A display system includes respective light sources disposed at two opposed light input ends of a light guiding plate. A double-sided prism sheet is disposed on a light-emitting side of the light guiding plate and includes, on a first surface facing the light guiding plate, a triangular prism bank extending in a direction parallel to the light input ends of the light guiding plate. The double-sided prism sheet includes, on a second surface, opposite to the first surface, a cylindrical lens bank extending in a direction parallel to the triangular prism bank. A transmissive display panel is disposed on a light-emitting side of the double-sided prism sheet. A synchronization driving section alternatively illuminates the respective light sources so the transmissive display panel displays two different images. The light from the light sources is emitted through the transmissive display panel at respective divergent angles producing two images corresponding to right and left parallax images, producing a stereoscopic display.

A stereoscopic display system usually presents the two eyes of an observer with images with parallax from individual viewpoints. As methods of presenting the two eyes of the observer with images with parallax, there are two conventional methods: a method of using a pair of special spectacles; and a spectacleless method.
The method of using the spectacles switches right and left parallactic images, which are displayed alternately on a time division basis, in such a manner that the images reach the two eyes of the observer via the spectacles. Thus, to present the stereoscopic display to the observer, the observer must wear the spectacles, which involves an unpleasant and uncomfortable feeling.
On the other hand, the spectacleless method usually employs a lenticular lens or parallax barrier. In this method, a display system displays right and left parallactic images for each vertical pixel line, and has a lenticular lens or parallax barrier mounted in such a manner that the light rays emitting from the individual pixel lines are led to the two eyes of the observer. Thus, it must display the right and left parallactic images for each vertical pixel line of the display system. Accordingly, the pixels on a line of the display system is divided into right pixels and left pixels, thereby halving the number of pixels of the image. In addition, it is difficult for the lenticular lens system to switch between the presence and absence of the lenticular lens. Consequently, to display a plane image, the lenticular lens system must display different pixel lines to the two eyes as in the case of the stereoscopic image, thereby lowering the resolution of the plane image display. As for the parallax barrier system, it can eliminate the parallax barrier during the plane image display by configuring the parallax barrier by a liquid crystal device. Consequently, it can carry out the plane display at the original resolution of the display panel. However, since the parallax barrier system cuts off part of light rays from a light source with the parallax barrier during the stereoscopic display, it presents a problem of darkening the display.
As a method to circumvent the problem, a method is proposed which displays the right and left parallactic images on a transmissive display panel on a time division basis in the same manner as the method of using the spectacles, and switches the directivity of a light source that illuminates the display panel, thereby guiding the right and left parallactic images to the two eyes. For example, FIG. 22 shows a system proposed by Cambridge University. It comprises a transmissive display panel 4, a collimator lens 6 installed at its back, and a light source array 7 that is placed at its back and emits light successively. The light emitted from a light source cell 7a in the light source array passes through the collimator lens 6 disposed in front of the light source, and then through the transmissive display panel 4, and is converged with directivity. Accordingly, as for the image on the transmissive display panel, it is observable only in the converged direction. Thus, by switching the light-emitting cell of the light source array and the parallactic image displayed on the transmissive display panel in synchronization, the right and left parallactic images can be guided to the two eyes of the observer, thereby enabling the stereoscopic vision. The system using the light-emitting position control and the collimator lens can accurately convert the position of the light-emitting cell on the light source to the angle of illuminating light or to the visibility position through the collimator lens. As a result, the system can perform excellent directivity of the illuminating light, and hence can achieve high quality stereoscopic vision by good separation between right and left images.
As a method of downsizing the foregoing system, Japanese patent application laid-open Nos. 5-107663/1993 and 10-161061/1998 propose a method of dividing light rays from a light source into switchable stripe-like or matrix-like light sources by switchable shutter elements such as a liquid crystal device, and then achieving the directivity of the light source by a lenticular sheet which is placed in front of the light source and serves as a collimator lens. Although the method can carry out the stereoscopic display without lowering the resolution, it has a problem of decreasing light efficiency and darkening display because it cuts off part of the light rays from the light source to create the stripe-like light sources. In addition, since it requires expensive liquid crystal shutter elements in addition to the display panel to create the stripe-like light sources, it has a problem of being unable to implement a low-cost system.
FIG. 23 shows another method proposed in Japanese patent application laid-open No. 2001-66547. Instead of achieving the directivity of the light source by the collimator lens, the method combines two pairs of light sources 1a and 1b with backlight light guiding plates 2a and 2b, and switches the directivity of the illuminating light using light deflection effect by a prism sheet 8 disposed under a liquid crystal panel 4, thereby obviating the need for the expensive switchable shutter elements. Since the method controls the directivity of the illuminating light by only the adjustment of the light emitting luminous intensity distribution from the light guiding plates, it is more difficult for the method to obtain the sufficient directivity than the foregoing system that can determine the directivity of the illuminating light explicitly by the shutter elements and the collimator lens. An example of Japanese patent application laid-open No. 2001-66547 states that the angle of the light emitting from the light guiding plate has its peak at 70 degrees and is distributed from 60 to 80 degrees, the values are considered to vary to some extent depending on the shape of the light guiding plates and light producing structure. Thus, to achieve uniform brightness with maintaining the light emitted angle in that range, it is necessary to strictly limit the shape of the light guiding plates and their design. Thus, it has problems in that it easily brings about crosstalk between right and left because of the degradation in the directivity, and it must prepare two pairs of the light guiding plates as in the foregoing Japanese patent application laid-open No. 2001-66547 to obtain good luminous intensity distribution characteristics.
As described above, the conventional stereoscopic display systems have the following problems. First, the method of using the spectacles has inconvenience of wearing the spectacles. As for the spectacleless method, the method of using the lenticular or parallax barrier has a problem of decreasing the resolution of the stereoscopic image or plane image, or reducing the brightness. As for the conventional method of switching the directivity of light, the method of using the switching shutter elements and collimator lens is costly because it requires expensive switching shutter elements. The method of directly controlling the directivity of light by the light guiding plates has a problem of easily bringing about crosstalk between right and left because of the difficulty of controlling the directivity, and a problem of complicating the configuration and being expensive because it uses two pairs of the backlights.
The present invention is implemented to solve the foregoing problems. Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide a display system capable of implementing high quality stereoscopic images with little crosstalk without decreasing the resolution of both the stereoscopic and plane images, and of achieving stereoscopic vision or displaying different frames simultaneously on the same screen without using the spectacles, which is simple, low cost and suitable for portable information terminals.

Display unit and electronic apparatus with display unit


A system for combusting carbon-containing fuel includes a reactor 10 for simultaneously supporting oxidation of the fuel and conversion of CO2 within the reactor. A metal oxide or metal is input to the reactor to convert the CO2 to a mineralized CO2 product. A cold trap 44 is provided for capturing exhaust gases from the reactor and returning condensate to the reactor, and a gas pump 50 maintains a desired vacuum or pressure within the reactor and the cold trap. Combustion products may be recycled to increase their energy value.

