There is provided a liquid discharging apparatus including: an original driving signal generation portion which generates an original driving signal based on a source signal; a driving signal generation portion which generates a driving signal based on the original driving signal; a reference voltage generation portion which generates a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage adjusted based on an adjustment signal, and supplies the voltage to the original driving signal generation portion; a piezoelectric element which is displaced as the driving signal is applied; a cavity; and a nozzle, and discharges the liquid inside the cavity as liquid droplets in accordance with the change in the internal volume of the cavity, in which adjustment resolution of the first reference voltage is lower than adjustment resolution of the second reference voltage.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a liquid discharging apparatus, a head unit, an integrated circuit device for capacitive load driving, a capacitive load driving circuit, and a manufacturing method of a liquid discharging apparatus.
2. Related Art
In a liquid discharging apparatus, such as an ink jet printer, which discharges ink and prints an image or a document, an apparatus which uses a piezoelectric element (for example, a piezo element) has been known. The piezoelectric elements are provided corresponding to each of a plurality of nozzles in a head unit, and each of the piezoelectric elements is driven in accordance with driving signals. Accordingly, a predetermined amount of ink (liquid) is discharged from the nozzle at a predetermined timing, and a dot is formed. Since the piezoelectric element is a capacitive load, such as a capacitor, in terms of electricity, it is necessary to supply a sufficient amount of current in order to operate the piezoelectric elements of each nozzle.
For this reason, in the above-described liquid discharging apparatus, the piezoelectric elements are driven as a driving signal which is amplified from a source signal for controlling the discharge input to a D/A conversion circuit, by an amplifying circuit is supplied to a head unit (ink jet head). An example of the amplifying circuit includes a type which performs current amplification with respect to a signal before the amplification by using a class-AB amplifier, and a type which performs voltage amplification by using a class-D amplifier, but the class-D amplifier is excellent in terms of energy efficiency.
In general, in order to prevent a voltage value of the driving signal from being shifted from a desired value due to unevenness in manufacturing, such as an offset of the D/A conversion circuit, or an offset or resistance of each amplifier included in the amplifying circuit, it is necessary to perform trimming. An example of a trimming method includes a method for adjusting a reference voltage (a high voltage side reference voltage and a low voltage side reference voltage) of the D/A conversion circuit in a predetermined voltage step so that the voltage value of the driving signal becomes the desired value. For example, in JP-A-2007-281776, a method for adjusting the reference voltage by using a trimming circuit for suppressing variation of the reference voltage of the D/A conversion circuit due to unevenness in manufacturing is suggested.
However, since the adjustment method suggested in JP-A-2007-281776 does not consider characteristics of the piezoelectric element, when the method is employed in adjusting the reference voltage of the D/A conversion circuit in the liquid discharging apparatus which uses the piezoelectric element as it is, there is a concern that an unnecessary increase in circuit scale or adjustment time of the circuit is caused.

Liquid discharging apparatus, head unit, integrated circuit device for capacitive load driving, capacitive load driving circuit, and manufacturing method of liquid discharging apparatus


A perpendicular magnetic recording head and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The perpendicular magnetic recording head that includes a main pole, a return yoke, and coils that surround upper and lower parts of the main pole in a solenoid shape so that the main pole generates a magnetic field for recording information onto a recording medium, wherein a portion of the coils that pass above the main pole comprises a plurality of first coils and at least one second coil having a cross-sectional shape different from that of the first coils, and the second coil is formed across upper regions of two first coils adjacent to each other among the first coils.

1. Field of the Invention
Apparatuses and methods consistent with the present invention relate to a perpendicular magnetic recording head and a method of manufacturing the same, and more particularly, to a perpendicular magnetic recording head having an improved high frequency characteristic by reducing the inductance thereof, and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Magnetic recording methods can be classified into longitudinal magnetic recording methods and perpendicular magnetic recording methods. In a longitudinal magnetic recording method, information is recorded based on the magnetization direction of a magnetic layer that is parallel to a surface of the magnetic layer, and in a perpendicular magnetic recording method, information is recorded based on the magnetization direction of a magnetic layer that is perpendicular to the surface of the magnetic layer. In terms of recording density, the perpendicular magnetic recording method is superior to the longitudinal magnetic recording method, and thus, various perpendicular magnetic recording heads have been developed.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a related art perpendicular magnetic recording head 10. Referring to FIG. 1, the related art perpendicular magnetic recording head 10 includes a recording head unit that includes a main pole 22, a return yoke 24, a sub-yoke 28, and a coil 26 and a read head unit that includes two magnetic shield layers 30 and a magnetic resistance device 15 interposed between the two magnetic shield layers 30. The coil 26 surrounds the main pole 22 and the sub-yoke 28 in a solenoid shape, and when a current is applied to the coil 26, the main pole 22, the sub-yoke 28, and the return yoke 24 form a magnetic path of the magnetic field. The magnetic path that proceeds towards a recording medium (not shown) from the main pole 22 magnetizes a recording layer of the recording medium in a perpendicular direction and returns to the return yoke 24 and thus, recording is performed. The magnetic resistance device 15 can read information recorded in the recording medium by the characteristics of changing electrical resistance by a magnetic signal generated from the magnetization of the recording layer.
In the perpendicular magnetic recording head 10, the return yoke 24 is formed according to the shape of an insulating layer 27 that covers the coil 26. The shape of the insulating layer 27 is naturally formed in a process of spin coating a photoresist for covering the entire coil 26 and hard baking the photoresist. The length L and height H of the insulating layer 27 formed between the return yoke 24 and the main pole 22 directly affect the shape of the return yoke 24, and also determines the total length of the magnetic path. The length of the magnetic path directly affects the inductance of the perpendicular magnetic recording head 10, and the longer the magnetic path is, the higher the inductance is. Also, to increase the recording density, a high frequency current is applied to the coil 26. However, since the main pole 22, the return yoke 24, and the sub-yoke 28 are generally formed of a magnetic material having electrical conductivity, an eddy current is generated at high frequency. The eddy current causes a further increase in the inductance at high frequency. Accordingly, the inductance increases a rise time of a magnetic field with respect to a current, that is, the inductance generates an interval between the time when a current is applied to the coil 26 and the time when the recording magnetic field is formed in the main pole 22. The time interval causes thermal noise, and thus, reduces the high frequency characteristics of the perpendicular magnetic recording head 10. Therefore, it is needed to design a perpendicular magnetic recording head having reduced inductance in order to achieve high density recording.

Perpendicular magnetic recording head having coil portions above a main pole and provided with different cross-sectional shapes and method of manufacturing the same


Provided is a backup power supply comprising at least one DC/DC power electrically connected to a DC power source for taking DC current therefrom prior to providing regulated DC current, at least one AC/DC power electrically connected to an AC power source for taking AC current therefrom prior to providing rectified DC current, and a power control device including a power balance unit, a power output circuit, and a detection circuit each interconnected the AC/DC power and the DC/DC power. The power control device can combine DC current from both the AC/DC power and the DC/DC power prior to providing to an electronic device (e.g., computer). The invention can continue providing electricity to the computer in the event of not only a malfunctioning of the AC/DC or DC/DC power but also a power outage of either the AC or DC power source.

Conventionally, the power supply plays a key role in maintaining a stable and normal operation of a computer. Moreover, many computer components or peripherals (e.g., hard disk drive, CPU, CD-R, etc.) have a demand for high electricity quality (i.e., stable power supply) as technology makes progress rapidly. It is understood that an unstable power can lower the performance of a power supply and its connected equipment. Failure of an AC power source can cause, for example, a computer to shut down suddenly and losing the data that a user is working on. This is not desirable and is even disastrous in certain cases.
For solving the problem caused by a power outage, a conventional backup power supply is available. The power supply comprises a plurality of parallel powers. As such, the power supply can continue providing electricity to an electronic device in the event of a power failure of any one of them (i.e., operative powers continue providing electricity). A power supply can be classified as a DC/DC power connected to a DC power source and an AC/DC power connected to an AC power source based on the form of electricity conversion.
In one example, an available backup power supply comprises a plurality of parallel AC/DC powers connected to an AC power source. As such, the power supply can continue providing electricity to an electronic device in the event of a power failure of any one of them (i.e., operative powers continue providing electricity). However, all powers will stop operating immediately if the power failure is not caused by the malfunctioning of one power but due to interrupt an external power source. For solving this problem, many types of uninterruptible power supply (UPS) are available. The UPS can continuously provide electricity to an electronic device (e.g., a computer) in the event of a power failure. Unfortunately, however, the computer may stop operating immediately and lose the data that a user was working on. This is because the startup time of a UPS is relatively longer than the time required for maintaining a normal operation of a computer. That is, it is typical for a user to restart the computer in response to the power outage. This really bothers computer users.
In another example, an available backup power supply comprises a plurality of parallel DC/DC powers connected to a DC power source. The DC power source is comprised of a plurality of rechargeable batteries. As compared with an AC power source, a user may regularly charge the batteries in consideration of the power consumption of a connected electronic device (e.g., computer). However, electrical charge storing capability of a battery may lower gradually as the times of use increases. It is often that the determination of the capacity of a battery by a user is not correct. In one example, a consumed battery cannot maintain a normal operation of a computer. Moreover, the battery capacity is limited. A user has to continually buy many batteries for maintaining a normal operation of a computer. This is a huge investment and is not cost effective.
Thus, it is desirable to provide a novel backup power supply system in order to overcome the above drawbacks of prior art.

