A method for manufacturing an electrogalvanized steel sheet excellent in spot weldability, which comprises the steps of: adding, into an acidic electrogalvanizing solution containing an oxidizer, a complexing agent, which is capable of forming a stable complex with zinc, in an amount within a range of from 0.001 to 10 moles per liter of the electrogalvanizing solution, or a pH buffer, which has a pH buffering effect in a solution having a pH value within a range of from 5 to 12, in an amount within a range of from 1 to 50 g per liter of the electrogalvanizing solution; and electrogalvanizing a steel sheet in the resultant acidic electrogalvanizing solution containing the complexing agent or the pH buffer in addition to the oxidizer, to form a galvanizing layer comprising zinc oxide or zinc hydroxide on the surface of the steel sheet.

It is a usual practice to spot-welding together two electrogalvanized steel sheets placed one on top of the other. The spot welding comprises pinching two electrogalvanized steel sheets placed one on top of the other between a pair of electrode tips made of copper, and electrifying the pair of electrode tips while pressing the electrogalvanized steel sheets against each other by means of the pair of electrode tips, to electric-resistance-welding together these two electrogalvanized steel sheets.
When spot-welding together two electrogalvanized steel sheets, the following problem is encountered: The galvanizing layers of the weld zone of the two electrogalvanized steel sheets are melted by the welding heat generated upon the spot welding. The resultant molten zinc of the galvanizing layers reacts with copper contained in the pair of electrode tips to produce a hard and brittle zinc-copper alloy layer on each of the pair of electrode tips. This results in a violent wear of the electrode tips, thus leading to a lower spot weldability including a shorter service life of the electrode tips and a impaired electric conductivity thereof.
As a method for solving the above-mentioned problem and manufacturing an electrogalvanized steel sheet excellent in spot weldability, the following method is proposed:
A method for manufacturing an electrogalvanized steel sheet excellent in spot weldability, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 1-205,090 dated Aug. 17, 1989, which comprises the steps of: electrogalvanizing a steel sheet in an acidic electrogalvanizing solution containing hydrogen peroxide in an amount within a range of from 0.5 to 30 % to form, on at least one surface of said steel sheet, a galvanizing layer comprising zinc oxide or zinc hydroxide, in an amount within a range of from 0.03 to 3.0 g/m.sup.2 per surface of said steel sheet (hereinafter referred to as the "Prior Art").
According to the above-mentioned Prior Art, it is possible to manufacture an electrogalvanized steel sheet excellent in spot weldability, having, on at least one surface thereof, a galvanizing layer comprising zinc oxide or zinc hydroxide. The galvanizing layer comprising zinc oxide or zinc hydroxide hardly reacts with copper. When spot-welding, therefore, almost no zinc-copper alloy layer is produced on each of the pair of electrode tips, through the reaction of zinc with copper, thus inhibiting wear of the electrode tips. Furthermore, the galvanizing layer comprising zinc oxide or zinc hydroxide is high in melting point and electric resistance. The galvanizing layer comprising zinc oxide or zinc hydroxide is therefore excellent in spot weldability.
When electrogalvanizing a steel sheet in an acidic electrogalvanizing solution containing hydrogen peroxide as in the Prior Art, a galvanizing layer comprising zinc oxide or zinc hydroxide is formed on at least one surface of the steel sheet, and the reason of this is estimated to be as follows:
When electrogalvanizing a steel sheet in an acidic electrogalvanizing solution containing hydrogen peroxide as an oxidizer, the reduction reaction of zinc ions causes the increase to 5.6 in the pH value of the acidic electrogalvanizing solution on the interface of the cathode, i.e., the steel sheet, and the reduction reaction of hydrogen peroxide as the oxidizer further increases the above-mentioned pH value to over 5.6. This increase in the pH value of the electrogalvanizing solution on the interface of the cathode causes the precipitation of zinc oxide or zinc hydroxide on the surface of the steel sheet as the cathode. A galvanizing layer comprising zinc oxide or zinc hydroxide can thus be formed on at least one surface of the steel sheet.
