in, for example, German patent nos. 1602489, 1752001 and 1552017.) This well-known and old twin-cylinder rounding method is more suitable for the production of cylindrical building components requiring no structured walls. When structured and cylindrical components are to be manufactured by the twin-cylinder rounding method, the structured molds are expensive and the surface quality of the raw materials is severely degraded due to the strong mechanical deformation process.


An exposure apparatus for exposing a pattern of a reticle onto an object to be exposed, via a projection optical system, utilizing exposure light, includes an optical element for determining a shape of an effective light source on a predetermined surface that substantially has a Fourier transformation relationship with the reticle, a detector for detecting the shape of the effective light source and a light intensity on the object, and a corrector for correcting a variance of performance of the projection optical system, and a controller for controlling the corrector based on a detection result of the detector.

The present invention relates generally to exposure, and more particularly to an exposure apparatus and method that exposes an object, such as a single crystal substrate for a semiconductor wafer, and a glass plate for a liquid crystal display ("LCD").
Along with the recent demands for smaller and lower profile electronic devices, the finer processing of the semiconductor devices to be mounted onto these electronic devices has been increasingly demanded. For example, a design rule attempts to form a circuit pattern of 100 nm or less, and it is expected to shift to a formation of circuit patterns of 80 nm or less in the future. The mainstream photolithography technology has conventionally used a projection exposure apparatus that projects and transfers a pattern on a mask (a reticle) onto a wafer.
The minimum critical dimension to be transferred by the projection exposure apparatus (resolution) is proportionate to a wavelength of light used for exposure, and inversely proportionate to the numerical aperture of the projection optical system. Therefore, the short wavelength of the exposure light and the high NA of the projection optical system have been promoted but they are not enough to satisfy the demand for the finer processing.
Accordingly, the technology that forms an effective light source distribution optimal to a reticle pattern (or the modified illumination) has now attracted attention. The effective light source distribution is formed by driving plural elements in the illumination optical system. A driven position of each element is stored or calculated as a device parameter. The "effective light source", as used herein, means an angular distribution of the exposure light incident upon the wafer surface or a light intensity distribution on the pupil surface in the projection optical system. The effective light source distribution is formed by desirably shaping the light intensity distribution on the pupil surface in the projection optical system or a Fourier transformed surface of the reticle surface, such as a surface near the exit surface of the fly-eye lens. The modified illumination generally uses an annular illumination, a dipole illumination, a quadruple illumination, etc.
The repetitive exposures often cause absorptions of the exposure light energy and thermal deformations of the projection optical system, and a variance of its performance (such as the imaging magnification, imaging position, curvature of field, distortion, spherical aberration, and astigmatism) as a result of the heat radiation, deteriorating the imaging performance. The prior art proposes a method that includes the steps of calculating a variance amount of the exposure performance of the projection optical system using, as parameters, the total dose of the light that transmits the reticle pattern, the necessary exposure time period, and the time interval between exposures in addition to the time constant peculiar to the projection optical system, and correcting the variance amount through controls over driving of the wafer stage, driving of the projection lens, pressure between lenses, and fine adjustments of the wavelength of the exposure light. See, for example, Japanese Patent No. 3,186,011.
The exposure apparatus can, for example, previously store various correction amounts of the projection optical system corresponding to the effective light source distributions (such as the imaging magnification, imaging position, curvature of field, distortion, spherical aberration, and astigmatism during exposure), and use these correction amounts for the exposure. In exposure, it is sufficient only to select the optimal effective light source distribution for a reticle pattern, and the various correction amounts corresponding to the effective light source distribution do not have to be considered during the exposure.
The recent technology enables a diffraction optical element, such as a computer generated hologram ("CGH") to form a desired effective light source distribution, and mount, for example, the diffraction optical element that forms a new effective light source distribution, onto an exposure apparatus at an arbitrary timing.
However, an effective light source distribution formed by the newly mounted diffraction optical element may possibly deteriorate the imaging performance and yield, because the exposure apparatus does not store the corresponding correction amount.


An ammunition projectile comprising a metal jacket containing a powder-based core incompletely filling the trailing end of the jacket, and a disc overlying the trailing end of the core within the jacket, the disc being frangible by reason of a plurality of indentations in at least one face of the disc. A method is claimed.