Facilities producing electrical power or steam conventionally burn hydrocarbons, e.g., oil, gas, or coal, in a process that produces substantial emission of CO2 greenhouse gases, particulates, and hazardous air pollutants (HAP's). Electrical power plant emissions are practically unavoidable in a conventional burner/boiler system, and control of these materials requires multiple, expensive, post-combustion treatment systems that capture fly ash, SOx, NOx and trace metals. Economical methods for capturing and sequestering the CO2 do not exist, and accordingly such power plants contribute significantly to greenhouse gases. More currently available methods for combustion treatment of gases either reduce the fuel efficiency of the power plant, e.g., by preventing complete combustion, or significantly add to the operating cost of the system, or both.
Further, economic methods for capturing and sequestering the CO2 do not exist, and accordingly such power plants contribute significantly to the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
In conventional boilers, the rapidly expanding combustion gas is discharged from the hot zone. In coal burning systems, for example, exit velocities are sufficient to pneumatically convey fine particles out of the combustion zone, including ash with unburned carbon. As much as 2% of the input fuel value can be lost in this manner. Conventional systems also operate with high temperatures to promote complete combustion of the fuel in a relatively short period of time if the fuel is in the combustion zone, which is typically milliseconds to seconds in length. Higher combustion temperatures promote higher levels of NOx and SO2 and accelerate degradation of the burner zone. Most fuel-burning systems transfer heat or combustion to a working fluid, such as water or steam, which then drives a turbine.
Not all heat is extracted from the combustion gas, however. The temperature and pressure of the gas exiting the exchanger must be sufficiently high to both drive the exhaust gas up the stack and to assure that the temperature within the stack is above the dewpoint. Water vapor is a combustion by-product and condensation of that vapor within the exhaust system is deleterious. Accordingly, the exhaust gas stream transfers substantial heat from the power plant to the atmosphere; as much as 5% to 15% of the incoming fuel value is lost to the atmosphere in this manner.
Partly to counteract this phenomenon, conventional systems operate at high temperatures to promote more complete combustion of the fuel in the relatively short period of time that the fuel is in the combustion zone, typically milliseconds to seconds in length. An undesirable consequence of this adjustment is higher levels of NOx and SOx in the gas stream, which in turn accelerates degradation of the metal structures in the burner zone and forces installation of stack scrubbers to reduce the NOx and SOx concentration in gases discharged to the atmosphere.
Multiple systems are available for post-combustion treatment of gas streams to remove NOx and SOx by circulating the exhaust gas through solid or liquid reactants. These systems consume more energy than they generate, effectively derating the power plant. The chemical reactants employed provide no significant function beyond capture of NOx and SOx and their cost serves to reduce plant profit margins.
Systems for the economic removal of other pollutants from conventional fuel combustion processes, such as mercury, radionuclides and other metals, are practically not available. Almost all solid and liquid hydrocarbon fuels contain trace amounts of mercury and radioactive elements. Industrial by-products that are combusted in waste-to-energy systems also contain metals, including in some cases precious metals. While metal concentration in the exhaust gas stream is low and daily emissions minimal, over time these pollutants accumulate to potentially harmful concentrations in downwind soil and bodies of water. In the case of precious metals, current combustion systems cannot be configured for their economic recovery.
In the case of mercury and other high vapor pressure metals, capturing these pollutant from the gas phase requires a substantial expense for cooling to condense or adsorb the metal on a suitable collection device. The cooling system would be an energy drain, further derating the plant. While a cooling process might recover waste heat, this approach is not considered economically viable.
While condensation might effect removal of mercury, radioactive particles can only be removed by physical separation, e.g. filtration, or by chemical reaction. Due to the large volume of gas and water vapor produced by combustion and the low concentration of radioactive particles, these approaches are not economically viable. As a result, the radioactive material is left to accumulate downwind from a conventional power plant.
Of all of the emissions from power plants, the one of greatest current concern and research is carbon dioxide. Numerous activities are underway worldwide to sequester emitted CO2 in an effort to reduce its concentration in the atmosphere.
Several proposed methods separate CO2 from the exhaust gas and inject it into stable geologic or marine environments, physically isolating it from the atmosphere. The stability and duration of that separation is not well understood, and over time this stored gas will likely migrate to the atmosphere. A beneficial use of this method is injection for enhanced oil recovery (EOR), where the CO2 both increases formation pressure and lowers the viscosity of the oil. In both geologic and marine applications, substantial energy is expended to separate the CO2 and then pump it to the depths required.
Other proposed methods use the separated CO2 as a reactant in a variety of post-combustion chemical synthesis reactions. For instance, the CO2 can be bubbled through aqueous solutions or slurries containing metal oxides or metal ions. By adjusting reactant concentration and the mixture's temperature, a solid mineral particle may be precipitated. These precipitates may be collected and dried, then disposed or used as an input to another product. These systems largely depend on endothermic reactions, requiring that power be diverted from the plant. Biological methods are also proposed, utilizing both the ecosystem (ocean waters, if proximate to the power plant) and controlled environments (e.g., bioreactors). Again, there is an energy cost for separation and pumping, plus the additional capital and operating expenses for complementary nutrients and chemistry.
All of these systems share the common disadvantages of attempting to separate and utilize CO2 in post-combustion devices. Post-combustion processing increases the cost and complexity of building and operating a power plant, as well as reduces the net energy output of the plant.
Some proposed systems, such as the Integrated Pollutant Removal (IPR) system co-developed by DOE Albany Research Center and Jupiter Oxygen Corp., separate oxygen from air prior to combustion, then feed oxygen only into the combustion chamber. The resulting exhaust gas stream is largely CO2, minimizing or eliminating the requirement for post-combustion gas separation. Further development of the IPR system is directed to filtering and compressing the exhaust gas to remove particulates, recover additional energy that might otherwise be discharged through the stack and condition the CO2 for commercial uses or geologic injection. Gas compression, however, is a substantial additional energy and capital cost for this system.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,372,156 discloses a method of chemically converting raw material to another material utilizing a hybrid plasma system. The system utilizes a plasma including activated hydrogen and oxygen formed from a water vapor. U.S. Pat. No. 5,125,965 discloses a process for enhancing fluidization in a fluidized bed reaction chamber. In a preferred embodiment, the molybdenum oxide is reduced to a molybdenum metal. U.S. Pat. No. 4,368,169 discloses a pyrochemical process for the decomposition of water. The process is carried out in a reaction chamber of a reactor during and immediately after a thermonuclear reaction. The initial chamber reaction yields a condensed metal oxide product which is split in a later process to yield oxygen and a condensed metal product.
The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention, and the included system is hereinafter disclosed for combusting carbon-containing fuel to minimize pollution from fuel combustion.

Method and apparatus for reduced emissions fuel combustion


An internal combustion engine in which a main SOx trap catalyst able to trap SOx contained in exhaust gas is arranged in an engine exhaust passage, and the exhaust passage downstream of the main SOx trap catalyst is divided into a main exhaust passage and a bypass passage bypassing the main exhaust passage. An NOx storage catalyst is arranged in the main exhaust passage, and an auxiliary SOx trap catalyst is arranged in the main exhaust passage upstream of the NOx storage catalyst. Normally, the exhaust gas is made to flow in the main exhaust passage. When regenerating the main SOx trap catalyst, the exhaust gas is made to flow through the bypass passage.

Known in the art is an internal combustion engine arranging in an engine exhaust passage an NOx storage catalyst storing NOx contained in exhaust gas when the air-fuel ratio of the inflowing exhaust gas is lean and releasing the stored NOx when the air-fuel ratio of the inflowing exhaust gas becomes a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio or rich. In this internal combustion engine, NOx formed when burning fuel under a lean air-fuel ratio is stored in the NOx storage catalyst. On the other hand, as the NOx storage catalyst approaches saturation of the NOx storage ability, the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas is temporarily made rich, whereby NOx is released from the NOx storage catalyst and reduced.
However, fuel and lubrication oil contain sulfur. Therefore, the exhaust gas also contains SOx. This SOx is stored together with the NOx in the NOx storage catalyst. This SOx is not released from the NOx storage catalyst by just making the exhaust gas a rich air-fuel ratio. Therefore, the amount of SOx stored in the NOx storage catalyst gradually increases. As a result, the storable NOx amount ends up gradually decreasing.
Therefore, known in the art is an internal combustion engine preventing SOx from being fed into the NOx storage catalyst by providing an SOx absorbent in the engine exhaust passage upstream of the NOx storage catalyst (see Japanese Patent Publication (A) No. 2000-179327). In this internal combustion engine, the SOx contained in the exhaust gas is absorbed by the SOx absorbent, therefore the SOx is prevented from flowing into the NOx storage catalyst. As a result, it is possible to prevent the storage of SOx from causing a drop in the storage ability of the NOx.
However, when using such an SOx absorbent, if the SOx absorbent ends up being saturated in SOx absorption ability, the SOx ends up flowing into the NOx storage catalyst. However, in this SOx absorbent, if raising the SOx absorbent in temperature and making the exhaust gas flowing into the SOx absorbent a rich air-fuel ratio, it is possible to make the SOx absorbent release the absorbed SOx and therefore possible to regenerate the SOx absorbent. However, if making the SOx absorbent release the SOx in this way, the released SOx ends up being stored in the NOx storage catalyst. Therefore, in this internal combustion engine, a bypass passage bypassing the NOx storage catalyst is provided and, when making the SOx absorbent release SOx, the released SOx is exhausted through the bypass passage into the atmosphere.
However, even if exhausting the SOx released from the SOx absorbent through the bypass passage into the atmosphere at the time of regeneration of the SOx absorbent in this way, in actuality part of the SOx leaks and ends up flowing into the NOx storage catalyst. As a result, there is a problem that the amount of SOx stored in the NOx storage catalyst gradually increases.

