A rotary electric shaver including a disc-shaped outer cutter 10, which is mounted in the upper part of a shaver main body housing therein a motor and has ring-shaped tracks 18 on the under (inner) surface thereof, and an inner cutter 12A, which has cutter blades 120 that elastically contact the ring-shaped tracks 18 of the outer cutter 10 from below and is rotated by the motor; and in this shaver, the inner cutter 12A has vibration elements 132 that travel in the ring-shaped tracks 18 and have a smaller spring constant, compared to the cutter blade 120, in the direction same as and opposite from the direction in which the cutter blades travel, and the vibration elements 132 vibrate and produce sound when, during shaving, they strike stoppers 134 provided near the vibration elements 132.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rotary electric shaver in which a rotating inner cutter with its cutter blades elastically in contact with a ring-shaped track of a substantially disc-shaped outer cutter cuts whiskers (hair) entering into the hair introduction openings formed in the outer cutter.
2. Description of the Related Art
When an electric shaver is used, vibration and noise are produced by the motor and drive system built installed in the shaver body, and, together therewith, noise (cutting noise, shaving noise, frictional noise, and the like) is produced by the vibration accompanying the friction between the outer cutter and the inner cutter and the vibration of the blades when the hair (whiskers, etc.) advanced between the outer cutter and the inner cutter is cut. In particular, the hair cutting noise and vibration noise caused by the outer cutter and the inner cutter are sensitively felt by the user because the outer cutter is in direct contact with the skin, and directly affect the quality of shaving comfort.
In reciprocating electric shavers, a plurality of arch-shaped cutter blades held in an inner cutter are caused to reciprocate and slide against the lower surface of an arch-shaped outer cutter; for such reciprocating shavers, it has been proposed, as in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. No. 10-323461, that suitable channels be formed in the inner circumferential edges of the circular arcs of the arch-shaped cutter blades, so that the cutter blades can readily vibrate. It is also commonly known, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. 2005-230237 that, so as to adjust the vibration characteristics of the cutter blades, a vibration control unit comprised of, for instance, cut-ins is provided in the tip ends in the length-wise direction of the cutter blades (so as to be near the linking portions connecting the two ends of the cutter blades to the side edges thereof).
FIG. 8 shows a cutter unit used in a conventional rotary electric shaver, FIG. 9 is a side view thereof, and FIG. 10 shows the cross-section at lines 10-10 in FIG. 8.
In this conventional rotary electric shaver, the reference numeral 10 designates an outer cutter, and 12 an inner cutter. The outer cutter 10 is made of metal and is made substantially in a disc shape. The outer circumferential edge thereof is bent so as to be substantially either in a saucer-shape or inverted bowl shape.
In the upper surface of this round outer cutter 10, a multiplicity of slits 14 are formed in the radial direction. The slits 14 constitute hair introduction openings. In the upper surface of the outer cutter 10, a ring-shaped channel 16 is formed; and thus, in the lower surface (inner surface) of the outer cutter 10, two tracks 18 (only one whereof is shown in FIG. 10) comprising concentric circles are formed on both sides of the ring-shaped channel 16.
The inner cutter 12 is comprised of an inner cutter main unit 20 made of a resin and a plurality of cutter blades 22 provided on the inner cutter main unit 20. The cutter blades 22 contact the lower surface (inner surface) of the tracks 18 of the outer cutter 10 and travel while sliding on the inner surface (lower surface) of the tracks 18 when the inner cutter main unit 20 is rotated by the motor. The cutter blades 22, as shown in FIG. 10, are raised up diagonally from the attachment surface 24 which is set on, so to be attached, to the inner cutter main unit 20. More specifically, in FIG. 10, the angle a by which the cutter blades 22 are bent upward is an acute angle, and it is ordinarily 60 to 80°.
In the inner cutter main unit 20 of the inner cutter 12, as seen from FIG. 9, an engagement hole 26 is formed, and a rotary shaft (not shown), parallel to the center axis x of the inner cutter 12, is engaged with this engagement hole 26. The inner cutter 12 is rotationally driven by the rotary shaft in a direction in which the cutter blades 22 travel toward the left (in the direction of the arrow B) in FIG. 10. This rotary shaft has a tendency to return in a direction in which the inner cutter 12 is pushed against the outer cutter 10, and thus this return force is a pushing-up load for pressing the cutter blades 22 in the tracks 18 of the outer cutter 10.
In a reciprocating electric shaver, since the inner cutter moves reciprocally, the cutter blades of the inner cutter are held at right angles with respect to the direction of reciprocation motion. For this reason, it has been possible to configure the shaver so that the inner cutter itself can vibrate.
In a rotary electric shaver, on the other hand, as seen from FIGS. 8, 9, and 10, the cutter blades 22 of the inner cutter 12 are inclined so that the tip ends (cutting edge) are made to precede in the direction of travel of the cutter blades 22 (or in the direction of rotation of the inner cutter 12), thus enhancing the quality of shaving. In such a rotary electric shaver, each cutter blade 22 must have sufficient strength so as not to be bent when cutting hair, and it is also preferred that no irritating noise (buzzing sound) be produced during shaving. For these reasons, the cutter blades are made as rigid as possible to enhance the cutting quality; and more specifically, the thickness β of the cutter blade 22, in FIG. 10, is made large. As a result, since the cutter blades 22 are rigid and do not readily vibrate, it is very difficult to control the sound quality by adjusting the vibration characteristics of the cutter blades 22 by forming channels or the like in the cutter blades 22.


A method of thin film formation includes: preparing a substrate; forming a thin film above the substrate; and crystallizing the thin film by irradiating the thin film with a light beam, in which the crystallizing includes steps of: crystallizing the thin film in a first region into a first crystalline thin film by irradiating the first region while scanning a first light beam relative to the substrate, the first region including at least one of: edge portions of the substrate; and a region through which a cutting line passes when the substrate is cut; and subsequently crystallizing the thin film in a second region into a second crystalline thin film by irradiating at least the second region while scanning a second light beam relative to the substrate, and the thin film has a higher absorption ratio of the second light beam than that of the first crystalline thin film.

In recent years, organic EL displays using electroluminescence (EL) of an organic material have been attracting attention as a type of next-generation flat panel display replacing liquid crystal displays.
Unlike the voltage-driven liquid crystal display, the organic EL display is a current-driven display device. Accordingly, there is an urgent need for development of a thin-film transistor (TFT) having excellent characteristics as a driving circuit for the active-matrix display device. The thin-film transistor is used as a switching element for selecting a pixel, a driving transistor for driving a pixel, or others.
For example, a conventional thin-film transistor and a method for manufacturing the thin-film transistor are disclosed in Patent Literature (PTL) 1 and PTL 2. According to the PTL 1 and PTL 2, the thin-film transistor is manufactured by successively stacking thin films on the substrate. In order to improve the turn-on characteristics, it is known to crystallize a semiconductor film into a polycrystalline film by irradiating, with a laser, the semiconductor film which is to serve as a channel region.

Substrate having thin film and method of thin film formation


A heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet, having a support, and at least two heat insulation layers and at least one receiving layer sequentially formed thereon, wherein each of the heat insulation layers comprises at least one kind of hollow particles and at least one kind of water-soluble polymer, and wherein the following relationship is satisfied:1.5≦{(a1/a2)/(b1/b2)}≦50wherein a1 is a mass of a hollow particle solid content in the heat insulation layer farthest from the support, a2 is mass of a water-soluble polymer solid content in the heat insulation layer farthest from the support, b1 is a mass of a hollow particle solid content in the heat insulation layer closest to the support, and b2 is a mass of a water-soluble polymer solid content in the heat insulation layer closest to the support.

Various heat transfer recording methods have been known so far. Among these methods, dye diffusion transfer recording systems attract attention as a process that can produce a color hard copy having an image quality closest to that of silver halide photography (see, e.g., JP-A-8-25813 ("JP-A" means unexamined published Japanese patent application) and JP-A-11-321128). Moreover, this system has advantages over silver halide photography: it is a dry system, it enables direct visualization from digital data, it makes reproduction simple, and the like.
In the dye diffusion transfer recording systems, a colorant-containing heat-sensitive transfer sheet and a heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet are superposed, and the heat-sensitive transfer sheet is heated using a thermal head with which heat generation can be controlled by electric signals. Thereby a colorant in the heat-sensitive transfer sheet is transferred to the image-receiving sheet to record image information. More specifically, a transferred color image with a continuous change in color shading can be obtained by recording three colors including cyan, magenta and yellow, or four colors including black in addition to the three colors in the manner of one over another.
Owing to a recent progress of computerized digital image processing technique, a quality of the recorded image is improving and a market of the dye diffusion transfer recording system is growing. In accordance with the growth of market, a demand for both speed-up of the print system and high density imaging is increasing.
In the heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet of this system, a receiving layer dyeing the transferred colorant is formed on a support. It is also known that it is possible to improve the dye transfer efficiency by coating a heat insulation layer containing hollow particles on a support and thus utilizing the insulation effect of the voids in the hollow particles, and thus, proposed was a method of raising the density of transferred image further by forming two or more heat insulation layers containing hollow particles (see, e.g., JP-A-2006-62114 and JP-A-2007-264170).
Although the method is effective in increasing the density of the transferred image, the heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet after printing was insufficient in resistance to so-called heat blurring, which means an image blurring when stored at relatively high temperatures. Further, surface irregularity was generated on the sheet during print conveyance by spike scars with the grip rollers that are in contact with the back side of the support. In this way, the method raised a new problem that defects of non-printing occurred in the area to be printed.
On the other hand, printers having a mechanism of holding a heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet with grip rollers consisting of a rubber roller and a metal roller and conveying the sheet reciprocally by their revolution, which are simpler structurally, allow reduction in size and are cheaper, are used most widely (see, e.g., JP-A-11-115328).
In the case of such a printer, the grip rollers consist of a rubber roller for prevention of slipping of paper and a metal roller conveying the heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet accurately by gripping it with fine protrusions (hereinafter referred to as "spikes") having a height of about 40 to 100 μm formed on the surface by etching.
However, in the case where the heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet has a layer mechanically brittle, the spike scars cause serious problems that defects of non-printing on the printed face occur.

Heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet


A first ReRAM unit having a resistance change layer is provided between a first access transistor configuring the SRAM and a first bit line, and a second ReRAM unit having a resistance change layer is provided between a second access transistor and a second bit line. When a low potential (L=0V) is held at a first storage node and a high potential (H=1.5V) is held at a second storage node at the end of a normal operation period of the SRAM, the first ReRAM unit is set to ON state (ON), and the second ReRAM unit is set to OFF state (OFF); accordingly, the retained data of the SRAM is written in to the ReRAM units. When the SRAM returns to the normal operation again, data corresponding to the storage nodes are written back and the ReRAM units are both set to ON state (reset).

The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device, in particular, to technology which is effective when applied to a semiconductor memory device which includes an SRAM.
An SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) is a kind of a semiconductor memory, and stores data by use of a flip-flop. For example, in an SRAM, data ("1" or "0") is stored in two cross-coupled CMOS inverters configured with four transistors. Since two transistors are needed additionally for a read and write access, a memory cell of a typical SRAM is configured with six transistors.
For example, Patent Literature 1 (Published Japanese Translation of PCT International Publication No. 2006-527897) cited below discloses a nonvolatile static memory cell in which a nonvolatile cells (14, 16) are cross-coupled to internal nodes (A, B) of the static memory cell. One nonvolatile cell (14) of the two nonvolatile cells has a control gate coupled to B and a source coupled to A, and the other nonvolatile cell (16) has a control gate coupled to A and a source coupled to B.
Patent Literature 2 (Published Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. Hei 7 (1995)-226088) cited below discloses a semiconductor memory device which can realize a nonvolatile property while maintaining speediness of a static memory (SRAM). This semiconductor memory device has an SRAM memory cell unit 1 and a nonvolatile memory cell unit 3. The SRAM memory cell unit 1 is configured by coupling a first and a second selection transistor T7 and T8 to two transistors T1 and T2, of which the respective sources are grounded and the respective drains are coupled to each other's gates. The nonvolatile memory cell unit 3 is configured with nonvolatile transistors T3 and T4 which are provided with two gates, a floating gate and a control gate, and the drains coupled to a power supply line, thereby storing the state of the SRAM memory cell unit 1.
Patent Literature 3 (Published Japanese Translation of PCT International Publication No. 2003-511809) discloses a nonvolatile MOSRAM cell configured with a first and a second inverter and capacitors (G1, G2) each coupled in series to a control electrode of each of the first and the second inverter.
Patent Literature 4 (Published Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. 2007-157183) cited below discloses a nonvolatile memory configured with a flip-flop which comprises a pair of series circuits of a load transistor and a memory transistor, coupled in a static latch mode. This nonvolatile memory is provided with leakage-current cutoff elements (T16, T26) coupled to a current path through which a leakage current flows into the power supply side of the flip-flop via the load transistor in writing and erasing.
Patent Literature 5 (Published Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. Hei 6 (1994)-76582) cited below discloses a nonvolatile memory which stores information by changing a threshold voltage of field effect transistors (RMmn (o+), RMmn (o−)) which act as a pair of flip-flops of a memory cell.
Patent Literature 6 (Published Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. Hei 7 (1995)-183401) cited below discloses a nonvolatile memory cell which comprises four N-channel MOS transistors and two P-channel TFTs as load elements. The TFT has a laminated structure comprised of a first TFT gate electrode 9 in a lower layer, a TFT gate insulating film 10, a body layer (semiconductor layer) 13 which forms a channel of the TFT, a second gate insulating film 22 which has ferroelectricity, and a second TFT gate electrode 23.
Patent Literature 7 (Published Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. 2004-207282) cited below discloses a nonvolatile SRAM cell which comprises a pair of two cross-coupled CMOS inverters c1 and c2 and ferroelectric capacitors fc1 and fc2. The ferroelectric capacitors fc1 and fc2 are formed respectively by lower electrodes BEL1 and BEL2, ferroelectric films FER1 and FER2, and upper electrodes TEL1 and TEL2, the lower electrodes BEL1 and BEL2 being respectively coupled to a drain diffusion area included in corresponding one of the two CMOS inverters.
Non Patent Literature 1 cited below discloses a nonvolatile SRAM cell which has NVM devices (XR1, XR2) coupled between two storage nodes of the SRAM and a control line (ctrl).
Non Patent Literature 2 cited below discloses a nonvolatile SRAM which has two SONOS transistors as a memory device. The SONOS transistors are coupled respectively between two storage nodes of the SRAM and a VCCT line.
(Patent Literature 1) Published Japanese Translation of PCT International Publication No. 2006-527897
(Patent Literature 2) Published Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. Hei 7 (1995)-226088
(Patent Literature 3) Published Japanese Translation of PCT International Publication No. 2003-511809
(Patent Literature 4) Published Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. 2007-157183
(Patent Literature 5) Published Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. Hei 6 (1994)-76582
(Patent Literature 6) Published Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. Hei 7 (1995)-183401
(Patent Literature 7) Published Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. 2004-207282
(Non Patent Literature 1) Wei Wang et al; "Nonvolatile SRAM Cell", 1-4244-0439-8/06/$20.00(c) 2006 IEEE
(Non Patent Literature 2) Michael Fliesler et al; "A 15ns 4 Mb NVSRAM in 0.13u SONOS Technology", 987-1-4244-1 547-2/08/$25.00 (c) 2008 IEEE PP. 83-86


An adapter mattress for a dental chair is disclosed, comprising a flat upper surface and a lower surface with a suitably curved profile to adapt to the curvature of a dental chair, so that the upper surface of the mattress is disposed according to a horizontal plane, converting the dental chair into a surgery couch.

1. Field of the Invention
The present patent application for industrial invention relates to an adapter mattress for dental chairs.
2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98
Dentist's surgeries make large use of dental chairs connected to a dental drill unit that controls operation of dental chair.
FIG. 4 shows a dental chair (100) connected to a dental drill unit (200).
Dental chair (100) comprises:                first portion (101) where legs rest, called leg rest;        second portion (102) where buttocks rest, called seat; and        third portion (103) where back rests, called back rest.
Leg rest (101) is coupled with seat (102) and joined by means of curved connection portion (104). Leg rest (101) is disposed according to a plane that is substantially hotizontally or slightly inclined downwards. Seat (102) is inclined downwards with respect to leg rest (101). So between leg rest (101) and seat (102) an obtuse angle (α) of approximately 140°-160° is defined.
Back rest (101) is articulated with respect to seat (102). Back rest (103) can be inclined upwards with respect to seat (102) by an angle (β) from 180° to 90° according to the operator's needs. So, between seat (102) and back rest (103) a curved recessed portion (105) is defined. Generally, during surgical sessions, the angle (β) is regulated substantially equal to angle (α). Therefore, the upper part of dental chair (100) comprises a concave recessed part (105) separating seat (102) from back rest (103) and convex upward-protruding part. (104) connecting leg rest (101) to seat (102).
The dental drill unit (200) controls the height of seat (102), inclination of back rest (103) and comprises various functions, such as delivery of water, compressed air and electricity to power scyalitic lamps and other dental tools.
In any case, upper surface of leg rest (101), seat (102) and back rest (103) is ergonomic and suitably curved and shaped to follow the configuration of the patient's body.
Such a type of dental chair is impaired by some drawbacks, being not versatile and not suitable to patient's treatments other than dental ones.
Following to dental treatment, patients often need surgical, dermatological, osteopathic, massotherapy and similar treatments. Evidently, such treatments cannot be carried out on a dental chair. Consequently, patients are obliged to abandon the dentist's surgery and more to another room provided with surgical couch provided with perfectly horizontal patient's support surface.


The present disclosure is in relation to nanotechnology/nanobiotechnology, in particular to nano, meso and micro structures of Naphthalene diimide derivatives. The disclosure provides a method for supramolecular self-assembling of Naphthalene diimide derivatives, its characteristics and its applications. The present disclosure also relates to self assembled nano, meso or micro-structures of the Naphthalene diimide derivatives.

