A solar power system includes a preheating device for heating first heat transfer fluid and second heat transfer fluid in separate tubes. The preheated second heat transfer fluid is routed to a boiler. The preheated first heat transfer fluid is routed through a plurality of heat sinks each associated with a solar radiation collector concentrator. Vacuum chambers receive the solar radiation from specially designed dishes with hyperparabolic feed antennas and direct energy to the heat sinks transferring the heat energy to first heat transfer fluid routed through the heat sink. The lower half of each chamber extends below each dish and has an interior reflective coating on the interior of the chamber side wall. The heated first heat transfer fluid is routed through a coil within the boiler to heat the second heat transfer fluid within the boiler. The boiler outlet steam is routed through a turbine, in turn, connected to a gearing system and an alternator. An insulative cover for the turbine adds energy efficiency to the system and helps reduce noise.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of systems for converting solar energy into mechanical or electrical energy.
2. Description of Related Art
Increased emphasis has been placed on systems for converting solar energy into mechanical and/or electrical energy due to increased energy demand and the scarcity of certain natural resources. A variety of systems have been employed with many including solar collectors connected via a fluid system to a boiler, in turn, connected to various components for producing mechanical and/or electrical energy.
It is known to collect solar energy by a parabolic reflector and then direct the energy through a lens system with the resultant heat energy directed onto a head of a conductor having a bottom end extending into a reservoir of water. Steam is thereby created in the reservoir and used to power a turbine. The resulting mechanical energy from the turbine may be used to generate electrical energy. Such an approach is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,068,474 issued to Dimitroff.
Further, with respect to the parabolic reflector, the most commonly used means for collecting solar radiation for the production of electricity includes the parabolic trough (A) and parabolic dish (B) designs illustrated in FIG. 10. Both types of collection designs focus the sun's rays into a central focal point thus concentrating the solar radiation into a HTF tube, which transports the heat into a central heat storage unit or a solar absorber. New designs for concentrating solar radiation into the center of the main parabolic dish nave been, proposed. One such design, which is shown at (C) of FIG. 10, includes a parabolic collector and its counterpart hyperparabolic concentrator with a pure parabolic curve 1001, a rear offset focal point from the main parabolic collector 1004, an inward parabolic central local point from the concentrator 1002, and a raised plane collection point 1003.
In Patent Application Publication US 2012/0124999 of Gruss et al., there is disclosed a low temperature power plant including a tubular solar collector comprising an outer tube containing a vacuum and an inner tube. A plurality of the solar collectors are used to direct heat energy to a heat transfer fluid for powering a boiler and a turbine coupled to an electric generator.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,000,733 issued to Pauly discloses a solar furnace receiving reflected solar energy from a battery of postionable mirrors with the furnace having reflectors directing concentrated radiant energy towards a Fresnel lens.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,000,211 issued Bellac et al. discloses a combustion turbine power plant wherein air is cooled using solar energy and supplied to the air inlet of the power plant to support combustion. Further, the patent discloses combustion turbine power plants in which steam is produced using the solar energy and ejected into a turbine of the power plant.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,985,118 issued to Bard discloses a solar furnace wherein a plurality of Fresnel lenses focus light rays upon heat conductors. Fluid passing through an associated vessel, it is used to provide steam for a steam turbine associated with an electrical generator.
U.S. Patent Application Publication 201110290235 of New Delman discloses an evacuated solar conductor having a cavity positioned between a top casing that is partially transparent and a bottom portion forming a heat sink. Solar energy is transmitted through the transparent top casing to the heat sink portion.
In the U.S. Pat. No. 3,993,041 issued to Diggs, there is disclosed a solar energized steam generator system wherein a lens is used for collecting and concentrating solar energy along with reflector funnel for enhancing and concentrating the solar energy. The funnel is connected by means of a conduit to an insulated vault. An air duct operatively connected to the vault is in a heat exchange relationship with a steam generator.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,341,961 discloses a solar desalination system wherein a hydroturbine is connected to a steam turbine condenser for the purpose of generating desalinated water.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,061,206 discloses an example of a bladeless turbine and is herewith incorporated by reference on the structure of one such turbine.


A mobile terminal includes a terminal body including a display unit formed on one surface thereof, a cover coupled to the terminal body such that it can be converted into a closed state in which the display is covered and an opened state in which the display unit is exposed, a signal generating unit configured to generate a state signal according to the closed state and the opened state, and a controller configured to control the display unit such that the display unit is activated in the opened state on the basis of the state signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mobile terminal installed in a cover.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, terminals may be divided into a mobile terminal and stationary terminal according to whether or not terminals are movable. In addition, mobile terminals may be divided into a handheld terminal and a vehicle mount terminal according to whether or not users can directly carry it around.
As such functions become more diversified, the mobile terminal can support more complicated functions such as capturing images or video, reproducing music or video files, playing games, receiving broadcast signals, and the like. By comprehensively and collectively implementing such functions, the mobile terminal may be embodied in the form of a multimedia player or device. Efforts are ongoing to support and increase the functionality of mobile terminals. Such efforts include software and hardware improvements, as well as changes and improvements in the structural components which form the mobile terminal.
Recently, mobile terminals are installed in a cover covering a terminal body to protect the terminal body from external impact or for the purpose of aesthetic appearance. Covers are fabricated to have various shapes, and in particular, in order to protect a display unit, a cover covering the entirety of outer surfaces of a terminal body is used.
However, in order to activate a display unit, a user should open the cover covering the display unit and turn on power of the display unit by using a power button, or the like, causing user inconvenience.


A system for designating individual paper holders in printers and copiers that use interchangeable paper holders, paper cassettes, paper trays and the like. The invention provides a paper supply which is capable of automatically changing its identifying indicia dependent upon its position within a group of similar paper supplies. For example, if a paper tray was positioned in the third position within a stack of paper trays, it would automatically adjust its identifying indicia to reflect that it is the "third" paper tray. Using the invented designation system, the paper holders may be automatically designated according to their placement in the printer or copier. The system includes a movable designator, typically a number designator, connected to and viewable on the paper holder. The designator is operable to move between two positions. When the designator is in the first position, the designator is not visible on the paper holder. When the designator is in the second position, the designator is visible on the paper holder.

In conventional printers and copiers, sheets of paper or other sheet media are pulled from a stack and fed downstream into the print engine components where the desired image is formed on each sheet. The sheets of paper are stacked in a cassette, tray or similar type of paper holder. Many printers and copiers use multiple paper holders. The paper holders may hold different types, sizes or color paper. Each holder may be a cassette assembly that includes paper feed components, such as a feed roller, shaft and gears, or the holder may be simply a paper tray fitted in a plastic housing. Whatever their configuration or function, the paper holders usually have some type of externally visible designator to distinguish between and among the multiple holders. For example, multiple paper holders are often designated by number, 1, 2, 3 etc.
Presently, the paper holder designators are affixed to, stamped in or embossed on each holder. This presents a problem for printers or copiers that can use two or more interchangeable paper holders. For example, some printers such as the one depicted in FIG. 1 use two optional paper cassette/feeder assemblies in addition the two paper trays mounted within the printer housing. The paper trays are designated paper holders number 1 and 2. The optional cassettes are designated paper holders number 3 and 4. Optional cassettes 3 and 4 are interchangeable. One or both of the optional cassettes may be used at any given time. If a fixed number designator is used for each cassette, then two separate cassettes each having a different number designator must be stocked and sold and used in the correct sequence by the customer. This same problem exists for the paper trays designated as paper holders number 1 and 2 if they are also interchangeable with one another. Such designation systems add undesirable costs and handling complexity to printers and copiers that utilize two interchangeable paper holders.

System for designating paper cassettes in printers and copiers


A mask data generating method for generating data of a plurality of masks used in a plurality of exposures in which exposure light is irradiated onto a substrate using a mask, and then exposure light is irradiated onto the substrate using another mask. The method includes the steps of obtaining data for a pattern including a plurality of pattern elements, determining formulation of a disposition limitation condition for the pattern elements, analyzing the distance between the pattern elements, determining formulation of the distance limitation condition, and applying a first variable configured to express a number of pattern divisions and a second variable configured to express a distance related to all pattern elements in a cost function and thereby dividing the pattern.

