An optical recording method is designed for recording data on a recordable optical disk by use of a laser beam of a present recording apparatus under a desired recording condition. The method detects identification information which is reserved in the optical disk and which is indicative of a type of a previous recording apparatus. The detected identification information is compared with a plurality of identification information which are previously stored in correspondence to various types of recording apparatuses. As results of the comparison, the method determines whether the detected identification information matches with one of the stored identification information which does not correspond to the type of the present recording apparatus. Upon the determining of matching, the method retrieves a recording condition which is previously stored in association with the matching identification information. The recording of the data is performed on the optical disk by the present recording apparatus with use of the retrieved recording condition.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a recordable optical disk recording method and a recordable optical disk apparatus to record new data on a recordable optical disk of rewritable type by adjusting recording conditions based on original recording conditions of another recording apparatus which has recorded old data on the optical disk.
2. Prior Art
Recordable optical disks are available as write-once-read-many optical disks such as CD-R, DVD-R, DVD+R and as rewritable optical disks such as CD-RW, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, and DVD-RAM. Recording characteristics vary with manufacturers and even recordable optical disk types of the same manufacturer. When recording data on a recordable optical disk, the optical disk recording apparatus normally detects identification information (disk ID) recorded on the optical disk. The optical disk recording apparatus performs OPC (optimum power control) to determine an optimum write power for the object disk. The optical disk recording apparatus adjusts the recording conditions for attaining optimal recording quality, and then writes data by the determined optimal write power of the laser beam (e.g., see patent document 1).
Patent document 1 is Japan Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-7645 (pp. 5-7, FIGS. 5 and 6).
However, the optical disk apparatus described in Patent document 1 may degrade jitter characteristics of reproduced data and may increase an error rate of the reproduced data in case that the optical disk apparatus overwrite the data on a recordable optical disk on which another optical disk apparatus has already recorded old data.
Generally, optical disk recording apparatuses use different recording conditions depending on manufacturers and models of the apparatuses. Nonetheless, the conventional optical disk apparatus described in Patent document 1 only memorizes its own recorder identification information in correspondence to disk identification information which identifies types or models of recordable optical disks. Therefore, when a second optical disk recording apparatus overwrites data on a recordable optical disk on which a first optical disk recording apparatus has recorded data, the OPC is indispensable for finding an optimum write power value for the second optical disk recording apparatus. Even if the data is recorded after finding the optimum power value based on the OPC, however, the recording condition of the second optical disk recording apparatus differs from that of the first optical disk recording apparatus that recorded the original data. Consequently, the original data may not be completely erased by the second optical disk recording apparatus prior to the writing of new data over the original data.
Generally, the optical disk recording apparatus tunes the write power and erase power of the laser beam to form pits with the same width (shape) and to completely erase the original data during overwriting. However, when the recording rate of data varies, the formed pits may have different widths (shapes) due to deviations in the laser diode or rewritable optical disk materials. When overwriting data by forming a new pit, the new pit may not be able to completely erase a previously formed pit due to such difference of the pit width. When data is recorded at 4× speed on the rewritable optical disk, for example, overwriting pit formed at 1× speed cannot completely erase the old pit recorded at 4× speed on the same rewritable optical disk. This may degrade jitter characteristics of the data reproduction and increase the error rate.
The conventional optical disk recording apparatus uses different recording conditions such as the write power, the erase power, the bottom power, the write strategy, and the spot shape depending on manufacturers, models, firmware versions, and recording rates. Further, the rewritable optical disk is subject to different recording characteristics depending on recording conditions. When a first optical disk recording apparatus is used to record data on the rewritable optical disk, overwriting data using a second optical disk recording apparatus degrades jitter characteristics and increases the error rate. This is because a previous pit formed by the first recording apparatus on the rewritable optical disk cannot be erased completely by the second recording apparatus. Stated otherwise, a new pit cannot be formed by the second recording apparatus so as to completely cover the original pit formed by the first recording apparatus.

Method of overwriting optical disk with adapting initial writing conditions


A method for manufacturing a tin-electroplated cold-rolled steel strip, which comprises the steps of: continuously annealing a degreased cold-rolled steel strip; then, subjecting, following the continuous annealing treatment, the continuously annealed cold-rolled steel strip to a continuous tin-electroplating treatment in a tin-electroplating bath to form, on at least one surface of the cold-rolled steel strip, a tin-electroplating layer having a plating weight within a range of from 0.1 to 2.8 g/m.sup.2 per surface of the cold-rolled steel strip; and then, temper-rolling, following the continuous tin-electroplating treatment, the cold-rolled steel strip having the tin-electroplating layer on at least one surface thereof, at a reduction ratio within a range of from 1 to 5%.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a tin-electroplated cold-rolled steel strip mainly used for a can body of a drawn and ironed can (hereinafter referred to as the "DI can") which is a kind of a two-piece can comprising a cup-shaped can body and a top.

Method for manufacturing tin-electroplated cold-rolled steel strip


A method, apparatus and computer program product for preventing occurrences of the hidden node problem are presented. A transmission request (CC-RTS) is received from a source node, the CC-RTS frame including a reservation duration value indicating the length of time needed for a transmission reservation. A timer is adjusted for the period other nodes must refrain from transmitting on the channel (NAV) equal to a duration of a transmission request/transmission response (CC-RTS/CC-CTS) handshake. When the CC-RTS has been denied, then a second CC-RTS frame is received having a reservation duration value of zero, and when the CC-RTS is accepted then the NAV is extended to remainder of the reservation duration value of the original CC-RTS frame. The CC-RTS and CC-CTS are sent at a more robust PHY mode than traffic frames.

Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANS) have become ubiquitous. In wireless Local Area Networks (LANS), a wireless channel can be reserved for the transmission of a sequence of frames while employing asynchronous distributed random channel access methods. In such an environment, both the source and destination of the transmission broadcast the reservation duration in order to establish the interference neighborhood.
According to the 802.11 distributed channel access MAC protocol, RTS/CTS frames are used to notify neighbors of a transmission. The source and destination of the transmission the RTS and CTS frames, respectively, which contain the reservation duration in order to establish the interference neighborhood. Nodes receiving either frame refrain from transmitting or agreeing to receive a transmission for the specified duration. This way, 'hidden terminals', that is nodes that cannot hear the transmission by may cause interference to the receiving node, will refrain from transmitting for the duration indicated in the received CTS frame.
One method of reserving the channel and preventing collisions with hidden terminals in wireless LANS is by utilizing Frame-by-frame reservation. RTS/CTS frames are sent at the start of the reservation. The reservation time is extended on a frame-by-frame basis, by updating the duration of the reservation with each data frame and the acknowledgement that follows. A consequence of frame-by-frame reservation if that, if the reservation is not accepted—that is, a CTS frame is not returned in tine—there is no reserved time left unused and, hence, the reservation does not require cancellation.
Another method of performing reservation in wireless LANS is by utilizing Start-to-finish reservation. A start-to-finish reservation applies to any combination of nodes (i.e. mesh points/APs/stations). A node reserves a channel to cover an entire sequence of transmissions, directed to a single destination, possibly including responses from the destination. Under this method, the channel may be reserved by setting the duration field value to the time it will to transmit the entire sequence of frames. If the reservation request is not authorized—that is, a CTS frame is not returned in tine—or if time remains reserved at the completion of transmission, the reservation must be cancelled.
Cancellation of a reservation can be problematic in an 802.11 WLAN, because a node relies on a single timer, the NAV, in order to determine if the channel is available for transmission. When a node receives a frame with a value in the Duration field that would extend the occupancy of the channel beyond that of prior reservations, the NAV timer is updated to reflect the longer reservation. It is possible for a node to receive multiple NAV-setting frames from different sources. For instance, a node may receive a CTS frame from one neighbor, and an RTS from another neighbor, who has not received the CTS. Cancellation of the transmission associated with the RTS could be achieved either by listening for an idle channel, or by receiving an explicit cancellation of the reservation from the source of the RTS. If a node resets its NAV based on such a cancellation, it risks causing interference/collision to the neighbor that had sent the CTS frame if this neighbor is still receiving the transmission associated with that CTS frame. Because a single NAV timer is maintained, independently of the source of the NAV-setting request, there is no way to determine whether cancellation of a reservation should cause the NAV timer to be reset.
In spite of this deficiency, the start-to-finish NAV setting method is important because it affords protection from 'hidden terminals', a problem that is exacerbated in mesh networks because of the long distances between neighbors.
WLANS can include multiple channels and multiple radios. An approach that offers both multi-channel and multi-radio capabilities appears in the co-pending patent application titled "A Protocol For Wireless Multi-Channel Access Control", Ser. No. 11/393,127, filed Mar. 29, 2006, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein, which describes the CCC (Common Control Channel) MAC protocol. CCC utilizes two types of logical channels, the control channel and the data channels.

