A compliant UV imprint lithography template, which may also act as a thermal implant template, and methods for manufacturing it. The template essentially comprises a relief image and an elastomer adapted to adjust the relief image. In an embodiment, the relief image is arranged in a compliant imprinting layer where the elastomer is arranged between the imprinting layer and a rigid transparent substrate. In an embodiment, the template is compliant to a wafer surface. In an embodiment, layering an elastomer and an imprinting layer on a substrate and patterning a relief image into the imprinting layer, form the template.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to imprint lithography templates suitable for use in micro-fabrication of structures. The compliant template herein described has particular utility in pattern transfer onto non-planar surfaces.
2. Description of the Related Art
Micro-fabrication involves the fabrication of very small structures, e.g., having features on the order of micrometers or smaller. One industry that has been driving the fabrication of increasingly smaller structures is the electronics industry. As electronic devices have become smaller and faster, the integrated circuits that drive them have necessarily become smaller.
Lithographic techniques are usually employed in the manufacture of integrated circuits. Typically, these lithographic techniques include applying photosensitive materials to a semiconductor substrate. These photosensitive materials, commonly referred to as "resist," are selectively exposed to a form of radiation. An exposure tool and a photomask are often used to obtain the desired selective exposure. Such exposure changes the solubility of the resist such that the photomask's pattern is formed in the resist following a development process to remove the soluble resist.
Historically, exposure tools have been optical systems. However, optical systems are limited in their ability to resolve very small features. For example, the equation for resolution, where λ is wavelength and NA is numerical aperture, is as follows:RES=k1λ/NAThe resolution of ever-smaller features requires a reduction of wavelength, an increase in numerical aperture, or both. Of course, reducing wavelength significantly below 248 nm, currently used in deep UV lithography, is not trivial. Further, increasing numerical aperture results in a significant depth of focus loss, as shown in the following equation, where again λ is wavelength and NA is numerical aperture:DOF=k2λ/(NA)2
Accordingly, optical lithography systems capable of printing microstructures may require a depth of focus so small as to be intolerant of slight wafer non-planarity, which commonly results from normal process variation. Therefore, due to slight wafer non-planarity, as well as the limitations of wavelength reduction, optical lithography is limited in its ability to print the sub-100 nm features that will be required for the manufacture of future integrated circuits.
Imprint lithography is capable of manufacturably producing sub-100 nm features. Several imprint lithography techniques have been investigated as low cost, high volume manufacturing alternatives to conventional photolithography for high-resolution patterning. In this emergent technology, a relief image in a template is used to replicate a surface relief into a polymerizable material arranged upon the surface of a substrate. The template makes mechanical contact with the material arranged upon the substrate, and the material is subjected to conditions to solidify and/or to polymerize the same such that a relief structure complimentary to that of the template is formed on the substrate. The material may be solidified or polymerized by, for example, heat or light. Such patterning and polymerization techniques may be referred to as thermal imprint lithography or ultraviolet ('UV') imprint lithography, respectively. Typical substrates may include semiconductors, dielectric materials, magnetic, or optoelectronic materials. Unlike optical lithography, resolution of imprint lithography is not limited by wavelength. However, imprint lithography may be limited by the ability to create high-resolution templates and the ability to transfer relief images on such templates. Consequently, templates with an ability to conform to non-planar surfaces are desired. Further, because lithography is typically the single largest component of integrated circuit fabrication cost, a template that may be used interchangeably for either UV or thermal imprinting is desired. It is desired, therefore, to provide an improved template for use in micro-fabrication.

Compliant hard template for UV imprinting


A safety structure of a gas burner is disclosed formed of a slide, a stop device and a housing. When pressed the slide, a third spring member is compressed to lower the stop device and to further disengage the retaining blocks of the stop device from respective retaining grooves of the slide, thereby releasing the stop device from the constraint of the slide. When the user keeps pressing the slide at this time, the retaining blocks are moved to a bottom side of the guide ribs of the slide and the frame base is forced to squeeze a first spring member to release the locked state.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a gas burner and more specifically, to a safety structure of a gas burner.
2. Description of the Related Art
Following the movement of time, gas lighters are commonly used to make fire instead of matches. Further, handy gas burners, for example, hand gas torches are popularly accepted by consumers for the advantages of high mobility and ease of use. However, these handy gas burners must be kept away from reach of children. Because conventional handy gas burners can easily accidentally be triggered to make fire, they are not safe in use. There are numerous instances of fire accidents caused by children playing with gas burners. For easy use, the ignition switch of a conventional gas burner is not locked or can easily be unlocked, and a child may switch on the ignition switch accidentally when playing with the gas burner, thereby causing an accident.
Therefore, many countries have made relevant safety regulations stipulating installation of safety devices on gas burners, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,293,782 (equivalent to Taiwan Patent Publication No. 446104), U.S. Pat. No. 6,296,476 (equivalent to Taiwan Patent Publication No. 449018), U.S. Pat. No. 6,527,543 (equivalent to Taiwan Patent Publication No. 525749), U.S. Pat. No. 6,688,879 (equivalent to Taiwan Patent Publication No. 534277), and Taiwan Patent Publication No. 582519. The aforesaid various patents are issued to the present inventor. According to these patents, when a gas burner is not in use, it is in a locked state. To use the gas burner, the safety device has to be released. The releasing operation is quite complicated, thereby making it relatively difficult for children to conduct.


A method of making a security mesh comprises forming on a conductive substrate an alumina film having through-holes in which metal, e.g., copper, through-wires are formed. First surface wires are formed on one surface of the alumina film and second surface wires are formed on the second, opposite surface of the alumina film in order to connect selected through-wires into a continuous undulating electrical circuit embedded within the alumina film. The security mesh product comprises an alumina film having a continuous undulating electrical circuit comprising copper or other conductive metal extending therethrough. A stacked security mesh comprises two or more of the mesh products being stacked one above the other.

The present invention relates to security meshes having a meandering electric circuit formed therein, and to a method of making the same.
Electronic components containing information which must be protected against access or tampering are enclosed in a security barrier which typically comprises a security mesh, sometimes referred to as a security wrap, which contains an electric circuit which, if interrupted or altered, will initiate a destruct or invalidation sequence to destroy or erase critical information, such as decryption or encryption keys, contained in the secured electronic device. For example, a cryptographic processor card may be enclosed within the security mesh. The interruption or alteration of the mesh internal circuit may be caused by a probe which pierces the security wrap in an attempt to access the secured electronic device. The security mesh is typically connected in electric signal communication with a device which, upon sensing an interruption or alteration in the mesh internal circuitry, will initiate an action to protect the critical information, such as erasing stored key codes for encryption and decryption of the secured information.
There are solutions to the problem of providing a physical security enclosure that can detect attempts to physically bypass the security wrap and which are difficult to circumvent. Generally, a security wrap capable of detecting physical tampering is wrapped and glued in place around a device or container to create an enclosure within which an electronic component or device that must be physically protected may be secured. In the event of a physical breach of the security wrap, an electrical connection between the wrap internal circuitry and the device will trigger an erase/destruct sequence to protect data on the component or device. The security wrap is treated much like a piece of 'wrapping paper' such that the device can be fully enclosed. Adhesive is put in place to keep the security wrap from unfolding. The security wrap should be so designed that damage to the adhesive will result in damage or alteration to the wrap circuitry that is sufficient to trigger the erase/destruct sequence. The security wrap may have apertures formed therein to enable wires to enter and exit the enclosure to make electrical connections between the mesh internal circuitry and the erase/destruct sequence device. The same or additional apertures may also allow for pressure equalization.
Security wraps are typically comprised of multi-layer laminated plastic sheets which encase multiple layers of security mesh containing fine pitch wiring that leads to electrical connectors to the secured device or component. The plastic sheets are wrapped around the secured device or component with the wiring connectors being placed on the interior of the sheet. The wiring connectors are then connected to one or more erase/destruct tamper features on the secured device.

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


In a method for the documented tightening or tightening up of a heavily loaded screw connection of a threaded bolt and a nut screwed on the threaded bolt by using an axially operating tensioning device and a process control unit provided with a documentation module, the screw connection is identified by scanning an identification provided on the screw connection and data determined by scanning the identification is stored in the documentation module. The screw connection is lengthened by the tensioning device by axially pulling on a threaded end of the threaded bolt and a tightening force (FA) and/or a tightening pressure (PA) exerted by axially pulling on the threaded end is stored in the documentation module. After lengthening, the nut is turned by using a hand torque wrench and an actually exerted hand torque applied for turning the nut is stored in the documentation module.