An exposure apparatus is used in a lithograph step of the process for manufacturing a semiconductor device. The lithograph step is a step in which a circuit pattern of a semiconductor device is transferred onto a substrate (silicon substrate, glass substrate, wafer, or the like). The exposure apparatus illuminates a mask (reticle) with an illumination optical system by use of light from a light source, and thereby transfers the circuit pattern formed on the mask through a projection optical system or the like onto the wafer. In recent years, due to the developments in pattern miniaturization for a semiconductor device, the wafer is exposed on a plurality of occasions by use of a plurality of masks to thereby execute a plurality of exposure operations to form a corresponding plurality of mask patterns on a single layer on the wafer. Generally, the resolution limit of the exposure apparatus is expressed by hp=k1×λ/NA. The denotation hp is an abbreviation for half pitch, and is half the shortest distance between adjacent patterns. The denotation k1 is the process factor, λ is the exposure light wavelength, and NA is the numerical aperture of the exposure apparatus. The plurality of exposure operations is a technique of dividing and exposing the pattern, that has a smaller half pitch than the half pitch of the resolution limit of the exposure apparatus, into a plurality of mask patterns to thereby enable the resolution of a more detailed pattern than the resolution limit that does not impart a sufficient exposure margin with a single conventional exposure.
The method of dividing a single layout (pattern) into a plurality of mask patterns includes a characteristic such as divided coating of color which is generally termed a coloring problem. The feature of pattern division may use an expression such as divided color coating. A method of dividing an original target pattern into a plurality of mask patterns includes the method disclosed in Patent Literature 1 that applies a division rule by use of an iterative method. More specifically, this method determines a division rule, and attributes a mask as a first mask or attributes a mask as a second mask by application of the division rule to the pattern under consideration, and then repeats that operation for each pattern. Furthermore, Patent Literature 2 discloses a pattern division method using a conflict graph and a method of mathematical programming. A conflict graph is a graph that is configured from points and sides, and in the example of pattern division, each mask pattern is expressed by points, and patterns that exceed the resolution limit are connected by a side. Pattern division is calculated using a method of mathematical programming so that the mask number of both sides is a different number.

Mask pattern generating method, storage medium, information processing apparatus for execution of the same, mask manufacturing method and device manufacturing method


There is formed an isolation which surrounds an active region of a semiconductor substrate. Formed over the active region and on the isolation, respectively, are a gate electrode and two gate interconnections on both sides thereof. Between the gate electrode and the gate interconnections are located two first interspaces each of which is smaller in width than a specified value and a second interspace which is larger in width than the specified value and interposed between the two first interspaces. In forming side walls on both side faces of the gate electrode and gate interconnections by depositing an insulating film on the substrate, the first interspaces are buried with the insulating film. Thereafter, a metal film is deposited on the substrate, followed by chemical mechanical polishing till the gate electrode, gate interconnections, and side walls become exposed. By the process, withdrawn electrodes from a source/drain region for ccntact with the active region is formed by self alignment, while the withdrawn electrodes are insulated from the gate electrode and gate interconnections by the side walls.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor apparatus in which a field-effect transistor (FET) is disposed and to a method of manufacturing the same. More particularly, it relates to a method of lowering the resistance of an impurity diffusion layer in the FET.
With the increasing miniaturization of a large-scale semiconductor integrated circuit in recent years, a MISFET has been reduced in size by lowering the resistances of its impurity diffusion layer and gate interconnection. To lower the resistance of an impurity diffusion layer, there has been developed "salicide" technology for actual use, which is a method wherein a metal with high melting point such as Ti is deposited on the impurity diffusion layer in a silicon substrate and then the vicinity of the Si--Ti interface is silicidized through the mutual diffusion of Si and Ti between the silicon substrate and the resulting Ti film, thereby lowering the resistance value of the impurity diffusion layer. On the other hand, there has been introduced a method wherein tungsten is buried in a contact hole by selective CVD or blanket tungsten is used to fill up the contact hole, since the aspect ratio of the contact hole has been increased in order to minimize the contact area between the interconnection and silicon.
There has also been proposed a method, which is a combination of the above two technologies, in "A NOVEL DOUBLE-SELF-ALIGNED TiSi.sub.2 /TiN CONTACT WITH SELECTIVE CVD W PLUG FOR SUBMICRON DEVICE AND INTERCONNECT APPLICATIONS (IEEE. VLSI Symp 5--5 p.41, 1991)" by Martin S. Wang et al.
Below, the composite salicide method disclosed in the above document will be described with reference to FIGS. 18(a) to 18(f), which illustrate the transition of the cross sectional structure of a silicon substrate during the process of manufacturing a semiconductor apparatus.
FIG. 18(a) shows a MOS transistor of LDD structure that has been formed previously. In the drawing, 1 designates a silicon substrate, 2 designates an isolation formed by a LOCOS method, 3 designates: a gate oxide film, 4 designates a polysilicon electrode, 5 designates a side wall, and 6 designates an impurity diffusion layer (the impurity diffusion layer includes a low-concentration source/drain 6a and a high-concentration source/drain 6b). The manufacturing method is identical with a conventional method of manufacturing a CMOS device, up to the stage shown in FIG. 18(a). Moreover, the doping with As, P, and B and the subsequent thermal treatment have been conducted in accordance with the characteristics of a p-channel MOS transistor. Next, as shown in FIG. 18(b), a Ti thin film 30 for a salicide is deposited by sputtering, followed by annealing for silicidization as shown in FIG. 18(c). After that, the titanium on the oxide film is removed by wet etching so as to implant N.sub.2. Subsequently, TiSi.sub.x (silicidized titanium layer) 30 is formed only on the impurity diffusion layers 6 and gate polysilicon 4. After a BPSG film 10 weas deposited, a contact hole 11 is formed in a desired position of the BPSG film 10 by photolithography and by dry etching (using a gas containing CHF.sub.2 +O.sub.2 as its main component), as shown in FIG. 18(d). Next, as shown in FIG. 18(e), a W (tungsten) plug 12 is deposited by selective CVD. Then, after depositing a film consisting of TiN/AlSiCu/Ti by sputtering, as shown in FIG. 18(f), the resulting film is patterned to form a metal interconnection 13. The above process provides a semiconductor apparatus having the MOS transistor with the salicide structure and the W plug formed by selective CVD.
However, the conventional semiconductor apparatus with the structure described above has the following disadvantages:
(1) Although the formation of a silicide film 7b requires the reaction between the metal with high melting point and the underlying silicon, if the impurity diffusion layer 6 is shallow, it becomes difficult to form a junction between the metal with high melting point and silicon. However, since a future device requires the formation of an impurity diffusion layer as shallow as possible. it becomes difficult to form an effective junction, so that the salicide technology is not necessarily compatible with a future device. PA1 (2) Since the silicide layer shows poor immunity to a gas containing CF as its main component in etching for forming a contact hole, defects such as a pin hole are easily caused, which may incur an increase in the resistance of the impurity diffusion layer. PA1 (3) In a transistor with a shallow junction formed between the metal with high melting point and silicon, over-etching for surely forming each contact hole cannot be performed satisfactorily in etching for forming a contact hole in the shallow junction therebetween. Consequently, the reliability of an interconnection may be impaired. PA1 (4) A thermal treatment at 650.degree. C. or a higher temperature is required in order to lower the resistance of the silicide layer. Consequently, the electrical characteristics of the transistor may be impaired. PA1 (5) The silicide layer hardly serves as a satisfactory barrier metal layer in forming the W plug by selective CVD, so that its manufacturing conditions for preventing junction leakage become more stringent. PA1 (6) With the structure shown in FIG. 18(f), the degree of planarization of the base underlying the BPSG film 10 is not satisfactory.

Semiconductor device comprising MISFETS and method of manufacturing the same

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A method and apparatus for the elimination of temporal and spacial distortions from interlaced video signals, particularly those that occur in signals associated with affine transformations. This elimination is particularly of value for signals that have been magnified so as to prevent the visual appearance of reverse movement of moving images. The removal of these distortions is achieved by sequentially inputting the images fields into three field buffers, updating the data in a rotary manner. This data is withdrawn from any two of the field buffers, while the third field buffer is being updated, and averaging the data from the two. When such averaged data is displayed, there is no apparent reverse direction motion to the image. The method and apparatus are applied to a system wherein there is affine transformation to achieve selected pan, tilt, rotation and magnification of images during the correction of distorted images received from a wide angle lens.

During certain processing of interlaced video signals, and particularly those that have been digitized, there is apparent visual evidence of temporal shift upon a display of an image created by those video signals. Portions of certain types of images, for example, visually appear to be moving backward, with this effect being particularly observed when the images are magnified. When the interlaced video image is enlarged, an odd (or even) number of line shifts may occur in the picture elements (pixels). Even though conventional interlaced images refresh their display every field, for example, at sixty times a second, the temporal reversal of output relative to input may be perceptible to a viewer.
One such area in which this temporal (and spatial) shift become apparent is in the systems described in commonly-owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,185,667 issued Feb. 9, 1993, 5,313,306 issued May 17, 1994 and 5,359,363 issued Oct. 25, 1994. The contents of these patents are incorporated herein by reference as to their entire contents.
In the technology described in these patents, video signals are electronically processed for their transformation according to pan and tilt orientation, rotation and magnification so as to view any selected portion of a total video image under selected conditions. Such transformation is generally referred to in the art as "affine transformation." The affine transformation causes single line shifts in the vertical position of pixels which, in an interlaced image, result in a temporal reversal of the display of the transformed dynamic image. Such reversal is disconcerting to some users of the technology of the cited patents.
in order to minimize these effects, these patents teach using magnification on specific fixed increments. In one, wherein the magnification (really minification) is 1/2.times., every other line is discarded which results in a reduction of input image frequency, called fields, from sixty fields per second to thirty fields per second. This removes the time reversal, but at the same time leads to a reduction in the apparent update rate of moving objects in the input image.
Also, it is common to use a 2.times. magnification, that is, doubling the magnification by doubling the input lines vertically and the number of pixels horizontally. This, however, does not provide an improvement in the reversal problem, and further provides images of objects that appear to have "fingers" or extensions that do not 0have the proper time relationship.
In addition, it is conventional to utilize filters for deinterlacing. However, this has not been applied to the capture, transformation, magnification, rotation and reconstitution of interlaced images for both input and output.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for eliminating the temporal shifts that occur during affine transformation of interlaced video images.
Another object of the present invention is to provide apparatus to carry out the present method for eliminating the temporal shifts.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a method for eliminating distortion caused by temporal shifts that occur during transformation of interlaced video images for the purpose of selecting pan and tilt orientation, rotation and magnification of at least a selected portion of the interlaced video images.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide modified apparatus for transforming interlaced video images according to pan and tilt orientation, rotation and/or magnification whereby temporal and spacial shifts that occur during such transformation are eliminated thereby making an output image more satisfactory to a viewer of these output images.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon a consideration of the drawings set forth below, together with a complete description thereof.