This invention relates to gun ammunition projectiles and particularly to frangible projectiles and more particularly to frangible projectiles for use in pistol or rifle ammunition of 50 caliber or smaller.
In the art there exists a major concern relating to the danger associated with ricocheting projectiles fired from guns, especially from pistols and rifles of 50 caliber or smaller calibers. Major litigation has arisen seeking monetary recovery from law enforcement officers and/or governmental agencies as compensation from injury to a bystander or other innocent person struck by a ricocheting projectile or portion of a projectile. Also importantly, ricocheting projectiles are a very present danger to fellow law enforcement officers when gunfire erupts within a closed area, such as border patrol officers inspecting the holds of ships for contraband, etc. Further, training of law enforcement officers commonly includes participating in exercises which include entry into a "live fire house". These exercises involve rapid entry by a number of officers into a "live fire house" training building and live firing of weapons at designated targets within the building. The presence of several officers within the enclosure, each of which may be firing their weapon, generates a real danger of injury of an officer by reason of their being struck by a ricocheting portion or all of a projectile.
Projectiles of the prior art have almost exclusively included a lead core, either with or without an outer covering of the core. In either event, lead has been recognized as an environmental pollutant and is now either banned or being considered for banning, in gun ammunition projectiles. Moreover, lead projectiles tend to ricochet from many surfaces which have a hardness on the order of a hardwood or even from the ground.
Accuracy of delivery of a projectile to an intended target is of importance in any shooting situation, but is of great importance in competitive sport shooting and in certain military and/or law enforcement shooting situations. Of especial concern is the repeatability from projectile to projectile of accuracy of delivery of the projectiles to a target.
To solve both the environmental concerns and the ricochet tendency of lead projectiles, there have been developed projectiles formed from a combination of materials which are collectively frangible when the projectile strikes a solid or semi-solid target. In those instances where these newer projectiles include a core which is housed within a jacket, such as copper, brass or other metal or metal alloy, the frangibility of the jacket is of concern. For example, fragments of the jacket may ricochet off an intended or unintended target and become independent small projectiles which can be injurious to an unintended target, such as a bystander or even the shooter. Depending upon various factors such as distance, outerwear protection, size of fragment, etc., such fragments can be lethal.
The present inventor has found that dislodgement and escape of powder particulates from the trailing end of a powder-based core exposed to the heat and blast forces generated by the burning powder within the case of a round of ammunition create at least two deleterious effects.
First, the center of gravity of the projectile is altered by the loss of the dislodged powder particles. The quantity of particles dislodged is different from projectile to projectile so that there is no consistency in the degree of alteration of the center of gravity between projectiles. This unpredictable alteration of the center of gravity of the projectile causes the projectile to exhibit more or less tendency to "yaw" along its free flight path to a target, with resultant inaccuracy of delivery of the projectile to the target. This problem, in its more severe state, can actually lead to the projectile assuming a tumbling action during its free flight to a target.
Second, in those instances where the powder-based core of the projectile is incorporated into a metal jacket and the initially open end of the jacket becomes the trailing end of the projectile, upon the projectile being fired down the barrel of the weapon, the trailing end of the core is exposed to the blast of the burning gun powder held within the case in which the projectile is disposed. Unless this initially open trailing end of the jacket is closed by some means, it has been found that individual particulates of the powder-based core break away from the core and exit the unclosed open end of the jacket. Such particulates, especially when they comprise a heavy metal, such as tungsten, etc., have further been found to affect damage to the bore of the barrel of the weapon, and in some instances, affect physical injury to personnel who may be disposed adjacent the muzzle of the weapon at the time it is fired. The hazardous nature of such loose powder particulates (which may comprise a grouping of multiple individual powder particulates bound together into a larger missile) has prompted the establishment of a test for powder-based projectiles which provides a type of measure of the quantity and/or size of loose powder particulates exiting the muzzle of the weapon and striking a sheet of paper positioned substantially perpendicular to the flight path of the projectile and at a distance of about ten feet from the muzzle of the weapon. This test provides information as to the density of loose powder particles exiting the weapon, the size of individual ones or groups of particles, and their spatial relationship to the actual flight path of the projectile.
It has been proposed that prevention of the release of powder particulates from the trailing end of a jacketed powder-based projectile may be affected by incorporating within the jacket a solid metal closure disc that is placed within the jacket in overlying relationship to the trailing end of the powder-based core, and thereafter the rim of the open end of the metal jacket is folded radially inwardly of the jacket to engage and anchor the solid metal disc within the jacket. Whereas this proposed procedure can be effective to block the egress of loose powder particulates from the trailing end of the projectile, it presents a more serious problem in that the solid metal disc does not readily disintegrate when the projectile strikes a solid or semi-solid target. Rather, the solid metal disc becomes a potentially lethal missile in and of itself and therefore presents a hazard which can be more serious than the hazard associated with individual powder projectiles.