The invention relates to a method for the documented tightening or tightening up of a heavily loaded screw connection comprised of a threaded bolt and a nut screwed thereon, by using an axially operating, preferably hydraulically driven tensioning device and a process control unit provided with a documentation module.
With this method the screw connection is identified by scanning an identification provided on the screw connection, preferably a barcode identification. The data thus detected are stored in the documentation module. The screw connection is extended longitudinally by means of the tensioning device through axially pulling on the thread end of the threaded bolt, and the tightening force and/or tightening pressure thereby expended is stored in the documentation module. After the longitudinal extension, the nut is turned by using a hand torque wrench, and the hand torque actually expended is stored in the documentation module.
Hydraulically operated bolt tensioning devices are known from the prior art, by way of example from WO 2008/092768 A2, WO 2010/054959 A1 or US 2016/0271775 A1. With tensioning devices of this kind first an exchangeable bush is screwed onto the (threaded) bolt or brought into engagement therewith in order to tension the bolt. For this the exchangeable bush can be provided with a corresponding internal thread. The exchangeable bush is arranged inside a hydraulic cylinder housing and is surrounded by at least one piston entraining the exchangeable bush. The piston, by way of example as part of a hydraulic piston-cylinder unit, can axially entrain the exchangeable bush. The bolt which is to be tensioned is thereby axially extended. Whilst it is extended a nut supporting the bolt with respect to a machine part, can be tightened up, i.e. can be turned.
Often the operating parameters actually used as well as general data relating to the relevant screw case are not detected and documented. Such data can be by way of example the manufacturer, the type or the model of the bolt or the nut, as well as tightening and torque values of the bolts and/or nuts. Often the bolt tensioning devices lack suitable devices for detecting and documenting such data. There is furthermore often a lack of measures for evaluating, checking and securely storing such data. This can be of relevance with screw connections in which a permanent control check is necessary and for safety reasons proof has to be provided of a sufficiently strong screw connection, by way of example in the case of reactor or storage containers with chemical or nuclear dangerous goods.
There is furthermore a problem when the user of the bolt tensioning device does not initially know in which region the required or ideal hydraulic pressure and the tightening pressure or tightening force connected therewith lies for the bolt which is to be tensioned. The values can vary depending on type, manufacture or size of the bolt. In cases of doubt this can lead to the bolt being loaded with excessively high tensile stresses which can lead ultimately to the threaded bolt breaking or spinning out. Apart from these factors which influence the operating safety, the quality and precision of the tightening or tightening up process can also be reduced if the bolts are not loaded with the ideal tightening force. The same applies when using a less than ideal torque when turning the nut.
Obtaining information by reading identifications, by way of example barcodes, by suitable sensors or scanners is generally known. Thus component parts, labels, advertising boards etc can be provided with identifications which are then detected and read by a suitable scanner. After identification, specific information filed for the respective barcode can be retrieved. Such barcodes scanners are integrated as standard in modern telecommunication appliances. For there the camera in conjunction with a suitable application software (App) undertakes the function of such a barcode scanner. Barcode scanners as separate appliances are known by way of example from the retail trade for scanning purchases at the cash desk. It is decisive that the barcode scanners are provided with a light source and are positioned at a distance from the scan object during the scanning process. The barcode must however be located in the incidence field or exposure range of the object lens or scanner. Positioning the scanner relative to the scan object is often independent of angles. Arrangements deviating from the ideal positioning angle between the scanner and barcode can be compensated where applicable by suitable focusing optics.
The object of the invention is to enable when tightening or tightening up high-tensile screw connections with axially operating tensioning devices a data document which is specific to each screw type and thus to improve the operating reliability, quality and reproducibility of the screw process.

Method for the documented tightening or tightening up of a screw connection


A dual expander cycle (DEC) rocket engine with an intermediate closed-cycle heat exchanger is provided. A conventional DEC rocket engine has a closed-cycle heat exchanger terhamlly coupled thereto. The heat exchanger utilizes heat extracted from the engine's fuel circuit to drive the engine's oxidizer turbomachinery.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to rocket engines. More specifically, the invention is dual expander cycle type of rocket engine that incorporates a closed-cycle heat exchanging unit as a means to safely, efficiently and reliably drive the engine's turbomachinery.
2. Description of the Related Art
A well known upper stage rocket engine is the expander cycle rocket engine that runs on a fuel/oxidizer propellant combination. The expander cycle is based upon the concept that the engine's turbomachinery are driven with gases warmed through regenerative cooling of the engine's thrust chamber assembly. The expander cycle engine eliminates the need for secondary combustion zones such as gas generators or pre-burners.
The propellant combination most suitable for upper-stage, expander cycle rocket engine use is the hydrogen/oxygen combination due to its high specific impulse. Unfortunately, there are large differences in fluid densities when these propellants are used in their cryogenic forms as is generally the case. Typically, the differing densities necessitate the use of centrifugal pumps that must be run at substantially different speeds. The different pump speeds are achieved by using a single turbopump unit and a mechanical gearbox arrangement that allows the single unit to operate two pump shafts at two different speeds. However, the mechanical nature of a gearbox makes the single turbopump/gearbox arrangement susceptible to reliability issues. Thus, the signal turbopump/gearbox embodiment of the expander cycle rocket engine is not an optimal design option.
Another approach to the differing densities problem associated with the hydrogen/oxygen propellant combination is to use two turbopump units with each unit operating at a different speed. In the most typical design, heated hydrogen gas is used to drive both of the turbopumps. However, within the oxygen turbopump, a complicated purged seal must be provided to keep the oxygen and hydrogen separated from one another to thereby avoid a catastrophic failure/explosion. Thus, this approach is inherently risky and is also not an optimal design option.
Still another approach to the differing densities problem associated with the hydrogen/oxygen propellant combination is to use what is called a dual expander cycle engine. In this design, warmed hydrogen gas is used to drive the hydrogen turbopump and warmed oxygen is used to drive the oxidizer turbopump. The fundamental drawback of this embodiment of the expander cycle is that separate thrust chamber cooling circuits (i.e., one for hydrogen and one for oxygen) are necessary in order to generate the necessary turbopump drive gases. Unfortunately, he inclusion of two separate cooling circuits is difficult to incorporate into an actual rocket system duet to weight considerations. Further, there is inherent risk in using oxygen as a coolant since there is potential for catastrophic failure resulting from coolant jacket leaks. For these reasons, this particular embodiment of the expander cycle engine is not an optimal design option.

Dual expander cycle rocket engine with an intermediate, closed-cycle heat exchanger

The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration


A method and electronic device for encoding data are provided. The method includes acquiring sets xj (j=1 . . . k) and yi (i=1 . . . p) in generating a Generator Cauchy Matrix, wherein k denotes a number of information symbols, and p denotes a number of parity symbols, generating a matrix A1 using the sets xj and yi, wherein elements of the matrix A1 are obtained by

In recent fiber optic communication, broadcasting, and digital data communication environments, data congestion becomes more severe on a network due to electromagnetic interference, a poor signal reception condition, traffic load, etc. This makes it difficult for a signal transmitted by a sender to reach a receiver correctly, and thus causes data loss. Such data loss causes user inconvenience in various forms, like video and audio quality degradation, pixelization, a missing subtitle, file damage, satellite-based location information error, and data rate drop-off.
There is therefore a need of a technology for recovering the data loss on the network. Forward Error Correction (FEC) is a powerful technique capable of correcting, as well as detecting the occurrence of data error on the network. The FEC enhances data reliability in such a way that the sender transmits redundant information along with the data in order for the receiver to detect and correct errors using this information. That is, when data loss is detected at the receiver, the receiver performs decoding the data using the redundant data included therein.
One of the widely used FEC codes for a FEC coding device is Reed-Solomon code. Although there are various Reed-Solomon algorithms, technologies, and methods, it is difficult to apply them to embedded devices, such as smartphone and tablet computer, especially in a high speed data communication environment for the following reasons.
The use of a lookup table for mathematical operation may slow the encoding and decoding speeds. Complex operations, such as a determination for generating a reverse matrix of the generator matrix, vector multiplication, and element addition increase data decoding time. Also, a block matrix structure decreases the data processing speed and increases the complexity of the decoding process.
The above problems slow down the implementation speed of the Reed-Solomon algorithm. This makes it difficult to use the Reed-Solomon algorithm in the high speed data communication environment.
There is therefore a need of a data encoding method based on a Generator Cauchy Matrix that is capable of encoding data in the high speed data communication environment.
The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the present disclosure.

Data encoding method and electronic device therefor

Abstract: 1            x      j        +          y      i      and have weight of Galois field, and the matrix A1 has a size of P×K, generating a set K, wherein all elements of the set K are not included in the sets xj and yi, updating the set xj by changing at least one element of the set xj for an element of the set K, updating the set yi by changing at least one element of the set yi for the set K element, generating the Generator Cauchy Matrix using the updated sets xj and yi, and encoding data including the information symbols and parity symbols using the Generator Cauchy Matrix.


