Root and type of a chord are discriminated at discriminators in accordance with the operation status on a fingerboard. The chord is designated according to a simplified fingering rule predetermined on the fingerboard so as to designate the chord. An automatic accompaniment or a manual play is performed according to the discriminated chord obtained at chord discriminating device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic musical instrument which can provide an external or internal, electronically-operative sound source to synthesize musical tones, and, more particularly, to an electronic string instrument provided with a fingerboard and a plurality of strings, a chord discriminating apparatus incorporated into this type of electronic string instrument and a chord-using apparatus such as an automatic or manual accompaniment unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is well known in the field of electronic musical instruments, a keyboard instrument is the most successful subject on the industrial and commercial basis. Fortunately, the input technology for use in ordinary electronic digitized machines such as an electronic typewriter, a personal computer and an electronic calculator, has contributed, greater or smaller, to improvements of a keyboard serving as a main controller of keyboard instruments and input technology associated with such a controller. An MIDI (MUSICAL INSTRUMENT DIGITAL INTERFACE), most popular of musical instrument interfaces, appears to be mainly developed for digital keyboard instruments. Today, there are a variety of electronic keyboard instruments available on the market, some for professional uses, some for amateurs and some as toys for children.
Needless to say, to sufficiently master one instrument, whether it is a traditional instrument or an electronic musical instrument, generally, one has to practice considerably and requires a considerable time for it. The first thing to be learnt by learners who use a musical instrument for the first time would be the basic operation of the instrument. Learners may already have sufficient musical feeling, but usually feel it difficult to express a music through musical instruments in which they are not experienced. It is therefore very advantageous to provide aiding or helping tools for those with less experiences to help them show their musical expressions or help learners develop musical feeling.
One of such tools has already been devised as a simplified chord designation technology or an automatic accompaniment technology in the field of electronic keyboard instruments. This tool is disclosed in a number of documents. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,353,278 discloses a chord discriminating apparatus which discriminates a chord from key operation data defined by simplified finger positioning and the subsequent key operation (striking or pressing keys) done with respect to a keyboard provided on the left side of an electronic keyboard instrument. According to the logic of the chord discrimination, the root of a chord is specified by that of two operated keys which generates the lowest tone or highest tone, and the type of the chord is determined by the type of the remaining key (black key or white key). Another chord discriminating apparatus for use in an electronic keyboard instrument is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,499,807, in which when one key is operated, the pitch of the key specifies the pitch of the root and a major is designated as the type of a chord, and when two keys are operated, a minor is discriminated as a chord type and the pitch of the root is determined by the pitch of one of the keys. When three or more keys are operated, a seventh chord is discriminated as a chord type and the root is defined by the key with the highest or lowest note. U.S. Pat. No. 4,217,804 discloses an electronic keyboard instrument which automatically plays an arpeggio in accordance with key operation data from a keyboard and an arpeggio pattern. This instrument comprises means for assigning pitch order attributes to the individual pitches of a plurality of keys, and arpeggio pattern generator means for generating the pitch order attributes at timings at which individual musical tones are generated. The generated pitch order attribute data of an arpeggio pattern is decoded in accordance with the pitch order attribute and pitch of an operated key to be a pitch representing a specific frequency, and a musical tone having this decoded pitch will be generated and sounded. Therefore, this structure cannot generate a pitch other than what is specified by an operated key. An automatic accompaniment unit for use in a keyboard instrument is also known which comprises pattern generator means for generating pitch interval data from a root (a pitch relative to the root) at a generation timing of each musical tone. This unit further comprises chord discriminator means for discriminating the root and type of a chord from operated keys on the keyboard. The pitch interval data from the tone generation control means generator means is sent to decoder means where it is corrected in accordance with the discriminated chord type and is combined with the root of the chord to be a pitch having a specific value. A musical tone having this pitch will be generated from a sound source.
It should be noted that the above techniques have been proposed and developed in association with a musical instrument having a keyboard, i.e., a musical instrument having an array of keys which are basically arranged in a linear pitch array and are struck or pressed. In general, it is considered difficult to apply the principles of such techniques to musical instruments which apparently differ from the keyboard type in, not only structure but also characteristics and modes of musical performance.
It seems useful to briefly discuss the characteristics, history and state of art of an electronic string instrument.
As compared with electronic keyboard instruments, the history of electronic string instruments is shorter although the root of ordinary string instruments returns to ancient times and analog-operative "electric" guitars are very successful at modern ages. String instruments differ from keyboard instruments significantly in playing method. With regard to a guitar, for instance, musical tones are generally generated by plucking or strumming one or more strings. The pitch of a tone is basically determined by the operation position pressed on the associated string on a fingerboard with a finger. In other words, each tone is determined and generated by the positioning of a string with the left fingers and plucking or strumming of the string with the right fingers. This is in contrast to what is involved in keyboard instruments in which one or a plurality of keys are selected and struck or pressed to generate associated tones. Due to the structural advantage, most string instruments are portable and are typically held by a player while playing a music. This produces a feeling of integration between a player and a string instrument, which is not the case with the use of keyboard instruments.
Although the history of electronic string instruments is relatively short, various propositions have been made to digitize or computerize string instruments. Great efforts have been made particularly to improvements of an input or sensor device associated with strings and a fingerboard which are main play controllers of a guitar type string instrument or a signal processor associated with such an input or sensor device. Typical performance control inputs, which are detected and evaluated by an electronic string instrument and are used for a sound sour or a synthesizer, are the position of a string pressed on the fingerboard or the operating length of a vibrating string or its equivalent pitch, the time of string plucking (or strumming) and sometimes the intensity of the string plucking. For instance, U.S Pat. No. 4,468,999 teaches a string/fret detecting apparatus for use in an electronic guitar, in which a plurality of metal strings are sequentially and periodically driven by a string driver. Conductive frets on the fingerboard are sequentially and periodically scanned by a fret scanner, which receives an electric signal of string through a fret in contact with the string and discriminates the fret by a differential system. The string driver drive one string at a time in accordance with the value of a string counter, so that the string in contact with the discriminated fret is specified by the string count attained at that point of time. U.S. Pat. No. 4,658,690 also discloses a string-driven type string/fret position detecting apparatus. In this apparatus, a fret comprises a plurality of mutually-insulated, conductive segments arranged in such a way that adjacent fret segments partially overlap each other across the fingerboard (while maintaining the insulation). This string/fret position detecting apparatus can detect a plurality of string/fret positions, and these strings extending on the fingerboard are separate from the strings (trigger strings), which are disposed on the body of a string instrument and are to be plucked or strummed. According to the guitar type electronic string instrument disclosed in U.S. patent Ser. No. 07,069,612, filed July 7, 1987, a matrix array of pressure-responsive fret switches are embedded in the fingerboard body. Each fret switch is associated with each string extending on the fingerboard and is provided between adjacent frets thereon. The fret switch array is scanned by an array scanner or a program and an activated fret switch or the operation position of each string pressed on the fingerboard is detected. U.S. Pat. No. 4,723,468 discloses an apparatus for detecting string/fret positions and the operation lengths of strings utilizing ultrasonic waves. An ultrasonic wave generator operative by a pulse is provided at the bridge of strings and transmits an ultrasonic pulse. The transmitted ultrasonic wave is reflected by the fret on the fingerboard which is in contact with a string, and the ultrasonic echo is returned to the bridge through the string in the opposite direction and is received by an ultrasonic wave receiver provided at the bridge. The time between the transmission of the transmitted pulse and reception of the received pulse, i.e., the time required for the ultrasonic wave to reciprocate the operation length of the string, is measured and the associated, activated fret is specified. U.S. patent Ser. No. 112,780, filed Oct. 22, 1987, proposes a string-fret detecting apparatus of a pitch extraction type, which extracts a pitch from a signal from an electromagnetic pickup of a string. This pitch extracting apparatus comprises an analog circuit and a digital signal processor which is controlled by software (a pitch extraction algorithm). The analog circuit detects the zero crossing point, peak, etc. of the picked-up signal and sends the detection results to the digital signal processor. In accordance with the pitch extraction algorithm, the digital signal processor finds effective zero crossing points (whose interval corresponds to the pitch or basic frequency of string vibration) and measures the time between the effective zero crossing point to attain a pitch.
French Patent Nos. FR8606571; FR2598-017-A discloses a string-plucking or violin type electronic string instrument. According to the embodiment disclosed, a strength gauge for detecting the bow pressure with respect to strings is adhered to the flexible stick of the bow. The hair of the bow is constituted by a bundle of 50 silicon carbide wires having 1000 .OMEGA./cm and is applied thereacross with a DC voltage of about 5 V. Each string is conductive and serves as a cursor for a potentiometer constituted by the bow hair. When the hair contacts a string, a voltage indicating the contact position (instantaneous position of the bow) is formed on the string. Resistive tracks of carbon are embedded in the fingerboard in association with the individual strings, and a DC voltage of about 5 V is applied across each track. For each track, a conductive wire which selectively contacts the track when pressed, is disposed. The tracks serve as the potentiometer and the conductive wires serve as the cursors. When strings are pressed against the fingerboard, therefore, signals representing the pressed positions are formed on the conductive wires. These signals, which include a signal representing the bow pressure from the strength gauge with respect to the strings, a signal from a operated string that represents the instantaneous position of the hair with respect to the string, and a signal from a conductive wire representing the position of the string pressed against the fingerboard, are utilized to control a synthesizing sound source.
Of course, these efforts and propositions concerning string instruments generally relate to evaluation of performance control inputs in "electronic" string instruments, and their objectives are essential to actually realize the potential of a sound source for electronically synthesizing musical tones in response to properly evaluated tone parameters. However, there are still important aspects in electronic string instruments which should be developed, and which are concerned with the technique for providing aiding and help to players, particularly those who do not have enough experiences in string instruments. This technique is what the present invention is directed to. Regretfully, in the field of electronic string instruments, there are very few documents published which are concerned with the play-aiding field. One of the documents is U.S. Pat. No. 4,295,402, issued Oct. 20, 1981. The disclosed technique relates to correction of chord designation including an error in an electronic guitar. A fret position detector detects operation positions (a set of operation positions of string/fret operation positions) on a fingerboard with frets, which are determined by (erroneous) fingering done for chord designation with respect to the fingerboard. The a set of operation positions is converted into a set of associated pitches, each of which is expressed by one of 12 bits so that all the pitches can be set within one octave. The converted data is then input to a chord/root detector, which has a plurality of matching or correlation filters and counters provided for different chord types. Each correlation filter is first supplied with 12 bits Si representing the set of pitches from the fret position detector. During a checking process, these 12 bits Si are sequentially circulated so as to move a reference bit position or a root from C to B. The correlation filters further receive reference pitch data representing chord types, as filter coefficients, which are equivalent to 12 bits Ri that make the bit positions of the chord members to be "1." The outputs of the correlation filters are given by ##EQU1## The outputs (correlation values) are measured by the correlation counters The type of a chord is specified by that correlation filter which has given the greatest correlation value, and the root of the chord is specified by the reference bit position given at the point of the maximum correlation value. In other words, this structure is based on the signal theory concerning a signal-to-noise ratio. However, the disclosed technique is not utilized for a purpose of discriminating a chord from the operation positions on the fingerboard formed by "simplified" fingering for chord designation. The latter technique is suggested in Japanese Patent Disclosure No. 63-210893, according to which each chord type is assigned to each string and the root of each chord (from C to B) is assigned on each fret on the fingerboard. A chord is specified by pressing one point on the fingerboard. Accordingly, positioning detector means detects one operated string/fret position. The type of a chord is discriminated from the string data at the operation position from the positioning detector means, and the root of the chord is discriminated from the fret data at the operation position. With the above arrangement, since the pitch on the same fret is assigned to every string, most players who enjoy playing traditional string instruments, much or less, would feel it unnatural. Another example is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Disclosure No. 63-128596, whose grantee is the same as the present case. In this example, separate regions on a fingerboard with frets are used respectively as a chord type designating region and a root designating region. According to one embodiment disclosed in the document, the region or track on the fingerboard which is associated with the sixth string defines the root designating region and those tracks on the fingerboard which are associated with the first to fifth strings define the chord type designating region. This arrangement has a shortcoming similar to that of the previous example.