Backup power supply with parallel AC power source and DC power source


A movement detector device consumes less power and provides a high detection reliability. The teeth on a rotating gear are magnetically detected. There are a number of interconnected magneto-resistors MR1 through MRi connected in series, with the series circuit connected between a power supply line and a ground line. There are output signal pickup points P1 through P7 at the connections between the adjacent magneto-resistors. Signals outputted from these signal pickup points P1 through P7 are shifted in their phases by 1/2period with respect to each other. These signals are paired, and each of the paired signals is fed to a differential amplifier circuit to provide signals E1 through E4 as detection signals. In another embodiments, a linear member has a number of magnetic spots which may be detected in the same manner that the gear teeth are detected.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a detector device using magneto-resistors for detecting the movement of a moving body and more particularly for detecting a rotation of a rotating body and a straight movement of a moving body.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are conventional known varieties of movement detector devices for monitoring moving bodies,each device serving to detect rotational movement of rotators and straight advance movements of moving bodies.
FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary detection of the rotation of a motor shaft 2 with use of a movement detector device (rotation sensor)1. In the same figure, the motor shaft 2 includes a gear 3 to be detected fitted thereover. To a peripheral surface of gear 3, a detection surface of the movement detector device 1 is opposed via a gap. The gear 3 is made of a ferromagnetic material
As seen from FIG. 2, the movement detector device 1 includes a casing 4 and a magnet 5 that generates a bias magnetic field. On the upper end surface of magnet 5 are disposed four magneto-resistors MR.sub.A 1, MR.sub.A 2, MR.sub.B 1 and MR.sub.B 2 as illustrated in a circuit diagram of FIG. 3, the magneto-resistors MR.sub.A 1 and MR.sub.A 2 being connected in series with each other to construct a first phase detector circuit. The magneto-resistors MR.sub.B 1 and MR.sub.B 2 are also connected in series with each other to construct a second phase detector circuit.
The first phase detector circuit and the second phase detector circuit are interconnected in parallel with each other. One end of the parallel circuit is connected to a power source line 6 and the other end is connected to a ground line 7.
A first phase detection signal is taken out from a connection portion between the magneto-resistors MR.sub.A 1 and MR .sub.A 2 while a second phase detection signal is taken out from a connection portion between the magneto-resistors elements MR.sub.B 1 and MR.sub.B 2.
These magneto-resistors MR.sub.A 1, MR.sub.A 2, MR.sub.B 1, and MR.sub.B 2 are disposed, with respect to the gear 3 to be detected, as illustrated in FIG. 4. More specifically, when the magneto-resistors MR.sub.A 1 and MR.sub.B 1 are opposed to the crest 3a of one tooth of the gear 3, the magneto-resistors MR.sub.A 2 and MR.sub.B 2 are opposed to the root 3b between two teeth of the gear 3. Therefore, with a pitch of the teeth of the gear 3 assumed to be T, MR.sub.B 1 is shifted in phase by T/4, MR.sub.A 2 by T/2, and Mr.sub.B 2 by 3T/4 with respect to the magneto-resistor Mr.sub.A 1.
Herein, designated at 8 (FIGS. 2 and 3) are terminals for the power supply line 6, for the ground line 7, and for taking out the detection signals from the, magneto-resistors. Terminals 8 are connected to detector circuits of the respective magneto-resistors via a lead frame 10.
The movement detector device 1 is opposed to the gear 3. With the motor shaft 2 rotated a first phase detector circuit signal and a second phase detector circuit signal are picked up during time periods separated by T/4, with respect to each other as illustrated in FIG. 5. Analyses of the signal voltages clarify the amount of the rotational movement, rotational speed, and revolutions of the motor shaft 2. Further, the pick-up of the signals of two different phases allows an estimation of the direction of rotation of the motor shaft 2.
In order to raise the resolution of such rotation detection using the above movement detector device 1, however, a use should be made of a gear of a small module where a pitch T of the teeth of the gear 3 is replaced by a smaller pitch. Further, since a gap G existing between the detection surface of the movement detector device 1 and the gear 3 is increased, the sensitivity of the device is decreased. Therefore, it is necessary to decrease the gap G.
However, provided that the module of the gear 3 is decreased to reduce a pitch interval of the gear, the number of magneto-resistors disposed within that pitch can not be increased. Additionally, as the pitch of the teeth is decreased, a detection output is reduced as illustrated in FIG. 6. Hence, if the detection output is to be increased correspondingly, and, if it is to be detected the gap G between the gear 3 and the detection surface of the movement detector device 1 must be further reduced.
With the gap G made very small, however, it is difficult to position the movement detector device 1, and since the gear 3 is almost certain to be at least a little eccentric, there is a problem of the teeth of the gear 3 possibly making contact with the detection surface of the movement detector device 1. To avoid the just-mentioned problem, there is a difficulty of accurately machining gears and the device assembly so that the gear 3 must be machined without causing any eccentricity and with an almost religious care.
Further,in the prior art movement detector device, the detector circuits of the magneto-resistors in the respective phases are connected in parallel to each other and between the power supply line 6 and the ground line 7, so that an application of voltage to each detector circuit of each magneto-resistor in each phase becomes greater. Accordingly, as the detector circuits of the magneto-resistors are constructed in multiple phases, the power consumption is severely increased and the heat produced by the increase of the power badly affects the detection performance.

Device including an even number of equally spaced magneto-resistors for detecting rotation or straight motion of a moving body


A powder inhaler for medication, for example for treatment of asthma. The inhaler has a rotatable and/or displaceable active substance magazine which has several apertures for medication. The magazine is moved with the aid of a control curve mechanism by rotation and/or displacement in such a manner that a chamber prefilled with active substance mixture is always located in front of the air inlet opening. The respiratory air stream of the patient is guided through the apparatus in such a manner that the air stream empties the chamber with the active substance mixture. The active substance mixture is divided up into respirable particles in a cyclone chamber or against an impact plate and then surrounded with a jacket stream of pure air and inhaled.