Organic semiconductor based electronics relies on the noncovalent interactions induced organization of π-conjugated materials. To realize the extensive applications of organic electronic devices, both p and n-type organic semiconductors are essential. The p-type organic semiconductors have been thoroughly investigated over the past decades. However, the n-type organic semiconductors are lagging behind the performances of p-type semiconductors. Naphthalene diimides (NDIs) are among the most promising n-type semiconductors for organic material based electronic devices. NDI finds potential applications in organic field effect transistors, supramolecular switches, fluorescent chemosensors, electron and energy transfer systems. NDIs possess excellent characteristics for the construction of artificial photosystems. Planarity and high π-acidity of NDI system is ideal for face to face π-stacking.
Moreover the enhanced solubility offers better processability over other aromatic imides. In spite of its several merits the self-assembly of NDI is largely unexplored. For the potential applications of organic semiconductors in electronics, tuning the molecular interactions and hence the morphology to desired architectures is the need of the day.
Fabrication of new nanomaterials using natural building blocks such as amino acids, peptides and proteins is a fascinating area of research in recent years. Peptides based materials have been showed to be a great promise in the "bottom up" approach due to their diverse chemical and physical properties. They can be synthesized in large amounts and can be modified/decorated with functional elements which can be used in diverse applications. The simplest peptide assemblies are of dipeptide assemblies, which are the excellent building blocks for the formation of more complex nanostructures. Self-assembled nanostructures of dipeptide building blocks may find variety of applications such as in controlled drug delivery systems, in the field of tissue engineering, energy-related applications, biomineralisation, molecular electronics and biomaterial science.
Among organic electronic materials, 1,4,5,8-napthalenediimides (NDIs) are attractive due to their n-type semiconducting property and air stability. These are compact electron deficient class of aromatic compounds having tendency to form n-type semiconductor materials. NDI derivatives have got wide range of applications in biological, biomedical as well as in supramolecular chemistry. Its derivatives have been used as intercalators of DNA, chemotherapy, conducting materials, optical brighteners, electrophotography, fluorescent labelling systems, metalomacrocycles, models for the photosynthetic reaction centre (due to ease of synthesis and electron accepting properties), sensors (seven different positional isomers of dihydroxynaphthalene and DNA sensing) and anticancer agents. Because of their desired electronic, spectroscopic and enhanced solubility properties NDIs can act as ideal components for the creation of supramolecular functional materials (donor-acceptor complexes, barrels, catenanes and rotaxanes). The absorption and emission bands of NDIs are variable upon functionalization through the diimide nitrogens or via core substitution. Photophysical properties of N,N-dialkyl-substituted NDIs have been studied. The absorption and emission spectra of these compounds are mirror images to each other and readily aggregate in acetonitrile and in aqueous medium. In aromatic solvents (toluene) excimer-like emissions was observed due to ground-state aggregation. In the case of core substituted NDIs photophysical properties are different than unsubstituted ones, and are highly colourful and conducting functional materials.
1,4,5,8-Naphthalenediimides are neutral, planar, chemically robust, redox-active compounds usually with high melting points. Its derivatives can exhibit relatively high electron affinities, high electron mobility, and excellent chemical, thermal, and photochemical stabilities. Because of its electron transfer behaviour and the ability to tune molecular electronic properties through either variation of substituents on the imide nitrogen atoms or core substitution, they have been used as a building blocks for electronic and optoelectronic devices such as electron-transfer processes, photodetectors, organic light-emitting diodes, optical switches, dye lasers, and also as electron acceptors for studying photo induced energy.

Self assembly of naphthalene diimide derivatives and process thereof

Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research


An apparatus may include first circuitry coupled to one or more platform components, the first circuitry operative to receive an unfiltered input voltage signal, compare a first voltage level of the unfiltered input voltage signal to a first reference voltage level, and generate a control signal operative to lower operation power of one or more of the one or more platform components when the first voltage level is less than the first reference voltage level.

In present day and future portable computing systems (platforms) and portable communications systems, battery design plays an important role for optimizing performance as well as in ergonomic issues such as portability. In some designs, for example, battery configurations may involve only two battery cells arranged in series, which entails a lower input voltage for the platform to be powered by the battery.
The lower input voltage provided to a given computing/communications platform by a battery such as a two battery cell configuration places restrictions on the central processing unit (CPU) device performance in a portable device when the portable device is powered by the battery. For example, if a CPU is operating in an enhanced operation mode, such as a so called "Dynamic Turbo" mode, and battery cells discharge, the system voltage may droop below a minimum voltage required by the platform power delivery.
In one example of operation of known computing platforms, one or more 5V voltage regulators (VRs) may be designed so that proper operation requires a minimum input voltage to the VR of between 5.2 V and 6 V. During operation, the individual or collective activity of one or more devices in a mobile computing/communications platform may cause a large power spike, including for example, the action of a processor such as a CPU when operating in a Dynamic Turbo mode. Assuming that a total resistance from the battery cells (including the internal cell resistance) to the input of a 5V regulator is equal to 100 mOhm, and a minimum input 5V VR voltage of 5.6V, the battery cell voltage of 3.5V—above the traditional cut-off voltage of the cells. To account for such circumstances, a conservative system design would require the mobile computing system to drastically lower the CPU maximum current (Imax) and performance when the battery cells are a voltage level of 3.5V—which may severely restrict usage of the mobile computing platform for end-users. Such system design takes into account maximum projected power consumption, which may take place in real operation of the mobile computing platform only under rare circumstances if at all. Accordingly, system performance of a mobile computing system powered by a lower voltage battery design may be sacrificed in order to accommodate unlikely operation scenarios.
It is with respect to these and other considerations that the present improvements have been needed.

Method and apparatus for managing computing system power


Data routing of the present invention is a capability of pre-configuring routes for data traveling through the software or the hardware of a computer system. The routes are set up by a consumer of the data or the destination and are delivered to the producer of the data or the source. The data route may include an identification of the consumer of the data, a minimal list of routines which will perform some preprocessing of the data, a return route, a don't care mask, a set of registered routes and a set of actions. The set of actions can be a set of states to transition or a set of functions to call. In order to determine a data route hit, the incoming data from the producer is AND'ed with the don't care mask, the results of which is then compared with the set of registered routes, i.e. a pattern of bits. If the results are equal, then there is a data route hit. The incoming data from the producer is then passed off to the actions.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to the field of communication frameworks. More specifically, the present invention is related to a method and an apparatus for establishing data routes between a consumer and a producer on a computer system.
(2) Prior Art
Computer systems typically utilize a layered approach for implementing functionalities relating to communications frameworks where a layer is a program module for processing different portions of data traveling from a producer to a consumer. A disadvantage to the layered approach is that it requires examination of data by each layer to determine if any work needs to be performed by that layer before sending the data to the next layer. This examination process requires computer instructions and data to be read by the central processing unit(s) (CPU), consuming CPU cycles and time. For many cases, a given layer may not do any real work. Thus the layered approach to a communication framework is a high cost approach to processing of data.
A well known example of a layered approach is the use of AT&T's STREAMS framework. The interfaces for this framework are well known. STREAMS utilizes a layered approach to build communication services, examples being a protocol stack or a terminal interface. Writing simple STREAMS modules may be easy. From a user level, STREAMS modules can be selected and interconnected without writing any kernel level code provided that the required STREAMS modules have been implemented.
In the STREAMS framework, incoming packets are pushed upstream through independent STREAMS modules in an effort to determine the final destination of the packet. The final destination or consumer, is typically sitting on top of the stream head. For outgoing packets, the packets are pushed downstream in an effort to determine which STREAMS driver should be utilized to transmit the packet. An example of a STREAMS driver is a Networking Interface Unit (NIU) which is a hardware component that sends and receives data over a physical medium. An example of an NIU is an Ethernet Interface.
Several problems exist which are associated with the STREAMS framework. For one, utilizing the STREAMS framework can take approximately 0.002% of available CPU cycles to push a packet between modules. Such overhead quickly adds up in light of the number of STREAMS modules which must be traversed when a packet is being transmitted up and down a data stream. For example, if there are six layered modules, then it takes 0.021% of available CPU cycles to go up and down the layered modules. Another prevalent problem is that there is little code locality. Hence, in a system utilizing virtual memory, for example operating systems implemented in workstations available from Sun Microsystems Inc., code between two modules will not share the same page in memory. This results in an increase in the overhead of a virtual memory subsystem. In addition, the overhead of the framework is enormous in terms of the number of instructions required to implement a STREAMS module. Another problem with the STREAMS framework is that since there is a large amount of code required to implement the framework and because STREAMS is feature rich and complicated, it is difficult to prove that it performs correctly.
Yet another concern is the STREAMS working relationship with a multi-threaded kernel with relatively fine grain locking. The use of fine grain locking is a simple method to improve system performance and is well known in the art. Unfortunately, fine grain locking impacts uni-processor performance by placing too many unnecessary lock related checks in the code path. The performance of the STREAMS framework and the STREAMS modules in the critical code paths may be improved in such a case. However, the kernel implementation of the STREAMS framework is very complex and modifications can be non-trivial.
There is therefore a need for a method and an apparatus for a new and simple communication services framework that has little if any overhead and for which it is easy to prove correctness.

System for transmitting data packet after matching data packet's routing pattern with predetermined data routes stored in a route table


A light valve is a planar member in which liquid crystals are hermetically sealed, and allows the transmission of light in an almost parallel direction and selectively scattering undesired light. On a rear surface of the light valve is disposed a light guide tube which contains a plurality of minute apertures. Alternatively, one of the substrates which constitute the light valve may be made of a fiber plate. The fiber plate has a structure in which short optical fibers are stacked. The light guide tube or the fiber plate converges a luminous flux emitted from the light valve to improve the contrast of an image. A projection display apparatus is constituted of a light source, a light valve, either a light guide tube or a fiber plate, a lens, and a projection lens. A luminous flux emitted from either the light guide tube or the fiber plate is incident on the pupil of the projection lens by way of the lens, and the projection lens casts this luminous flux onto a screen, thus forming a projected image. The selectively scattered undesired light cannot pass through the light guide tube or file plate.