The present invention encompasses a receptor protein present on the surface of natural killer cells (NK cells) and non-specific cytotoxic cells (NCC) which is involved in non-specific lysis of target cells bearing an antigen recognized by the receptor protein and monoclonal antibodies which bind to the receptor which are useful in their identification and purification, and methods for altering NK cell-mediated lysis of target cells.. The monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) of the present invention were prepared by cell fusions between spleen cells from mice immunized with either non-specific cytotoxic cells (NCC) from catfish (anti-receptor antibodies) and myeloma cells.. The NK cell receptor was purified from solubilized flow cytometry purified non-specific cytotoxic (NCC) using antigen-antibody complexing techniques, either immune precipitation or affinity chromatography on Affigel-10.TM. with Con A Sepharose purified mAbs. Using mAbs which bind but do not inhibit lysis produces the same results as using mAbs which bind and inhibit lysis. Analysis of the receptor by 12% SDS shows that it is a dimeric molecule consisting of 41,000 and 38,000 D proteins.

By the early 1970's, natural killer (NK) cell activity, distinct from antigen specific cytolytic T lymphocyte activity, had been reported by several laboratories in a variety of species, including mouse, rat and man. These reports are reviewed by R. K. Oldham, J. Biol. Resp. Mod. 1, 217 (1982). Non-specific cytotoxic cells (NCC), similar in many aspects to NK cells, also have been identified in lower vertebrate species (Graves et al., Dev. Comp. Immunol. 8, 293 (1984); Evans et al., Dev. Comp. Immunol. 8, 303 (1984); Evans et al., Dev. Comp. Immuno. 8, 599 (1984); Evans et al., Dev. Comp. Immunol. 8, 823 (1984)).
NK cells are known to be a heterogeneous population of immune cells with regard to phenotype and function, as discussed, for example, by Lanier et al., Immunol. Today, 7, 132 (1986). However, controversy still exists with regard to their lineage with respect to other immune cells and to their relationship to other effector cells such as lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells and anomalous killer (AK) cells. These differences may reflect the innate heterogeneity of the types of cells capable of NK activity (as defined by function) or be due to the various assay systems employed to study NK cells.
NK cells have been implicated in a variety of activities involving the immune system, including immune disorders in both animal models and man. Results from animal models have also shown that NK cells are effective in vivo against the growth and metastasis of certain types of tumors. In this regard, administration of in vitro cultured NK cells to human cancer patients has shown promise in the treatment and regression of certain types of malignancies. Further, NK cells have been implicated in host resistance to infections with microorganisms, both bacteria and viruses. Finally, NK cells are thought to play an important role in the normal regulation of the host immune system through immunoglobulin production and hematopoiesis. These lines of evidence suggest that the NK system possesses considerable functional diversity, and may operate by the recognition of changes in normal membrane structures, including differentiation antigens, as discussed by Toshitani et al., Cell Immunol. 108, 188 (1987); Kornbluth et al., J. Immunol. 134, 728 (1985); Lauzon and Roder, Cell Immunol. 94, 85 (1985); Roder et al., J. Exp. Med. 150, 471 (1979).
Although NK cells have been studied for several decades, two of the major questions that remain in NK biology today are what molecule(s) on the surface of NK cells is involved in recognition of the target cells and what molecule(s) on the target cells is recognized by NK cells. At the beginning of the last decade it was found that T cells recognize products of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) expressed on target cells. This discovery was facilitated by the availability of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against these molecules which inhibited their recognition by T cells. In terms of NK biology, mAb inhibition of function or recognition (in the absence of complement) has been much less frequently documented. Both the transferrin receptor and the receptor for IgG Fc have been implicated to serve as recognition structures for NK cells, although these results are controversial (Vodinelich et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 80, 835 (1983); Dokhelar et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 14, 340 (1984). The laminin/laminin receptor complex has also recently been implicated to act as a means of NK recognition of certain cells, as reported at the Fourth Int'l Workshop on NK Cells, Kingston, Ontario, 1986. Finally, carbohydrate/carbohydrate interactions have been implicated to serve as a means of NK/target cell recognition by Muchmore et al., Immunolbiol. 158, 191 (1981); Werkmeister et al., Cell Immunol. 80, 172 (1983). Together, these results have been interpreted as signifying that NK cells do not express clonally-restricted receptors, that NK cells may express more than one receptor on their surface and that NK cells are capable of recognizing multiple antigens on the surface of one or more target cells. These results may also be indicative of NK heterogeneity due to discrete NK subpopulations.
Some typical T cells, particularly antigen-specific cytotoxic T cells (CTL), can mediate NK-like cytotoxicity as measured against certain tumor cells such as K562, as described by Brooks et al., Immunol. Rev. 72, 43 (1983) and others. These CTLs are referred to as CTL(NK) or non-MHC-restricted CTL. However, since it has been shown that true NK cells do not transcribe mRNA for or express on their surface a typical T cell antigen receptor (TCR) (Reynolds et al., J. Exp. Med. 150, 471 (1985); Lanier et al., J. Exp. Med. 163, 209 (1986); Tutt et al., J. Immunol. 137, 2998 (1986)), it is generally accepted that NK cells do not recognize antigen in this fashion and do not recognize MHC molecules. Although the CTL(NK) do express a typical TCR, it is not known whether this molecule is utilized to effect their NK-like killing or if these effector cells recognize MHC antigens in some aberrant fashion. Recently, there has been evidence to suggest that the CD3 molecule and the gamma/delta TCR may be involved in this type of non-MHC-restricted cytotoxicity (Farrini et al., J. Exp. Med. 166, 277 (1987); Alarcon et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84, 3861 (1987); Ang et al., J. Exp. Med. 165, 1453 (1987); David et al., J. Immunol. 138, 2831 (1987); van de Grien et al., J. Immunol. 138,1627 (1987)). In other studies, it has been demonstrated that anti-CD3 and anti-CD8 mAbs, while inhibiting the antigen-specific lysis by such CTL clones, do not inhibit the NK-like lysis by these effector cells (Moretta et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 14, 121 (1984); Brooks and Holscher, J. Immunol. 6, 594 (1987); Roberts and Moore, Eur. J. Immunol. 15,448 (1985)).
TABLE 1 ______________________________________ Natural killer cell membrane antigens and mAbs capable of detecting these determinants. mAb Designation Antigen Specificity ______________________________________ CD2 (Leu-5b) T cells, NK cells CD7 (Leu-9) T cells, NK cells CD8 (Leu-2) T cells, NK cells CD11 (Leu-15) C3bi receptor on T Cells, NK cells, momonocytes and macrophages CD16 (Leu-11a) Fc (gamma) receptor on NK cells and on PMN's Leu 7 HNK-1 on LGL's and NK cells Leu 19 NKH-1 determinant (220 kD) on NK and T-cells .sup.a) OKT8 T cytotoxic/suppressor cells and LGL OKT10 LGL, early thymus antigen 3A1 T cells and LGL 5A12 T cells and LGL Lyt 3 T cells and LGL OKT5 T cytotoxic/suppressors and LGL Ia Activated T cells ______________________________________ .sup.a) Cells expressing OKT8, OKT5 and Ia are nonlytic LGL's.
Very little is known regarding identification of lymphoreticular cells in fish. Previous studies have tentatively identified a B lymphocyte subpopulation in this species. However, there have been only a few investigations where attempts have been made to identify cytotoxic cells in teleost fish. In mammals, however, a great deal is known regarding the heterogeneity of lymphocytes and mAbs have been derived which inhibit cytotoxic activity.
It therefore seems apparent that in order to understand the process of NK cell recognition, it is essential to identify and characterize examples of NK target antigens, as well as the receptor(s), in a variety of species, including lower vertebrates such as fish and mammals.
Knowledge of an NK antigen receptor would enable analysis of how the receptor/ligand complex functions. Further, isolation of an NK antigen receptor would allow comparison with other receptors and possibly the identification of other NK antigen receptors or subclasses of NK cells on the basis of antigen specificity and/or type of antigen receptor. This would further the understanding of the relationship between NK, LAK and CTL(NK) populations as well as immune cells such as monocytes, macrophages and other types of T cells. A comparison of the receptor molecules in fish, mouse and humans provides insights into the evolution of the NK cell population and the role they play in immune function, malignancy and immune disorders.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide methods and means for isolating and characterizing the antigen receptor common to the surface of natural killer cells of such diverse origin as fish, mouse and human.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide methods and means for modifying the antigen receptor of natural killer cells and the immune response modulated by the receptor.

