A low-cost field-effect transistor with a moisture-resistant gate covered by a thick moisture-resistant insulating film which suppresses an increase in gate capacitance, and a method of manufacturing the field-effect transistor. The field-effect transistor has one of a T-shaped gate electrode and Γ-shaped gate electrode, a drain electrode, and a source electrode, the source electrode and the drain electrode being electrically connected through an n-doped semiconductor region. The gate, source, and drain electrodes are located on a semiconductor layer which includes an insulating film having a thickness of 50 nm or less and covering a surface of the gate electrode and a surface of the semiconductor layer. A silicon nitride film, deposited by catalytic CVD, covers the insulating film and includes a void volume located between a portion of the gate electrode corresponding to a canopy of an open umbrella and the semiconductor layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a field-effect transistor, which is mainly suitable for use in a high frequency band such as equal to or higher than 1 GHz, and to a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various kinds of systems based on WiMAX or the like, for radio communication using a high frequency band such as equal to or higher than 1 GHz, including mobile phones which are prevailing these days, are under development and infrustructing. Further, markets for millimeter wave radio systems such as 60-GHz band high-speed and large-capacity communication systems and 70-to-80-GHz band vehicle-mounted radar systems are expected to expand in the future. A compound semiconductor, in particular, a field-effect transistor such as a MESFET, an HFET, or an HEMT in which a GaAs is used as a substrate is used for parts for transmitting/receiving a radio signal in such a high frequency band. Generally, cost reduction of a terminal systems is indispensable to make a communication system widely available.
In a silicon process, silicon and a silicon oxide film used as a surface insulating film and formed by thermal oxidation, are basically very stable and have excellent moisture resistance. Further, multilayer wiring with an interlayer insulating film sandwiched therebetween is laminated on a semiconductor, and the multilayer wiring is also effective for enhancing the moisture resistance.
However, with regard to a compound semiconductor field-effect transistor used in a transmission/reception module of a terminal, in addition to basically very low moisture resistance of the compound semiconductor itself, the moisture resistance of a laminated insulating film is not so high. When the film thickness is as small as 100 nm or less, because the covering is not sufficient at irregularities and for other reasons, moisture can easily intrudes, which deteriorates characteristics of the transistor. Therefore, conventionally, the transistor is used after being encapsulated in an airtight package.
However, because such an airtight package is more expensive than a transistor chip itself, it is required to enhance the moisture resistance of the transistor chip itself in order to reduce costs while adopting a simpler package. Accordingly, in order to enhance the moisture resistance, it is proposed to make a moisture-resistant insulating film thicker.
However, because the transistor operates in a high frequency band, if the moisture-resistant insulating film is made thicker, the spatial capacity increases, which results in deteriorated characteristics. In particular, in an HEMT structure which is often used in a millimeter wave band, existence of an insulating film between a gate and a semiconductor surface results in considerable increase in gate capacitance and considerable reduction in gain.
Accordingly, in order to prevent increase in the spatial capacity, there is proposed a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, in which a silicon oxide film to be a spacer in gate lift-off is laminated on an n-type active layer, a silicon nitride film which is thinner than the oxide film is laminated thereon, and after patterning of a photoresist is carried out in a portion where a gate is to be formed, the nitride film is removed by dry etching. After that, only the oxide film is removed to the substrate by wet etching while almost no etching is effected to the nitride film, and then, side etching is carried out to provide a cavity below the nitride film. After that, a recess is formed, a gate metal is formed by vapor deposition, lift-off is carried out at the resist to form the gate, and a passivation film is laminated so that the space between the nitride film and the gate is filled and the space in the recess is left as a cavity (see, for example, JP 05-63003 A).
However, since the gate is formed after the recess is formed, and the space between the silicon nitride film and the gate is filled and the space in the recess is left as a cavity, many process steps are necessary for forming the recess, i.e., the process steps of laminating with the silicon oxide film and the silicon nitride film, providing an opening in the silicon nitride film to provide a gate electrode, removing the silicon oxide film from the opening to the n-type active layer, and providing the cavity below the silicon nitride film by side etching, and thus there is a problem in that the costs are increased.

Field-effect transistor and method of manufacturing the same


The use of application servers to publish the social presence information of users to a presence server of the wireless carrier network may reduce signaling and communication traffic between user devices and the wireless carrier network. The use of application servers may also provide social presence information publishing capabilities when user devices of users do not have such publishing capabilities or are otherwise unable to do so. An application server may receive one or more user-defined social presence settings of a user from an access portal provided by the application server. Social presence information is generated for the user based on the one or more user-defined social presence settings at the application server. The social presence information for the user is sent from the application server to a presence server of a wireless carrier network.

Social presence status of a user, e.g., whether the user is available for chatting online, is currently on a voice call, is away, is busy, etc. may be broadcast to other users who are trying to communicate with the user. A user may use a social presence client application on a user device to broadcast the social presence status of the user. Further, the social presence client application may also be used by the user to subscribe to the social presence statuses of other users. Such social presence communication traffic may be handled by a communication network in the form of a wireless carrier network. In some instances, the social presence communication traffic may create undesired signaling and traffic burden for the wireless carrier network. Additionally, users may have incompatible social presence client applications installed on their user devices. In other instances, a user device may restrict a user from using a particular version of a social presence client application or generally prohibit the user from using social client applications. These constraints may limit the usefulness of social presence client applications.

Application server-based social presence publishing


Methods and systems are disclosed for radio positioning of a mobile receiver using a virtual positioning reference established by logging a known position of the mobile receiver together with a local time at which a first instance of a predictably repeated code word is received by the mobile receiver from a terrestrial radio signal transmitter. During movement of the mobile receiver from the first known position to a second unknown position, a local clock is used to determine the time difference between when the virtual positioning reference is predicted to receive a second instance of the code word and when the mobile receiver actually receives the second instance of the code word.

A commonly used resource for outdoor navigation is satellite positioning technology, otherwise known as a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). One example of a fully operational GNSS is the United States NAVSTAR Global Positioning System (GPS)—which will be referred to below when generally discussing satellite positioning technology. However, it will be appreciated that satellite positioning technologies other than GPS may be used in its place.
The operation of GPS is well known in the art, and generally employs a GPS receiver arranged to receive signals from a number of GPS satellites. Each satellite broadcasts its own location and providing the GPS receiver can receive the broadcasted signals from a sufficient number and distribution of satellites, the GPS receiver can infer its own position.
An entity wanting to self-localise may therefore employ a positioning system having a GPS receiver. However, in the event that a GPS receiver is not able to infer its position—for example due to signal interference, then it may be possible for the positioning system to make use of other positioning resources.
For example, a navigation system can navigate using radio signals transmitted by terrestrial radio transmitters such as cellular telephone base stations, television and the like. The signals transmitted by such radio transmitters have distinguishing radio signal characteristics—such as repeated and unique code words—that can be exploited by a suitable positioning system for navigation. These radio signal characteristics along with information about the location the transmitters can be used to determine the position of an entity using known localisation techniques such as multilateration and Enhanced Observed Time Difference (EOTD) as is known in the art.
The regular or otherwise predictably repeated code words are used to allow the receiver of those signals to synchronise with the transmitter. Once synchronised with a set of transmitters, a receiver can therefore determine the relative arrival times of the code words from the available set. As the receiver moves and this set of relative times varies, the receiver can determine its position accordingly. This process is relatively straightforward for transmitters that are synchronised with one another (as is the case with GPS).
However, terrestrial radio signal transmitters that are available to a receiver are not usually synchronised—even if they are set up to transmit the same radio signal type, with the same code word repeat rate. For radio signal transmitters of different types (e.g. different bandwidths and/or frequencies)—e.g. a cellular transmitter versus a DAB transmitter—synchronisation is highly improbable.
As can be observed from a navigation system such a GPS, synchronisation between the radio signal sources is very useful for radio localisation—but is often not possible in an environment in which opportunistic unsynchronised terrestrial radio signals are the only radio signal sources available for localisation.
One known solution in the art is to compensate for the lack of synchronisation by calculating clock offsets (relative to an imaginary universal 'absolute' clock) for each transmitter and storing these values for use as clock corrections. In particular, a navigation system can make use of the following Equation 1 to calculate transmitter clock offsets for use in 'emulating' synchronicity:ct=|r−b|+ε+α  Equation 1
where:
c is the known speed of the radio waves;
t represents the arrival time (measured at the receiver position using a clock local to the mobile receiver) of a transmission from a transmitter;
r and b are vectors of the positions of the receiver and transmitter respectively. For example, each vector could be the "x, y" values in an 2D Cartesian environment;
ε represents the error of the clock local to the mobile receiver, and;
α represents the transmitter clock offset.
Prior art navigations systems that attempt to make use of unsynchronised radio transmitters for navigation can therefore calculate the transmitter clock offset a and local clock error ε via the mobile receiver collecting timing measurements at a number of different known mobile receiver positions relative to a stationary transmitter having a known location.
However, the calculation of the transmitter clock offset a and local clock error ε values can be computationally expensive, especially when considering that multiple transmitters are required for effective self-localisation. This is especially the case in a system that has the capability of dealing with imperfect data (for example by applying a localisation estimation filter). In such a case, a state vector will need to be maintained including and calculating the offset values for every transmitter, and the errors/uncertainties associated with them.
Furthermore, if a relatively cheap and simple navigation device is employed, the local onboard clock is not likely to be stable. Therefore, the calculated value of a local clock error at one instance does not necessarily apply at another instance, adversely affecting the position calculation. Therefore, it would be beneficial to negate the effect of local clock error.
Whilst it is possible to obtain a highly stable clock reference using atomic clock references, or via a GPS fix, these are not necessarily practical solutions. Atomic clock references are heavy, expensive and unsuitable for a portable navigation device. A stable timing reference can be obtained via GPS, but this relies on a continuous GPS fix, and so is not possible under conditions in which a GPS signal cannot be obtained.
It is possible to formulate a local clock error model with which an attempt can be made to compensate for the likely error in an unstable local clock. However, the model needs to be calculated/calibrated for the eccentricities of each local clock independently and updated over time. To do this is computationally expensive, and so undesirable in a portable system in which processing power and battery life are valuable resources.
These are problems associated with the prior art devices that make use of the above Equation 1. Accordingly, it may be desirable to provide a relatively cheap, portable navigation device able to utilise terrestrial radio signal transmitters for self-localisation in the event that a GPS signal cannot be obtained. To save on battery usage and overall weight, it may also be desirable to reduce the computational burden involved with self-localisation of such a device beyond those making use of the above Equation 1.