A current control circuit with limiter includes a voltage follower as the output unit of the current control circuit, the voltage follower including a transistor, the circuit further including two operational amplifiers and two diodes. In a first operational amplifier, the non-inverting input receives an input voltage to the current control circuit and the inverting input receives the output of the voltage follower. In a second operational amplifier, the non-inverting input receives a predetermined voltage and the inverting input receives the output of the voltage follower. A first diode is connected between the output of the first operational amplifier and the input of the voltage follower. A second diode is connected between the output of the second operational amplifier and the input of the voltage follower.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a current control circuit with limiter, and more particularly, to a current control circuit with limiter for generating a current proportional to an input voltage when the input voltage is smaller than a predetermined voltage and generating a constant current when the input voltage is equal to or higher than the predetermined voltage. The present invention also relates to a temperature control circuit using the current control circuit with limiter and a brightness control circuit using the current control circuit with limiter.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 15 shows a conventional example of a current control circuit with limiter. A control input voltage Vi is applied to the non-inverting input terminal of an operational amplifier (hereinafter referred to as "OP-Amp") 1 which operates as a voltage follower. The output of Op-Amp 1 is connected to the non-inverting input of an Op-Amp 6. The output of the Op-Amp 6 is connected to the base input of an NPN transistor 5. The emitter output of the NPN transistor 5 is connected to the inverting input of Op-Amp 6 and is supplied to a load resistance R1.
The entire circuit which is composed of Op-Amp 6, the NPN transistor 5, and the load resistance R1 operates as a voltage follower. The inverting input of Op-Amp 6, that is, the emitter output of the NPN transistor 5 becomes equal to the non-inverting input of Op-Amp 6.
A divided voltage produced by resistor R3 and resistor R4 is applied to the base of a PNP transistor 7. The divided voltage is called a reference voltage (hereinafter referred to as "Vr"). The output terminal of the emitter follower composed of the PNP transistor 7 is connected with the inverting input terminal of Op-Amp 1 and the non-inverting input terminal of Op-Amp 6. The inverting input terminal of Op-Amp 1 is connected with the output terminal thereof. A resistor R2 is a bias resistor for the output of Op-Amp 1 and also acts as a load resistor of the emitter follower composed of PNP transistor 7.
In the current control circuit with limiter, when Vi is lower than Vr+Vbe (Vbe is the base-emitter voltage of transistor 7, which is the voltage from the emitter to the base), the transistor 7 goes into its Off-state. At this time, Op-Amp 1 operates as a normal voltage follower. Therefore, the emitter voltage of transistor 5 at an output stage follows Vi, so an output current I=Vi/R1 proportional to Vi can be produced as the emitter current.
On the other hand, when Vi becomes equal to or higher than Vr+Vbe, transistor 7 goes into its On-state, so that the non-inverting input of Op-Amp 6 is clamped to Vr+Vbe, which is the emitter voltage of transistor 7. At this time, the emitter voltage of transistor 5 at the output stage is also clamped to Vr+Vbe. Therefore, the output current I becomes a constant value Ilimit=(Vr+Vbe)/R1, so that this circuit operates as a limiter.
FIG. 16 shows another conventional example of a current control circuit with limiter. In FIG. 16, portions identical to those in FIG. 15 are shown with the same reference numbers. In the circuit shown in FIG. 16, a voltage follower circuit composed of an Op-Amp 3 is provided instead of the emitter follower composed of the PNP transistor 7 as shown in FIG. 15. The output terminal of Op-Amp 1 is connected with a diode 2 and the output terminal of the Op-Amp 3 is connected with a diode 4.
When the circuit shown in FIG. 16 is used, the influence of Vbe of the transistor 7 which is caused in the circuit shown in FIG. 15 can be removed. This is because, the non-inverting input voltage of the Op-Amp 3 becomes Vr and the output of the Op-Amp 3 becomes Vr−Vf (Vf is the forward voltage of the diode 4), so that the voltage follower circuit composed of Op-Amp 3 is stabilized. At this time, the output of the voltage follower is Vr, so it is not influenced by diode 4.
A voltage limiter circuit which includes two Zener diodes oppositely connected in series to be able to control a limiter voltage of both polarities with high precision is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-open No. Hei 5-006929.
The above-mentioned circuit shown in FIG. 15 has a disadvantage that a limiter voltage is varied due to a variation in Vbe of transistor 7, which is caused by temperature.
In order to overcome this disadvantage, as shown in FIG. 16, Op-Amp 3 is used instead of the transistors, so that the influence of Vbe of the transistor due to temperature dependence can be removed. However, in the circuit shown in FIG. 16, the number of Op-Amps becomes three, with the result that a circuit scale increases. Therefore, there is a problem with respect to reductions in size and cost.
In the circuit shown in FIG. 16, diode 2 and diode 4 are subjected to wired OR connection. When the circuit serves as a limiter, it is necessary that diode 4 be in an On-state. Therefore, Vr can be set to only a limiter voltage corresponding to the forward voltage Vf of diode 4 as a minimum output voltage. This is because the output of Op-Amp 3 is equal to or higher than 0 V, so it is necessary that the inverting input, that is, Vr be equal to or higher than Vf. Thus, when the limiter voltage is lower than Vf, the circuit shown in FIG. 16 cannot be used.
Because the Zener diodes are used for the circuit described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-open No. Hei 5-006929, a variation in limiter voltage is directly caused, due to temperature dependence of a Zener voltage, so that the precision of the limiter voltage cannot be ensured.

Current control circuit with limiter, temperature control circuit, and brightness control circuit


A pattern film forming method includes a step of producing a transfer sheet in which a thin film is formed on a surface of a sheet-shaped material and a step of pressing the thin film against a pattern film formation surface of the substrate with a pressing member having convex portions corresponding to the pattern film from a reverse surface of the transfer sheet opposite to the thin film or a reverse surface of the substrate opposite to the pattern film formation surface to transfer the thin film to the substrate. A pattern film forming apparatus includes a sheet supply device, a pressing device and a substrate transport device. A high-definition pattern film having a desired pattern and a sharp edge can be formed with high productivity.

The present invention relates to a technical field of pattern film formation by vacuum film formation. More specifically, the present invention relates to a pattern film forming method and a pattern film forming apparatus capable of forming a high-definition pattern film having a desired pattern and a sharp edge with high productivity.
Known methods of forming a pixel (illuminator) of an organic EL element are roughly classified into three kinds (combination of white electroluminescence and color filters, color conversion, and vapor-deposition with masking).
According to the combination of the white electroluminescence and color filters, a white organic EL layer is formed over the entire surface, and an R(red) filter, a G(green) filter, and a B(blue) filter corresponding to pixels are formed on the surface of the white organic EL layer, whereby light of three colors of R, G, and B is obtained. Furthermore, according to the color conversion, a blue light-emitting layer is formed over the entire surface, and a color conversion layer corresponding to pixels is formed on the blue light-emitting layer, whereby B-light is converted to R-light, and B-light is converted to G-light; thus, light of three colors of R, G, and B is obtained.
In both the methods, it is not necessary to form a patterned light-emitting layer, so that those methods are satisfactory in terms of productivity, and the like. However, according to the former method, filters cut off the unnecessary wavelength range, which decreases the light-emission efficiency. Furthermore, according to the color conversion, the efficiency of the conversion by the color conversion layer is low, which also decreases the light-emission efficiency.
On the other hand, according to the vapor-deposition with masking, light-emitting layers of respective colors of R, G, and B are patterned on the surface of a substrate, using a mask having a pattern corresponding to pixels (formation of a pattern film). Furthermore, as another method using a mask, JP 2003-173870 A discloses a method involving: forming a pattern film of a light-emitting layer on a transfer substrate using a mask; laminating together the transfer substrate and a substrate on which the light-emitting layer is to be transferred; and transferring the pattern film of the light-emitting layer onto the substrate, and a method involving: forming a light-emitting layer over the entire surface of a transfer substrate; laminating together the transfer substrate and a substrate on which the light-emitting layer is to be transferred through a mask; and transferring the light-emitting layer by heating, thereby forming a pattern film of the light-emitting layer on the substrate.
Thus, by forming a patterned light-emitting layer, individual pixels are allowed to emit light and can be controlled. Furthermore, there is no decrease in light-emission efficiency due to a filter and the like. Therefore, an image can be displayed with very high light-emission efficiency.
However, a very thin mask is necessary to form a preferable pattern film. Furthermore, a light-emitting layer formed of an organic EL element has usually a fine pattern, which makes the mask production difficult. Since the mask produced is thin and is easily broken, the handling properties in alignment and carrying are very poor. Furthermore, according to the method in which a film is formed by vapor deposition or the like using a mask, it is necessary to wash the mask each time film formation is conducted, which is laborious and may lead to breakage of the mask during washing. Display apparatuses are recently upsized. The larger the mask is, the more marked this problem is.
In contrast, a method in which a pattern film of a light-emitting layer is formed through transfer without using a mask is also known.
For example, JP 2918037 B discloses a method of producing a color organic EL display. This method includes the steps of: vapor-depositing a light-emitting layer (light-emitting organic material) on a transfer substrate having highly heat-conductive convex portions patterned in accordance with display pixels; clamping the transfer substrate onto a transparent conductive film substrate (or a positive hole transport layer formed on the transparent conductive film); and heating the convex portions on the transfer substrate to sublimate the light-emitting layer, thereby transferring the light-emitting layer onto the surface of the transparent conductive film substrate.
Furthermore, JP 2003-173870 A also discloses a method involving: forming a light-emitting layer by vapor deposition on an uneven surface of a band-shaped transfer substrate having irregularities corresponding to a pattern film of a light-emitting layer to be formed; and heating the transfer substrate from the side opposite to the uneven surface, thereby transferring the pattern film of the light-emitting layer to a substrate on which the pattern film is to be transferred.
However, according to the method disclosed in JP 2918037 B, a transfer substrate is heated to a high temperature close to 500° C. to transfer a film formation material to a substrate (substrate on which the film formation material is to be formed) by sublimation. Therefore, no pattern film made of a material having low heat resistance can be formed. Furthermore, in view of productivity, the material for the pattern film is limited to those which have satisfactory sublimation property and evaporation property, and heat resistance is also required in the transfer substrate; therefore, the range of choice for the material of the light-emitting layer and the transfer substrate are narrow and this method has no degree of freedom or versatility. Simultaneous sublimation in the periphery of pixels cannot be avoided. Therefore, pixels having sharp edge cannot be formed. Furthermore, this method discloses laser light as a preferable heating means, but it is difficult to keep the positional precision of laser irradiation, and it is also difficult to keep high productivity.
Furthermore, according to the method in which a light-emitting layer is formed on an uneven transfer layer by means of vapor deposition or the like, a light-emitting material that is not used is deposited in concave portions, so that it is necessary to wash the transfer substrate periodically, and furthermore, the light-emitting material deposited in the concave portions will become waste.
In contrast, according to the method of producing a pattern sheet through transfer, as disclosed in commonly assigned JP 2003-139944 A, the above-mentioned problem can be solved.
According to this method, a monochrome film is produced, in which a color ink layer obtained by coating/drying ink (coating) prepared by dissolving a polymer organic light-emitting material, a polymer binder, and the like in an organic solvent is formed on a film material; the monochrome film and a sheet as a substrate on which a pattern film is to be formed are laminated together so that the color ink layer comes into contact with the sheet; and the laminate thus obtained is pressed with a pressing member having irregularities corresponding to the pattern film to be formed, whereby the pattern film made of the color ink is formed on the sheet. According to the method disclosed in JP 2003-139944 A, monochrome films whose number corresponds to the number of colors for a pattern to be formed are produced and a multi-color pattern sheet is produced by successively transferring the monochrome films on the sheet.
According to the method disclosed in JP 2003-139944 A, a light-emitting layer having a pattern corresponding to pixels can be formed with high productivity by means of a simple facility and control without using a mask and without heating at high temperature and the like. Furthermore, the pressing member having irregularities corresponding to the pattern does not come into direct contact with the light-emitting layer (light-emitting material). Therefore, unlike the case where a film is formed on a transfer member with irregularities formed thereon, the waste of the material for the pattern film such as a light-emitting material can be prevented, and washing of the pressing member can also be made unnecessary.
However, according to the method disclosed in JP 2003-139944 A, since the adhesion between the film material and the color ink layer is high, the transfer property of the monochrome film onto the sheet is low, and the binding force in the film is strong, so that the color ink layer is unlikely to be broken. Therefore, for applications requiring high productivity, sharpness in the edge portion, and a high-definition pattern, it is difficult to preferably apply the above method. Thus, there is a demand for a method of forming a pattern film capable of producing a pattern film having higher sharpness and higher definition with higher productivity.