Receptor for natural killer and non-specific cytotoxic cells

University of Georgia Research Foundation


This invention discloses a synchronous DRAM. An address counter provides a column address of eight bits. The low-order four bits of the column address are assigned to a first column predecoder while the high-order four bits are assigned to a second column predecoder. The first column predecoder provides first predecode signals which are activated in synchronization with a clock leading edge of an internal clock signal and deactivated in synchronization with a clock trailing edge subsequent to the clock leading edge. The second column predecoder provides second predecode signals which make a transition in synchronization with the clock trailing edge. A column decoder sequentially activates column-select lines of a memory cell array according to the AND obtained from all combinations of the first predecode signals and the second predecode signals. Fast, low power column-select line activation is accomplished accordingly.

This invention relates to a semiconductor memory device capable of reading data in synchronization with a clock signal.
SDRAM (synchronous DRAM) is a clock-synchronized, fast-access MOS semiconductor memory device. Fujiwara and others show a column address decode circuit for SDRAM with high speed and low power capabilities ("A 200 MHz 16 Mbit Synchronous DRAM with Block Access Mode," 1994 Symp. on VLSI Cir. Dig. of Tech. Papers, pp. 79-80). In accordance with this technique, column-select line activation is made by an AND signal of a column decode signal (i.e., an AND signal of plural predecode signals) and an internal clock signal. The column-select line is activated in synchronization with a clock leading edge and deactivated in synchronization with a clock trailing edge subsequent to that clock leading edge.
The above-described column decode circuit however has some drawbacks. For example, if 256 column-select lines are arranged, then 256 AND circuits must be driven by internal clock signals. This increases the clock driver load. The power dissipation increases and the speed of operations including clock drive operations decreases.


In a hybrid vehicle 20, when a deceleration demand based on accelerator-off is made in selecting an S position that allows arbitrary selection of shift positions SP1 to SP6, and fuel cut cannot be prohibited from a state of a battery 50, an engine 22 and motors MG1 and MG2 are controlled so that a driving force based on a torque demand Tr* is outputted with the fuel cut (Steps S410, S420, S360 to S400). When the deceleration demand based on the accelerator-off is made in selecting the S position, and the fuel cut can be prohibited from the state of the battery 50, the engine 22 and the motors MG1 and MG2 are controlled so that the engine 22 substantially performs self-sustaining operation at a target rotation speed Ne0 and a driving force based on the torque demand Tr* is outputted (Steps S340 to S400).

A conventionally known hybrid vehicle includes a motor generator placed between a torque converter that transmits power of an internal combustion engine to a drive shaft and an automatic transmission (for example, see Patent Document 1). In this hybrid vehicle, control is performed to prevent fuel cut of the internal combustion engine when it is determined that a temperature of a catalyst is higher than a predetermined criterion value in order to prevent degradation of the catalyst caused by being exposed to lean atmosphere at high temperatures. When a deceleration demand based on accelerator-off is made but the fuel cut is prohibited from a temperature state of the catalyst, a regenerative braking force is generated by a motor generator and regenerative electric power is accumulated in an accumulator unit such as a secondary battery in order to compensate for a reduction in the degree of deceleration caused by the prohibition of the fuel cut. In the hybrid vehicle, if there is a possibility that the regenerative electric power by the motor generator is not accumulated in the accumulator unit according to a state of the accumulator unit when the catalyst is at a high temperature and the deceleration demand based on accelerator-off is made, a required braking force is generated by a hydraulic brake instead of the regenerative braking force by the motor generator. In a vehicle which has an internal combustion engine as an only driving source and an automatic transmission with a manual transmission mode as an option, known techniques relating to the fuel cut include a technique of reducing a fuel cut rotation speed in selecting the manual transmission mode as compared with in selecting an automatic transmission mode (for example, see Patent Document 2), and a technique of increasing a fuel cut return rotation speed for restarting fuel supply in selecting the manual transmission mode as compared with in selecting an automatic transmission mode (for example, see Patent Document 3), in terms of making a so-called engine brake more effective, improving fuel consumption, or improving riding comfort or driving feeling.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-207043
[Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-59982
[Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-11591

Hybrid vehicle and control method of the same


Since the capacitor of the semiconductor memory has the storage electrode comprising a shape of the cylindrical structure having rough polysilicon portions on base and sidewall portions thereof, it can increase electrostatic capacitance. Further, since the rough portions of the base and sidewall rough storage electrode layers are respectively formed by independently controlling a condition of Chemical Vapor Deposition, it can easily control formations of the rugged portions of the capacitor, therefore it can achieve the improvement of the productivity of the rough portions. Accordingly, the semiconductor can achieve a stability of a memory operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a method of forming a semiconductor memory device, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a method of forming a capacitor.
This application is a counterpart of Japanese application Serial Number 039616/1997, filed Feb. 25, 1997, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view showing a one-bit memory cell of a conventional DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), the one bit memory cell having a switching transistor, a capacitor, a bit line and a word line. The switching transistor includes a gate oxide layer 105, a gate electrode 106 and a pair of n-type impurity regions 107. The capacitor includes a storage electrode 116, 117, a dielectric layer (not shown) and a plate electrode 118, the storage electrode 116, 117 having the cylindrical structure. The bit line 111 connects to one of the n-type impurity regions 107 through a bit contact 110. The word line also serves as the gate electrode 106. The capacitor connects with the switching transistor through a storage contact 114 and a poly-silicon plug 115.
As shown in FIG. 4, the memory cell includes a p-type silicon substrate 101, an n-type guard layer 102 surrounding the memory cell, a p-type well 103 surrounded by the n-type guard layer 102, a field oxide layer 104 to separate memory cells, insulator layers 109, 112, 119, a silicon nitride layer 113 serving as a channel stopper, and a passivation layer 121.