Exhaust purification device of internal combustion engine


In a method of forming a silicon oxide film, a target substrate that has a silicon layer on a surface is loaded into a process area within a reaction container, while setting the process area to have a loading temperature of 400° C. or less. Then, the process area that accommodates the target substrate is heated, from the loading temperature to a process temperature of 650° C. or more. Water vapor is supplied into the reaction container during said heating the process area, while setting the water vapor to have a first concentration in an atmosphere of the process area, and setting the process area to have a first reduced pressure. After said heating the process area to the process temperature, an oxidation gas is supplied into the reaction container, thereby oxidizing the silicon layer to form a silicon oxide film.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for processing a target substrate having a silicon layer on the surface, such as a silicon wafer, to oxidize the silicon layer and form a silicon oxide film.
2. Description of the Related Art
Films of various kinds used in semiconductor devices need to be made thinner, owing to the demands of multi-layered and thinner arrangement of semiconductor devices used as components in semiconductor integrated circuits. For example, as regards the gate insulating film of MOSFETs, a method has been studied of first forming a silicon oxide film having a very small thickness of about 1 nm, and then irradiating the silicon oxide film with, e.g., nitrogen plasma for nitridation to form an insulating film. In order to form such very thin silicon oxide films with high planar uniformity, high inter-surface uniformity (among target substrates), and high reproducibility, the oxidation process should be performed at a very low oxidation rate (film-formation rate).
On the other hand, as the process temperature is lowered to reduce the oxidation rate, the film quality tends to be more deteriorated. Accordingly, it is preferable that the process temperature is not lowered so much, but is set to be, e.g., 650° C. or more. As an oxidation method, there is dry oxidation, which employs oxygen gas, and wet oxidation, which employs water vapor. An oxide film formed by wet oxidation is higher in film quality than an oxide film formed by dry oxidation. However, where a reaction tube is supplied with water vapor generated by a combustion method of burning hydrogen and oxygen, it is difficult to form very thin oxide films with good controllability, and thus is difficult to form oxide films with high uniformity and high reproducibility. This is so, because, in this case, an oxide film is formed at a high film-formation rate due to a high ratio of water vapor relative to a mixture gas of water vapor and oxygen.
Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 11-204511 (see FIG. 1, and paragraph numbers [0020] and [0022]) discloses an oxidation apparatus including a water vapor generator, which generates a small amount of water vapor by causing hydrogen and oxygen to react with each other in the presence of a catalyst. FIG. 8 is a side view showing a conventional vertical heat-processing apparatus of this type.
As shown in FIG. 8, this apparatus includes a vertical reaction tube (reaction container or process chamber) 11, and a load-lock chamber 12 defining a loading area therebelow. A water vapor generator 14 is connected to the reaction tube 11. The generator 14 generates water vapor by causing hydrogen and oxygen to react with each other in the presence of a catalyst, such as platinum or nickel. A wafer boat 13 is employed to hold a number of semiconductor wafers W, in a state where they are stacked at intervals. When a process is performed, the reaction tube 11 and loadlock chamber 12 are vacuum-exhausted to a predetermined vacuum level. Then, the wafer boat 13 is loaded into the reaction tube 11. Then, water vapor is supplied into the reaction tube 11 to form a silicon oxide film on the wafers W.
International Publication No. WO 98-39802 (see page 43, lines 4 to 24, claim 8, and FIGS. 9, 11, and 13) discloses a so-called process apparatus of the cluster tool type, which includes an airtight transfer chamber and a plurality of single-wafer process chambers connected thereto. This apparatus also includes a water vapor generator, which generates water vapor by causing hydrogen gas and oxygen gas to react with each other in the presence of a catalyst. When a process is performed, a susceptor disposed in a process chamber is first heated by a heater. At this time, it is set such that a wafer is to be heated to a process temperature of 800 to 900° C. when the wafer is placed on the susceptor. Then, the process chamber is purged by nitrogen gas, and a wafer is loaded into the process chamber. Then, moisture and non-reacted oxygen gas are supplied from the water vapor generator into the closed process chamber, to oxidize the wafer surface and form a gate insulating film having a thickness of 5 nm or less.
Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 11-186255 (see FIG. 3, and paragraph numbers [0038] and [0059]) discloses another method of forming a silicon oxide film. According to this method, a first film-formation step is performed at a lower temperature to form a silicon oxide film on the surface of a silicon layer, wherein the silicon oxide film functions as a protection film as well. Then, a second film-formation step is performed at a higher temperature to reduce the surface roughness of the silicon layer. In this case, a heating step is performed in an inactive gas atmosphere, pressure-reduced atmosphere, or oxidation atmosphere containing a wet gas.

Method and apparatus for forming silicon oxide film


An image reading apparatus includes: a reading unit; a memory interface unit; a permission information obtaining unit; a permission determining unit; and a data recording unit. The reading unit reads an image. An external memory is removably connected to the memory interface unit and stores permission information. The permission information obtaining unit is configured to obtain the permission information from the external memory. The permission determining unit is configured to determine whether the obtained permission information is valid. The data recording unit is configured to record data corresponding to the image on the external memory connected to the memory interface unit if the obtained permission information is valid.

There is an image reading apparatus includes: a reading unit that reads an image; an interface unit to which an external memory can be removably connected; and a data recording unit that records data corresponding to the image read by the reading unit on the external memory connected to the interface unit. In this type of image reading apparatus, an image can be read by the reading unit, and data corresponding to the image can be recorded on the external memory connected to the interface unit. Additionally, JP-A-2005-0103867 discloses an image reading apparatus that requires an operator to input a password when image formation is again performed according to data recorded on the external memory.
However, if once data corresponding to images, such as images of a confidential document, are recorded on a portable external memory, such as a USB memory, incase where the portable external memory is leaked out, there is a fear that the data will be decoded in some manner even though the data are protected by a password as described above.
A possible measure is to require an operator to input a password so that only an authorized person can record data corresponding to images on an external memory when the data are recorded thereon. However, the operator who knows the password can record the data on as many external memories as he likes. In this case, there arises a fear that a great flood of external memories storing data corresponding to the images will be produced, and these external memories cannot be fully managed so as not to leak out the data thereof.

Image reading apparatus, host apparatus and image reading system


Method and apparatus for automatic reception enhancement of hearing assistance devices. The present subject matter relates to methods and apparatus for automatic reception enhancement in hearing assistance devices. It provides a power estimation scheme that is reliable against both steady and transient input. It provides a TSM estimation scheme that is effective and efficient both in terms of storage size and computational efficiency. The embodiments employing a decision tree provide a weight factor between the omnidirectional and compensated directional signal. The resulting decision logic improves speech intelligibility when talking under noisy conditions. The decision logic also improves listening comfort when exposed to noise. Additional method and apparatus can be found in the specification and as provided by the attached claims and their equivalents.

Patients who are hard of hearing have many options for hearing assistance devices. One such device is a hearing aid. Hearing aids may be worn on-the-ear, in-the-ear, and completely in-the-canal. Hearing aids can help restore hearing, but they can also amplify unwanted sound which is bothersome and sometimes ineffective for the wearer.
Many attempts have been made to provide different hearing modes for hearing assistance devices. For example, some devices can be switched between directional and omnidirectional receiving modes. A user is more likely to rely on directional reception when in a room full of sound sources. Directional reception assists the user in hearing an intended subject, instead of unwanted sounds from other sources.
However, even switched devices can leave a user without a reliable improvement of hearing. For example, conditions can change faster than a user can switch modes. Or conditions can change without the user considering a change of modes.
What is needed in the art is an improved system for changing modes of hearing assistance devices to improve the quality of sound and signal to noise ratio received by those devices. The system should be highly programmable to allow a user to have a device tailored to meet the user's needs and to accommodate the user's lifestyle. The system should provide intelligent and automatic switching based on programmed settings and should provide reliable performance for changing conditions.

System for automatic reception enhancement of hearing assistance devices


Gain linearity problems caused by impact ionization in a active MOS device are avoided by connecting an MOS shield device in series with the active MOS device so that the overall supply voltage is split across two devices, keeping both devices in a region of operation well below where impact ionization becomes a significant problem. The gate of the MOS shield device is maintained at a voltage proportional to its drain voltage, thereby keeping the device in the saturation mode and avoiding an abrupt mode change associated with prior art shield circuits.

A problem known as impact ionization occurs in MOS semiconductor devices which problem produces a non-linearity when the devices are used as gain stages. The problem occurs when electric fields in the devices become so large that free electrons traveling through the devices gain enough energy in the field to strip additional electrons from the molecular lattice. Consequently, the problem has become more severe as device sizes have been reduced and/or supply voltages increased.
For example, in a conventional n-channel MOS transistor in a 3 micron, 10 volt, CMOS process, the electric field strength at the drain end of the channel becomes high enough to cause impact ionization when the drain-source voltage increases above approximately five volts. The magnitude of the peak field strength is a function of a number of variables and cannot easily be controlled to reduce the effect of impact ionization. The effect is also present in p-channel devices, although it occurs at higher supply voltages.
Free electrons which are stripped from the lattice eventually migrate to either the source electrode or the substrate (backgate electrode), thereby creating an undesirable current. This current affects the electrical characteristics of the device. More particularly, in a typical MOS device, as the drain-source voltage increases from zero volts, the device enters a linear region in which the drain current increases approximately proportional to the drain-source voltage. As the drain-source voltage is increased further, the device enters a saturation region in which the drain current remains relatively constant as the drain-source voltage increases. However, as the drain-source voltage increases still further, impact ionization begins and the drain-to-backgate current begins to increase exponentially. The drain-to-backgate current approximately obeys the equation: EQU I.sub.dbg .perspectiveto.k*10.sup.VDS
Obviously, above a certain drain-source voltage the drain-to-backgate current becomes substantial. Since the drain-to-backgate current varies with the drain-source voltage in a non-linear manner, it appears as a non-linear leakage current to the backgate electrode from the drain of the device. If the device is used as a "gm" gain stage, this leakage current appears as a resistive load on the output which, in turn, produces a non-linear gain.
In order to overcome this problem, prior art circuitry has used shield transistors to reduce the drain-source voltage across an MOS device thereby keeping the drain-source voltage below the level at which impact ionization becomes a significant problem. In particular, it is known to place a common-gate NMOS cascode device in series with an n-channel active device so that the total drain-source voltage is split across the two devices and neither device has a sufficient drain-source voltage across it to cause an impact ionization problem. This prior art approach is discussed in detail in an article entitled "Design Considerations for a High-Performance 3-um CMOS Analog Standard-Cell Library", C. A. Laber, C. F. Rahim, S. F. Dreyer, G. T. Uehara, P. T. Kwok and P. R. Gray, IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, v. SC-22, n. 2, pp 181-189 (April 1987).
Although this prior art approach generally solves the problem of impact ionization, it introduces an additional problem. More particularly, in present prior art shield circuits, the gate voltage of the NMOS shield transistor is fixed, generally at a voltage approximately mid-way between the supply voltages. Consequently, for positive voltage swings of the active device, the shield device goes into saturation, while for negative voltage swings, the shield device enters the deep triode, or linear, region. The abrupt transition between the saturation mode and the linear mode causes the impedance looking into the shield device to go through a step. This transition occurs in all circuits using the prior art circuit and results in an abrupt gain change in the circuit.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a gain correction circuit for an MOS device in which the effects of impact ionization are reduced.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a gain correction circuit for MOS devices in which the effects of impact ionization are reduced while maintaining linear gain in the MOS device.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a gain correction circuit for MOS devices which can be easily integrated into existing device designs.