Pattern film forming method and pattern film forming apparatus


In an apparatus for improving voice clarity by controlling a gain of a voice based on a sound pressure level of the voice and a sound pressure level of noise, it is determined whether a sound pressure level of a gain-controlled voice exceeds a maximum allowable level. If the sound pressure level exceeding the maximum allowable level is caused by audio sound, a sound pressure level of the audio sound is reduced. The sound pressure level of the audio sound is minimally reduced so that the sound pressure level of the voice becomes equal to or lower than the maximum allowable level.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for improving voice clarity. More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for improving voice clarity to provide improved intelligibility of voice navigation even in a noisy environment while considering a maximum allowable volume level safe for protection against hearing loss.
2. Description of the Related Art
Commercially available vehicle navigation systems and hands-free telephone systems may include a voice output device that employs an apparatus for improving voice clarity using loudness compensation. Such voice-clarity improving apparatuses may provide intelligible voice navigation or guidance instruction in noisy environments that include the sound of audio playback in a vehicle, the sound of the vehicle engine, and the sound of traveling, where it is difficult to hear voice navigation or guidance instruction. The volume level can be appropriately adjusted depending upon the level of noise.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a voice-clarity improving apparatus of the related art (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-166835). The voice-clarity improving apparatus 1 includes a volume adjusting unit 11 for manually adjusting the volume level of a voice signal, and a gain corrector 12 including an attenuator and a variable gain unit for controlling a gain G of the voice signal so as to provide a clear voice. The voice-clarity improving apparatus 1 further includes an amplifier 13 for amplifying the voice signal, a speaker 14 for radiating a voice into the vehicle cabin, a microphone 15 for detecting a combination of noise and voice, a signal separating unit 16 for separating and outputting a voice signal and a noise signal, a loudness-compensation-based gain determining unit 17 for determining a gain Gopt of a voice signal using loudness compensation so that a clear voice can be reproduced, a white noise source 18 for use in determining transmission characteristics of an acoustic communication system including the speaker 14 and the microphone 15, and a switch 19.
An audio sound playback unit 2 is separate from the voice-clarity improving apparatus 1. The audio sound playback unit 2 includes an audio source 21, such as a compact disc (CD) player, a Mini-Disk player, or a tuner, an amplifier 22, and a speaker 23. Audio playback sound is output from the speaker 23.
In the voice-clarity improving apparatus 1, the volume adjusting unit 11 adjusts the volume level of a voice-navigation signal input from a navigation apparatus. The gain corrector 12 multiplies the gain Gopt determined by the loudness-compensation-based gain determining unit 17 to the volume-adjusted voice-navigation signal. The amplifier 13 amplifies the voice-navigation signal output from the gain corrector 12. The speaker 14 radiates the voice navigation input from the amplifier 13 into the vehicle cabin. The microphone 15 receives a combination of the audio playback sound output from the speaker 23 of the audio sound playback unit 2, environmental noise, and voice navigation, and inputs the combined sound to the signal separating unit 16.
The signal separating unit 16 separates a voice signal and a noise signal that is a composite signal having an audio playback sound signal and a noise signal. The signal separating unit 16 includes an identification filter 16a for simulating an impulse response of the acoustic communication system including the speaker 14 and the microphone 15, a calculating unit 16b, and an adaptive control device 16c. The adaptive control device 16c includes a least-mean-square (LMS) adaptive controller 31 and an adaptive filter 32. The adaptive controller 31 performs adaptive control to identify an impulse response of the acoustic communication system including the speaker 14 and the microphone 15, and passes the identified impulse response to the adaptive filter 32. The transmission characteristics of the acoustic communication system determined by adaptive control are copied to the identification filter 16a.
The loudness-compensation-based gain determining unit 17 determines the optimum gain Gopt to be added to the voice-navigation signal based on the voice-navigation signal output from the identification filter 16a and the noise signal (i.e., the audio playback sound signal and the noise signal) outputted from the calculating unit 16b, and inputs the gain Gopt to the gain corrector 12.
The principle of determining the gain using loudness compensation will now be described.
FIG. 8 is a loudness curve indicating the relationship between the physical sound pressure level and the magnitude of physiological sensation produced by a sound (hereinafter referred to as "loudness"). In the loudness curve shown in FIG. 8, the x axis indicates the sound pressure level (SPL) in decibels (dB), and the y axis indicates the loudness in sones. In FIG. 8, a loudness curve (a) is exhibited in a quiet environment, and a loudness curve (b) is exhibited in a noisy environment where the minimum value of human audible sensation produced by a sound is about 35 dB higher. The loudness curve (b) varies depending upon the noise.
The loudness curve indicates that a sound having the same loudness on the y axis is perceived as the same sound. In FIG. 8, a sound with a loudness of 0.1 sone is perceived only at an SPL of 12 dB in the quiet environment indicated by the loudness curve (a), and is perceived at an SPL of 37 dB in the noisy environment indicated by the loudness curve (b). In other words, in order to perceive a sound having the same magnitude as that perceived at an SPL of 12 dB in the quiet environment indicated by the loudness curve (a), the sound must have an SPL of 37 dB in the noisy environment indicated by the loudness curve (b). In this case, an additional gain of 25 dB is required. A sound having one sone is perceivable at an SPL of 42 dB in the quiet environment indicated by the loudness curve (a), and is perceivable at an SPL of 49 dB in the noisy environment indicated by the loudness curve (b). In this case, an additional gain of 7 dB is required. Gain is therefore changed depending upon the level of the voice-navigation signal in noisy environments.
FIG. 9 is a graph showing the relationship between the voice signal level and the gain in a noisy environment. In FIG. 9, the x axis indicates the SPL (corresponding to the level of the voice signal) in a quiet environment, and the y axis indicates the gain required to perceive a sound in the noisy environment indicated by the loudness curve (b) shown in FIG. 8 as a sound having the same magnitude as that in a quiet environment. As indicated by the loudness curve (b) shown in FIG. 8, a noisy environment where the minimum value of human audible sensation produced by a sound is about 35 dB higher has been described by way of example.
As shown in FIG. 10, the loudness curve also changes as the noise level changes, and therefore the gain-to-signal characteristic also changes depending upon the noisy environment, as shown in FIG. 11. In FIG. 10, a loudness curve (a) is an optimum curve in which the loudness f is given by the following equation:f=KIwhere I denotes the intensity of sound. A loudness curve (b) is exhibited in an environment with physiological noise, such as blood flowing sounds, without external noise (this environment corresponds to the quiet environment indicated by the loudness curve (a) shown in FIG. 8). A loudness curve (c) is exhibited in a noisy environment where the minimum value of audible sensation produced by a sound is 15 dB higher. A loudness curve (d) is exhibited in a noisy environment where the minimum value is 35 dB higher, and a loudness curve (e) is exhibited in a noisy environment where the minimum value is 55 dB higher.
The loudness-compensation-based gain determining unit 17 stores gain-to-signal characteristics (see FIG. 11) for various noise levels in an internal memory in advance, and selects a gain-to-signal characteristic for an actual noise level in a vehicle cabin. Then, the loudness-compensation-based gain determining unit 17 determines the gain Gopt optimum for the level of the voice-navigation signal based on the selected gain-to-signal characteristic, and inputs the optimum gain Gopt to the gain corrector 12. The gain corrector 12 multiples the optimum gain Gopt to the voice-navigation signal. Therefore, even in a noisy environment, a user can perceive a sound having the equivalent level to that in a quiet environment.
In the voice-clarity improving apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 7, before starting normal operation, it is necessary to identify an impulse response of the acoustic communication propagation system including the speaker 14 and the microphone 15 and to set the identified impulse response in the identification filter 16a. When the impulse response is identified, the voice signal and the audio playback sound signal are set to 0. In this state, the white noise source 18 is activated, and the switch 19 is turned on. Then, white noise is radiated into an acoustic space in the vehicle cabin from the speaker 14 through the amplifier 13, and is detected by the microphone 15. The white noise is also input to the adaptive control device 16c, and is then filtered by the adaptive filter 32.
The calculating unit 16b subtracts the output signal of the adaptive filter 32 from the detection signal of the microphone 15, and feeds back the difference to the adaptive control device 16c as an error signal. The adaptive controller 31 performs adaptive control using an LMS algorithm so that the power of the error signal can be minimized to determine a coefficient of the adaptive filter (finite impulse response (FIR) filter) 32. The adaptive control described above is repeatedly performed until the output of the adaptive filter 32 is equal to the output of the microphone 15, and therefore the impulse response of the acoustic communication system is set in the adaptive filter 32. More specifically, the impulse response characteristics, i.e., the transmission characteristics, from an input from the amplifier 13 to the microphone 15 are set in the adaptive filter 32.
After the impulse response of the acoustic communication system is identified, the coefficient of the adaptive filter 32 is copied to the identification filter 16a. Then, the switch 10 is turned off to enable normal operation.
In the normal operation, the identification filter 16a applies the impulse response characteristic of the acoustic communication system to the voice-navigation signal input via the volume adjusting unit 11 and the gain corrector 12 to generate a pseudo audio signal at the observation point (i.e., at the position of the microphone 15), and inputs the audio signal to the loudness-compensation-based gain determining unit 17. The calculating unit 16b subtracts the voice-navigation signal from the combined-sound signal at the observation point, which is output from the microphone 15, to generate a noise signal (including audio playback sound and external noise), and inputs the noise signal to the loudness-compensation-based gain determining unit 17.
The loudness-compensation-based gain determining unit 17 selects a gain-to-signal characteristic for the noise level to determine the gain Gopt optimum for the level of the voice-navigation signal based on the selected gain-to-signal characteristic, and inputs the optimum gain Gopt to the gain corrector 12. That is, the loudness-compensation-based gain determining unit 17 inputs the optimum gain Gopt to the gain corrector 12 in order to make the loudness of the voice-navigation signal in a noisy environment equal to the loudness of the voice-navigation signal in a quiet environment. The gain corrector 12 multiplies the optimum gain Gopt to the input voice-navigation signal. The above-described control is repeatedly performed, so that a user can receive the voice navigation even in a noisy environment in the same way as in a noiseless environment.
With the ability to reduce noise in vehicle cabins and the prevalence of in-vehicle devices, such as vehicle audio devices, audio-visual devices, and navigation systems (such devices are hereinafter referred to as "AV devices"), users often listen to AV sources (including music, TV sound, and voice navigation) in vehicle cabins. The amplification level for the AV sources can be increased to any desired level. In vehicle cabins, which are convenient private spaces, users often listen to the AV sources at a higher volume level than usual (e.g., at home).
In a noisy environment where audio is played back, it is typically necessary to correct the voice-navigation signal so as to have a level higher than noise to receive voice navigation. However, it is undesirable for the voice-clarity improving apparatus to increase the gain of the voice signal for any noise level without limit. Sound with too high a volume level can cause hearing loss.
Generally, passengers who are in a loud AV source environment for a long time can often suffer from hearing loss. Although depending upon the individual, it is said that people exposed to a daily noise level of 80 dB or higher will possibly suffer from hearing impairment. In France, a sound limit of 100 dBA was set by law, and a maximum output level lower than 100 dBA for stereo headphone volume has been regulated and enforced since 1998.
Therefore, there is a demand for a voice-clarity improving apparatus with a maximum gain of voice navigation safe for protection against hearing loss. Mere control of the maximum gain does not allow a user to sufficiently hear a voice in a noisy environment where audio is played back.