Avoiding hidden terminals in wireless local area networks


The embodiments herein describe a memory device and method for reading and writing data. In one embodiment, a memory device is provided comprising a memory array and first and second data buffers in communication with the memory array. The second data buffer comprises a larger storage capacity than the first data buffer. During a write operation, data is stored in the second data buffer and then stored in the memory array. During a read operation, data is read from the memory array and then stored in the first data buffer but not in the second data buffer. Because the smaller-storage-capacity buffer takes less time to fill than the larger-storage-capacity buffer, there is less of a delay in outputting data from the memory device as compared to memory devices that use a larger-storage-capacity buffer for both read and write operations. Other embodiments are provided, and each of the embodiments can be used alone or in combination with one another.

In page-oriented memories, a page register is used as a temporary storage structure to hold data being written to and read from a memory array. During a write operation, the page register is populated with data, and when the page register holds a page of data, the data is written from the page register to the memory array. During a read operation, data read from the memory array is stored in the page register, and when the page register holds a page of data, the data is outputted. One of the benefits of using a page register is that it reduces the delay perceived by an end user when storing data in the memory array, since storing data in the page register takes less time than storing data in the memory array. However, some of the delays associated with a write operation are not present in a read operation. Further, during a read operation, an entire page of data is read from the memory array and written into the page register before even a single bit of data from that page is outputted. This delay can be noticeable to an end user, especially if the user spends more time reading from the memory array than writing to the memory array, which is likely to happen if the memory array is a write-once memory array.


The present invention provides crystals of glutathione oxidized n hydrate (wherein n is an integer or a fraction of not less than 0 and less than 8) useful, for example, as final products of, as raw materials for, or as intermediates of health foods, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics or the like, and a process for producing crystals of glutathione oxidized, which comprises a step of crystallizing glutathione oxidized from a mixture of an aqueous solution containing glutathione oxidized and a water-miscible organic solvent and which is suitable for large-scale synthesis or industrialization.

Oxidized glutathione has an effect similar to that of glutathione reduced. As the effect that glutathione oxidized has, an effect such as detoxification in the liver by orally administration is known [J. Nutr. Sci. Vitaminol., Vol. 44, p. 613 (1998)]. Thus, glutathione oxidized can be used for various purposes for which glutathione reduced is used, and is, for example, useful as final products of, as raw materials for, or as intermediates of health foods, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics or the like.
As a process for producing glutathione oxidized, processes, such as a process for preparing a yeast extract thereof by concentration, dilution or the like of a glutathione oxidized solution which is obtained by oxidizing an aqueous solution, a yeast solution or the like of glutathione reduced obtained by a fermentation, an enzymatic preparation or the like, as a raw material, according to Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 146279/93, 177896/95 or the like; a process for preparing powders of a yeast extract containing glutathione oxidized by adding vehicles to the glutathione oxidized solution, and freeze-drying, spray-drying or the like; and a process for preparing powders (amorphous) of glutathione oxidized by separating and purifying the glutathione oxidized solution, and freeze-drying, spray-drying or the like, are known.
Since glutathione oxidized is difficult to obtain as crystals, glutathione oxidized in a solid form is supplied in the form of powders obtained by freeze-drying or the like (freeze-dried powders; amorphous). However, the freeze-drying is not suitable for industrial large-scale supply in its productivity. Accordingly, there exists a demand for crystals of glutathione oxidized and a process for production thereof which are suitable for large-scale supply or industrialization.
Furthermore, the freeze-dried powders of glutathione oxidized are known to have a problem in respect of stability because of their hygroscopicity, deliquescence, etc. Thus, they need to be refrigerated or frozen, or require special packaging to avoid moisture absorption when, for example, stored, transported or distributed. Accordingly, for its industrial large-scale supply, crystals of glutathione oxidized that can be stored at ordinary temperature and a process for production thereof are required.

Crystals of oxidized glutathione and process for producing the same


A reflector arrangement is configured for attachment to a wireless communications terminal having a patch antenna. The patch antenna includes a patch radiator in a substantially parallel relationship with a ground plane, and the patch antenna produces a radiation beam of a predetermined beamwidth. The reflector arrangement is configured, when attached to the terminal, to produce a radiation beam of reduced beamwidth relative to the predetermined beamwidth. The reflector arrangement comprises a main reflector and a sub-reflector for reflecting radiation towards the main reflector, and the reflector arrangement is configured such that, when attached to the terminal, the patch antenna acts as a feed antenna for the sub-reflector. The sub-reflector is arranged to collect the radiation from the patch antenna and to reflect the beam towards the main reflector such that the main reflector produces the radiated beam of reduced beamwidth.

The present invention relates generally to radio frequency antenna arrangements, and more specifically, but not exclusively, to a reflector arrangement for attachment to a wireless communications terminal to increase antenna gain for transmission and reception of microwave frequency radiation in a wireless communications system.
Modern wireless communications systems place great demands on the antennas used to transmit and receive signals. In particular in a fixed wireless access system, in which a wireless terminal known as customer premises equipment may be installed at a determined orientation for communication with a base station, it may be required that an antenna produces a radiation pattern that has well defined directional characteristics so as to reduce path loss to the base station and to minimise interference to neighbouring systems, but there is also a requirement that the antenna be small, and cheap to produce.
Typically, a wireless communications terminal may be provided with an internal antenna, situated within the housing of the terminal. The internal antenna is typically designed to have sufficient gain for the majority of deployment scenarios and is designed as a trade-off between the requirements of providing high enough gain to provide a reliable link, and a low cost of manufacture and small size. The internal antenna may be a patch antenna, which may comprise a sheet of metal known as a patch radiator, disposed in a substantially parallel relationship to a ground plane. However, in some deployment scenarios, for example when the customer premises are far away from the base station, there may be a requirement for more gain than the internal antenna is designed to provide.
In order to provide more gain, the terminal may be fitted with an external device to increase antenna gain by decreasing the beamwidth of the radiation beam from the terminal. In one such arrangement, the terminal may be used to illuminate a parabolic dish reflector, which is arranged to produce a beam with a narrower beamwidth than that produced by the terminal. The terminal may be supported on an arm extending forwards of the dish, offset to one side of the dish so as not to block radiation from the dish. However, such arrangements are typically bulky and require the orientation of a terminal that has already been installed to be changed.
In an alternative arrangement to improve antenna gain, the terminal may be fitted with a device that has a dish reflector and a microwave feed assembly comprising two antennas connected together by a transmission line. One of the two antennas is a coupling antenna used to couple radio frequency signals to and from the internal antenna in the terminal. The other antenna is a feed antenna, typically a dipole, used to illuminate the reflector dish so that the dish reflector may produce a beam with a narrower beamwidth than that produced by the terminal. The coupling antenna may be a patch antenna, and is typically held close against the housing of the terminal in front of the internal antenna. However, this arrangement may not present a good impedance match to the transmitter in the terminal, so that signals may be reflected back into the power amplifier, potentially causing distortion of transmitted signals. Furthermore, the arrangement may be bulky and expensive to manufacture.
In another alternative arrangement, a dielectric lens may be fitted to the terminal in front of the internal antenna to increase antenna gain. However, this typically requires the use of large amounts of potentially expensive material, and may add significantly to the weight of the terminal.
It is an object of the invention to mitigate the problems of the prior art.

Reflector arrangement for attachment to a wireless communications terminal


A lever type connector of the present invention includes a connector housing, a cover, a lever rotatably mounted on the connector housing, and a snap tab mounted on the cover. During rotation of the lever from an unlocking position to a locking position, the snap tab is pressed by the lever and bent, and if the lever reaches the locking position, the snap tab is brought back to lock the lever. The maximum bent inward angle of the snap tab is set to be smaller than the outward inclination angle of the snap tab without being bent. It is possible to prevent contact between the snap tab and the electric wires. The electric wires are prevented from being damaged, and the operation failure of the snap tab is also avoided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lever type connector to which a partner connector is fitted by rotating a lever.
2. Related Background Art
The lever type connector pulls in the partner connector from a half-fitted position to a full-fitted position of a connector housing by rotation of a lever, so that the reliability of a fitting operation is secured (e.g., Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2003-86301). FIGS. 1 and 2 show a conventional example of such a lever type connector.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a lever type connector 100 includes a connector housing 101 to which a terminal (not shown) having electric wires W is connected, a cover 102 mounted on the connector housing 101, and a lever 103 mounted on the connector housing 101 to be rotatable around rotation pins 101a. The cover 102 accommodates the electric wires W and leads out the electric wires W as a batch of the electric wires so that directions of the electric wires W led out from cavities 101b of the connector housing 101 are converged in a direction of 0 to 90 degrees with respect to a leading out direction.
The connector housing 101 includes the cavities 101b, and terminals having the electric wires W are attached to the cavities 101b. The cover 102 is mounted on the connector housing 101 to cover the outer sides of the cavities 101b. The cover 102 is provided with a snap tab 104. A distal end of the snap tab 104 is formed as a barbed detent and it projects from an outer surface of the cover 102. When this projecting portion is pushed, the snap tab 104 is bent inward of the cover 102. The lever 103 is mounted on the connector housing 101 such that the lever 103 can rotate between an unlocking position (a position shown in FIG. 1) and a locking position (a position shown in FIG. 2). A pair of cam groove 103a is formed in the lever 103.
A fitting operation of a partner connector (not shown) will be explained. First, an operator inserts the partner connector into the connector housing 101 from the direction of the arrow A, engages cam pins (not shown) of the partner connector with the cam grooves 103a of the lever 103, and sets the partner connector in a half-fitted position. If the operator rotates the lever 103 in the unlocking position in the direction of the arrow B, the cam pins receive pressing forces from the cam grooves 103a respectively by the rotation of the lever 103, and the partner connector is gradually displaced toward a full-fitted position of the connector housing 101. If a rotated position of the lever 103 reaches a portion just before the locking position, the lever 103 presses the snap tab 104 of the cover 102, and the snap tab 104 is bent inward of the cover 102 (in the direction F in FIG. 2). With this, the lever 103 can further rotate. If the lever 103 is rotated to the locking position, the partner connector is pulled in to the full-fitted position. If the lever 103 reaches the locking position, the snap tab 104 is returned toward outside of the cover 102 (an opposite direction to the direction F in FIG. 2) to lock the lever 103.
A releasing operation will be explained. If the operator pushes down the snap tab 104 to rotate the lever 103 in the locking position to the unlocking position, the partner connector is separated from the full-fitted position to the half-fitted position. If the operator separates the partner connector in the half-fitted position from the connector housing 101, the releasing operation is completed.