Method for eliminating temporal and spacial distortion from interlaced video signals


A semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor substrate formed with at least one well containing impurity ions of either a first conductivity type or a second conductivity type; a plurality of transistors each having a gate insulation film formed on the well, a gate electrode formed on the gate insulation film and a pair of diffusion layers formed in the well; and an outer diffusion layer of the same conductivity type as that of the well and self-aligned with each of the diffusion layers in an outer periphery thereof within the well; the outer diffusion layer having an impurity concentration sufficient to provide a desired junction withstand voltage and having substantially the same width as that of a depletion layer to be generated when an operational voltage is applied to the corresponding transistor; the impurity of the well being set for a concentration such that a threshold voltage of a parasitic transistor appearing below the gate electrode connecting adjacent transistors is higher than a power supply voltage, whereby the adjacent transistors are isolated from each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to semiconductor devices, mask ROMs and fabrication methods therefor. More particularly, the invention relates to semiconductor devices in which the device isolation is achieved without utilizing LOCOS films, and mask ROMs incorporating such semiconductor devices in peripheral circuitry thereof. The invention further relates to fabrication methods for such semiconductor devices and mask ROMs.
2. Description of Related Art
In MOS devices, device isolation is achieved by utilizing PN junction and/or low dielectric film. This device isolation technology is employed to prevent a reduction in the breakdown voltage of a device due to punch-through and the channel formation of a parasitic transistor caused by gate interconnection or metallization.
As shown in FIG. 17, a conventional mask ROM includes a memory cell array (flat cell) M employing PN junction isolation and a peripheral circuitry C employing LOCOS isolation film 47. With reference to FIG. 17, a method for fabricating the conventional mask ROM will be described.
An N-well 41 and a P-well 42 each having a surface impurity concentration of about 1.times.10.sup.17 /cm.sup.3 are formed in a silicon substrate 40. An oxide film and a silicon nitride film are then formed on an entire surface of the silicon substrate 40. A resist pattern having a window on a region in which an LOCOS film is to be formed is formed on the substrate 40 by conventional photolithography and etching techniques. The silicon nitride film is patterned by using the resist pattern as a mask.
After the resist pattern is removed, a resist pattern is formed on the substrate 40 so as to cover only the N-well 41. By using the resist pattern and the silicon nitride film as masks, boron ions are implanted into the silicon substrate 40 in a dose of about 7.times.10.sup.13 /cm.sup.2 at an implantation energy of about 15 KeV to form a channel stopper just below the region provided for the LOCOS film formation.
After the resist pattern is removed, pyrolytic oxidation is carried out at a temperature of about 950.degree. C. by using the silicon nitride film as a mask to form LOCOS film 47 having a thickness of about 600 nm. At this time, channel stopper 48 is formed just below the LOCOS film 47 in the P-well 41.
In turn, the silicon nitride film is removed by using hot phosphoric acid. A resist pattern is formed to cover the N-well 41, and then boron ions are implanted into the substrate in a dose of about 2.5.times.10.sup.12 /cm.sup.2 at an implantation energy of 20 KeV by using the resist pattern as a mask to adjust the threshold voltage of an N-channel transistor to be formed in the N-well 42.
After the resist pattern is removed, a resist pattern is formed to cover the P-well 42, and then boron ions are implanted into the substrate in a dose of about 3.times.10.sup.12 /cm.sup.2 at an implantation energy of about 20 KeV to adjust the threshold voltage of a P-channel transistor to be formed in the N-well 41. In turn, the resist pattern is removed, and arsenic ions are implanted into the substrate masked with another resist pattern in a dose of about 2.0.times.10.sup.15 /cm.sup.2 at an implantation energy of about 40 KeV. After the resist pattern is removed, the substrate is annealed at a temperature of about 900.degree. C. for about 30 minutes to achieve diffused bit line connections in the memory cell array M.
In turn, a gate electrode 52 is formed by conventional process. The substrate 40, which is masked with a photoresist in the peripheral circuitry C and with the gate electrode 52 in the memory cell array M, is implanted with boron ions in a dose of about 3.times.10.sup.13 /cm.sup.2 at an implantation energy of about 20 KeV to form junction isolation for isolating the diffused bit line connections from each other.
After removing the photoresist, an oxide film is deposited to a thickness of about 250 nm, and etched back for the formation of spacers 55 on sidewalls of the gate electrode 52. With photoresists for respectively masking the N-well 41 and the P-well 42, a P.sup.+ diffusion layer 56 and an N.sup.+ diffusion layer 57 are formed in the peripheral circuitry C.
In turn, boron ions are implanted into desired channel regions in the memory cell array in a dose of about 2.times.10.sup.14 /cm.sup.2 at an implantation energy of about 180 KeV by using a photoresist as a mask for the programming of the ROM. Thus, transistors having a high threshold voltage are formed.
After the photoresist is removed, interlayer insulation films 60 and 61, contact holes and metal wiring 62 are formed by conventional processes. Thus, the mask ROM is completed.
As can be understood from the foregoing, the process of the LOCOS isolation in the peripheral circuitry C of the mask ROM occupies about 10% to about 15% of the overall mask ROM production process, and takes three to four days, resulting in prolonged production period and costly production. Further, the LOCOS isolation roughens the substrate surface. This hinders microfabrication and thereby results in a reduced yield.
To cope with this problem, U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,262 proposes a device isolation method based on junction isolation. This method is implemented as follows.
As shown in FIG. 18, an N.sup.+ diffusion layer 71 is formed in a P-type silicon substrate 70. Then, a photoresist 72 is formed on the substrate 70, and boron ions are implanted into the substrate masked with the photoresist 72 in a dose of about 2.times.10.sup.14 /cm.sup.2 to form a P.sup.+ diffusion layer 73, as shown in FIG. 19. After the photoresist 72 is removed as shown in FIG. 20, the substrate is subjected to a heat treatment for the activation of the impurities and for the recovery of the crystallinity of the silicon substrate 70 and, thus, the junction isolation is achieved.
The aforesaid PN junction isolation suppresses the reduction in the withstand voltage due to punch-through between diffused bit lines, and prevents the channel inversion of a parasitic transistor which would otherwise be caused by metal wiring. However, a gate insulation film formed in a region just below a gate electrode where the channel inversion of a parasitic transistor should be prevented is very thin. Therefore, the channel inversion of the parasitic transistor caused by the gate electrode cannot be prevented with a presently utilized level of impurity concentration in the well or in the PN junction isolation. Accordingly, the PN junction isolation cannot be employed for the device isolation in the peripheral circuitry.
The PN junction isolation is required to have a high impurity concentration for the prevention of the channel inversion of the parasitic transistor caused by the gate electrode. The gate electrode disposed in contact with the diffusion layer, however, leads to an increase in the junction capacitance and a reduction in the junction breakdown voltage.
For example, the junction breakdown voltage decreases with increasing impurity concentration at a PN junction isolation surface, as shown in FIG. 3. Therefore, where the impurity concentration at the PN junction isolation surface is higher than about 3.times.10.sup.17 /cm.sup.3 in a device operable at a voltage of 5 V, it is impossible to provide a junction breakdown voltage of higher than 6 V. To ensure a junction breakdown voltage of at least 6 V while allowing the PN junction isolation to have a relatively high surface impurity concentration, e.g., 1.times.10.sup.18 /cm.sup.3, the PN junction isolation should be spaced apart from the diffusion layer by not less than 0.4 .mu.m, as shown in FIG. 21. In consideration of a necessary overlap margin and the lateral diffusion of impurity from the junction isolation, the spacing between the PN junction isolation and the diffusion layer should be not less than 0.6 .mu.m as shown in FIG. 22. This leads to limited microfabrication of the device.

Method of fabricating mask ROM using junction isolation


A vehicle seat that can effectively restrain a passenger from moving outward in a vehicle width direction in the event of a collision of a vehicle is obtained. The vehicle seat disclosed is equipped with a pop-up bar that is supported displaceably upward, an MGG that is operated to displace the pop-up bar upward, a tension cloth that is connected on an upper end side thereof to the pop-up bar and on a lower end side thereof to a front end side of a seat cushion, and a lateral collision ECU that operates the MGG in a case where a lateral collision of the vehicle is detected or predicted. The tension cloth is deployed such that a tensile force is applied between a connection portion thereof to the pop-up bar and a connection portion thereof to the seat cushion as the pop-up bar is displaced to a popped-up position.