Apparatus and method for improving voice clarity


A lifting member for an elevator system is disclosed, including a rope formed from a plurality of strands comprising liquid crystal polymer fibers, with the strands extending along a length of the lifting member. A first polymer coating is disposed on outer surfaces of the fibers or on outer surfaces of the strands. A second polymer coating disposed over the first polymer coating.

Exemplary embodiments pertain to the field of load-bearing traction members such as for elevator systems.
Load-bearing members can be used in a wide variety of mechanical equipment and processes. One example of a use for load-bearing members is in transportation such as for elevator or escalator systems. Elevator systems typically include a cab and a counterweight that move within a hoistway to transport passengers or cargo to different landings within a building. A load-bearing member such as a cable or belt connects the cab and counterweight, and during operation the load-bearing moves over one or more sheaves mounted to the building structure as the cab and counterweight move to different positions.
A common configuration for load-bearing members includes a tension member core such as one or more steel cords and a polymer jacket disposed around the core. The cords act as the load supporting tension member, while the jacket holds the cords in a stable position relative to each other, and provides a frictional load path to provide traction for driving the belt. However, such steel cords can render the lifting member too heavy for high rise elevator use. Carbon fiber belts, utilizing composite tension elements in the load bearing member will provide improved strength to weight advantages compared to steel cord belt. Such belts, however, require a relatively rigid thermoset matrix to protect fragile carbon fiber, and such a matrix material can reduce flexibility of the lifting member.