Projectile having frangible trailing end barrier and method

Doris Nebel Beal Inter Vivos Patent Trust


A system of and a method of cooling an interior of a room provided with a wall air conditioning unit has an air conditioning unit installable in a the wall of the room and having an inlet for entering of an outside air and an outlet which is open into the interior of the room, and a guide having one end connected with the output of the air conditioning unit and extending vertically upwardly from the air conditioning unit to an upper area of the room so as to release a cool air not at a level of the air conditioning unit but as the upper level of the room.

The present invention relates to a wall air conditioning system for a room.
Wall air conditioning systems for rooms are known and widely utilized. Such a system has an air conditioning unit which is mounted in a wall of the room, usually under a window and the like. Air is aspirated into the air conditioning unit, cooled and moved and supplied by a fan into the room. Since the cold air is supplied into the room from air conditioning unit, it does not move upwardly, but instead only the lower area of the room is cooled, while the area above the air conditioning unit is not cooled.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a wall air conditioning unit for a room, which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.
In keeping with these objects and with others which will become apparent hereinafter, one feature of present invention resides, briefly stated in a wall air conditioning system for a room which has an air conditioning unit installable in a the wall of the room and having an inlet for entering of an outside air and an outlet which is open into the interior of the room; and a guide having one end connected with said output of said air conditioning unit and extending vertically upwardly from said air conditioning unit to an upper area of the room so as to release a cool air not at a level of said air conditioning unit but as the upper level of the room.
When the wall air conditioning unit for a room is designed in accordance with the present invention, the cold air produced by the air conditioning unit is supplied to the upper area of the room and therefore more efficiently cools the room.
The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the present invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

System of and a method of cooling an interior of a room provided with a wall air conditioning unit


A backlight unit having improved reliability is disclosed.

1. Field of the Disclosure
This disclosure relates to a backlight unit, and more particularly, to a backlight unit having improved reliability, and a liquid crystal display (LCD) device having the backlight unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Display devices used for computer monitors or TVs include self-light emitting devices such as organic light emitting displays (OLEDs), vacuum fluorescent displays (VFDs), field emission displays (FEDs), and plasma display panels (PDPs), and non self-light emitting devices such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs). A general LCD device includes two substrates having electric field generation electrodes and a liquid crystal layer having dielectric anisotropy and interposed between the substrates. When a voltage is applied to the electric field generation electrodes, an electric field is generated in the liquid crystal layer. The strength of the electric field is adjusted by changing the voltage. Thus, a desired image is displayed by controlling transmissivity of light passing through the liquid crystal layer.
The LCD device includes a data driver externally receiving image data and generating data signals of respective pixels and supplying the generated data signals to data lines of an LCD panel, a gate driver generating a gate signal to drive pixels of the LCD panel by one line and supplying the generated gate signal to respective gate line of the LCD panel, and a backlight unit disposed on the rear surface of the LCD panel and providing light.
Cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs), external electrode fluorescent lamps (EEFLs), or light emitting diodes (LEDs) are used as a light source of a general backlight unit. Recently, the LEDs are widely used as a light source of a backlight unit due to it merits such as high light efficiency, miniaturization capability, low power consumption.
In a backlight unit having the LEDs, a printed circuit board (PCB) or a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) is arranged at an inner side of the backlight unit. A plurality of LEDs are mounted on the PCB or FPC. The LED is a combination of a red LED, a green LED, and a blue LED, respectively, emitting red, green, and blue lights. Since the backlight unit configured as above provides a white light mixed with the red, green, and blue lights to the LCD panel, the red, green, and blue LEDs emitting red, green, and blue lights, respectively, need to be controlled.

Backlight unit and liquid crystal display device having the same

Abstract: The backlight unit includes a support main formed of a mold having a rectangular frame shape, a plurality of LEDs arranged at a side of the support main, a light guide plate arranged parallel to the plurality of LEDs and converting a point light to a surface light, an optical sensor unit arranged at the other side of the support main and detecting light emitted from the plurality of LEDs, and a light incident hole formed at the other side of the support main corresponding to the optical sensor unit and guiding light output from the light guide plate to proceed toward the optical sensor unit by changing a path of the light.