Gain linearity correction for MOS circuits


A pair of restraining plates are pivotally installed in a housing of a lock unit. The restraining plates have respective cam portions that are arranged to put therebetween a striker when the restraining plates are pivoted in respective given directions. A biasing member is arranged to bias one of the restraining plates to pivot in the given direction thereof, and a transmission mechanism is arranged between the restraining plates to induce a synchronized pivoting of the two restraining plates. Thus, when one of the restraining plates is pivoted in the given direction thereof, the other of the restraining plates is pivoted in the given direction thereof. With this arrangement, once the striker is locked by the lock unit, at least one of the cam portions of the restraining plates is pressed against the striker thereby to suppress or at least minimize undesirable play of the lock unit relative to the striker.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to lock devices for use in motor vehicles and more particularly to lock devices for locking a vehicle seat, vehicle door, engine hood, trunk lid, seat back and the like. More specifically, the present invention is concerned with a lock device that locks a retractable vehicle seat to a vehicle floor when the seat is pivoted back to its normal in-use position.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the field of motor vehicles, particularly one-box type passenger motor vehicles, there is a retractable type seat that is permitted to pivot up from its normal in-use position to an upper not in-use position for providing the vehicle floor with a larger free space. In such a seat, a lock device is usually provided for locking the seat when the same is returned back from the retracted position to its normal in-use position for the safety of passengers.
One of the lock devices of such type is shown in Japanese Laid-open Patent Application (Tokkaihei) 8-218711.
The lock device of this publication generally comprises a striker that is fixed to the vehicle floor and has a horizontally extending part, and a lock unit that is fixed to a leg portion of the retractable seat. The lock unit comprises a housing, a latch member installed in the housing and engageable with the horizontally extending part of the striker, a pawl member installed in the housing and capable of locking an engaged condition between the latch member and the striker, a restraining member contactable with the striker and a control lever capable of releasing the locked engaged condition between the latch member and the striker when turned in a given direction. When the retractable seat is in its normal in-use position, the latch member is fully engaged with the horizontally extending part of the striker and locked by the pawl member. Under this seat lock condition, a cam part of the restraining member is tightly pressed against the striker to assure a play-free standing of the seat in the in-use position. When now the control lever is turned in the given or release direction, the pawl member unlocks the engaged condition between the latch member and the striker and at the same time the cam part of the restraining member is released away from the striker. Upon this, the lock unit is released from the striker, and thus, the retractable seat is permitted to pivot upward from the normal in-use position toward the upper not in-use position when applied with a certain external force. The housing is provided with a striker receiving slot for receiving the horizontally extending striker.


An antenna assembly has a first helical antenna and a second rod antenna extending through inside said first antenna in the axis direction. When the antenna is retracted, the upper end of a conductive portion of the second antenna passes through the first antenna to be positioned below the lower end of the first antenna, and when the antenna is extended, the lower end portion of the conductive portion of the second antenna is electrically connected to the upper end portion of the first antenna. Therefore, the length of the second antenna can be reduced as compared with a length defined based on wavelengths of transmitted signals. Consequently, an antenna assembly which requires a smaller housing space can be obtained.

In recent years, portable radio apparatuses have been reduced in size and weight. Accordingly, antenna assemblies used for such portable radio apparatuses are also required to be smaller. As an antenna assembly which satisfies the above requirements, many manufacturers are developing whip antennas which can be retracted into the housing body when it is used for communications. In earlier stage, portable radio apparatuses of relatively simple structure have utilized this type of whip antenna.
However, such a simple antenna has the following problem.
Specifically, the antenna, when extended from the housing body, is operative as a monopole antenna, whereas it cannot obtain a sufficient gain when retracted in the housing body. It can be considered that this is because the antenna retracted in the housing body is placed near the ground to cause an input impedance to increase, whereby impedance matching can not be established.
Thus, to improve the gain of the antenna when retracted in the housing body, a whip antenna of a so-called top loading type came into use instead of the simple whip antenna described above. The top loading type whip antenna refers to an antenna assembly which has a helical antenna electrically connected to the top end of a rod antenna.
When this type of whip antenna is extended from the housing body for use, radio waves can be radiated from both of the helical antenna and the rod antenna. When the antenna is retracted into the housing body, radio waves can be radiated from the helical antenna.
However, this type of whip antenna includes the rod antenna which does not contribute to the radiation of radio waves when it is retracted. The helical portion operates as an open stub.
The open stub may badly affect the input impedance of the antenna. Specifically, the open stub causes the impedance matching to be disrupted due to the distance between the rod antenna and a circuit board in the housing space and so on.
Thus, it cannot be said that this type of whip antenna is well designed. In addition, the whip antenna of top loading type, if not shielded completely, also has several problems, for example, that signals interfere from the retracted rod antenna and signals go into a shielded portion, and so on.
As a result of investigations for solving the above-mentioned problems, an antenna assembly has been developed, in which a rod antenna, when retracted into the housing body, is electrically isolated from a helical antenna. A prior art example of such an antenna assembly will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.
FIGS. 1 to 6 show two states of the antenna assembly equipped in a portable radio apparatus, that is, an extended state and a retracted state. It should be noted that in the drawings, illustration of the whole portable radio apparatus is omitted, and the antenna assembly and portions of the portable radio apparatus associated with the connection to the antenna assembly only are described. Also, corresponding parts in the various drawings are designated the same reference numerals.
First, the structure of an antenna assembly 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described. The antenna assembly 1 is composed of two antenna portions, that is, a rod antenna 1A and a helical antenna 1B. The rod antenna 1A is operative mainly when the antenna assembly 1 is extended from a housing body 2, while the helical antenna 1B is operative when the antenna assembly 1 is retracted into the housing body 2.
The antenna assembly 1 is attached to the housing body 2 by screwing an antenna connection fitting 1C on the antenna side into an antenna fixture 2A arranged in a non-metallic housing body 2.
The housing body 2 contains a circuit board 3 on which a variety of circuits as well as a power supply circuit 3A for the antenna assembly 1 are integrated. The power supply circuit 3A not only supplies the antenna assembly 1 with electric power through a power supply spring 3B but also has a function of matching a characteristic impedance of a transmitter/receiver circuit with an input impedance of the antenna assembly 1.
The power supply circuit 3A is, as shown in FIG. 1, electrically connected to the antenna assembly 1 when the antenna assembly 1 is extended from the housing body 2 and an extended-state limiter 1D arranged around a lower end portion of the rod antenna 1A is mechanically coupled to the antenna connection fitting 1C. Specifically, the power supply circuit 3A is electrically connected to the rod antenna 1A by way of the antenna fixture 2A, antenna connection fitting 1C, extended-state limiter 1D, and stopper 1E in that order.
In this way, the rod antenna 1A is brought into an operable state as a monopole antenna which has its ground level at the ground of the circuit board 3 and a shielding case.
Incidentally, the stopper 1E is provided for preventing the antenna assembly 1 from falling out. The extended-state limiter 1D and the stopper 1E are both made of a single metal part. The rod antenna 1A is caulked with the stopper 1E for establishing electrical and mechanical connection therebetween. Also, the rod antenna 1A is entirely covered with an antenna cover 1F or the like so as to prevent a human body from directly touching the rod antenna 1A.
On the other hand, when the antenna assembly 1 is retracted into the housing body 2 as shown in FIG. 2, the antenna connection fitting 1C is mechanically and electrically connected to a retracted-state limiter 1G, so that the helical antenna 1B can be powered from the power supply circuit 3A. In this state, the helical antenna 1B is operative as a helical antenna which has its ground level at the ground of the circuit board 3 and the shielding case.
The helical antenna 1B is also entirely covered with an antenna cover 1H so as to prevent a human body from directly touching it. The antenna cover 1H is utilized as a handle with which the user extends the antenna assembly 1, and also functions as a stopper for preventing the antenna assembly 1 from falling into the housing body of the radio apparatus when it is retracted.
As described above, since different antenna portions 1A, 1B individually operate when the antenna assembly 1 is extended and when it is retracted, favorable characteristics can be provided using the same matching circuit if impedances of the respective antenna portions are optimized.
An antenna assembly 4 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is also known as an antenna assembly which provides favorable characteristics as described above. Although the antenna assembly 4 is also composed of a rod antenna 4A and a helical antenna 4B, it differs from the antenna assembly 1 in the way each antenna is powered. More specifically, the helical antenna 4B is always powered from a power supply circuit 3A, while the rod antenna 4A is powered only when the antenna assembly 4 is extended.
When the antenna assembly 4 is extended from a housing body 2, the rod antenna 4A extends through the inside of the helical antenna 4B, as shown in FIG. 3. This causes the rod antenna 4A to electromagnetically couple to the helical antenna 4B, whereby the rod antenna 4A can be powered. In this state, the rod antenna 4A is operative as a monopole antenna which has its ground level at the ground of a circuit board 3 and a shielding case.
The rod antenna 4A is fixed to an antenna connection fitting 4C by an extended-state limiter 4E disposed near the lower end thereof when the antenna assembly 4 is extended. The extended-state limiter 4E is mechanically engaged with a non-metallic extended-state fixture 4D arranged in the antenna connection fitting 4C.
The rod antenna 4A and the helical antenna 4B of this example are also covered with antenna covers 4G and 4H, respectively, so as to prevent a human body from directly touching them. A non-metallic stopper 4F is provided for preventing the antenna assembly 4 from falling out.
FIG. 4 shows connections at various portions of the antenna assembly 4 when it is retracted in the housing body 2. When the antenna assembly 4 is retracted into the housing body 2, the antenna assembly 4 is fixed by a retracted-state limiter 4J formed near the top end of the antenna assembly 4 which is mechanically engaged with a retracted-state fixture 4I arranged in the antenna cover 4G. In this state, since the distance G from a handle 4K to the upper end of the rod antenna 4A is larger than the length HL of the helical antenna 4B, the upper end of the rod antenna 4A is located below an antenna fixture 2A, so that the rod antenna 4A is electrically isolated from the helical antenna 4B. Therefore, the helical antenna 4B only is operative in the retracted state of the antenna assembly 4.
The helical antenna 4B is operative as a helical antenna which has its ground level at the ground of the circuit board 3 and the shielding case. The handle 4K also serves as a stopper for preventing the antenna assembly 4 from falling into the housing body 2. The antenna assembly 4 thus constructed also provides favorable characteristics when it is extended as well as when it is retracted.
An antenna assembly 5 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is also known as an antenna assembly which provides favorable characteristics, similarly to the above-mentioned ones. The antenna assembly 5 has substantially the same structure as the antenna assembly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The feature of the antenna assembly 5 lies in that a rod antenna 5A operable when the antenna assembly 5 is extended is not powered through electromagnetic coupling but through mechanical and electrical connection.
More specifically, when the antenna assembly 5 is extended from a housing body 2, the rod antenna is fixed by mechanical and electrical connection of an extended-state limiter 5B arranged near the lower end of the rod antenna 4A to an antenna connection fitting 5A. The rest of the structure is similar to that of the antenna assembly 4. In addition, a stopper 5C is also provided for preventing the antenna assembly 5 from falling out.
After the antenna assembly 5 is extended from the housing body 2, the rod antenna 4A is mainly operative as an antenna which has its ground level at the ground of a circuit board 3 and a shielding case. Although a helical antenna 4B is also powered in this state, it is operative as a supplement to the rod antenna 4A.
On the other hand, when the rod antenna 4A is retracted into the housing body 2, the rod antenna 4A is electrically isolated from the helical antenna 4B since the distance G from a handle 4K to the upper end of the rod antenna 4A is larger than the length HL of the helical antenna 4B. As a result, the helical antenna 4B only is operable in the retracted state. In this way, the antenna assembly 5 favorably operates when it is extended as well as when it is retracted.
However, the above-mentioned three kinds of antenna assemblies 1, 4, 5 present a problem associated with a reduction in size of the portable radio apparatus. The problem is caused by the fact that the antenna length L must be shorter than the length of the housing body 2 for housing the rod antenna 1B or 4A in the housing body 2. However, since the antenna length L is essentially determined from wavelengths of used frequencies, it cannot be made shorter in order to reduce the size of the housing body 2. Generally, the antenna length L should be approximately one quarter to one half of wavelengths of communication frequencies.
Therefore, if a portable radio apparatus is to be made smaller, an antenna assembly designed according to the conventional scheme may not be completely housed within the housing body of the radio apparatus. For example, when the antenna assembly shown in the prior art example is used in a portable radio apparatus for a frequency band of 800 MHz!, the antenna length L must be approximately 90 mm! even if it is one-quarter wavelength. Thus, the antenna assembly cannot be used in a portable radio apparatus with a housing body, the size of which is 90 mm! or less.
Also, with the antenna assembly 5 having the structure shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the rod antenna 4A is extended, the rod antenna 4A and the helical antenna 4B are always connected simultaneously to the antenna fitting 5A, so that the rod antenna 4A is not operative as a simple monopole antenna. This constitutes the cause of lower design freedom.