However, the above-mentioned Prior Art has the following problems: As described above, the pH value of the electrogalvanizing solution on the interface of the cathode, i.e., the steel sheet increases to over 5.6 under the effect of the reduction reaction of the oxidizer contained in the acidic electrogalvanizing solution. As a result, there is an increase in the weight of the galvanizing layer comprising zinc oxide or zinc hydroxide formed on at least one surface of the steel sheet. However, if the weight of the thus formed galvanizing layer comprising zinc oxide or zinc hydroxide becomes excessive, the welding current becomes difficult to flow upon application of the spot welding. This leads to a lower spot weldability of the electrogalvanized steel sheet, and moreover, to a poorer workability thereof. According to the present inventors' research, the weight of the galvanizing layer comprising zinc oxide or zinc hydroxide, which is capable of improving spot weldability, is within a range of from 0.05 to 1.00 g/m.sup.2 per surface of the steel sheet.
The content of the oxidizer in the acidic electrogalvanizing solution sensively affects the pH value of the electrogalvanizing solution on the interface of the cathode. When the pH value of the electrogalvanizing solution on the interface of the cathode decreases to 5.6 or under, the weight of the galvanizing layer comprising zinc oxide or zinc hydroxide decreases to under 0.05 g/m.sup.2 per surface of the steel sheet, thus degrading spot weldability. When the above-mentioned pH value increases to over 12, on the other hand, the weight of the above-mentioned galvanizing layer increases to over 1.0 g/m.sup.2 per surface of the steel sheet, thus also degrading spot weldability. The range of the content of the oxidizer, which is capable of improving spot weldability of the electrogalvanized steel sheet, is therefore very narrow.
Upon electrogalvanizing a steel sheet, it is very difficult to keep the content of the oxidizer in the acidic electrogalvanizing solution within a narrow range which can improve spot weldability. It is therefore very difficult to stably manufacture an electrogalvanized steel sheet excellent in spot weldability, having on at least one surface thereof, a galvanizing layer comprising zinc oxide or zinc hydroxide, in an amount appropriate for improving spot weldability.
Under such circumstances, there is a strong demand for the development of a method for stably manufacturing an electrogalvanized steel sheet excellent in spot weldability, which has on at least one surface thereof a galvanizing layer comprising zinc oxide or zinc hydroxide, in an amount appropriate for improving spot weldability, but such a method has not as yet been proposed.

Method for manufacturing electrogalvanized steel sheet excellent in spot weldability


A bending transducer has a piezoelectret carried on a substrate of electrically insulating material. An electrically conductive coating, such as a foil, a grid foil, a grid mesh, or mutually parallel strips, connects the inner electrode of the piezoelectret to the substrate and forms electrical contact with the inner electrode at a number of points. The bending transducer is particularly suited for driving a drafting, weaving or knitting machine in the textile industry.

The invention relates to a piezoelectric bending transducer with an electrically insulating substrate that carries a piezoelectret and to a method for producing such a piezoelectric element. The invention, in particular, is concerned with the problem of ensuring reliable electrical contacting for a piezoelectric element with an insulating substrate, in particular in the context of severe mechanical loading.
Bending transducers of the type with which the invention is concerned servexe2x80x94hereafter referred to, more generally, as piezoelectric elementsxe2x80x94principally utilize the indirect or reciprocal piezoelectric effect, i.e., the conversion of electrical energy into mechanical energy. However, such piezoelectric elements are still also suitable for converting mechanical into electrical energy. The latter case utilizes the direct piezoelectric effect.
There is a multiplicity of technical applications for a piezoelectric element as described above. Such applications are, for example, as a piezoelectric printhead for an ink-jet printer, as a sound receiver or sound generator for microphones or loudspeakers, as a sensor for measuring acceleration or pressure, as an actuator in Braille lines in reading units for the visually impaired, in textile machines, in pneumatic valves, in recording measuring instruments or in non-contact surface-measuring instruments and so on.
The piezoelectric elements in accordance with U.S. Pat. No. 5,126,615 (EP-0 455 342 B1), and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,210,455 and 5,681,410 (EP-0 468 796 A1), issued to Takeuchi et al., are formed of a layered structure. There, a piezoelectrically active material which exhibits the piezoelectric and/or the electrostrictive effect and is to be designated below as a piezoelectret, is applied to a carrier or substrate in order to improve the mechanical stability of the element or for the purpose of more effectively converting electrical energy into mechanical energy or vice versa. The piezoelectret is electrically contacted on both sides with electrodes in the form of a planar coating made from a conductive material. Depending on the application, the substrate can be provided on one or two sides with the layer sequence described. According to German patent DE-34 34 726 C2, it is also possible for a plurality of plies of piezoelectrets, including the electrodes, to be stacked one above the other. Depending on the number of the piezoelectrically active layers, the art refers to a monomorph, a bimorph, a trimorph, and so on, or, in general, to a multimorph piezoelectric element.