Powder inhalers are being increasingly used nowadays as dosing and inhaling apparatus in the treatment of asthma by inhalation. This is because of objections, on ecological grounds, to conventional 2.times. metered dose aerosols because they have used halogenated hydrocarbons as the propellant gas.
A further disadvantage of 2.times. metered dose aerosols is that the patient must be able to coordinate the release of spray and inhalation. This is not always possible during an acute asthma attack in which the patient is under great stress. Powder inhalers eliminate the need to coordinate inhalation and spraying, since the air inhaled by the patient activates the dosage release.
In conventional powder inhalers (for example as disclosed in Published European Patent Application EP-A 406 893) each dose of the active substance is contained in a single hard gelatin capsule. The capsule is inserted in an apparatus where it is punctured by several pins. The contents of the capsule are released and carried along by the flow of air inhaled by the patient. They are then transported to the lungs of the patient.
This type of powder inhaler has the disadvantage that a diluent, such as lactose, has to be added to the active ingredient to fill the capsule and to ensure dosage accuracy. In some patients inhalation of the finely distributed lactose powder can lead to airway irritation.
Moreover there is no guarantee that the punctured capsule is completely emptied and that its content is available to the patient. What is more, there is a danger of fragments of capsule being inhaled as well.
German Patent DE-P 27 04 574 discloses an inhaler for a pharmaceutical enclosed in a capsule where the capsules are stored in a rotatable magazine that is moved forwards by rotating the outer casing of the inhaler.
Apparatus that dispenses with capsules may avoid the above disadvantages. Thus, for example, the Turbuhaler.RTM. manufactured by Astra works without lactose as an auxiliary substance and the pharmaceutically active substance is inhaled directly. Each apparatus permits withdrawal of two hundred doses. The pharmaceutical is stored in a storage container in the form of spherical aggregates of a micronized powder. During inhaling, these aggregates disintegrate into the micronized powder which is respirable.
Administration of the powder is aided by a rotatable dosage disk. The spherical agglomerate of the pharmaceutical is pressed from above into a group of four measuring openings which determine the amount of the granulate to be released. The granulate is measured volumetrically.
The dosage disk is rotated further and, with the four dosage holes filled, reaches a part of the inspired air flow and the active substance is torn out of the dosage holes. The spherical aggregates are divided up in the spiral-shaped flow of the mouthpiece and inspired as micronized powder.
A disadvantage of the Turbuhaler.RTM. is that the dosage holes can become blocked and the dosage accuracy can decrease progressively as the apparatus is used. Furthermore a not inconsiderable amount of the pharmaceutical accumulates in the mouthpiece with the number of dosages released. This constitutes a risk for the patient, since there is a danger that too much of the pharmaceutical will be inspired at once.
Published European Patent Application EP-A 407 028 describes a powder inhaler that scrapes a measured amount from a compact supply of pharmaceutical using a scraper and allows this amount to be transferred into a cyclone chamber by the airstream of the patient. The mixture layered in the cyclone is inspired by the patient.
Published European Patent Application EP-A 387 222 describes an electronically controlled device for the release of a pharmaceutical which responds to the noise created by the flow of the inspired air and releases a dose from the supply of medication.
Published European Patent Application EP-A 237 507 describes a powder inhaler with impact surfaces that divide up the supply of medicament released from the dosage container.
Published European Patent Application EP 69 715 describes a powder inhaler activated by the stream of air inspired by the patient. It is possible for the inspired air stream from a dosage device, which can be rotated into the inspired air stream, to draw a volumetrically measured amount of pharmaceutical with it.


An adaptive processing method of and system for clutter rejection in a phased array beam pattern. The amplitude distribution of the transmit elements of a two-dimensional phased array is determined. A desired pattern with low side lobes for a linear array is synthesized. The amplitude distribution of the transmit elements of the two-dimensional phased array is compared with the synthesized pattern. Select elements of the two-dimensional array are disabled to best fit the determined amplitude distribution of the transmit elements of the two-dimensional phased array to the synthesized beam pattern. Phase only pattern synthesis is performed to produce a desired two-dimensional beam pattern with low side lobes to minimize any best fit errors.

A typical phased array radar system includes a number of transmit and receive modules each driven at a certain amplitude and phase. A beam steering generator sets the amplitude and phase of each transmit module. In this way, the radiation pattern is reinforced in a certain direction and suppressed in undesired directions.
The cost of such a system is typically driven by sensitivity which is a function of the number and design of the active transmit and receive modules. Phased array radars provide a spatial degree of freedom to shape the transmitted beams. Fully focused beams can be generated for high sensitivity missions and shaped and spoiled beams can be generated for lower sensitivity missions. The well-known Cosecant-squared beam pattern provides many of the advantages of sensitivity time control to avoid saturation and short pulse operation to minimize clutter return from uncompressed pulses.
An idealized phased array radar with a Cosecant-squared antenna pattern exhibits an optimal signal-to-noise ratio with low side lobes close to the radar site to detect targets in the presence of ground clutter.
Actual phased array radar systems, however, often have failures of the individual transmit and receive modules and/or include transmit and receive modules which are not used to produce the main beam. Other array blockages and voids are created by the presence of auxiliary and dummy elements.
As a result, the transmitted Cosecant-squared antenna pattern may have high side lobes which degrade effective clutter rejection.

Adaptive processing method of clutter rejection in a phased array beam pattern


In the configuration information management device, if a CI stored in the entity information storage unit has a feature, duplicates of the CIs that are associated with the subject CI, managed by other FCMDBs, and do not have features, as well as duplicates of Rels, are created and managed in the entity information storage unit. In the configuration information management device, when a search request for a search formula that associates CIs with one another by Rels is received, the information about the search formula is searched for with the use of the duplicates created in the entity information storage unit.

An information system is formed by various resources such as hardware, software, and a network, and a respective resources function in an organically integrated manner, to meet operation objectives as a system.
Federated Configuration Management Database (FCMDB) has been known as a database (DB) that virtually integrate several kinds of DBs that manage information about the various resources forming an information system.
Referring now to FIG. 24, a concept of such a FCMDB is described. In the example illustrated in FIG. 24, the FCMDB virtually integrates different kinds of DBs such as an configuration information DB, a trouble information DB and change information DB, which form an information system. Therefore, the FCMDB manages the respective resources so as to represent a graph having information about the resources as nodes (CIs: Configuration Items), and relationships between the CIs as edges. In this manner, cross-cutting operations can be performed on the virtually integrated DBs. The installed form of each DB is called a Management Data Repository (MDR).
It is also known that FCMDBs form a distributed structure to improve scalability. Referring now to FIG. 25, the concept of such a distributed FCMDB is described. In the example illustrated in FIG. 25, CI1 through CI3, and the relationships R1 and R2 among the CIs are managed in a distributed manner by FCMDBs in the distributed FCMDB.
Patent Document 1: Japanese National Publication of International Patent Application No. 2002-500791
When a search operation is performed by tracing the relationships R in the above described distributed FCMDB, however, a partial search operation needs to be performed repeatedly, and a high-speed search operation may not be performed. That is, the respective CIs and the respective relationships R are registered in the respective FCMDBs placed in a distributed manner in the distributed FCMDB. Therefore, when a search operation is performed by tracing the relationships R, many operations need to be performed across the FCMDBs.
Referring now to FIG. 26, the problem with a search operation in such a distributed FCMDB is described. FIG. 26 is a diagram for explaining a search operation in a distributed FCMDB. A case where the information about CI2 associated with CI1, by R1 and the information about CI3 associated with CI2 by R2 are retrieved from a distributed FCMDB is illustrated in FIG. 26.
In a first partial search operation, the distributed FCMDB searches a FCMDB1 for CI1 in a first partial search operation, and obtains an identification ID of CI1. In a second partial search operation, the distributed FCMDB searches a FCMDB2 for R1 having the identification ID of CI1 as one of a source CI and a target CI connected to both ends of the relationship R, and then obtains the identification ID of CI2 at the other end. In a third partial search operation, the distributed FCMDB further searches a FCMDB3 for R2 having the identification ID of CI2 as one of the source CI and the target CI connected to both ends of the relationship R, and obtains the identification ID of CI3 at the other end. In a fourth partial search operation, the distributed FCMDB searches the FCMDB2 for the information about CI3, using the identification ID of CI3.

Distributed configuration information management device and distributed configuration information management method using duplicates