The present disclosure discloses an imaging lens assembly. The imaging lens assembly includes sequentially from an object side to an image side: a first lens, having a positive refractive power; a second lens, having a negative refractive power, an object-side surface of the second lens being a convex surface, and an image-side surface of the second lens being a concave surface; a third lens, having a positive refractive power, and an image-side surface of the third lens being a convex surface; a fourth lens, having a refractive power; and a fifth lens, having a refractive power, an object-side surface of the fifth lens being a convex surface. An effective focal length f of the imaging lens assembly and an effective focal length f1 of the first lens satisfy: 5.5<f1/f<25. The imaging lens assembly has the characteristics of large aperture, high relative brightness, wide angle, and good image quality.

In addition to the development trend of high resolution, modern optical systems continually develop towards a large field-of-view and a large aperture, which can receive more information from the object side. Therefore, large field-of-view and large aperture camera lens assemblies are the trend.
In recent years, higher performance of the camera lens assemblies is required, such as a large field-of-view, a large aperture, high relative brightness, and high image quality, due to the increasing development of portable electronic products. A F-number of an existing lens assembly is typically configured as 2.0 or higher to satisfy the requirements of compact structure and high relative brightness, thereby obtaining the lens assembly having a compact structure and high optical performance. However, even higher performance of the imaging lens assembly is required with the constant development of smart phones and other portable electronic products, especially in the situations in which light is insufficient (e.g., cloudy and rainy days, dusk), or the hand is trembling. The F-number of 2.0 or higher cannot meet the even higher requirements for imaging.
Therefore, the present disclosure provides an optical system applicable to the portable electronic products and having a large aperture, high relative brightness, a wide angle, high image quality, and low sensitivity.


A microcatheter system that allows for vascular infusion into retinal veins for extended periods of time. The microcatheter system includes a flexible cannula that is inserted into the retinal vein lumen and that remains stably within the retinal vein lumen without being held by a robot, micromanipulator or similar holding devices. The microcatheter system is particularly suitable for the treatment of retinal venous occlusive disease.