Antenna assembly and portable radio apparatus


A semiconductor memory device has a voltage converter for converting a voltage level of an internal clock signal to obtain a high voltage level clock signal. The high level clock signal accelerates the transmission of the clock signal to latch circuits which control the output transistors of the memory device. Another voltage converter is disposed between the data amplifier and the latch circuit instead of the output of the latch circuit, for prevention of current flowing through both the output transistors.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device and, more particularly, to a synchronous semiconductor memory device capable of operating in synchrony with an external clock signal.
(b) Description of the Related Art
Recently, there is an increasing request that the semiconductor memory device be improved to comply with enhanced CPU performance such as a high-speed operation. However, due to physical limitation for miniaturization of constituent elements or an increase of the integration scale in the semiconductor memory device, this request has not yet been effectively solved. Some of the solutions responding to the request are proposed for synchronous semiconductor memory devices in Patent Publications JP-A-61(1986)-148692, JP-A-6(1994)76566, JP-A-8(1996)-96573 etc.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example of such proposals for the synchronous semiconductor memory devices, which comprises: an address input circuit 101 connected to a plurality of address input terminals ADD; a plurality of control signal input circuits 102, 103, 104 and 105 connected to control signal input terminals RASB, CASB, WEB and CSB, respectively; a clock input circuit 106 for receiving an external clock signal CLK to output a first internal clock signal .phi.1; a first synchronous signal generator 114 for receiving the first internal clock signal .phi.1 to output internal second and third clock signals .phi.2 and .phi.3; a second synchronous signal generator for receiving the first internal clock signal .phi.1 to output a fourth internal clock signal .phi.4, a command decoder 112 for receiving and decoding signals from the input circuits 101, 102, 103, 104 and 105; a latch circuit 113 for receiving outputs from the command decoder 112 to output a read control signal .phi.8 in synchrony with the second internal clock signal .phi.2; a data latch circuit 118 for receiving the read control signal .phi.8 and a fourth internal clock signal .phi.4 to output an output enable signal .phi.9; a burst counter 107 for receiving an output from the address input circuit 101 to output a plurality of internal address signals .phi.5; a column decoder 108 for receiving the internal address signals .phi.5 to output a plurality of column selection signals .phi.6; a row decoder 110 for receiving an input from the address input circuit 101 to output a row selection signal .phi.7; a memory cell array 111 including a plurality of memory cells; a plurality of sense amplifiers 109 for amplifying data signals supplied from the memory cell array 111 by responding to the column selection signals .phi.6; a plurality of latch circuits 116 for latching outputs from the corresponding sense amplifiers 109 to supply the latched data in synchrony with the third internal clock signal .phi.3; a data amplifier 117 for receiving outputs from the latch circuits 116 to output a pair of data signals D1T and D1N (D1T/D1N or D1T/N); AND gates AN1 and AN2 for receiving the pair of data D1T/D1N signals and an inverted output enable signal x.phi.9 to output a pair of data signals D2T/D2N; and an output circuit block 130 including data latch circuits for receiving the data signals D2T/D2N and the fourth internal clock signal .phi.4; and a pair of output stage transistors TR1 and TR2 for receiving a pair of data signals D3T/D3N corresponding to the data signals D2T/D2N.
In FIG. 1, other circuit elements such as buffer inverters and circuit blocks which are not important to understand the present invention are omitted.
FIG. 2 shows a practical configuration of the output circuit block 130 shown in FIG. 1 together with the synchronous generator 115, wherein the power source designated by VVT is specified as a voltage source supplying a higher voltage than the other power source. The circuit block 130 comprises data latch circuits 119 and 120 for receiving data signals D2T/D2N to control the output timing of the output transistors TR1 and TR2, a voltage converter 51 for receiving data 92 from the latch circuit 119 to output a high-level data or data having a high voltage level corresponding to the higher voltage source VVT, and a first inverter 71 for receiving the high-level data signal from the voltage converter 51 to output the data D3T having a higher voltage corresponding to the higher voltage source VVT, the data signal D3T being supplied to the output transistor TR1, and a second inverter 61 for receiving an output 97 from the data latch circuit 120 to output the data signal D3N to the output transistor TR2.
In FIG. 1, the group of the sense amplifiers 108, latch circuit 116, data amplifier 117, AND gates AN1 and AN2, latch circuits 119 and 120, voltage converter 51, inverters 71 and 61 is provided in number corresponding to the number of output pins DQ of the memory device.
Generally, the output transistors TR1 and TR2 are designed to have a larger current driving capability than other transistors in order for driving an external circuit-having a large parasitic capacitance. For driving the output transistors TR1 and TR2, buffer inverters 71, 61, 62 and 63 are provided in the latch circuits 119 and 120 and-between the latch circuit 119 and 120 and corresponding output transistor TR1 or TR2, as shown in FIG. 2.
The internal clock signal .phi.4 is generally delayed in transmission along the transmission line between the synchronous clock generator 115 provided in the vicinity of the input side of the memory device and the latch circuits 119 and 120 provided in the vicinity of the output terminal DQ, although a buffer inverter 65 is provided at the output stage of the synchronous clock generator 115 for driving the plurality of latch circuits 119, 120 etc. connected through the transmission line having a large parasitic capacitance.
The voltage converter 51 is provided on the data path for supplying a higher voltage than a normal power source voltage at a node 91 to cancel an ON-resistance of the output transistor TR1, thereby supplying a sufficient high level of the output data signal.
FIG. 3 shows a timing chart of signals in the semiconductor memory device as described above, wherein a case of "CAS latency=" during a read burst operation is exemplified. The term "CAS latency" means clock cycles necessary for supplying a read data through the output pin after an external read command is received. In the case of "CAS latency=3" three clock cycles are necessary for a read-out operation, or in other words, the read data is supplied through the output pin DQ after three clocks are counted from the receipt of the external read command.
During a first clock cycle C1 in Fig.3, an external read command is input in synchrony with the rising edge of the external clock signal CLK. Responding to the external read command, the command decoder 112 supplies an internal read command signal to a latch circuit 113 for instructing a read operation. During a next clock cycle C2, a read control signal .phi.8 from the latch circuit 113 falls to a low level in synchrony with the first internal clock signal .phi.2 for effecting a read operation, and the output enable signal .phi.9 falls to a low level in synchrony with the falling edge of the fourth internal clock signal .phi.4.
During the second clock cycle C2, the data read out from the memory cell array 111 is output from the latch circuit 116 in synchrony with the third internal clock .phi.3, and output from the data amplifier 117 as a pair of data signals D1T/D1N. After the output data enable signal .phi.9 falls to a low level during the clock cycle C2, the data signals D1T/D1N pass through AND gates AN1 and AN2, respectively, as data signals D2T/D2N, which are then supplied to the latch circuits 119 and 120. During a third clock cycle C3, the data signals D2T/D2N are supplied from the latch circuits 119 and 120 in synchrony with the fourth internal clock signal .phi.4 and delivered through the output transistors and the output pin DQ.
In general, it is requested that the access time be shorter in a semiconductor memory device. For example, synchronous semiconductor integrated circuits are controlled in synchrony with an external clock signal. The total system design for a CPU system can be made easy if a smaller clock access time is realized in the synchronous semiconductor memory device for a device receiving the data output from the semiconductor memory device. In FIG. 3, the clock access time of the synchronous semiconductor memory device is designated by t1, and a set-up time for the device receiving the data, output from the semiconductor memory device is designated by t2. That is, the clock access time t1 of the memory device should be reduced for an easy design of the CPU system.
The clock access time t1 is determined by a sum of a time interval between a rising edge of the external clock signal CLK and the corresponding rising edge of the internal clock signal .phi.4 which rises after the external clock passes through the clock input circuit 106 and the synchronous clock generator 115, and a time interval between the rising edge of the internal clock signal .phi.4 and a time instant at which the data signal is output through the output pin after the data signals pass the latch circuits 119 and 120 and drive the output transistors TR1 and TR2.
It is preferred to have less number of buffer stages and proper number of fan-outs along the clock signal path from the clock input circuit 106 to the inputs of the latch circuit receiving the internal clock signal .phi.4. However, as described before, due to a large parasitic capacitance of the clock line for the internal clock signal .phi.4, the number of fan-outs increases if the number of buffer stages is reduced, thereby retarding the transmission of the clock signal to increase the clock access time.
The voltage converter 51 in FIG. 2 especially delays the signal transmission from node 92 to node 91, generating a propagation delay for the signal at node 92 larger than, for example, the propagation delay of the signal at node 96 which does not pass the voltage converter. In short, a large clock access time results in the semiconductor memory device because of the voltage converter.
Moreover, due to a timing difference between the pair of data signals D3T/D3N, the order of the timing at which the signal at node 91 falls and the timing at which the signal at node 96 rises, which should be in this order, are reversed, causing a penetration current or pass through current flowing through both the transistors TR1 and TR2. For the protection against the pass-through current, the driving capability of the inverters 61, 62, 63 and 71 may be adjusted. However, such an adjustment sometime involves a difficulty in the design in view of process variation.