A method for driving a word line in a multi-value mask ROM comprises the consecutive steps of precharging the word line by a source potential, setting the word line at a first potential which is lower than the source potential and reading data from a selected memory cell, precharging the word line by the source potential, charging the word line at the second potential which is lower than the source potential and reading data from the selected memory cell, setting the word line at the source potential and reading data from the selected memory cell. The precharge of the word line reduces the read time for the multi-value mask ROM.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a word line river for use in a multi-value mask read-only memory device (ROM), and to a method for reading data from a multi-value mask ROM.
(b) Description of the Related Art
Multi-value mask ROM is generally used for storing a large capacity program data etc. in a reduced chip area. FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a conventional word line driver in a multi-value mask ROM, whereas FIGS. 2A and 2B are a timing chart and a waveform chart, respectively, of the signals in the word line driver of FIG. 1. The word line driver shown in FIG. 1 comprises a word line potential generator 11 for providing a plurality of potential levels, a timing signal generator 25 for detecting an address change in an address signal to thereby generate a plurality of one-shot signals at different timings, and a word line decoder 13 for decoding the address signal to select one of the word lines specified by the address signal. The timing signal generator 25 includes a delay circuit 26 for receiving an original one-shot signal to generate one-shot pulses at different timings. The output of the word line decoder 13 is connected to a word line 14, which is connected to the gates of memory cells 50 arranged in a selected row of a memory unit 51. The word line 14 is connected to the output of the word line decoder 13 and includes a parasitic resistance of several hundred kilo-ohms and a parasitic capacitance of several pico-farads, as shown in FIG. 1.
In the multi-value mask ROM, the different potential levels are provided for read-out of data from a selected memory cell, the different potential levels corresponding to the multi-value data stored in the memory cells. The multi-value data have been written into each memory cell by supplying different levels of writing voltage based on the multi-value data to be stored. The thus stored multi-value data can be read-out by specifying the respective voltage levels with which the data have been written.
Here, an example is given in the figures for reading two-bit data as the multi-value data. In this example, one of a possible set of multi-value data (0, 0), (0, 1), (1, 0) and (1, 1) is stored in the selected memory cell, the multi-value data corresponding to respective writing voltage levels 0, 1, 2 and 3. The relationship between the potential levels generated by the word line potential generator 11 is such that
(source potential)>(second potential)
>(first potential),
wherein the voltage level 0 for writing is set lower than the first potential, the voltage level 1 is set between the first potential and the second potential, the voltage level 2 is set between the second potential and the power source potential, and the voltage level 3 is set higher than the source potential.
In operation, the timing signal generator 25 receives an address signal 100 supplied from outside the ROM, and outputs an original one-shot pulse 101 by responding to the address change in the address signal 100, as shown in FIG. 2A. The delay circuit 26, receiving the original one-shot pulse 101, outputs a first one-shot pulse 102 at the first tap after a first fixed delay, thereby supplying the first potential from the word line potential generator 11 to the source of the P-channel transistor of an inverter 21 in the word line decoder 13. As a result, the potential of the word line 14 rises from the ground potential to the first potential. Here, a time difference arises before desired potential values are attained between the proximal end (106) and the distal end (107) of the word line 14 with respect to the output of the word line decoder 13, as shown in FIG. 2B. The writing voltage applied for the selected memory cell in the fabrication process of the ROM is determined by discriminating the voltage read out from the selected memory cell between the level 0 and a level other than 0. If the writing voltage is determined to be zero, then the stored data is (0,0).
A second one-shot pulse 103 is then generated by the delay circuit 15 at the second tap after a second fixed delay, thereby supplying the second potential from the word line potential generator 11 to the source of the P-channel transistor of the inverter 21. As a result, the electric potential of the word line 14 rises from the first potential to the second potential. The writing voltage for the selected memory cell is determined by discriminating the read out voltage between the level 1 and a level other than 1, if the selected voltage has been determined as a level other than 0 during application of the first potential to the word line. If the writing voltage is determined to be level 1, then the stored data is (0,1).
Further, a third one-shot pulse 104 is generated by the delay circuit 26 at the third tap after a third fixed delay, thereby supplying the power source potential from the word line potential generator 11 to the source of the P-channel transistor of the inverter 11. As a result, the electric potential of the word line 14 rises from the second potential to the source potential. The writing voltage for the selected memory cell is then determined by discriminating the voltage read out from the selected memory cell either the level 2 or a level other than 2, if the writing voltage has been determined as a level other than 0 for the first potential and a level other than 1 for the second potential. This provides the discrimination of the stored data between (1,0) and (1,1). With these operations, it is possible to determine the writing voltage level for the selected memory cell, which is specified by the word line decoder 13 and a column decoder not shown, to read out the written multi-value data.
After the read-out, a discharge one-shot pulse 105 is supplied from the delay circuit 15 at the fourth tap, and turns on the N-channel transistor 20, thereby lowering the electric potential of the word line 14 to the ground potential to prepare for a next read cycle which starts by responding to a next address change.
In the conventional word line driver as described above, in order to attain a higher speed in setting the electric potential of the distal end of the word line to a desired level, enlargement of the dimensions of the word line decoder, lessening of the length of the word line per one word line decoder or other measures is needed because of the difference in the transmission time between the proximal end and the distal end of the word line due to the parasitic resistance and capacitance involved in the word line. The enlargement of the dimensions etc., however, necessitates a large chip area or other problem in the mask ROM.

Word line driver in a multi-value mask ROM


A safety grip for a handwheel which is movable between an operating position and a home position is comprised of an elongated and ergonomic body (1) and of a support (2), which is anchored to the body of a maneuvering member, such as a handwheel. The body (1) is comprised of an outer case (1a), a rod-like inner core (3) with a head (4), a bushing (6) slidably mounted on the core (3), a sleeve (7) in sliding engagement on the bushing (6), an axial thrust spring (9) arranged between two opposite shoulders (6a) and (7a) of the bushing (6) and of the sleeve (7), and a second thrust spring (10) arranged between the head (4) and the top of the bushing (6). The body (1) is connected to the support (2) at a pivot point (5). An end of the sleeve (7) engages a contact surface of the support (2) through a collar (8). The collar (8) has an inner conical mouth surface that engages a shaped rib (11) on the top of said support (2), where the shaped rib (11) has a frusto-conical outer surface.

Grips are known in the art for rotating, or moving, control and maneuvering devices, such as handwheels, which allow complete adjustment or moving operations in the most disparate application fields.
Automatic-release grips are also known. These types of grips typically have snap devices which cause them to disappear into the handwheels.
In prior art devices, the means to guarantee the automatic release of the grip from the handwheel consisted of torsion springs. However, torsion springs had the significant disadvantage of being too fragile, and consequently of easily breaking within a very short time.
Alternative devices have thus been developed, comprising compression springs instead of the usual torsion springs. For example, the Applicant's patent no. IT 1,149,640 concerns an automatic-snap, collapsible safety grip for maneuvering members which may be coupled, through axial shifting, in its maneuvering position, with the body of the suitably shaped maneuvering member. In particular, means for stake coupling with the handle are provided, which were coupled against the action of return springs, as well as unlocking means consisting of a counter-stake spring-loaded against the coupling of the coupling stake. This type of construction certainly solves the problems of quick wear of the torsion springs, but over time is susceptible to accidental jams, which prevent a full and effective collapsing action.
Although the above-mentioned counter-stake is provided to guarantee the lifting of the grip from the support and the consequent release thereof, once the operations on the hand-wheel have been completed, the grip often remains jammed in-side the support and a manual action is necessary to achieve the collapse thereof.
Accordingly, there is a need for a grip which is which is capable of overcoming the stated disadvantages. The present invention is capable of performing an easy, automatic, and safe collapse of the grip once the operator has completed the adjustment operations on the handwheel and simply releases the grip.


Vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) and methods of making the same are described. The VCSELs include reliability-enhancing layers that perform specific functions at one or more critical locations within a VCSEL structure to reduce or prevent defect formation and migration that otherwise might degrade VCSEL performance, for example, by increasing optical absorption in the mirror stacks or by degrading the electro-optic properties of the active region. In particular, the reliability-enhancing layers are configured to perform one or more of the following functions within the VCSEL structure: gettering (i.e., removing defects or impurities from critical regions), strain balancing (i.e., compensating the lattice mismatch in the structure to minimize strain), and defect suppression (i.e., creating alloys that reduce the formation of defects during growth or post-growth activities). By strategically positioning one or more appropriately configured reliability-enhancing layers with respect to an identified defect source, the invention enables VCSEL structures to be modified in a way that enhances the reliability and performance of VCSEL devices.

A vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) is a laser device formed from an optically active semiconductor layer (e.g., AlInGaAs or InGaAsP) that is sandwiched between a pair of highly reflective mirror stacks, which may be formed from layers of metallic material, dielectric material or epitaxially-grown semiconductor material. Typically, one of the mirror stacks is made less reflective than the other so that a portion of the coherent light that builds in a resonating cavity formed between the mirror stacks may be emitted from the device. Typically, a VCSEL emits laser light from the top or bottom surface of the resonating cavity with a relatively small beam divergence. VCSELs may be arranged in singlets, one-dimensional or two-dimensional arrays, tested on wafer, and incorporated easily into an optical transceiver module and coupled to a fiber optic cable.
In general, a VCSEL may be characterized as a gain-guided VCSEL or an index-guided VCSEL. An implant VCSEL is the most common commercially available gain-guided VCSEL. An implant VCSEL includes one or more high resistance implant regions for current confinement and parasitic reduction. An oxide VCSEL, on the other hand, is the most common index-guided (laterally and vertically) VCSEL. An oxide VCSEL includes oxide layers (and possibly implant regions) for both current and optical confinement.
VCSELs and VCSEL arrays have been successfully developed for single-mode operation and multi-mode operation at a variety of different wavelengths (e.g., 650 nm, 850 nm, 980 nm, 1300 nm and 1550 nm). The commercial success of VCSEL technology, however, will depend in large part upon development of VCSEL structures that are characterized by high performance and high reliability.
Techniques have been proposed for improving the performance and reliability of a wide variety of different semiconductor laser devices, including VCSELs and edge-emitting lasers.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,838,705 discloses VCSEL devices (i.e., a non-planar ridge VCSEL and a planar implant VCSEL) that include one or more defect inhibition layers that are positioned in a respective one of two cladding regions that are formed on opposite sides of an active area. According to the '705 patent, the defect inhibition layers may be disposed anywhere outside of the active area. However, the only preferred locations for the defect inhibition layers are in close proximity and on either side of the active area to provide a barrier that does not allow defects formed outside of the active area to pass through and into the active area. The defect inhibition layers are formed from an indium-containing material that induces strain in the VCSEL device. The strain is believed to either prohibit movement of defects to the active area or attract and, subsequently, trap defects in the defect inhibition layers.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,242 discloses a GaAs/AlGaAs edge-emitting laser that includes at least one cladding layer that includes indium. According to the '242 patent, the indium creates a local strain field that is sufficient to reduce and effectively stop defect migration through the cladding layer. The indium-containing strain layer may be spaced apart from the active region or may be positioned adjacent to the active region. Indium-containing layers may be added to the active region barrier layers to improve the performance of the edge-emitting laser. In one embodiment, a uniform doping of indium is provided throughout the edge-emitting laser heterostructure to impede the growth and migration of defects in the crystal lattice. Another embodiment includes indium in a cap layer to reduce the surface work function and, thereby, reduce the contact resistance of an overlying metallization layer. The '242 patent does not teach or suggest the use of indium in a VCSEL, nor does it teach or suggest how indium might be translated to a VCSEL structure.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Reliability-enhancing layers for vertical cavity surface emitting lasers