1. Field of the Invention:
This invention relates to an improvement in the brightness and contrast of a projection display apparatus for projecting images, which are produced on a light valve, enlarged onto a screen.
2. Description of the Related Arts:
Referring to FIG. 15 of accompanying drawings, a description will be given of a conventional projection display apparatus. In FIG. 15, reference numeral 1 designates a light source; while 9 and 10 designate a reflecting mirror and a lamp, respectively both of which constitute the light source 1; 2, represents a luminous flux emanated from the light source 1; 3, represents a polymer dispersed liquid crystal light valve; 5, represents a lens; 6, a diaphragm; 4, a projection lens; and 7, a screen.
The operation of the projection television apparatus in such a conventional device will now be described. The light source 1 irradiates a luminous flux 2 consisting of parallel light beams towards the light valve 3. A discharge bulb such as a metal halide lamp, a xenon lamp, or a halogen lamp, for instance, is generally used as the lamp 10 of the light source. Upon the surface of the light valve 3 is displayed an image, as will be described later, and the luminous flux incident on the inside of the light valve 3 is transmitted, or is dispersed dependent on the density and color of the image. The luminous flux depicted in solid lines emitted in parallel from the light valve 3 is converged at the diaphragm 6 by means of the lens 5, and then thus converged luminous flux is incident on the projection lens 4 after having passed through the diaphragm. Meanwhile, luminous flux 8, having been dispersed at the light valve 3 and passed through the lens 5, is cut off by the diaphragm 6, and hence the dispersed light will not enter the projection lens 4. Practically, the diaphragm 6 cuts off unwanted light, i.e., scattered light, and allows only the luminous flux emitted at right angles from the light valve 3 to travel to the projection lens 4, thereby improving the contrast of the image. The luminous flux having passed through the projection lens 4 is projected onto the screen 7 in the form of an enlarged image for entertainment purposes.
Next, the structure and operation of the conventional polymer dispersed liquid crystal light valve 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 16 and 17. Liquid crystals 32 are dispersed in the form of droplets in the interior of a matrix composed of polymer 33, and such liquid crystals are sandwiched between two glass substrates 31a and 31b. The liquid crystal 32 together with the polymer 33 is hereinafter referred to as a polymer dispersed liquid crystal. Without the application of voltage (V=0) as shown in FIG. 16, the liquid crystals 32 in the droplets are arranged disorderly. In such a disordered state, there occurs a difference in refractive index, and incoming light turns into scattered light 2b. However, when a voltage V greater than a threshold voltage Vth is applied as shown in FIG. 17, the liquid crystals 32 become aligned in one direction. In the case where the liquid crystals 32 are arranged in one direction, if the refractive index is adjusted to the same refractive index as the polymer 33 in advance, the incoming light 2 will not undergo diffraction and becomes transmitted light 2a. With the increase of the voltage, the accuracy of the alignment of the liquid crystals 32 is improved, whereby the quantity of light transmitted is increased.
Referring to FIG. 18, the structure of the conventional light valve 3 is now explained. In FIG. 18, reference numeral 34 is a pixel; 35, a switching element; 36, a source electrode; and 37, a gate electrode. With such a structure, as is publicly known, the selection of the source electrode 36 and gate electrode 37 enables any desired pixel 34 to be turned on and off with the use of the switching element 35. As can be seen from the drawing, the array of electrodes addressed two-dimensionally constitute an image display element in two dimensions. Red (R), green (G), and blue (B) pixels are arranged in a triangular arrangement shown in FIG. 18. In order to make the pixels transmissive for three primary colors, a color filter for transmitting light is disposed for each pixel as conventionally practiced. A drawing of the color filter is omitted here for clarity.
In the conventional projection display apparatus having the structure as mentioned above, it was necessary to reduce the aperture diameter of the diaphragm 6 disposed right in front of the projection lens 4 to increase the contrast ratio. This, however, resulted in partial elimination of the transmitted light and decrease in the maximum brightness.

Projection display apparatus, and light guide tube/light valve for use in the same


A machine and method for producing a fibrous material web, in particular a tissue paper or bathroom tissue web, whereby the machine includes at least one pre-press embodied as a shoe press, a main press, in the form of a press roll, and a drying cylinder, an endless top belt guided through the nips of the pre-press and the main press, and an underfelt guided via a bottom roll of the pre-press, wherein the top belt supplies the fibrous material web that has been preformed in a former first to the pre-press and then to the main press. The pre-press, which is embodied as a shoe press and has a nip that is elongated in the web travel direction, includes an upper shoe press unit and a bottom roll disposed opposite this. The upper shoe press unit is provided with a smooth, rotating flexible press belt. The bottom roll is grooved. A relatively dense overfelt is provided as the top belt whose water permeability is lower than that of the underfelt, but in the main press when pressing against the drying cylinder, still permits the removal of additional water from the fibrous material web. The press roll associated with the main press has a perforated and/or grooved surface for absorbing expressed water.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a machine for producing a fibrous material web, in particular a tissue paper or bathroom tissue web, with at least one pre-press embodied as a shoe press, a main press comprised of a press roll and a drying cylinder, an endless top belt guided through the nips of the pre-press and the main press, and an underfelt guided via a bottom roll of the pre-press, wherein the top belt supplies the fibrous material web that has been preformed in a former first to the pre-press and then to the main press. The invention also relates to the method of producing a fibrous material web by means of the machine.
Moreover, the invention also relates to a machine for producing a creped tissue paper web that is pressed onto a peripheral surface of a single tissue drying cylinder in a wet state and finish dried in contact with the surface and removed from the surface after drying by a creping doctor. The creped product can be, e.g., bathroom tissue, etc.
2. Discussion of Background Information
DE-A-42 24 730 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,393,384) has disclosed different embodiments of a bathroom tissue machine of the aforementioned type. One of these known embodiments includes a total of three press points, namely two pre-presses between two top rolls and two bottom shoe press rolls with a flexible roll jacket, as well as one main press with a press roll and a drying cylinder. The paper web is produced on a roll former between a drainage screen and a top belt. Bottom belts embodied as permeable felts are guided together with the paper web and the top belt through the two pre-presses.
According to another known embodiment, a top belt removes the paper web from a former in order to then guide it with an underfelt through a pre-press between a top roll and a bottom roll to a main press between a press roll and a drying cylinder. In another known embodiment, the press roll is a shoe press roll.
With the exception of the use of shoe presses, these known embodiments approximately correspond to two-felt tissue apparatuses that were once standard but are no longer used in the new bathroom tissue machines.
In these known two-felt tissue machines, the overfelt is very dense and the underfelt is very water-absorbent. To achieve as great a drainage as possible by means of the underfelt, the bottom roll is embodied as a suction roll.
The problem that occurs in a two-felt machine of this type which led to a rejection of this principle and instead to the current use of single felt machines is comprised of the fact that with increasing web travel speed, preparatory drainage cannot be carried out rapidly enough, even with a suction press and, as a result of an insufficient water drainage, the web is crushed in the pre-press.
For this reason, the use of a shoe press as the pre-press is actually advantageous in principle. However, in the embodiments disclosed in DE-A-42 24 730, it is among other things disadvantageous that the respective shoe press rolls are disposed in the bottom position since the paper web comes from the forming wire in a very wet state, i.e., with a dry matter content of approximately 6% to 8%.
The blind bores or grooves in the surface of the press jacket cannot absorb the entirety of the accumulating water due to their depth, which is limited for manufacture conditional reasons. This could be a reason for the fact that in most of the embodiments disclosed in DE-A-42 24 730, two pre-presses are provided and, in this instance, a suction press roll is additionally provided in the main press.
In most of the embodiments disclosed in DE-A-42 24 730, a waterproof or watertight top belt is additionally used.
In particular in comparison to a single felt machine, the known embodiments of the two-felt machine consequently take up a relatively large amount of space, particularly because in the instances mentioned, two pre-presses and a main press are provided, which main press does not remove any water on the creping cylinder.

Machine and method for producing a fibrous creped web


A Process Compensated Delay has been disclosed. In one implementation delay is primarily based on electron mobility.

Delay elements and the accurate delaying of signals (in time) is critical to high speed performance. Process variations in ICs (integrated circuits) fabrication affect the delay element and cause variation in the delay of fabricated elements. This presents a technical problem for which a technical solution using a technical means is needed.


A system and method of controlling engine torque in a hybrid electric vehicle. The method includes comparing an engine speed command to a maximum engine speed command, comparing an engine speed value to the engine speed command, and adjusting the engine torque command if the engine speed command is within a predetermined threshold to the maximum engine speed command and the engine speed exceeds the engine speed command by at least a predetermined amount.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the control of a hybrid electric vehicle, and more specifically to a system and method of selectively controlling engine speed in a hybrid electric vehicle.
2. Background Art
Hybrid electric vehicles may include a generator that is used to control the speed of an engine. The generator may not have sufficient torque to control engine speed if there is insufficient power available to drive the generator or if operating temperatures sufficiently degrade generator performance. Previously, these problems were accounted for by "oversizing" the generator and/or engine or by limiting generator and engine output under all operating conditions. These oversized components increased cost and weight, both of which are undesirable in motor vehicle applications.

System and method of controlling a hybrid electric vehicle


A process for device fabrication is disclosed in which two substrates having different crystal lattices are bound together. In the process a layer of material that has a crystal lattice similar to the crystal lattices of the first substrate is formed on the surface of the second substrate. The thickness of the layer is about 1 nm to about 2 nm. The layer of material is then bound to the surface of the first substrate.

1. Technical Field
The present invention is directed to processes for device fabrication, and, more particularly, photodetector devices, in which two crystalline substrates with different crystal lattices are bound together.
2. Art Background
Processes for fabricating certain semiconductor devices require that two wafers, each having a crystal lattice that is different from the other, be bound together. For example crystalline III-V substrates (e.g. Indium Gallium Arsenide substrates (InGaAs)) are bound to crystalline silicon substrates to fabricate p-i-n photodetectors. Such devices are described in Hawkins, A., et al., "Silicon heterointerface photodetector," Appl. Phys. Lett., Vol. 68:26, pp. 3692-3694 (1996) (Hawkins et al. hereinafter). As used herein, III-V substrates are semiconductor compounds in which one of the elements is from column III of the Mendeleef Periodic Table and one of the elements is from column V of that Table.
Hawkins et al. describe a process for fabricating avalanche photodetector devices in which a silicon wafer is fused directly to an InGaAs surface of an indium phosphide (InP) substrate. In the Hawkins et al. process, an InGaAs surface is grown on the InP substrate by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). The bonding surface of the silicon wafer is an epitaxial silicon layer grown on an n.sup.+ substrate with a shallow p-type implant at the surface. After bonding, the InP substrate is subsequently removed leaving only the InGaAs layer bound to the silicon substrate. The bonding is performed by pressing the surfaces of the two substrates together for 20 minutes at 650.degree. C. in an H.sub.2 atmosphere.
The epitaxial layers of the resulting device 10 are illustrated in FIG. 1. Starting from the topmost epitaxial layer, there is a p.sup.+ -doped InGaAs layer 20, which is used for ohmic contact. Underlying layer 20 is the intrinsic InGaAs layer 25 which is used for photon absorption. Layer 25 is fused to layer 30, which was a n-type silicon implanted with boron. Layer 30 functions as a multiplication region for the detector.
After the above described structure is formed, the epitaxial layers 20 and 25 are etched to form isolated devices. To isolate the devices, a patterned metal layer 60 of Au/Zn is formed over layer 20 and the portions of layers 20 and 25 are not covered by the mask are etched away. Layer 60 is a top p-type contact. After etching, a dielectric layer 70 is formed on the sidewalls of the remaining portions of layers 20 and 25. An n-type metal contact layer 80 is formed on the exposed portion 85 of the silicon substrate 30.
Hawkins et al. states that the device described therein shows potential for high speed, high gain operation, etc. However, the quality of the devices depends on, among other things, the quality of the silicon-InGaAs interface. Accordingly, a process for forming a high quality interface between the two different surfaces is desired.