Piezoelectric elements with a non-conducting or electrically insulating substrate are disclosed in German patent DE-43 37 265 C1 and in German published patent application DE-40 25 436 A1. In the case of a bimorph piezoelectric element, it is possible by using an insulating substrate to connect the sides of the piezoelectrets which face the substrate, or the inner electrodes located thereupon to a different potential. It is thereby possible to drive such a piezoelectric element exclusively via the internal sides of the piezoelectrets which are insulated with respect to one another by the substrate, or via the inner electrodes, while the exterior sides or the outer electrodes are connected to zero potential or frame. The result is a shockproof piezoelectric element. However, non-conducting materials can be just as suitable for the substrate, because of specific properties other than the properties of electrical insulation, for example because of a coefficient of thermal expansion matched to the piezoelectret for the purpose of avoiding thermal stresses.
The piezoelectric element with an electrically insulating substrate is also shown in the post-published German application DE 195 20 796 A1 (not prior art). The substrate of that disclosure is provided with a metallization layer which leads from the edge of the substrate to the opposite side. This causes the inner electrodes of the piezo-ceramic elements carried on the two sides of the substrate to be pulled to the same electrical potential.
A non-conducting substrate naturally leads, however, to difficulty in making contact on the side facing the substrate, i.e., the inner side of the piezoelectret. It is known from DE-40 25 436 A1 in this regard to provide the inner side of the piezoelectret with an inner electrode in the form of a layer of metallization, to lead the metallization out beyond the edge of the piezoelectret, and to make contact with it there with the aid of a solder contact.
However, in the case of a piezoelectric element having a substrate made from an electrically insulating material, making contact with the inner side of the piezoelectret is ensured exclusively via the material of an inner electrode. A rupture of the inner electrode therefore disconnects a part of the piezoelectric element from the voltage supply for the inner electrode. The piezoelectric element is no longer serviceable. Since the inner electrode is rupture-prone, the service life of a piezoelectric element having an insulating substrate cannot compete with the service life of a piezoelectric element having a conductive substrate.
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a piezoelectric bending transducer and a production method, which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and which, with regard to the device, provides a substrate of electrically insulating material that remains completely serviceable (operationally functional) even in the case of material fatigue of an inner electrode. It is also the object of the invention to specify a method for producing such a piezoelectric element.
With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a piezoelectric bending transducer, comprising:
a substrate of electrically insulating material;
a piezoelectret carried on the substrate, the piezoelectret having an inner electrode towards the substrate; and
an electrically conductive coating between the inner electrode and the substrate forming an electrical contact at a plurality of locations with the inner electrode, wherein the conductive coating does not extend to a side of the substrate opposite from the piezoelectret.
In other words, the above-noted objects with regard to the piezoelectric element are satisfied by virtue of the fact that the substrate is provided with an electrically conductive coating which is in electrical contact at a number of sites with an inner electrode of a piezoelectret applied to the substrate and that the coating does not extend to the distal side of the substrate.
The invention proceeds in this case from the knowledge that, in the case of a piezoelectric element having a substrate, material fatigue, for example due to constant mechanical loading, leads during operation to rupturing or cracking of an inner electrode located between the substrate and the piezoelectret. Such material fatigue of the inner electrode occurs frequently, since the material of the inner electrode is additionally loaded by compressive or thermal stresses at the interface between the piezoelectret and the substrate. If the substrate consists of an electrically conductive material, such a rupture does not lead to functional failure of the piezoelectric element, since contacting continues to be ensured via the substrate. This requires only that the substrate makes electrical contact with the inner electrode at a sufficient number of sites. Such material fatigue of the inner electrode is therefore not observed at all in the case of a conductive substrate.