Radio positioning of a mobile receiver using a virtual positioning reference


A heat transmitting slug is attached to a chip or other heat emitting electronic component by an adhesive. A heat sink is mounted on the slug by one or more screws or other fasteners, preferably with thermal grease between the bottom of the heat sink base and the top of the slug. The top of the slug is formed with a longitudinal tongue and the base of the heat sink with a mating groove. Preferably the base of the heat sink is offset upwardly above the groove to resist tendency to fracture under stress.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a new and improved interfitfing heat sink and heat spreader slug for use with heat emitting electronic components.
2. Description of Related Art
The use of heat sinks on electronic components is well known in the art. In accordance with the present invention, however, a slug is interposed between the component and the base of the heat sink which makes it convenient to remove the heat sink to provide access to the electronic component for testing or replacement. Particularly where a considerable number of heat sinks are mounted in close proximity, providing access to the underlying components has heretofor been difficult.

Interfitting heat sink and heat spreader slug


The invention provides a method for making a concrete floor slab using sub-grade waterproofing in a manner that favors the use of water-based adhesives for affixing floor covering materials. The method comprises casting a hydratable cementitious composition onto a flooring membrane, the composition having a shrinkage reduction admixture and a water:cementitious binder ratio sufficiently low that substantially all of the water moisture is retained in the hydration reaction, and achieving a fully adhered bond with the flooring membrane.

The building materials industry is favoring the use of water-based adhesives for adhering floor coverings, such as carpet, tile, wood, epoxy, etc., onto the top surface of concrete floor slabs. This switch is partly caused by a need to avoid adhesives that are based on volatile organic compounds (VOC) and their attendant risks to health. Along with the benefits provided by water-based adhesives, there is both a short term problem and a long term problem.
A short-term problem arises due to the fact that a substantial amount of moisture evaporates from the concrete floor slab after it is cast. This prolongs the time before the water-based adhesive can be applied onto the surface of the floor slab. It is recognized in the flooring industry that water vapor emissions should be below 5 pounds/1000 square feet/24 hours, and preferably below 3 pounds/1000 square feet/24 hours, before a water-based adhesive coating is applied. For concrete typically used in floor slabs, it will usually take 60–90 days before this level of vapor transmission is achieved.
A long-term problem arises due to the fact that cured concrete is not impervious to water vapor transmission. Consequently, a coating of water-based adhesive (e.g., rubber latex, vinyl acetate, polyacrylate, etc.) applied onto the top of the floor slab can fail over time if the environment below the slab becomes saturated with moisture. Such saturation may occur due to water table fluctuations or other environmental causes.
To resolve the long term problem, most industry experts (such as the American Concrete Institute) have begun to recommend that floor slabs be placed directly on top of a vapor barrier membrane. However, current practice is simply to place concrete onto a liner sheet (e.g., polyethylene). This liner sheet does not bond with the concrete, and has a potential failure mode whereby water or vapor passes between adjacent liner sheets at the overlap, or through punctures in the liner sheets. This water or vapor can then spread out between the liner sheet and the concrete over a wide area, especially if local settlement of the subgrade occurs. In providing an advantage over simple liner sheets (e.g, vinyl sheet), self-adhered vapor barrier membranes have a waterproofing adhesive layer that is operative to bond with concrete that is wet cast against the adhesive layer, so as to form a continuous waterproofing bond.
Thus, while placement of concrete directly upon a self-adhering vapor barrier membrane can solve the long-term problem of water leakage, the present inventors realized that the short-term problem may be exacerbated by the use of membranes. The placement of a vapor barrier membrane between the sub-grade environment and the concrete floor slab means that excess water in the concrete will not be able to escape into the sub-grade environment; but, rather, will be forced to evaporate out of the top surface of the concrete floor slab as it dries. This can result in longer waiting periods before a water-based adhesive coating can be applied onto the upward facing floor slab surface, and may delay completion of the project. Moreover, the fact that the slab dries from only one surface rather than from both the bottom and top surfaces creates a moisture gradient within the concrete slab that may cause the slab to curl. This curling phenomenon increases the risk of cracking and can lead to serviceability problems when the floor is no longer flat.
Accordingly, the present inventors believe that a novel concrete flooring system and method for making the flooring are needed.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Avoiding cracking and curling in concrete flooring upon which water-based adhesives are employed


The combustion gases in a used oil furnace are discharged from the combustion chamber through an opening in the upper rear portion of the combustion chamber to direct the combustion gases into an upper header. An array of vertically oriented flue tubes extends downwardly from the upper header to a lower header before being discharged through horizontally opposing discharge openings. Ventilation air is blown into the rear of the furnace past and around the vertical flue tubes and is then forced in to a laminar path extending circumferentially around the combustion chamber by an air sweep shroud spaced from the combustion chamber by an annular gap. The ventilation air is then collected in a forward discharge chamber for discharge through louvered ventilators into the adjacent ambient atmosphere.

Used oil furnaces are similar to standard oil burning furnaces, but have been adapted to handle oil products that have been previously used in a traditional lubricating operation, such as used crankcase oil up to 50 SAE, used transmission fluid, and even #2, #4 and #5 fuel oils. Such oil products can have significantly varying viscosities and significantly varying burning characteristics, as well. Typically, used oil products are collected into a tank to be supplied to the furnace from a single source.
The burner nozzle combines a flow of compressed air with the flow of preheated used oil to atomize the used oil and inject a stream of compressed air and atomized used oil droplets into the combustion chamber of the furnace where it is ignited to create a flame and provide a heat source. Known used oil furnace burner nozzles utilize an in-line burner nozzle configuration coupled directly to the front door of the multi oil furnace.
The structural configuration of the furnace is important in the efficiency of the operation of the furnace. A flame target at the end of the combustion chamber opposite the burner nozzle is provided to contain the flame created within the combustion chamber. An exit for the exhaust gases, sometimes referred to flue gases or combustion gases, is typically provide for exhaust of the combustion gases from the combustion chamber. The combustion gases are directed out of the furnace for discharge to the atmosphere. Known furnace configurations utilize conduits to redirect the combustion gases through a serpentine path to the side of the combustion chamber before discharging the gases from the furnace. The serpentine path allows ventilation air to be moved around the conduits to absorb heat therefrom before being discharged into the ambient atmosphere where heating is desired.
Another furnace configuration is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,531,212, granted to Benjamin K. Smoker, et al., on Jul. 2, 1996, in which the combustion gases are directed through horizontally disposed upper and lower banks of exhaust conduits oriented parallel to and around the combustion chamber. The combustion gases are directed through an outlet at the rear of the combustion chamber into the upper bank of horizontal conduits which is connected to a header at the front end of the combustion chamber and then directed into the lower bank of conduits, which are connected to an exhaust header that directs the combustion gases through a discharge opening and away from the furnace.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,694,968 granted to Jacob Dienner, et al, on Feb. 24, 2004, the exhaust tubes are arranged in a horizontal circular pattern at the end of the combustion chamber in a manner that the exhaust tubes are spaced apart and connected to a rear header that directs the combustion gases to a pair of opposing discharge openings for discharge of the combustion gases from the furnace. Ventilation air is blown into the furnace housing by a blower mounted at the rear of the furnace housing to direct the ventilation air through a central annular opening in the rear header to exit the rear header in the center of the circular array of exhaust tubes. The ventilation air then passes around the exhaust tubes that then around the combustion chamber to be discharged at the front of the furnace housing into the room in which the furnace is supported. A major disadvantage of the used oil furnace configuration disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,694,968 is the required length of the furnace housing required to contain the combustion chamber and the exhaust conduit array behind the combustion chamber.
A different exhaust conduit configuration is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,363,836 granted on Nov. 15, 1994, to Eugene C. Briggs in which the exhaust gases are directed from the rear of the combustion chamber into a flat header located within the furnace housing above the combustion chamber. Ventilation air is blown from the rear of the furnace housing to mover around the flat header and around the combustion chamber before being discharged into the room through discharge openings at the front of the furnace housing. A more compact furnace housing is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,359 granted on Sep. 11, 1990, to Eugene C. Briggs, et al., in which the combustion gases are collect from the rear off the combustion chamber into a vertically oriented exhaust header around which ventilation air is passed to collect heat therefrom before passing around the combustion chamber and exiting the discharge openings at the front of the furnace housing.
A vertical array of exhaust tubes is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,737,173, issued to Roy C. Hauck, et al., on Mar. 6, 1956. The Hauck exhaust conduits are oriented above the combustion chamber and collect combustion gases directly from an opening at the top of the combustion chamber. The Hauck combustion gases pass through the vertical array of exhaust conduits that direct the combustion gases into a horizontally disposed discharge opening. Ventilation air is passed around the vertical exhaust conduits and around the combustion chamber by a fan and then discharged into the ambient air around the furnace.
It would also be desirable to provide a used oil furnace configuration that provides a compact configuration that efficiently directs ventilation air around the exhaust conduits and around the combustion chamber to collect heat therefrom before being discharged into the room in which the furnace is mounting.