Load bearing traction members and method


A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device having a through-hole electrode is offered to improve reliability and yield of the semiconductor device. A via hole penetrating through a semiconductor substrate is formed at a location corresponding to a pad electrode. An insulation film is formed on a back surface of the semiconductor substrate and a surface of the via hole. A reinforcing insulation film having an overhung portion at a rim of the via hole is formed on the back surface of the semiconductor substrate. The insulation film on a bottom of the via hole is removed by etching using the reinforcing insulation film as a mask, while the insulation film on a side wall of the via hole remains. The through-hole electrode, a wiring layer and a conductive terminal are formed on the back surface of the semiconductor substrate and the via hole. Finally, the semiconductor substrate is divided into a plurality of semiconductor dice by dicing.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device, specifically to a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device having a through-hole electrode.
2. Description of the Related Art
A CSP (Chip Size Package) has received attention in recent years as a three-dimensional mounting technology as well as a new packaging technology. The CSP means a small package having about the same outside dimensions as those of a semiconductor die packaged in it.
A BGA type semiconductor device with a through-hole electrode has been known as a kind of CSP. This BGA type semiconductor device has a through-hole electrode that penetrates through a semiconductor substrate and is connected with a pad electrode. And a plurality of ball-shaped conductive terminals made of metal such as solder is arrayed in a grid pattern on a back surface of the semiconductor device.
When the semiconductor device is incorporated into electronic equipment, each of the conductive terminals is connected to a wiring pattern on a circuit board such as a printed circuit board.
Such a BGA type semiconductor device has advantages in providing a large number of conductive terminals and in reducing size over other CSP type semiconductor devices such as an SOP (Small Outline Package) and a QFP (Quad Flat Package) that have lead pins protruding from their sides.
Next, a conventional manufacturing method of the BGA type semiconductor device with the though-hole electrode will be described referring to the drawings. FIGS. 24 and 25 are cross-sectional views showing such a conventional manufacturing method of the semiconductor device.
First, a semiconductor substrate 70 having a pad electrode 71 formed on its top surface through an interlayer insulation film 72, that is a first insulation layer, is provided as shown in FIG. 24. Next, a supporting body 73 is bonded to the top surface of the semiconductor substrate 70 through a resin layer 74, when necessary. Then a mask pattern (not shown) is formed on a back surface of the semiconductor substrate 70 and the semiconductor substrate 70 is etched to form a via hole 76 that is cut through the semiconductor substrate 70 from a position of the back surface corresponding to the pad electrode 71 to the top surface. A portion of the interlayer insulation film 72 exposed on a bottom of the via hole 76 is removed by etching. Next, an insulation film 77, that is a second insulation film, is formed on the back surface of the semiconductor substrate 70 and on a surface of the via hole 76.
And the insulation film 77 on the bottom of the via hole 76 is etched off by reactive ion etching to expose the pad electrode 71, as shown in FIG. 25. Then a through-hole electrode (not shown) that is connected with the pad electrode 71 is formed in the via hole 76. And a wiring layer (not shown) connected with the through-hole electrode is formed on the back surface of the semiconductor substrate 70. Furthermore, a protection layer (not shown) is formed over the back surface of the semiconductor substrate 70 and the wiring layer. Then a portion of the protection layer is removed to expose a portion of the wiring layer, and a conductive terminal (not shown) is formed on the portion of the wiring layer. After that, the semiconductor substrate 70 is separated into a plurality of semiconductor dice by dicing.
When the insulation film 77 is formed by CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) in the above-described manufacturing method of the semiconductor device, a supply of a gas of film-forming materials is insufficient at the bottom of the via hole 76. Therefore, the insulation film 77 at the bottom of the via hole 76 is formed to have a thickness thinner than that of the insulation film 77 on the back surface of the semiconductor substrate 70.
Thus, taking advantage of the difference in the film thicknesses described above, the insulation film 77 at the bottom of the via hole 76 is removed by etching without using a mask in the process step to expose the pad electrode 71 by reactive ion etching of the insulation film 77 on the bottom of the via hole 76. The insulation film 77 at the bottom of the via hole 76 is etched off to expose the pad electrode 71 before the insulation film 77 on the back surface of the semiconductor substrate 70 is etched off. The etching described above must be controlled so that the pad electrode 71 is exposed while the insulation film 77 is left on a side wall of the via hole 76.
Further description on the technologies mentioned above is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-309221, for example.
In the etching process of the insulation film 77 at the bottom of the via hole 76 by the reactive ion etching, however, electric field is converged on the insulation film 77 at corners 70a and 70b of the via hole 76 in the semiconductor substrate 70 as shown in FIG. 25, making concentration of the reactive ions there higher than at other locations. As a result, there is a possibility that the etching of the insulation film 77 is accelerated at the corners 70a and 70b to make the film thickness extremely thin or remove the insulation film 77 completely.
Also, there is a tendency that the insulation film 77 formed on the side wall of the via hole 76 other than at the corners 70a and 70b is removed by the etching to reduce the thickness. Therefore, when the through-hole electrode (not shown) is formed in the via hole 76 after the etching, insulation failure is caused between the through-hole electrode and the semiconductor substrate 70 in some cases. As a result, reliability and yield of the semiconductor device have been reduced.

Manufacturing method of semiconductor device


A delivery device having a retaining mechanism for pre-tensioning a valve against a feed pump that is installed in an area removed from the sealing structure that provides surfaces used to seal the connection between the valve and the feed pump. The retaining mechanism has a locking device.

The subject of this invention is a delivery device for the delivery of fluid into two mutually independent nozzles using a feed pump, and having a valve connecting the feed pump optionally with a first or a second nozzle, and having sealing devices and retaining mechanisms for a sealed connection between the valve and the feed pump.
Delivery devices of this type, for example, are often used to deliver washing fluid in windshield washer systems for motor vehicles, and their practical applications are well known. The feed pump of the known delivery device can be driven in its two rotational directions, and has one intake and two outlets. Depending on the rotational direction of the feed pump, at one of the outlets overpressure is being generated while at the other one underpressure is being generated. This overpressure and underpressure moves a membrane in the valve, so that the outlet with the overpressure is connected to the designated nozzle. For their connection, the feed pump and the valve are equipped with side by side pairs of interlocking nozzles with an O-Ring forced in between each. The O-rings seal the nozzles against each other, and fasten the valve to the feed pump.
The disadvantage of the known device is its use of O-rings, which are very expensive and difficult to install. The high number of O-rings required for just one delivery device makes its manufacture very expensive.
The objective of this invention is to improve a delivery device of the aforementioned type to such extent that its manufacture becomes very economical.
The invention solves the problem by placing the sealing devices and the retaining mechanisms apart from each other.
This design avoids the joint placement of the sealing devices and the retaining mechanisms in the area where the feed pump connects to the valve. This allows for an especially simple design for the sealing devices and retaining mechanisms without the use of expensive O-rings and makes the delivery device introduced by this invention especially economical.
In an advanced design, the retaining mechanisms are especially simple when a locking device is employed.
In another advanced design, the sealing devices can be easily designed for a specific sealing pressure if the retaining mechanisms are designed to provide the initial tension for the sealing devices.
An additional advanced design of the invention using a small number of retaining mechanisms provides a simple solution to prevent the valve from tilting relative to the feed pump by locating the retaining mechanisms between two pairs of interconnected nozzles of the feed pump and valve. In the simplest case, the design of the delivery device described in this invention requires only one retaining mechanism.
Proper sealing between valve and feed pump is reliably guaranteed as the result of a further advanced design, if the nozzles of the feed pump and the valve are designed to interlock conically.
With the valve pre-lightened relative to the feed pump, the seal (even in the presence of high pressures) is especially reliable, if at least one of the nozzles has circumferentially extending sealing beads. Along the sealing beads, the nozzles exhibit especially high surface pressure.
In a further advanced design, the locking device can be designed especially easily, if the locking device is comprised of interlocking latching hooks.
In another design step, the valve is reliably connected to the feed pump, if the locking device extends nearly across the entire area between the nozzles.
In another advanced design, the nozzles of the feedpump have two areas each designed as fixed fitting and as sealing fitting.
It has been proven to be especially advantageous for the sealing fitting to be installed at the end of the pump nozzle while the fixed fitting is located closer to the feed pump. Both surfaces can be designed as beads, which fit into matching recesses in the valve nozzles.


An apparatus and methods for providing content-owner control in a device is optionally networked. A method for accessing media content has steps of initiating a first view providing access to at least a portion of a first content within the first view, initiating a second view providing access to a second content within the second view and preventing the second content from being accessed with the first content in the first view. Additionally, access to a third content with the first content is allowed in the first view. An apparatus includes a first view configured to provide access to a first content, a second view configured to provide access to a second content, and a graphical subsystem configured to prevent the second content from being access in the first view. In one variation, the first view is a media content view, and the second view is a web view.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the presentation of multimedia content, and more specifically to the presentation of media content combined with enhanced, interactively-obtained media content.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
The World Wide Web or the Internet, through which the World Wide Web is enabled, provides companies with immense resources to market their produces and educate potential customers about their products. Further, the Internet allows companies to easily and quickly update information to ensure the information accessed by individuals is the most current and up to date.
Other media, such as VHS videos, compact discs (CD), digital video discs (DVD) and other similar media do not provide the same, up to date information. Once these media are produced and distributed, the content provided is restricted to what was released. As such, companies selling content contained on these types of media (e.g., movies on DVDs and music on CDs) cannot maintain the content current. The distribution of broadcast or video on demand (VOD) streams similarly cannot maintain the content as current. Typically, the assets for the streams (broadcast or VOD) are provided to a third party for broadcast, at which point, the content owner no longer has control over the content. As such, the release of fixed and/or streamed media content results in the user or consumer receiving dated content.
As such, companies producing and distributing content on such fixed and/or streamed media cannot provide customers with the most current content Further, these companies lose out on opportunities to market additional, newly produced content through these fixed content media.

Method and apparatus for providing content-owner control in a networked device

Sonic Solutions, a California corporation


A latchable line connector having a plug-in part for connecting at least one pressure or flow line, such as a fuel line, into a plug-in opening of a connector counterpart. Mechanical stress between the plug-in part and the connector counterpart is reduced by resilient latching arms that grip around and behind the plug-in part in the plugged-in position and thereby latch it relative to the connector counterpart in a manner secure against tilting and twisting.

The present invention relates to a latchable line connector for the connection of at least one pressure-medium and/or flow-medium line, in particular a fuel line, onto a connector counterpart, comprising a plug-in part having a plug-in stem which can be plugged in a sealed manner into a plug-in opening of the connector counterpart, and at least one line outlet, and also comprising latching means for locking the plug-in stem in its plugged-in position, and comprising a separate retaining part having the latching means.
A line connector of this type is disclosed by German utility model 297 21 023. In this case, the retaining part which has two resilient latching arms as latching means is connected movably to the plug-in part in such a manner that the plugging-in of the plug-in stem and the latching of the latching means can be carried out independently of one another. This means that, first of all, only the plug-in stem is plugged in. Only after that does the latching take place by means of a corresponding movement of the retaining part, which then grips in a latching manner with the latching arms around the connector counterpart and thereby locks the plug-in part against becoming detached.
DE 195 05 574 A1 discloses a further, similar line connector in which, however, the plug-in part is formed integrally with resilient retaining arms in some designs. In this case too, the retaining arms of the plug-in connector grip in a latching manner around the housing which has the receiving hole.
The present invention is based on the object of improving a line connector of the generic type in such a manner that a connection which is particularly secure against mechanical stresses is achieved between the plug-in part and the connector counterpart using means which are simple and are of good value in terms of construction and production.
According to the invention, this is achieved in that the retaining part comprises a retaining section for the retaining connection to the connector counterpart in a manner secure against tilting and twisting, and comprises at least two resilient latching arms which form the latching means, in which case the plug-in part can be plugged in between the latching arms in such a manner that the latching arms grip around the plug-in part in the plugged-in position and grip behind it in a latching manner and thereby fix it relative to the connector counterpart also in a manner secure against tilting and twisting. The retaining part can therefore first of all be connected via its retaining section mechanically to the connector counterpart. After the plug-in stem has subsequently been plugged into the plug-in opening, the latching arms of the retaining part are used to also connect the entire plug-in part to the connector counterpart in a manner which is mechanically secure against tilting and twisting, i.e. in a defined alignment with respect to the plug-in axis of the plug-in stem and also with respect to an outlet axis of the line outlet, which is preferably designed as a tubular or hose-type connecting branch with a pointed profile. In this case, the retaining part may be designed, in particular, as an integral plastic shaped part in a manner which is simple and represents good value.

