There is provided a method of making a SrB6O10:Pb phosphor that increases the manufactured quantity of the SrB6O10:Pb phosphor by approximately seven fold when using the same size reaction vessel, decreases the lead-containing waste stream, and eliminates the use of hazardous concentrated ammonium hydroxide. The UV emission brightness is equivalent to or better than the same phosphor when prepared using prior methods.

The UV-B emitting phosphor, SrB6O10:Pb, is in certain respects a better phosphor than the Sr(Al,Mg)12O19:Ce phosphor used in suntan lamps as a minor component to increase the tanning efficiency of such lamps and reduce the time needed to obtain a tan. The SrB6O10:Pb phosphor has a higher energy, shorter wavelength UV-B emission than the Sr(Al,Mg)12O19:Ce phosphor and is also excited better by the 185 nm radiation found in low-pressure mercury fluorescent lamps. The Sr(Al,Mg)12O19:Ce phosphor has a broad band emission centered approximately at 307 nm, while the SrB6O10:Pb phosphor has a narrower, but more intense, emission band centered at 302 nm.
Unfortunately, the SrB6O10:Pb phosphor is somewhat difficult to manufacture. In particular, the conventional process utilizes large amounts of ammonium hydroxide and produces a lead-containing waste. It would therefore be an advantage if the SrB6O10:Pb phosphor could be manufactured in a way that would avoid the use of ammonium hydroxide and reduce the amount of lead-containing waste.

Method of making a lead-activated strontium hexaborate phosphor


An air delivery system including a means for defining a plenum near the forehead of a wearer, a baffle for distributing the air from the plenum downward over the wearer's mouth, nose, and face, and a means for securing the plenum to the forehead of the wearer, such as a safety helmet, a cap visor, or a pair of safety eye glasses. The brim of the helmet or visor defines the upper portion of the plenum, and a baffle defines the lower portion. The baffle has openings to distribute the air downward over the wearer's face. In the case of the safety glasses, the baffle has an upper portion and a lower portion forming a plenum between them due to a slightly concave shape of the baffle portions. An inlet nozzle is connected to the plenum through the baffle, baffle portions, or the brim, and a small motor and fan assembly is connected to the inlet nozzle via a flexible hose. In operation, the motor draws air through a filter element and distributes the filtered air via the hose to the plenum. The baffle then distributes the air flow over the wearer's breathing zone thereby protecting the wearer from particulate matter or harmful substances in the ambient environment.

Devices for respiratory protection have accelerated in recent decades. The health care and industrial work place industries have a need for practical, economical and effective devices for delivering clean or filtered respirable air as a means of protection from environmental contaminants. Agriculture also is in need of protection as it applies to ambient work place contaminants. Allergy sufferers and the more severe environmentally sensitive individuals could greatly benefit from low-cost convenient respiratory devices that do not add any additional respiratory stress. Currently, the largest percentage of the respiratory protection market is represented by the disposable and half mask cartridge negative pressure respirator. However, in recent years, new studies have demonstrated that negative pressure respirators offer limited protection as exposure limits for many substances and particulates are lowered by various approval agencies such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as well as the Center for disease Control (CDC). In response, many occupational professionals are selecting the positive pressure Powered Air Purifying Respirator.
Negative pressure respirators can be inherently uncomfortable, leading to less user wear time. A respirator that is not worn or is not worn correctly has a protection factor of zero. Negative pressure respirators increase respiratory stress, and must be fit tested. A fit check must be performed each time the respirator is donned. Facial hair eliminates the use of a negative pressure respirator. Disposable and half mask cartridge respirators have the lowest protection factor rating compared to all other types of respirators including the Powered Air Purifying Respirator.
Conversely, Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs) are not dependent upon the wearer's breathing capacity and avoid many of the noted implementation problems. PAPRs use small battery operated motor and fan assemblies to produce filtered, respirable air by drawing ambient air through a filter element. The respirable air is then distributed through various distribution strategies to the user's facial breathing zone, namely the nose and mouth area. A positive pressure of 5-12 cu. ft./min. is maintained in typical systems which displaces any contaminated air in the breathing zone of a wearer.
Since PAPRs are positive pressure devices, they eliminate the potential for pulmonary stress in a user. PAPR systems can be constructed to be simply, easily attachable devices delivering respirable air to a user. Since no special seals need be created on the user, PAPRs avoid any problems due to improper donning or inadequate fit problems. PAPR filters typically have larger surface areas than disposable filters and last longer than the disposable sort. Also, disposable respirators are typically discarded immediately after use, increasing the cost over the longer lasting, reusable, PAPR filters. PAPR devices offer broader protection in industry because they can be used for substance filtration in addition to simple particulate removal. Because of the forgoing, integration of PAPRs into an employee protection system is more easily accomplished than their disposable counterparts.
In terms of emergency respiratory apparatus, PAPRs may be used as a companion device under certain conditions. Escape type respirators are simple and small, often utilizing a belt mounted compressed air cylinder. A full face mask or other type of head piece may be used, but generally a clear plastic hood is utilized. During an emergency, such as a release of a toxic substance, escape respirators are donned, sometimes necessitating the doffing of a non-emergency type respirator. Risk inherent in escape type respirators include the inability to don the emergency respirator quickly enough. Exhausting the emergency air supply (usually 5-15 minutes of air) before reaching a safe area is of critical importance. Light weight PAPRs such as a shield or visor could make a combination escape apparatus and a workplace PAPR companion that would utilize the air purifying features of the PAPR during normal work shifts, and provide escape features for emergency situations. The combination air delivery device and escape apparatus would eliminate doffing and donning procedures. At the end of useful service life of the escape apparatus, the PAPR could once again be used to continue the orderly escape using filter media design optimized for escape situations.
In firefighting, a Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) could be used during the initial stages of structural firefighting, after which time an air delivery system could be attached to the firefighter's helmet to aid in respiratory protection from contaminates associated with clean-up, ventilation and inspection.
Even with the inherent advantages of PAPRs, current PAPR systems are expensive and cumbersome when compared with disposable and half mask cartridge respirators. Most systems are integrated into safety helmets during manufacturing, adding unavoidable cost. Other types of PAPRs utilize head covers, such as the above mentioned helmet, as well as hoods, shrouds, and completely fabricated helmeted welding systems. These systems provide positive air flow that often include the head neck and face areas of the individual user. In these cases, filtered air may be contaminated by the hair and skin of the user prior to respiration.
Typically the bulky helmeted loose fitting devices have few aesthetic features and little retail acceptance. Innovations of the head piece assembly, as it applies to the PAPR, is seriously lacking in both the industrial work place and in the health care industry.
Another drawback with current systems is that they are relatively expensive to implement. Helmets or hoods of various sizes and shapes must be inventoried by the organization using the PAPRS, thereby necessitating the purchase of relatively expensive pre-manufactured PAPRS. These PAPRs then replace other types of relatively low cost and user accepted protective gear, such as, but not limited to, the standard construction helmet or unrespirated miner's helmet.
Other than current industrial PAPRs, low-cost, low-complexity, comfortable PAPRs for casual or retail health use are non-existent. Also, there have been few innovations in current PAPR inlet covers. Conversely, personal protection devices such as safety eye wear, head protection, and hearing protection have made major strides in design and function. Light weight, practical and cosmetically appealing appliances are now the norm in these fields. However, one only needs to see the bulky, helmeted, hood, and loose fitting shrouds that are typical of the PAPR headpiece to appreciate the fact that aesthetics and retail acceptance have heretofore not been considerations. These drawbacks are a result of the over complexity of current PAPR systems and lack of industry innovation.
Absent from the arsenal of PAPRs presently found in the market place are respiratory systems that may be incorporated into existing conventional personal safety products such as helmets, safety eyeware, face shields, caps, headbands, welding shields, all presently used on a wide scale as the result of product innovation and design. The environmentally sensitive, many who are house bound, have few retail products that consider the need for aestically but inconspicuous designs that offer the advantages of a PAPR, yet may be worn in public places.
Moreover, the health care industry has need to replace the half masks currently used. Half-masks are uncomfortable to wear over extended periods and do not provide the broad range protection needed in today's health care environments. The health care industry is currently attempting to implement PAPR type devices, but has been slow to adopt them due to problems associated with intimidating appearance of the apparatuses, cost of disposable headpieces, and general incompatibility with the typical dress normally associated with a health care worker.
In conjunction with the discussed industry needs and retail market opportunities, legislation is taking form that will promote the utilization of PAPRs. New OSHA federal regulations will mandate new protections for "bio-aerosols" such as MDR tuberculosis, and new NIOSH regulations proscribe certain disposable respirators unless specially approved HEPA filter media are incorporated. Furthermore, industry continues to debate the validity of protection factors established by NIOSH, ANSI, and other committees, as they apply to negative pressure, half-mask and disposable respirator systems. This confusion over the validity of protection factors tends to diminish the desire to implement half-mask and disposable respirators in a system-wide fashion.
Therefore, there is a strong need for a PAPR that can be economically incorporated into preexisting, conventional protective gear, such as safety helmets or protective eye wear. There is also a strong need for a simple and economical, retail oriented PAPR which can be adapted for application specific uses, and for casual use of PAPRs.