Retinal vascular occlusions are a leading cause of blindness in elderly patients. While younger patients may develop this disease (referred to as papillophlebitis in younger patients), most occlusions occur in individuals over the age of 50.
A retinal vascular occlusion is characterized by a fully or partially occluded retinal vessel that limits the flow of blood through the retinal tissue. Blood is delivered to the retina through the arteries, which then lead to the capilliaries and then the venous system beginning with smaller veins and ending with larger veins, and finally to the central retinal vein. Occlusion in any of these retinal vessels leads to a build-up of pressure, which may lead to hemorrhages and also leakage of fluid and other constituents of blood.
The site of the occlusion typically occurs on the venous side and may occur in either the branch vessel (branch retinal vein occlusion—BRVO) or in the central retinal vein (central retinal vein occlusion—CRVO). The occlusion site determines the extent of the hemorrhage: a small vein branch occlusion to a quadrantic occlusion affects one fourth of the retina, a hemispheric or hemi-retinal occlusion affects one half of the retina, and a central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) affects the entire retina.
Retinal venous occlusive disease can affect vision in many ways. The retina is made up seven layers of cells that convert light signals into a neural signals. The cells that transmit to the brain are the ganglion cells. In order for the ganglion cells to function properly, they require an adequate flow of blood. When retinal vessels are blocked, the area of the retina supplied by that vessel has poor blood flow, which results in sub-optimal performance by the local ganglion cells and even death of these local ganglion cells. In some severe cases, poor blood flow resulting from retinal vascular occlusions can also lead to the development of abnormal new vessels (neovascularization). These new vessels are fragile and leak fluid and blood, which damages cells in the retina. In severe cases of neovacularization, the new abnormal blood vessels may pull on the retina, leading to retinal detachment. In very serious cases, the eye may develop neovascular glaucoma, in which fluid outflow channels in the eye are blocked, placing the eye is under very high pressure. This may result in severe vision loss, pain and even loss of the eye itself.
Although retinal venous occlusive disease is a highly prevalent disease with serious consequences, treatment options remain limited.
The Central Vein Occlusion Study provides guidelines to treat the sequelae of the venous obstruction rather than the underlying occlusive event. (""Natural history and clinical management of central retinal vein occlusion. The Central Vein Occlusion Study Group" Arch. Qphthalmol, 1997:115:486–91. Several recent efforts have had the goal to re-establish vent outflow. One such effort proposes to bypass the occluded vein by a laser or surgically-induced chorioretinal anastomosiss. (Fekrat S. de J E, Jr. "Chorioretinal venous anastomosis for central retinal vein occlusion transvitreal venipuncture" Ophthalmic Surg. Lasers, 1995; 113:456–62; McAllister I L, Constable l J. "Laser-induced chorioretinal venous anastomosis for treatment of nonischemic centrl retinal vein occlusion" Arch. Ophthalmol, 1995:113:456–62.) This approach does not attempt to re-establish the normal venous return pathway from the retina. Moreover, it has had limited success and can lead to uncontrolled choroidal neovascularization resulting in vitreous hemorrhage and tractional retinal detachment. (McAllister I L, Douglas J P, Constable l J, Yu D Y. "Laser induced chorioretinal venous anastomosis for nonischemic central retinal vein occlusion: evaluation of the complications and their risk factors" Am. J Ophthalmol, 1998; 126:219–29). Similarly, the benefit of other approaches remain unproven such as, for example, the use of platelet inhibitors (Glacet-Bernard A. Coscas G. Chabanel A, Zourdani A, Lelong F. Samama M M. "A randomized, double-masked study on the treatment of retinal vein occlusion with troxerutin" Am. J. Ophthalmol,. 1994; 118:421–29), steroids (Beaumont P E, Kang H K. "Ophthalmodynamometry and corticosteroids in central retinal vein occlusion" Aust. N. Z. J. Ophthalmol, 1994:22:271–74), hemodilution (Wolf S, Arend O, Bertram B, Remky A, Schulte K, Wald K J et al. "Hemodilution therapy in central retinal vein occlusion, One-year results of a prospective randomized study" Graefes Arch. Clin. Exp. Ophthalmol, 1994:232:33–39; Luckie A P, Wroblewski J J, Hamilton P, Bird A C, Sanders M, Slater N et al. "A randomised prospective study of outpatient haemodilution for central retinal vein obstruction" Aust N. Z. J Ophthalmol, 1996; 24:223 32), or optic nerve sheath decompression (Dev S, Buckley E G. "Optic nerve sheath decompression for progressive central retinal vein occlusion" Ophthalmic Surg. Lasers, 1999; 30:181–84).