Used oil furnace with vertical flue tubes


A carbon steel alloy that exhibits the combined properties of high strength, ductility, and corrosion resistance is one whose microstructure contains ferrite regions combined with martensite-austenite regions, with carbide precipitates dispersed in the ferrite regions but without carbide precipitates are any of the interfaces between different phases. The microstructure thus contains of four distinct phases: (1) martensite laths separated by (2) thin films of retained austenite, plus (3) ferrite regions containing (4) carbide precipitates. In certain embodiments, the microstructure further contains carbide-free ferrite regions.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention resides in the field of steel alloys, particularly those of high strength, toughness, corrosion resistance, and ductility, and also in the technology of the processing of steel alloys to form microstructures that provide the steel with particular physical and chemical properties.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Steel alloys of high strength and toughness whose microstructures are composites of martensite and austenite phases are disclosed in the following United States patents and published international patent application, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety:                U.S. Pat. No. 4,170,497 (Gareth Thomas and Bangaru V. N. Rao), issued Oct. 9, 1979 on an application filed Aug. 24, 1977        U.S. Pat. No. 4,170,499 (Gareth Thomas and Bangaru V. N. Rao), issued Oct. 9, 1979 on an application filed Sep. 14, 1978 as a continuation-in-part of the above application filed on Aug. 24, 1977        U.S. Pat. No. 4,619,714 (Gareth Thomas, Jae-Hwan Ahn, and Nack-Joon Kim), issued Oct. 28, 1986 on an application filed Nov. 29, 1984, as a continuation-in-part of an application filed on Aug. 6, 1984        U.S. Pat. No. 4,671,827 (Gareth Thomas, Nack J. Kim, and Ramamoorthy Ramesh), issued Jun. 9, 1987 on an application filed on Oct. 11, 1985        U.S. Pat. No. 6,273,968 B1 (Gareth Thomas), issued Aug. 14, 2001 on an application filed on Mar. 28, 2000        U.S. Pat. No. 6,709,534 B1 (Grzegorz J. Kusinski, David Pollack, and Gareth Thomas), issued Mar. 23, 2004 on an application filed on Dec. 14, 2001        U.S. Pat. No. 6,746,548 (Grzegorz J. Kusinski, David Pollack, and Gareth Thomas), issued Jun. 8, 2004 on an application filed on Dec. 14, 2001        WO 2004/046400 A1 (MMFX Technologies Corporation; Grzegorz J. Kusinski and Gareth Thomas, inventors), published Jun. 3, 2004
The microstructure plays a key role in establishing the properties of a particular steel alloy, the strength and toughness of the alloy depending not only on the selection and amounts of the alloying elements, but also on the crystalline phases present and their arrangement in the microstructure. Alloys intended for use in certain environments require higher strength and toughness, while others require ductility as well. Often, the optimal combination of properties includes properties in conflict with each other, since certain alloying elements, microstructural features, or both that contribute to one property may detract from another.
The alloys disclosed in the documents listed above are carbon steel alloys that have microstructures consisting of laths of martensite alternating with thin films of austenite. In some cases, the martensite is dispersed with carbide precipitates produced by autotempering. The arrangement in which laths of martensite are separated by thin films of austenite is referred to as a "dislocated lath" or simply "lath" structure, and is formed by first heating the alloy into the austenite range, then cooling the alloy below the martensite start temperature Ms, which is the temperature at which the martensite phase first begins to form. This final cooling brings the alloy into a temperature range in which the austenite transforms into the martensite-austenite lath structure, and is accompanied by standard metallurgical processing, such as casting, heat treatment, rolling, and forging, to achieve the desired shape of the product and to refine the lath structure as an alternating lath and thin-film arrangement. This lath structure is preferable to a twinned martensite structure, since the alternating lath and thin-film structure has greater toughness. The patents also disclose that excess carbon in the martensite regions of the structure precipitates during the cooling process to form cementite (iron carbide, Fe3C). This precipitation is known as "autotempering." The '968 patent discloses that autotempering can be avoided by limiting the choice of the alloying elements such that the martensite start temperature Ms is 350° C. or greater. In certain alloys the carbides produced by autotempering add to the toughness of the steel while in others the carbides limit the toughness.
The lath structure produces a high-strength steel that is both tough and ductile, qualities that are needed for resistance to crack propagation and for sufficient formability to permit the successful fabrication of engineering components from the steel. Controlling the martensite phase to achieve a lath structure rather than a twinned structure is one of the most effective means of achieving the necessary levels of strength and toughness, while the thin films of retained austenite contribute to the ductility and formability of the steel. Obtaining the lath microstructure without the twinned structure is achieved by a careful selection of the alloy composition, which in turn affects the value of Ms, and by controlled cooling protocols.
Another factor affecting the strength and toughness of the steel is the presence of dissolved gases. Hydrogen gas in particular is known to cause embrittlement as well as a reduction in ductility and load-bearing capacity. Cracking and catastrophic brittle failures have been known to occur at stresses below the yield stress of the steel, particularly in line-pipe steels and structural steels. The hydrogen tends to diffuse along the grain boundaries of the steel and to combine with the carbon in the steel to form methane gas. The gas collects in small voids at the grain boundaries where it builds up pressures that initiate cracks. One of the methods by which hydrogen is removed from the steel during processing is vacuum degassing, which is typically done on the steel in molten form at pressures ranging from about 1 torr to about 150 torr. In certain applications, such as steels produced in mini-mills, operations involving electric arc furnaces, and operations involving ladle metallurgy stations, vacuum degassing of molten steel is not economical, and either a limited vacuum or no vacuum is used. In these applications, the hydrogen is removed by a baking heat treatment. Typical conditions for the treatment are a temperature of 300–700° C. and a heating time of several hours such as twelve hours. This removes the dissolved hydrogen, but unfortunately it also causes carbide precipitation. Since carbide precipitation is the result of the expulsion of carbon from phases that are supersaturated with carbon, the precipitation occurs at the interfaces between the different phases or between the grains. Precipitates at these locations lower the ductility of the steel and provide sites where corrosion is readily initiated.
In many cases, carbide precipitation is very difficult to avoid, particularly since the formation of multi-phase steel necessarily involves phase transformations by heating or cooling, and the saturation level of carbon in a particular phase varies from one phase to the next. Thus, low ductility and susceptibility to corrosion are often problems that are not readily controllable.


The present invention provides a polishing apparatus and a polishing method capable of calculating outside diameters of rolls of a polishing tape on a polishing-tape supply reel and a polishing-tape recovery reel and capable of calculating a remaining amount of the polishing tape and a consumption of the polishing tape from the outside diameters of the rolls. This polishing apparatus includes a polishing-tape supply reel (46), a polishing head (44), a polishing-tape drawing-out mechanism G1, and a polishing-tape supply and recovery mechanism (45) configured to recover the polishing tape (43) from the polishing-tape supply reel (46) via the polishing head (44). The polishing-tape supply and recovery mechanism (45) includes a motor Mb adapted to apply a torque to the polishing-tape supply reel (46) so as to exert a predetermined tension on the polishing tape (43) traveling through the polishing head (44), and a rotation angle detector REa adapted to detect a rotation angle of the polishing-tape supply reel (46).