There is known an art of stretching a belt from a shoulder of a seat back to a front end of a seat cushion upon prediction of a lateral collision, so as to prevent a seated passenger from moving laterally of a vehicle (e.g., see Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-8194 (JP-2007-8194 A)). Besides, there is known an art of preventing a side airbag from moving outward in a vehicle width direction with the aid of a belt that is stretched from an upper end of a seat back to a front end of a seat cushion in the event of a lateral collision (e.g., see Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-29182 (JP-2009-29182 A)).


A laser power control system and related method for reducing a settling time in a target laser power transition are disclosed. The laser power control system includes a state decision circuit, for generating a state decision signal according to a selected operational state of a target circuit; a plurality of buffers, for storing a plurality of control data corresponding to a plurality of candidate operational states of the target circuit respectively; and a multiplexer, coupled between the state decision circuit and the buffers, for coupling a selected buffer of the buffers and the target circuit according to the state decision signal for outputting a control datum stored in the selected buffer to the target circuit.

The present invention relates to a laser power control system and related method, and more particularly, to a laser power control system and related method for reducing a settling time in a target laser power transition.
In an optical disc drive, such as a digital versatile disc (DVD) recorder, a laser diode of an optical pick-up unit (OPU) is commonly used as the source of light for reading digital data from and writing digital data to an optical disc. When the read/write state changes, an output laser power of the optical pick-up unit should be changed accordingly. In general, the output laser power of the optical pick-up unit depends on a working temperature of the optical pick-up unit, which means that the output laser power of the optical pick-up unit changes slightly over different working temperatures. Therefore, a feedback control circuit (i.e. a closed loop system) having a low bandwidth is adopted in order to control the laser power of the optical pick-up unit. As is well known in the art, this kind of feedback control circuit is known as an automatic power control (APC) system. Since the APC system has a low bandwidth, changing the control effort in response to the state change fails to make the output laser power change to a target level quickly. For example, when the read/write state changes, it will take significant time to make the output laser power of the optical pick-up unit reach the target power. Therefore, for a closed loop system having a low bandwidth, a novel mechanism is required to reduce the transition time between a current output level and a next output level when a control effort is made due to the state change.


A semiconductor element, a semiconductor sensor, and a semiconductor memory element are provided, in which an MFMIS structure having a lower electrode and an integrated circuit can be integrated. An epitaxially grown γ-Al2O3 single crystal film (2) is disposed on a semiconductor single crystal substrate (1), and an epitaxial single crystal Pt thin film (3) is disposed on the γ-Al2O3 single crystal film (2).

In recent years, various electronic devices taking advantage of properties, e.g., hysteresis, a pyroelectric effect, a piezoelectric effect, and an electrooptical effect, exhibited by a ferroelectric have been researched. Most of all, an application of a device including a Metal/Ferroelectric/Metal/Insulator/Semiconductor (MFMIS) structure to nonvolatile memory elements and sensors is expected.
As for this structure, it is expected that the device performance can be improved and the size can be miniaturized by making the ferroelectric a thin film. Furthermore, it is believed that integration with an integrated circuit can be performed by using a semiconductor substrate.
In the device including the MFMIS structure, an upper electrode and a lower electrode are necessary to derive a signal from the ferroelectric or give a signal to the ferroelectric. For example, in the case where the ferroelectric is used as a sensor, signals appear at the upper and lower electrodes due to a physical effect applied to the ferroelectric. In the case where the ferroelectric is used as a memory element, electric signals must be given from the upper and lower electrodes to the ferroelectric in accordance with the data to be stored.
On the other hand, the crystallinity of the ferroelectric is an important factor that determine the performance of the device. Since the ferroelectric is formed on a metal electrode in the MFMIS structure, the electrode is also required to have good crystallinity. Platinum (Pt) is used widely as a metal material for electrode at present.
In the field of sensor devices, Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 (PZT) base ferroelectric materials are used widely. It is known that the PZT base materials exhibit best ferroelectric properties when the crystal faces on the electrode are made to be (001) faces uniformly. In order to attain the PZT(001), Pt of the lower electrode must be a single crystal in which the (001) faces are aligned, and a single crystal MgO(001) substrate is used at present to attain such Pt. A Pt(111) oriented film and a PZT(111) oriented film thereon can be produced by using a substrate in which a silicon (Si) oxide film is formed on the surface of a silicon (Si) substrate and, thereafter titanium is deposited.
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-261249 (pages 4 to 5, FIG. 2)
[Non-Patent Document 1]
Akai et al., Extended Abstracts (the 49th Meeting), the Japan Society of Applied Physics and Related Societies, 30a-ZA-6

Ultrasonic sensor comprising a metal/ferroelectric/metal/insulator/semiconductor structure

National University Corporation Toyohashi University of Technology


In an arrangement for accounting for consumption of a resource, e.g., utilization of a postal service or utilities, a data center (503, 803) periodically communicates with multiple franking systems (100, 505-1, 505-2, 505-n) dispensing postage for the postal service utilization. The data center (503, 803) receives transaction records (301, 303, 305, 307, 309), where a transaction record (301, 303, 305, 307, 309) is associated with each transaction performed by the franking system (100, 505-1, 505-2, 505-n) in each period. Each record (301, 303, 305, 307, 309) includes at least the postage dispensed (305) in the associated franking transaction, and an ascending register value (307) indicating the cumulative postage dispensed. Using the received records (301, 303, 305, 307, 309), the data center (503, 803) assesses the charges during the period and causes assessed charges to be charged to an account associated with the franking system (100, 505-1, 505-2, 505-n). In addition, the data center (503, 803) forwards a copy of the received records (301, 303, 305, 307, 309) to another system (507, 550, 565, 850, 865) for storage, which may be used by the postal authority or utility to audit the charges.

Postage representing payment for a postal service makes up a significant portion of expenses of many businesses. For example, an insurance company routinely sends a large number of bills and correspondence to customers via mail, thereby incurring substantial postage.
To facilitate mailing of a large volume of mail, a franking system is often employed to frank, on mailpieces, postage indicia which serve as proof of postage. One such franking system may be a postage meter, or general purpose computer equipment, e.g., a personal computer (PC), having appropriate software installed therein for printing postage indicia using a local/network printer.
To secure accounting of postage dispensation, some postal authorities, e.g., the United States Postal Service (USPS), advocate use of a postal security device (PSD) in a franking system. For example, the USPS promulgated specifications for the design of the PSD under an Information-Based Indicia Program (IBIP).
In general, a PSD has a secure housing, and within the secure housing are accounting registers and a cryptographic engine. These accounting registers typically include an ascending register and a descending register. As is well known, the ascending register is used to keep track of the amount of postage dispensed. On the other hand, the descending register is used to keep track of the amount of postage available for postage dispensation. The cryptographic engine is used to sign certain postal information contained in a postage indicium to authenticate the same, in accordance with a well known public key algorithm. One such public key algorithm may be the Digital Signature Algorithm (DSA) described, e.g., in "Digital Signature Standard (DSS)," FIPS PUB 186, May 19, 1994. The cryptographic engine also carries out cryptographic authentication and signing for communications of the PSD with a remote data center, which may be maintained by a party other than a postal authority, e.g., a postage metering equipment or service provider. Such communications may be used to set up and maintain the PSD, and to replenish the postage fund by adjusting the value of the descending register in the PSD, in accordance with a well known telemeter setting (TMS) technique.

Technique for effective management of resource consumption


There are provided an image forming method and apparatus in which character string having one or more characters is registered as a regular character string, regular printing for printing the regular character string is instructed, irrespective of whether or not a character string other than the regular character string is being input or edited, and when regular printing is instructed, a regular character string image corresponding to the regular character string is printed as a print image. Irrespective of whether or not another character string is being edited, this construction enables the regular character string image of a registered regular character string to be printed at a desired time point through simple operations, while saving the capacity of the memory device.