Method of forming semiconductor memory device


A compact, flexible device capable of receiving a human finger which allows a person to easily and efficiently smooth filler material into a desired space, while also allowing the user to handle other objects and/or complete other tasks without removing the device from his or her person.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to the field of construction equipment, particularly a device for easily applying filler material into hard-to-reach places such as, but not limited to, corners, joints, seams, or gaps.
2. Background
People engaged in construction work or house painting often rely heavily on filler materials, such as caulk, to seal corners, joints, seams, gaps, or the like. It is critical that these filler materials be properly applied so as to form a watertight and/or airtight seal and/or for aesthetic purposes. To achieve this purpose, a person must first apply filler material from a container and/or caulking gun to accomplish a desired result, be it aesthetic or otherwise, to the area to be sealed. The filler material then needs to be spread out and/or smoothed such that the area is completely covered with filler material and excess is removed, thus creating a proper seal and pleasing aesthetic. This second step can prove especially daunting when filler material must be applied to hard-to-reach places, such as corners, joints, seams, gaps, or the like. In addition, a person engaged in applying filler material to such spaces is also usually involved in other building activities and carries around and uses several tools or other objects. It is therefore advantageous for a worker to minimize the number of tools or objects needed for a particular job while also working in a timely and efficient manner. What is needed is a compact, lightweight device which allows a person to easily and properly smooth filler material into a desired space, while also allowing the user to handle other objects and/or complete other tasks without removing the device from his or her person.
Several hand-held products exist which are intended to aid in the application and/or smoothing of filler material. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,675,860 issued to Campbell teaches a hand-held applicator with a tapered head and traditional tool handle. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 3,964,854 issued to Groeneveld teaches a hand-held implement with a handle and a head for finishing tile joints. U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,956 issued to Lemaster teaches a hand-held glazing tool with trimming blades and a handle plate intended to be gripped with the thumb and forefinger of a user. While the aforementioned tools may assist in the application and/or smoothing of filler material, they lack much needed properties. First, these types of products must be held in and guided by a user's hand, leaving only one hand free to perform other tasks. Second, filler material is usually applied to only small areas at a time and then smoothed before drying in order to ensure proper sealing and aesthetic. With the above-mentioned implements, a user must apply filler material from a container, put the container down, pick up and use the smoothing tool, and then place the smoothing tool back down on a surface to start the process again on another area of a corner, joint, seam, gap, or the like. This process is not only tedious but inefficient, especially for workers cramped in small spaces or faced with large projects. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, using a hand-held tool is not nearly as effective as using one's finger to manipulate and smooth filler material. A user has the greatest control over the quality of filler material application as well as aesthetic appeal when using a finger to smooth and wipe away excess material. Hand-held implements simply do not provide this type of control and effectiveness.
While using one's finger to manipulate filler material is preferable, a user should still have as little contact as possible with the filler material, which may or may not be hazardous, to avoid potential damage or injury to the user's skin from abrasion or contact with the material—that is, use over an extended period of time whether the material is hazardous or not, may cause irritation or abrasion of the finger. Some existing products attempt to combine the effectiveness of finger use with protective covering to prevent contact with filler material. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,305,926 issued to Ray teaches an elongated hollow body with a closed end and an open end for receiving a finger. The closed end of the device can be used to apply and/or smooth filler material. However, the Ray device provides the user with access to only a single radius of curvature and does not allow a user to reach into converging gaps or corners. It can also be difficult to grip other objects or perform other tasks while wearing the Ray device. Another product, U.S. Pat. No. 4,177,698 issued to Greneker, teaches a finger implement which slips over one finger and has wing extensions, but also requires a person to use their thumb for precision control. The Greneker device is not only bulky but also limits a user's ability to grip other objects while wearing the device. Additionally, the Greneker device is not specifically meant for smoothing filler material and thus would require an additional attachment to properly accommodate the task.
What is needed is a compact, flexible finger device which allows a person to easily and efficiently smooth filler material at a desired radius of curvature into a desired space, while also allowing the user to handle other objects and/or complete other tasks without removing the device from his or her person.


This invention relates to a clothing combination comprising a shirt and a pair of pants wherein the shirt and the pair of pants are fastened together by a self-releasing bond. Preferably, the bond is made using hook strips and loop strips that, in combination, form a hook and loop fastener. The self-releasing bond separates in a reformable manner when subjected to severe tensile strength or shear strength but has sufficient flexibility and bond strength to enable the clothing combination to be useful in sporting activities. Multicomponent kits and processes of making the same are disclosed.

In the art of dress clothing, which includes both business and formal wear, appearance is a principal factor governing consumer selection. Successful products must remain taught over the body to convey professionalism. At the same time, successful products do not exaggerate, and hopefully alleviate, physical imperfections of the wearer, such as an expansive stomach. This is a delicate balance that is difficult to achieve.
In example, if one has an expansive stomach, it is desirable to firmly attach a shirt to a pair of pants at or near the region of the belly button. However, securing a pair of pants this high on the wearer is problematic using conventional fasteners such as belts. Gravity and the natural pulling forces of the lower body in motion pull the belt down to the wearer's waist. Additionally, no matter how tightly the belt is secured, the shirt eventually crepes out of the pants and requires retucking.
Appearance is also a major concern in the art of sports clothing. However, in the art of sports clothing comfort is equally important in swaying consumers to choose one set of garments over another. Because comfort plays such a critical role in purchaser selection, fastening devices that attach sport shirts to sport pants are considered undesirable. In example, it is generally accepted that belts constrict an athletes flexibility and, therefore, sport pants are not sold with belts and do not generally contain belt loops.
However, despite the deficiency of belts as fasteners in both the dress clothing art and the sports clothing art, acceptable alternatives, to date, have not been apparent. Fastening devices other than belts are considered undesirable for use in attaching a shirt and pair of pants because the devices do not self-release in a reusable manner when subjected to a tensile or shearing force strong enough to tear one of the garments. Instead the fastening devices rip away. Even worse, because the fastening devices are sewn into the garments, the garments can be torn when the fastening devices rip away. In example, hooks, buttons and zippers do not self-release in a manner that leaves them reusable when they are subjected to a tensile or shearing force strong enough to rip the garments. Instead hooks, buttons and zippers rip away, rendering the fastening device useless and often tearing the garments in the process.
Snaps can self-release in a reusable manner when subjected to a tensile or shearing force strong enough to rip the garments, but only when said force is at an appropriate angle. Otherwise, as with hooks, buttons and zippers, the snaps and surrounding material tear away. More importantly, snaps have the disadvantage of providing a weak attachment that is easily undone by the small vibrational forces inherent to physical exertion.
In addition, the metal materials from which most snaps and many buttons and zippers are made are not water and chemical resistant. As a result the fasteners rust and become unsightly.
Finally, all of the previously mentioned fastening devices are made from hard plastic or metal materials that are not readily dyeable in the same dying step and by the same dying means as the garments. Fastening devices must be colored separately, by using paint, colored fillers, or some other means, in a manner that matches the garment to which they are to be attached. Otherwise, the fastening devices are readily apparent to the viewer and detract from the overall appearance of the garment.
For all of the above stated reasons, the art teaches away the use of fasteners other than belts to secure a shirt to a pair of pants. However, it would still be desirable to fasten a shirt to a pair of pants if a suitable fastening means could be found. Fastening a shirt and pair of pants together, whether by means of suspenders or belts or some other device, has long been recognized as the ideal way to maintain the ideal aesthetic appearance of the garments. This is especially true when the shirt is tucked taught into the pair of pants. In fact, the NBA now requires its athletes to keep their uniform shirts tucked into their uniform pants at all times. Other professional and amateur sports associations may have or adopt similar rules. Furthermore, in the business community, it goes without saying that dress shirts are always tucked into suit or dress pants. In addition, fastening the shirts and pants together provides a means of controlling the manner in which the garments relax, thereby allowing the manufacturer, or the wearer, to tailor the fall of the garments in a manner deemed most comfortable and most suitable for a given physical activity.
What is needed is a better way to fasten a shirt to a pair of pants.
What is needed is a means for fastening a shirt to a pair of pants in a taught manner that does not call attention to the physical imperfections of the wearer.
What is needed is a means for fastening a shirt to a pair of pants that does not restrict flexibility.
What is needed is a means for fastening a shirt to a pair of pants that self-releases in a reusable manner when subjected to a tensile or shearing force strong enough to rip one of the garments.
For a variety of reasons, Hook and loop fasteners are an ideal way to attach a pair of pants to a shirt. For example, the material make-up of hook and loop fasteners does not restrict flexibility. Hook and loop fasteners are typically made out of nylon and/or polyester polymers. These polymers are often used to make clothing and bend in the same manner as clothing. Thus hook and loop fasteners are flexible.
In addition, hook and loop fasteners can be made small enough to minimize inflexibility due to the size of the fastener. In fact, an effective bond can be made from a hook and loop fastener that has a thickness, width and length, as little as 1/2" or even less. The narrow thickness is especially important in lessening the chances that the fastener will hinder movement.
Hook and loop fasteners are adjustable by manipulating the size and location of the surface area wherein the hook and loop strips contact. Therefore, if a hindrance to movement occurs, the fastener can be adjusted to minimize the hindrance.
Most importantly, the bonds provided by hook and loop fasteners self-release in a reusable manner when subjected to a tensile and/or shearing forces strong enough to tear one of the garments. The hook strips and loop strips pull apart but remain unbroken, allowing later contact to reform the self-releasing bond. This allows the shirt and/or pant maximum movement when subjected to severe forces and, thereby, minirnizes the chances that the shirt and/or pair of pants will tear. As stated, this is not the case with existing shirt-pants fastening means, such as buttons, hooks and zippers.
However, the bonds provided by hook and loop fasteners are also capable of withstanding the small vibrational forces inherent to physical exertion. In fact, such vibrational forces actually increase the strength of the bond because it causes the hooks to
What is needed is a means for fastening a shirt to a pair of pants that is not easily undone by the small vibrational forces inherent to physical exertion.
What is needed is a means for fastening a shirt to a pair of pants that is water and chemical resistant.
What is needed is a means for fastening a shirt to a pair of pants that is readily dyeable in the same dying step as the fabric.