A low temperature autoigniting composition for use in a mobile occupant restraint system comprising, a low temperature melting oxidizer and a fuel, wherein the low temperature autoigniting composition autoignites in the temperature range of about 130.degree. C. to about 175.degree. C. In a preferred embodiment, the composition comprises a low temperature melting oxidizer, a fuel, and a catalyst, wherein the composition autoignites in the temperature range of about 130.degree. C. to about 150.degree. C. Preferably, the oxidizer comprises about 20 to about 70 percent by weight of the composition, the fuel comprises about 10 to about 50 percent by weight of the composition, and the catalyst comprises about 2 to about 50 percent by weight of the composition. The autoignition propellants of the invention are designed to function at low temperatures and before heat damage to an airbag deployment mechanism can occur, for example, during a fire.

Most automobiles sold today incorporate an inflatable occupant restraint system (Supplemental Restraint System or SRS airbags). These systems are designed to be activated in the event of a frontal collision to protect the driver, and sometimes the front passenger, from injury. In a collision, the system is activated to inflate an airbag which restrains the occupants and protects them from the forces generated during the collision. In most instances, the method of deploying the bag includes electrical ignition of a gas-generating chemical, such as sodium azide, that quickly inflates the bag during the frontal impact.
Federal standards require that the inflating system used in automobile airbag restraint systems be designed to function during exposure to fire while maintaining inflator body integrity. This requirement is intended to protect nearby persons and property should the system be exposed to a fire while in the car, or when the device is uninstalled and being shipped. However, the casing containing the inflating mechanism may become weakened when exposed to the high heat of a fire. When the inflating system is activated under these conditions, the weakened casing may rupture and propulsively propel sharp pieces of the casing and very hot gases and particles. This situation creates the potential for injuring nearby persons, such as firefighters, or damage to nearby property.
One solution to overcome the problem of a weakened casing during exposure to fire is to formulate an activating propellant that ignites at a lower temperature than the temperature at which the casing is weakened. This solution integrates a special autoignition propellant which autoignites at a temperature that is lower than that of the main propellant. Once ignited, the autoigniting propellant lights the main propellant which inflates the airbag.
Several disadvantages occur with many typical autoignition propellants. First, many of the autoignition propellants autoignite at temperatures around 200.degree. C. As the main propellant approaches this temperature (especially likely at low heating rates), the burning characteristics change to make combustion more rapid. This increased rate of propellant combustion increases the probability of deformation or damage to the inflator casing following ignition.
Another disadvantage of many autoignition propellants that autoignite at approximately 200.degree. C. is the time required to transfer heat to the inside of the inflator where the autoignition propellant is located. The relatively long exposure time required to heat the autoignition propellant to its autoignition temperature causes the exterior of the inflator casing to become hotter than the required autoignition temperature. At these elevated temperatures, the casing has lower tensile strength which increases the probability of deformation during autoignition.
In some instances, additional devices are integrated into the inflation mechanism to inflate the restraint during a fire. However, some inflator components, for example initiators, are fabricated with materials that may deform or degrade at the high temperatures encountered during a fire. The deformed components may allow gases to leak and propel the activating unit into the passenger compartment following autoignition.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,380,380 to Poole et al. discloses an automobile occupant restraint system that will autoignite and cause ignition of a gas generant when heated to approximately 150.degree.-210.degree. C., thereby permitting use of an aluminum pressure vessel. The autoigniting composition contains a hydrazine salt of 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazole-5-one, boron, and potassium nitrate.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,084,118 to Poole discloses an autoigniting composition for the gas generator of a vehicle occupant restraint system that autoignites when heated to approximately 150.degree.-210.degree. C. The autoignition composition is made from sodium chlorate, 5-aminotetrazole, and 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine.
Published PCT application WO 95/04710 discloses a gas generant composed of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate, a nitrogen containing fuel, and an optional organic polymer binder.

Low temperature autoigniting propellant composition


A method for producing a micromechanical device having inclined optical windows, and a corresponding micromechanical device are described. The production method includes: providing a first substrate having a front side and a rear side; forming a plurality of spaced-apart through holes in the first substrate which are arranged along a plurality of spaced-apart rows in the first substrate; forming a respective continuous beveled groove along each of the rows, the grooves defining a seat for the inclined optical windows; and inserting the optical windows into the grooves above the through holes.

Although there are any number of applicable optical devices and systems, optical micromechanical micro-mirror scanning devices will be used to explain the present invention and the problem which it seeks to solve.
Micromechanical MEMS components must be protected against damaging external environmental influences (e.g., moist, aggressive media, etc.). They also require protection against mechanical contact/destruction and protection to allow them to be separated into individual chips from a wafer composite by sawing. In many cases, a particular atmosphere (e.g., a type of gas and/or a gas pressure) must also be established through hermetic encapsulation.
Encapsulating MEMS components in the wafer composite using a capping wafer which has cavities and through holes is a widely used and established method. Here, a capping wafer is aligned with the wafer containing the MEMS structures and is joined together with it. The joining can be accomplished through anodic bonding or direct bonding (a connection between glass and silicon without a joint material), for example, or via eutectic joint layers or glass solders or adhesives. The MEMS component or components lie below the cavities of the capping wafer, electrical bonding pads for connecting the MEMS components to thin wires being accessible via the through holes in the capping wafer.
For optical micromechanical MEMS components (MOEMS) such as, e.g., micro-mirrors, the protection described above is required along with a transparent window which has a high optical quality and may also have special optical coatings as well. In particular cases, through holes are also included in the caps for the purposes of making electrical connections.
When optical beams pass through the transparent window, reflections occur at the boundary surfaces. If the locally fixed reflexes of a micromechanical micro-mirror scanning device lie inside the scanning range of the micro-mirror, the intensity of the reflexes exceeds that of the projected image, thereby producing interfering effects. An anti-reflex coating on the optical window is only able to reduce the intensity of these interfering reflexes. Since the micro-mirror usually oscillates about or deflects from its rest position symmetrically, the reflex always remains inside the scanning range when the optical window is parallel to the rest position of the mirror surface and when the distance between the mirror plane and the optical window is small (this is always the case in MEMS components).
The only way to avoid an interference due to the reflexes is to divert the reflexes out of the scanning range by not allowing the optical window and the mirror surface to be parallel to one another in the undeflected state. There are two conventional ways to do this; on the one hand tilting the optical window, and on the other hand tilting the rest position of the mirror.
Inclined windows for individual chips are described in Eurpoean Patent Application No. EP 1 688 766 A1, for example. Inclined windows or other window forms for avoiding the reflexes are described in European Patent Application No. EP 1 748 029 A2 for wafer-level packaging.
According to European Patent Application No. EP 1 748 029 A2, the three-dimensional surface structures (for example inclined windows) in a wafer composite are produced from a transparent material (glass or plastic).
Methods for producing the three-dimensional structures are either very expensive or do not yield the required optical quality. Wafers having corresponding three-dimensional structures also present problems during processing, for example during wafer bonding, since the structures can be easily damaged.
Further methods for producing protective caps having inclined optical windows are described in German Patent Application Nos. DE 10 2008 040 528 A1, DE 10 2010 062 118 A1 and DE 10 2012 206 858 A1, for example.

Method for producing a micromechanical device having inclined optical windows, and corresponding micromechanical device


An apparatus and method for interfacing with an earphone are provided. The method includes checking if the earphone is uninstalled promptly after the connection of the earphone is sensed in an external port and if it is sensed that the earphone is uninstalled, continuing to apply a voltage to a MIC_BIAS terminal. The generation of a noise of the MIC_BIAS terminal caused by applying of a periodic voltage resulted from loose insertion of the earphone is prevented.