Displaying network content searches on mobile devices involves obtaining results of a network content request via a mobile device. A geolocation of at least one object associated with the results of the network content request is also obtained. A scene is viewed in a camera view of the mobile device. A virtual location is determined in the camera view. The virtual location represents the actual location of the object relative to the scene contained in the camera view. A graphic representing the object is then displayed at the virtual location in the camera view.

The ubiquity of cellular phones and similar mobile electronics has led to demands for ever more advanced features in these devices. One feature that is of particular value in such devices is the ability to connect to the Internet and other networks. In near future, many aspects of the global networks such as the World Wide Web will be shifting to cater to mobile device users. Typically, mobile adaptations for Web content focused on dealing with the limited bandwidth, power, and display capabilities inherent in mobile devices. However, the fact that mobile devices can be used to provide data from wherever the user is located will provide additional opportunities to adapt Web content and increase the value of such content to the end user.
Mobile phones are increasingly becoming multipurpose devices. For example, it is becoming much more common for mobile phones to include an integrated camera. People are getting used to the fact they are carrying a camera with them, and can always snap a photo whenever they desire. Additionally, some cell phones are carrying advanced sensors for various uses. Sensor technology has evolved rapidly, and various sensors can be economically included into mobile phones. One example of this is location sensors such as Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) receivers and digital compasses that allow a user to determine their exact location. These location sensors can be used for traditional applications, such as mapping and guidance. It is also possible that successful integration of location sensing features with networking applications can be used to provide more focused and relevant content to the mobile device user. Therefore, networking applications that can use mobile device location data will be particularly useful.

Displaying network objects in mobile devices based on geolocation


A game system includes a plurality of game cards, a game cartridge and a game machine. Each game card visually portrays a figure of a character, stores ability data for the character, and mechanically readably records an identification code and individuality expressing data of the character. The game information storage medium stores a game program for generating at least some of the characters of the game cards in an image display game. The game machine receives therein the game information storage medium. The game machine includes a CPU to execute a game program for an image display game. The game information storage medium is provided with a data reader to read out the identification data and individuality expressing data of the character recorded on the game card. The CPU, when supplied with the identification data and individuality expressing data from the reader, adds the individuality expressing data to the game program thereby executing a game process for the image display game.

A Japanese Patent Publication No. 30475/1993 (issued on May 10, 1993) describes a card-game toy using a combination of an electronic game machine and barcode-recorded cards. This card-game toy resulted in a product called BARCODE BATTLER. This game utilizes the numeric data recorded as barcodes on the cards so that the card used by the offensive player is allowed to battle against the card used by the defensive player, thereby enabling competition for superiority or inferiority in barcode-recorded numeric data. The card used in the card game toy has barcode (so-called one-dimensional barcode) data configured by a combination of two kinds of bars differing in thickness arranged in a predetermined number in a reading direction (horizontal direction). The barcodes are optically read and used for the electronic game.
The conventional card-game toy, despite having the figures of characters etc. on the cards, is less related with respect to the electronic or video game content to the cards. Because of the insufficient amount of data recorded using the barcodes, the electronic game using the barcode data is liable to be monotonous resulting in the loss of player interest, thereby making it difficult to realize an interesting game.
The exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a game system using game cards which are playable for card games, an electronic game device associated with such game cards (for an interactive game) and a game information storage medium to be used for same. The game cards and the electronic apparatus may be used independently. The disclosed combination results in a game system which is designed to hold players' interest over a long term.
The exemplary embodiments provide game cards which record or store a large amount of data for representing the individual features of characters (e.g. sound data, dot data (graphic data) or text data explaining the features of the characters, etc.). The data may be recorded on the cards, for example, by printing or other methods.
The exemplary embodiments provide a game system using game cards such that a particular character not included in the characters appearing in an electronic game can be stored in a collection card or game card so that the particular character input from the collection card can be used in game play. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the game system may use game cards where data, such as character identification codes, individuality expressing data (ability data, sound data, text data for explaining features or text translation data thereof), additional data and control data, may be optically, readably recorded by a two-dimensional barcode arrangement, to thereby inexpensively combine an electronic game with game cards recording a great deal of data.
In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, a game system uses game cards each visually recognizably printed with a character figure and ability data and to be used for a card game. The game system also uses a game information storage medium storing a game program to appear at least part of the characters in the game cards, and a game machine including a processor system for receiving therein the game information storage medium to execute an image display game program. The plurality of game cards mechanically readably records or stores (hereinafter, these terms may be used separately where the exact meaning depends on the kind of medium used for recording or storing data) data for each of the characters depicted with figures, or identification codes of the characters and individuality expressing data for expressing the individuality of the character. External information reading circuitry is provided in any one of the game information storage medium and the game machine, for example, to optically, electrically or magnetically read data in accordance with a mechanically readable storage form recorded or stored in the game card. A game information storage medium is preferably a fixed memory or non-volatile memory for storing the game program in a fixed or non-volatile fashion.
Due to such external information reading circuitry, when the game card record or storage data is placed in a readable state, the character individuality expressing data recorded or stored in the game card is read out. The processor system, when supplied with the identification code and individuality expressing data read out of the external information reading circuitry, uses the individuality expressing data in conjunction with the game program stored in the game information storage medium thereby executing a game process.
In accordance with further exemplary embodiments, game cards to be used in a game system having a game information storage medium storing a game program to display the characters depicted in part of a plurality of game cards in an image display game, a game machine including a processor system for receiving therein the game information storage medium to execute an image display game program, and external information reading circuitry provided in any of the game information storage medium and the game machine to read out the data recorded or stored in the game card.
These game cards are also designed for playing a card game using the cards. A character figure and ability data is printed on one surface. At least an identification code of the character and the individuality expressing data for expressing individual characteristics of the character are mechanically readably recorded in each card depicted with a different character figure. The individuality expressing data is read out by the external information reading circuitry and used in a game on the game machine.
The game information storage medium of the exemplary embodiments is a game information storage medium to be used in a game system having a plurality of game cards each visually recognizably printed with a character figure and ability data (or attribute data) and to be used for a card game, a game machine including a processing system for receiving therein a game information storage medium to execute an image display game program, and external information reading circuitry provided in any of the game information storage medium and the game machine to read out the data recorded in the game card. The game cards mechanically readably record or store, for each figure-depicted character, at least an information code of the character and the individuality expressing data for expressing character individuality.
The game information storage medium stores a first game program for executing a game to display characters depicted in at least part of the game cards to enable an image display game separately from a game by the game cards, and a second program for executing a game added with the individuality expressing data to the first game program when supplied with the identification code and individuality expressing data read out of the external information reading circuitry.
The processing system executes the first game program when the external information reading circuitry has not read the recorded or stored data in the game card, and second game program when the recorded data in the game card is read out and input.
According to an exemplary embodiment, an associated game of an electronic game with the game cards (or interactive game) can be independently played as a card game using the game cards. Thus, it is possible to enjoy a single game with only the game cards or only the electronic game or a combined game using the game cards and the electronic game.
According to an exemplary embodiment, game cards are acquired having a large amount of information recorded or stored thereon including data for representing individual characteristics of the characters recorded in the cards by printing or other methodology (e.g. sound data, dot data (image data) or text data explaining the features of the characters, etc.).
According to an exemplary embodiment, a game information storage medium is used that is s combined game which may be used not only by an electronic game or video game but can also be enjoyed using the game cards having a great information amount of data recorded or stored thereon representing the individual characteristics of the characters recorded in the cards by printing or so (e.g. sound data, dot data (image data) or text data explaining the features of the characters, etc.).
According these embodiments, various games are feasible by the use of the game cards having a large amount of information recorded or stored thereon, e.g., sound data of characters on the cards by printing or other methodology, dot data (image data) and/or data for representing the individualities of the characters, text data or the like explaining the features of the characters. Also, a particular character not existing as one of the characters appearing in the electronic game can be recorded in a collection card or game card so that a game can be played using the particular character input from the collection card. It is possible to obtain a game system using the game cards using a character unique to the player differently from the inherent electronic game or video game.
Furthermore, according to exemplary embodiments, it is possible to obtain a game system using game cards combined with an electronic game through the use of inexpensive game cards optically readably recording various data such as character identification codes, individuality expressing data (ability data, sound data, text data of texts explaining the features or translation data of the texts), additional data and control data by a two-dimensional barcode scheme to have a great deal of data recorded thereon.
The above described features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Game system using game cards and game machine