Process for bonding crystalline substrates with different crystal lattices


A track chain member includes a first rib coupling the shoe member to the first lug; and a second rib coupling the shoe member to the second lug, defining a first side recess between the first rib and the second rib. The first side recess also extends from the exterior of the shoe member and underneath the first top surface, the first lateral end defines a first lateral end width along the track chain traveling direction, and the first side recess also spans the majority of the first lateral end width along the track chain traveling direction.

In many current applications, track chain members such as track links or track shoes, or track pads, are attached to each other using a pin that allows the track chain members to rotate relative to each other while still allowing the chain to remain in tension when installed on the undercarriage of a track type vehicle. For heavy equipment, such as electric rope shovels and the like, track pads which incorporates the track rail and track shoe in a single, unitary body are used. In some applications the track pads are required to support the heavy load of the machine on hard surfaces such as rock and the like.
Due to the rigidity of hard surfaces such as rock and the like, the track pad may develop cracks, or experience "toenailing" (elongation of the track pad along the direction of travel) necessitating repair due to the heavy loads exerted on the track pad.
Various track pad geometries are known in the art including the track pad geometry disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,543,863 to Keith Hannan et al. The '863 patent discloses a track shoe for a crawler track that has a hollow body with top and bottom sections and perimeter side walls defining a void therebetween. A supporting pillar is located in the void and extends between the top and bottom sections. The pillar is located in the main loadbearing region of the shoe and bears most of the load on the shoe. This enables the thickness of the side walls to be minimized. The shoe can be manufactured more efficiently by complementing foundry methods. However, the '863 patent requires lost core casting and full heat treating, which increases the cost of the track pad.
Accordingly, there is a need to develop a track pad when used on hard surfaces that is more robust and cost effective to manufacture than has heretofore been devised.


A cleaning composition is provided according to the invention. The cleaning composition includes a product of mixing an acid component, a source of phosphoric acid component, and an oxidant component. The molar ratio of oxidant component to phosphoric acid component is preferably between about 2:1 and about 1:2, and the molar ratio of oxidant component to acid component is preferably between about 1:3 and about 1:5. A method of cleaning an aluminum surface is provided. The method includes a step of applying the cleaning composition to an aluminum surface, and rinsing the cleaning composition from the aluminum surface.