Recently, as a multimedia technology is developed, an electronic device having various functions has appeared. As these devices, for example, there is a portable terminal mainly classified into a smart phone. These devices generally have a convergence function of complexly performing one or more functions.
Particularly, a portable terminal, which is being recently launched, has a function capable of receiving airwave broadcasting (for example, terrestrial Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB)) and playing back a music file or photographing and playing back a moving picture in high definition in addition to a basic calling function.
When performing these various supplementary functions, a portable terminal additionally uses an earphone device (generally, called an 'earphone') including an earplug inserted into an ear jack hole of an ear jack provided in a corresponding device. In this earphone device, an earplug is provided at one end of a cable of a predetermined length, and a pair of earphones for listening to sound in stereo is installed at the other end thereof. Also, generally, a microphone is installed in a middle of the cable to perform a hands free function upon call.
The aforementioned earplug generally uses a 3-pole or 4-pole terminal. Each terminal is installed in an electrical insulation state. If being connected to an ear jack, each terminal comes into contact with a corresponding pin installed in a corresponding location of the ear jack, whereby each terminal performs a corresponding function.
For example, in a 3.5 pie 3-pole terminal of an earplug, a first terminal of the lowest side, a 2nd terminal of the top thereof, and a 3rd terminal of the top thereof, which take charge of SPK_L, SPK_R, and GND, respectively, are electrically connected with corresponding pins of an ear jack and perform functions.
Also, in a 4-pole terminal of the earplug, a first terminal of the lowest side, a 2nd terminal of the top thereof, a 3rd terminal of the top thereof, and a 4th terminal of the top thereof are electrically connected with corresponding pins of the ear jack, which take charge of SPK_L, SPK_R, GND, and MIC, respectively, and perform functions.
An ear jack for housing an earplug as described above is of a construction of connecting corresponding terminals of the earplug correspondingly to a plurality of pins installed in different locations within one housing. This can cause a detection error problem in course of inserting the earplug into the ear jack.
For instance, a sense pin for sensing the insertion or non-insertion of the earplug is installed at a housing end of the ear jack. Although the earplug is not fully (i.e., loosely) inserted into the ear jack, if a SPK_L terminal of the earplug gets into contact with the sense pin, a portable terminal detects the insertion of an earphone. But in this case, because the earphone is inserted into the portable terminal, the portable terminal detects a low signal by the sense pin. Due to this, the portable terminal supplies a voltage to a MIC_Bias terminal in order to check the insertion or non-insertion of a microphone. But, because the MIC terminal has not been connected with a MIC pin of the ear jack, the voltage applied to the MIC_Bias terminal is floated and is again applied to the SPK_L terminal and the sense pin. Due to this, the sense pin receives a high signal applied and detects as the earplug is uninstalled. Accordingly, the portable terminal eliminates the voltage applied to the MIC_Bias terminal. Due to this, the sense pin again receives a low signal applied and detects as the earplug is again inserted.
That is, in a state where the earplug is not fully inserted into the ear jack but the SPK_L terminal comes into contact with the sense pin, the portable terminal repeatedly performs the aforementioned operation. During this process, a periodic noise of 8 Hertz (Hz) interval is generated. This not only has given a feeling of displeasure to a user but also has become the cause of erroneous operation.

Apparatus and method for interfacing earphone


An operation force transmitting member of a door lock apparatus has a guide tube and an inner cable passed through the guide tube and is connected to one of the door lock apparatus and an operating device for operating the door lock apparatus at the upper end portion thereof and to the other of the door lock apparatus and the operating device at the lower end portion thereof. In this operation force transmitting member, a cover member, which is enabled to close the upper face of the guide tube during non-operation of the operating device, is provided on the inner cable projecting from the upper face of the guide tube.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a door lock apparatus, particularly to an operation force transmitting member of the door lock apparatus.
2. Related Art
As shown in FIG. 6, an operation force transmitting member 101 of a conventional door lock apparatus has a guide tube 102 and an inner cable 103 passed through this guide tube 102. The lower end portion of the inner cable 103 is connected to an operation lever of the door lock apparatus (not shown) placed inside a door. Similarly, the upper end portion thereof is connected to a moving part 104a of an operating device 104 placed at the side of an outer panel of the door. When the operating device 104 is operated in the direction of an arrow, the inner cable 103 is drawn upwardly thereby operating the operation lever of the door lock apparatus.
However, in the operation force transmitting member 101, because the upper end portion of the guide tube 102 fixed to the side of the operating device 104 is exposed, rainwater A enters the door through the operating device and then goes along the inner cable 103 and finally flows into the guide tube 102 from an insertion hole 102a thereof. Thus, there is a fear that rainwater enters the door lock apparatus and causes malfunctions of the door lock apparatus and the operation force transmitting member 101.

Operation force transmitting member for door lock apparatus


Multiphase ceramic materials for use in electronic applications such as patch antennas and multilayered ceramic devices may be fabricated by providing a novel combination of a glassy precursor material with operable amounts of a high purity cordierite material. The combined materials are sintered at appropriate temperatures, so that a non-glassy celsian type phase is formed. The materials of the instant invention, fabricated according to the method disclosed herein, demonstrate low dielectric constant (K) and low electrical loss (high Q) characteristics.

The use of ceramic compositions to form components for the electronics industry is well known. One application for a ceramic composition with a low dielectric constant (K) involves patch antennas. A low dielectric constant material may be required in order to achieve a wider bandwidth for certain antenna applications. Moreover, significant cost savings and processing advantages may be achieved when a ceramic composition is used to form a patch antenna using a low cost forming method such as pressing or tape casting.
Another application for a low dielectric constant ceramic composition involves substrates for multilayer ceramic packages. Multilayer ceramic circuits have been used for many years to increase circuit functionality per unit of area. Low dielectric constant materials are often required for ceramic substrates used in high speed applications, such as IC interconnects, for example.
A ceramic composition with a low dielectric constant must also possess other desirable properties in order to find wide scale usage in electronic applications. For example, if the required sintering or firing temperature of the ceramic composition is too high, then only electrically functional materials with very high melting temperatures, such as tungsten and molybdenum, may be used to form the conductors and transmission lines attached thereto. Thus, cofirability is an important material property. Tungsten and molybdenum tend to have poor electrical properties and, in particular, poor conductivity properties which render them unsatisfactory for many high-speed, complex radio frequency ("RF") circuitry applications. Moreover, such compositions are often fired at a temperature of approximately 1600.degree. C. in a hydrogen atmosphere for extended periods of times In addition to the high processing costs, materials such as tungsten and molybdenum are also very expensive.
On the other hand, if the ceramic composition has a lower firing temperature, it may be cofired with a wide variety of highly electrical functional materials such as silver, palladium/silver, gold, platinum, nickel and copper. Of course, as the sintering temperatures decrease, processing costs during manufacturing decrease accordingly.
There are several other material properties of interest for use in multilayer RF devices and the like. Low loss, i.e., a high Q (small loss tangent) material is a property which helps the overall performance of the device. Electrical Q is defined as the inverse of the loss tangent. The loss tangent is defined as the ratio of the imaginary part of the complex dielectric constant of a material to its real part. An electrical Q value greater than 900 is most desirable. Another important property is the coefficient of resonant frequency ("T.sub.f ") which is the measure of how much the resonant frequency of a filter made using a material shifts with a change in temperature. A low T.sub.f value, measured in ppm/.degree.C., is also very desirable. From a materials perspective, the ability to tape cast a composition using a doctor blade technique in conjunction with traditional tape casting processes is extremely advantageous in the formation of green tapes for multilayer and other applications. Moreover, if a composition is sufficiently flexible such that it may be adapted to various different forming methods, such as both dry pressing and tape casting, this would also be highly desirable.
The use of cordierite to provide a low dielectric constant (K) is well known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,206,190 issued to Jean discloses a dielectric composition containing cordierite and glass. U.S. Pat. No.5,532,194 issued to Kawashima discloses a cordierite glass-ceramic and method for manufacturing the same. A novel composition may be achieved when a celsian phase is created when a glassy precursor material is combined with a high purity cordierite composition such that the celsian phase is formed at low temperatures and offers desirable electrical properties such as high Q and low K.
Accordingly, there exists a need to provide a multilayer ceramic material and methods of making those materials and/or multilayer substrates that demonstrate the characteristics necessary for economical use in RF device applications while avoiding the limitations inherent in the prior art. Moreover, the ceramic material must be easily and repeatably fabricated, and amenable to manufacturing methods that produce materials with consistent electrical and mechanical properties.

Ceramic composition with low dielectric constant and method of making same


A server which interacts with a display apparatus is provided. The server includes a storage unit configured to store conversation patterns for each service domain, a communication unit configured to receive a user's voice from the display apparatus, and a control unit configured to determine a service domain including the user's voice, generate response information corresponding to the user's voice based on a conversation pattern of the determined service domain, and to control the communication unit to transmit the response information to the display apparatus. When it is determined that a currently received user's voice is included in another service domain which is different from a service domain including a previously received user's voice, the control unit generates the response information corresponding to the currently received user's voice based on a conversation pattern of the other service domain.

1. Field
Apparatuses and methods consistent with exemplary embodiments relate to a server and a method of controlling the same, and more particularly, to a server which controls a display apparatus capable of interacting with a user, and a method of controlling the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the development of electronic technology, various kinds of display apparatuses have been developed and spread, and have included various functions according to demand of the user. In particular, in recent years, the television (TV) has been connected to the Internet and supports an Internet service and, thus, the user can watch a large number of digital broadcasting channels through the TV.
In recent years, technology using voice recognition has been developed to control the display apparatus more easily and intuitively. In particular, the TV can recognize the voice of the user and perform a function corresponding to the voice of the user such as volume adjustment or channel change.
However, the display apparatus in the related art which recognizes the user's voice provides the function corresponding to the recognized voice, but the display apparatus does not to provide interactive information through the conversation of the user.

Server and method of controlling the same


A dolly type apparatus, which would include a body portion having four wall portions, and defining a substantially rectangular opening therein, into which a typical spine board may be slid into the opening. The body portion further includes a pair of wheels, for allowing the body portion to be rolled onto a surface; there is further included a shelf member extending substantially out of the lower end of the body portion, onto which a patient placed on the spine board may rest his or her feet during transport; there is further provided strap members which extend from a first forward wall of the body portion through a pair of openings in the spine board and would reattach on the rear wall of the body portion for maintaining the spine board held in place in the opening in the body portion, so that a patient who is strapped to the spine board and whose feet are resting on the shelf member, may be raised substantially to the vertical position and the spine board may be rolled through tight passageways, during transport without affecting the stability or movement of the patient being transported.