A histopathologic study of 29 human eyes with ischemic central retinal vein occlusions concluded that the underlying cause of venous occlusions was a venous thrombosis in the region of lamina cribosa. (Green W R, Chan C C, Hutchins G M, Terry J M. "Central retinal vein occlusion: a prospective histopathologic study of 29 eyes in 28 cases" Trans. Am. Ophthalmol Soc., 1981:79:371–422). Clot dissolving drugs called thrombolytic agents exist and are used successfully on other occluded vascular networks. Because thrombolytics are effective in treating venous thrombosis elsewhere in the body, the idea of systemic administration of these drugs for the treatment of retinal venous occlusions is attractive. However, studies involving the systemic use of thrombolytics to treat central retinal vein occlusions have not been substantiated. (See, e.g. Elman M J. "Thrombolytio therapy for central retinal vein occlusion: results of a pilot study" Trans. Am. Ophthalmol Soc., 1998; 94:471–504; Kohner E M, Pettit J E, Hamilton A M, Bulpitt C J, Dollery C T. "Streptokinase in central retinal vein occlusion: a controlled clinical trial" Br. Med. J., 1976; 1:550–53; Hattenbach L O. "Systemic lysis therapy in retinal vascular occlusions" Ophthalmologe, 1998 95:568–75; Hattenbach L O, Wellermann G. Steinkarnp G W, Scharrer I, Koch F H, Ohrloff C. "Visual outcome after treatment with low-dose recombinant tissue plasminogen activator or hemodilution in ischemic central retinal vein occlusion" Ophthalmologe, 1998 95:568–75; Hattenbach L O, Wellermann G. Steinkarnp G W, Scharrer I, Koch F H, Ohrloff C. "Visual outcome after treatment with low-dose recombinant tissue plasminogen activator or hemodilution in ischemic central retinal vein occlusion" Ophthalmologica, 1999; 213; 360–66). The vasculature of the retina is unique, consisting of very long vessels emanating from and returning to a single point of entry in the optic verve. When presented with a static column of blood, thrombolytic agents delivered systemically are not able to diffuse through the vessels and arrive at the clot site in sufficient doses to dissolve the clot. If the systemic does is increased to a level that may potentially dissolve the clot, hemorrhage and other complications including stroke and death may occur. Thus, the potential promise of systemic thrombolysis must be soberly balanced with the risk of a life-threatening central nervous system or gastrointestinal hemorrhage.
An alternate method of administering thrombolytic therapy is to deliver the drug locally at or near the site of the occluded retinal vein by means of a microcatheter placed in the affected retinal vein. The idea of retinal vein catheterization for local intravascular thrombolytic delivery is not new and is found in the literature since at least 1987. (See, e.g. Allf B E, de J E, Jr. "In vivo cannulation of retinal vessels" Dev. Ophthalmol, 1987; 225:221–25; Cunha-Vaz J G, Murta J N, Proenca R D. "Micropuncture of retinal vessels" Dev. Ophthalmol, 1989; 18:90–94; Glucksberg M R, Dunn R, Glebs C P. "In vivo micropuncture of retinal vessels" Graefes Arch. Clin. Exp. Ophthalmol, 1993; 231:405–07; Weiss J N. "Treatment of central retinal vein occlusion by injection of tissue plasminogen activator into a retinal vein" Am. J Ophthalmol 1998; 126:142–44; Tang W M, Han D P. "A study of surgical approaches to retinal vascular occlusions" Arch. Ophthalmol, 2000:11 8:136–43; Weiss J N. "Retinal surgery for treatment of central retinal vein occlusion" Ophthalmic Surg. Lasers, 2000; 31:162–65). This approach has the theoretical advantage of allowing local infusion of a significantly smaller volume of a highly concentrated thrombolytic, thus reducing the systemic risk of a hemorrhage and reducing the risk of inducing a systemic fibrinolytic state.
However, the technique and instrumentation required to reliably insert a cannula into the lumen of a retinal vessel has been daunting. Further, as is the case for effective thrombolysis elsewhere in the body, the thrombolytic cascade of TPA, streptolinase or urikinase takes about 30 minutes to complete. Thus, the thrombolytic must be infused at least 30 minutes if not longer to be effective. (See. e.g. Goldhaber S Z. "Thrombolytic therapy" Adv. Intern. Med, 1999; 44:311–25; Heinz M, Theiss W. "Thrombolytic therapy of venous thromboses" Internist (Berl), 1996:37:567–73; Gulba D C, Bode C, Runge M S, Huber K. "Thrombolytic agents—an overview" Ann. Hematal, 1996; 73 Suppl 1:S9–27; Kandarpa K. "Catheter-directed thrombolysis of peripheral arterial occlusions and deep vein thrombosis" Thromb. Haemost., 1999; 82:987–96; Comerota A J, Katz M L, White J V. "Thrombolytic therapy for acute deep venous thrombosis: how much is enough?" Cardiovasc. Surg., 1996; 4:101–04).
The need for a long-term infusion into a retinal vein and the manual dexterity required to cannulate vessels of diameters as small as the retinal vein has led to the use of a rigid cannulae held in place by hand or with the use of a robot or a micromanipulator, which provide a mechanical aid to keep the instrument in place during and after the retinal venous puncture. (See. e.g. Goldhaber S Z. "Thrombolytic therapy" Adv. Intern. Med., 1999; 44:311–25; Heinz M, Theiss W. "Thrombolytic therapy of venous thromboses" Internist (Berl), 1996:37:567–73; Gulba D C, Bode C, Runge M S, Huber K. "Thrombolytic agents—an overview" Ann. Hematal., 1996; 73 Suppl 1:S9–27; Kandarpa K. "Catheter-directed thrombolysis of peripheral arterial occlusions and deep vein thrombosis" Thromb. Haemost., 1999; 82:987–96; Comerota A J, Katz M L, White J V. "Thrombolytic therapy for acute deep venous thrombosis: how much is enough?" Cardiovasc, Surg., 1996; 4:101–04; Allf B E, de J E, Jr. "In vivo cannulation of retinal vessels" Dev. Ophthalmol, 1987; 225:221–25; Cunha-Vaz J G, Murta J N, Proenca R D. "Micropuncture of retinal vessels" Dev. Ophthalmol, 1989; 18:90–94; Glucksberg M R, Dunn R, Glebs C P. "In vivo micropuncture of retinal vessels" Graefes Arch. Clin. Exp. Ophthalmol, 1993; 231:405–07; Weiss J N. "Treatment of central retinal vein occlusion by injection of tissue plasminogen activator into a retinal vein" Am. J Ophthalmol, 1998; 126:142–44).