The invention relates to cleaning compositions, methods for manufacturing a cleaning composition, and methods for using a cleaning composition to clean and brighten an aluminum surface.
Many vehicle washing compositions include hydrofluoric acid as a cleaning and polishing agent. Hydrofluoric acid works well for cleaning and polishing aluminum. Cleaning compositions containing hydrofluoric acid are used in commercial automobile and/or truck washing facilities. The presence of hydrofluoric acid in a cleaning composition presents a health hazard.
A composition for use on aluminum, which includes hydrofluoric acid, is described by U.S. Pat. No. 3,988,254 to Mori. Cleaning compositions for use on aluminum which have been developed as replacements for compositions containing hydrofluoric acid are described by U.S. Patent Nos. 5,248,399 to Meguro, et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,336,425 to Aoki, et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,382,295 to Aoki, et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,484 to Rodzewich; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,514,293 to Shimakura, et al.
A cleaning composition is provided according to the invention. The cleaning composition includes a product of mixing an acid component having a first pka of about 2.5 or less and being less oxidizing than nitric acid, a source of phosphoric acid component to provide phosphoric acid, and an oxidant component. The molar ratio of oxidant component to phosphoric acid component is preferably between about 2:1 and about 1:2, and the molar ratio of oxidant component to acid component is preferably between about 1:3 and about 1:5.
A method of cleaning an aluminum surface is provided. The method includes a step of applying the cleaning composition to an aluminum surface, and rinsing the cleaning composition from the aluminum surface.
A method for manufacturing a cleaning composition is provided. The method includes a step of mixing an acid component having a first pKa of about 2.5 or less and being less oxidizing than nitric acid, a source of phosphoric acid component to provide phosphoric acid, and an oxidant component.
The cleaning composition according to the invention can be used to clean and brighten aluminum surfaces. The cleaning composition is particularly useful for cleaning aluminum surfaces provided on the exterior of motor vehicles such as automobiles, pick-up trucks, trucks, and trailers. Because of its effectiveness in brightening aluminum surfaces, the cleaning composition according to the invention can be referred to as a brightening composition.
The cleaning composition can be made available as a concentrate or as a use solution. The concentrate can be made available as a composition containing or not containing water. The use solution is preferably obtained from the concentrate by adding water to the concentrate. In general, it is expected that the cleaning composition will be transported as a concentrate and then diluted at the use location to provide a use solution. Preferably, the use solution will contain between about 0.1 wt. % and about 20 wt. % cleaning components, and more preferably between about 1 wt. % and about 5 wt. % of cleaning components. It should be understand that the term xe2x80x9ccleaning componentsxe2x80x9d refers to the non-water portion of the cleaning composition that is responsible for providing the cleaning and brightening properties.
The cleaning composition comprises a product of mixing an acid component having a first pka of about 2.5 or less and being less oxidizing than nitric acid, a source of phosphoric acid component, and an oxidant component. The cleaning composition preferably includes a molar ratio of oxidant component to phosphoric acid of between about 2:1 and about 1:2, and a molar ratio of oxidant component or phosphoric acid to acid component of between about 1:3 and about 1:5. Preferably, the molar ratio of oxidant component to phosphoric acid is about 1:1.
The acid component having a first pka of about 2.5 or less and being less oxidizing than nitric acid that can be used according to the invention includes acids that are generally considered strong and non-oxidizing acids. The acid component, if it is oxidizing at all, is less oxidizing than nitric acid. Preferably, the acid component excludes nitric acid. The level of oxidization exhibited by an acid is reported in Lang""s Handbook of Chemistry, 13th Ed., McGraw-Hill Book Company. Exemplary acids that can be used according to the invention include sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, polyphosphoric acid, hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, hydroiodic acid, imidiphosphoric acid, thiocyanic acid, and mixtures thereof The acid component can include a mixture of two or more acids having a first pka of about 2.5 or less and being less oxidizing than nitric acid.
The source of phosphoric acid component that can be used according to the invention includes any component that generates phosphoric acid when added to water. Exemplary sources of phosphoric acid include phosphoric acid, polyphosphoric acid, and oxides of phosphorus. Exemplary oxides of phosphorus include phosphorus tetraoxide, phosphorus hexaoxide, and phosphorus decaoxide. A preferred source of phosphoric acid is phosphoric acid. The source of phosphoric acid component can include a mixture of two or more sources of phosphoric acid.
The oxidant component that can be used according to the invention includes those oxidants which exhibit an oxidation-reduction potential of greater than 0 volts, preferably greater than 0.5 volts, and even more preferably greater than 1.00 volts when measured as half-reactions at 25xc2x0 C. as reported in Lange""s Handbook of Chemistry, 13th ed., McGraw-Hill Book Company. Exemplary oxidants that can be used according to the invention include peroxygen compounds, ozone, halogens and their oxides, manganese compounds, chromium compounds, cerium compounds, vanadium compounds, copper compounds, silver compounds, iron compounds, titanium compounds, and mixtures thereof. Examples of peroxygen compounds include hydrogen peroxide, physical adducts of hydrogen peroxide, peroxycarboxylic acids and their salts and esters, peroxysulfuric acids and their salts and esters, peroxyphosphoric acids and their salts and esters, perborates, pertungstic acid, and permanganates. Examples of physical adducts of hydrogen peroxide include sodium percarbonate and urea peroxide. Examples of peroxycarboxylic acids include performic, peracetic, peroctanoic, 2-ethylhexanoic, and ocatdecanoic. Examples of peroxysulfuric acids include monoperoxysulfuric acid, diperoxysulfuric acid, dodecylbenzenepersulfonic acid, and octylpersulfonic acid. Examples of perborates include alkali metal salts such as sodium or lithium perborate and also perboric acid. Examples of permanganates include alkali metal salts such as sodium or potassium permanganate and also permanganic acid. An exemplary manganese compound includes manganese dioxide. Exemplary halogen compounds include chlorine, bromine, iodine, and their interhalogen compounds; chlorate, bromate, and iodate salts; chorine dioxide and bromine dioxide; chloric, bromic, and iodic acids and their salts; perchloric, perbromic, and periodic acids and their salts; quaternary ammonium/phosphonium/sulfonium polyhalides such as choline diiodochloride, tetramethylammonium tribromide, hexadecyltrimethylphosphonium dibromochloride, and octyltrimethylsulfonium dichlorobromide; inorganic polyhalides such as potassium tribromide, sodium dibromochloride, and lithium dichloroiodide. Exemplary chromium compounds include chromic acid and its alkali and metal salts. Exemplary cerium compounds include cerium (IV) salts such as CeO2 or Ce(OH)4. Exemplary vanadium compounds include vanadium (III or higher) salts such as VCl3 and V2O5. Exemplary silver compounds include silver (I) systems such as AgO. Exemplary iron compounds include iron (III) salts such as Fe2O3 or FeCl3. Exemplary titanium compounds include titanium (IV) salts such as TiO2 or TiI4. Hydrogen peroxide is a preferred oxidant according to the invention. The oxidant component can include a mixture of oxidants which provide a summation oxidation-reduction potential greater than 0 volts, more preferably greater than 0.5 volts, and more even more preferably greater than 1.00 volts.
The cleaning composition can be referred to as a xe2x80x9cproduct of mixingxe2x80x9d because it is believed that the components of the cleaning composition react. It is believed that it is desirable for the oxidant component to react with the phosphoric acid component, and for the acid component to promote the reaction between the oxidant component and the phosphoric acid component. Furthermore, it is believed that a reaction between the acid component and the oxidant component may occur. Preferably, the reaction between the acid component and the oxidant component, if it occurs at all, is disfavored relative to the reaction between the oxidant component and the phosphoric acid component. Because it is not necessarily clear what exact chemical components are present in the cleaning composition, it is believed appropriate to refer to the composition as a product of mixing.
The cleaning composition is preferably used at a temperature that is less than about 80xc2x0 C., and more preferably less than about 50xc2x0 C. It is expected the cleaning composition will be used at about ambient temperature.
The cleaning composition provides a use solution that is generally considered non-alkaline. Alkaline cleaners having a pH greater than 7 or 8 have a tendency to remove aluminum. Preferably, the use solution according to the invention has a pH of less than 7, more preferably less than 5, and even more preferably less than 3.
Aluminum surfaces are generally considered to be very hydrophobic. Furthermore, dirty aluminum surfaces are generally believed to be even more hydrophobic. The mixture of acid component, source of phosphoric acid component, and oxidant component are generally considered to exhibit hydrophilic properties. In order for the cleaning composition to clean and brighten the aluminum surface, it is desirable to have the cleaning composition penetrate to the aluminum surface to provide cleaning and brightening of the aluminum surface. The hydrophobicity of the aluminum surface discourages penetration of the cleaning composition to the aluminum surface. Accordingly, it is desirable for the cleaning composition to include a penetrant to help the cleaning composition wet the aluminum surface and thereby effect cleaning and brightening of the aluminum surface.
Preferred penetrants that can be used according to the invention include relatively hydrophobic surfactants. In general, it is believed that hydrophobic surfactants are desirable because they allow the brightening agent to penetrate to the aluminum surface. In general, the following classes of surfactants are preferred in the following order: cationic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants and anionic surfactants, and nonionic surfactants.
Cationic surfactants that can be used according to the invention as penetrants include those surfactants having the formula:
wherein each of R1, R2, R3, and R4 include, individually or in combination, substituents including 6 to 24 carbon atoms, preferably 14 to 24 carbon atoms, and more preferably, 16 to 24 carbon atoms. Each of R1 to R4 can be linear, cyclic, branched, saturated, or unsaturated, and can include heteroatoms such as oxygen, phosphorous, sulfur, or nitrogen. Any two of R1 to R4 can form a cyclic group. Any one of three of R1 to R4 can be hydrogen. X is preferably a counter ion and preferably a non-fluoride counter ion. Exemplary counter ions include chloride, bromide, methosulfate, ethosulfate, sulfate, and phosphate. Preferred cationic surfactants include quaternary ammonium salts such as trialkylbenzyl quaternary ammonium salt, tetraalkyl quaternary ammonium salt, and pyridinium quaternary ammonium salt. A preferred cationic surfactant includes tetradecyl dimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride.
A preferred type of cationic surfactant includes imidazolines and more preferably alkyl imidazoline quaternary ammonium salts, wherein the alkyl group contains 6 to 24 carbon atoms and may be saturated and/or unsaturated. Preferred imidazolines include steryl imidazolines, isosteryl imidazolines, and mixtures of steryl imidazolines and isosteryl imidazolines. In general, steryl groups can be characterized as alkyl groups containing 16 to 18 carbon atoms that may be saturated and/or unsaturated. This type of cationic surfactant is believed to be available under the name Monastat from Unichemi.
Another preferred type of cationic surfactant includes alkyl ethoxylated and/or propoxylated quaternary ammonium salts (or amines). Preferably, the alkyl group contains between about 6 and about 24 carbon atoms and can be saturated and/or unsaturated. The degree of ethoxylation is preferably between about 0 and about 30, and the degree of propoxylation is preferably between about 0 and about 30, with the proviso that at least one of the degree of ethoxylation or the degree of propoxylation is at least one. Preferred alkyl ethoxylated quaternary ammonium salts include a degree of ethoxylation of between about 5 and 15. Preferred alkyl propoxylated quaternary ammonium salts include a degree of propoxylation of between about 5 and about 15. A preferred cationic surfactant is commercially available under the name Variquat K1215 from Goldschmidt. The applicants discovered that this cationic surfactant is particularly useful for providing the detergent composition with enhanced water hardness tolerance. Another preferred cationic surfactant is available under the name Varonic K205 from Goldschmidt. The applicants discovered that this cationic surface allows the detergent composition to exhibit enhanced degreasing and enhanced foam quality, and helps enhance water hardness tolerance.
The applicants discovered that water hardness may decrease the ability of the detergent composition to penetrate the soil present on an aluminum surface in order to clean and brighten the aluminum surface. It should be understood that hard water can be characterized as water containing greater than 100 ppm calculated as calcium carbonate. It should be understood that xe2x80x9c100 ppm calculated as calcium carbonatexe2x80x9d refers to the components within the water that contribute to the hardness although all the components are likely not calcium carbonate. The applicants discovered that certain surfactants can provide the cleaning composition with enhanced water hardness tolerance. Particularly preferred surfactants that enhance the water hardness tolerance of the cleaning composition include the alkyl ethoxylated and/or propoxylated quaternary ammonium salts, and, in particular, the surfactants available under the names Variquat 1215 and Varonic K205 from Goldschmidt.
The cleaning composition preferably includes a mixture of alkyl imidazoline quaternary ammonium salts, and alkyl ethoxylated and/or propoxylated quaternary ammonium salts. Preferably, the mixture is a mixture of Monastat surfactant, Variquat 1215 surfactant, and Varonic K205 surfactant. The weight ratio of each surfactant can be provided as between about 0.1 and about 10 relative to the other surfactant. Preferably, the weight ratio of each of the three surfactants is 1:1.
Amphoteric surfactants that can be used according to the invention as penetrants include those surfactants having the formula:
wherein R1, R2, and R3 include, individually, or in combination, substituents including 6 to 24 carbon atoms, preferably 14 to 24 carbon atoms, and more preferably 16 to 24 carbon atoms. Each of R1 to R3 can be linear, cyclic, branched, saturated, or unsaturated, and can include heteroatoms such as oxygen, phosphorous, sulfur, or nitrogen. Any two of R1 to R3 can form a cyclic group. Y is preferably an anionic substituent such as carboxy, phosphorus derivative, sulfate, and sulfonate. Exemplary phosphorus derivatives include phosphate and phosphorus esters. The number of repeating units n can be about 1 to about 20, and preferably 1 to 10, and more preferably 1-3 and most preferably 1. Preferred amphoteric surfactants that can be used according to the invention include betaines, sultaines, imidazoline derivatives, and amine oxides. Preferred amphoteric surfactants include lauramine oxide, cocoamidopropyl betaine, and lauryl amphoacetate.
Anionic surfactants that can be used according to the invention as penetrants include those surfactants having the formula:
Rxe2x80x94Y
wherein R can be a saturated or unsaturated alkyl or aryl or aralkyl substituent including 6 to 24 carbon atoms, preferably 14 to 24 carbon atoms, and more preferably 16 to 24 carbon atoms. The substituent R can be linear, cyclic, branched, saturated, or unsaturated. Y is an anionic substituent that is preferably sulfonate, sulfate, phosphate, carbonate. Exemplary anionic surfactants include tetradecylether sulfate and dodecylbenzene sulfonate.
Nonionic surfactants that can be used according to the invention as penetrants include those surfactants having the formula:
wherein R is a substituent having 1 to 24 carbon atoms, preferably 12 to 20 carbon atoms, and more preferably 15 to 20 carbon atoms. R can be linear, cyclic, branched, saturated, or unsaturated, and can include heteroatoms such as oxygen, phosphorous, sulfur, or nitrogen. R1 is H or CH3, and n is preferably between 1 and 30. Exemplary nonionic surfactants include alcohol ethoxylates, alkylphenol ethoxylates, EO/PO copolymers, and alkanolamides. Preferred nonionic surfactants include nonylphenol ethoxylate and myristeth-7.
The penetrant is preferably provided in an amount sufficient to help the cleaning composition penetrate soil that may be present on the aluminum surface so that the cleaning composition can reach the aluminum surface and clean and brighten the aluminum surface. The penetrant is preferably provided in an amount that provides a use solution containing between about 0.01 wt. % and about 20 wt. % penetrant, more preferably between about 0.1 wt. % and about 10 wt. % penetrant, and, even more preferably, between about 0.5 wt. % and about 5 wt. % penetrant. It should be appreciated that the penetrant is an optional component, and the cleaning composition can be provided without any penetrant.
It is believed that the acid component helps drive a reaction between phosphoric acid and the oxidant component. In one embodiment of the invention, the cleaning composition can be provided as a result of mixing the source of phosphoric acid component, the acid component, the oxidant component, and the penetrant. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the cleaning composition can be provided as a multi-part system such as a two-part system. In a two-part system, the acid component can be combined with a mixture of the source of phosphoric acid component, the oxidant component, and the penetrant to provide a cleaning composition. The acid component can be provided as a liquid and the cleaning composition can be used as a spray, gel, or foam. In addition, the acid component can be introduced as a solid that dissolves. For example, the acid component can be provided in the form of polymeric beads or resins wherein the acid is covalently bonded to the resin. An exemplary solid acid includes sulfamic acid. It is believed that the cleaning composition would then dissolve the solid acid. In addition, the acid provided on beads can dissolve or it may not dissolve.
The cleaning composition according to the invention is preferably substantially free of hydrofluoric acid. This generally means that the cleaning composition is completely free of hydrofluoric acid, or if hydrofluoric acid is present, it is present in an amount where it presents no substantial health hazard. It is desirable that the presence of hydrofluoric acid need not be declared on packaging for the cleaning composition. It should be understood that the phrase xe2x80x9csubstantially free of hydrofluoric acidxe2x80x9d does not exclude the presence of fluoride anions and/or hydrofluoric acid present as a result of the water being used. It is pointed out that many municipalities fluorinate water, and that at certain pH levels there is an equilibrium relationship between hydrofluoric acid and fluoride anion.
When the cleaning composition is a product of mixing phosphoric acid, hydrogen peroxide, and sulfuric acid, a preferred composition can be described by the equation below where the weight fractions of the components are present in such ratios that the brightening effectiveness is xe2x89xa71.5 on a scale where 0=no brightening, 1=less brightening than commercial HF containing cleaning composition, 2=matches commercial HF containing cleaning composition brightening, 3=better than commercial HF containing cleaning composition brightening, H=wt. % of hydrogen peroxide [35% active basis] in decimal form, S=wt. % of sulfuric acid in decimal form, and P=wt. % of phosphoric acid [75% basis] in decimal form.
1.5xe2x89xa6[1.9*H+0.64*S+5.25*H*Sxe2x88x921.17*H*P+2.34*S*Pxe2x88x923.84*H*S*Pxe2x88x924.04*H*S(Hxe2x88x92S)+6.85*H*P(Hxe2x88x92P)+11.18*S*P (Sxe2x88x92P)]
A preferred composition corresponding to the above equation is provided by about 1 mole hydrogen peroxide/1 mole phosphoric acid/at least 5 moles sulfuric acid.
The cleaning composition can be provided in the form of a solution, emulsion, microemulsion, suspension, solid, pellets, powder, gel, and foam. The cleaning composition can include an aqueous or nonaqueous solvent. A preferred aqueous solvent is water, which may be added directly to the composition at the manufacturing stage or the composition may be added/injected into a water stream at the point of use to provide a use solution. Water insoluble oils such as mineral oil or spirits, paraffins, methyl soyate, etc., can be optionally added to modify wetting and drying properties. Water insoluble oils are generally considered to be oils that are less than 1 wt. % soluble in water.
The appearance of the cleaning composition can be modified by the addition of thickeners, dyes, fragrances, and other conventional additives used for cleaners. In addition, the cleaning composition can include builders to soften water, anti-redeposition agents, and antimicrobial actives.
The cleaning composition can be prepared by mixing the acid component, the source of phosphoric acid component, and the oxidant component. The components can be mixed together in the presence or absence of any of the additional components identified above. It is generally desirable to provide the cleaning composition at about room temperature. The reaction between the oxidant component and the phosphoric acid component is generally exothermic. Accordingly, the cleaning composition will tend to increase in temperature as the oxidant component and the phosphoric acid component react.
The composition according to the invention can be used as a two component mixture of acidic component (part A) and oxidant component (part B). The acidic component preferably includes a mixture of the phosphoric acid component and the acid component. The two components can be combined prior to use of the cleaning composition. The penetrant can be provided as part of either the acidic components (part A) or the oxidant component (part B) or as a separate component (part C). Although the cleaning composition is preferably prepared from a two-part system, the cleaning composition can be provided as a one-part system.
The cleaning composition according to the invention can be provided as a cleaning composition that is generated in situ. For example, chlorine dioxide can be generated by a variety of routes including hypochlorite/chlorite mixtures, halogen/chlorite mixtures, polyhalide/chlorite mixtures, and acid/chlorite mixtures. Polyhalides such as those described in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 09/277,592 and 09/277,626 can be generated via reaction between an oxidant, a halide source, and a material selected from inorganic halide or quaternary ammonium/phosphonium/sulfonium salts. Peroxyphosphoric acids can be obtained by oxidation of phosphoric or polyphosphoric acid in the presence of a strong acid. Peroxysulfuric acids can also be prepared by reaction of an oxidant with sulfuric acid. The entire disclosures of U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 09/277,592 and 09/277,626 are incorporated herein by reference.
A method of brightening aluminum with the cleaning composition includes a step of treating either a precleaned or soiled aluminum surface with the cleaning composition, waiting a sufficient period of time for the brightening to occur, and then removing the cleaning composition from the surface. The cleaning composition can be applied to the aluminum surface by spraying or the aluminum can be dipped or soaked in a cleaning solution reservoir. The cleaning solution reservoir can be mechanically agitated. The spray can be as the concentrate or diluted into an aqueous or nonaqueous medium. The nonaqueous medium can be either a liquid with a boiling point above ambient temperature or as a liquefied gas. Examples of liquefied gas include carbon dioxide, air, oxygen, helium, and nitrogen.
The aluminum surface could be part of a motorized vehicle such as a car, truck, boat, ship, plane, jet, helicopter, or train. It could also be part of a fabricated article such as piping, storage tanks, cookware, medical device or a can. It could also be part of an architectural structure such as window parts, door parts, window/door screens, and blinds. Additionally, it could also be part of an electronic device such as a circuit board, computer chip, heat sink, light ballast, or even wiring itself.