Semiconductor memory device having voltage converters


A flip-flop circuit is disclosed. The flip-flop circuit includes pull-up and pull-down circuits each coupled to a data input and configured to be activated responsive to a clock signal transition from a first phase to a second phase, depending on the input data. A write circuit is configured to write data into a latch of the flip-flop responsive to activation of one of the pull-up and pull-down circuits. An output driver circuit includes a dynamic portion and a static portion, with the dynamic portion being activated responsive to activation of one of the pull-up and pull-down circuits. Activation of the dynamic portion may occur concurrently with writing of the data into the latch. The output driver circuit also includes a static portion. After the clock transitions back to the first phase, the static portion may drive and hold the output while the dynamic portion is deactivated.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates to integrated circuits, and more particularly, clocked storage circuits used within integrated circuits.
2. Description of the Related Art
Clocked storage devices are widely used in integrated circuits (ICs). Flip-flops are one commonly used type of clocked storage circuit. A flip-flop is an edge-triggered storage circuit, i.e. changes to the output data occur responsive to a clock edge (e.g., a rising edge of a clock signal). Flip-flops come in a wide variety, including the J-K flip-flop, the S-R flip-flop, and the toggle flip-flop. The D flip-flop, in which the output follows an input D is one of the most commonly used flip flips in integrated circuits.
Flip-flops, along with many other clocked circuits, can be further divided into static circuits and dynamic circuits. Dynamic circuits may include one or more nodes that is precharged (or pre-discharged) to a particular voltage level during a first phase of a clock cycle. During a second cycle (referred to as the evaluation cycle), the circuit may respond to the input data, which include switching the output data. Operation of a static circuit does not include any precharging. The output may switch at a clock edge responsive to a change in the input data. The output data may be held at its most recent state until at least the next clock cycle, switching if the input data switches state.

High speed dynamic flip-flop circuit with split output driver


A needle assembly for use with a drug delivery device comprises a cap releasably secured to the drug delivery device and a blocking member. The blocking member comprises a disinfectant swab and a user graspable portion. The blocking member is configured to be physically moved with respect to the needle assembly by a user. The needle assembly is configured such that in an initial position, the blocking member blocks the cap from being removed from the drug delivery device and movement of the blocking member from the initial position causes the disinfectant swab to contact a septum of a cartridge retained within the drug delivery device.

A variety of diseases exists that require regular treatment by injection of a medicament. Such injection can be performed by using injection devices, which are applied either by medical personnel or by patients themselves. As an example, type-1 and type-2 diabetes can be treated by patients themselves by injection of insulin doses, for example once or several times per day. For instance, a pre-filled disposable insulin pen can be used as an injection device. Other types of disease require injections using auto-injectors. These injections may be weekly or every two or four weeks. Due to the physical impairment of some users, it is desirable to keep the user interaction required to prepare and operate the injection pen simple and minimal.


A bicycle drinking assembly includes a non-cylindrical type large volume drinking bottle and a bottle cage with a holding compartment that is configured to be mounted by mounting elements on a mounting face of a tube of a bicycle frame. The compartment is configured for holding the large volume drinking bottle or to hold a cylindrical type drinking bottle of a diameter that fits within cross-sectional dimensions of a base body of the large volume drinking bottle. The mounting elements and/or first holding compartment form at least three points of contact that lie at a radius that is equal to half the diameter of the cylindrical type drinking bottle and that are divided over more than 180 degrees of the circumference of the cylindrical type drinking bottle.