Latchable line connector, in particular for fuel lines


A monolithic, reinforced concrete framework for a multi-level, multi-unit building results from the utilization of factory prefabricated and finished wall panels, floor/ceiling panels and utility core modules, the juxtaposition of which, without forms, defines volumetric beam voids. The beam voids are exterior to the wall panels, floor/ceiling panels and core modules. Wall panels include light gage studs, which are loadbearing studs, and light gage column frames. Beam voids and column frames for a building level are poured with concrete at one time. Each building level is erected and poured in one day; and the next level can commence the following morning, without need for exterior scaffolds. The beams and columns carry the weight of the building down into the foundation. Large open areas, such as lobbies, can be provided, using building weight supporting trussed wall panels having support for the beams overlying the open area.

I. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the construction of multistory buildings employing prefabricated panels and modules, and more particularly with a method of construction in which, after the panels and modules are erected on the job site, concrete is poured to create a structural framework of beams and columns.
II. Description of the Related Art
Multistory, noncombustible, building construction typically is of one of five basic structural types or combinations thereof: reinforced concrete frame, reinforced wall bearing masonry, structural steel framework, precast concrete framework, or light gage steel bearing wall. Each of these methods of construction is subject to cost disadvantages due to one or more of: time, labor, materials, weight, and complexity of assembly. Reinforced concrete frame construction requires the on site labor and time to build forms for the wet concrete, waiting for it to harden, and then time and labor to remove the used forms. Thereupon, the building is completed and finished on site with expensive job site labor and materials. Reinforced wall bearing masonry uses concrete block walls held together with mortar, then reinforced with steel rods and filled with concrete to produce the bearing walls. This is reasonably economic in materials and time, but is limited to a few stories high and then must be completed with job site materials and labor, at prime cost. Structural steel or precast concrete framework construction is commonly used in highrise work, but require the heavy steel or concrete supporting frame structure; the ceilings, walls and all the interiors to be completed and finished with on site labor and materials, a costly construction.
Light gage steel bearing wall construction employs framing partitions of light gage steel members assembled into panels. These members are load bearing and can be assembled into panels at the job site, prior to erection, but can be assembled more economically in a controlled factory environment. However, the remainder of the building then is completed and finished with costly job site labor and materials.
To some extent, the just discussed methods of multistory building can benefit economically from the use of a combination of prefabricated wall panels and modules, the modules often including bathrooms and kitchens. Such panels and modules are not load bearing and are put in place after the load bearing columns and beams of concrete or steel are built and the floors laid.
An early patent for reinforced concrete construction issued to Thomas Edison in 1917, U.S. Pat. No. 1,219,272. Frederick 4,136,495; Koizumi, et.al. 4,211,045; Wilnau 4,409,764 and Luedtke 5,048,257 combine the advantages of reinforced concrete and steel framework by using portions of the steel framework as non-removable forms for the poured concrete columns and beams.
Oboler 4,625,484 employs non-load bearing, light weight floor and wall panels, along with I-beams, etc., to enable concrete to be poured around the panels to form a concrete shell.
Grutsch 4,516,372 uses foam plastic wall panels, positioned spaced apart for concrete to be poured therebetween to form reinforced concrete walls.
Sikes 3,698,147 assembles on site hollow metal columns, each having several parts; then erects the columns on the foundation. Outer and inner wall panels are attached to the columns; lastly, the columns are filled with concrete. The inner and outer wall panels can be fabricated off site and then on site be connected to the erected columns, prior to pouring the concrete.
Spillman 3,683,577 casts in place concrete columns and beams, using wall panels as physical shuttering forms, but the wall panels have no actual contact with the concrete.
Piazzalunga 4,078,345 prefabricates entire room units, including kitchens and bathrooms; the walls, ceiling and floor are of reinforced concrete. The entire room unit is dropped into place on a foundation having imbedded vertical steel beams, which are covered with concrete and define the perimeter of each room. The room units then are coupled to the vertical beams.
Berger 3,751,864 teaches the prefabrication of modular units, each of which can encompass one or more rooms, and includes pre-installation of electrical and plumbing needs. The walls surrounding each unit and its ceiling are of corrugated steel. During erection of the building, the modules are positioned next to each other, with spaces therebetween, and vertical form boards are inserted into those spaces to complete, with adjacent corrugations, vertical forms for columns, to be filled with poured concrete. Similarly, horizontal form boards are secured below the tops of the corrugated walls of two adjacently spaced modules and define therewith a horizontal form, which is filled with concrete to make a ceiling beam.
McWethy 4,525,975 prefabricates modules, such as hotel rooms, each having a reinforced concrete floor, nonloadbearing walls, plumbing and electrical lines. The modules of one level are placed adjacent to each other, with vertical space between their walls. These adjacent walls then are latched to each other for maintaining the vertical space. Thereupon, concrete is poured into the vertical space to make an entire concrete wall surrounding these sides of the module. After the concrete is hardened to become load bearing, the next level of modules is put in place, with the reinforced concrete floor becoming the ceiling of the lower level module.
Swerdlow 4,338,759 prefabricates wall panels, each having a plurality of load bearing steel studs and a plurality of vertical tubes disposed on sixteen inch centers. In the top of each wall module is a U-shaped channel which is in fluid communication with the open tops of the vertical tubes. After the panels for one or more rooms are set up on a single floor level and are interconnected, a precast concrete ceiling is placed on top of the panels. The studs in the panels support the compression load of the ceiling. Thereupon, in a single pour, the channels and tubes are filled with concrete, and become load bearing columns and beams, respectively, all lying within the wall panels.
Mouglin 3,678,638 fabricates room modules off site and then trucks them to the job site. Hence, the room modules are limited to tractor trailer width of ten to twelve feet. The wall and ceiling panels of a room module include a complex arrangement of steel U and L-channels, which are welded together to create a reinforcing framework for each panel and to define portions of open faced forms, T-shaped for beams and rectangular for columns. At the job site, room modules for one level are positioned next to, but slightly spaced from each other, with the open channels facing each other to complete most of the form portions. The spaces between modules then are bridged by additional form members; after which the concrete is poured, to fill the beam and column forms. After the concrete is sufficiently hardened to be stress loadbearing, the next level of room modules are set into place.
The above presented prior art, which is a minute sampling of the vast amount of art, clearly shows a recognition of the advantages of prefabricated, preferably factory produced under controlled environment, wall panels, room units and modules. Unfortunately, the specific prior art solutions have been, to a great extent, impractical and therefor not utilized. For example, the prior art teachings require one or more of: units and modules too large and/or too heavy to be transported from factory to building site; too many different component parts needed to be in factory inventory and then be design-selected at the factory and job site for a specific part of a building, such design-selection being by experienced and costly labor; the use of unique forms within the panels and modules for receiving concrete for making therein columns and beams; the need for on site pouring of large quantities of concrete to form complete shells around the prefabricated room units, thus resulting in great compression force to the walls and supports on the lower levels, as well as long hardening and curing times.

Prefabricated construction panels and modules for multistory buildings and method for their use


An improved collapsible desk and reinforced chair apparatus 10 including a one piece desk member 20 having two pairs of support legs 30, 30 and 31, 31 pivotally connected thereto and to one another and a seat unit 13 pivotally connected to both the desk member 20 and one of the pairs 30, 30 of support legs. A seat reinforcement unit 14 is operatively connected between the seat unit 13 and one of the pairs 30, 30 of support legs and comprises a pair of telescoping sleeve elements 74, 75 which rotate a latch cam element 76 during the extension and retraction phases of the collapsible desk and reinforced chair apparatus 10.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of collapsible furniture in general, and in particular to an adjustable desk and reinforced chair apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
As can be seen by reference to the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,514,418; 2,197,302; 3,427,069; and 4,289,350, the prior art is replete with myriad and diverse collapsible furniture devices.
While all of the aforementioned prior art constructions are more than adequate for the basic purpose and function for which they have been specifically designed, they are uniformly deficient with respect to their failure to provide a simple, efficient, and compact arrangement for a collapsible desk and chair apparatus wherein the apparatus occupies the minimum possible storage space while not in use and which is very easy to deploy in its operative mode, while also providing a very stable platform surface for both the table and chair members.
As users of the existing prior art constructions are all to painfully aware, the currently available collapsible desk and chair arrangements are difficult to assemble, require too much storage space when not in use, and are difficult to transport from one location to another.
Educators in a limited space multi-use classroom environment and parents with pre-schoolers have long realized the benefits of having a well constructed collapsible desk and reinforced chair apparatus that could be employed by adults, as well as children for work, play, eating, studying, etc.
In addition, target shooters are always looking for collapsible shooting benches having a stable support for their firearms and accessories while also providing a comfortable seating arrangement.
As a consequence of the foregoing situation, there has existed a longstanding need for a new and improved collapsible desk and reinforced chair apparatus that is simple to use, compact during storage, adapted for a variety of functional purposes, and provides extremely stable work and torso supporting surfaces for the user, and the provision of such a construction is a stated objective of the present invention.