An optical instrument is provided for simultaneously illuminating two or more spaced-apart reaction regions with excitation beams generated by a light source. The light source can include an area light array of light emitting diodes, one or more solid state lasers, one or more micro-wire lasers, or a combination thereof. According to various embodiments, a Fresnel lens can be disposed along a beam bath between the light source and the reaction regions. Methods of analysis using the optical instrument are also provided.

Fluorometers are described, for example, in International Publications No. WO 01/35079 and WO 99/60381, both of which are incorporated herein in their entireties by reference.
For various applications, an inexpensive optical instrument including a low heat-generating light source that uses minimal power is desirable. For various purposes, an inexpensive optical instrument including an LED excitation source capable of simultaneously illuminating one or more sample containers is desirable.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Optical instrument including excitation source


An improved disk drive includes an improved operating system, an improved eject system, an improved head retract system and an improved motor loading system. In a preferred embodiment of the operating system it includes a motor, an eject crank, a head crank and an actuator. The output of the motor can be selectively controlled by the actuator to power either the eject crank or the head crank. Powering the head crank, causes the disk drive heads to move, and powering the eject crank causes a disk cartridge to be ejected from the disk drive. The motor loading system may have a disk drive motor having a threaded exterior and a member extending from the exterior to interface with the eject system. Additionally, this motor loading system may include an aperture in the chassis of the disk drive that has a threaded ring running around the circumference of the aperture and a spring extending from the threaded ring. The disk drive motor can be inserted into the aperture in the chassis with the member depressing the spring. The disk drive motor can then be rotated to mate the threads of the disk drive motor with the threaded ring. When rotated, the slotted member releases the spring. The spring prevents rotation of the disk drive motor past a predetermined point and thereby prevents the motor from becoming dislodged from the chassis. When inserted into the disk drive, the motor can be moved between a loaded and an unloaded position.

Disk drives for storing electronic information are found in a wide variety of computer systems, including workstations, personal computers, and laptop and notebook computers. Such disk drives can be stand-alone units that are connected to a computer system by a cable, or they can be internal units that occupy a slot, or bay, in a computer system. Laptop and notebook computers have relatively small bays in which to mount internal disk drives and other peripheral devices, as compared to the much larger bays available in most workstation and personal computer housings. The relatively small size of peripheral bays found in laptop and notebook computers, can place significant constraints on the designer of internal disk drives for use in such computers. Techniques that address and overcome the problems associated with these size constraints are therefore important.
Disk drives of the type that accept removable disk cartridges have become increasingly popular. One disk drive product that has been very successful is the ZIP.TM. drive designed and manufactured by Iomega Corporation, the assignee of the present invention. ZIP.TM. drives accept removable disk cartridges that contain a flexible magnetic storage medium upon which information can be written and read. The disk-shaped storage medium is mounted on a hub that rotates freely within the cartridge. A spindle motor within the ZIP.TM. drive engages the cartridge hub when the cartridge is inserted into the drive, in order to rotate the storage medium at relatively high speeds. A shutter on the front edge of the cartridge is moved to the side during insertion into the drive, thereby exposing an opening through which the read/write heads of the drive move to access the recording surfaces of the rotating storage medium. The shutter covers the head access opening when the cartridge is outside of the drive, to prevent dust and other contaminants from entering the cartridge and settling on the recording surfaces of the storage medium.
The ZIP.TM. drive is presently available for workstations and personal computers in both stand-alone and internal configurations. In order to provide a version of the ZIP.TM. drive for use in laptop and notebook computers, the size constraints of the peripheral bays of such computers must be considered. In particular, for an internal drive to fit in the majority of laptop and notebook peripheral bays, the drive must be no longer than 135 mm. The height of the drive must be in the range of 12 to 15 mm. These dimensions place many constraints on the design of such a drive, and give rise to numerous design problems. The present invention addresses and overcomes some of the problems presented in designing a disk drive to these specifications.
A disk drive typically includes an actuator that has heads for interfacing with a disk cartridge, a head retraction system for moving these heads to a retraced position, an eject system for ejecting a disk cartridge from the disk drive and an operating system for powering the head retraction system and the eject system. By way of background a general overview of the operation of a disk drive employing these features is provided.
A disk cartridge is inserted into the disk drive. In order to remove the disk cartridge from the drive, an eject button disposed on the periphery of the drive is typically depressed. This button causes the operating system to power the head retraction system. When powered, the head retraction system causes the heads to move away from the disk cartridge and into a retracted position. After the heads have been retracted the operating system powers the eject system and ejects the disk cartridge from the disk drive.
Due to the limited length and height of a disk drive designed to be incorporated into a lap top computer, each of these systems must operate in a relatively small volume. Furthermore, many of the known prior art systems cannot be integrated into a disk drive having these limitations. While the eject system, head retraction system, operating system and motor loading system are advantageous for their intended applications, there is a need for improved systems that can be implemented in lower profile disk drives, such as that described above. The present invention satisfies these needs.

Disk drive with a rotatably mounted disk drive motor


A multi-layer flooring tile having a porous base layer of rounded silica particles, supporting a resilient and stretchable flexible membrane layer which supports a top layer of aliphatic polymer, fine filler and quartz mineral. The top layer is coated with a clear polymer coating. The flexible membrane layer is formed directly on the base layer, forming a bond without adhesive and likewise the top layer is formed on the flexible membrane layer, bonding without adhesive as the layers cure simultaneously. The flooring tiles are to be installed in the manner of an ordinary tile floor and provide a multi-layer, chemical resistant, non-slip flooring system.

In the field of commercial and industrial flooring, there is a need for flooring material which is wear resistant and also resistant to penetration and staining or loss of color from contact with petroleum and other chemicals. Hard surface materials, such as ceramic tile, have been widely used for commercial and industrial flooring. Ceramic tiles retain their color, resist staining and can be produced with a textured surface to reduce slipping. The ceramic tile flooring is often installed over a concrete or stone substrate. A problem with ceramic tile flooring is that the flooring will not flex and may break when an impact is received from an object, which has, for example, been inadvertently dropped on the flooring.
This problem has been addressed by adding a rubbery layer on the concrete base beneath the tile, see U.S. Pat. No. 4,567,704 to Bernett. The rubbery layer provides some degree of resiliency to the floor and reduces the tendency of tiles to break upon receiving an impact while the hard surface of the ceramic tile provides the desired appearance and durability. The rubbery layer is also stretchable and prevents shifting and cracking of the substrate from propagating to the tile.
This type of multi-layer flooring system disadvantageously requires that the layers be bonded together at the job site. Typical installation involves the use of an epoxy adhesive with the flooring system being applied in layers at the site. The top layer may be ceramic tile or an epoxy-based material which cures after being applied. The installation process is more difficult and time consuming than the installation of a floor consisting of modular tiles which require only the application of adhesive, setting of the tiles and perhaps, grouting. The multiple layers are necessary to provide the protection from cracking of the tiles due to impact and due to shifting of the concrete or stone substrate.
Multi-layer flooring systems with an epoxy-based top layer also suffer from blistering and delamination of the layers produced by hydrostatic water pressure. Such pressure occurs when moisture rises through the concrete or stone substrate and cannot dissipate laterally through the epoxy adhesive. Multi-layer flooring systems with a ceramic tile top layer may also have tiles loosened or broken from hydrostatic water pressure.
There is a need for a multi-layer floor system, in the form of a plurality of color fast textured surface modular tiles, said tiles including a base layer capable of dissipating moisture to greatly reduce hydrostatic pressure, a flexible membrane layer which is stretchable and resilient and a top layer providing a surface with a hardness and durability comparable to ceramic tile, and there is a need for such a multi-layer floor system which can be easily installed in the manner of an ordinary tile floor.