Conventionally, a polishing apparatus of this type includes a polishing-tape supply reel mechanism, a polishing head, a polishing-tape recovery reel mechanism, and a polishing-tape supply and recovery mechanism for recovering a polishing tape supplied from the polishing-tape supply reel mechanism via the polishing head to the polishing-tape recovery reel mechanism. The polishing tape is brought into contact with a periphery of a workpiece, such as a semiconductor wafer, while traveling through the polishing head. The workpiece is polished by relative movement between the polishing tape and the workpiece.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the above-mentioned polishing apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the polishing-tape supply and recovery mechanism of the polishing apparatus. As shown in the drawings, a polishing apparatus 100 includes a polishing-tape supply reel mechanism 101, a polishing head 103, and a polishing-tape recovery reel mechanism 102. A polishing tape 105 is supplied from the polishing-tape supply reel mechanism 101 via a guide roller 104 to the polishing head 103. The polishing tape 105 travels through the polishing head 103 to a guide roller 106, and is wound and recovered by the polishing-tape recovery reel mechanism 102. A periphery of a substrate (e.g., a semiconductor wafer) W, held by a substrate holding stage 120, is brought into contact with the polishing tape 105 traveling through the polishing head 103, and the periphery of the substrate W is polished by relative movement between the polishing tape and the workpiece.
The polishing-tape supply reel mechanism 101 and the polishing-tape recovery reel mechanism 102 are driven by a drive motor 107 and a drive motor 108, respectively. The drive motor 107 and the drive motor 108 are provided with a rotary encoder 109 and a rotary encoder 110 for detecting a rotation angle of the drive motor 107 and the drive motor 108, respectively. A rotational torque of the drive motor 107 and a rotational torque of the drive motor 108 are controlled so as to maintain a constant tension exerted on the polishing tape 105. The polishing tape 105 is contained as a polishing-tape roll 111 between a reel plates 114a and 114b of the polishing-tape supply reel mechanism 101. The recovered polishing tape 105 is contained as a polishing-tape roll 111 between a reel plates 115a and 115b of the polishing-tape recovery reel mechanism 102.
As shown in FIG. 3, the polishing tape 105 is wound as the polishing-tape roll 111 on a cylindrical core 101a of the polishing-tape supply reel mechanism 101. This core 101a has an inside diameter Dci and an outside diameter Dco. Since the new polishing-tape supply reel mechanism 101 supplies the polishing tape 105, the outside diameter of the roll 111 is gradually decreased. On the other hand, since the polishing-tape recovery reel mechanism 102 winds the polishing tape 105, the outside diameter of the roll 111 is gradually increased. If the drive motors 107 and 108 keep their rotational torque constant, the tension exerted on the polishing tape 105 changes, as the outside diameter of the polishing-tape roll 111 changes as the result of consumption of the polishing tape 105. The tension of the polishing tape 105 acts as a polishing load between the polishing tape 105 and the substrate W, i.e., a workpiece to be polished. Therefore, in order to keep the polishing load constant irrespective of the consumption of the polishing tape 105, it is necessary to keep the tension of the polishing tape 105 constant regardless of a change in outside diameter of the roll 111 of the polishing tape 105. Thus, it is necessary to control an output of the drive motor 107 and an output of the drive motor 108 in accordance with the change in outside diameter of the roll 111 of the polishing tape 105, so as to control the rotational torque to be exerted on the polishing-tape supply reel mechanism 101 and the polishing-tape recovery reel mechanism 102.
FIG. 4 shows a conventional mechanism of detecting the outside diameter of the roll 111 of the polishing tape 105 on the polishing-tape supply reel mechanism 101 and the polishing-tape recovery reel mechanism 102. As shown in FIG. 4, an outside-diameter sensor 112 and an outside-diameter sensor 113, as a pair of laser sensors, are provided so as to interpose the polishing-tape roll 111 on the polishing-tape supply reel mechanism 101 therebetween. The outside-diameter sensor 112 is a light-emitting sensor, and the outside-diameter sensor 113 is a light-receiving sensor. A distance of light interruption by the roll 111 of the polishing tape 105 is detected and the distance is converted into the outside diameter of the polishing tape 105. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the outside-diameter sensors 112 and 113 are provided so as to measure only the outside diameter of the roll 111 of the polishing tape 105 on the polishing-tape supply reel mechanism 101.
In this method of detecting the outside diameter of the roll 111 of the polishing tape 105, it is necessary to provide the outside-diameter sensors for both the polishing-tape supply reel mechanism 101 and the polishing-tape recovery reel mechanism 102. When using an optical sensor like the conventional technique, it is necessary to adjust, for each of the reels, a relational expression for converting the amount of light interruption, from the light emitting to the light receiving, into the outside diameter of the polishing-tape roll 111. In addition, since the outside-diameter sensors 112 and 113 are provided near the polishing-tape supply reel mechanism 101 and the polishing-tape recovery reel mechanism 102, the outside-diameter sensors 112 and 113 could hinder replacement operations of the polishing tape 105.

Polishing apparatus, polishing method, and processing apparatus


Techniques for reducing the spectral content of a data bus are described herein. An example of a device in accordance with the present techniques includes logic to obtain a present bit of data to be transmitted over a data bus and estimate a spectral energy contribution of the present bit at a frequency of interest. The device also includes logic to determine what effect inverting the present bit will have on a net spectral energy of the data bus at the frequency of interest when the present bit is transmitted over the data bus. The device also includes logic to invert the present bit to generate an inverted bit and transmit the inverted bit over the data bus if inverting the present bit reduces the net spectral energy of the data bus at the frequency of interest.

Data busses in a computing platform generally produce electromagnetic radiation that can be a main source of radio frequency interference (RFI) with wireless radio reception in mobile computing platforms such as tablets, smartphones, and portable personal computers. For example, a portable computing platform may have at least three radio antennas, with one or more in its base. In addition, such platforms typically support five or more radio bands, e.g., Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n), Bluetooth technology, and various different cellular standards such as LTE and WiMax, among others.

Modifying the spectral energy content of a data bus


A method of determining a fault parameter of a fault on an AC transmission line 10 of a power distribution system 1 relative to a measurement location 12 of the transmission line 10 comprising: measuring a time-dependent current of the transmission line 10 at the measurement location 12; transmitting a current signal indicative of the measured current to a decision logic section 36, the current signal comprising a plurality of pre-fault current values and a plurality of post-fault current values; determining, by the decision logic section 36, a plurality of phase difference values indicative of respective phase differences between respective pre-fault current values and respective post-fault current values; accumulating the plurality of phase difference values into an accumulated phase difference parameter; obtaining the fault parameter by comparing the accumulated phase difference parameter to a threshold value; and outputting the determined fault parameter.

Directional overcurrent relays are widely used for the protection of power distribution systems such as radial and ring subtransmission systems and other distribution systems. These relays have a functionality enabling them to determine a fault direction. Here, a fault can mean an overcurrent, for example, from a short circuit. Further, the fault direction is in most cases binary information, indicating whether the fault is a forward fault or a backward fault. Here, in a power line connecting an upstream power source to a downstream power distribution system portion (with the normal power direction from upstream to downstream), the forward direction is downstream of the relay, and the backward, or reverse, direction is upstream of the relay.
In smart grids, decentralized or distributed units can feed power into the grid or consume power from the grid. Thus, in smart grids the power flow direction can change with time. In this situation, "forward" and "reverse" can still be defined as above with respect to the current power flow, so that e.g. the forward direction will change if the power flow is reversed.
The fault direction can be an indicator at which side of a measurement location the fault has occurred. In the above example, there are two directions, forward and backward. If the measurement location is at a node of the power network having more than two sides, there may be more than just a forward or a backward direction. For example, for a node to which one backward line portion and two forward line portions are connected, the fault direction can include the cases "forward-1", "forward-2", and "backward".
The directional information provides a more detailed information about the location at which a fault has occurred. This information can be used to deactivate a smaller portion of the power distribution system in the case of a fault. For example, a known ring-main feeder, e.g. for domestic supplies has breakers at its T-junctions. If there is a fault in any of the lines of this known ring-main feeder, the whole line section can be interrupted. This situation can be improved when more detailed fault directional information is obtained. To address this situation, directional overcurrent relays can be installed in the line along with breaking switches. With such a relay-switch system, a reference voltage measurement allows computing the fault current and its direction. The directional information can then be used to disconnect only the appropriate section, rather than the whole line.
Known directional overcurrent relays rely on a reference voltage phasor, also known as "voltage polarization", for estimating the direction of the fault. When a fault occurs, the fault current has a characteristic phase angle relative to the voltage phasor, the phase angle depending on the fault direction. The fault direction is determined by comparing the current phasor (complex current value whose real part is the actual AC current) to a reference voltage phasor (industrially termed as 'voltage polarization') measured at a measurement location on the power line. This specifies measurement of both current and voltage. This approach becomes unreliable when the fault is in close proximity to the relay, because in this case, the relay is almost grounded by the short circuit (industrially termed as 'close-in faults').
Further, overcurrent relays including a voltage measurement unit are expensive. Since they have to be used in large number for the above arrangement, this is a major cost factor.
Eissa M. M. discloses in "Evaluation of New Current Directional Protection Technique Using Field Data", IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, IEEE Service Center, New York, N.Y., US, vol. 20, no. 2, (1 Apr. 2005), pages 566-572, XP011129251, ISSN:0885-8977 a current polarized directional element technique to determine the fault direction on a transmission line using fault data recorded in field. To determine the fault direction a sum of plain current signals is evaluated. It is concluded that for a forward fault, the absolute sum of the fault current signal and the polarized current signal are higher than the absolute value of the fault current signal. On the other hand it is concluded that for a reverse fault, the absolute sum of the fault current signal and the polarized current signal are lower than the absolute value of the fault current signal. The obtained absolute sum which does not contain any phase information is further used in the proposed technique to identify directionality and therefore compared to a threshold value. In other words, no accumulation of values containing a phase difference is used.