Generally, in a printing apparatus, such as a word processor or the like, when the user enters desired character strings including one or more characters, such as letters, numerals, symbols, simple figures, and the like, via the keyboard or the like, font data corresponding to text code data of each character is read out from a ROM or the like having predetermined font data stored therein, and character string image data is formed based on the font data such that the data is arranged in a predetermined display image-forming area, whereby display image data is formed. A display image represented by this display image data is displayed on a predetermined display screen. This permits the user to view and check on results of entry and edit of desired character strings effected via the keyboard, in the display image which is displayed on the display screen with the results reflected thereon.
After the checking, when the user depresses a predetermined print key or the like, the printing apparatus forms character string image data, in the same manner as described above, based on font data such that it is arranged in a predetermined print image-forming area, whereby print image data is formed. A print image represented by this print image data is printed on a predetermined printing object. This permits the user to print a character string image of his desired character string checked on the display screen, on the predetermined printing object. Further, the user can store (register) the desired character string image which he entered via the keyboard or the like and checked on the display screen, in the form of text data which is a source of the desired character string image in a memory area of a predetermined storage medium. Further, he can read it out at a desired time point and print it on a predetermined printing object after verifying the image on the display screen.
In the conventional printing apparatus, such as the word processor, however, it is assumed that a desired character string image is printed on a predetermined printing object after it is checked on the display screen. Conversely, the user can print his desired character string image only after it is displayed on the display screen. On the other hand, print images the user desires to print include (regular or repetitive) character string images that he would like to print habitually and frequently. Examples of such print images are the name of the user himself and the name of his division. Once these print images are checked on and registered or stored, they are needed only for printing but checking of them is no longer necessitated.
Further, in everyday operations, if the above regular character string images have to be printed while other character string images are being entered and edited, it is required to once save (store) the character strings being edited, and then read the regular character string images for printing. Moreover, after the regular character string are printed, it is required to read (restore) the character strings being edited, again, and resume the editing operation. This is an inconvenience. In some word processors (including word processing software installed a personal computer (PC), the user is permitted to handle a plurality of edit screens at a time by switching between the edit screens or displaying the edit screens at the same time. In the former case, however, the user has to switch an edit screen being used for editing operations to a new edit screen, read regular character strings to display them on the screen, print them, and then return to the preceding edit screen used for the editing operations. This is troublesome and time-consuming. In the latter case, to display a plurality of edit screens at a time, a large display screen is required. Further, to use such a plurality of edit screens, a large memory capacity for storing a plurality of display image data items to be displayed on them is necessitated. Therefore, they are not suitable for a small-sized and inexpensive printing apparatus.
It is an object of the invention to provide an image printing method and apparatus which are cable of printing a regular character string image of registered regular character strings at a desired time point through simple operations, irrespective of whether other character strings are being edited or not, while saving the capacity of a memory used for displaying images.


This invention relates to a bracket assembly for a hardware assembly for forming an elevated concrete slab or the like, the bracket assembly comprising a body securable to a supporting structure and a load bearing support carriage which depends from the body and is movable between at least upper and lower positions relative to the body while depending therefrom. An associated hardware assembly and method of use thereof are also disclosed.

This invention relates to means and a method for forming elevated concrete slabs, and more particularly, to hardware used in the formation of these slabs, although it is not so limited in application.
In known building practice, formwork is assembled on a surface or on a lower floor level to form the next level of the building above. The formwork includes box forms to create columns, and table forms to form concrete beams and/or floor surfaces extending between the beams.
Table forms are normally held in position by scaffolding. The scaffolding is assembled on to the surface or floor below with the table forms being supported on the scaffolding. The table forms are lowered into position on to the scaffolding by cranes.
The table forms normally have plywood surfaces against which the concrete is poured. A series of joists are spaced along the underneath surface of the plywood and further bearers are located under the joists which locate on the scaffolding to support the formwork.
The scaffolding is strong enough to support concrete which is then poured on to the formwork to create the next floor above. Once this concrete is set, and becomes self-supporting, then the scaffolding and formwork can be removed from beneath.
Normally, scissor lift mechanisms or platforms are used to support the table forms while the scaffolding is removed. The table form formwork is then prised away from the concrete surface and lowered to ground level. All the components are stacked for the removal from the building site by forklift and crane.
The objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

Bracket assembly for securement to a formwork support for forming an elevated concrete slab


A magnetic head device including a first supporting member having resilience; a second supporting member formed by an electromechanical conversion element; and a parallel leaf spring member having parallel leaf springs that are joined to ends of the first supporting member and the second supporting member, respectively, and having a head tip mounted to its base; wherein the second supporting member performs electromechanical conversion and moves with an amplitude along with the first supporting member in order to displace and drive the head tip in a predetermined direction; and wherein the leaf spring of the parallel leaf spring member, which is adjacent to the second supporting member, has a recess formed in an end thereof in order to receive an end of the second supporting member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention broadly relates to a magnetic head device mounted to a rotary drum of a video tape recorder (VTR) capable of variable speed reproduction, and, more particularly, to a magnetic head device whose head tip is displaced and driven in a predetermined direction by using an electromechanical converting element (bimorph plate).
2. Description of the Related Art
A so-called DT (dynamic tracking) head that tracks recording tracks during reproduction at variable speed has been used as a magnetic head device which is mounted to a rotary drum of a conventional video tape recorder (VTR).
FIG. 4 is a view showing a conventional magnetic head device using the above-described DT head.
In the magnetic head device, a parallel leaf spring member 8 and a head tip 9 are supported by two supporting members, that is by a dummy base 10 and a bimorph plate 6. A flexible base 12 is affixed on top of the dummy base 10 by a screw 4.
As shown in FIG. 4A, the bimorph plate 6 is formed from a trapezoidal sheet, and, as shown in FIG. 4B, it is sandwiched and held by a fixed portion 11 and a fixed plate 7, with an end side being a free end that is joined to a bottom leaf spring 8b of the parallel leaf spring member 8. The dummy base 10 is formed from a rectangular sheet. Its base end portion is integrally formed with the fixed portion 11 fixed at a location corresponding to the location of the fixed plate 7. An end of the dummy base 10 is a free end that is joined to an upper leaf spring 8a of the parallel leaf spring member 8.
The bimorph plate 6 is adhered to a pair of piezoelectric ceramic plates through a reinforcer using an epoxy type adhesive. The piezoelectric ceramic plates (made of lead zirconate, lead titanate, or the like) are formed from sintered ceramic powder. Electrode layers, such as those formed by a silver-baked paint electrode, are formed on each of the surfaces thereof. The magnetic head device is provided with a drive circuit (not shown) in order to apply a voltage V to such a bimorph plate 6 through the electrode layers described above.
The dummy base 10 is made of carbon-type material (carbon fiber type material) and has a resilience that allows it to deform sufficiently in accordance with the movement of the bimorph plate 6.
In such a construction, applying a voltage to the bimorph plate 6 from the electrode layers causes one of the piezoelectric plates adhered to the bimorph plate 6 to expand (or contract) and the other piezoelectric plate to contract (or expand).
This causes the bimorph plate 6 to bend as a whole. Here, the dummy base 10, which is connected to the bimorph plate 6 through the parallel plate spring member 8, bends in accordance with the bending of the bimorph plate 6. Thus, while being supported by the two supporting members (the bimorph plate 6 and the dummy base 10), the head tip 9 can be displaced in the direction of arrow a or in a direction opposite thereto by merely driving only one bimorph plate 6.
The amplitude of the displacement in the forward or reverse direction is approximately 600 .mu.m. Displacing the head tip 9 in this way allows reproducing operations, from reverse reproduction to a reproduction performed three times faster, without any noise.
When the head tip 9 is displaced in the forward or reverse direction so as to move with an amplitude, the parallel plate spring member 8 acts to improve the contact between the head tip 9 and the tape. Like the dummy base 10, the parallel leaf spring member 8 is made of carbon-type material (carbon fiber).
In FIG. 4A, reference numeral 13 denotes wirings, and reference numerals 14 and 15 denote lands to which the wirings 13 are connected.
However, in such a conventional magnetic head device, the dummy base 10 is adhered to the upper leaf spring 8a of the parallel leaf spring member 8, as shown in FIG. 5C, after only part of the lower leaf spring 8b of the parallel leaf spring member 8 and part of the bimorph plate 6 are placed upon each other, as shown in FIG. 5A, and adhered together from the front and back sides of the lower leaf spring 8b and the bimorph plate 6, using epoxy resin p, as shown in FIG. 5B. Thus, the conventional magnetic head device has the following problems:
(a) It is necessary to apply a large amount of epoxy resin p in order to adhere the lower leaf spring 8b of the parallel leaf spring member 8 and the bimorph plate 6 together with a predetermined adhesive strength, thereby increasing the number of manhours.
(b) Since the lower leaf spring 8b of the parallel leaf spring member 8 and the bimorph plate 6 are adhered together merely by placing them on top of each other, the state of adhesion between the spring 8b and the bimorph plate 6 becomes unstable, with variations in the adhesive strength, which causes variations in the displacement amplitude of the head tip 9.
(c) In addition, since the lower leaf spring 8b of the parallel leaf spring member 8 and the bimorph plate 6 are adhered together merely by placing them on top of each other, variations occur in the posture of the parallel leaf spring member 8 adhered to the bimorph plate 6. This causes the head tip 9 disposed at the parallel leaf spring member 8 to tilt, since it cannot assume a most suitable posture, so that the angle of a gap formed at the head tip 9 no longer matches the angle of the tape recording lines. This results in poorer reproduction output characteristics (or electromagnetic conversion characteristics), since the angle of the gap is set less accurately with respect to the required azimuth.


According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a system for controlling an Internet-of-things (IoT) device of a vehicle may include at least one IoT device and a vehicle that determines whether a control condition is satisfied and calculate a first determination value based on the time at which the operation is controlled and the number of times the operation is controlled before or after a state in which the control condition is satisfied, calculates a second determination value based on a number of times the control condition is satisfied and a number of times the at least one IoT device is controlled in the state where the control condition is satisfied, and determines whether to automatically register the at least one IoT device as a control target based on the first determination value and the second determination value when the control condition is satisfied.