If, on the other hand, the substrate is electrically non-conducting, there is inserted between the substrate and the inner electrode of the piezoelectret an electrically conductive coating which is in electrical contact with the inner electrode at a number of sites. Contacting of the inner electrode is ensured in addition by the coating. The piezoelectric element remains serviceable in the event of material fatigue of the inner electrode. This holds, in particular, even if a high mechanical loading should also cause the conductive coating to rupture or crack, since it is unlikely for a rupture of the inner electrode and a rupture of the conductive coating to occur at the same site.
In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the coating is a metal foil suitable for attaching a solder contact, preferably a copper foil.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, a portion of the metal foil is inserted between the piezoelectret and the substrate.
In other words, contact is advantageously made between the inner electrode and the conductive coating via a metal foil that is suitable for attaching a solder contact. Particularly advantageous for this purpose are copper foils, which can easily be contacted and are commercially available in various thicknesses. For the purpose of contacting, a part of the metal foil can simply be inserted between the piezoelectret and the substrate. The solder contact for connection to an external voltage source is attached to the projecting, free part of the metal foil. As regards the serviceability of the piezoelectric element, it is not important in this case whether the metal foil is inserted between the piezoelectret and the conductive coating, between the conductive coating and the inner electrode or between the inner electrode and the piezoelectret. The most favorable configuration depends in this case on the process for reducing the piezoelectric element.
However, inserting a metal foil leads to bending of the layers surrounding the foil, which, in conjunction with mechanical loading by additional compressive or tensile stresses, defines a rupture joint which can lead to a functional failure. It is possible to avoid such a rupture joint by omitting the conductive coating at the site of the inserted part of the metal foil. In this case, contact is made between the conductive coating and the metal foil via the inner electrode. In order to avoid a functional failure of the piezoelectric element due to a crack of the inner electrode between the conductive coating and the inserted metal foil, the inserted end of the metal foil can, for example, be V-shaped. The same holds for that end of the conductive coating which adjoins the inserted part of the metal foil. Contacting thereby continues to be ensured in the case of a transversely extending crack in the inner electrode.
However, the rupture joint mentioned can also be avoided by choosing a sufficiently thin inserted metal foil. Metal foils with a thickness of less than 10 xcexcm are suitable for normal piezoelectric elements.
In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, the substrate is longer than the piezoelectret and the conductive coating extends on a free part of the substrate where the coating makes contact with the metal foil. The contacting can be realized, in this case, by, for example, simply bonding over the conductive coating, extending on the free part of the substrate, with the metal foil in the form of a platelet, and placing the solder contact onto the platelet. The solder contact can also be placed directly onto the projecting conductive coating given a suitable material for the conductive coating.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the conductive coating is a ductile foil, i.e., a flexible and deformable foil. The deformability can be achieved in this case by a suitable material such as, for example, a flexible plastic, or by using a very thin foil. Thus, for example, a metal foil with a thickness of less than 100 xcexcm is suitable as ductile foil. The ductility precludes the conductive coating from cracking under mechanical loading or shear stress. The foil can be applied to the substrate or to the inner electrode of the piezoelectret by bonding, fusing or by other connection techniques. The substrate is then bonded, welded or otherwise connected to the piezoelectret to form the piezoelectric element. The electrical contact can be made between the foil and the inner electrode by means of a conductive adhesive, or a non-conducting adhesive is applied so thinly that there is still direct contact through the adhesive between the foil and the inner electrode owing to microscopic roughnesses of the foil and the inner electrode.
In accordance with again another feature of the invention, the conductive coating is a mesh grid. The use of the mesh grid between the piezoelectret and the substrate is substantially simplified with the use of the mesh grid as the conductive coating. A xe2x80x9cmesh gridxe2x80x9d is to be understood here as a substantially two-dimensional body which has openings. Such a body is, for example, a gauze or a perforated foil. The inner electrode can then be bonded or otherwise connected to the substrate directly via the openings in the mesh grid. The mesh grid can be placed on loosely before being connected. A mesh grid also provides contact with the inner electrode at a sufficient number of sites. Moreover, the production costs can be lowered by savings in material.