1. Field of the Invention
The apparatus of the present invention relates to a spine board dolly. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus whereby a spine board with a patient strapped thereupon may be secured to the apparatus so the spine board may be rolled along a surface rather than carried due to spacial requirements.
2. General Background
In the field of medical services, one such service requires that individuals who are injured at their home or the like, are often attended to by medical personnel in an ambulance setting, such as a service provided under 911. In such a case, due to the spacial requirements of an ambulance, the ambulance attendants utilize a patient carrier, which is commonly referred to as a spine board, which is a flat board constructed of a strong, solid material, which may be light weight, yet be of sufficient width and length in order to accommodate an average sized individual who has been injured or is in medical need, thereupon. In normal circumstances, the injured person is strapped to the spine board, and the spine board includes a series of openings along its length so that the attendants may grasp the spine board through the openings and carry the individual from the place of injury to the vehicle for transport to the hospital or other area.
It is most desirable, that in transport of a patient with a spine board, that the spine board be maintained in a horizontal position, so that the patient is cared for properly, and is as comfortable as possible during transport by the medical attendants. It is quite often a problem, when an individual is injured in either a plant setting or an office setting, where following the individual being strapped to the spine board, because of confining passageways such as a hallway or the like, it is quite difficult to move the individual through a doorway into a narrow hallway. Therefore, when the spine board has to be moved, for example, through a doorway into a narrow hallway, because of the spacial problems, the spine board must be tilted from the horizontal to a substantial vertical position so that it may be maneuvered around a tight corner. Of course, this is undesirable since when it is lifted in such a fashion, unless the patient is grasped very tightly, the patient will simply slide off of the board, although strapped in place. This, of course, may have a result which is totally undesirable, and could result in additional trauma to the patient and even liability to the company who is transporting the injured individual.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for allowing the spine board to be adapted to an apparatus which would allow movement of the spine board from the substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position, yet maintaining the patient strapped onto the spine board, without any movement of the patient off of the board.
Applicant is submitting a prior art statement which makes reference to patents found in the art which may be pertinent to the present invention.


A colored laundry detergent is provided that photobleaches.

WO2011/011799 discloses shading dyes containing an anionic group covalently bound to alkoxy groups for use in laundry detergents to whitening textiles.
In liquid detergent products, shading dyes are used to shade white textiles. Shading dyes provide a vibrant colour to the detergent. In use, liquid detergents are frequently spilled or dripped onto hard surfaces such as washing machine tops and floors. They frequently drip down the outside of their containers and residues are left in dosing caps. The bright blue/violet colour given by the shading dye makes these unwanted spillages highly noticeable; this is especially the case with white goods. A method to reduce the visual impact is required.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


The invention provides a process for producing polyurethane foams, in which compositions comprising                A) isocyanate-functional prepolymers obtainable by the reaction of                    A1) low molecular weight diisocyanates of molar mass from 140 to 278 g/mol with            A2) polyalkylene oxides having an OH functionality of two or more,            A3) optionally further isocyanate-reactive components not covered by A2),                        B) water in an amount of at least 2% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition;        C) optionally heterocyclic 4-membered or 6-membered ring oligomers of low molecular weight diisocyanates having a molar mass of 140 to 278 g/mol;        D) optionally catalysts;        E) optionally salts of weak acids, the corresponding free acids of which have a pKA in water at 25° C. of ≥3.0 and ≤14.0;        F) optionally surfactants;        G) optionally mono- or polyhydric alcohols or polyols, and        H) optionally hydrophilic polyisocyanates obtainable by reaction of                    H1) low molecular weight diisocyanates of molar mass from 140 to 278 g/mol and/or polyisocyanates preparable therefrom and having an isocyanate functionality of 2 to 6 with            H2) monofunctional polyalkylene oxides of OH number from 10 to 250 and of ethylene oxide content from 50 to 100 mol %, based on the total amount of the oxyalkylene groups present,                        are provided, foamed and cured, wherein the isocyanate-containing components, especially components A, C and H, have a total isocyanate content within a range from 2% to 8% by weight and a content of urethane groups of 1.0 to 3.5 mol/kg, based in each case on the total amount of the isocyanate-containing components, and also the foams thus produced and the uses thereof.

There are known processes in the prior art by which foams can be produced by mixing polyisocyanate-containing starting materials together with water. More particularly, patent applications EP2143744, EP2470580, EP2585505 and EP2632501 describe such processes using prepolymer formulations with aliphatic isocyanates that have an isocyanate content within a range from 2% to 8% by weight. In all the examples described, exclusively a urethane content of less than 1.0 mol/kg is used. The NCO/OH ratio during the prepolymer synthesis in the examples has a value of 15. None of the abovementioned documents describes mechanical properties of the foams produced.
In addition, foams based on aromatic polyisocyanates are known. For instance, in patent applications U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,903,232, 4,137,200, 5,849,850 and US2006142529, prepolymer formulations having either isocyanate contents >8% by weight or urethane contents <1.0 mol/kg are used.
An aim that has not been achieved to date in the production of such foams, especially in the use thereof in medical applications, is to co-optimize various properties, such as the flexibility of the foam, the amount of liquids absorbed, tear strength and a foam density that is not too high. However, only in this way would it be possible to provide a foam that has maximum tear strength but is nevertheless flexible and at the same time has high absorption for liquids with minimum weight. Especially in order to be able to use such a foam for wound-dressing foams for example, the optimization of all the properties mentioned would be desirable. However, it has been found to date that a foam having high absorption capacity for aqueous media (also called liquid absorption hereinafter) has comparatively low flexibility or breaking strength. There is therefore a need to provide foams having a combination of optimized properties.

Process for producing elastic and tear-resistant polyurethane foams and uses


A method for forming metal lines of a semiconductor device is disclosed. The metal line forming method includes forming plugs by perforating via-holes in an interlayer dielectric layer formed on a semiconductor substrate and burying a conductive material in the via-holes, sequentially forming at least two metal layers on the interlayer dielectric layer formed with the plugs, the metal layers having a difference in the size of metal grains of each metal layer, etching an uppermost first metal layer of the at least two metal layers using a photoresist pattern formed on the first metal layer as an etching mask using a first etching gas, and etching the partially etched first metal layer using a second etching gas.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods for manufacturing a semiconductor device. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to methods for forming metal lines of a semiconductor device.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
With increasing integration and reduction in the size of semiconductor devices, various configurations have emerged that utilize multilayer lines. Accordingly, the ability to accurately form via-holes and metal lines has become increasingly important in the manufacturing process of semiconductor devices.
FIGS. 1A-1D are sectional views illustrating a conventional method for forming the metal lines of a semiconductor device. As shown in FIG. 1A, a first interlayer dielectric layer 20, made of an oxide layer, is formed on a semiconductor substrate 10. Via-holes are perforated in the first interlayer dielectric layer 20 to form tungsten plugs. After the tungsten plugs are formed in the first interlayer dielectric layer 20, an aluminum layer 30 which is used to form metal lines is deposited over the first interlayer dielectric layer 20 by sputtering. In turn, a photoresist pattern 40 which is used in a subsequent process to form the metal lines is formed over the aluminum layer 30.
As shown in FIG. 1B, the aluminum layer 30 is etched using the photoresist pattern 40 as an etching mask, so as to expose the first interlayer dielectric layer 20, which is for example, made of a SiO2 layer. In the etching of the aluminum layer 30, an etching gas wherein Cl2 and BCl3 are mixed in a predetermined ratio is used.
As shown in FIG. 1C, the residual photoresist pattern 40, which remains after the etching of the aluminum layer 30, is removed via an O2 plasma treatment. Thereafter, a second interlayer oxide layer 50, made of an oxide layer such as, for example, a SiO2 layer, is formed on the aluminum layer 30.
As shown in FIG. 1D, the second interlayer dielectric layer 50 is subjected to subsequent processes (not shown), such as formation of via-holes, formation of tungsten plugs, a Chemical-Mechanical-Polishing (CMP) process, formation of upper metal lines and formation of a passivation layer. Thereafter, the second interlayer dielectric layer 50 is subjected to sintering at 400° C.
Aluminum has a melting point of 660° C. and exhibits poor heat resistance. More particularly, when the aluminum layer 30 is exposed to temperatures above 400° C. while in contact with an oxide layer, such as the second interlayer dielectric layer 50, which is made of a material having a large difference in thermal expansion coefficient with aluminum, an excessively high stress is applied to a contact region between the aluminum layer 30 and the second interlayer dielectric layer 50, and aluminum will flow to alleviate the stress.
When the aluminum layer 30 is exposed to heat during a subsequent thermal treatment, the aluminum flows upwardly and laterally, applying pressure on the second interlayer dielectric layer 50. The stress is concentrated on an upper edge 70 of the aluminum layer 30, causing hillocks on the top of the aluminum layer 30 or cracks 60 in the second interlayer dielectric layer 50.
When the cracks 60 occur in the second interlayer dielectric layer 50, metal grains move through the cracks 60, causing shorts and deteriorating the Electro-Migration (EM) reliability of metal lines.
FIG. 2 illustrates cracks caused in a dielectric layer above the metal lines of a semiconductor device, which are measured using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Referring to FIG. 2, when a line width of metal lines 3 (for example, aluminum lines) is more than 10 μm, stress is concentrated on an upper edge of a sidewall of the metal line and thus, there is a high probability of cracks in a dielectric layer 7 above the metal lines 3.