In a push-to-talk communications network, a method of transmitting a message from a sending device to a set of receiving devices is disclosed. The method includes selecting the set of receiving devices from a contact list on the sending device, such that each of the receiving devices has an address on the contact list. The method also includes transmitting the message to a message server, wherein the sending device is coupled to the message server; storing the message within the message server; and assigning the message an identifier. The method further includes notifying the set of receiving devices that the message can be retrieved, wherein each of the set of receiving devices is coupled to the message server. Advantages of the invention include a standards-based solution that combines the flexibility of mobile messaging with the ease-of-use of voice.

The present invention relates in general to cellular communication technologies and in particular to methods of transmitting a message to a message server in a push-to-talk network.
Mobile cellular communication is evolving beyond traditional voice telephony towards more sophisticated services, such as Push-To-Talk (PTT). Similar to conventional walkie-talkie communication, PTT enables mobile communication users to send a voice message to one or more recipients over a mobile phone by simply pushing a key (i.e., PTT button, etc.).
One particular version of PTT, called PoC (PTT-over-Cellular), has started to be implemented in wireless data networks such as GSM/GPRS and CDMA cellular networks. By using internet protocols (i.e., an internet protocol network), these networks can provide a packet-based data service that enables information to be sent and received across a mobile telephone network. In addition, the use of internet protocols also facilitates PoC through the use of instant connections. That is, information can be sent or received immediately as the need arises, subject to available time slots at the air interface.
PTT, including PoC-based PTT, is also half-duplex. That is, all participants typically use a single frequency or channel for both transmission and reception. Either a participant speaks or listens, but not both. This is in contrast to traditional cellular communication that is full-duplex (e.g., like a regular wired phone), in which at least one channel or frequency is assigned to talk, and another separate one is assigned to listen such that both speaking and listening can occur simultaneously.
Many PTT implementations, including the PoC based PTT implementation, also provide contact list functionality. A contact list typically contains the identifiers of other users or groups such that an end user may initiate a PTT call by selecting one or more entries from the list. An entry in a contact list is a contact, e.g. the identity of a user, or a group, which is representative of multiple users. Within PoC, a contact list contains either users or groups, but not both. Generally, a contact is uniquely identified via a SIP URI (Session Initiation Protocol Universal Resource Identifier).
The PTT operator (i.e., Cingular, ATT, etc.) generally assigns to each user, an address-of-record (also known as public user identity) in the form of a SIP URI comprising a user name portion and a domain portion. In general, the username portion of the SIP URI uniquely identifies the user within a given namespace or network. Likewise, the domain part of the SIP URI uniquely identifies a domain owned by the operator. For example, "sip:firstname.lastname@example.com" in which "joe.doe" is the username portion of the SIP URI and "operator.net" is the domain portion of the SIP URI. Additional information may also be associated with a contact to facilitate interaction with the contact list; for example, a display name.
PoC is discussed in greater detail in the following technical specifications which are incorporated by reference: Push-to-talk over Cellular (PoC); Architecture; PoC Release 2.0, V2.0.8 (2004-06) and Push-to-talk over Cellular (PoC); Signaling Flows—UE to Network Interface (UNI); PoC Release 2.0, V2.0.6 (2004-06) as well as Push-to-talk over Cellular (PoC) User Plane; Transport Protocols, PoC Release 2.0, V2.0.8 (2004-06). It should also be mentioned that a Release 1.0 is also available from the PoC Consortium as well as an upcoming PoC standard from Open Mobile Alliance (OMA). All of these are generally considered native PoC standards. Subsequently, a UE (user equipment) supporting either of these standards is called a native PoC client (or non-DVM client).
Referring now to FIG. 1, a simplified diagram of a PTT architecture is shown. In general, access in the PTT architecture may include both the radio access as well as other IP-enabled transport mechanisms (e.g. a PTT application client be hosted on an Internet-enabled PC). UE 102 generally refers to the device containing the PTT application client software, such as a cellular phone. Within the PoC architecture, UE 102 uses SIP to establish, modify and terminate multimedia sessions or calls with other PoC enabled clients. A session is considered an exchange of data between associations of participants. SIP supports session control, and may support user location, user capability, call setup, and call handling. In addition, since SIP is a generic session protocol, services other than voice can be chosen such as video transfer, multi-media messaging, multiparty gaming, etc.
Generally, an XML based extension associated with SIP messages, called SDP, is used to negotiate the appropriate level and type of service (i.e., available codecs, buffer sizes, etc.), as well as establish a transport path from UE 102 to PoC Server 110. The term early session refers to a session that is already available for quick connection establishment, prior to the PTT transmission (i.e., pre-established). The term on demand session generally refers to a session that is established as part of the PTT transmission. The type of session is normally configured by the operator as a service option choice. Early sessions connect faster but require more network resources.
Once the session is established, RTP (real time transmission protocol) is used for the transmission of data packets within a session. Because the PTT system is half-duplex, it is important to manage which participant within a session is permitted to speak (given that only one participant may speak at once). RTCP (RTP control protocol) is used to manage these permissions through a Talker Arbitration (TA) function commonly referred to as "floor control. Floor control is the process used to determine which participant receives permission to transmit by being granted the "floor." A floor request results from a participant in a PTT session asking permission to transmit (e.g. by pressing the PTT button on the side of a device); such permission is typically provided if no other participant has already been granted the floor.
A floor release is an indication from a speaking user that they have finished speaking (e.g. by releasing the PTT button on the side of the device). A floor grant, one possible response to a floor request, informs the requesting participant that the floor has been granted. A floor idle, a response to a floor release, informs participants that the floor is idle (i.e. that a speaking user is no longer speaking and that the floor is now generally available). A floor deny, a second possible response to a floor request, informs the requesting participant that the floor request is denied (e.g. because another user has already been granted the floor). A floor taken, sent simultaneous with a floor grant, informs all participants that the floor has been granted to the indicated participant. Floor revoke removes the permission to transmit from a user who has previously been granted the floor. RTCP BYE indicates that the sending party wants to terminate the ongoing media session in current communication context, without changing the SIP-session state.
RTCP also facilitates maintenance of quality by providing talk burst quality feedback. This feedback reports the amount of media received by UE 102, which can be compared to the amount sent by the PoC server such that a discrepancy can indicate poor network conditions that may require engagement of various compensation algorithms.
In this diagram, UE 102 may be coupled to IMS 106 (IP Multimedia Sybsystem) through access network 104 which may include both radio and non-radio types of access (i.e., UTRAN, POTS, etc.). IMS provides routing, authentication and compression services to all SIP-based applications including PoC.
GLMS 108 (Group and List Management Server) commonly manages groups, contact lists and access lists. A contact list is a kind of address book that may be used by PTT users to establish an instant talk session with other PTT users or PTT Groups and to access PTT presence information. A user may have one or several contact lists containing either identities of other PTT users or PTT Groups. Contact list management includes operations to allow the UE 102 to store, modify, retrieve and delete the contact lists located in the GLMS 108, commonly through group list management protocols, such as HTTP/XML, XCAP, etc.
In general, an end user may select a group from the contact list to initiate an instant group talk session, or a chat group talk session, depending on the type of the group. A PTT access list is used by the end user as a means of controlling who is allowed to initiate instant talk sessions to the end user and who is allowed to receive PTT presence information for a user. Access lists contains end user defined identities of other PTT end users or groups, and include a blocked identities list and a granted identities list. Presence server 112 manages presence information and generally includes a status as to whether UE 102 is online (connected to the network) and PTT available (not already busy and ready to join a session).
OTAP (Over The Air Provisioning Server) 114 generally provides all the needed configuration parameters from the service provider network for a PTT Client, and sends a WAP-push/SMS containing a binary coded XML to every client UE with default factory and network settings.
Referring now to FIG. 2, a simplified diagram of an early session early media with auto-answer mode set is shown. As previously described, the term early session generally refers to a session that is established as part of the PTT transmission, just before the invitation of other participants.
Early media normally refers to the initial transmission of a talk burst (media) prior to the completion of service negotiation and transport path establishment. That is, the sending user may transmit voice prior to the completion of a connection to any other participant. Auto-answer mode allows a UE 102 to automatically establish a session without user (i.e., participant) input. In this example, UE A 102a is a client of PoC Server A 110a, while UE B 102b is a client of PoC Server B 110b. In addition, one of the PoC Server (in this case PoC Server A) also functions as a Controlling PoC Server, managing the overall communications between UE A 102a and UE B 102b.
Initially, UE A 102a requests that a session be established by transmitting a SIP REFER message to PoC Server A 110a. That is, a user presses the PTT button on UE A 102a. Once received, a SIP 202 Accepted message is returned. PoC Server A 110a then sends a SIP INVITE request to the PoC Server B 110b.
A SIP 200 OK response, establishing early media in auto-mode, is immediately sent back to PoC Server A 110a by PoC Server B 110b. A floor granted message is then send to UE A 102a, and a floor taken message is sent to UE B 102b. UE A 102a can now transmit an initial (i.e., first) talk burst of media.
PoC Server A 110a also transmits a SIP ACK message to PoC Server B 110b informing it of the started media transmission. A SIP NOTIFY message is also sent to UE A 102a to inform it that UE B 102b has now accepted the connection. UE A 102A responds by sending a SIP 200 OK message. Subsequently, the PTT transmission continues until the PTT button is released.
Referring now to FIG. 3, a simplified diagram of an early session with late media with manual-answer mode set is shown. Late media normally refers to the transmission of media after the completion of service negotiation and transport path establishment. Manual-answer mode requires a user (i.e., participant) to accept the establishment of a session to UE 102b prior to sending SIP 200 OK back to the originating party. As before, UE A 102a is a client of PoCS A 110a, while UE B 102b is a client of PoCS B 110b.
Initially, UE A 102a requests that a session be established by transmitting a SIP REFER message to PoC Server A 110a. That is, a user presses the PTT button on UE A 102a. Once received, a SIP 202 Accepted message is returned. PoC Server A 110a then sends a SIP INVITE request to the PoC Server B 110b.
A SIP 180 Ringing response is sent by UE B 102b to PoC Server B 102b. PoC Server B 110b forwards the SIP 180 Ringing response to PoC Server A 110a. When UE B 102B answers (i.e., user accepts the establishment of the session) a SIP 200 OK is immediately sent back to the PoC Server B 110b.
The SIP 200 OK response is then forwarded to PoC Server A 110a by PoC Server B 110b. A floor granted message is then sent to UE A 102a, and a floor taken message is sent to UE B 102b. UE A 102a can now transmit an initial (i.e., first) talk burst of media.
PoC Server A 110a also transmits a SIP ACK message to PoC Server B 110b informing it of the media transmission. A SIP NOTIFY message is also sent to UE A 102a to inform it that UE B 102b has accepted the connection. UE A 102A responds by sending a SIP 200 OK message to PoC Server A 110a, which subsequently transmits an ACK message to UE B 102b. The PTT transmission continues until the PTT button is released.
However, although PTT may provide an easy-to-use, fast, and flexible form of voice communication, PTT is also limited in that it requires a participant to be available and online at the time of the PTT session. There is currently no way to transmit a message to an unavailable participant, for later retrieval, without first accessing the traditional cellular network to leave a regular voice mail using full-duplex radio channel.
In view of the foregoing, there are desired methods of transmitting a message to a message server in a push-to-talk network