If the piezoelectric element is used as a moving element or adjusting element, mechanical loading frequently occurs through repeated deflection of the element in a prescribed direction. A rupture of the inner electrode then occurs with high probability perpendicular to this deflection direction. The mesh grid can advantageously be constructed in the form of parallel strips for such an element. The definition of xe2x80x9cmesh gridxe2x80x9d as used herein, therefore, also includes a plurality of mutually parallel strips. The strips are thereby preferably arranged perpendicular to the deflection direction of the piezoelectric element. In particular, in individual cases a single strip can suffice to ensure the serviceability of the piezoelectric element in the event of a rupture of the inner electrode. A strip can, for example, be applied to the substrate by bonding, by welding or fusing. However, it is also conceivable for a strip to be placed on loosely before the substrate is connected to the piezoelectret to form the piezoelectric element. It is also possible for both a mesh grid and mutually parallel strips to be applied in the form of a paste or liquid with the aid of a printing technique, for example with the aid of a screen printing technique.
In accordance with again other features of the invention, the conductive coating consists of a metal, or of an electrically conducting plastic such as, for instance, carbon polymer or an epoxy resin reinforced with metal fibers. The inner electrode may be a metallization layer.
A metal or an electrically conductive plastic is suitable in principle as material for the conductive coating. As noted, a carbon polymer or an epoxy resin reinforced with metal fibers is particularly advantageous as a plastic. A carbon polymer is understood here as a heat-curing resin with graphite as pigment. The carbon polymer can be applied before curing in the form of a paste, for example, by means of the screen printing technique. Epoxy resin reinforced with metal fibers with a metal gauze is suitable, in particular, in the form of a so-called prepreg (a not yet cured, soft blank preimpregnated with epoxy resin). The substrate can then be permanently connected to the inner electrode of the piezoelectret via the conductive coating by inserting the conductive coating, in the form of a prepreg, loosely between the substrate and the inner electrode and subsequently applying pressure to press the substrate and piezoelectret together and bonding them with a heat treatment accompanied by curing of the prepreg. The inner electrode of the piezoelectret is advantageously constructed as a metallization. The metallization can be applied to the surface of the piezoelectret by sputtering, vapor deposition of a metal or with the screen printing technique. A metallization in the form of a thin, metallic surface coating is suitable, in particular, for the generation of a homogeneous electric field in the piezoelectret, and thus for optimum energy conversion. However, owing to direct contact with the piezoelectret and to the suitable thickness, a layer metallization is particularly at risk of rupture or cracking.
In accordance with again an additional feature of the invention, the piezoelectret includes an outer electrode on a side thereof averted from the substrate. The outer electrode is preferably coated with a conductive, ductile layer.
In accordance with again a further feature of the invention, the substrate overlaps the conductive coating and the inner electrode at edge regions thereof.
In accordance with yet an added feature of the invention, the conductive coating and the inner electrode have exposed portions, and an electrically insulating lacquer covers the exposed portions.
The outer electrode can be constructed, similarly to the inner electrode, as a metallization. In order to avoid functional failures, the outer electrode can also be coated with a conductive ductile layer. Particularly suitable for this is a carbon polymer, which has a high bond strength at the same time as high flexibility. It is also conceivable to construct the outer electrode itself as a conductive, ductile coating of the piezoelectret.
The piezoelectric element having a substrate made from a non-conducting material is highly shockproof. The driving voltage may be applied only via the inner electrode, while the outer electrode is at zero potential. The live inner electrode is preferably insulated completely from the outside by virtue of the fact that the substrate made from electrically insulating material overlaps the conductive coating and the inner electrode at edge regions, that is to say at exposed lateral surfaces. As an alternative, exposed, live parts of the conductive coating and of the inner electrode can preferably be provided with the electrically insulating lacquer.
In accordance with yet an additional feature of the invention, the substrate is a flat platelet with two flat sides each with the conductive coating, and wherein a piezoelectret is disposed on each of the two flat sides of the flat platelet. This feature provides for a particularly effective conversion from electrical into mechanical energy. Such a piezoelectric element is particularly suitable for use as a bending transducer or actuator. Such bending transducers are used in the textile industry to drive weaving, knitting or drafting machines, in particular to produce patterns with the aid of the Jacquard technique. Furthermore, such an actuator is used for reading units for the blind with the purpose of actuating individual key components, in pneumatic valves, and in video/audio units.