An energy dissipating assembly for flowing water is provided which consists of a plurality of modules, each one of the modules being a buoyant body consisting of a continuous envelope defining a hollow watertight chamber, the envelope having a plurality of intersecting planar surfaces and an attaching members connected to at least two spaced locations on the continuous envelope to attach the buoyant body in a three dimensional relationship. Parts are also provided to adjust the buoyancy and mass of the buoyant body so that the assembly can be tuned for the wave activity of the water in which the system is disposed. A method of disrupting the wave action is also provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to apparatus and systems for extracting energy from flowing water and in particular, to those devices and systems that are adapted to be removably mounted offshore at select locations to extract energy from the waves.
2. Description of the Related Art
The construction and arrangement of breakwaters to reduce erosion of ocean shelves and the shoreline has changed since use of concrete fixtures. For example, such devices and systems have been disclosed in:
______________________________________ U.S. Pat. No. Inventor(s) ______________________________________ 527,513 See et al. 1,593,863 Brasher 3,373,821 Sare 3,842,606 Stiles 3,846,990 Bowley 3,894,397 Fair 3,938,338 Cullen 4,118,937 Mansen 4,178,517 Salomon et al. 4,264,233 McCambridge 4,341,489 Karnas 4,407,607 McCambridge 4,431,337 Iwasa 4,669,913 Temple 4,691,661 Deiana 4,729,691 Sample 4,729,692 Techer 4,748,338 Boyce 4,776,724 Iswald 4,776,725 Brode 4,844,654 Widerman 4,856,933 4,856,934 Nelson 4,856,935 Haras 4,900,188 Haselton et al. 5,104,258 Ianell 5,122,015 Shen 5,238,325 Krenzler 5,238,326 Creter 5,246,307 Rauch 5,250,696 Beardsley 5,556,229 Bishop et al 5,564,369 Barber et al. Foreign Patent Laurie 805,789 (British) ______________________________________
British Patent No. 805,789 also discloses a breakwater device which employs gas bubbles in the path of wave motion to reduce sea waves and swell.
Traditional breakwaters, seawalls, jetties have failed to substantially curtail the destructive force of moving water primarily because of their construction, and tendencies to reflect or direct wave energy in destructive ways or concentrate the energy in local hot spots. Erosion and the scouring effects of the misdirected energy lead to the loss of the beach and undermining of the structures which were meant to protect the shoreline.
In addition, other fixed structures such as groins lead to the loss of natural flows and downdrift beaches by interrupting the littoral flows of sand and generally create a surplus condition on the updrift side and a starvation condition on the downdrift beaches.
Other erosion control systems which flow offshore do not provide the arrangement of surfaces which deflect and redirect breaking waves so that eddies and vortexes produced interfere with and cancel each other, as well as the oncoming portions of the next successive wave.
Many of these known devices and systems are rigidly mounted to the shore or shelf portion underneath the surf in a manner which severely restricts, if not eliminates, removal of the system to another remote location where the barriers are needed more urgently.


A method of preventing the interconnecting fine wires of a bonded semiconductor devices from moving from their preferred loop position after being bonded in an automatic wire bonder includes the step of automatically transferring the bonded semiconductor device to an insulating station prior to other operations. The interconnecting fine wires are coated in a manner which does not disturb or short the interconnecting wire which are pre-cured or cured before being transferred to a storage rack, or directly to a follow-on process step of a continuous production line.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of preventing defects by preventing electrical short-circuiting of bonding wires during processes that come after the wire bonding step.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, the increased integration level of large-scale integrated circuit devices has meant a decrease in the spacing between bonding wires. This has given rise to a fabrication problem of short circuits caused by contact between wires or between wires and lead frames, resulting from loops and bends in the wires. Specifically, one problem is that of short circuits caused by contact between wires occurring during the wire bonding process, and another problem is that of short circuits occurring during the handling of the semiconductor device in process operations that come after the wire bonding step.
A conventional way of solving such problems has been to use bonding wire that has been precoated with an insulating material. This method is illustrated in FIG. 4 and comprises using bonding wire 11 which has been given an insulative coating beforehand. To enable the bonding to take place, a plasma-arc or mechanical technique is used to remove the coating from the primary side bonding portion 12 and secondary side bonding portion 13.
However, while the use of a plasma-arc method makes it relatively easy to remove the coating from the bowl-shaped primary bonding portion, there has ben a lack of an effective method of removing the coating from the secondary bonding portion. Experiments have been conducted relating to the use of abrasion techniques and the like to expose the bonding surface, but in terms of reliability the bonding thus achieved is inferior compared to bonding effected after complete removal of the coating.
Furthermore, even when the coating is removed, a drawback has been the complex and time-consuming task removing the particles and fragments produced by the process of removing the coating. Moreover, high-cost wire bonding systems are idled for the extended time it takes to carry out this task of removing particles and fragments, thereby reducing equipment operation rates.
Through the development of the high-performance wire bonding systems now in use, the number of short circuits produced during the wire bonding process is extremely low. In fact, now the main task is the prevention of short circuits arising during the handling of devices following the wire bonding process.

Method of preventing short-circuiting of bonding wires


A rendering engine that supports directional focus navigation, in response to a directional input, shifts the focus to an appropriate focusable element. The rendering engine determines one or more focusable elements that are candidates to receive the focus based on the received directional input and based on the relative display locations of the focusable elements. The rendering engine selects the most appropriate candidate focusable element based on each candidate element's display location in relation to the display location of the element that currently has focus.

A graphical user interface (GUI) may include multiple elements that can receive input. The target of the input is said to have focus, and elements eligible for focus within a document are called focusable elements. In a GUI, input that is received is processed according to an element that currently has focus. For example, if a GUI contains two editable text boxes, when a user enters text through a keyboard, the text is rendered in the text box that currently has focus.
In a GUI that receives input from a pointing device, such as a mouse, the currently focused element is determined based on the location of a cursor or pointer when a user submits a select command (e.g., clicks a mouse button). If the cursor or pointer is over a text box when the user clicks the mouse button, then that text box is given focus and future input, such as through a keyboard, is directed to the text box until the focus is moved to another element.
In a GUI that receives input from devices without pointing mechanisms, such as keyboards or remote controls, an alternative mechanism is implemented to allow a user to specify an element to be given focus, and thus, the target of keyboard (or other device) input.
Browser or other rendering engine applications that provide a mechanism for displaying documents that include focusable elements (e.g., hypertext markup language (HTML) documents, dynamic HTML documents, or web pages) are implemented to support navigation between focusable elements in a document by way of a mouse or other similar pointing device. Some such documents also support navigation through the focusable elements of the document according to a tab order that defines a sequential order that determines which element is focused next when a user presses a tab key.
Recently introduced technology allows web pages (and potentially other types of documents that may include focusable elements) to be rendered using devices other than computers. These other devices may include, but are not limited to, a television set, a cellular phone display, and a multi-modal device, such as the Nokia 9110 Communicator. Such devices do not typically include a pointer input device, such as a mouse.
Rendering engines implemented on such devices may be programmed to receive an input that behaves like the press of a tab key to allow a user to move sequentially from one focusable element in a document to another. However, cascading style sheets, dynamic HTML, and the like support dynamic rendering of documents in such a way that the visual layout of a rendered document may differ from the layout that was intended when the document was generated and possibly, when the tab order of focusable elements in the document was established. Accordingly, moving from one focusable element to another either sequentially or based on an established tab order may not result in visually logical focus navigation, and it is desirable for a rendering engine to support directional focus navigation based on directional inputs, such as an arrow key press.


A modulated light beam obstacle detector for use as a safety mechanism in an automatic closure operator which must operate in varying ambient light conditions. If the obstacle detector senses the interruption of the light beam, the motion of the door is arrested or reversed. The obstacle detector uses an auxiliary light source connected in a feedback circuit to maintain a constant background illumination on the light detector and thereby hold the light detector in conduction at all times. In this manner, the presence of the light beam can be sensed regardless of the ambient light conditions.

It is often necessary, for reasons of safety and security, to know if an object, person, or animal is blocking a defined area. Automatic closure operators such as garage door openers must be able to detect the presence of any such obstruction in the path of the closure so that the motion of the closure can be arrested or reversed immediately. This feature prevents injury to people and animals and additionally prevents damage to property and to the closure operator itself.
There are several methods of sensing obstructions in the path of the closure. One method of performing this function involves utilizing a pressure sensitive strip along the leading edge of the door. In order to sense that an obstruction is in the path of the closure, the strip must first make physical contact with the obstruction with some minimum force. By the time that the pressure registers with the control mechanism and the motion of closure is stopped or reversed, substantial injury or damage could already have been incurred.
Another method of determining whether there is any obstruction in the path of a door is to provide a light source which projects a light beam across the doorway. A light detector is disposed opposite the light source to detect the light beam. When the light detector senses that the beam has been interrupted, the motion of the door is arrested or reversed. In some applications, especially in low power applications, the light beam is pulsed at some predetermined frequency to make it distinguishable from the ambient light conditions. The shortcoming of this method is that most semiconductor light detectors only respond to changes in light intensity within a narrow band. The light detectors have an inherent light intensity threshold below which they can not respond. Additionally, the light detector will saturate if the intensity of light received exceeds the light detector's saturation level. In both circumstances, the light detector would not sense the pulsed light beam from the light source, and the obstruction sensing feature of the closure operator would not function properly. It is toward the solution of this shortcoming that the present invention is directed.