Methods of transmitting a message to a message server in a push-to-talk network


The present invention aims to provide a reception apparatus that receives and demodulates a signal transmitted by using time-division multiplexing, with reduced power consumption. In detail, a receiving unit including a tuner operates to receive a signal only during a time period for which a desired signal is transmitted. The received signal is converted into digital data, and the digital data is stored into a memory. With the use of the digital data stored in the memory, a PLL performs all of the necessary operations from synchronization establishment to demodulation.

Digital broadcast reception apparatuses such as digital televisions receive a broadcast signal corresponding to programs transmitted on a time-division multiplexing basis, and sequentially demodulate the received signal, to display the programs. Such reception apparatuses are only required to receive a desired signal, that is to say, to be switched on only during a time period for which a broadcast signal of a program that is desired by a user or a computer program corresponding to each user is transmitted.
In such reception apparatuses for receiving a signal transmitted by using time-division multiplexing, a tuner needs to be switched on during a time period for which a desired signal is not transmitted, in order to receive the desired signal properly and stably (see Japanese Patent No. 2846959).
During this period (hereinafter referred to as "a training period"), power is supplied to the tuner unit even though the desired signal is not received. This power supply is not desirable from the aspect of power saving.
In light of this, the present invention aims to provide a reception apparatus that receives a desired signal only, with reduced wasteful power consumption.

Method and apparatus of reduced power consumption in TDMA signal reception via backward output of input stream to eliminate receiver training period


Techniques are disclosed for integrating the LED lead frame into the LED circuit fabrication process. The LED packages within the lead frame may be spaced according to the final spacing of the LED packages on the finished circuit board, such that multiple LED packages may be attached to a circuit board at a time by applying the lead frame to circuit board and then removing portions of the lead frame, leaving the LED packages attached to the board. The LED packages may be attached using solder or conductive epoxy, in some embodiments. Alternatively, part of the lead frame may include conductive wires forming one or more strings of LED packages. An entire string of LED packages may then be removed from the lead frame in a single motion and placement may be performed for a string of LED packages all at once rather than for individual LED packages.

In the fabrication and installation of LED packages, chip attachment and wire bonding are done on a lead frame. In some cases, each LED package can be removed from the lead frame and placed onto a final plastic reel for sale and later attachment to a circuit board. Designing lead frames for the efficient attachment of LED packages to circuit boards involves a number of non-trivial challenges.

LED lead frame for laminated LED circuits


The invention provides anti-MIC antibodies and methods of using the same.

MIC (e.g., MICA, MICB) is a ligand for NKG2D, a receptor that is expressed on most human NK cells, γδ T cells, and CD8+ T cells. While NKG2D ligands are not usually found on healthy tissues, various forms of cellular stress, including DNA damage, upregulate ligand expression, resulting in their frequent detection in multiple solid and hematologic malignancies, including melanoma. Upon binding to MIC, NKG2D activates perforin-dependent cytolysis by NK cells and provides co-stimulation of T cells, resulting in killing of the NKG2D-expressing cells, e.g., tumor cells. However, despite this mechanism, many MIC positive tumors have been identified. Studies have shown that immune escape of tumors is achieved by the shedding of MIC from these tumor cells. Soluble MIC triggers internalization and downregulation of surface NKG2D receptors and impaired function of cytotoxic lymphocytes. Soluble MIC may also stimulate the expansion of regulatory NKG2D+CD4+Foxp3-T cells that may antagonize anti-tumor cytotoxicity through Fas ligand, IL-10, and TGF-β. Sera from cancer patients typically contain elevated levels of the soluble form (sMICA).
It is clear that there continues to be a need for agents that have clinical attributes that are optimal for development as therapeutic agents. The antibodies described herein meet this need and provide other benefits.
Mapping the epitope is a critical aspect of characterizing antibodies. Knowledge of the epitope helps to guide design, selection and/or identification of other antibodies with similar properties. Identification of the epitope may also provide insight into the mechanism of binding for an antibody. Existing methods for mapping include x-ray crystallography, array-based oligopeptide screening, the use of synthetic peptides or proteolytic fragments of the antigen in ELISA or competition assays, site directed mutagenesis, phage display libraries of random peptide or antigen fragment sequences, proteolysis of antigens in the presence or absence of antibody with mass spectral analysis of either binding or non-binding fragments, and Shotgun Mutagenesis by Integral Molecular. Many of these methods are expensive and time consuming, requiring many steps before meaningful results are available. Thus there remains a need for improved methods of epitope mapping.
All references cited herein, including patent applications, patent publications, and UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot Accession numbers are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety, as if each individual reference were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.