Clothing combination comprising a self-releasing bonding fastening means


An ignition control device for controlling an ignition coil device for an internal combustion engine, having an angle measuring device for measuring the current crank angle of the internal combustion engine and for outputting an equidistant angle pulse signal and an angle signal for indicating the respective beginning of a working cycle. The ignition control device includes a synchronization device for synchronizing the angular positions of the individual cylinders to the output signal of the angle measuring device, a rotational speed measuring device for measuring the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine at a measuring time point within the ignition cycle of an individual cylinder, and a calculating device for calculating a preestablished ignition angle corresponding to the measured rotational speed. A preestablished charging time corresponds to the measured battery voltage, and a beginning charging angle corresponds to the respective calculation angles in accordance with the synchronization. An ignition control value output device for outputting the beginning and the ending of the charging time.

The present invention relates to an ignition control device as well as to a corresponding ignition control method.
Although it is applicable to any ignition control system, the present invention is discussed with respect to an engine control unit that is located on board a motor vehicle.
Ignition control devices for controlling ignition events for coil ignition systems and devices have essentially two control functions: controlling a desired ignition power over the duration of connection, i.e., the duration of the charging of the ignition coil; and controlling an ignition pulse over the duration of disconnection, i.e., the termination of charging of the coil, using a correct angle.
The ignition power, which in coil ignition systems is metered over a charging time of the coil, is of varying magnitude in accordance with the vehicle system voltage applied to the electrical circuit of the coil and with the time constant of the electrical circuit.
Usually, the specific setpoint values are stored in the control unit as a characteristics field, as a function of the rotational speed and other possible engine parameters.
Conventional ignition control methods are designed for a specific control unit for a specific engine or a specific automobile manufacturer.
If an ignition control device is to be designed for a control unit platform that can be used in any SI engine in accordance with the control and regulation requirements of any customer, then new demands arise for the ignition control method in question.
Conventional ignition output has a substantially self-sufficient operation. An attempt is made to process as much information as possible in the ignition output in parallel and independently, so as to obtain the greatest possible degree of dynamic impact and output precision. For example, a separate rotational speed measurement for the ignition output is customary, being as close as possible, in terms of the angle, to the ignition event, in order to keep the error in the necessary prediction of the rotational angle curve in the dynamic as small as possible. In addition, an attempt is made to calculate the ignition events individually for each cylinder, to the greatest extent possible in parallel fashion.
For example, if it is detected that, due to the advances in the ignition events, the measuring location of the angular velocity must also be shifted, then this shift must be carried out only once and does not have an effect on the calculation of the ignition events for the other cylinders. If an engine control system cannot calculate all of the cylinders individually, for example due to lack of resources, then the attempt is made to form at least one group of cylinders that are similar within the engine.
For an ignition system that is designed for a platform, this method is very expensive, especially in terms of hardware resources. Ignition control systems that require reduced computing expense show that dynamic errors can be sufficiently compensated for by dynamic derivative actions with regard to the ignition angle or the dwell time.
Ignition methods having their own calculation chains avoid application expense, but use more hardware resources, and they also require, depending on the computing architecture, longer job execution times. A further point which characterizes many of the ignition outputs used today is that their output signals are usually fixedly assigned to specific hardware outputs. A method of this type makes project configuration cumbersome when the method is used in a control platform.
Furthermore, a very few ignition output methods check the mixture state of the cylinder that is to be fired. In the new generations of engines, which use plastic intake pipes, the problem of induction pipe explosions has arisen in various ways. This problem can be minimized by first igniting cylinders that are filled in a defined manner.
Therefore, an ignition method has heretofore been lacking that can service as many cylinders as possible using minimal hardware/controller resources, that can easily be configured in accordance with target hardware, and that can be controlled by the injection system.
For outputting angle signals, conventional control units use an angle transmitter wheel, which delivers to the ignition control device pulses that are equidistant in terms of angle. However, for reasons of computational job execution times, the calculation of the ignition events can only take place in most ignition control device architectures in segments, one segment being the angular interval of 720xc2x0 of the crankshaft divided by the number of cylinders, i.e., in a four-cylinder engine, for example, 180xc2x0. Therefore, although the angular positions of the ignition events ascertained in the calculation are measured sufficiently precisely via the angle transmitter wheel and the timer/counter circuits that are customary in the ignition control devices, nevertheless the calculation itself proceeds on the basis of a measured rotational speed, which in a rotational speed dynamic is no longer present at the location of ignition.
Thus, it is desirable to design an ignition control device for the output of ignition events that is able to operate in overall engine control system, which can be used in the greatest possible number of system environments and under the most varied possible system conditions.
Because only a limited framework for control components is available at any one time (e.g., interrupt channels on a predefined controller) for reasons of cost optimization, the device and the method should be able to be realized at a minimal expense, above all with respect to hardware resources. The design of the ignition control method should be modular to the greatest extent possible in order to be able to adjust the ignition control method to various control variants as simply as possible.
The ignition control device according to the present invention has the advantage, with respect to the conventional approaches to the problem, that the design of the ignition control method incorporates the results of analysis of a multiplicity of engine variants. In comparison to the current ignition control methods, the designed ignition output is simpler, more capable of being configured, requires fewer resources, and has clearly defined interfaces, through which the other engine control functions can interact with the ignition output. In particular, the potential interaction with the injection output makes it possible to address the problem of induction pipe backfiring at 0 rotational speed and the problem of uneven starting.
In contrast to the technically current ignition output methods, the described ignition output interacts with other devices for the output of hardware events. In this case, one especially favorable interaction is, for example, querying the status of the injection. In this context, the injection system supplies to the ignition output the information that a defined filling of a cylinder with fuel has taken place. Subsequently, the ignition system will fire this cylinder as a first ignition.
Current ignition outputs begin with the ignition irrespective of the mixture state when the beginning of a 360 degree interval is detected or when simultaneous cylinder detection occurs. In this context, the ignition takes place in undefined mixture states. For example, if a too-lean mixture is ignited, this can result in delayed combustions and in the worst case, even in an explosion of the induction pipe. Furthermore, given a rich mixture, it is possible for the engine to run-up unevenly as a result of pronounced buildup of film on the walls in the induction pipe, which has a disturbing effect on the driving sensitivity, but also potentially on the introduction of exhaust gas reactions.
Conventional technical ignition output methods are not designed with a view to outputting different output patterns simultaneously. Usually, information as to which hardware channels are to be activated in an ignition is fixedly bound to the hardware itself. The ignition output according to the present invention is designed to operate in a plurality of control unit variants with out hardware adjustments and the costs associated therewith. The form and design of the signals delivered from the ignition output to the components can be taken from a table, which is accessed during the program running time of the calculating routines. Therefore, project adjustments of the software are similarly minimized.
In contrast to conventional systems, in the ignition output described, no autonomous evaluation of the transmitter signal is required. The event calculation takes place with regard to the synchronous process that is generally continually present in engine control systems. As a result of the fact that the ignition output also makes use of a general comparator circuit of the rotational speed measuring device, which can be configured on the basis of a comparison of time but also of angle, for angle counting and increment refinement only one single activation line is needed for the calculating unit. If the ignition output is converted to conventional controllers without parallel computing units (so-called economical system), then for the entire ignition output only two interrupt channels are required. If one interrupt is used for sending the current and one interrupt is used for interrupting the current, then any number of cylinders can be served. The assignments of the cylinders and their special modes are realized using correspondingly complex buffer structures. In this manner, controller and hardware resources are saved which can be used by other functionalities. Although the ignition output, built up in this manner, has the characteristic of being dynamically somewhat less current than most conventional methods, nevertheless in trials it has been demonstrated that the output precision achieved is sufficient for the requirements of an SI engine.
According to one refinement, an enabling device is provided for enabling the ignition control value output if an injection has occurred.
According to a further refinement, the ignition control value output device is configured such that it outputs the charging time of the ignition coil device starting from the beginning charging angle by appending on to the charging time in a charging time output mode, and by counting out a charging angle until the occurrence of the ignition event, in an ignition angle output mode.
According to a further refinement, a table device is provided which contains the information that when an ignition event occurs is conveyed to the ignition control value output device.
According to a further refinement, only one single angle/time comparator is used for calculating the beginning charging angle and the ignition angle. This implies that there are only two interrupts, i.e., one for the charging and one for the ignition, irrespective of the number of cylinders in the internal combustion engine.
According to a further refinement, the calculation of the beginning charging angle and the ignition angle generally takes place in a synchronous raster, without a special ignition interrupt.
The latter two refinements create an extremely advantageous timing behavior with regard to the outside.