Method and apparatus for self-biasing a light beam obstacle detector with a bias light


A floor mat for animals is provided which is formed from strands of shredded reclaimed tire rubber and adhesive. The floor mat includes a generally flat top surface and a corrugated under surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for supporting an animal, and more particularly, to a floor mat made of an elastic material intended for covering floor surfaces in animal housing facilities and trailers.
2. Description of the Related Art
Floor mats of rubber, or similarly elastic materials, are known for use in stables. Such floor mats have been made of a solid sheet of rubber and are provided with indentations on lower surface thereof. Examples of such floor mats are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,211,185 issued to Karlsson, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,699,926 issued to Stockal. Although these designs achieve the objective of providing floor mats for animals, they fail to provide a desirable amount of durability, comfort and traction for the animal.

Method and apparatus for supporting an animal


A trailer is provided having a support frame and a steering axle. The steering axle is rotatable between a first position providing a positive caster and a second position providing a negative caster. The axle is rotated by means of a tongue adjustable between a forward and a rearward position. A connector rod is pivotally connected to the tongue and secured to the axle such that the connector rod rotates the axle into the first position providing a positive caster when the tongue is located in the forward position and rotates the axle to a second position providing a negative caster when the tongue is in the rearward position.

This invention relates generally to trailers, and more particularly to a trailer wherein the steering wheels of the trailer follow the steering wheels of a tow vehicle when the tow vehicle moves in both a forward and a reverse direction.
Typically, the steering wheels of a standard trailer will follow the steering wheels of a tow vehicle when the tow vehicle is moving in the forward direction. However, when the tow vehicle backs up the steering wheels of the trailer turn the wrong way, thereby jack-knifing the trailer and the tow vehicle. This invention is directed toward a trailer wherein the trailer steering wheels follow the steering wheels of the tow vehicle when the tow vehicle moves in both a forward and a reverse direction.
Previous attempts at trailer steering devices can be seen in Winchester U.S. Pat. No. 2,498,779, which pertains to a self guiding trailer dolly having a connection for easy backing; Horseman et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,405,147, directed to a low tongue weight, wagon type, trailer with antijack-knife steering for backing the trailer; and Stoddard U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,966 describing an antijack-knife, hay wagon type trailer.


A probe assembly is provided for semiconductor wafer polishing and similar wafer treatments. The polishing table forms a recess for receiving the probe, with the probe free end located to view interior portions of a semiconductor wafer temporarily passing over the recess. Probe data may conveniently be used for polishing end point determination.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to the polishing of wafers, and more particularly to the accurate polishing of wafers of semiconductor material, suitable for use in a semiconductor processing clean room environment.
2. Description of Related Art
The production of semiconductor devices, such as integrated circuits, begins with the preparation of high quality semiconductor wafers. Due to the purity of the material required, unprocessed semiconductor "blanks" have a substantial cost and, because of their relatively thin wafer construction and relatively fragile material composition, are susceptible to breaking caused by over-bending and chipping caused by inadvertent contact with the wafer edge. With the development of each layer on a semiconductor surface, the cost of the semiconductor wafer is substantially increased. During integrated circuit production as circuit layers are built up on the blank, an extremely flat surface is desired on at least one face of the wafer. Flatness is attained by polishing, which generally includes supporting the back side of the wafer with a wafer carrier or chuck, carried by an arm or other apparatus for pressing the front face of the wafer against a polishing surface. The polishing process typically employs one or more chemical actions as well as an abrasive, mechanical action. Accordingly, this general type of wafer production has come to be referred to as Chemical Mechanical Polishing (CMP).
Typically, the polishing surface is carried on a rigid flat table which is rotated to provide movement for the mechanical abrasion. The polishing surface is typically flooded with a special purpose material (referred to as a slurry) having the chemical and mechanical abrasion properties needed for the desired operation.
With the increasing power of electronic devices, the density of active electronic circuit components developed on a given surface area of a wafer is continually being increased. The layers of electronic circuitry developed on the face of the semiconductor wafer are typically constructed using photolithography or other techniques. In order to increase the resolution of the photo patterns which can be "printed"on the semiconductor wafer surface, the semiconductor wafer surface must be extremely flat, both in a so-called "local" sense as well as in a "global" sense. That is, typically the surface of the semiconductor wafer is divided into many local portions, each containing identical copies of the desired semiconductor device. The portion of the semiconductor's surface for any single semiconductor device is relatively small, but still must be extremely flat and free of surface irregularities, within extremely tight tolerances, oftentimes measured on a microscopic scale. Current commercial production techniques further require that the wafer front surface have a global (or edge-to-edge) planarity to facilitate batch processing of the entire usable portion of the wafer surface in a single operation. In the interest of economical manufacture, more complete utilization of the wafer surface is continually being sought, so that a larger number of electronic devices can be obtained from a single wafer, on a routine basis.
Typically, semiconductor wafers are polished many times during the course of semiconductor device fabrication. As multiple layers of conductors and dielectrics are built up on the surface of a wafer, polishing is usually required after the deposition of each layer to restore any deviation from highly demanding local and global flatness tolerances. Because so-called "out-of-flatness" tolerances must be related to the total, finished construction, it is critical that the polishing process be held to extremely close tolerances such that finished densely packed structures do not interfere with one another.
It is important, during the course of preparing the semiconductor surface, that proper amounts of polishing are applied to assure that the desired degree of flatness is attained without undesirable intrusion into the deposited layers, which might compromise their intended electronic operation. While it is possible to periodically remove the wafer being processed from the polishing apparatus in order to inspect the wafer surface, such practices are undesirable in that they subject the wafer to additional handling with an attendant risk of injury. Further, the environmental condition of the wafer must be taken into account. For example, wafers being processed are oftentimes maintained immersed in an aqueous environment. In order to facilitate remote inspection of the wafer, the wafer would have to be removed from the aqueous environment, cleaned, and dried to facilitate inspection. Care must be taken to guard against distortion of the wafer, and the introduction of wet/dry cycles may give rise to unwanted distortion and may introduce harmful contamination.
In order to overcome these drawbacks, attention has been directed to so-called in-situ end point detection. A variety of techniques have been developed over the years. For example, various electrical signals have been passed through the wafer and the area of polishing activity, with the electrical signal thereby being modified in a certain manner, dependent upon the amount of polishing of the wafer surface. In general, such techniques rely upon an indirect detection of the wafer surface characteristics. Correlation of various modifications of the electrical signal to the wafer surface characteristics typically requires considerable experience and intense research for each particular process being carried out. Changes in polishing conditions (for example changes in slurry composition, abrasive structures, polish wheel compositions and the like) oftentimes require additional study with new correlation techniques being developed in order to indirectly indicate the surface condition of the wafer being processed in an accurate manner.
The outer edges of semiconductor wafers have been monitored on a real-time basis. Wafers mounted on reciprocating arms are carried to the edge of a polishing table, and slightly beyond by the reciprocating action. Thus, for a brief instant with each cycle of reciprocation, the bottom surface of the wafer is exposed to a monitoring probe located immediately adjacent the edge of the polishing wheel. However, only a relatively minor outer portion of the wafer can be exposed in this manner if damage and/or unwanted wafer surface patterns are to be avoided. A more convenient and complete monitoring of the wafer is being sought.

Wafer polishing with improved end point detection


A Task Enabled Switch System comprising: A Data Server with a Task Manager Module, Skill Management Module and a Switch Device Management Module; A Client Device with a Task Player; A Switch Device with a Task Enabled Switch; A user uses the Client Device to download the tasks linked with the Switch Device. Once the tasks are completed successfully, the Client Device will turn on the Task Enabled Switch in the Switch Device. The user can also accumulate reward points, or reward badges, or reward pictures for tasks done, and redeem the points to open the Switch Device. Several lock/latch designs with the said Task Enabled Switch are also presented. A game system comprises of the game pieces with 2D Barcodes, Skill Management Module and Task Enabled Switch is also revealed.