A car-to-home service refers to a service for controlling an Internet-of-Things (IoT) device arranged in a specific place (e.g., home) in a vehicle. In general, the car-to-home service may control an IoT device through a vehicle terminal or a portable terminal linked to a vehicle. The car-to-home service may divide the mode into an outing mode or a going-home mode according to the moving direction of the vehicle, that is, whether the vehicle moves from home to another place or the vehicle moves from another place to home, and register at least IoT device. In addition, the car-to-home service may control at least one IoT device registered for each outing or going-home mode.
Therefore, when an IoT device is not registered in a vehicle in advance, it is impossible to use the car-to-home service. When a new IoT control operation is added to the control operation of the IoT device registered in advance for each outing mode or going-home mode, a user's reset may be required, which causes inconvenience to the user.

System and method for controlling Internet of Things device of vehicle


A line segment detection apparatus includes a head that supports a sensor configured to detect light reflected by a surface of a cutting target medium, a driving unit configured to move the head in two-dimensional directions relatively to the medium, and a processing unit configured to drive the driving unit and perform arithmetic processing on an output of the sensor. The processing unit includes a region detection unit configured to detect a region different in reflectance from surroundings based on a change of a signal output from the sensor when the sensor was moved in a first direction, and a determination unit configured to determine whether the region is a line segment, based on the change of the signal output from the sensor when the sensor passed a point in the region and was moved in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a line segment detection apparatus and a storage medium storing a control program. More particularly, the present invention relates to a line segment detection apparatus applicable to a cutting plotter having a function of detecting the reference mark of a cutting target medium, and a storage medium storing a control program.
2. Description of the Relevant Art
These days, a so-called cutting target medium driving (grid roller) cutting plotter and a flatbed cutting plotter are known as a cutting plotter that cuts a cutting target medium into a desired shape.
The grid roller cutting plotter includes driving rollers (grid rollers) and driven rollers (pinch rollers) that clamp the two end portions of a cutting target medium. The grid roller cutting plotter moves a cutting target medium in the first direction (X-axis direction) by rotating the driving rollers clockwise and counterclockwise. The grid roller cutting plotter further includes a pen block provided to be movable in the second direction (Y-axis direction) perpendicular to the first direction. A cutting pen attached to the pen block is moved in the second direction (Y-axis direction) while being selectively pressed against or separated from a cutting target medium. In this manner, the grid roller cutting plotter can cut a cutting target medium into a desired shape by moving the cutting pen in two-dimensional directions relatively to the cutting target medium.
The flatbed cutting plotter includes a flat plate-like table on which a cutting target medium is placed, a Y bar provided to be movable in the first direction with respect to the table, and a pen block provided to be movable in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction by sliding along the Y bar. The flatbed cutting plotter can cut a cutting target medium into a desired shape by controlling movement of the pen block with respect to the table, and selectively pressing a cutting pen provided in the pen block against the cutting target medium or separating it from the cutting target medium.
Note that the pen block is also called a "head".
A reference mark called a "register mark" is formed in advance on a cutting target medium in order to specify a cuttable region of the cutting target medium. In many cases, the reference mark is constituted by a plurality of line segments, and reference marks are printed in advance at, e.g., the four corners of a cutting target medium.
Some cutting plotters include, in the head, a reflection photosensor (to be simply referred to as a "photosensor" hereinafter) having a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and have a function of automatically detecting a line segment constituting a register mark. The cutting plotter having this function of the line segment detection apparatus irradiates the surface of a cutting target medium with light from the light emitting element while moving the head. The light receiving element receives the light reflected by the surface. The cutting plotter determines whether a register mark is printed, based on the difference between the amount of light reflected by the surface of a portion at which the background color of the cutting target medium is exposed, and the amount of light reflected by the surface of the register mark (see, e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-114886).
However, the following problems arise when the presence/absence of a register mark is determined based on only the difference between the amount of light reflected by the surface of a portion at which the background color of a cutting target medium is exposed, and the amount of light reflected by the surface of the register mark.
First, when a foreign substance such as a sticky substance is attached on a cutting target medium, the reflected light amount decreases owing to the foreign substance, and the foreign substance may be erroneously detected as a line segment constituting a register mark.
Also, when a cutting target medium 100 has a glossy laminate 102 adhered on a mount 101, as shown in FIG. 1, the surface undulates depending on the state of the cutting target medium 100, and light reflected by the surface of the laminate 102 does not enter the light receiving element, generating a portion at which the luminance level drops. This undulation moves in the moving direction of a photosensor 103 when, for example, a sensor hood 103a of the photosensor 103 moves in contact with the cutting target medium 100. In the case of the grid roller cutting plotter, the cutting target medium 100 tends to curl in the feed direction, and the undulation readily appears as a wrinkle parallel to the Y-axis direction.
At a portion at which the undulation occurs, reflected light does not return to the light receiving element of the sensor 103, and the reflected light amount to the light receiving element greatly decreases. As a result, the portion at which the undulation occurs may be erroneously detected as a line segment constituting a register mark.
Further, when part of the laminate 102 of the cutting target medium 100 is folded, as shown in FIG. 2, even if the folded portion is smoothed by the sensor hood 103a of the photosensor 103 moving together with the head, the folded portion still remains.
If the laminate 102 of the cutting target medium 100 has such a folded portion, most of light reflected by the folded portion does not return to the light receiving element. As a result, the reflected light amount detected by the light receiving element greatly decreases. The folded portion may be erroneously detected as a line segment constituting a register mark.

Line segment detection apparatus, and storage medium storing control program


The present invention relates to a taxidermy system and method for recreating the head of an animal species. The taxidermy system comprises a taxidermy form in the shape of the head portion of the animal species, at least one eye socket in the taxidermy form and at least one eye insert to be placed within the at least one eye socket. Each eye insert is formed by a simulated eyeball and a capsule surrounding said eyeball. The capsule is formed from a flexible, shape memory material configured to have details such as representations of muscle, eyebrow, and eyelids. The method for recreating a head portion of an animal species comprises the steps of providing a taxidermy form in the shape of the head of the animal species, which head has at least one eye socket, providing at least one eye insert to be fitted within the at least one eye socket, the at least one eye insert having an eyeball and a capsule formed from a flexible material surrounding said eyeball, inserting the at least one eye insert into the at least one eye socket, placing a skin over the taxidermy form, and tucking a portion of the skin between an underside portion of the capsule and the eyeball.

The present invention relates to a taxidermy system and method for recreating the head portion of an animal species and, in particular to an eye insert used in said system and method.
The head of a taxidermy form contains eye sockets of the approximate size present in the skull of the corresponding animal. These sockets are, of course, much larger than the eye itself which in the live animal is positioned in the socket and held in place by various muscles and a protective cushion of connective tissue including the lids and the brows. Therefore, when modeling a taxidermy form to look lifelike and realistic, the eye must be set within this enlarged eye socket in a very correct and precise manner.
In the past, taxidermists have set glass eyes into the form and then have used clay to recreate the proper muscle and lid definition. This has to be done over and over again on each taxidermist mount. Shaping the clay to the proper definition is quite time consuming and the toughest part for an amateur taxidermist to master. Often, the clay is displaced when the taxidermist tries to put skin over it. Another problem faced by the taxidermist, especially amongst amateur taxidermists, is setting the eye into the body at the proper angle and depth.
Attempts have been made to do away with the use of clay. One such effort is exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 4,477,500 to Powell. The Powell patent relates to an eye insert for a taxidermy form which includes an artificial eyeball and a base into which the eyeball is adapted to be partially set. The base is configured to be positioned within the eye socket and fixed against substantial adjustment. Alignment means, in the form of a tongue and groove arrangement, are carried by the base and socket, respectively. Unfortunately, the eye insert disclosed in the Powell patent does not readily lend itself to use with taxidermy techniques such as the eye tuck method for placing skin over the eyelids.


A sensor includes a first gate electrode, a second gate electrode, a semiconductor layer, a gate-insulating layer, a source electrode, a drain electrode, and a sensing portion including an accommodating part and a receiving layer. The first and second gate electrodes are opposed to each other with the sensing portion, the semiconductor layer, and the gate-insulating layer therebetween. One surface of the semiconductor layer is in contact with a surface of the sensing portion, and another surface of the semiconductor layer is in contact with the gate-insulating layer. A surface of the gate-insulating layer is in contact with the second gate electrode. The first gate electrode and the receiving layer are opposed to each other with the accommodating part therebetween. The source and drain electrodes are in contact with the semiconductor layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sensor using a field effect transistor (FET).
2. Description of the Related Art
Japanese Patent No. 3,313,696 (Patent Document 1) discloses a chemical sensor using an FET, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,180,771 (Patent Document 2) discloses a chemical sensor in which an FET and a reference electrode are combined. However, the related arts described above have some problems, which will be described below in detail.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a sensor using an FET having one gate electrode, which is described in Patent Document 1. The device has a source electrode 5, a drain electrode 6, an insulating film 7, a target substance 9, and a non-target substance 10. When a voltage is applied to a gate electrode 2 shown in FIG. 1, a channel 13 is formed in an upper layer region of a semiconductor layer 4. In such a case, since the channel 13 and a receiving layer 8 are in close proximity to each other, it is expected that measurement can be performed with high sensitivity. However, because of the close proximity between the channel 13 and the receiving layer 8, carrier movement occurs from the channel 13 to a sample solution 11. That is, leakage current occurs from the channel 13 to the sample solution 11. Consequently, it is difficult to perform electrical measurement accurately.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing another sensor including one gate electrode and a reference electrode, which is described in Patent Document 2. In the sensor shown in FIG. 2, since the electrical potential of a sample solution 11 can be kept constant by a reference electrode 12, it is believed to be possible to perform stable electrical measurement. However, since a channel 13 is formed by applying a voltage to a gate electrode 200 having a gate-insulating layer 3 thereon, the channel 13 is formed in a lower layer region of a semiconductor layer 4 at a point distant from a receiving layer 8. Consequently, it is difficult to perform electrical measurement with high sensitivity.