In a IR detector and a fabrication method thereof, the IR detector has a insulating thin film (3) made up of insulating material, many semiconductor layers (1) each having an island shape formed on the insulating thin film (3), a forward bias connection section (5) and a backward bias connection section (6) formed for each semiconductor layer (1) to be forward and backward biases to an external bias voltage, and a metal thin film (2) for electrically connecting the semiconductor layers (1) to each other through both the forward bias connection section and the backward bias connection section (5 and 6).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an infrared detector which is capable of absorption and detecting infrared radiation from various objects, and more particularly, it relates to a bolometer type infrared detector for detecting infrared radiation radiated from object bodies by using materials incorporated in the infrared detector whose resistance value is changed based on the change of temperature value caused by absorption of the infrared radiation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A bolometer type infrared (IR) detector absorbs infrared radiation from various objects. A resistance value of the section made up of a resistance material in the bolometer type IR detector is heated by the absorption of the IR radiation. This temperature change causes the change of the resistance value of the resistance material. The bolometer type IR detector detects and absorbs the existence of the object that radiates this IR radiation by measuring the change of bias current or bias voltage applied to the resistance material.
FIG. 13A is a plan view of a detection element section in a conventional bolometer type IR detector which is disclosed in literatures, for example, disclosed in the literature of U.S. Pat. No. 5,260,225. FIG. 13B is a sectional view showing a configuration of the detection element section, as shown in FIG. 13A. In the same diagrams, a reference number 33 designates a resistance material section. A reference number 12 indicates a lead that is made up of a metal through which a bias voltage or a bias current is applied to the resistance material section 33. A reference number 3 denotes an insulating thin film that is made up of an insulator material such as SiO.sub.2, for example.
In this detector element in the conventional bolometer IR detector shown in FIG. 13B, a hollow section 34 is formed under the lower section of the insulating thin film 3 in order to increase effectively the temperature of the resistance material section 33 caused by the incidence of IR radiation to the resistance material. In general, a metal thin film such as a platinum (P) and a titanium (Ti), or a ceramic such as a vanadium oxide, or a semiconductor such as a poly-crystal silicon and an amorphous silicon is used as the resistance material 33.
The Temperature Coefficient of Resistance (hereinafter referred to as "TCR") is designated as follows: EQU (1/R).times.(dR/dT)[%/k],
where R is a resistance value of the resistance material section and T is the absolute temperature. In general, The TCR value of a metal thin film has +0.1 [%/k], a semiconductor has -2.0[%/k], and a vanadium oxide (VOx) has -2.0 [%/k] or more.
Using vanadium oxide having a large TCR value has the benefit of increasing sensitivity of the bolometer type IR detector. However, there is also a possibility of causing a contamination of devices and the like. The vanadium oxide is therefore not used in semiconductor manufacturing lines to fabricate general semiconductor integrated circuits.
In IR arrays of a large scale integration of two dimensions such as solid state camera devices (or solid state imaging devices) in which detection elements for detecting IR radiation from objects are integrated, because integrated circuits of silicon are fabricated around peripheral sections of the integrated detection elements in order to read electrical signals, it can be carried out to fabricate the detection elements in IR detectors at a low cost and in high productivity when fabrication processes to fabricate the IR detection elements are introduced into fabrication processes of silicon semiconductor integrated circuits. Accordingly, it has advantages to use a semiconductor such as a polycrystalline silicon or an amorphous silicon as the resistance material 33 in the IR detector.
The mechanism of electric conduction in a polycrystalline silicon including dopants is designated by the sum of conductivity in the crystal and the conductivity through trap levels of crystal particles, as shown in one dimensional model of crystals connected in series disclosed by Seto et al. (see the Journal Of Applied Physics, vol.46, No.12, 1975, pp. 5247-5254, "The electrical properties of polycrystalline silicon films" by Seto, et al.).
When the number of carriers in the crystal is small, the carriers cannot fill all of the trap levels and form an electric barrier in the crystal particles. On the other hand, when the number of carriers in the crystal is greater, the carriers fill all of the trap levels and remaining carriers change the Fermi level in a crystal and decrease the level of the electric barrier. Where this electric barrier is designated by a reference character Ea (eV), the value of TCR can be designated by TCR=Ea/kT.sup.2.
When a polycrystalline silicon is used as the resistance material in a bolometer type IR detector, because the sensitivity of the IR detector is directly proportional to the value of TCR of the polycrystalline silicon, the level Ea of the electric barrier must be increased in order to form the IR detector with a high sensitivity. However, when the level Ea of the electric barrier becomes high, the electric conduction through the crystal is carried out based on the trap levels of the crystal particles. In this case, the magnitude of 1/f noise in the IR detector is greater. In general, because the performance of a bolometer type IR detector is measured based on the rate of a noise level in the level of output signal transferred from the IR detector, the performance of the bolometer type IR detector having the value of a greater 1/f noise becomes low. This problem is also caused when an amorphous silicon is used as the resistance material in the IR detector.
In addition, although the TCR value can be increased to approximately -8 [%/K] by decreasing the amount of dopants in the polycrystalline silicon as the resistance material, the resistance value is increased. In this case, it becomes difficult to match impedances between the bolometer type IR detector side and a signal processing circuit side for reading or receiving output signals transmitted from the bolometer type IR detector. This is also one of the problems involved in the conventional bolometer type IR detector described above.

Infrared detector and fabrication method thereof


Radiation-curable coating compositions which form transparent, abrasion-resistant tintable coatings upon curing by exposure to high intensity irradiation, such as ultraviolet light or electron beam irradiation. The coating composition comprises a combination of effective amounts of (a) colloidal silica, (b) the hydrolysis product of a silane compound having a polymerizable functional group such as acryloxy-functional silanes or glycidoxy-functional silanes or mixtures of both, (c) polyfunctional, polymerizable, non-acrylate-functional ethers, (d) at least one radiation sensitive initiator and, preferably, (e) a monofunctional monomer. When the surface of a substrate coated with the cured coating composition is immersed in a colored dye bath for a sufficient period of time, the coating absorbs or transmits to the substrate a desired amount of dye.

The present invention relates to tintable, radiation-curable coating compositions. More particularly, the coating compositions of the present invention form transparent, abrasion-resistant coatings upon exposure to high intensity irradiation that absorb a desired amount of colored dye when immersed in a dye bath for a sufficient period of time.
In recent years, synthetic polymeric materials have been utilized in a wide variety of applications. In particular, the substitution of glass glazing with transparent materials which do not shatter, or are more resistant to shattering than glass, has become widespread. For example, transparent polymeric materials, such as polycarbonates, acrylics, and similar plastics, are commonly used as windows in public buildings. Likewise, transparent polycarbonates and acrylics are used in glazing for automobiles, buses, aircraft and other public transportation vehicles. Lenses for eyeglasses and optical instruments also employ shatter-resistant transparent polymeric materials. In addition to their greater resistance to shattering, these transparent polymeric materials are also lighter in weight than glass which is of particular advantage in the transportation industry where the weight of the vehicle is a major factor in its fuel economy.
Although these transparent polymeric materials may be readily fabricated into a desired shape, unfortunately they have relatively low abrasion resistance. Thus, a serious drawback of these materials is the ease with which they are marred and scratched as a result of normal, everyday contact with abrasives, such as dust, cleaning materials, and ordinary weathering. Continued scratching and marring results in impaired visibility and poor aesthetics, and oftentimes requires replacement of the transparent polymeric material. In addition, many such materials do not absorb significant amounts of a colored dye, and therefore cannot be satisfactorily tinted.
It is known to coat the surface of such transparent polymeric materials with a transparent, abrasion-resistant coating to improve their abrasion resistance. Known abrasion-resistant coatings, also referred to as "hard coatings," include coatings formed from silica-containing mixtures, such as colloidal silica or silica gel, and hydrolyzable silanes in a hydrolysis medium, such as alcohol or water. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,708,225; 3,986,997; and 3,976,497. However, such coatings often are difficult to apply, and require heat to initiate the cure reaction which must then be maintained for a lengthy period of time until the cure reaction is completed.
Colloidal silica has also been used to improve the abrasion resistance of ultraviolet light-curable coatings as shown in Chung, U.S. Pat. No. 4,348,462. Ultraviolet light is one of the most widely used types of radiation for curing chemical compositions because of its relatively low cost, ease of maintenance, and low potential hazard to industrial users. Rapid photo-induced polymerizations utilizing ultraviolet light instead of thermal energy for curing hard coatings offer substantial economic benefits, and expend considerably less thermal energy than conventional heat cure systems. Also, heat sensitive materials can be safely coated and cured with ultraviolet light without the use of thermal energy which can damage such substrates. In addition, radiation cured coatings can utilize lower amounts of solvents, thereby reducing the necessity for expensive and time consuming pollution abatement procedures.
However, known abrasion-resistant coatings, whether cured by thermal energy or high intensity irradiation, cannot be satisfactorily tinted as they do not absorb or transmit sufficient amounts of a colored dye when immersed in a dye bath within a reasonable period of time. This is a particular disadvantage in connection with the manufacture of coatings for ophthalmic lenses where a tinted coating aids in protecting the eyes from sunlight as well as in satisfying fashion-conscious consumers.