We have lots of different boxes for different purposes, such as gift boxes, jewelry boxes, safe boxes etc. some of the boxes have cither electronic or mechanic locks. Some locks are to be opened with physical keys, other locks are to be opened by selecting or entering the correct code for the lock. On the other hand, people, especially kids, get rewarded for doing something good. It would be desirable if the user can be authorized to open a reward box or a gift box after he/she did some assigned tasks correctly. The tasks can be finishing a computer game, or doing a quiz, reading a book, or doing a chore, or some other physical tasks. That is, once a user finished the tasks, the box will be opened automatically, or the user will be given a code to open the box.
Furthermore, a user (such as a child) can receive reward points for tasks done or for good behavior, once the reward points reached a preset level, the user can redeem the points by getting access to open the box with real rewards inside.
Furthermore, the tasks to open the box can be downloaded from the backend Data server, or simply from other forms of electronic or non-electronic instructions given by a human person, such as parent or a teacher. E.g. The parent can just verbally ask the child to do a task, or ask the child to follow a good behavior. Once the parent found out that the task is done, or the child displayed a good behavior, she can give the child certain reward points.
The required points, or badges, or pictures needed to get access to open the switch can be set by the Data Server, or by a human judge (the parent, or the owner, or the operator of the switch).
Also, the tasks to open the box can come from Instant Messaging. Basically, there can be an Instant Messaging Module in the Data Server, the user who wants to open the box can do a conversation with a judge (or the owner of the box) through the Instant Messaging. If the judge is happy with the user's messaging response, the judge can grant the user the permission to open the box.
On the other hand, there are lots of vending machines, a user can insert coins or paper money or tokens, or swipe credit cards to get access to a vending machine. He/she can then punch the digit pads to select an item (across rows and columns). It would be desirable for the product promotions or advertisements to offer user incentives to do a quiz or game, or other tasks on their mobile devices. After the task is done, an item in the vending machine will be opened automatically. Or a pass code will be given to the user through his mobile device. The user can then enter the pass code on the vending machine, and select an item to open. Or, the pass code may only apply to one designated item, and only that designated item will be opened after entering the pass code.
Furthermore, there are lots of coin operated devices such as mini-carousel, or game stations, it would also be desirable to have the alternative task enabled switch feature. That is, a user can download the designated tasks using a mobile device and open the devices after the tasks are completed.
Finally, the user can use the said Task Enabled Switch to control the lighting, motion, voice, temperature, smell, size or other functions of the connected devices.
The essence of this invention is a Task Enabled Switch, which allows the switch on a Switch Device (such as a box, a lock, a vending machine, a toy etc) to be controlled by a server device or a mobile device after a user successfully finished the designated task or accumulated enough reward points, reward badges or reward pictures. Once the task is completed or reward points redeemed, the server device or the mobile device can turn on the switch automatically; or the user will be given a temporary pass code, the user can then enter the pass code on a computer, or on the mobile device or on the Switch Device to open the switch.
The methods to determine whether a task is done can be automatic, such as a computer learning game; or manually by a human judge, such as a parent or a teacher; or by scanning a particular QR code, a particular image, a particular optical or Radio Frequency Tag.
There can be two kinds of pass codes for the Switch Device: one kind is the Owner Code for the owner, the other kind is Temporary User Codes for general users. The Temporary User Codes are temporary, and will be in-validated once the code is being used to open the switch. And new Temporary User Codes will be generated to replace the used codes, so that the user need to do some new tasks if he/she wants to open the Switch Device again.
Finally, a game system is revealed that consists of a set of game pieces, each game piece has a dynamic QR code, or other optical or Radio Frequency tag. Each player can pick any game piece or game pieces, and scan the QR code or the Optical or RF tag, or simply take a picture of the game piece, the player will receive one or more tasks according to his/her current skill levels. Once the player finishes the tasks, he will receive reward points, reward badges or reward pictures for these tasks. The first player or a team of players who earned the pre-set reward points or the required set of reward badges or reward pictures will be the winner. Of course, a reward box with the Task Enabled Switch can be incorporated in the game system, so that the winner can get permission to open the box after winning and retrieve the real reward.
It should be pointed out that the proposed game pieces can be as small as ordinary chess pieces to be played at home, or as large as the roller coasters in an amusement park, or the exhibits in a zoo. And there can be some variations in the actual implementations. In the settings of an amusement park, we can set each roller coaster ride as a task. In this case, the user can skip the step of scanning a QR code to retrieve tasks. Rather, he can just pick a roller-coaster and take the ride. After the user finishes riding that rollercoaster, he can scan a QR code at the exit, which will automatically notify the Data Server that the user finished riding that rollercoaster. In the setting of a Zoo, each exhibit can have a poster with a QR code, when a user scans the QR code, it can either notify the Data Server that the user visited that exhibit, or it can retrieve some electronic learning games or quizzes related to the exhibit for the user to answer. The winning criteria can be set to be either the number of exhibits visited during a certain time period, or the number of quizzes completed during a certain time period.
The said invention can be combined with other board games or playing cards. After a player scans a 2D barcode, answers one or more quizzes, or finishes one or more tasks, the Data Server will assign instructions on what the player should do or should move next on the board game or with the playing cards.


A wheeled vehicle is steered by a yoke or other operator control the movement of which is limited so that the operator's hands need not change position on the control. The steering is under the control of a microprocessor responsive to an input from the control, the vehicle's speedometer, and to accelerometers responsive to forces acting on the vehicle laterally and perpendicular to the roadway. The relationship between the position of the steerable wheels and the displacement of, or force applied to, the operator control is a function that depends on the magnitude of the displacement or force, speed, and one or more time derivatives of the displacement of, or force on, the operator control. The relationship between the position of the steerable wheels and the displacement of, or force on, the control is overridden when the lateral force is such that the vehicle is in danger of rolling over.

With the invention of powered land vehicles in the late nineteenth century, steering control became a serious design consideration. The use of a wheel for land vehicle steering originated in nautical applications in the early 1700s when the "whipstaff" helms used until then failed to provide sufficient rudder angles as the ships gained size and weight. Whipstaff helms were replaced by wheels that operated the rudder using rope, drum and pulley systems. Early automobiles utilized a tiller for steering. However, in 1894 a Panhard et Levassor vehicle was fitted with the first known adaptation of a steering wheel, starting the trend that has been carried on to the present time.
The steering wheels of the early twentieth century were large and required significant strength to effect the necessary driving control, as early cars were quite heavy. A brief interlude in wheel use took place in the first decade when electric cars made their appearance. Because of their light weight they could use a relatively long horizontal arm mounted to a vertical spindle and pushed to turn left or pulled to turn right. However, the advent of Henry Ford's model T in 1908, with its advanced metallurgy, engineering, simplicity and light weight, cemented the steering wheel's prominence.
Power steering replaced manual steering in the mid twentieth century, alleviating the difficulty of turning a steering wheel especially at low driving speeds. However the steering ratio, i.e., the number of turns of the steering wheel needed to adjust the direction of the front wheels of an automobile through a given angle, underwent little if any change. Even in a modern, automobile with power steering, the steering wheel typically rotates about 2.5 full turns (90°) lock to lock, adjusting the angle of the front wheels of the automobile through about 90° (45° to either side of a neutral position).
In modern automobiles as in early manually steered automobiles, because of the approximately 900° range of rotation of the steering wheel, execution of a turn typically requires a complex "hand over hand" manipulation in which the driver's hands alternately release the wheel and are moved from one position to another. (The term "hand over hand" is also intended to encompass any of several variations of an intermittent, repeated, steering manipulation, such as one in which, while a first hand firmly grips the wheel, the second hand is slid toward the first hand, and then grips and rotates the wheel, moving away from the first hand causing the rim of the wheel to slide relative to the first hand while the grip of the first hand on the wheel is loosened.) Although the skill to carry out these movements can be acquired by most people, the manipulation is not necessarily intuitive, and for many people it takes a significant amount of time to become comfortably accustomed to steering wheel operation.
Variable gain, speed-dependent, steering controls have been proposed, and some examples are described in the following United States patents and published patent applications:
6,279,695Bohner et al.6,308,122Nishizaki et al.6,367,577Murata et al.6,442,462Nishisaki et al.6,799,105Stout et al.6,886,656Fujioka et al.6,899,196Husain et al.7,004,279Shitamitsu et al.7,174,987Husain7,363,134Mitsuhara7,604,089Hidaka et al.7,837,004Yasuda7,860,624Kubota et al.7,913,803Hidaka8,036,793Auguet et al.2010/0070137Yamaguchi et al.2011/0313620Mukai et al.Despite the development of these and other sophisticated vehicle steering control systems, none of them offers a satisfactory alternative to "hand over hand" steering wheel manipulation.
Some efforts have been made to develop high gain steering systems, i.e., systems in having a high ratio of the angle of the road engaging wheels to the movement of the steering control, e.g., a "joy stick". However, in most cases, the ratio was constant. In others, the ratio was adjustable. Here again, although the systems did not require hand over hand manipulation, they did not supply a satisfactory alternative.

Steering system for wheeled land vehicle


There is provided a deposition system (1) for yielding substantially uniform deposition of an evaporant material onto a substrate. The deposition system (1) comprises: a source (10) for generating a coherent energy beam; a substantially planar target (60) containing the evaporant material and disposed in spaced relation to the substrate; a focusing element (30) optically coupled to the source for focusing the coherent energy beam onto the target (60); and, an actuator (40) coupled to the focusing element (30) for reversibly translating the focusing element (30) along a scanning path directed substantially parallel to a target plane defined by the target (60). The focused coherent energy beam defines an impingement spot (14) on the target (60). The impingement spot (14) is displaced responsive to the translation of the focusing element (30) along the scanning path. The focus of the coherent energy beam on the target (60) thus remains substantially preserved.