Fault parameter indicator device and related methods


A golf club for impelling a golf ball further with thrust force assist. Pressurized fluid from a fluid pump enters the club through the handle assembly and exits out through a fluid nozzle at the back of the club head. The club thus prepared is swung in the normal way. Due to the added thrust force, the club head velocity is greater than it would be without any assist, causing the ball to be impelled further down the fairway and/or teaching the golfer to swing faster. The club further includes a triggering mechanism to control the flow of fluid into the club.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to golf clubs. In particular, the present invention relates to a golf club that is used to increase the distance through which a golf ball is impelled by increasing the swinging speed of the golf club.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The game of golf utilizes clubs that are swung to contact a ball to provide the necessary energy to impel the ball down the fairway. Various types of clubs are used depending on the type of trajectory and distance desired. Many individuals are not able to reach their potential speed in swinging the club because of lack of strength or disability. Some required additional conditioning to achieve this potential.
In the past, many have tried unsuccessfully to solve this problem by (1) inventing clubs which generate an impelling force at the time of contact with the ball, none of which allow the golfer to improve his game; or (2) attempting to improve on the methods of swinging the club, without focusing on the speed of swinging the club.
An example for the first case would be U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,594 which discloses a golf club for impelling golf balls without swinging. The club uses expanding gas generated by an exploding charge to move a piston having an attached strike plate against a golf ball, impelling the ball down the fairway toward the green. The club obviously does not train golfers to swing a normal club.
An example for the second case would be U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,919 which discloses a golf swing training device actuated by the downswing of the golfer and comprising an arm angle detector which informs the golfer of the angle by transmitting a signal to the golfer's knee, waist and/or ankle. This invention and many others lack clear methodology to increase swing speed, which is the most effective parameter while attempting to maximize the distance traveled by the golf ball.
The present invention overcomes these deficiencies and provides effective training for golfers to improve their games.


A process for the manufacture of a cured composite material, the process comprising the steps of blending together a liquid curable resin and a curing agent having a melting point greater than 100° C. to form a liquid blend of curable resin and curing agent, at least partially impregnating a structural fiber arrangement with the blended curable resin and curing agent to form a curable composite material, followed by curing the composite material by exposure to elevated temperature and at a pressure of no greater than 3 bar absolute to form a cured composite material.

Composite materials have well-documented advantages over traditional construction materials, particularly in providing excellent mechanical properties at very low material densities. As a result, the use of such materials is becoming increasingly widespread and their fields of application range from "industrial" and "sports and leisure" to high performance aerospace components.
Prepregs, comprising a fibre arrangement impregnated with resin such as epoxy resin, are widely used in the generation of such composite materials. Typically a number of plies of such prepregs are "laid-up" as desired and the resulting laminate is cured, typically by exposure to elevated temperatures, to produce a cured composite laminate.
Such cured composite materials inevitably contain some degree of entrapped gas, or porosity, which can detract from the mechanical strength of the material. For example, gas bubbles can be present from the resin manufacturing step and the impregnation of fibres may be incomplete, both resulting in porosity being present.
To allow curing to occur, a curing agent is included in the resin which reacts with functional groups on the resin to form cross-links and provide the curing function. Such curing agents are typically blended with the curable resin at low temperatures to prevent thermal hazards and so that premature reaction between the resin and curing agent does not occur. The choice of curing agent strongly governs the mechanical properties of the cured resin.
For aerospace applications composite materials must meet extremely exacting requirements on porosity and mechanical strength. For this reason the curing of aerospace composites is almost exclusively carried out in an autoclave cure. Such curing is carried out at high pressure and temperature and tends to produce very low porosities and hence good mechanical properties. It is believed that the high pressure forces any entrapped gasses into solution, such that the composite material remains essentially void-free during cure.
However, autoclave cure is expensive and time-consuming to operate. Therefore methods of curing aerospace quality composite materials out-of-autoclave have been explored.
The present invention aims to mitigate or at least obviate the above defined problems and/or to provide improvements generally.


A method and apparatus is provided for reconfiguring application comprising a plurality of base code components at startup. A control application first retrieves the plurality of base components responsive to receiving a command to execute the application program. Prior to beginning execution, however, the control application replaces a selected base code component with another code component, and then subsequently replaces that newly inserted code component with yet another code component. Whether any given code component is to be replaced at startup is determined based on an annotation included in the code components. Once the application program has been reconfigured to include the appropriate code components, the application program is executed.

A Point of Sale (POS) is often referred to as a location where a retail transaction is conducted. For example, it may be the point where a customer makes a payment to a retailer in exchange for goods or services. Further, the retailer may, at the POS, calculate an amount owed by the customer and provide options for the customer to make payment. A payment may be made by, for example, cash, a credit card, a debit card, or check. The retailer may issue a receipt to the customer for the transaction.
A Point of Commerce (POC) may broadly refer to shopping or retail transactions conducted within a "brick and mortar" retail store or at any location by use of a computing device that is suitably connected to a communications network. As an example, a customer may shop within a store and proceed to a checkout station to purchase one or more products obtained in the store. In another example, a customer may use his or her mobile computing device to shop for products at a retail website via a web browser. In this example, the customer may select products for purchase and subsequently conduct a purchase transaction with the mobile computing device.
Regardless of whether a given transaction is a POS transaction, or a POC transaction, however, such transactions are typically processed by application programs executing on network servers.

System and method for replacing java beans

Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Holdings Corporation


A CPR compression device driven by a cam, in which the cam is shaped to provide a desired compression waveform. The cam controls movement of a compression pad, and has angular regions shaped to provide a compression stroke, a high compression hold, and a release phase of the chest contacting means.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a well-known and valuable method of first aid used to resuscitate people who have suffered from cardiac arrest. CPR requires repetitive chest compressions to squeeze the heart and the thoracic cavity to pump blood through the body. Artificial respiration, such as mouth-to-mouth breathing or a bag mask apparatus, is used to supply air to the lungs. When a first aid provider performs manual chest compression effectively, blood flow in the body is about 25% to 30% of normal blood flow. However, even experienced paramedics cannot maintain adequate chest compressions for more than a few minutes. Hightower, et al., Decay In Quality Of Chest Compressions Over Time, 26 Ann. Emerg. Med. 300 (September 1995). Thus, CPR is not often successful at sustaining or reviving the patient. Nevertheless, if chest compressions could be adequately maintained, then cardiac arrest victims could be sustained for extended periods of time. Occasional reports of extended CPR efforts (45 to 90 minutes) have been reported, with the victims eventually being saved by coronary bypass surgery. See Tovar, et al., Successful Myocardial Revascularization and Neurologic Recovery, 22 Texas Heart J. 271 (1995).
Numerous studies establish that good quality chest compressions are difficult to accomplish from a psycho-motor skill level on the part of the rescuer as and also require up to 150 pounds of force to compress the sternum to a depth sufficient to accomplish adequate blood flow. As a result, rescuers frequently fatigue during CPR to the point that they cannot deliver adequate compressions.
In efforts to provide better blood flow and increase the effectiveness of bystander resuscitation efforts, various pneumatic or electrically powered mechanical devices (machine-powered devices) have been proposed for performing CPR. In one variation of these devices, a pneumatically driven piston is suspended over the patient using a rigid gantry, as in the LUCAS® CPR device, or suspended over the patient with a cantilevered gantry arrangement, as in the THUMPER® CPR device. The LUCAS® II device uses a motor driven piston. In these devices, the piston is forced repeatedly downward to push on the patient's chest and thereby compress the chest. In another variation of such devices, a belt is placed around the patient's chest and the belt is used to effect chest compressions. Our own patents, Mollenauer, et al., Resuscitation Device Having A Motor Driven Belt To Constrict/Compress The Chest, U.S. Pat. No. 6,142,962 (Nov. 7, 2000); Sherman, et al., CPR Assist Device with Pressure Bladder Feedback, U.S. Pat. No. 6,616,620 (Sep. 9, 2003); Sherman et al., Modular CPR assist device, U.S. Pat. No. 6,066,106 (May 23, 2000); and Sherman et al., Modular CPR assist device, U.S. Pat. No. 6,398,745 (Jun. 4, 2002), show chest compression devices that compress a patient's chest with a belt. Each of these patents is hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. Our commercial device, sold under the trademark AUTOPULSE®, is described in some detail in our prior patents, including Jensen, Lightweight Electro-Mechanical Chest Compression Device, U.S. Pat. No. 7,347,832 (Mar. 25, 2008) and Quintana, et al., Methods and Devices for Attaching a Belt Cartridge to a Chest Compression Device, U.S. Pat. No. 7,354,407 (Apr. 8, 2008). U.S. Pat. No. 6,616,620 also described a system for controlling the compression wave-form of the device. The compression wave-form refers to the graph of FIG. 1, which plots the compression depth versus time for a chest compression. The graph illustrates the down-stroke phase of the compression stroke, during which the sternum is depressed from a relaxed state to a compressed state, a hold phase, during which the patient's sternum is held at a particular distance from the spine, a release phase during which the sternum is allow to recoil to its natural uncompressed condition, and an inter-compression phase during which the sternum is substantially released or held at some minimal threshold of compression.
Human powered CPR devices have been proposed, such as those described in Kelly, et al., Chest Compression Apparatus for Cardiac Arrest, U.S. Pat. No. 5,738,637 (Apr. 14, 1998). These human-powered devices typically use some form of mechanical advantage to minimize the amount of force required to compress the sternum and thus reduce rescuer fatigue. A weakness of these human powered systems is that they still rely on psychomotor skill set of the rescuer to deliver compressions with the proper waveform characteristics that result in optimal blood flow.