Cleaning composition comprising inorganic acids, an oxidant, and a cationic surfactant


A method of forming (and an apparatus for forming) a metal oxide layer on a substrate, particularly a semiconductor substrate or substrate assembly, using a vapor deposition process and one or more precursor compounds that include diketonate ligands and/or ketoimine ligands.

The continuous shrinkage of microelectronic devices such as capacitors and gates over the years has led to a situation where the materials traditionally used in integrated circuit technology are approaching their performance limits. Silicon (i.e., doped polysilicon) has generally been the substrate of choice, and silicon dioxide (SiO2) has frequently been used as the dielectric material with silicon to construct microelectronic devices. However, when the SiO2 layer is thinned to 1 nm (i.e., a thickness of only 4 or 5 molecules), as is desired in the newest micro devices, the layer no longer effectively performs as an insulator due to the tunneling current running through it.
Thus, new high dielectric constant materials are needed to extend device performance. Such materials need to demonstrate high permittivity, barrier height to prevent tunneling, stability in direct contact with silicon, and good interface quality and film morphology. Furthermore, such materials must be compatible with the gate material, electrodes, semiconductor processing temperatures, and operating conditions.
High quality thin oxide films of metals, such as ZrO2, HfO2, Al2O3, and YSZ deposited on semiconductor wafers have recently gained interest for use in memories (e.g., dynamic random access memory (DRAM) devices, static random access memory (SRAM) devices, and ferroelectric memory (FERAM) devices). These materials have high dielectric constants and therefore are attractive as replacements in memories for SiO2 where very thin layers are required. These metal oxide layers are thermodynamically stable in the presence of silicon, minimizing silicon oxidation upon thermal annealing, and appear to be compatible with metal gate electrodes. Specifically, for gate dielectrics, La2O3, HfO2, and ZrO2 are also promising as they possess relatively high values for permittivity and bandgap.
This discovery has led to an effort to investigate various deposition processes to form layers, especially dielectric layers, based on metal oxides. Such deposition processes have included vapor deposition, metal thermal oxidation, and high vacuum sputtering. Vapor deposition processes, which includes chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and atomic layer deposition (ALD), are very appealing as they provide for excellent control of dielectric uniformity and thickness on a substrate. But vapor deposition processes typically involve the co-reaction of reactive metal precursor compounds with an oxygen source such as oxygen or water, either of which can cause formation of an undesirable SiO2 interfacial layer. Thus, an effort is underway to develop water- and oxygen-free vapor deposition processes.
Ritala et al., "Atomic Layer Deposition of Oxide Thin Films with Metal Alkoxides as Oxygen Sources," SCIENCE, 288:319-321 (2000) describe a chemical approach to ALD of thin oxide films. In this approach, a metal alkoxide, serving as both a metal source and an oxygen source, reacts with another metal compound such as a metal chloride or metal alkyl to deposit a metal oxide on silicon without creating an interfacial silicon oxide layer. In some cases, the use of a metal alkoxide is not practical, particularly for low valent metals. For example, the alkoxides are not sufficiently volatile for vapor deposition processes.
Despite these continual improvements in semiconductor dielectric layers, there remains a need for a vapor deposition process utilizing sufficiently volatile metal precursor compounds that can form a thin, high quality oxide layer, particularly on a semiconductor substrate using a vapor deposition process.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Systems and methods for forming metal oxides using metal diketonates and/or ketoimines


A shower curtain having a fabric body and a detachment member. The fabric body includes a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge and a second side edge. The detachment member is substantially parallel to the top edge and bottom edge and intersects the first side edge. When the detachment member is in a detached position, the fabric body has an upper fabric portion that is separated from a lower fabric portion such that the upper fabric portion is configured to move independently from the lower fabric portion.

Parents, caregivers, and pet-owners face difficulty using a conventional shower curtain to assist children, patients, or pets. A traditional shower curtain can either be closed completely, which does not allow the assisting party to reach in and provide assistance to the person or pet in the shower. On the other hand, the shower curtain may be pulled back to provide access. However, in this scenario water from the shower may be displaced onto the floor of the room rather than the shower pan or bathtub. The result is a difficult shower experience and/or displaced water. Splashing water may damage floors and bathroom fixtures and present a slipping hazard. A traditional shower leaves the caregiver with little access and an arduous cleanup. Therefore, there exists a need for a shower curtain to prevent excess splashing while allowing for the assisting caregiver to access the child, patient, or pet from outside the shower.

Shower curtain with built-in splash guard


An amperometric glucose biosensor having high sensitivity and accuracy over a wide range of glucose concentrations and a method for the rapid detection of glucose in urine are provided. The biosensor strip comprises an electrically conductive carbon layer, having a first redox mediator, a reagent strip containing an enzyme system for the oxidation of glucose and a second redox mediator, and a silver/silver chloride reference electrode. In a preferred form of the sensor that has high sensitivity, a sensing electrode and a reference electrode are arranged so that the electrically conductive layers of the electrodes are face-to-face and sandwich the reagent strip between them. Screening for glucose is achieved by contacting the sensor with a drop of the patient's urine and comparing the current read-out with a standard calibration curve or by automatically converting the current flow generated by the test sample to units of glucose concentration. The sensor can measure urine glucose concentrations below 3 mg/dl. Measurement of urine glucose concentration with the sensor provides a non-invasive probe of a patient's blood glucose level since a linear relationship exists between blood glucose concentration and urine glucose concentration, approximately in the range between 0 to 400 mg/dl.