For example, some prior attempts have concentrated on using rigid boriscilicate glass or stainless steel micropipettes held either by hand or with a mechanical micromanipulator or robot. However, performing this task by hand is difficult because the pipettes are inflexible and must be held precisely within the lumen of the vessel (approximately 0.1 mm). Human tremor and involuntary motions make this extremely difficult. Short-term canulations using a high-resolution endoscope for increased intraoperative visibility has been demonstrated (Hazma H. S., Humayun M. S., Jensen P. S., Shelly T., Shoukas A. and De Juan E., Jr. "Endoscopic guided hand-held cannulation of the retinal veins in-vivo" Invest Ophthalmol Vis. Sci. (abstract), 1999) and successful longer-term cannulations of the retinal vessels have been reported numerous times using a micromanipulator and a rigid micropipette. (Alf B. E., de Juan E., Jr. "In vivo cannulation of retinal vessels" Graefes Arch Clin. Exp. Ophthalmol, 1987; 225:21–225; Gluckberg M. R., Dunn R., Giebs C. "In vivo micropuncture of retinal vessels" Graefes Arch. Clin. Exp. Ophthalmol, 1993; 231:405–407; Jensen P. S., Grace K. W., Attariwala R., Colgate J. E., Glucksberg M. R. "Toward robot-assisted vascular microsurgery in the retina" Graefes Arch. Clin. Exp. Ophthalmol, 1997; 235:696–701; Weiss J. N., "Treatment of central retinal vein occlusion by injection of tissue plasminogen activator into a retinal vein" Am. J. Ophthalmol, 1998; 126:142–144). However, micromanipulators are complex, expensive and cumbersome to use in a surgical setting for the level of stability required. Further, micromanipulators also require that the head and eye of the patient be fixed with respect to the manipulator, typically accomplished by using eye rings, sutures, head straps, and other such physical restraints. Without such physical restraints, the infusion time allowed was relatively short (bolus injection). Further, even with such physical restraints, the rigid nature of the micropipettes used in these studies make it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to keep the tip of the pipette within the lumen of the vessel during the entire 30 minute drug delivery protocol. A micron scale motion of either the patient, the micropipette, the manipulator or the surgeon may cause the pipette to be dislodged.
Further, while these prior techniques demonstrate that vessel cannulation is possible in both laboratory and surgical settings using a mechanical manipulator (Weiss J. N., "Treatment of central retinal vein occlusion by injection of tissue plasminogen activator into a retinal vein" Am. J. Ophthalmol, 1998; 126:142–144), there is no technique to date that can be satisfactorily implemented in a surgical setting without these devices. Primary concerns are the cumbersome equipment required for cannulation and the lengthy infusion times associated with the thrombylitic therapy.
Thus, what is needed is a surgical device and method of use that allows infusion into a retinal vein for extended periods of time without the need for the surgeon, a robot, a micromanipulator or other holding devices to hold the surgical device in place during the infusion. What is further needed is a device that does not require rigidly fixating the eye to an eye ring during such long-term infusion. What is further needed is a device and method that may be suitably implemented in a surgical setting

Device and method for manual retinal vein catheterization


A device for direct liquid cooling is disclosed. The device includes a packaged assembly disposed on a substrate. The device also includes a metal channel layer having a plurality of channels disposed on top of the packaged assembly, and a top seal disposed on the metal channel layer. The top seal has at least one inlet and at least one outlet for direct liquid cooling. The metal channel layer includes copper or silver. The packaged assembly can also include silicon channels. In addition, the method of producing the device is also disclosed.

Thermal management in silicon chips having advanced integrated circuits is a rising challenge for high performance applications. Traditional approaches using high thermal conductive materials have limited cooling capability because the approaches rely on interface contact for heat dissipation. To promote faster heat dissipation, liquid cooling can be used in certain applications and various approaches based on liquid cooling techniques are being explored in the industry.

Device and method for direct liquid cooling via metal channels