Human powered mechanical CPR device with optimized waveform characteristics


In the formation of sheet glass by the overflow downdraw process, the width of usable sheet glass is maximized by downwardly flowing edge portions of the sheet over web-like members and thereafter over extensions which intersect with and are downwardly inclined relative to the web-like members to thin edge portions of the glass flow and maintain sheet width. The extension members are preferably removably attached to the web-like members, greatly facilitating replacement of the more easily damaged extension members.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for forming glass, more particularly an apparatus for forming a glass sheet.
2. Technical Background
The manufacture of sheet glass by downwardly flowing molten glass over a forming wedge is well known in the art. However, in practice it was found that the actual width of usable sheet produced was substantially less than the maximum width of usable glass sheet which theoretically could be obtained, as predicated by the longitudinal length of the forming wedge. That is, it has been found that when the molten glass flows along the underside of a negatively inclined surface, such as the downwardly converging surfaces of a forming wedge, the width of the glass stream contracts and pulls inwardly from the vertical ends of the wedge.
This lateral movement of the molten glass produces a bead or thickening portion along the edge of the sheet—the edge head.
The thickened sections on the edges of the sheet not only decrease the amount of usable uniform thickness sheet glass that can be obtained from a given width of drawn sheet, but also limit the speed at which the sheet may be drawn. That is, since the sheet is annealed as a continuous process immediately after formation, and the time required for sheet glass to reach an acceptable strain level in passing through the annealing portion of the process is directly proportional to the thickness of the glass, sheet having thickened edge portions requires more annealing time, thus limiting the maximum rate of sheet formation.
In the past it has been suggested that the narrowing of the width of glass sheet formed by the downdraw process may be prevented by utilizing rollers or edge cooling.
However, this has not been entirely satisfactory since rolling merely attempts to reduce the thickness of the beaded portion without attempting to correct the cause or source of the bead, and cooling tends to enlarge the formation of beaded edges, which as previously indicated are detrimental in the formation of sheet glass. Further, high viscosities adjacent the edges of the sheet flow actually tend to create a pull-in or narrowing of the glass to a much greater extent than do low viscosities. However, should the edges be chilled sufficiently to set up the glass, additional detrimental effects are produced in the form of sheet warpage and undesirable stresses.
Prior art methods of increasing sheet width have employed a web surface portion extending between the downwardly converging surfaces of the forming wedge and a projecting edge surface portion which aided in increasing the width of the drawn glass sheet. U.S. Pat. No. 3,451,798 discloses such a web surface portion which terminates at its lowest extent at the horizontal plane passing through the root, the line along which the downwardly converging surfaces of the forming wedge meet. U.S. Pat. No. 3,537,834 discloses a forming apparatus comprising a web surface portion which, at its lowest point may be extended below the root.
In one prior art apparatus, illustrated in FIG. 1, an overflow trough 10 comprising converging forming surfaces includes multiple edge directors 12. Each edge director 12 comprises two main portions: a projecting edge surface portion 14 which intersects forming surface portions of the trough along its vertical extent, and a web or filleted surface portion 16 which extends between the projecting edge surface portion 14 and one of the downwardly inclined converging surface portions. However, web surface portion 16 does not extend below the lower apex formed by the converging forming surfaces.
In another prior art apparatus, shown in FIG. 2, web surface portion 20 extends below the lower apex, or root, as indicated by point 22. However, whether web surface portion 20 is planar, curvilinear or frusto-conical in shape, the extended web surface portion does not break or kink (i.e. demonstrate an abrupt change in direction) along its downward length.
Although the prior art devices described above have been useful to extend the width of glass sheet drawn from overflow troughs, devices capable of still further improvement in sheet width are needed. Unfortunately, there are practical limits to the length of the forming wedge without incurring problems associated with sagging of the wedge. Thus, there is a need to further increase the width of glass sheet drawn from a forming wedge which does not entail increasing the length of the forming wedge itself.
The present invention virtually obviates the problems of reduction in sheet width and bead formation heretofore encountered when forming sheet glass by an overflow downdraw process by providing the forming wedge with edge director projections having web portions and extension portions which intersect with the web portions.
Each edge director has a projecting edge surface portion which extends along edge portions of the forming surface of the wedge, and a web or filleted portion which extends between such projecting edge portion and an adjacent downwardly inclined forming surface portion.
The web or fillet portion and the extension surface portion of each edge director provides a wetted length in the horizontal direction which is greater than the horizontal length of the negative-angle wedge surface which it intercepts, and accordingly spreads out the flowing glass and decreases its thickness adjacent to its ends before the glass is drawn off an edge of the extension surface portion to inhibit bead formation.
In an embodiment of the invention, an apparatus for drawing sheet glass is disclosed which includes a forming wedge having a pair of downwardly inclined forming surface portions. The downwardly inclined forming surface portions converge at the bottom of the forming wedge to form a root and define a glass draw line therealong. A web surface portion for intercepting and thinning the flow of glass along edge portions of the forming surfaces intersects at least one of the forming surfaces. An extension surface portion intersects with and extends below the web surface portion, and an outwardly directed normal to the extension surface portion has a downwardly directed component (i.e. vector component). Preferably, the first extension surface portion is detachably cooperative with the first web surface portion. That is, the first extension surface portion can be removed. The first extension surface portion may be attached to the first web surface portion via one or more dovetail joints, for example, thereby facilitating detachment of the first extension surface portion from the web surface portion. Alternatively, pins may be embedded within the first extension surface portion which are sized to cooperate with corresponding receiving orifices in the web surface portion. Beneficially, the first extension surface portion may be removed my glass is flowing over the forming surfaces, thereby minimizing down time of the glass sheet forming operation.
Preferably, the extension surface normal forms an angle α with the web surface portion normal in a vertical plane through the web portion surface and the extension surface portion greater than about 15° and less than about 30°.
An inner edge of the extension surface portion preferably intersects a vertical plane intersecting the root.
In another embodiment an apparatus for drawing sheet glass is provided including a forming wedge having a pair of downwardly inclined forming surface portions, the downwardly inclined forming surface portions converging at the bottom of the forming wedge forming a root and defining a glass draw line therealong. An edge director extends along vertical edge portions of the forming surfaces, the edge director for intercepting and thinning the flow of glass along edge portions of the forming surfaces having a web surface portion which intersects with the forming surfaces. An extension surface portion intersects with and extends below the web surface portion. An outwardly directed normal to the extension surface portion has a downwardly directed (vector) component.
Preferably, the first extension surface portion is detachably cooperative with the first web surface portion. The first extension surface portion may be attached to the first web surface portion via one or more dovetail joints, for example. Alternatively, pins may be embedded within the first extension surface portion which are sized to cooperate with corresponding receiving orifices in the web surface portion.
Preferably, the normal to the web surface portion and the normal to the extension surface portion form an angle β in a vertical plane passing through both the web surface portion and the extension surface portion between 15° and 30°.
In still another embodiment of the invention, a method of making a glass sheet is provided comprising flowing molten glass over a pair of downwardly inclined forming surface portions comprising a forming wedge, the downwardly inclined forming surface portions converging at the bottom of the forming wedge, flowing the glass sheet over a web surface portion intersecting with at least one of the forming surface portions, and flowing the glass sheet over an extension surface portion intersecting the web surface portion, the web surface portion having an outwardly directed surface normal with a downwardly directed (vector) component.
The invention will be understood more easily and other objects, characteristics, details and advantages thereof will become more clearly apparent in the course of the following explanatory description, which is given, without in any way implying a limitation, with reference to the attached Figures. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.

Method and apparatus for making a glass sheet


A method of and apparatus for treating uterine prolapses in livestock. Firstly, clean and manually reposition the uterine prolapse. Secondly, insert an internal uterine support through a cervix and deep into a uterus of an animal thereby supporting the positioning of the uterus. Thirdly, block the removal of the internal uterine support for sufficient time to permit the cervix of the animal to contract. Fourthly, withdraw the internal uterine support once the cervix of the animal has contracted. The apparatus has an inflatable supporting member serving as the internal uterine support. The supporting member is positioned on an elongate member which is insertable through a cervix and into a uterus of the animal. When expanded the supporting member is of a size sufficient to provide internal uterine support and when contracted the supporting member can be withdrawn through the contracted cervix without causing discomfort to the animal.