Method for forming metal line of semiconductor device


In one aspect, provided herein is a method comprising: (a) (i) determining cytolytic activity in a tumor from the subject; and/or (ii) determining genetic alterations associated with cytolytic activity in the tumor; and (b) administering an immunotherapeutic agent to the subject if (i) cytolytic activity is detected in the tumor and/or (ii) a genetic alteration associated with induction of cytolytic activity, tumor resistance to cytolytic activity and/or suppression of cytolytic activity is detected in the tumor.

With the recent success of checkpoint blockades (against CTLA4 or PD1/PDL1) and adoptive T cell therapy in durable reduction of tumor burden in humans (1, 2), there is an increasingly urgent need to improve the efficacy of these therapies as well as develop new therapies for non-responding or resistant tumors. While mouse modeling has been very fruitful in this area, little is known about the tumor-immune interactions occurring in human tumors.
High-dimensional datasets—such as The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) that include genome-wide DNA sequencing, RNA sequencing and copy number profiles—have made it possible to dissect the factors driving malignancy with unprecedented depth (3-8). Nonetheless, the intersection between the genomic landscape of cancer and anti-tumor immunity has not been systematically surveyed. While no direct in vivo quantification of tumor cell killing is currently available in humans, much can be inferred from expression data in biopsies because they contain the tumor with its microenvironment. This provides an opportunity to integrate immune phenotype and tumor genomics on an unprecedented scale and to generate new therapeutic and diagnostic methods.
Citation or identification of any document in this application is not an admission that such document is available as prior art to the present invention.

Molecular biomarkers for cancer immunotherapy


A learning toy includes a board assembly having a plurality of perforations, and at least one toy element provided with a stud member for insertion into one of the perforations so as to attach the toy element onto the board assembly. The board assembly includes a base and a face panel removably superposed on the base, the base being formed with a plurality of perforations extending through the thickness of the base, and the face panel being formed with a plurality of perforations respectively aligned with the perforations of the base. A plurality of toy elements may be provided, the heads of the toy elements being embodied in various forms and configurations so that a variety of games may be played on the board assembly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a toy, more particularly to a learning toy for young children that provides a variety of games for playing as well as for developing learning and cognitive skills in children.
2. Description of the Related Art
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a learning board unit 1 generally used in teaching young children, which mainly comprises a base 11, a transparent face panel 12, a picture card 13 and a plurality of peg elements 14 of various geometric shapes, is shown. The transparent face panel 12 is provided with a plurality of projections 122 formed on a front face 121 thereof, and two elongate channels 123 formed on the upper and lower edges of the base 11, respectively. The face panel 12 is overlaid on the base 11 by passing the face panel 12 through the left or right side of the base 11, with the upper and lower edges of the face panel 12 inserted in the two elongate channels 123, respectively. The picture card 13 is placed between the base 11 and the face panel 12. The plurality of peg elements 14 are each formed with a recess 142 on one side 141 thereof into which the projection 122 may be fitted in engagement. With the board unit 1 thus assembled, a child may, according to the color, drawing or word(s) shown on the picture card 13 which can be viewed through the transparent face panel 12, attach selected peg elements 14 onto the face panel 12 by fitting the projections 122 in corresponding recesses 142 of the selected peg elements 14 to form a combination which corresponds to the color, drawing or word(s) shown on the picture card 13, or to form a unique and meaningful pattern independent of that shown in the picture 13.
According to the construction described above, the face panel 12 and the picture card 13 are assembled to and disassembled from the base 11 by inserting or withdrawing the same from the elongate channels 123 of the base 11. If the face panel 12 were considerably large, such inserting and withdrawing operations would evidently be quite difficult and require considerable effort. Moreover, because the peg elements 14 are attached onto the face panel 12 by fitting the projections 122 on the face panel 12 into the respective recesses 142 of the peg elements 14, the stability of the connection will be affected if the depth of connection is limited. Therefore, the face panel 12 is suitable only for attachment of lightweight and small peg elements 14 thereon. In terms of the teaching function, the board unit 1 provides no more than the general function of fitting the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle on a board, in which variations are manifestly insufficient. The present invention is thus contrived in an attempt to alleviate the above shortcomings of the prior art.


Materials, devices and methods related to below-resonance radio-frequency (RF) circulators and isolators. In some embodiments, a circulator can include a conductor having a plurality of signal ports, and one or more magnets configured to provide a magnetic field. The circulator can further include one or more ferrite disks implemented relative to the conductor and the one or more magnets so that an RF signal can be routed selectively among the signal ports due to the magnetic field. Each of the one or more ferrite disks can include synthetic garnet material having dodecahedral sites, octahedral sites and tetrahedral sites, with bismuth (Bi) occupying at least some of the dodecahedral sites, and aluminum (Al) occupying at least some of the tetrahedral sites. Such synthetic garnet material can be represented by a formula Y3-x-2y−zBixCa2y+zFe5-y-z-aVyZrzAlaO12. In some embodiments, x≦1.4, y≦0.7, z≦0.7, and a≦0.75.

Field
The present disclosure generally relates to materials, devices and methods related to below-resonance radio-frequency circulators and isolators.
Description of the Related Art
Various crystalline materials with magnetic properties are used as components in radio-frequency (RF) applications. Garnets are crystalline materials with ferrimagnetic properties particularly useful in RF electronics. Many RF magnetic materials are derivatives of Yttrium Iron Garnet (YIG), a synthetic form of garnet widely used in various telecommunication devices. YIG is generally composed of Yttrium, Iron, Oxygen, and possibly doped with one or more other rare earth metals such as the Lanthanides or Scandium.

Materials, devices and methods related to below-resonance radio-frequency circulators and isolators


A filter includes one or a plurality of parallel resonators coupled in parallel and one or a plurality of a film bulk acoustic resonators coupled in series, the film bulk acoustic resonator having a substrate, a lower electrode, a piezoelectric membrane, and an upper electrode, wherein: at least one of the lower electrode and the upper electrode has a thick membrane region having a thickness larger than that of a center portion of a resonance region at an edge of the resonance region, the resonance region being a region where the lower electrode and the upper electrode face with each other through the piezoelectric membrane; and a width of the thick membrane region is smaller than a wavelength of an acoustic wave propagating in a direction crossing a thickness direction of the piezoelectric membrane.

A demand for a high frequency filter is rapidly enhanced because a wireless communication device such as a mobile phone is rapidly spread. In particular, an acoustic wave filter having a small size and having high precipitousness is demanded. The acoustic wave filter has an acoustic wave resonator. For example, in a high frequency band higher than 2 GHz band, a film bulk acoustic resonator is focused as a resonator having a small size and small loss. The film bulk acoustic resonator has a lower electrode, an upper electrode and a piezoelectric membrane between the lower electrode and the upper electrode. A region where the lower electrode and the upper electrode face with each other through the piezoelectric membrane is a resonance region contributing to a resonance. An acoustic wave propagating in a thickness direction of a resonance membrane contributes to resonance characteristics mainly. A spurious may occur when the acoustic wave propagating in the thickness direction propagates in a lateral direction.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-109472 (hereinafter referred to as Document 1) discloses an art where the propagation of the acoustic wave in the lateral direction is restrained and the spurious is restrained by providing a thin membrane region that is a part of the upper electrode and is thinner than a center portion of the resonance region at an edge of the resonance region. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-6501 (hereinafter referred to as Document 2) and Proceeding of IEEE international ultrasonic symposium 2006, pp 456-459 (hereinafter referred to as Document 3) disclose an art where the propagation of the acoustic wave in the lateral direction is restrained more and the spurious is restrained more by providing a thick membrane region that is a part of the upper electrode and is thicker than a center portion of the resonance region outside of a thin membrane region.
However, with the method of Document 1, loss may be enlarged. With the methods of Document 2 and Document 3, a manufacturing cost may be enlarged when the upper electrode has three different thicknesses.


In a system comprising a plurality of components, characteristic data is stored on programmable read-only-memories (PROMS) on each component. The PROMs are coupled together via a simple bus, and data is retrieved from the PROMs using the bus. The collection of data from the PROMs provides the component characteristic data, and a portion of the component characteristic data is stored in one or more persistent media devices in the system, creating a last known good copy. The persistent storage device could be any device that does not lose data in the event of a loss of power.