A high pressure collecting chamber for receiving a fuel supply under pressure, has a piston-shaped pressure multiplication element; a line to a nozzle holder combination such that via the pressure multiplication element fuel with high pressure is available in the line; a pre-stressing element for the pressure multiplication element; a control chamber through which the pressure multiplication element is integrated, wherein the pre-stressed pressure multiplication element which is actuated via the control chamber is integrated in the high pressure collecting chamber.

The present invention relates to a high pressure collecting chamber with integrated pressure multiplication element.
In fuel injection systems with the use of direct injection internal combustion engines, high pressure collecting chambers (common rails) are utilized. The high pressure collecting chambers serve as a pressure storage for all injectors provided on a direct injection internal combustion engine, to damp pressure pulsations in the fuel injection system. The pulsations are caused on the one hand by the high pressure pump and on the other hand by opening of each injector during the injector phase in the injection system. With increased injection quantities, the pressure in the high pressure injecting chamber (common rail) remains at a high level, so that high pressure can act in the individual injectors of the internal combustion engine.
German patent document DE 197 01 879 A1 discloses a fuel injection device for internal combustion engines. The fuel injector for internal combustion engines disclosed in this reference includes a high pressure collecting chamber (common rail) jointly fillable with fuel by a high pressure pump, which is connected via injection lines with injection valves extending into the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine to be supplied. The opening and closing movements of the injection valves are controlled each by an electrically-controlled control valve, wherein the control valve can be formed as a 3/2-way valve, which connects a high pressure passage open into an injection opening of the injection valve, with the injection line or a release line. A hydraulic working chamber which is fillable with fuel under high pressure is provided at the control valve member of the control valve. It is controllable for adjusting the adjusted positions of the control valve member in a release passage.
Monosystems which are used in injection systems have the disadvantage that only a small volume is available at the low pressure side for damping pressure pulsations. Thereby pressure vibrations at the low pressure side can act strongly on the total hydraulic system. With low volumes, the pressure pulsations are critical and it is possible that the required high pressure at the beginning of the injection can not be reached.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a high pressure collecting chamber with integrated pressure multiplication element.
In keeping with these objects and with others which will become apparent hereinafter, one feature of present invention resides, briefly stated, in a high pressure collecting chamber for receiving a fuel supply under pressure, comprising a piston-shaped pressure multiplication element; means forming a line to a nozzle holder combination such that, via the pressure multiplication element, fuel with high pressure is available in the line; means for pre-stressing the pressure multiplication element; a control chamber through which the pressure multiplication element is integrated; and means limiting the high pressure collecting chamber, the pre-stressed pressure multiplication element which is actuated via the control chamber being integrated in the means forming the high pressure collecting chamber.
With the inventive solution, the action of pressure pulsations is reduced by withdrawing a great a damping volume for reduction of pressure pulsations. Since in the high pressure collecting chamber always a greater fuel quantity is available when compared with that in the individual injector, these volumes can be used as damping volumes for pressure pulsation.
The injector can be integrated in a space-economical way in the high pressure collecting chamber, and at the lower side of the high pressure collecting chamber the surfaces can be provided on which the nozzle holding bodies can be fixed.
Depending on the configuration of the high pressure collecting chamber, by means of the modular principle a change can be provided, with which connecting flanges can be formed for each cylinder no. 4, 6, 8, of which however only a few are utilized when the mounting space for the high pressure collecting chamber is sufficient.
Depending on the design and mounting variants on motor vehicles, identical parts can be utilized and they can be adjusted to individual requirements because of extensions to be mounted. Modifications of the existing systems are not a problem with the use of the modular system.
With the selected solution, the amplitudes of the pressure pulsations can be hold lower at the low pressure side. Further, by an integration of a multiplication piston in the high pressure collecting chamber, valuable space in the region of the cylinder head of an internal combustion engine is saved. The shorter the power lines can be held, the lower the friction forces in the system, the shorter are the response times due to the reduced fluid volumes to be moved.
The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the present invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

High pressure collecting chamber with integrated pressure multiplication element


A data storage device that includes a resistive cross point array of memory cells, a plurality of word lines, and a plurality of bit lines, and a sense amplifier that utilizes an injection charge amplifier is disclosed. The memory cells are arranged into multiple groups of one or more memory cells. The injection charge amplifier determines whether a sensed memory cell is in a first or second resistive state as compared to a reference cell.