It is not uncommon for a cow or a sheep to push her uterus out of the birth canal when calving. When this occurs it is referred to as an "uterine prolapse". The method of treatment is for a veterinarian to manually reposition the uterus, and then place pins through the vulva to create an obstruction which prevents the uterus from being pushed out again. This treatment is effective only if the animal stops "pushing". In most cases, however, the uterus is pushed against the pins, the cervix does not contract to its normal size and the animal continues to push. The result is a painful condition that obstructs the normal bodily functions of the animal, leading to a gradual deterioration in the health of the animal and eventually death. Even if the treatment is effective, the piercing of the skin with pins can lead to a secondary problem of infection.

Method and apparatus for treatment of uterine prolapses in livestock


Concrete forms utilizing a laminated concrete form liner including a porous fabric laminated to a drainage scrim. The laminated form liner is untensioned and used in combination with a support to form a concrete casting system wherein the porous fabric side of the laminated form liner is placed directly in contact with the concrete. The drainage scrim enhances the ability of the form liner to remove excess water from the surface of the concrete.

In the manufacture of concrete, the concrete is usually cast using a form wherein the concrete takes the shape of the form. The wet concrete is poured into or against the concrete form and, upon setting and removal of the form, the newly-exposed concrete surface is a reverse impression of the inner surface of the form. In the case of wooden forms, the concrete takes the appearance of the wood grain; and in the case of forms involving seamed form members, the concrete shows any seams which have not been sufficiently masked.
Air is often added to a concrete mix and water is often added in excess of the amount required for hydration. Such air and water are useful to render the mix flowable and to facilitate handling and pouring. However, the excess water, if left undrained, results in concrete having a weakened surface and, the air, if not removed, results in surface pores as large as 0.1 to 3 cm, which pores leave an uneven surface open to the effects of dirt and erosion by the freezing/thawing cycles of water.
Efforts have been made in the past to overcome these drainage and removal problems. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,124,102 and 5,135,692 (both to Serafini) disclose porous fabrics useful for allowing excess water and air to pass therethrough but substantially no cement particles. However, under certain circumstances these fabrics have proven to be sensitive to concrete fluidity and excessive concrete compaction and vibration. If conditions are not well controlled, sufficient cement particles will also pass through the porous fabric, collect on the backside of the fabric sheet, prevent further drainage, and thereby provide diminished concrete properties (e.g., white spots). This condition is particularly prevelant when the concrete form is directly vibrated as is necessary in some cases where normal curing won't suffice. Also, when using these prior art porous fabrics, proper fixation and tensioning of the fabric over the form are essential, not to mention time consuming.
With these prior art fabrics, fine concrete particles typically fill the fabric's larger pores, especially if excessive concrete compaction occurs. Usually, if enough fine concrete particles have entered the fabric structure and sufficient concrete curing is allowed, then the separation of the fabric from the cured concrete becomes very difficult or even impossible. This occurs because the concrete particles that have entered the fabric and hardened therein pull the fabric fibers out of the surface of the fabric when the fabric is separated from the concrete. The problem becomes worse when the fabric is reused with loose surface fibers since the loose fibers tend to become embedded in the cured concrete thereby causing delamination of the fabric sheet. The problem is heightened if the fabric is not handled with care during form assembly and disassembly, since mechanical friction (e.g., rubbing) tends to make the fabric fuzzy and causes the loose fibers to stick to the concrete. Multiple use of the fabric causes more of the fabric pores to become plugged by fine concrete particles resulting in greatly reduced levels of water and air evacuation via draining.
Clearly, what is needed is an improved concrete form and concrete form liner which do not have the deficiencies inherent in the prior art. Specifically, the improved form should allow drainage of excess water from the concrete surface but should prevent concrete particles from passing into the form liner and curing therein. In addition, the form should be useable without form liner tensioning. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the attached drawings and to the detailed description of the invention which hereinafter follows.

Laminated fabric useful as a concrete form liner


A system for determining the programmed/non-programmed status of a memory cell includes a first branch for connecting a first load and a memory cell matrix and a second branch for connecting a second load and at least one virgin reference memory cell. A circuit for selecting a memory cell of the memory matrix and a circuit for selecting at least one virgin reference cell are included. Each one of the first and second branches has a transistor for enabling a flow of current, respectively, between the first load and the second load and the memory cell matrix and the at least one reference memory cell. The enabling transistors are controlled, respectively, by a first biasing structure and by a second biasing structure. The system includes at least one transistor for redistributing the current of the load on the first branch, which is connected in parallel to the enabling transistor, and a first equalization transistor that is controlled by a precharge signal for the equalization of opposite nodes of the first and second branches. The at least one current redistribution transistor provides a current imbalance in the first load and in the second load in order to sense a difference in conductivity between a memory cell of the memory matrix and the at least one reference cell in order to determine the programmed or non-programmed status of the memory cell of the memory matrix.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a reference system for determining the programmed/non-programmed status of a memory cell, particularly for non-volatile memories.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
In non-volatile memories, such as for example EPROMs, EEPROMs, and FLASH memories, each memory cell can be in only one of two possible conditions: programmed or non-programmed (virgin). Conductivity characteristics of the memory cells are related to these two conditions.
There are no intermediate conditions of the memory cells with conductivity characteristics interpolated between a conductivity level of a programmed cell and that of a non-programmed cell, so as to be able to use this intermediate conductivity as a reference to determine whether a particular memory cell is programmed or non-programmed. Therefore, it is necessary to plot a curve for distinguishing between the two conductivity levels of the memory cell. Various circuital techniques, developed to provide a reference that allows one to determine the status of a memory cell, are commonly known.
The two most common systems are the current mirroring system, with a 2:1 and 3:1 ratio, and the so-called "current offset" system; these systems are shown in FIG. 1 (with details in FIGS. 2 and 3) and in FIG. 4. The charts with the conductivity curves related to these systems are shown, for the sake of reference, respectively in FIGS. 25 and 26.
FIG. 1 illustrates a current mirroring system with a 2:1 ratio, characterized by a circuit that includes a first branch, or matrix branch, and a second branch, or reference branch. The first branch connects a load 1 to a matrix of memory cells from which, by a multiplexer selection circuit YM and YN, a memory cell 4 of the memory matrix is selected. The second branch connects a load 1' to a matrix of virgin reference memory cells, from which one virgin reference memory cell 4' is selected by multiplexer selection circuit YM, YN. Transistors 2 and 2' enable the flow current from the loads 1 and 1' to the memory cells 4 and 4' and are arranged in the first branch, and in the second branch respectively. Biasing structures 3 and 3' are provided to bias the transistors 2 and 2', respectively.
FIG. 2 shows, in more detail, the loads 1 and 1', in the case of a 2:1 current mirroring ratio, wherein the load 1 is constituted by a single transistor and the load 1' is constituted by two transistors. The current of the reference memory cell 4', designated by Icell, is mirrored in the load transistors and a current equal to Icell/2 flows in the first branch.
If the memory cell 4 is virgin (like the reference memory cell 4' in which the current Icell flows), an output node provided on the matrix branch becomes low, since the load does not deliver the current that the reference memory cell 4' allows to pass, i.e, Icell. The load 1 in fact delivers only the current Icell/2.
If instead the memory cell 4 is programmed (i.e., off), the output node of the matrix branch becomes high, since even if the current Icell/2 is weak, it causes the node to become high, since the memory cell 4 is off because it is programmed.
This characteristic can be defined by a conductivity curve for the memory cell 4, to be compared with a conductivity curve of the virgin reference memory cell 4'.
In summary, therefore, if a current Im on the matrix branch is Im=0 (the cell is off and programmed), a current on the reference branch Ir is equal to 1/2 a current Iv of the virgin memory cell 4' for each mirroring transistor. When balancing occurs, if Im=1/2 Iv and Ir=1/2 Iv, then the state of the memory cell 4 cannot be determined. Finally, if the memory cell 4 is virgin (Im=Iv), then the current on the reference branch is Ir=Iv/2.
FIG. 3 shows in detail the loads 1 and 1' in the case of a 3:1 mirroring ratio, in which the load 1 is again constituted by a single transistor, whereas the load 1' is constituted by three transistors. The cell current, designated by Icell, is mirrored in the load transistors, and a current equal to Icell/3 flows in the matrix branch.
As in the previous case, the following relations occur in the case of a memory cell when it is programmed, when balancing occurs, and when it is virgin:
______________________________________ programmed: Im = 0 Ir = 1/3Iv for each mirroring transistor balanced: Im = 1/3Iv Ir = 1/3Iv for each mirroring transistor virgin: Im = Iv Ir = 1/3Iv for each mirroring transistor ______________________________________
The purpose of the circuit shown in FIG. 1 is to create a curve of the conductivity of a reference memory cell 4' as a function of the voltage. In this manner it is possible to compare the conductivity curve of the memory cell 4 whose status must be determined with respect to the reference curve.
Therefore, if one finds that the examined memory cell 4 allows the same current as a reference cell to pass, then it is a virgin cell; otherwise it is a programmed cell.
The reference curve thus created has the drawback that for low voltage values it has very low current difference values with respect to the actual conductivity curves of memory cells and therefore accurate determination of their status is difficult.
Furthermore, for high voltage values, the reference curve and the conductivity curve intersect, causing incorrect cell status determination.
The 3:1 mirroring circuit allows one to plot another conductivity curve that is lower than the first one so as to more assuredly detect the status of a cell that might be only weakly programmed and which cannot be determined with the first above mentioned reference curve.
This last curve allows one to provide a "margin" for reading during a verify step after programming, in order to ensure the normal reading that is performed with a 2:1 ratio.
The chart of the curves of this first reference system is shown in FIG. 25.
FIG. 4 shows a so-called "current offset" reference system, in which current mirroring is performed at the level of the bit lines.
The drawbacks of these known reference systems are the poor symmetry of the loads, the difficulty in biasing propagation, and higher current consumption caused by the current offset.
The chart with the curves of this reference system is shown in FIG. 26.
A lack of symmetry at the loads is a problem when using sense amplifiers of the dynamic latch type that require perfect balancing.
Furthermore, the vector of the current difference between the matrix current and the current of the reference branch, Im-Ir, in the most favorable conditions, is never higher than Iv/2.
Another drawback is due to the fact that both of the reference systems are difficult to implement in architectures in which the roles of the reference and matrix branches are reversed.