To provide consistent, high performance client support, businesses typically rely on either fault tolerant or high availability systems. Fault tolerant systems typically include two distinct yet identical processing paths. Each processing path operates on an identical instruction stream in lock-step. In the event of a fault in one of the processing paths, the redundant path provides seamless failover support to the client.
One problem with fault tolerant systems is that they are relatively expensive for the received performance. Each processing path may include many components, and the cost of replicating the components in the redundant path provides increased cost and size with no gain in processing performance. An alternative to the fault tolerant systems are high availability systems. High availability systems are designed with some level of redundancy in order to provide fault tolerance for single points of failure. High availability systems differ from full fault tolerant systems in that not every component is duplicated, and generally the processing paths, while operating in parallel, operate on their own instruction streams. Thus, when both of the processing paths are operational, the entire processing capacity of the system can be realized. In the event of a fault in one of the paths, the other path remains operable, and the system can remain available while that path is repaired. Thus, high-availability systems help to strike a balance between system cost/performance and system reliability.
However, in both fault tolerant and high-availability systems, it is inevitable that there will be some point of failure in the system. As stated above, when this occurs, the failed device must be fixed. For example, a networked storage device may include a number of disks coupled to a pair of processing modules via a midplane. In the event that one of the components coupled to the midplane should fail, the component is swapped out. In high-availability systems, because other redundant components are provided, the swap may be relatively invisible to the user.
However, the swap is not truly invisible. In many typical processing systems, each component of the system includes a distinct serial number, and other data identifying, for example, a type of the component, date of manufacture or the like. For the purpose of this application, such data shall be called 'component characteristic' data. When one device is exchanged for another device, the serial number, type of device, and potentially the system configuration could be altered.
Thus, in order for the processing system to be managed correctly, it is important that a system controller keeps track of the characteristics of the components that comprise the system. For example, in the networked storage system described above, it is important to know the characteristics (such as serial number, type, etc.) of the components (disk devices, processor devices or line cards) coupled to the mid-plane connector. The characteristic data is important from the standpoint of overall system control, as it allows the system controller to appropriately manage the data flow within the system. It is also important for the purposes of support; in the event that there is a failure in the component, it is important to be able to identify that component so that the correct support routines (diagnostics, etc.) can be executed. In addition, it is important should the networked storage device be coupled into an external network. For example, a World Wide Name (WWN) seed is used in a Fibre Channel protocol to provide a unique World Wide Name for a given device coupled into a network. Should the WWN seed be unavailable, the network identity of the system could be lost.
In usual practice, the component characteristic data is maintained manually by the system administrator. When the network device is received, the characteristic data is recorded and stored on one of the devices, or in an external notebook. A problem exists, though, if one or more of the components coupled to the system are swapped out and the stored characteristic data is not updated. Such events happen regularly in the support environment and, as a result, often there is not an up-to-date record of the characteristics of the components that comprise the system. Such inconsistencies could cause problems with network connections and additionally in obtaining the proper system support. It would be desirable to identify an improved method for maintaining component information in a system.

Method and apparatus for preserving data in a high-availability system preserving device characteristic data


A photomask used for printing a mask pattern by projection optics, in which a main pattern formed of a transparent area is provided in a semitransparent area formed of a semitransparent film and a phase shifter, and the phase angles of light beams passing through respective areas are different from each other substantially by 180.degree.. The photomask is intended to prevent a reduction in a production yield due to a resolution failure of the photomask, and to prevent generation of an unnecessary projected image. In this photomask, a transparent auxiliary pattern having the same phase angle of light as that of the transparent area is disposed around a main pattern formed of the transparent area, and a distance D between the center or a desired center line of the main pattern and that of the auxiliary pattern satisfies the relationship of D=b.lambda./NAm , where NAm is a mask-side numerical aperture of a projection lens, .lambda. is a wavelength of exposure light, and <b> is a coefficient in the range of 1.35<b.ltoreq.1.9.

The present invention relates to a photomask used for manufacture of semiconductor devices, a method of manufacturing the photomask, a method of forming a pattern using the photomask, a method of manufacturing semiconductor devices using such a pattern formation method, and a mask pattern design system.
A lithography technique of printing a pattern depicted on a mask to be exposed onto a substrate has been extensively used for forming a pattern upon manufacture of a semiconductor device or liquid crystal panel. For this pattern printing, a reduction projection exposure system for printing a pattern depicted on a mask at a specified reduction ratio has been generally used.
To meet the recent tendency of making fine the size of a pattern, the projection exposure system has been required to be enhanced in its resolution. In general, as the numerical aperture of a projection lens (NA) becomes larger, or as the wavelength of exposure light becomes shorter, the resolution of the system becomes higher. However, an increase in the NA reduces the depth of focus upon pattern printing, and the shortening of wavelength of light is variously restricted from the viewpoint of a light source, optical material and resist material.
An attempt has been made to print a finer pattern at a resolution exceeding the conventional limit using the existing projection exposure system. Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. SHO 57-62052 discloses a method of providing a transparent film (phase shifter) for inverting the phase angle of light on a specified light passing portion on a mask, thereby significantly improving the resolution for a plurality of periodic patterns.
A technique of automatically arranging the above-described phase shifter has been reported in VLSI Symposium (1991), and has been described in Digest of Technical Papers , pp. 95-96! titled "Automatic Pattern Generation System For Phase Shifting Mask". The similar techniques have been described in Digest of Papers Microprocess '93, pp. 50-51! titled "Algorithm for Phase Shift Mask Design with Priority on Shift Placement", and in the same paper (pp. 52-53) titled "A CAD System for Designing Phase-Shifting Mask". A technique for inputting a desired shape of a projected image for determining a mask pattern has been described in IEEE Transaction on Semiconductor Manufacturing, Vol. 5, No. 2 (1992), pp. 138-152! titled "Binary and Phase Shifting Mask Design for Optical Lithography".
On the other hand, U.S. Pat. No. 4,360,586 has disclosed a photomask of controlling the intensity and phase angle of X-ray or light passing the mask. The similar photomask has been disclosed in Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. HEI 04-1368540.
In each of these photomasks, the peripheral portion of a single transparent pattern becomes semitransparent, that is, a usual opaque film of a photomask is made semitransparent, and the phase angle of a slight amount of a light beam passing though the semitransparent portion is inverted relative to the phase angle of a light beam passing through the transparent pattern. Since the light beam passing through the semitransparent portion is inverted in phase angle relative to the light beam passing through the transparent pattern as a main pattern, it is inverted at the boundary therebetween, and thereby the light intensity becomes close to zero at the boundary. As a result, the ratio between the intensity of the light beam passing through the transparent pattern and the light intensity at the boundary is relatively increased Thus, in this photomask, a light intensity distribution being high in contrast as compared with the usual Cr mask can be obtained, and the depth of focus upon pattern formation is nearly doubled. The mask structure can be easily realized only by replacing the conventional Cr mask with a semitransparent film having a phase inversion function. Hereinafter, such a mask is referred to as a halftone phase shift mask (attenuate phase shift mask).
A technique of providing auxiliary patterns at both the ends of each of a plurality of periodic patterns and non-periodic patterns of the similar halftone phase shift mask for improving the shape of a projected image has been described in Digest of Papers MicroProcess '93, pp. 44-45) titled "Resolution Improvement using Auxiliary Pattern Groups in Oblique Illumination Lithography".
The prior art described in Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. SHO 57-62052 can significantly improve the resolution for a plurality of periodic patterns; however, a method of arranging a phase shifter for a usual non-periodic pattern has not been described.
The prior art described in Digest of Technical Papers, pp. 95-96!, Digest of Papers MicroProcess '93, pp. 50-51 and pp. 52-53! and IEEE Transaction on Semiconductor Manufacturing, Vol. 5, No. 2 (1992), pp. 138-152! relate to a method of automatically arranging a phase shifter on a light passing portion on a mask.
In the halftone phase shift mask, since a slight amount of passing light is present in an area to be shielded, the passing light is emphasized by an interference effect when the patterns are close to each other, and consequently, there arises a problem that a projected image having a light intensity level that is not negligible is formed on a portion where a pattern should not be present.
Even in the usual Cr mask, there arises the similar problem that a projected image is formed on a portion where a pattern should not be present by an interference effect, although the interference effect is lower than in the halftone phase shift mask.
The prior art reference do not describe a method of solving the above-described problem due to the interference effect.
The prior art described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,360,586 and Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. HEI 04-136854 fail to solve the problem of reducing the depth of focus of a fine pattern. Therefore, they present problems that upon manufacture of a fine element, a production yield is reduced due to a resolution failure, and that a projected image is formed on a portion where a pattern should not be present.
The prior art described in Digest of Papers MicroProcess '93, pp. 44-45! uses an annular illumination as a light source exposure and no description is made for a system with a low annular condition .sigma..

Photomask, manufacture of photomask, formation of pattern, manufacture of semiconductor device, and mask pattern design system


An integrated densitometer-compensator system for providing a digital indication of the dielectric value and density of a fluid in a tank includes a dielectric capacitive measuring device, a vibrating spool fluid density measuring device, a signal processor, a power supply, and a remote computing device. The signal processor produces a digital signal representing the dielectric value and density of the fluid, and includes a serial driver that transmits the digital signal as a serial word by modulating a carrier signal. An unshielded interface cable transmits the serial word, which can contain a unique identifier, and also provides power to the system. Transmission can be electrically, optically, or wirelessly. The exemplary system measures aviation fuel characteristics in fuel tanks onboard an aircraft.