The present invention relates generally to resistive cross point memory cell arrays and, more particularly, the present invention relates to a resistive cross point memory cell array having a differential sense amplifier that utilizes a charge injection mode.
Many different resistive cross point memory cell arrays have been proposed, including resistive cross point memory cell arrays having magnetic random access memory (MRAM) elements, phase change memory elements, poly-silicon memory elements, and write-once (e.g., fuse based or anti-fuse based) resistive memory elements.
A typical MRAM storage device, for example, includes an array of memory cells. Word lines may extend along rows of the memory cells, and bit lines may extend along columns of the memory cells. Each memory cell is located at a cross point of a word line and a bit line. Each MRAM memory cells stores a bit of information as an orientation of a magnetization. In particular, the magnetization of each memory cell assumes one of two stable orientations at any given time. These two stable orientations, parallel and anti-parallel, represent logic values of 0 and 1. The magnetization orientation affects the resistance of a memory cell. For example, the resistance of a memory cell may be a first value, R, if the magnetization orientation is parallel, and the resistance of the memory cell may be increased to a second value, R+xcex94R, if the magnetization orientation is changed from parallel to anti-parallel.
In general, the logic state of a resistive cross point memory cell may be read by sensing the resistance state of the selected memory cell. Sensing the resistance state of a single memory cell in the array, however, typically is difficult because all of the memory cells in a resistive cross point memory cell array are interconnected by many parallel paths. The resistance that is seen at one cross point equals the resistance of the memory cell at that cross point in parallel with resistances of memory cells in the other word lines and bit lines.
Thus, one hurdle that must be overcome before high density and fast access resistive cross point memories may be developed is the reliable isolation of selected resistive cross point memory cells while data stored on a selected memory cell is being sensed. In general, prior techniques for isolating such memory cells fall into one of three memory cell isolation categories: select transistor isolation techniques; diode isolation techniques; and equipotential isolation techniques.
Known transistor isolation techniques typically involve inserting a select transistor in series with each resistive cross point memory cell. This architecture typically is characterized by fast read access times. Unfortunately, such series transistor architecture typically also is characterized by relatively poor silicon area utilization because the area under the resistive cross point memory cell array typically is reserved for the series transistors and, therefore, is unavailable for support circuits. In addition, this isolation technique also tends to suffer from relatively poor memory cell layout density because area must be allocated in each memory cell for a via that connects the memory cell to the series transistor in the substrate. This isolation technique also generally requires relatively high write currents because an isolated write conductor must be added to the memory cell to provide a write circuit in parallel with a read circuit and the location of the write conductor results in high write currents to generate the required write fields. In general, this approach is limited to a single memory plane because the series transistors must be located in the substrate and there is no practical way to move the series transistors out of the substrate and into the memory cell plane.
Diode isolation techniques typically involve inserting a diode in series with each resistive cross point memory element. This memory cell array architecture may be implemented with thin film diodes that allow multi-level resistive cross point memory arrays to be constructed (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,793,697). This architecture has potential for high-speed operation. The difficulty often associated with this architecture involves providing a suitable thin film diode with minimum process feature sizes matching the potential density of the memory cell arrays. In addition, this approach uses one diode per memory element and, at currently practical MRAM features and parameters, for example, each diode would be required to conduct 5 to 15 kA/cm2. Such high current densities generally are impractical for implementing thin film diodes in high-density MRAM arrays.
Equipotential isolation techniques typically involve sensing resistive cross point memory cells without using series diodes or transistors (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,259,644). This approach may be implemented by a cross point array of memory elements that is relatively simple to fabricate. This cross point memory cell array architecture typically has a density that is limited only by the minimum feature sizes of the implementing circuit technology and typically requires relatively low write currents. In addition, it is relatively simple to extend this approach to multi-level resistive cross point memory cell arrays to achieve very high-density memories. Equipotential isolation, however, often is difficult to implement in large arrays. Auto-calibration and triple sample read techniques have been used to sense data in large MRAM arrays using equipotential isolation techniques, but these sense processes typically limit the read sense time to a few micro seconds.
In one aspect, the invention features a data storage device that includes a resistive cross point array of memory cells, a plurality of word lines, and a plurality of bit lines, wherein a group of memory cells are connected to a common word line and each memory cell in the group is connected to a single bit line. A differential sense amplifier is coupled to the memory cell array and includes a first node selectively connected to a reference cell and a second node selectively coupled to a sense cell within the group of memory cells common to a given word line. A first preamplifier is connected to the first node, and a second preamplifier is connected to the second node. A charge injection amplifier is coupled to outputs of the first and second preamplifiers and is operable to determine a resistive state of the sense cell.
The memory cells may be arranged into multiple groups of one or more memory cells. The charge injection amplifier determines whether a sensed memory cell is in a first or second resistive state as compared to a reference cell. The charge injection amplifier may further comprise a comparator circuit that is coupled to an associated read circuit. The comparator circuit preferably is operable to convert an analog differential sense current to a digital output read signal.
In another aspect of the invention, an information storage device has a memory cell array with a plurality of sense cells and reference cells, each sense cell and reference cell having multiple states, a plurality of word lines, a plurality of bit lines and a differential sense amplifier, coupled to the memory cell array. The differential sense amplifier comprises first and second input nodes, the first input node being selectively coupled to a sense bit line connected to a selected sense cell within the array and the second input node selectively coupled to a reference bit line connected to a selected reference cell within the array. A first preamplifier is coupled to the first input node and has an output providing a first current representative of a state of the selected sense cell. A second preamplifier is coupled to the second input node and has an output providing a second current representative of a state of the selected reference cell. A charge injection amplifier is coupled to the output of the first preamplifier and the output of the second preamplifier, and is operable to sense the difference between the first and second currents to determine the state of the selected sense cell.
In still another aspect of the invention, a method is employed for determining the state of a selected sense cell in an information storage device having a memory cell array with a plurality of sense cells and reference cells, each sense cell and reference cell having multiple states, a plurality of word lines, a plurality of bit lines and a sense amplifier coupled to the memory cell array. The method comprises selectively coupling a sense bit line connected to a selected sense cell within the array to a first input node on the sense amplifier, selectively coupling a reference bit line connected to a selected reference cell within the array to a second input node on the sense amplifier, generating a first current representative of the state of the selected sense cell using a first preamplifier coupled to the first input node, generating a second current representative of the state of the selected reference cell using a second preamplifier coupled to the second input node, and sensing the difference between the first current and the second current to determine a state of the selected sense cell.

Resistive cross point memory arrays having a charge injection differential sense amplifier

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A method for selectively deactivating catalase while retaining D-amino acid oxidase activity is disclosed. The catalase and the oxidase are both present in whole cells or a cell-free extract. The method comprises combining the whole cells or the cell-free extract with a basic solution at a pH between about 11 and about 12 for a time of about 1 hour and 45 minutes to about 2 hours. The catalase activity is eliminated and the oxidase activity is uneffected. This results in the production of a solution which contains the oxidase and which has no catalase activity. The pH of the solution containing the oxidase is then lowered to provide a D-amino acid oxidase capable of enzymatic oxidation of cephalosporin C to glutaryl-7-ACA in high yields. The whole cells and cell-free extract are preferrably from Triginopsis variablilis.

Enzymatic oxidation of Cephalosporin C (Ceph C) to glutaryl-7-aminocephalosporaic acid (glutaryl-7-ACA) has been shown possible on a laboratory scale. (See, for example, Arnold, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,821,209, and Fildes et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,821,209, incorporated herein by reference.) However, a successful and economically feasible scale up to industrial scale production has historically been problematic.
The above conversion is of great commercial importance as it opens up the possibility for an entirely enzymatic route from Cephalosporin C to 7-amino-cephalosporanic acid (7-ACA), since enzymes which convert glutaryl-7-ACA to 7-ACA are known. [See, for example Shibuya, et al., "Isolation and properties of 7.beta.-(-4-carboxybutanamido)cephalosporanic Acid Acylase-producing Bacteria," Agric. Biol. Chem., 45(7), 1561-1567, 1981]. Further, another advantage of an enzymatic route to 7-ACA is the utilization of an aqueous production mixture, thereby minimizing the hazardous waste solvents generated in the process.
It is known that in order to obtain a good yield of glutaryl-7-ACA, it is essential that all catalase activity be eliminated from the D-aminoacid oxidase. In the above transformation, Cephalosporin C reacts with D-amino acid oxidase to form a thermally unstable .alpha.-keto adipoyl 7-ACA intermediate, which is oxidized in situ by the hydrogen peroxide also produced to the desired glutaryl-7-ACA. However, the naturally-occurring catalase enzyme acts to destroy the hydrogen peroxide. Thus, without a means to deactivate catalase prior to the oxidation, the .alpha.-keto adipoyl intermediate is found to decompose, thereby reducing the yield of desired glutaryl-7-ACA to the desired glutaryl-7-ACA. It is possible to chromatographically remove this contaminant but on industrial scale production, chromatography of this magnitude is not a practical alternative. Thus, the only practical solution is to somehow selectively deactivate the catalase.
Others have reported the possibility of using catalase inhibitors such as ascorbic acid, 3-amino-1,2, 4-triazole, sodium cyanide, sodium acetate, sodium formate, sodium fluoride, or sodium azide. Among the above inhibitors, sodium azide is the only one that works well enough to be of practical utility. However, one rather serious drawback to the use of sodium azide, is the formation of a 3-azidomethyl-3-cephem by-product which can be carried over to the final product. This azido contaminant is simply not acceptable in pharmaceutical agents, since the extremely toxic azide ion could possibly be released upon administration to the patient.

Method for selectively deactivating catalase while retaining D-amino acid oxidase activity with a solution having a pH of about 11 to 12


Generally, a sonde, associated components and methods are described which can be used in conjunction with an inground tool having an inground tool housing that defines an inground tool cavity such that the inground tool cavity is exposed to an ambient pressure environment which surrounds the inground tool during an inground operation. A sonde housing assembly includes an exterior configuration that is receivable within the inground tool cavity. The sonde housing assembly at least partially defines a sonde interior and is further configured for receiving the pressure sensor body of a pressure sensor in a pressure sealed engagement. A sonde electronics package is supported within the sonde interior and is at least configured to receive the pressure signal and transfer a corresponding pressure signal from the sonde.