Such bicycle drinking assemblies are known since long in many variants. Most of them come with bottle cages that are configured to hold standard drinking bottles with mainly cylindrical base bodies of a certain standardized diameter. Those drinking bottles with cylindrical base bodies then may vary in length in order to obtain volumes of for example 500, 750, 1000 ml.
A disadvantage hereof is that the maximum volume that thus can be obtained is limited to the available place within a bicycle frame where the bottle cage gets mounted on. Another disadvantage is that the assemblies of bicycle frames with such bottle cages and drinking bottles with cylindrical base bodies are known to cause a lot of additional air resistance and thus negatively influence the cyclist's performances.
It is also known to provide bottle cages that can be adjusted in diameter of the holding space they delimit. Thus they can be adjusted for holding larger diameter drinking bottles.
A disadvantage hereof is that the larger the diameter gets, the larger the air resistance gets.
From the state of the art also all kinds of specifically shaped and dimensioned large volume type drinking bottles and correspondingly specifically shaped and dimensioned bottle cages are known. Their base bodies all have been given such cross-sectional shapes that much bulkier volumes are obtained and thus much larger capacities of water can be contained therein.
For example U.S. Pat. No. 4,441,638 shows a drinking bottle of which the body is of a block-like shape. With this the bottle cage comprises a fixing member, that can be fixed to a downtube of a bicycle frame by means of screws, and a bent spring wire, that is fixed at a lower end of the fixing member. In the mounted position of the bottle cage, the bottle can be inserted and clamped between a support surface of the fixing member and the bent spring wire. The fixing member has a concave mounting surface of a curvature equal to that of a curved top side surface of the downtube and a support surface mating with a front surface of the bottle. The fixing member also forms a shield which covers any gap which might exist between the front surface of the bottle and the downtube. During cycling a smooth air flow can thus take place along the downtube, the shield of the fixing member and the bottle, thereby not generating negative turbulences and not increasing air resistance of the bicycle.
This positive air resistance effect is further increased in that the block-like body is made rather slender with opposing side walls that gradually decrease from the bottle's front surface to its rear surface, and with those front and/or rear surfaces formed in a circular arc smaller in curvature than the downtube of the frame.
A disadvantage hereof however is that the specifically shaped and dimensioned bottle cage is only suitable to hold its own dedicated specifically shaped and dimensioned water-bottle. This makes the drinking assembly rather inflexible. If you for example are in the middle of a cycling race and need a new bottle from a neutral support station, then you will most likely not receive a bottle that will fit in the specifically shaped and dimensioned bottle cage on your bicycle. It probably only shall fit therein with such large play that a risk of losing it is high, which can be dangerous for other cyclists in the race. Also it may mean that the newly received drinking bottle is going to make a lot of rattling noise and add a lot of air resistance to your bicycle. In order to prevent that you would then need to pour the drink from the received bottle into your own, but that would also lead to dangerous situations or in losing valuable time.
A same sort of problem may arise when you lose your specifically shaped and dimensioned bottle or when it gets broken and you are not immediately able to have it replaced by a same type. Then also you might not be able to reliably place another bottle inside your cage, with a high risk of losing it, having it make a lot of noise and add a lot of air resistance to your bicycle.
Another example of a large volume drinking bottle is shown in JP-356175290-U. FIGS. 1 and 2 show a triangular type large volume drinking bottle of which the angle between its bottom and back walls has been made complementary to an angle between seat tube and down tube of a bicycle frame. The opposing side walls of the triangular type large volume drinking bottle is provided with groove-shaped indents into which inwardly angled gripping portions of a wire-frame grip with a form fit. The wire frame itself has U-shaped upper and lower portions to which the angled portions connect. The U-shaped portions are fixed to a flat mounting plate that is screwed onto the down tube.
A disadvantage here is that the user-friendliness of the triangular type large volume drinking bottle leaves to be desired. A simple sliding fit of the drinking bottle into the wire-frame is not foreseen nor possible. Instead a form fitting clamping is provided. It is difficult to quickly take the bottle out of its form-fit clamped position within the wire-frame and place it back there between again. For that a deformation of the wire-frame is required.
Another disadvantage is that the drinking assembly causes a lot of additional air resistance during cycling. Large gaps arise between the bottle's flat bottom wall, the wire-frame's flat mounting plate and the round down tube, which has a negative effect on the aerodynamics.
Yet another disadvantage is that the specifically shaped and dimensioned wire-frame is only destined to hold its own dedicated triangular type large volume drinking bottle with gripping grooves. Only slender cylindrical type drinking bottles with diameters that are substantially smaller than largest cross-sectional dimensions of the base body of the triangular type large volume drinking bottle may accidentally fit with a sliding fit between the wire-frame's inwardly angled gripping portions and the wire-frame's U-shaped upper and lower portions. Such slender cylindrical type drinking bottles then however are still destined to drop down through the wire-frame's U-shaped lower portion because it has been given the same dimensions as the wire-frame's U-shaped upper portion.
Thus, this known bicycle drinking assembly is rather inflexible in only being able to hold its own dedicated non-cylindrical type large volume drinking bottles. A 'standard' size cylindrical type drinking bottle shall not only be too large to fit with a sliding fit into the wire-frame, but also lacks downwards support.
CN-2019.77039-U shows another example of a non-cylindrical type drinking bottle that here is provided with C-shaped gripping indents that extend over its opposing side walls. The C-shaped gripping indents are configured to have complementary C-shaped gripping parts of a holder fit into them with a form fit. The holder is mounted with a flat mounting portion on a bicycle frame tube. The holder further comprises upper elastically deformable curved arms that at their free ends are provided with inwardly projecting thickened clamping knobs that are destined to grip into deepest sections of the gripping indents. The holder further comprises a bottom plate on top of which the bottle may rest.
A disadvantage here also is that the user-friendliness of the specifically shaped drinking bottle leaves to be desired. A simple sliding fit of the drinking bottle into the holder again is not foreseen nor possible. Instead a form fitting clamping is provided. It is difficult to quickly take the bottle out of its form-fit clamped position within the holder and place it back there between again. For that a deformation of the arms is required.
Another disadvantage is that it causes a lot of additional air resistance during cycling. Not only are the holder's mounting plate and the bottle's connecting wall portion that faces the cylindrical frame tube of the bicycle, flat, they also have smaller cross-sectional widths than the diameter of the cylindrical frame tube itself, from where the bottle's cross section dimension widens again. This may well cause all kinds of turbulence, which has a negative effect on the aerodynamics.
Yet another disadvantage is that the specifically shaped and dimensioned holder is only destined to hold its own dedicated type drinking bottle with its complementary shaped C-shaped gripping indents. Only slender cylindrical type drinking bottles with diameters that are substantially smaller than largest cross-sectional dimensions of the base body of the non-cylindrical type drinking bottle may accidentally fit with a sliding fit between the arms with its inwardly projecting thickened clamping knobs. Such slender cylindrical type drinking bottles then however are still destined to rest with way too much sideways play between upright edges of the bottom plate.
Thus, this known bicycle drinking assembly is also rather inflexible in only being able to hold its own dedicated non-cylindrical type large volume drinking bottles. A 'standard' size cylindrical type drinking bottle will not fit in this specifically shaped and dimensioned holder.

Bicycle drinking assembly configured for holding a type of drinking bottles with large volume base bodies as well as standard ones with cylindrical base bodies


A method of processing ray tracing comprising acquiring information about a light source and a bounding box that are located in a three-dimensional graphics (3D) graphics environment, the bounding box containing an object; testing whether a ray generated by the light source intersects the bounding box along each of first to third coordinate axes that define the 3D graphics environment based on the acquired information; and rendering the object in response to a result of the testing being that the ray intersects the bounding box along all of the first through third coordinate axes.

1. Field
This disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for processing ray tracing that are capable of performing a ray-box intersection test during traversal of a space division acceleration structure.
2. Description of Related Art
Three-dimensional (3D) rendering is an image processing process for synthesizing data of a 3D object into an image that may be seen at a given viewpoint of a camera.
Rasterization and ray tracing are two representative rendering approaches. In rasterization, an image is generated by projecting a 3D object onto a screen. Ray tracing is a technique for generating an image by tracing a path of light incident along a ray that is emitted from a viewpoint of a camera toward each pixel of an image.
Ray tracing is capable of producing a high quality image by simulating physical properties of light such as reflection, refraction, transmission, etc. However, since this technique requires a significant amount of calculation, it is difficult to perform high-speed rendering.
Ray tracing includes traversal of an acceleration structure and a ray-primitive intersection test. In this case, the traversal and the intersection test require a large amount of computation and a high bandwidth.

Method and apparatus processing ray bounding box intersection


A side body structure for vehicles is formed of a plurality of sections. Each of the sections has a reinforcement formed as an integrally continuous construction. The reinforcement has a plurality of through holes which reduce the total weight of the reinforcement. The reinforcement further includes a plurality of ribs formed around the holes and is securely fastened together to a surface of an outer plate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the body structure of railway vehicles and enclosed girder bridges, constructed of press-formed frameworks.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIGS. 13A-14C show a side body structure for conventional vehicles. As shown in the figures, various posts such as a side entrance post 2, door end post 3, and side post 4 are vertically mounted relative to a horizontally laid rocker rail 1. Horizontally disposed between these posts are window sill 5, a door pocket window sill 6, a frieze 7, and a door header 8. Further, a door pocket post 9 and a frieze frame 10 are vertically provided relative to the aforementioned horizontally disposed members. The above mentioned members are welded together to complete the framework of a side body structure. Substantially the entire surface of the thus made framework is then covered with an outer plate sill 13, a door pocket window outer plate sill 14, and a frieze outer plate 15, to which are welded reinforcements 11 and 12. In this manner, a side body structure having a window 16 is completed.
FIGS. 15A.15E show an example of an end body structure provided at the front and rear bridges of a railway vehicle. The end body structure has a pair of end entrance posts 17 and 17 on the left and right sides of the end entrance, and vertically provided corner post 18 and 18. Between those posts are disposed a plurality of members such as a door header 19, an end rocker rail 20, and cross beams 21. An arch shaped beam 22 is disposed on the posts 17 and 18 and an end outer plate 23 is welded on the end body structure. In this manner, the end body structure is completed.
Japanese Patent Preliminary Publication No. 61-220962 discloses a structure in which a flat side outer plate and a reinforcement having an uneven surface are put together to form a side body structure. The reinforcing plates have relatively small projections transversely thereof, that is, beads, the cross section of which is that of triangle, and projections having a U-shaped cross section longitudinally of the small projections. The reinforcing plate may have an uneven surface with rectangular projections thereon and a core material is interposed between the side outer plate and the reinforcement.
Japanese Patent Preliminary Publication No. 61-220963 discloses a structure in which a bead is formed on pier panels between the side posts and cross members in the direction of a shear force.
Such conventional structures have drawbacks in that the side body structure requires a large number of components of different kinds, more preliminary preparation operations when machining, and complex working operations. The conventional structures also require a large number of jigs for positioning the respective members relative to each other, and is complex in getting all necessary parts ready for the assembly operation. In addition, welding must be carried out at many positions, such leading to increased mechanical strains and less dimensional precision.
According to the aforementioned Japanese Patent Preliminary Publications, No. 61-220962 and 61-220963, beads are used to form uneven surfaces. However, the projections provided by the beads are rather small, thereby being less effective. Japanese Preliminary Publication No. 61-220962 requires an additional operation of inserting the core material between the projections and the outer plate.