The present disclosure relates generally to remote fluid sensors, and more particularly, to a fuel dielectric sensor within an integrated density compensation system.
Aviation fuel level sensors employed for measuring the height of fuel in tanks located throughout an aircraft use a capacitive sensing device that produces a signal representative of the fuel level as a result of the dielectric value of the fuel immersing the sensor. Because the density and/or dielectric value of fuel can vary with temperature, fuel type, and other parameters, fuel density and dielectric value are also measured utilizing separate density and dielectric detectors. These characterization value measurements are then used to compensate the measurements of fuel level made by the fuel dielectric level sensors which are located at various points in the fuel tanks. Therefore, a pair of detectors is typically used to provide the characterization of fuel in a tank, one measuring fuel density and the other measuring fuel dielectric value. Power and signal cables typically connect each detector to a central avionics computer, where the fuel mass is calculated by applying the density and dielectric values to the inputs from the various fuel level detectors. The signal cables connecting each dielectric and density detector are typically shielded to reduce electromagnetic interference that could otherwise degrade the signals. An aircraft typically has a fuel tank in each wing, and one or more fuel tanks located in the fuselage. For redundancy, each fuel tank may have multiple pairs of fuel dielectric and density detectors. Accordingly, numerous cables are routed through fuel tanks to provide accurate fuel level measurements in the various fuel tanks on an aircraft, thereby contributing to the weight of the aircraft. Moreover, these cables contribute to the cost of an aircraft during construction, and also during maintenance when cables may require removal and replacement.

Fluid characterization system with integrated density compensation


The present disclosure relates to the field of semiconductor circuit design, and in particular to a readout circuit layout structure and a method of reading data. The readout circuit layout structure includes: a first readout circuit structure and a second readout circuit structure having identical structures, wherein the first readout circuit structure and the second readout circuit structure each include: a first isolation module, configured to be turned on according to a first isolation signal, electrically connect a bit line and a first readout bit line, and electrically connect a complementary bit line and a first complementary readout bit line; a second isolation module, configured to be turned on according to a second isolation signal, electrically connect the first readout bit line and a second readout bit line, and electrically connect the first complementary readout bit line and a second complementary readout bit line.

As a commonly used semiconductor memory in computers, a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) is composed of many repeated memory cells. Each memory cell typically includes a capacitor and a transistor. In the transistor, the gate is connected to a word line, the drain is connected to a bit line, and the source is connected to the capacitor. The voltage signal on the word line controls the transistor to turn on or off, and then the data information stored in the capacitor is read through the bit line, or data information is written into the capacitor through the bit line for storage.
DRAMs can be classified into double data rate (DDR) DRAMs, graphics double data rate (GDDR) DRAMs, and low power double data rate (LPDDR) DRAMs. As DRAMs are applied to more and more fields, for example, DRAMs are increasingly used in mobile field, users have increasingly higher requirements on the power consumption indicator of the DRAMs.
However, the current DRAM performance still needs to be improved.

Readout circuit layout structure and method of reading data


A signal processor converts an input 3D image signal into a signal in which a left-eye signal and right-eye signal are rearranged temporally alternately. A driver of a liquid crystal display element includes a sub-frame data generator configuring all the sub-frames with step bit pulses and generating sub-frame data by using a drive gradation table in which the last sub-frame reaches a drive state when a drive gradation is “1” and the number of sub-frames reaching the drive state is increased one by one toward ahead of a sub-frame which has already reached the drive state, every time the drive gradation is increased by one. The liquid crystal display element is driven by the driver. An illumination optical system causes illumination light to enter into the liquid crystal display element. A projection lens projects modulated light emitted from the liquid crystal display element.

The present invention relates to a three-dimensional image display apparatus capable of forming a three-dimensional image by binocular parallax.
Recently, a three-dimensional image display apparatus is attracting lots of attention for showing two or more images having parallax on a screen or the like and causing an observer to feel as if an object exists in three dimensions. Until now, in projecting a three-dimensional image, a method of using two liquid crystal projectors or the like has been generally performed. Recently, projection of a three-dimensional image using one liquid crystal projector or the like is becoming popular. At this time, usually an observer wears a pair of liquid crystal shutter glasses, and light of a left-eye image enters into the left eye and light of a right-eye image enters into the right eye by switching of a liquid crystal shutter, so that a three-dimensional image can be observed.
Patent document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-31523) discloses a three-dimensional image display apparatus which can suppress crosstalk generated when a frame frequency is increased, by controlling switching timing of liquid crystal shutter glasses.
Meanwhile, the cause of crosstalk generation in three-dimensional image projection is not only on the side of the liquid crystal shutter but also on the side of the three-dimensional image display apparatus. Specifically, when a liquid crystal display apparatus is used as the three-dimensional image display apparatus, it is required to efficiently reduce crosstalk caused by a response characteristic of a liquid crystal display element.
Accordingly, the present invention has been achieved in view of such a situation, and aims to provide a three-dimensional image display apparatus which can reduce crosstalk when a three-dimensional image is displayed by one liquid crystal projector.