1. Field of the Invention
The subject scanned focus deposition system is generally directed to a system for uniformly depositing an evaporant material onto a substrate. More specifically, the scanned focus deposition system is directed to a laser deposition system wherein the uniform deposition of evaporant material from a target onto a substrate is facilitated by optimally controlling the target material""s consumption.
Generally in laser deposition techniques, an evaporant material source is excited by a coherent energy beam such that particles of the evaporant material are released from the source and deposited onto a proximally disposed substrate surface. In these deposition techniques, the evaporant sourcexe2x80x94or targetxe2x80x94may be placed, along with a substrate, within a vacuum chamber. A pulsed laser beam generated by a source located outside the vacuum chamber is then directed by optical components into the vacuum chamber. The optical components include, among other things, a focusing element which focuses the laser beam to impinge upon the target, defining an impingement spot. The concentrated energy at the impingement spot causes the generation of a highly directed evaporant plume that emanates from the target toward the proximally located substrate. The particles of target material contained in the evaporant plume then deposit onto the substrate""s surface. By sustaining this deposition process while the substrate is rotated or otherwise displaced in controlled manner, a coating of target material may be formed on the substrate.
In many applications of this technique, the uniformity of deposition is of paramount concern. Numerous factors bear on the uniformity that may ultimately be realized. Perhaps chief among them is the degree to which the release of the target""s evaporant material is regulated. The target includes a given mass of evaporant material which xe2x80x98wearsxe2x80x99 as the deposition process progresses. The progressive wear of evaporant material potentially yields ruts and divots formed in the surface of the target. Consequently, the regularity (concentration, direction of release, . . . ) with which particles of the evaporant material are released from the target is quickly disrupted unless adequate aversive measures are taken. There is, therefore, a need for a deposition system wherein such aversive measures are adequately taken to optimize the uniformity of deposition that the system may realize.
2. Prior Art
Deposition systems, including pulsed laser deposition systems, incorporating one or more aversive measures to minimize the detrimental effects of target wear are known in the art. The best prior art known to Applicant includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,654,975; 5,724,173; 5,606,449; 5,661,290; 5,374,817; 5,144,120; 4,568,142; 4,504,110; 4,327,959; 4,218,112; 3,642,343; and, 3,508,814.
One aversive measure incorporated in deposition systems known in the art is to rotate the target about a rotation axis normal thereto. Another is to simultaneously scan the laser beam impinging upon the target along, for instance, the target""s radial extent. A system employing these measures is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,654,975 entitled xe2x80x9cSCANNING LASER BEAM DELIVERY SYSTEM,xe2x80x9d and assigned to the Assignee of the present invention. In that system, a laser beam source and a beam transfer assembly cooperatively generate and direct an optical path having a terminal segment that impinges upon a target evaporant. An automatically controlled scanning mechanism displaces the beam transfer assembly in appropriate manner to translate the terminal segment of the optical beam path in a direction substantially normal to the longitudinal direction along which it extends.
While this system yields marked improvement over prior art deposition systems in the uniformity of deposition realized on a substrate, a number of shortcomings yet prevail. First, the strict lateral translation of the optical beam path terminal segment does not necessarily preserve the normal distance between the given focusing element and the target surface. In typical deposition systems, the planar front face of the target is not squarely oriented towards the incoming energy beam; for, the incident angle formed by the incoming beam relative to the target""s front face must be something other than 90xc2x0 if the resulting evaporant plume is to be directed towards the given substrate and not directly back towards the incoming energy beam, itself. Consequently, as the incoming beam is translated in a direction normal to its propagating direction, the focusing element is displaced either toward or away from that portion of the target""s front facial plane on which it is to direct the energy beam. The beam""s focus on the target is thus disturbed. That is, the effective shape and size of the impingement spot which the incoming energy beam forms on the target at a given instant in time is not preserved.
Another shortcoming prevails in the fact that the beam transfer assembly comprising all the optical components for forming at least the terminal segment of the energy beam is displaced in its entirety to effect the lateral translation of the beam path terminal segment. The practical inefficiencies inherent in such cumbersome manipulation of components are readily apparent.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to effect substantially uniform deposition of evaporant material contained in a target onto a substrate.
It is another object of the present invention to realize substantially uniform deposition of the target evaporant material onto a substrate using a pulsed laser deposition technique.
It is another object of the present invention to optimally regulate the consumption of the target evaporant material.
It is another object of the present invention to scan at least that portion of a coherent energy beam impinging upon the target in a manner that optimally preserves the beam""s focus on the target.
It is yet another object of the present invention to effect the necessary scanning of a coherent energy beam in a simple and efficient manner.
It is still another object of the present invention to scan a coherent energy beam along the target by translating a focusing element along a scanning path that substantially preserves the beam""s focus on the target.
These and other objects are attained in the present invention which provides a deposition system for substantially uniform deposition of an evaporant material onto a substrate. The deposition system comprises: a source for generating a coherent energy beam; a substantially planar target containing the evaporant material which is disposed in spaced relation to the substrate; a focusing element optically coupled to the source for focusing the coherent energy beam onto the target; and, an actuator coupled to the focusing element for reversibly translating that focusing element along a scanning path directed substantially parallel to a target plane defined by the target. The focused coherent energy beam defines an impingement spot on the target. The impingement spot is displaced responsive to the translation of the focusing element along the scanning path. The focus of the coherent energy beam on the target thus remains substantially preserved.
While enhanced uniformity of deposition may be realized in accordance with the present invention even without target rotation, the target is rotated in a preferred embodiment about a target rotation axis substantially normal to the target plane. Also in that embodiment, the actuator is adapted to translate the focusing element in reciprocal manner in accordance with a predetermined rate profile. The rate profile is defined based upon the position of the impingement spot relative to the target rotation axis. Preferably, the rate profile is defined by a substantially sinusoidal displacement profile, the rate of focusing element translation being inversely related to the displacement of the impingement spot from the target rotation axis.
In an alternate embodiment, the scanning path for the focusing element is described by a plurality of directional components. Each directional component in that embodiment is substantially parallel to the target plane.


An evaporator system that includes: a first evaporator coil at a first evaporator temperature and pressure; a second evaporator coil at a second evaporator temperature and pressure that is less than the first evaporator temperature and pressure where the first evaporator and second evaporator are configured to be thermally disjointed; and a plurality of thermally conductive spaced apart evaporator fins having a plurality of spaced apart thermal break portions positioned between the first evaporator coil and the second evaporator coil that thermally disjoin the first evaporator and the second evaporator.

Air conditioning systems for building structures, dwellings or individual rooms have historically utilized a standard vapor compression cooling system to cool an interior volume of a building structure 2 containing walls 4 and/or ceilings 6. A traditional home or building air conditioning system is shown schematically in FIG. 1. As shown there, the air conditioning system 10 typically includes an exterior positioned machine compartment housing 12 mounted on a base platform 14 where the housing 12 contains a single outlet, single input compressor 16, a condenser 18, and a thermal expansion device 20. These traditional systems also typically include a fan 22 associated with condenser 18, the size of which depends on various factors. For whole dwelling/building systems, which the compressor and condenser must provide higher cooling capacity, the systems are sized to match thermal load and are typically larger. Coolant fluid conduits 24 deliver coolant through the vapor compression system and deliver coolant fluid that has passed through the compressor, the condenser and the throttling device to a single evaporator 26 that operates at a single evaporator pressure located within an air passageway 28 within the building structure 2. The air passageway could be an air duct, air vents of a room air conditioning system or a portion of the building's interior heating, ventilation and air conditioning machine compartment located within the building structure 2. Typically, the evaporator 26 is positioned within the building's heating ventilation and air conditioning machine compartment. The air passageway 28 typically has an air circulation fan 30 associated with it to distribute air through the building structure 2 or into a portion of the building structure. The air circulation fan delivers air across the single evaporator where it is cooled and the cooled air 32 distributed to the volume of interior air to be cooled. Air is returned to the evaporator as shown by reference numeral 34. Typically, a building structure may have an exterior air inlet/path that allows exterior air to enter, typically passively enter, the building structure from outside the building structure either directly into the air passageway 28 or into the building structure air where the exterior air is then circulated within the building structure.
While this system does cool the building structure interior it typically does not allow for regulation of both the temperature and humidity of the interior of a building structure. When this traditional air conditioner is used, humidity is removed based upon the temperature of the single evaporator. A person within the interior volume of the building structure might want more or less humidity removed from the air within the building structure than what is allowed by such single evaporator systems.

Fin-coil design for a dual suction air conditioning unit