In accordance with yet a further feature of the invention, the piezoelectret is a piezoceramic. All materials which exhibit the piezoelectric or electrostrictive effect are suitable in principle for the piezoelectrets. Certain oxide ceramics, for example lead-zirconate-titanium, which permit adaptation to different requirements owing to their composition, are particularly advantageous. For such a ceramic or piezoceramic to exhibit the piezoelectric effect, it has to be polarized in a homogeneous electric field. This produces in the piezoceramic a polar axis which is required for the occurrence of the piezoelectric effect. This polarization can be performed in a particularly simple way if the piezoceramic provided for the piezoelectric element has electrodes on both sides in the form of a layer of metallization. The desired, homogeneous electric field is generated in this case by applying a sufficiently high electric voltage.
The piezoceramic can be polarized either before or after bonding to the substrate. This generally requires an electric field of a few kV/mm. Since any compressive or tensile stress inside the piezoceramic leads to depolarization and thus to the attenuation of the piezoelectric effect, the coefficients of thermal expansion of the substrate and the piezoceramic should be matched to one another. This is the case whenever, instead of a carbon-fiber-reinforced epoxy resin, the substrate consists of a glass-fiber-reinforced epoxy resin, and the piezoceramic consists of ion the said lead-zirconate-titanium ceramic.
With the above and other objects in view there is also provided, in accordance with the invention, a method of producing a bending transducer, which comprises:
connecting a substrate of electrically insulating material with a piezoelectret having an inner electrode facing towards the substrate; and
placing an electrically conductive coating between the substrate and the piezoelectret such that electrical contact is made between the conductive coating and an inner electrode of the piezoelectret at a plurality of locations.
In accordance with a further mode of the process, a mesh grid is placed on a prepreg of a thermosetting plastic forming the substrate, and the prepreg is connected to the piezoelectret by heat treating with the inclusion of the mesh grid.
In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention, the conductive coating is applied on the substrate in the form of a metal-gauze prepreg, such as a copper-gauze prepreg, and the metal-gauze prepreg is connected to the piezoelectret by heat treatment.
It is advantageous to use as substrate a prepreg of a thermosetting plastic, preferably a prepreg of a glass-fiber-reinforced epoxy resin. In this case, there is no need for an adhesive, either for bonding the conductive coating to the substrate or for bonding the conductive coating to the inner electrode. The conductive coating is firstly placed loosely, in the form of a mesh grid, onto the prepreg or onto the inner electrode, or applied by means of a printing technique. The substrate, conductive coating and piezoelectret are subsequently placed loosely in an appropriate form for bonding purposes. Light pressing causes the prepreg to flow around the mesh grid, which is directly connected to the inner electrode by being placed on loosely, and bonds the substrate through the mesh grid to the inner electrode of the piezoelectret. Alternatively, it is also conceivable to use a prepreg, for example a copper-gauze prepreg, for the conductive coating itself. Applying a final heat treatment cures the prepreg irreversibly while forming the thermosetting plastic, and the result is a permanent and stable bonding of the piezoelectric element.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in piezoelectric bending transducer and a method for producing the element, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, 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.

Piezoelectric bending transducer and method for producing the transducer


Diodes are connected between a clamp control line and respective one of data lines. A voltage of the clamp control line in a read operation is set to a value higher, by a forward voltage of the diodes or less, than a lower value among the voltages of the data line to which a selected digit line is connected. The voltages of the data lines to which only non-selected digit lines are connected are clamped to a predetermined value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device, and more particularly to a semiconductor memory device having a plurality of pairs of data lines to each of which a plurality of pairs of digit lines are connected and a clamp circuit for clamping or setting the voltages of the data lines at a predetermined levels.
2. Description of Related Art
FIG. 1 shows a circuit diagram of a data read section in a conventional semiconductor memory device. In FIG. 3, a memory cell 4 comprises NMOS transistors 5 to 8 and resistors 9 and 10. The NMOS transistor 7 has a source connected to a low power-source voltage VS2, and a drain and a gate connected to a gate and a drain of the NMOS transistor 8, respectively. The NMOS transistor 8 has a source connected to the low power-source voltage VS2 and a drain and a gate connected to the gate and the drain of the NMOS transistor 7, respectively. The resistor 9 is connected between a second high power-source voltage Vcc2 and the drain of the NMOS transistor 7. The resistor 10 is connected between the second high power-source voltage Vcc2 and the drain of the NMOS transistor 8. The NMOS transistor 5 has a gate connected to a word line 109 and a source and a drain connected to a digit line 101 and the drain of the NMOS transistor 7. The NMOS transistor 6 has a gate connected to a word line 109 and a source and a drain connected to the digit line 102 and the drain of the NMOS transistor 8.