A sliding device for a portable terminal includes a sliding module capable of sliding a sliding housing in multiple steps. The portable terminal has a body housing, a sliding housing that slides on the body housing while facing the body housing, and a sliding device for enabling the sliding housing to slide on the body housing. The sliding device includes a base member provided with a sliding movement member, a sliding member assembled with the base member so as to slide along a length of the base member semi-automatically, a pair of guide members provided to the sliding member and assembled with the sliding movement member so as to guide the sliding movement of the sliding movement member, and a multiple step movement member formed on the guide members and detachably assembled with the sliding movement member for sliding the sliding member in multiple steps.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to portable terminals, such as cellular phones, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), hand held phones, MP3 phones, game phones, camera phones, internet phones, combinations of these devices, and the like. More particularly, the present invention relates to a sliding device for a sliding type portable terminal which includes a sliding module capable of sliding a sliding housing in multiple steps.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a "portable terminal" is an electronic device which a user can carry to wirelessly communicate with another user. Conventional portable terminals may be classified into various types according to their appearance, such as bar type portable terminals, flip type portable terminals, and folder type portable terminals. A bar type portable terminal has a single housing shaped like a bar. A flip type portable terminal has a flip panel which is pivotally mounted to a bar-shaped housing by a hinge unit. A folder type portable terminal has a folder coupled to a single bar-shaped housing by a hinge unit in such a manner that the folder can be rotated in order to be folded or unfolded from the housing.
Portable terminals may also be classified as neck-wearable type terminals or wrist-wearable type terminals, according to the position at or the way in which a user wears the terminal. In addition, portable terminals may be classified into swing type terminals, sliding type terminals, and sliding-swing type terminals. These various classifications are well understood by those skilled in the art.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, a sliding type portable terminal 1 includes a body housing 2 having a plurality of keypads 2a and a microphone unit 2b arranged thereon, and a sliding housing 3 which can slide along the body housing 2 to a position corresponding to about one-third of the entire length of the body housing. Generally, the body housing 2 has a 3×4 matrix keypad arranged thereon. The sliding housing 3 includes an auxiliary keypad on which a plurality of auxiliary keys are arranged, a speaker unit 3a, and a display unit 3b.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the conventional sliding type portable terminal 1 includes a body housing 2, a sliding housing that slides on the body housing 2 by a predetermined distance, a sliding module 4 disposed between the body housing 2 and the sliding housing 3 for enabling the sliding housing 3 to slide on the body housing, and at least one coil spring 5 provided between the sliding housing 3 and the body housing 2 for supplying elasticity to the sliding housing to assist the sliding movement of the sliding housing on the body housing.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the sliding module 4 includes a main plate 4a provided in the body housing 2 and a sliding plate 4b provided in the sliding housing 3.
As shown in FIG. 5, the sliding module of the conventional portable terminal has a structure in which the coil spring causes the sliding housing to slide on the body housing to a position at which the sliding movement of the sliding housing is completed. When the sliding housing is repeatedly moved, the elasticity of the coil spring may degrade. Further, the sliding module does not provide a tactile sensation (such as a click) when the sliding housing slides on the body housing. Thus, a user may not fully appreciate the sliding movement of the sliding housing.
Further, the sliding module of the conventional portable terminal can enable the sliding housing to slide on the body housing only in one longitudinal direction of the portable terminal, so as to open the sliding housing by about one-third of the entire length of the body housing. Thus, there is a disadvantage in that it is impractical to use the remaining, non-opened space on the body housing of the portable terminal, and optimal use of space in the portable terminal is impeded.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved sliding device for a portable terminal.


A preamplifier circuit amplifies signals from a magneto-resistive element. The preamplifier circuit utilizes a voltage regulator to regulate one terminal of a magneto-resistive element at a predetermined voltage. A first feedback loop is used to minimize a differential DC component and a differential low frequency component of the differential output signal. A second feedback loop is utilized to cause a common mode component of the differential output signal to track an externally supplied reference voltage. The preamplifier of the present invention protects the magneto-resistive elements from short circuits of the disc medium, is powered by a single-ended power supply, and is capable of being coupled with other circuitry without physical coupling capacitors.

The present invention is a unipolar magneto-resistive preamplifier for use in a disc drive having a magneto-resistive element. Specifically, the preamplifier of the present invention utilizes a voltage regulator to maintain a voltage at one terminal of a magneto-resistive element, a first feedback loop to minimize a differential DC component and a differential low frequency component of the preamplifier output signal, and a second feedback loop to maintain a common mode component of the preamplifier output signals.
Magneto-resistive (MR) elements can read data from magnetic surfaces having data stored at high densities. In the disc drive art, MR elements are also referred to as MR heads or MR sensors. In addition, the term "magneto-restrictive" is sometimes used in place of the term "magneto-resistive."
The resistance of an MR element is, in part, a function of the strength of the magnetic field to which it is exposed. A read signal is generated by positioning the MR element proximate magnetic media, moving the magnetic media with respect to the element, and measuring the change in resistance of the element.
Typically, an MR element is biased by either a constant current or a constant voltage. As the magnetic flux passing through the element varies, a preamplifier detects the resistance changes of the MR element. In the constant current configuration, the change in voltage over the MR element is detected. In the constant voltage configuration, the change in current passing through the element is detected. The output of the preamplifier is then provided to other amplification and decoding circuitry for further processing.
Since the resistance of an MR element varies with magnetic field strength, the signal provided by the MR element is based not only on the data written on the magnetic media, but also on the distance between the element and the media. In addition, temperature and process variations also affect the steady-state resistance of an MR element. Accordingly, it is desirable to produce a preamplifier output signal that varies with changes in magnetic field strength, without varying significantly due to changes in steady-state resistance.
A preamplifier for producing such a signal was disclosed by Jove et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,138. Jove et al. disclosed a circuit wherein the amplified output signal represented the transient change in element resistance divided by the steady state resistance of the magnetic element, or alternatively, AR/R. The circuit disclosed by Jove et al. provided an improvement over the prior art because the output signal was not sensitive to resistance variations in individual MR elements and was not sensitive to the distance between the MR element and the surface of the magnetic media.
Another problem addressed in the prior art is protecting an MR element and a magnetic media surface from damage caused by a voltage discharge. Such a discharge can occur if a large enough voltage exists between the media surface and the element, and the two come sufficiently close to each other.
This problem is addressed by Jove et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,879,610. In this patent, Jove et al. disclosed a protector circuit which maintains a fixed potential between the center of an MR element and an externally supplied reference voltage. A feedback loop employing a low pass filter is used to keep the voltage of the MR sensor at the same voltage as the externally applied reference voltage. The externally applied reference voltage is close to, if not the same as, the voltage at which the spindle and magnetic media are biased. In one embodiment, the spindle and media are connected to the disc drive's electrical ground, and the reference voltage is derived from a connection to the electrical ground. Accordingly, if the MR element should come into contact with the magnetic media, the voltage difference between the element and the media will be minimized and damage from a voltage discharge will be prevented.
One problem with the circuit disclosed by Jove et al., is that the circuit requires a two-sided power supply. In the preferred embodiment disclosed by Jove et al., the voltage of the MR element is maintained at the circuit ground potential (approximately zero volts), and a bias current is maintained through the MR element. Accordingly, one terminal of the MR element must be maintained above the ground voltage and the other terminal must be maintained below ground voltage. A two-sided power supply requires additional power, is more complex, and costs more than a single sided power supply.
Another technique used in the prior art to protect the magnetic surface and the MR element is to utilize a biased spindle configuration. In a biased spindle configuration, the rotating magnetic media is DC biased to some voltage away from the circuit common. Using this type of configuration, the protective circuit disclosed by Jove et al. can be operated with a single-sided power supply, with the spindle biased at a voltage level between the circuit Common and the supply voltage provided by the single-sided power supply. However, biasing the spindle at a voltage away from the circuit common is not desirable because the spindle must be electrically insulated from the rest of the drive to prevent a short-circuit.
Another problem which has proved challenging in the prior art is coupling the preamplifier output signal to other circuitry. Since the MR element must be DC biased, there is typically a DC bias in the output signal. Of course, a common method of removing a DC component from a signal is to use coupling capacitors. However, coupling capacitors are large and require significant space on a circuit board. In addition, disc drives often employ many MR elements and preamplifiers, and therefore require many coupling capacitors.
This problem was addressed by Belk in U.S. Pat. No. 4,833,559. Belk disclosed multiplexing plural MR elements into a single off chip capacitor. By multiplexing the MR elements, the number of capacitors required is minimized, and the component count is reduced. In addition, all the multiplexing transistors can be included on a single integrated circuit.
Another patent to Jove et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,353, discloses an MR amplifier circuit having a first feedback loop which provides short circuit protection and a second feedback loop which minimizes the differential DC component in the output signal. The first feedback loop is similar to the feedback loop disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,879,610. The second feedback loop equalizes the DC and low frequency components of two currents flowing through the collectors of two transistors. The output signal of the amplifier is derived from these two currents, and therefore, the differential DC and low frequency components of the output signal is minimized.
Although the differential DC and low frequency components are minimized, the common mode DC and low frequency components of the output signal are affected by the operation of the first feedback loop. Accordingly, coupling capacitors are still required to couple the amplifier output to other amplification circuitry that has an input stage with a different DC reference point. In addition, in a disc drive configuration not having a biased spindle, the preferred embodiment of this circuit requires a two-sided power supply to maintain the voltage of the MR element at the same voltage as the magnetic media.