In an apparatus for reducing noises in a space, signals related to noise generating conditions of a plurality of noise sources are detected, a signal component of the detected signals is selected on the basis of determination of which signal component is predominant over the other signal component in the noises in the space, and the selected signal component is filtered through adaptively determined filter coefficients to output drive signals to control sound source, the filter coefficients being updated through a control algorithm so as to reduce a residual noise of a residual noise detector such as microphones. The signal components to be selected include a signal component having a relatively high auto-correlated function characteristic and a signal component having a random characteristic.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for reducing noises in a space such as a vehicular compartment or a cabin of a fuselage, or so on.
2. Description of the Background Art
FIG. 1 shows a circuit block diagram of a previously proposed noise reduction controlling apparatus exemplified by a British Patent Application Publication No. 2 149 614 published on Jun. 12, 1985 (corresponding to a Japanese PCT Application Publication No. Heisei 1-501344).
The previously proposed noise reduction controlling apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is applicable to the space such as cabin or like space.
In details, in a space 101, a plurality of loud speakers 103a, 103b, 103c, and a plurality of microphones 105a, 105b, 105c, and 105d are disposed at respective positions of the space. Control sounds are generated from the loud speakers 103a, 103b, and 103c as to interfere with the noise sounds.
Then, residual noises (residual difference noise signals) are measured by means of the microphones 105a, 105b, 105c, and 105d. A signal processor 107 is connected to each of the loud speakers 103a, 103b, and 103c and the microphones 105a, 105b, 105c, and 105d.
The signal processor 107 receives a basic frequency of a noise source measured by basic frequency measuring means and input signals from the microphones 105a, 105b, 105c, and 105d and outputs drive signals to the respective loud speakers 103a, 103b, and 103c so that sound pressure levels within the enclosed space 101 can be minimized.
If the previously proposed noise reduction controlling apparatus disclosed in the above-identified British Patent Application Publication were merely applied to the noise reduction controlling apparatus which reduces noises of a composite input from the periodic signal caused by the engine vibrations and random signal caused by the road surface, the following disadvantages might be raised.
That is to say, in a case where either of the periodic signal and random signal has a higher amplitude than that of the other signal, it is unavoidable that a resolution of a control system needs to be set with reference to the higher amplitude input signal. Therefore, the resolution for the smaller amplitude input is reduced so that a favorable effect of control cannot be achieved.
In addition, it would be possible to perform control using separate (two sets of) signal processors 107 with the periodic signal caused by the engine vibration and random signal caused by the road surface input being picked up by means of respectively separate detectors at different detection points.
However, the whole control system becomes accordingly complicated, becomes expensive, and large sized. Consequently, the apparatus for reducing the noises described above may become unsuitable for that used for the application to the automotive vehicle.

Apparatus for reducing noise in space applicable to vehicle compartment


An electric connector including a housing having an insertion opening for a flat conductor, a connector terminal that is conductively connected to the flat conductor, an actuator having a pressing surface, and a shaft portion. The connector terminal is provided with a terminal portion that comes in contact with the flat conductor and a base end that supports the terminal portion. The terminal portion is provided with a front terminal that includes a front contact portion that is provided on an insertion opening side with respect to the shaft portion so as to face the pressing surface and a rear terminal that includes a rear contact portion that is provided on the rear side of the housing with respect to the pressing surface and at a position that is closer to the pressing surface with respect to the front contact portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electric connector that conductively connects a flat conductor to a printed board.
2. Description of the Related Art
An electric connector such as a flexible printed circuit (FPC) or a flexible flat cable (FFC) that conductively connects a flat conductor and a printed board to each other is typically used. As such an electric connector, an electric connector is known that includes a plurality of terminals that have connection portions that come in contact with a flat conductor and that press the flat conductor against the terminals by pivoting an actuator (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-158279, for example).
The above electric connector includes front terminals that are positioned on the flat conductor insertion opening side with respect to the shaft portion of the actuator and rear terminals that are positioned on the rear side of the flat conductor with respect to the shaft portion of the actuator. Moreover, rear contact portions that are provided in the rear terminals are disposed above (on a pressing surface side of the actuator) front contact portions provided in the front terminals and the front contact portions and the rear contact portions are provided at positions facing the pressing surface of the actuator when the flat conductor is in a fitted state. In the above case, the pressing surface of the actuator is fixed so as to be inclined in the closing direction of the actuator along an inclination connecting the rear contact portions and the front contact portions. With the above configuration, the actuator is not easily pivoted in the opening direction and the flat conductor and the electric connector connected together are not easily released from each other.
However, in the electric connector described above in which the rear terminals are positioned on the rear side with respect to the shaft portion and in which the rear terminals are disposed at a position facing the pressing surface of the actuator, upon inclination of the pressing surface of the actuator in the closing direction, the flat conductor becomes inclined in the closing direction of the actuator in a similar manner. Furthermore, the rear terminals apply a force to the actuator in the closing direction such that the inclination in the closing direction of the actuator is strongly maintained. Accordingly, there are cases in which a portion of the flat conductor that is exposed to the outside of the electric connector comes in contact with the printed board causing unintended conductive connection, and thus disadvantageously requiring additional insulation measures to be implemented.


Evaporation chamber for depositing a protective film on a surface, where a dielectric layer is formed, of front substrate, front substrate is formed a display electrode and the dielectric layer thereon; transporting unit for transporting front substrate into evaporation chamber; gas introducing units for introducing gas containing H2O into evaporation chamber; and partial pressure detecting unit for measuring a certain partial pressure of gas within evaporation chamber, extending from the center of deposition space of evaporation chamber to the downstream of transport direction of front substrate are provided. Gas containing H2O is introduced from gas introducing units such that the partial pressure of gas is controlled in the partial pressure detecting unit.

In recent years, among color display devices such as a personal computer or a television used to display an image, flat display panels including liquid crystal display panels (LCDs), field emission display panels (FEDs) and PDP have attracted an attention as a display device which enables a large-sized and thin-sized panel. In particular, the PDP has a remarkable advantage such as a fast response and a wide viewing angle.
The PDP has a structure such that a front plate and a rear plate are oppositely arranged and then the circumference thereof is hermetically sealed by sealing parts. Discharge gas, such as Ne, Xe and others, is enclosed within discharge spaces formed between the front plate and the rear plate.
The front plate includes a plurality of display electrode pairs made up of, in pairs, a sustain electrode and a scan electrode formed on a glass substrate in a stripe arrangement, a dielectric layer covering the display electrode pair, and a protective film covering the dielectric layer. The display electrode pair is made up of a transparent electrode, and a bus electrode made of metal material and formed on the transparent electrode.
On the other hand, the rear plate includes a plurality of address electrodes formed on a glass substrate in a stripe arrangement; an underlying dielectric layer for covering the address electrode; a barrier rib for partitioning discharge space for every address electrode and formed on the underlying dielectric layer; and a phosphor layer emitting red light, green light and blue light, which is formed on the underlying dielectric layer disposed between the barrier ribs, and at a side face of the barrier rib.
The front plate and the rear plate are oppositely arranged such that the display electrode pairs are perpendicular to the address electrode, and a discharge cell is formed in an intersection portion of these electrodes. The discharge cells are arranged in a matrix, and a pixel for color display includes 3 discharge cells having a phosphor layer of Red, Green and Blue colors. The phosphor layer is arranged toward the direction of the display electrode pairs. The PDP displays color images in such a manner that predetermined voltage is applied between the scan electrode and the address electrode, and between the scan electrode and the sustain electrode to create gas discharge, and then a phosphor layer is excited and radiated by ultraviolet rays produced by the gas discharge.
As to such a structure of PDP, there is required that the protective film has a better resistance to sputtering and a high secondary electron emission coefficient, etc., and, for example, as the protective film, the magnesium oxide (MgO) film is widely employed. The resistance to sputtering and the emission characteristics of secondary electron permit preventing the sputtering of the dielectric layer and reducing discharge voltage.
The protective film is formed using electron beam evaporation or plasma gun deposition and the like, the significant differences of characteristics between obtained films occurs according to deposition methods, deposition condition, etc. There is known that the characteristic of the secondary electron emission of magnesium oxide (MgO) film employed as the protective film is varied by impurities incorporated into during the deposition process. The reason is that if oxygen exists insufficiently within a film, or impurities, such as H2 molecular and the like originated from water (H2O) included in magnesium oxide or atmosphere gas, are incorporated into the film, combinations of Mg atom and O atom within the magnesium oxide (MgO) film are disordered. In other words, during such combination, uncombined bonds (dangling bond) occur, thus influencing the energy band of magnesium oxide (MgO) and in turn changing the emission state of the secondary electron.
In view of the above, in the case that magnesium oxide (MgO) as a protective film is formed by means of using electron beam evaporation, an example in which the protective film having better film characteristics can be stably manufactured by introducing the gases including Oxygen gas or Water (H2O) into an evaporation chamber and then controlling the partial pressure of various gases in a constant range, has disclosed (As an example, see Patent document 1).
However, in the known deposition apparatus as disclosed in Patent document 1, in which protective film is continuously formed while a substrate is conveyed, it is difficult to uniformly form atmosphere across an entire evaporation chamber. In particular, in the case that the gases including water (H2O) as impurity gas are introduced into the evaporation chamber, since influenced by a temperature distribution within the evaporation chamber, the decomposition of water (H2O) by electron beam and the like, water molecule existing within the chamber is undesirably distributed. Therefore, stable control of film quality can not be performed. As a consequence, the electron emission characteristics of the protective film can not be stably controlled, and thus the non-lighting of pixel or the malfunction of lighting in the PDP can occur.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 2005-50804

Method of manufacturing plasma display panel