The present application is generally related to the field of a sonde for use in inground operations and, more particularly, to a sonde having an integral pressure sensor and associated method.
Generally, an inground operation such as, for example, drilling to form a borehole, subsequent reaming of a borehole for purposes of installing a utility line and the like use a drill string that can carry a fluid to an inground tool that is disposed at an inground end of the drill string. The fluid can be carried at relatively high pressure by the drill string. For example, emitting the drilling fluid from a drill head, as the inground tool, can assist in cutting through inground formations. In some circumstances, the high pressure fluid can introduce problems since undue pressure can build up around the inground tool when the fluid is unable to flow back up the borehole without encountering significant constriction of the borehole surrounding the drill string. The pressure can be so significant as to cause disturbances that extend all the way to the surface of the ground which, for example, could damage a roadway. One form of surface damage can be referred to as "blistering". In other cases, the pressure buildup can cause the fluid to flow in an undesired manner as a contaminant, for example, into utility lines. In still other cases, sensitive environmental areas could be harmed. Applicants recognize that monitoring the pressure surrounding the inground tool can serve to avoid these problems.
The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Sonde with integral pressure sensor and method


In an indication device comprising a plurality of indicators of the present invention, each indicator has an indicator control section inputting each signal except for data signals, and a logic section inputting data signals. The logic section receives an output of a logic section in an adjacent indicator, adds and/or subtracts a pre-determined number to and/or from a received signal, then outputs a result to a logic section in another indicator. More, the logic section outputs a signal corresponding to a location of the indicator to an indicator control section.

The present invention relates to an indication device, and more particularly to an indication device that verifies a location of a specified indicator when a plurality of indicator are adjacently installed.
As a conventional indication device, there are roughly two types of indication device as below for adjacently installing a plurality of indicator and making each of them indicate differently each other:
(1) an indication device having a respective exclusive signal line for each indicator; PA1 (2) an indication device comprising a bus line with data lines of the same number of indicators and necessary signal lines to connect each indicator to the bus line. A data line to be selected is selected by a selector and dip switches in each indicator.
However, in such a conventional indication device described as above, when using the above indication device (1), there is a problem that the exclusive lines as many as the indicators adjacently installed are needed, and wiring of the exclusive lines becomes to be very complicated as the number of the indicators increasing. And when using the above indication device (2), there is a problem that the dip switch with each indicator must be set for each pre-determined status, so that the resetting takes very much time for moving or changing each indicator at maintenance and repair work.


A boot for an optical connector ferrule is provided with a ribbon fiber insertion portion internally provided with vertical partition portions so as to section ribbon fibers into upper and lower stages and enable to insert the ribbon fibers, and a front opening portion exposing the optical fiber core wires in the respective leading ends of the inserted ribbon fiber groups to a forward outer side, and the boot for the optical connector ferrule is inserted to a boot insertion opening portion formed in a rear end side of the optical connector ferrule. An exposure notch portion is provided in a rear end portion of each of both upper and lower wall surfaces of the ribbon fiber insertion portion for forming a fiber guide of each of the ribbon fibers by making the rear end portion side of the vertical partition portions protrude outward from the ribbon fiber insertion portion.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a boot used in an optical connector ferrule for forming a muticore collective connector, for example, Mechanically-Transferable-splicing-Connector (hereinafter, refer to as MT connector), Multifiber-Push-on-Connector (hereinafter, refer to as MT connector), and Multifiber-Push-on-Connector (hereinafter, refer to as MPO connector), which is used for connecting optical fiber core wires and optical fiber tape (ribbon fiber) core wires.
Description of the Conventional Art
As a collector for collectively connecting with low loss SM type optical fiber single core wires and tape core wires, there has been conventionally used a multicore collective connector which can connect the optical fibers efficiently with a high density, with development a high density multicore cable which single mode type optical fiber tapes (ribbon fibers), for example, having four cores, eight cores and twelve cores. The connecting method is a method of positioning and fitting ferrules in which the multicore optical fibers are positioned and fixed with two guide pins, and the connector is called as an MT connector since the connector can be applied to a mechanical high-speed switching in addition to the collective connection of the optical fiber tapes, and has been in recent years put to practical use as a connector for connecting the optical fiber tapes having four cores, eight cores and twelve cores of an access series multicore cable.
Further, in recent years, an MPO connector has been put to practical used, the MPO connector being structured such as to be easily detachable according to a push-pull operation as a multicore collective connector having twenty four cores and seventy two cores further provided for connecting super multicore cables.
Specifically, as disclosed in patent document 1, there has been known a connector having a ferrule of an optical connector of a system which is provided with a fiber hole in a front end portion and is positioned with the other end ferrule by a fitting pin inserted to a guide pin hole, the ferrule being constructed by a connection end portion which is a part including the fiber hole and the guide pin hole, and a main body rear portion which is the other part than the connection end portion, and the main body rear portion being the portion except the connection end portion, and including an internal space in an inner portion, and the internal space being constructed by a coating insertion portion and a boot insertion portion.
More specifically, the optical connector in the patent document 1 mentioned above is provided with a pair of right and left positioning guide pin insertion holes 102 which pass through from a front end surface to a rear end surface of a ferrule main body 100 as well as being provided with a window portion 101 for filling an adhesive agent on an upper surface of the ferrule main body 100, and is structured such that a plurality of optical fiber core wire insertion holes 103 are provided side by side between both guide pin insertion holes 102 in the front end surface, as shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B. Further, the connector is structured such that a rear end surface of the ferrule main body 100 is provided with a rectangular opening shaped insertion opening portion 104 which inserts a rectangular tubular boot 106 (refer to FIGS. 12A and 12B) thereto and supports, and a rear end side of the ferrule main body 100 is provided with a collar portion 105 which protrudes outward from an outer peripheral surface of the ferrule main body 100.
Accordingly, the rectangular tubular boot 106 is formed into a flat surface in its upper and lower, and right and left outer wall surfaces, as shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B. Further, a pair of wide front opening portions 107a are formed in the front end portion of the boot 106, and a vertical width and a lateral width of the front opening 107a are set to magnitudes which correspond to a thickness and a lateral width of a single mode type ribbon fiber (optical fiber tape) T. A pair of upper and lower wide ribbon fiber insertion portions 107b are formed in the rear end portion of the boot 106, and a vertical width of the ribbon fiber insertion portions 197b is set to be somewhat smaller than a vertical width of the front opening portion 107a in the front end portion at such a degree that only a 12-core optical fiber core wire F protruding out of the front end portion of the single mode type ribbon fiber (optical fiber tape) T can protrudes outward.
Further, in the case of connecting two multicore optical cables each having a plurality of optical fibers, the optical cables are connected by inserting connector plugs installed in the respective multicore optical cables into a relay adapter. For example, in the optical fiber multicore connector, the MPO connectors having the MT ferrules built-in are inserted into the relay adapter and are fixed so that ground surfaces of the MT ferrules come into contact in parallel in the same manner as the case of the MT connector, so that the multicore connectors are connected via the relay adapter.
Conventionally, the MT type optical connector is structured, as shown in FIG. 14, such that a pin holder H is arranged so as to hold a rectangular tubular boot 106 protruding to a rear end surface of a collar portion 105 protruding outward from an outer peripheral surface of a ferrule main body 100, the pin holder H being provided for retaining a positioning pin P and formed into a C-shaped frame, and always applies a forward pressing force to the ferrule main body 100 by an elliptic spring SP which is installed astride the boot 106 and the pin holder H from a rear side in a pressure contact manner.


In a virtual disk library device access of data stored in a tape can be conducted at a high speed with a high-speed archiving process from a disk to the tape in units of LUs maintained. The efficiency of update of the data stored in the tape can be improved. In this system, when the data stored in the tape is to be accessed with a high-speed archiving process in units of LUs from the disk to the tape maintained, a disk staging process is performed in the unit of a page that is smaller than the unit of an LU, and accordingly, high-speed access can be implemented. In addition, when an update process for the data (LU) stored in the tape is performed, the host can be responded by only staging an update target page of the LU, and a prior disk staging process is performed for the remaining pages of the LU in the background. Accordingly, when the data is re-stored in the tape, immediately storing the data in the tape can be performed without performing a staging process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to technology for archiving data in a tape, and more particularly, to a virtual disk library device having a disk array device and a tape library device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Virtual disk library devices (systems) include a random access-type device such as a magnetic disk device (hereinafter, referred to as a disk) and a sequential access-type device such as a magnetic tape device (hereinafter, referred to as a tape) therein. The virtual disk library devices can copy or move data between a disk and a tape (represented by "disk-tape" or the like), as is needed.
Such technology has been disclosed, for example, in JP-A-2007-305075.