Radiation-curable coating compositions that form transparent, abrasion-resistant tintable coatings


An optical system has a first lens element (L1) having an outer portion (36) and a first tapered surface (34). A second lens element (L2) has an outer portion (26) and a second tapered surface (24). The first lens element (L1) and the second lens element (L2) are spaced apart relative to each other and centered relative to the optical axis (O) by a portion of the first tapered surface (34) being in contact with a portion of the second tapered surface (24), the outer portion (36) of the first lens element (L1) being spaced apart from the outer portion (26) of the second lens element (L2).

The growth of portable, personal electronics devices such as cell phones, PDAs, and similar devices, has spurred development of miniaturized cameras and light-sensing components that can be incorporated into these devices. The continuing demand for smaller and more powerful imaging apparatus, coupled with the requirement for low cost, presents a considerable challenge to optical and mechanical design. Low-cost lens assemblies, typically including a number of plastic lens elements, are being used increasingly for these applications.
Although very small plastic lenses can be fabricated inexpensively at high volumes, the handling, alignment, and mounting of these tiny optical components into a lens assembly using multiple components poses significant problems. For mobile imaging applications, for example, two lens elements should be laterally aligned (that is, aligned in the plane normal to the optical axis, where z is the optical axis) to within better than +/−20 microns. There are also tight tolerances with respect to the air space, or longitudinal separation along the optical axis (z axis) between lens elements. Tilt in the two orthogonal directions θx and θy should be controlled to within tens of arc-minutes. Clearly, there is considerable challenge in achieving alignment tolerances in these ranges at low cost when assembling miniature optical components using mass-produced plastic lens elements. Conventional active alignment techniques, such as using point-source microscopy to align centers of curvature individually, prove too complex and costly for high-volume production.
A number of other conventional approaches have been applied to the problem of lens mounting, alignment and centration of lenses, including the use of features formed within a lens barrel or other supporting structure, as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,338,819 entitled "High Numerical Aperture Objective Lens Assembly" to Leidig and U.S. Pat. No. 4,488,776 entitled "Plastic Lens Cell" to Skinner. Still other approaches use separate spacing elements to provide proper alignment and air space between optical components. For example, referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a lens mount assembly 10 for mounting multiple lens elements L1, L2, L3 along an optical axis O of a barrel 16. Spacers 12 and surface sags provide proper air space between lens elements L1, L2, and L3 along that optical axis. A retaining ring 13 is then used to hold lens elements L1, L2, and L3 and spacers 12 in place following assembly. Spacers 12, in conjunction with lens flanges, also provide tilt alignment θx and θy. Lateral alignment of lens elements L1, L2, and L3 is accomplished by care in fabrication, controlling tolerance runout of the lenses, the outside diameter of the lenses, and the inside diameter of barrel 16 or other optical mounting structure. However, such approaches increase the overall parts count and assembly complexity and introduce tolerance build-up that can make proper lens alignment difficult, particularly as lens assemblies grow smaller.
Another approach that has been adopted for miniaturized optical systems uses passive component alignment of lens elements to each other, rather than to a barrel or to some other enclosure. Representative examples of optical apparatus using this technique for centration and spacing include:                U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0184885 entitled "Producing Method of Image Pickup Device" by Tansho et al. discloses an optical unit in which lens elements are stacked against each other to provide centration, with additional spacing elements;        U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0193605 entitled "Image-Capturing Lens, Image-Capturing Device and Image Capturing Unit" by Yamaguchi discloses a lens barrel wherein a flange is provided on each of one or more stacked lenses, seated against each other to provide both centration and spacing;        U.S. Pat. No. 4,957,341 entitled "Integral Type Lens" to Hasegawa discloses a compound projection lens in which separate lens elements are aligned against each other using a circumferential flange and guide arrangement;        U.S. Pat. No. 4,662,717 entitled "Lens and Lens Holding Devices" to Yamada et al. discloses use of a snap fit for alignment and spacing of adjacent lenses in a lens holding device; and,        U.S. Pat. No. 6,072,634 entitled "Compact Digital Camera Objective with Interdigitated Element Alignment, Stray Light Suppression, and Anti-Aliasing Features" to Broome et al. discloses passive alignment between lens elements in which a tapered fit provides centration and an abutment fit provides proper spacing.
While each of the above-cited solutions for passive alignment provide some measure of accuracy for centration and spacing, there are inherent problems with each of these approaches that limit their successful application for miniaturized lens assemblies. In particular, each of these proposed solutions exhibits problems due to either or both additive tolerance errors and mechanical overconstraint. The apparatus of both '3605 Yamaguchi and '4885 Tansho et al. disclosures would be particularly prone to lateral centration problems, requiring precision fabrication and assembly of the multiple stacked lens components. For production optical components, in practice, there must necessarily be some finite gap between a lens element and the element that provides its lateral constraint, whether this is provided by a lens barrel or by a structure on an adjacent lens element. Thus, there is some built-in amount of imprecision that is inherent to lateral positioning when using conventional lens mounting techniques as shown in both '3605 Yamaguchi and '4885 Tansho et al. disclosures. The apparatus of both '341 Hasegawa and '717 Yamada et al. patents exhibit overconstraint, limiting the applicability of these approaches to lens assemblies. The apparatus of the '634 Broome et al. patent exhibits both lateral centration and overconstraint problems, with a tapered centration fit of a lens element potentially compromised by an abutment fit for spacing of that same lens element. The '634 Broome et al. solution would thus require highly accurate manufacturing tolerances in order to provide suitable centration alignment and spacing. While the high cost of providing such precision tolerance lens components may be justified for larger, complex optical assemblies, such a design approach would not be compatible with requirements for fabrication of high-volume, low-cost, miniaturized optical assemblies.


Methods and apparatus for controlling charge current in a battery pack containing cells of disparate types are disclosed. The methods include receiving a charge current for charging a battery pack that includes one or more battery cells of a first cell type, and one or more battery cells of a second cell type. Each battery cell of the first cell type has a first impedance and a first charge current limit. Each battery cell of the second cell type has a second impedance greater than the first impedance and a second charge current limit greater than the first charge current limit. The methods include reducing, by a respective current control circuit associated with each battery cell of the first cell type, the amount of the received charge current through the battery cell of the first cell type to an amount less than the first charge current limit.

Feature rich portable electronic devices, including portable communication devices, require ever increasing amounts of energy from batteries in terms of higher peak load currents and higher average load currents. For example, radios have evolved from simple analog devices with peak transmission power demands to multifunction computing systems in which different software-controlled modes have different peak current demands. The radio may be restricted in terms of power consumption or current consumption to satisfy compliance with one or more safety standards, including Appareils destines a etre utilises en ATmospheres EXplosibles (ATEX), Underwriters Laboratories (UL), and International Electrotechnical Commission System for Certification to Standards Relating to Equipment for Use in Explosive Atmospheres (IECEx), or to avoid damaging the battery or the radio due to over-charge, over-discharge, or over-current conditions.
Battery packs for powering portable electronic devices may include multiple battery cells selected based on their physical size and energy capacity. For example, space constraints may restrict the types of battery cells included in a battery pack. In addition, performance requirements under particular environmental conditions may reduce the number of suitable battery cell chemistries. Typically, the battery cells in a battery pack are identical battery cells that work together as if they are a single large battery cell.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.
The apparatus and method components have been represented where appropriate by suitable symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.