The inverter according to the invention includes a control microcomputer including a protector circuit that stops the inverter when an anomaly is caused, a counter that counts the driving clock signals of the microcomputer from the instance at which the protector circuit starts working, and a conversion circuit that converts the clock signals counted by the counter to a numerical time expression in the time units and outputs the converted numerical time expression. The inverter according to the invention, manufacturable with low manufacturing costs and easy to operate, facilitates informing the installation manager of the period of time from the instance at which the inverter stopped due to an anomaly and such a cause, without impairing the time measurement precision.

In many installations, inverters are used to drive the motor and the load of the installations. The inverters are provided with a protector circuit that functions, while the inverters are working, for protection against anomalies such as overcurrent protection, overload protection, over-voltage protection, and under-voltage protection to make the installations stop operating when any anomaly is detected. For managing the working situations of the installations, it is necessary for the installation manager to know the stop time of the inverter and the installations.
For monitoring the time of the stop due to the operation of the protector circuit in the inverter, the clock function of a programmable controller ranking high in the installation management control apparatuses is used generally. Although the stop time monitoring using the programmable controller ranking high does not pose any problem on the accuracy thereof, the monitoring costs soars and it is not possible to display the stop time on the display device of the inverter.
Unexamined Laid Open Japanese Patent Application Hei. 6 (1994)-14558 discloses an inverter that facilitates closely examining the causes of anomalies. While the inverter is working, data such as the driving status, the output frequency, the output current, and output voltage of the inverter are written in at a certain time interval. The disclosed inverter is provided with a memory that stores the above described data for a predetermined period of time from the past to the present and the data writing into the memory is stopped at the instance an anomaly is detected. After an anomaly is caused, the stored contents of the memory is displayed on a display device disposed outside the inverter or a display device on the inverter so that the process, through which the anomaly is caused, and the cause of the anomaly may be examined closely. However, the costs of the inverter increases, since it is necessary for the inverter to equip the memory for storing a lot of data relevant to the anomaly caused and a processor that controls the data storage. For simply obtaining the period from the time at which the inverter stopped, the operations conducted by the disclosed inverter for obtaining the necessary data may be complicated too much to obtain the necessary data.
The inverter is controlled with a microcomputer driven by a quartz oscillator and such a clock and capable of measuring the time internally. In utilizing the clock in the microcomputer, an inexpensive oscillator is used generally. In other words, a less precise clock is employed generally. Therefore, a larger error is caused as compared with the quartz clock as the counted time is longer. Since a battery is generally not disposed in the inverter, it will be necessary, once the power supply is interrupted, to reset the time, even if an expensive and precise oscillator is employed, causing a heavy burden on the user, who is the manager of the installations.
In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to provide an inverter that facilitates informing the installation manager of the period of time from the instance, thereat the inverter is stopped due to an anomaly and such a cause. It would be also desirable to provide an inverter, which the user such as an installation manager can operate easily, with low manufacturing costs. It would be further desirable to provide an inverter that facilitates measuring a period of time with reasonable precision.


A tone generating apparatus which comprises a wave memory in which first tone waveform data with a preselected length extracted from an attack portion of a musical tone and second tone waveform data with a preselected length following the first tone waveform data and having a value of zero are stored. A read circuit reads the first tone waveform data only once from the wave memory and subsequently reads the second tone waveform data repeatedly. A tone generator generates a musical tone based on the tone waveform data read out by the read circuit. In reading out tone waveform data from the wave memory, the first tone waveform data is read out first, followed by repetitive reading of only the second tone waveform data.. Repetitive reading of the second tone waveform data produces no sound because the contents of the second tone waveform data are zero. Thus, this system performs a function equivalent to tone release effected by reading out a one-shot waveform.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tone generating apparatus for use in electronic musical instruments, such as a synthesizer, an electronic piano, an electronic organ, and a single keyboard. More particularly, this invention pertains to an arrangement that permits easy reading of a one-shot waveform in a tone generating apparatus, which reads out tone waveform data from a wave memory to generate a tone signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a tone generating apparatus (sound source) for use in an electronic musical instrument includes a wave memory in which plural types of tone waveform data corresponding to multifarious types of timbres are provided. In tone generation, tone waveform data in the wave memory which corresponds to a timbre specified by, for example, a panel switch or the like, is selected and is read out at a speed corresponding to a key (i.e., pitch) to produce a tone signal, and this tone signal is supplied to an acoustic circuit to generate a musical tone.
Since the capacity of the wave memory to store tone waveform data is limited, various methods are considered to store tone waveform data in compressed form.
For instance, there is a method which, with respect to one timbre, stores tone waveform data for the attack portion of a musical tone and tone waveform data for the sustain portion of that musical tone separately in the wave memory. With the tone waveform data stored in this method, when tone generation is instructed, the tone waveform data for the attack portion of a musical tone is read out only once, followed by repetitive reading of the tone waveform data for the sustain portion of that musical tone, to produce associated tone signals in order to acquire a predetermined musical tone.
This method can reproduce at high fidelity an intricate and delicate sound contained in the attack portion of a musical tone as well as can produce the sound of the sustain portion of that musical tone with fewer pieces of tone waveform data, while ensuring data compression.
Not every musical tone to be produced by an electronic musical instrument or the like has the aforementioned sustaining sound, but there are not a few cases of non-repeated and only one tone generation in a short period. The latter tone generation is accomplished by reading tone waveform data from the wave memory, from the top to the end, only once, (this way of reading out tone waveform data will hereinafter be called "one-shot waveform reading").
In order to manage the above two reading methods, therefore, a conventional tone generating apparatus has separate circuits for reading out tone waveform data to generate a sustaining sound and for reading out a one-shot waveform.
This complicates the structure of the tone generating apparatus and increases the cost thereof.

Tone generating circuitry for reading out one-shot and sustaining waveforms


A kit is provided for cleaning the tape-contacting parts of a tape transport device, particularly a data tape transport device. In the kit, separate cleaning cassettes are provided for cleaning the magnetic record/reproduce head, and for cleaning the capstan wheel. The capstan wheel of the tape transport is used as a drive source to drive a wiper arm in the first of the two cassettes, and the second cassette cleans the capstan wheel. Parts of the separate cassettes are made the same so as to minimize the manufacturing and design costs, and the two cassettes use the same replaceable cleaning elements, thus minimizing costs and making the kit easy to use. The cleaning elements used in the cassettes are high-density springy, absorbent foam pads each having an indented linear fused section or groove transverse to the direction in which wiping forces tend to remove the cleaning element from its holder. Ridges are provided in the holder to engage the grooves so as to securely hold the cleaning elements in place, and make it relatively easy to remove and replace them. A convertible indicator element is provided to enable the cassette to identify itself as a cleaning cassette to tape transports of various types.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to cleaning magnetic tape transport devices.
Cleaning cassettes have been provided for some time for use in cleaning the capstan wheels and record/reproduce heads of tape transport devices.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A problem in cleaning some tape transports, especially data tape transports, is caused by the fact that the capstan wheel is used to drive the mechanism used to clean the record/reproduce head. This makes it difficult to provide a single cassette which will clean both the capstan wheel and the record/reproduce head.
Convertible cleaning cassettes have been provided in order to solve the foregoing problems. A single cassette with two inserts is provided. One insert contains a gear which engages with one or more gears within the cassette and cause the capstan wheel to drive a wiper arm to wipe a cleaning element over the recording/reproducing head and clean it. When it is desired to clean the capstan wheel, the first insert is removed and replaced with the second insert, which has a cleaning element which cleans the capstan wheel.
Thus, a single cassette is provided, but two separate inserts are required. The inserts are relatively difficult and cumbersome to use. Furthermore, the molds and the labor used to make the inserts can be relatively expensive because of the intricacy of the components.
Other problems with prior tape cleaning cassettes lie in the cleaning elements themselves. In kits in which convertible cleaning cassettes are provided, cleaning elements of two different shapes are used; one for cleaning the heads, and the other for cleaning the capstan wheel. This again complicates the use of the cleaning cassette because the operator must know, or figure out, which cleaning element is used in which device. Furthermore, the cleaning elements either tend to pull out of their holders too readily, thus causing malfunction of the cleaning device, or they require special tools, such as a special pair of tweezers, to remove the soiled cleaning elements and replace them with new ones.

Tape cleaning cassette having a molded body without a cover