MR preamplifier having feedback loops for minimizing differential low frequency components and regulating common mode low frequency components of the preamplifier output signal


A method for varying a radius of an optical quality surface of a casting mold formed in a tooling cavity, the tooling cavity at least partially defined by an optical tool having an optical quality surface of a given radius, includes imparting a compressive stress within the optical quality surface of the casting mold to predictably decrease the radius of the optical quality surface of the casting mold.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to equipment used in the manufacture of ophthalmic device molds, and, in particular, to equipment used in the manufacture of contact lens molds.
2. Description of Related Art
Soft hydrogel contact lenses have increased in popularity since they were first introduced in the 1970s. Such contact lenses are conventionally formed through a process in which the material used to make the lenses is placed between two halves of a casting mold, i.e., an anterior mold half and a posterior mold half. The mold halves are assembled to retain a volume of curable liquid, which is then cured to form the desired contact lens shape.
The anterior and posterior mold halves used to form the contact lenses are typically formed from polymers such as, for example, polystyrene or polypropylene, and are manufactured through a molding process. In forming the mold halves, molten polystyrene is typically provided, via an extrusion system, to a plurality of mold inserts in a mold forming apparatus. For example, a convex portion of a mold insert forms an optical quality surface on a concave surface of the anterior mold half. The concave optical surface of the anterior mold half can then be used to form the convex (anterior) optical surface of a contact lens. Similarly, a concave portion of an additional apparatus insert may form an optical quality surface on a convex surface of the posterior mold half. The convex optical surface of the posterior mold half can then be used to form the concave (posterior) optical surface of the contact lens.
As shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,702,735 to Martin et al. ("the '735 patent"), an apparatus for manufacturing contact lens mold halves includes a number of mold cavities and a system for providing molten lens material to the cavities. The components of the apparatus that define the optical quality surfaces of the mold halves include a hollow cylindrical bushing and a removable insert mounted therein. In the manufacturing process, the insert is changed out so that the prescription strength of the contact lens formed by the resulting mold halves may be varied
Although the apparatus illustrated in the '735 patent may form contact lens mold halves, such an apparatus can be difficult and time consuming to use due to variations inherent to the molding process. For example, in order to manufacture contact lens mold halves of a desired radius, a matrix of step tools must be used to setup the apparatus. First, a nominal step tool is used to produce a batch of baseline molds. The baseline molds are measured for accuracy, and a series of step changes must then be made until the desired dimensions are achieved in the resulting mold halves. The apparatus must be shut down in order to change out the step tools, and multiple step changes are often required during setup. In addition, because each step tool includes an optical quality surface, the tools are very time consuming and expensive to produce.
Accordingly, the disclosed system and method are directed towards overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above.


A mechanical roping steer apparatus for practicing roping of a steer may comprise a support assembly for resting on a ground surface, a rotatable wheel configured to contact the ground surface such that movement of the support assembly across the ground rotates the wheel, and a steer assembly connected to the support assembly. The steer assembly may comprise a frame having a spine structure, a hip structure movably mounted on the frame to move between first and second positions, and a leg structure movably mounted on the hip structure to move between forward and rearward positions, and including at least one leg member. The steer assembly may include an actuation assembly may be configured to move the leg member downwardly toward the ground surface during rearward movement of the leg member and move the leg member upwardly during forward movement of the leg member.

Field
The present disclosure relates to roping training apparatus and more particularly pertains to a new steer roping practice apparatus with improved leg gait for more realistic roping training.
Description of the Prior Art
Steer roping practice apparatus are generally known in the art, and highly useful practice apparatus are disclosed in my U.S. Pat. No. 6,736,399, my U.S. Pat. No. 7,430,990 and my U.S. Pat. No. 8,783,689, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in their respective entireties. While these apparatus have significant advantages, the applicant has recognized improvements that can further enhance the realism of the steer roping simulation provided by such apparatus.

Steer roping practice apparatus with improved leg gait


A rotary induction machine having wound primary and secondary windings with resistive means connected in series with secondary windings and inductive reactive means connected across said resistive means, with the inductive reactance means and resistive means selected to provide an effective resistance which controls the current in the generator secondary windings, whereby the generator rated current is reached at the highest slip for the range of desired power output.

In a singly-fed induction machine the currents in the secondary winding (usually the rotor) are created solely by induction. These currents result from voltages induced in the secondary windings by rotating magnetic fields in the primary winding which arise from the application of line voltages thereto. These fields rotate at a speed, called synchronous speed, which is determined by the frequency of the applied voltage and the number of poles.
When the machine is operated as a motor, the rotor rotates at speeds below the synchronous speed. The difference in speed between synchronous and rotor speed is referred to as the slip speed, usually expressed as a per unit or percentage of the synchronous speed.
The rotor windings are generally connected to slip rings to which external adjustable resistances can be connected in series with the windings. These resistances limit the secondary currents during "start" of operation as a motor. As the motor picks up speed, the external resistance is gradually reduced whereby the efficiency increases. The resistance can also be used to control the speed; however, this method of speed control is very inefficient.
When the rotor is driven at above the synchronous speed, the machine acts as a generator. With resistance in the secondary windings, the output power can be maintained somewhat constant over a narrow range of rotor speeds.
Conventionally, when driving a generator with various types of prime movers, the speed of the electrical generator was kept nearly constant. Various mechanical methods for controlling speed have been used depending on the prime mover. When using an alternator with DC excited fields, for 60 Hz output frequency, the speed must be kept constant to a very close tolerance; i.e. to within one revolution per minute for synchronous speed of 1800 or 3600 revolutions per minute. When using a squirrel-cage induction generator, the most common generator for wind turbines, operation at a small percent above synchronous speed is necessary. If, inadvertently, a higher torque is supplied by the prime mover, the generator completely releases its load and a "runaway condition" exists. Under such circumstances, the prime mover, a wind or steam turbine, or a diesel, may race to destruction in a very few seconds.
However, variable speed generators are desirable for wind turbines to follow the changes in wind velocity and to reduce wear in the gear box which matches generator speed to turbine speed. Variable speed is also needed to eliminate voltage flicker caused by power surges from wind gusts.
For variable speed wind generators, power electronics may be used to control rotor voltage and frequency using the wound rotor induction machine. Power electronic controls tend to be complex with many components, they require feed-back circuits to match injected rotor frequency to turbine speed, and they may produce troublesome electrical harmonics. For wave generators, fixed resistors are being used to provide variable speed, with very poor efficiency.
In U.S. Pat. No. 2,648,808 there is described a motor having a wound primary winding (stator) in which the effective impedance of the primary windings is varied to improve the torque-speed characteristics of the motor. More particularly, the power factor of the motor is improved by controlling the impedance of the primary windings by adding thereto external series impedances.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,525,894 and 5,587,643 use secondary resistors and secondary capacitors for variable-speed wound rotor generator control. In the first patent, they are used for load limiting and in the second patent, they are used for increased power output and improved efficiency.
In generators which include slip rings and brushes, the slip rings and brushes are a common source of increased maintenance costs. The carbon brushes function best with a current density of about 60 amperes per square inch and with a certain amount of humidity in the surrounding atmosphere. With a fixed current density of about this value and reasonable humidity, the transfer of current between slip ring and brush is efficient. Under these conditions, an interchange of electrons takes place between the surfaces of the metallic slip rings and the carbon brushes which develops a lubricating film. This film allows current transfer with a very low voltage drop, with no heating, and with little friction between the fixed brushes and the rotating rings.
However, if the current density becomes too low, or if the humidity becomes too low, the lubricating film does not develop. The voltage drop, heating and friction all increase at the brush-ring interface. The carbon brush now acts as an abrasive against the slip ring, wearing both the slip ring and the brush. Carbon and metallic dust is created which conducts electricity. When it finds its way into the generator winding, winding failures can result.
With wind and wave generators, the generator load varies, depending on the amount of wind or wave activity, so it is impossible to maintain a constant current density in the carbon brushes. The wind and wave generators are not readily accessible. Wind generators are usually mounted high on a tower, and wave generators are at sea. Accordingly, there are very high maintenance costs associated with checking on the condition of the brushes and rings, replacing worn brushes, resurfacing slip rings, cleaning the windings of carbon dust, and in repairing failures.

Rotary induction machine having control of secondary winding impedance