This invention deals with a method and means to accurately determine a wide range of glucose concentrations in urine, thereby providing a non-invasive glucose assay.
It has been well known in medicine that the existence of detectable levels of glucose in the urine may be indicative of diabetes. In effect, when there is too much glucose in the blood it spills over into the urine. Theoretically, glucose in the urine could reach an equilibrium with glucose in the blood. The accurate and reliable determination of glucose concentrations in urine would therefore provide a noninvasive procedure for the detection of diabetes and a means for monitoring the glycemic state of diabetes patients. Such a procedure would obviate the need to draw blood for analysis, which often must be done several times per day, on a routine basis, for certain types of diabetes patients. It would thus provide a painless and convenient approach to monitoring the glycemic state of an individual. In the case of diabetic patients whose blood glucose concentration must be monitored several times per day in order to manage diet and therapy, such a non-invasive procedure would provide the additional benefit of eliminating the danger of infection resulting from multiple skin punctures.
Currently, only one commercial product, Chemstrip uGK from Boehringer Mannheim Corporation, is available for urine glucose assay. This test is based on a colorimetric method and is not sensitive to low glucose concentrations. Urine glucose concentrations must be at least 40 mg/dl in order to produce a positive result. In practice, urine glucose concentrations must reach 100 mg/dl for formation of the green color on which the test is based. In order to obtain reliable positive results the patient's blood glucose must be 150 mg/dl or over in order to observe a positive result in this test.
There is a need for a highly sensitive, accurate and reliable device to determine glucose concentrations in urine, even at low concentrations, in order to conveniently and painlessly assay the glycemic state of both diabetic and normal patients. Such a device should be inexpensive, easy to manufacture and use and be capable of miniaturization.

Non-invasive glucose biosensor: determination of glucose in urine


A method for determining tracking control parameters for positioning an x-ray beam of a computed tomography imaging system, the imaging system including a movable collimator positionable in steps and a detector array including a plurality of detector elements arranged in rows and channels, the rows extending from a detector A-side to a detector B-side. The method includes determining a detector A-side and a detector B-side target beam penumbra position, computing a plurality of Z-ratio curves corresponding to different detector rows and detector channels, and comparing the Z-ratio curves at the detector A-side and detector B-side target beam positions to determine the optimal Z-ratio curve and corresponding detector channels and rows for controlling the X-ray beam positioning.

This invention relates generally to computed tomography (CT) imaging and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus for selecting detector channels to facilitate optimizing the reliability of CT x-ray beam tracking.
In a multi-slice CT system, movement of an x-ray beam penumbra over detector elements having dissimilar response functions can cause signal changes resulting in image artifacts. Opening system collimation to keep detector elements in the x-ray beam umbra can prevent artifacts but increases patient dosage. Accordingly, at least one known CT system utilizes a closed-loop z-axis tracking system to position the x-ray beam relative to a detector array.
For example, in at least one known CT imaging system, the X-ray collimator assembly includes movable cams that are configured to track the focal spot position and thereby more accurately position the X-ray beam on the active elements of the multi-slice detector. Specifically, at least one known CT system detects the X-ray beam profile on one end of the detector and utilizes this information to adjust the cam positions. Whereas another known CT system detects the X-ray beam profile on both ends of the detector, and utilizes this information to adjust the cam positions.
Using both ends of the detector improves the ability to position the X-ray beam for situations when the beam profile does not move rigidly across the detector. However, both systems become less reliable when the detector, the collimator, and the X-ray focal spot are not well aligned. For example, if the X-ray tube is not positioned properly, the X-ray beam will be uniformly displaced toward one side of the detector, i.e., either the A-side or the B-side. Moreover, if the X-ray tube is properly aligned, the ends of the collimator and detector may remain skewed with respect to one another and the beam profile will appear skewed. Mis-alignment between the X-ray tube, the collimator and/or the detector may affect the measurement of the Z-ratio, R, used in the tracking control loop. The Z-ratio, as used herein, is defined a ratio of a detector outer row signal to a detector inner row signal, for a set of detector elements at one or both ends of the detector. The Z-ratio is generally useful when the detector outer rows sample the penumbra, i.e. the drop-off in intensity at the edges of the X-ray beam. Therefore, if the signals received from the detector outer rows are in the umbra, i.e., the uniform intensity region, of the beam, the Z-ratio will approach a constant value and cannot be used to reliably determine the beam position.

Methods and apparatus for calibrating CT x-ray beam tracking loop


Methods of forming an oxide layer on silicon carbide include thermally growing an oxide layer on a layer of silicon carbide, and annealing the oxide layer in an environment containing NO at a temperature greater than 1175° C. The oxide layer may be annealed in NO in a silicon carbide tube that may be coated with silicon carbide. To form the oxide layer, a preliminary oxide layer may be thermally grown on a silicon carbide layer in dry O2, and the preliminary oxide layer may be re-oxidized in wet O2.

Power semiconductor devices are widely used to carry large currents and support high voltages. Modern power devices are generally fabricated from monocrystalline silicon semiconductor material. One widely used power device is the power Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET). In a power MOSFET, a control signal is supplied to a gate electrode that is separated from the semiconductor surface by an intervening insulator, which may be, but is not limited to, silicon dioxide. Current conduction occurs via transport of majority carriers, without the presence of minority carrier injection that is used in bipolar transistor operation. Power MOSFETs can provide an excellent safe operating area, and can be paralleled in a unit cell structure.
As is well known to those having skill in the art, power MOSFETs may include a lateral structure or a vertical structure. In a lateral structure, the drain, gate and source terminals are on the same surface of a substrate. In contrast, in a vertical structure, the source and drain are on opposite surfaces of the substrate.
One widely used silicon power MOSFET is the double diffused MOSFET (DMOSFET) which is fabricated using a double-diffusion process. In these devices, a p-base region and an n+ source region are diffused through a common opening in a mask. The p-base region is driven in deeper than the n+ source. The difference in the lateral diffusion between the p-base and n+ source regions forms a surface channel region.
Recent development efforts in power devices have also included investigation of the use of silicon carbide (SiC) devices for power devices. Silicon carbide (SiC) has a combination of electrical and physical properties that make it attractive for a semiconductor material for high temperature, high voltage, high frequency and high power electronic devices. These properties include a 3.0 eV bandgap, a 4 MV/cm electric field breakdown, a 4.9 W/cm-K thermal conductivity, and a 2.0×107 cm/s electron drift velocity.
Consequently, these properties may allow silicon carbide power devices to operate at higher temperatures, higher power levels and/or with lower specific on-resistance than conventional silicon-based power devices. A theoretical analysis of the superiority of silicon carbide devices over silicon devices is found in a publication by Bhatnagar et al. entitled "Comparison of 6H—SiC, 3C—SiC and Si for Power Devices", IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices, Vol. 40, 1993, pp. 645-655. A power MOSFET fabricated in silicon carbide is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,506,421 to Palmour entitled "Power MOSFET in Silicon Carbide" and assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
4H—SiC Power DMOSFETs have the potential to offer significant advantages over conventional high voltage Si power switches. Unfortunately, however, it may be difficult to thermally grow an acceptable gate oxide for these devices. Much effort has been focused on reducing the interface trap density (DIT) at the SiC/SiO2 interface in order to increase the channel mobility (μCH) of the devices. Nitric Oxide (NO) anneals at 1175° C. have increased the μCH from single digits to ˜30 cm2/Vs. See, e.g., G. Y. Chung, et al., IEEE Electron Dev. Let 22, 176 (2001). Researchers have demonstrated even higher channel mobility (˜150 cm2V/s) by oxidizing in an environment containing metallic impurities. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,559,068. However, such a process may result in significant oxide contamination, may provide an uncontrolled oxidation rate (tOX>1500 Å), and/or may be incompatible with high temperature processing steps such as may be used for ohmic contact anneals.

Methods of forming SiC MOSFETs with high inversion layer mobility


A knock suppression apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes a peak value sensor that senses a peak value of a knock signal indicating knocking of an engine. An analog-digital converter repeatedly converts the peak value into a digital value at prescribed intervals. The most recent digital peak value from the analog-digital converter is stored in a memory and used by a lag angle calculator to calculate a lag angle for suppressing knocking. The ignition timing of the engine is controlled according to a basic ignition timing and the lag angle. Because the analog-digital converter is constantly performing conversion, the ignition timing can be immediately adjusted to compensate for knocking.

This invention relates to a knock suppression apparatus for an internal combustion engine, such as a multi-cylinder automotive engine.
Engine knocking is a form of abnormal engine vibration which occurs when the ignition timing of an internal combustion engine is unsuitable for the current operating conditions of the engine. The occurrence of knocking in an engine not only decreases the ride comfort and worsens the fuel economy of the vehicle in which the engine is installed, but it can also damage the engine. Therefore, automotive engines are typically equipped with knock suppression apparatuses which detect the occurrence of knocking and then adjust the ignition timing in the lag angle direction until the knocking stops.
With a conventional knock suppression device, when knocking is detected during the power stroke of cylinder number n in the firing order of an engine, the processing time of the knock suppression apparatus is such that there is insufficient time to adjust the ignition timing for the next cylinder (cylinder n+1) in the firing order to compensate for knocking, especially at high engine speeds, and the earliest cylinder for which the ignition timing can be adjusted is cylinder number (n+2) in the firing order. In other words, there is always a lag of one cylinder after knocking is sensed before the ignition timing can be adjusted to compensate for knocking. Accordingly, there is a need for a knock suppression device with a faster response time.

Knock suppression apparatus for an internal combustion engine