System for determining the programmed/non programmed status of A memory cell


A linear motion slide unit comprises a slider axially movably mounted on a guide rail by a number of rolling members. A sealing device comprises a pair of end plates mounted at both ends of the slider and a connection plate, connecting the pair of end plates, with the connection plate disposed between the slider and the guide rail in the axial direction. First sealing members are disposed on the end plates where the end plates face the guide rail. Second sealing members extend along the axial direction of the connection plate.

FIG. 4 shows a conventional linearly movable mechanism, in which first rolling member rolling grooves 102 are provided to both side surfaces 101 of a guide rail 100 and second rolling member rolling grooves 104 facing the first rolling grooves 101 are formed to a slider 103. The slider 103 is slidable on the guide rail 100 in the axial direction thereof through rolling members 105 disposed between the first and second rolling grooves 102 and 104.
A pair of end plates 103a are attached to both the axial ends of the slider 103, and end seals (first seal members) 106 are secured to end plates 110 disposed at the end faces of the end plates 103a. The end plates 103a and the end plates 110 are fastened fixedly to the slider 103 by means of screws 114. The end seals 106 are provided with sealing projections 107 slidably contacting the first rolling grooves 102. Upper seals (second sealing members) 111 extending axially are fixedly fastened to the slider 103 by means of screws 115 at portions corresponding to the upper surface 108 of the guide rail 100, and the upper seals 111 are constructed as members independent from the end seals 106.
In the conventional linearly movable mechanism of the structure described above, the rolling members 105 are rolled to thereby axially move the slider 103 on and along the guide rail 100. The sealing projections 107 prevent external cut chips or spatters from invading into the first and second rolling grooves 102 and 104. In addition, the upper seals 111 prevent foreign materials from invading into the first and second rolling grooves 102 and 104 through the upper surface 108 of the guide rail 100. However, in the conventional technology, the end seals 106 and the upper seals 111 are attached to the slider 103 independently with each other, thus performing less workability and reducing productionability.


A centerless feed-through super-finishing device including: first and second feed-through rollers having first and second longitudinal outer surfaces; a metallic part having a generally cylindrical section, disposed between the outer surfaces, wherein a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical section is generally aligned with the outer surfaces, the cylindrical section having a metal working surface, the outer surfaces disposed in a near-parallel fashion; a rotating mechanism for rotation of the rollers along respective longitudinal axes thereof, and for effecting thereby a rotation of the cylindrical section, wherein an angle between the rollers is selected such that rotation of the rollers propels the cylindrical section between the rollers; and a lapping system including: a lapping tool having a polymeric contact surface disposed to contact the working surface, and a lapping mechanism, associated with the lapping tool, adapted to exert a load on the contact and working surfaces; and abrasive particles, freely disposed between the contact and working surfaces, wherein the contact surface and the lapping mechanism are adapted, and the abrasive particles are selected, such that the relative motion under the load effects lapping of the working surface, and wherein the surfaces of the rollers are covered with a polymeric material.

The present invention relates to centerless feed-through super-finishing devices and methods, and, more particularly, to a centerless feed-through super-finishing device and method having a lapping system for lapping of the outside diameter of a substantially cylindrical surface, the lapping system containing a freely-disposed abrasive.
Centerless feed-through super-finishing devices are known in the art. Such finishing devices utilize a fixed abrasive material (e.g., an abrasive pad, stone or tape) wherein the abrasive particles are fixed in place with respect to the backing or support materials. The fixed abrasive material moves relative to the outer cylindrical surface of the metallic part being processed, so as to abrade and finish the surface. During processing, such devices characteristically develop heat, requiring copious quantities of cooling liquid. The surface of the metallic part being processed must also be flushed to remove abrasive particles liberated from the fixed abrasive material. In the absence of such flushing, the liberated abrasive particles, when caught between a roller and the cylindrical surface of the metallic part, can cause appreciable damage to the finish of the part surface.
Consequently, a centerless feed-through super-finishing device in which the lapping system utilizes a freely-disposed abrasive is a manifestly inferior technology, and is rarely, if at all used in state-of-the-art systems.

Centerless feed-through super-finishing device having a lapping system containing a freely-disposed abrasive


A first circuit element, which is reflective, is formed. A first layer, which is attenuating, is formed. above the first circuit element. A second layer, which is transparent, is formed above the first layer to fill an aperture in the first layer. An overlying lithography resist layer is then exposed to a radiation flux level below a development threshold but high enough that a sum of the radiation flux level and a reflected secondary radiation flux level exceeds the development threshold. The lithography resist layer is developed so as to obtain a mask having an opening through which the first and second layers are removed to form a second aperture which is filled to form a second circuit element.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for producing two superposed elements within an integrated electronic circuit. It also relates to an integrated electronic circuit that comprises elements produced in this way. In particular, the invention can be applied to the production of an electrical connection within an integrated electronic circuit.
2. Description of Related Art
An integrated electronic circuit usually possesses electrical connections that are arranged within several connection levels superposed on top of the surface of a substrate of the circuit. The first connection level, starting from the surface of the substrate, is called a premetallization layer. The following levels correspond to respective metallization layers. An electrical connection may connect elements of the circuit parallel to the surface of the substrate. It is then called a track. An electrical connection may also connect two elements of the circuit in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the substrate. In particular, it may thus connect a contact terminal of an electronic component produced on the surface of the substrate, such as a transistor or a diode, to a track located in the first metallization layer. The connection is then made through the premetallization layer. An electrical connection may also connect two superposed tracks within successive connection levels of the circuit. In the jargon of those skilled in the art, this connection is then called a "via".
Each connection level may be produced using the damascene process, or its variant "dual-damascene", both these being well known to those skilled in the art.
Each connection level is usually defined by one or two lithography steps. Each lithography step employs a mask that defines the locations and the dimensions of the tracks and/or of the connections or vias placed in this level. To produce a connection between two circuit elements placed in different levels, the lithography masks used for each of the levels must be precisely aligned with respect to the circuit substrate, so as to obtain electrical contacts of low electrical resistance at the lower and upper ends of the connection. However, an offset may unintentionally arise during these alignment operations, and this has to be taken into account in order to obtain satisfactory electrical contacts even when one of the lithography masks is offset with respect to the substrate.
Any offset of the lithography masks is taken into account by providing margins around the connection regions between elements of the circuit that are superposed in different levels. In other words, when designing the circuit, an enclosure is provided around each connection region between superposed elements so that a satisfactory electrical contact is obtained even if one of the two elements or the connection itself is offset with respect to the substrate. Circuit design rules set the margins that have to be provided around the connection regions.
Now, such margins occupy areas of the surface of the circuit, parallel to the surface of the substrate, and they consequently limit the level of integration of the circuit.
To reduce or eliminate certain margins in transistor gate levels, integrated electronic circuits have been produced in laboratory on glass substrates (2003 IEEE Proceedings, Akito Hara et al., p. 211). The transparency of the substrate to the radiation used during a lithography step allows two gates to be obtained that are aligned with each other along the direction perpendicular to the substrate. To do this, a resist mask formed on the circuit is exposed to UV light radiation through the substrate so that a lower gate already formed on the circuit constitutes an opaque screen that determines the dimensions of an upper gate located on the opposite side of the lower gate from the substrate. After the resist has been developed, the mask has at least one edge superposed with one side of the lower gate. This mask edge then defines one side of the upper gate. No margin therefore exists between the respective sides of the lower and upper gates, as alignment of one with respect to the other results from the screen effect used when exposing the circuit to the radiation of the lithography process. However, to do this it is necessary to use a substrate that is transparent to the radiation of the lithography process, something that is not the case for a silicon substrate.
There is a need in the art to reduce the margins needed around the elements of an integrated electronic circuit that have to be superposed one with respect to another, while still allowing a silicon substrate to be used for the circuit.

Production of two superposed elements within an integrated electronic circuit