Three-dimensional image display apparatus


A sports arena-wall impact barrier for athletes comprising TEMPER-FOAM™ (T-foam) which has an impact absorbency factor greater than foam rubber and therefore will result in less injury to players. The players are absorbed into the pad, never contacting the solid wall eliminating injury to hand, wrist, arm shoulder, hip, knees etc. The impact barrier is comprised of overlapping panels of Temper-Foam™ (T-foam) to prevent seam separation under pressure. Preferably, Velcro® serves as the panel bonding element with the sides having a three surface contour comprising two offset substantially perpendicular surfaces with the third substantially parallel extending between the other surfaces interior ends forming a somewhat Z-shape in cross section. Since each perpendicular surface extends only partially between the front and back and that they are offset provides that an impact on the bound seam can not breech to the underlying structure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to impact barriers and, more specifically, to a sports arena-wall impact barrier for athletes comprising TEMPER-FOAM™ (hereinafter T-foam or temper foam), an open-cell polymeric memory foam material with unusual viscoelastic properties, which has an impact absorbency factor greater than foam rubber and therefore will result in less injury to players. The players are absorbed into the pad, never contacting the solid wall eliminating injury to hand, wrist, arm shoulder, hip, knees etc.
The impact barrier comprises overlapping panels of TEMPER-FOAM™ (T-foam) that are releasably secured one to the next having no seam perpendicularly extend between the front and back panel surfaces.
Each panel comprises spaced apart front and back surfaces with a top and bottom surface and contoured side surfaces forming the boundaries of the T-foam. Panel overlaps are provided on opposing sides with a releasable bonding element to prevent seam separation under pressure. Preferably, Velcro® serves as the panel bonding element with the mating Velcro® members fixed to opposing sides so that mating panels have mating Velcro® members from one to the other.
Both sides have a three surface contour comprising two offset substantially perpendicular surfaces with the third substantially parallel extending between the other surfaces interior ends forming a somewhat Z-shape in cross section. Since each perpendicular surface extends only partially between the front and back and that they are offset provides that an impact on the bound seam can not form a breech to the underlying structure as can occur on panels having a rectangular cross-section that are simply butted one to the next.
While the instant invention is disclosed in the preferred embodiment as an impact barrier for walls, the same application is applied to irregular surfaces that may include a cantilevered flange forming an end cap. Again having the result that no single-surface seam extends between the front and back surfaces.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are other barrier device designed for impact. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 3,564,801 issued to Huerta on Feb. 23, 1971.
Another patent was issued to Omholt on Jul. 8, 1975 as U.S. Pat. No. 3,893,275. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 4,238,914 was issued to Omholt on Dec. 16, 1980 and still yet another was issued on Jul. 4, 1989 to Gavin, et al. as U.S. Pat. No. 4,843,788.
Another patent was issued to Hayashi, et al. on Sep. 17, 1981 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,049,591. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 5,160,785 was issued to Davidson, Jr. on Nov. 3, 1992. Another was issued to Carter, Jr. on Mar. 4, 1997 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,606,841 and still yet another was issued on May 12, 1998 to Bucher as U.S. Pat. No. 5,749,193.
Another patent was issued to Langer, et al. on Apr. 13, 2004 as U.S. Pat. No. 6,720,402. Yet another U.K. Patent No. GB 2156735 was issued to Sharp on Oct. 16, 1985. Another was issued to Dodd on Apr. 13, 1994 as European Patent Application No. EP0619989 and still yet another was issued on Nov. 8, 2000 to Dodd, et al. as U.K. Patent No. GB 2349652.
A joint element for securing partitions or the like to each other, said joint element comprising parallel outer and inner leg members of substantially the same length, but offset with respect to each other, each of said outer and inner members having a free end portion and an opposite end portion, an intermediate leg member parallel to said outer and inner leg members and positioned between the same, said intermediate leg member being shorter than said outer and inner leg members and having one end portion aligned with said opposite end portion of said outer leg member and its other end portion aligned with said opposite end portion of said inner leg member, and a pair of connecting members of substantially the same length extending perpendicularly to all of said leg members, one of said connecting members connecting said one end portion of said intermediate leg member with said aligned opposite end portion of said outer leg member, and the other of said connecting members connecting said other end portion of said intermediate leg member with said aligned opposite end portion of said inner leg member, whereby said intermediate leg member is connected to said outer leg member to form a male mating means and said intermediate member is connected to said inner leg member to form a female mating means, male and female mating means of a joint element carried by one partition or the like cooperating engaging female and male mating means, respectively, of a joint element carried by another partition or the like to secure the partitions to each other, said respective joint elements when so engaged defining therebetween a tortuous path forming a hermetic seal, said joint element further including a pair of slightly spaced flange members extending perpendicularly from said free end portions of each of said outer and inner leg members for reception between each pair of flange members of facing elements forming part of a partition or the like, said flange members connected to said free end portion of said outer leg member extending toward said intermediate leg member and said flange members connected to said free end portion of said inner leg member extending away from said intermediate leg member.
A low profile rebound wall for use in sports activity is provided. The wall presents a substantially planar plumbed outer surface having almost totally uniform ball impact response characteristics and being free of vibration when struck. The wall includes spacer shims secured to a receiving surface. The spacer shims may have varying thicknesses to accommodate variations in the planarity and verticality of the receiving surface. The wall panels are in contact with the spacer shims, and a pourable material which will become adhesive and cohesive is poured between the panels and the receiving surface.
A resiliently impact cushioned adhesive-applied restricted growth low profile wall surfacing system for use in sports activities is provided. The wooden or composition wall members are held in place by spaced ridged elastomeric cushioning adhesive material between the wall members and the receiving surface. The elastomeric cushioning adhesive material has sufficient gripping and tensile strength to overcome normal horizontal and buckling expansive forces which can be generated by an increased moisture content within the wall members during periods of atmospheric moisture changes. The elastomeric cushioning adhesive material also provides substantial resilient cushioned support behind the wall members to assure desired ball rebound action, and to absorb ball impact sounds within the confines of the playing court, and provides a substantially planar wall even though the receiving surface may be relatively non-planar.
A modular seclusion room for confining violent patients wherein the four walls and floor are lined with a padded lining that is abrasion resistant, fire retardant, and shock absorbent. Ventilation and lighting are provided through the ceiling of the room and with access provided by an externally controlled closeable door through one wall. The seclusion room is portable and modular so that it may be quickly assembled within an existing structure in a number of possible sizes and configurations.
A shape memory polymer foam which takes on a deformed shape and an as-molded shaped, said deformed shape being produced when the polymer foam is compressed at a temperature higher than the glass transition point (Tg) of the polymer and then kept compressed at a temperature lower than the Tg until compression sets, said as-molded shape being produced when the compressed polymer foam is heated again to a temperature higher than the Tg until it recovers its original shape.
A resilient padding body which comprises an intermediate base layer and upper protuberances extending upwardly off the surface of the base layer and bottom protuberances extending downwardly off a lower surface of the base layer. The padding body includes longitudinal and lateral upper recesses which are formed between the upper protuberances. The upper protuberances have side walls which slope inwardly to form an object which is in the shape of a truncated pyramid and angled recesses. The base of the upper protuberances is essentially coplanar with the base member's upper surface. The base of each upper protuberance is separated by a slit which extends into the base member for about one half of the base member's thickness. The bottom protuberances include foundation sections which have vertical side walls. The foundation sections are spaced sufficiently to form a narrow channel between adjacent foundation section walls. A truncated pyramid shaped lower section extends downwardly off each of the foundation sections to form longitudinal and lateral angled recesses which open into the channels.
Interior wall panels having a rigid frame backing member to which an outer pliable sheet material is secured. A filling or padding material is retained between the sheet material and the backing member and the sheet material is secured through the filling in a plurality of spaced locations to thereby create a three dimensional surface relief. In some embodiments, the wall panels may be specifically constructed to provide thermal and sound insulating properties.
The impact wall element (1) for gentle deceleration of a human body impacting an obstacle has a two-zone structure. The first zone comprises a lightweight, plastically deformable sandwich cover plate (10) with two thin cover layers (11, 12) and an intermediately positioned, lightweight, deformable support core (13). In the second zone are provided discreet, spaced, plastically deformable spacing elements (21), which carry the cover plate and are supported on a fixed substrate (5). The thickness D2 of the second zone is more than twice the thickness D1 of the first zone. The lightweight wall element leads to a gentle interception on the shortest possible path, particularly in the case of a head impact in motor vehicles or aircraft.
Shape memory polymer compositions, articles of manufacture thereof, and methods of preparation and use thereof are described. The shape memory polymer compositions can hold more than one shape in memory. Suitable compositions include at least one hard segment and at least one soft segment. At least one of the hard or soft segments can contain a crosslinkable group, and the segments can be linked by formation of an interpenetrating network or a semi-interpenetrating network, or by physical interactions of the blocks. Objects can be formed into a given shape at a temperature above the T.sub.trans of the hard segment, and cooled to a temperature below to T.sub.trans of the soft segment. If the object is subsequently formed into a second shape, the object can return to its original shape by heating the object above the Ttrans of the soft segment and below the Ttrans of the hard segment.
A padding material, suitable e.g. for padding prison restraint cells or mental hospital rooms comprises a facing layer (1) of polyester mesh reinforced ABS bonded to an intermediate layer (5) of polyethylene foam by a heat cured adhesive. The intermediate layer (5) is bonded to a backing layer (8), e.g. by heat welding. The backing layer (8) is harder than the intermediate layer and is formed of a relatively hard layer (9) of polyethylene foam secured to a softer layer 10 of polyethylene foam. The material is secured to a surface to be padded by means of adhesive with a small gap left between adjacent sheets of padding material. The gap is filled with a sealing compound and covered by a strip of ABS which is solvent welded to the facing layer (1) of the main padding sheets.
A padded room for a veterinary hospital or the like comprises a foam layer (10) bonded to the walls and floor of the room and a polyurethane coating (15) spray-coated in situ onto the foam sheets to form a continuous skin. For formulation of the polyurethane coating provides a tough semi-rigid skin which, when bonded to the foam rubber, is able to withstand the substantial forces associated with use of the room by shod horses.
The method includes securing with adhesive, foam material to the hard surface, securing a textile material to outer surface of the foam material with an adhesive and applying to the surface of the textile material a pre-vulcanized latex liquid. Typically the hard surface to be padded is the floor or walls of a room, such as an animal enclosure or kennel and as such battens may be located at the junction between the wall and floor for additional strength. Preferably the textile material is a non-woven needle punched geo-textile, and more preferably is polypropylene. The pre-vulcanized latex liquid may be coloured and applied to the surface of the textile material by roller or as a spray.
While these barrier devices may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention, as hereinafter described.

Sectional interlocking T-foam impact barrier wall


Disclosed is a control system and method of a two cycle direct fuel injection engine capable of smoothly suspending combustions in the cylinder during light load operation of the engine. Based on a map parameterizing the engine speed and the target engine load, it is judged whether or not, when the engine load is in the light load condition, the target engine load is located in a suspending area in which misfires tend to occur. If the target engine load is not in the suspending area, since there is no possibility of misfire, the normal combustion cycle continues to operate. On the other hand, if the target engine load enters into the suspending area, the control system instructs the fuel injection and ignition apparatuses so as to suspend fuel injection and spark ignition with a frequency determined according to the magnitude of the engine load. The frequency is determined by a predetermined formula such that it is reduced as the engine load becomes high and is increased as the engine load becomes low.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a control system and method of a two cycle direct fuel injection engine and more particularly to an engine control system and method capable of eliminating misfires and improving combustion by means of suspending fuel injection and ignition periodically.
2. Prior Art
In conventional port scavenging two cycle engines, generally the amount of residual gas versus the amount of fresh air increases in the light loading condition and consequently misfires tend to occur cyclically in the cylinder. As a result of this, excessive emissions of unburned hydrocarbons contributing to poor fuel economy are produced.
Miscellaneous techniques to solve these problems have been proposed. Among them, the stratified charge combustion techniques in which fuel is directly injected into cylinders and burned in the stratified manner are effective to prevent misfiring. The conditions to realize the stratified charge combustion are not simple, namely conditions such as the shape of the combustion chamber, the state of fuel spray, the state of gas flow, miscellaneous control values and the like are needed to put into good trim. However, it is generally difficult to realize homogeneous combustion in the high speed and high load conditions with these conditions retained. Especially in the case of small engines with a high specific power, these conditions to realize the stratified charge combustion are difficult to be satisfied.
Therefore, in order to prevent misfires under light load conditions, other techniques than the stratified charge combustion must be chosen. Thus, it is considered to reduce combustion cycles, namely to suspend combustions selectively in the light load condition where misfires tend to occur. By selectively suspending combustions, it is possible to assure a good scavenging in a cycle wherein combustion is suspended and to assure a good combustion in a cycle wherein combustion is undertaken.
As techniques of suspending combustions, for example, Japanese Patent Application Toku-Kai-Sho 62-157259 discloses a technique of selectively suspending fuel injections for a diesel engine and Japanese Patent Application Toku-Kai-Sho 59-65526 also discloses a technique of selectively suspending fuel injections for a port injection type four-cycle engine.
However, in a two cycle direct fuel injection engine, no specific technique of selectively suspending fuel injection has ever been disclosed. Therefore, it is now expected that a two cycle direct fuel injection engine capable of smoothly controlling combustions in light load conditions will be developed.

Control system for two cycle direct injection engine and the method thereof