A digit line block la comprises a pair of digit lines 101 and 102, PMOS transistors 2, 3, 11, and 12, and a plurality of memory cells 4. The PMOS transistor 2 has a gate connected to a second low power-source voltage VS2 and a source connected to the second high power-source voltage Vcc2, and a drain connected to the digit line 101. The PMOS transistor 3 has a gate connected to the second low power-source voltage VS2, a source connected to the second high power-source voltage Vcc2, and a drain connected to the digit line 102. The PMOS transistor 11 has a gate connected to the digit selecting line 111 and a source and a drain connected to the digit line 101, and a first data line 103, respectively. The PMOS transistor 12 has a gate connected to the digit selecting line 111, and a source and a drain connected to a digit line 102 and a first data line 105. The memory cells 4 are connected to a word line 109 and the digit lines 101 and 102. The digit selecting lines 111 to 114 are used for selecting one of the digit line blocks 1a to 1d.
In a conventional memory semiconductor device, a plurality of word lines are provided and a plurality of memory cells are connected to a pair of digit lines. FIG. 1 shows, however, only a single memory cell connected to a single word line and a pair of digit lines for easy understanding.
Each of the digit line blocks 1b to 1d has the same arrangement as that of the digit line block 1a except the followings:
The gates of the PMOS transistors 11 and 12 of the digit line block 1b are connected to a digit selecting line 112. The gates of the PMOS transistors 11 and 12 of the digit line block 1c are connected to a digit selecting line 113, and the drains of the PMOS transistors 11 and 12 are connected to the first data lines 104 and 106, respectively. The gate of the PMOS transistor 11 of the digit line block 1d is connected to a digit selecting line 114, and the drains of the PMOS transistors 11 and 12 are connected to the first data lines 104 and 106, respectively.
The first data lines 103 and 105 transmit data read out from the memory cells within the digit line blocks 1a and 1b to second data lines 107 and 108, respectively. The first data lines 104 and 106 transmit data read out from the memory cells within the digit line blocks 1c and 1d to the second data lines 107 and 108, respectively.
The first data lines 103 and 105 are connected to the bases of the NPN transistors 13 and 14, respectively. A collector of the NPN transistor 13 is connected to a first high power-source voltage Vcc1 and an emitter of which is connected to the second data line 107. A collector of the NPN transistor 14 is connected to the first high power-source voltage Vcc1 and an emitter of which is connected to the second data line 108.
Similarly, the first data lines 104 and 106 are connected to the bases of the NPN transistors 15 and 16, respectively. A collector of the NPN transistor 15 is connected to the first high power-source voltage Vcc1 and an emitter of which is connected to the second data line 107. A collector of the NPN transistor 16 is connected to the first high power-source voltage Vcc1 and an emitter of which is connected to the second data line 108. The second data lines 107 and 108 transmit data transmitted from the first data lines 103 or 105, and 104 or 106 to a sense amplifier SA.
The PMOS transistors 35 to 38 clamp or set the non-selected first data lines at a predetermined voltage in accordance with voltage values of block selecting lines 115 and 116. The gate of the PMOS transistor 35 is connected to the block selecting line 115. One of the remaining two terminals of the PMOS transistor 35 is connected to a clamp control line 110 and the other is connected to the first data line 103. The gate of the PMOS transistor 36 is connected to the block selecting line 115 and one of the remaining two terminals is connected to the clamp control line 110 and the other is connected to the first data line 105.
The gate of the PMOS transistors 37 is connected to the block selecting line 116. One of the remaining two terminals of the PMOS transistor 37 is connected to the clamp control line 110 and the other is connected to the first data line 104. A gate of the PMOS transistor 38 is connected to the block selecting line 116. One of the remaining two terminals of the PMOS transistor 38 is connected to the clamp control line 110 and the other is connected to the first data line 106.
The second data lines 107 and 108 are connected to the bases of NPN transistors 21 and 22 serving as input transistors of the sense amplifier SA. The collectors of the NPN transistors 21 and 22 are connected to the first high power-source voltage Vcc1. Further, the emitters of the NPN transistors 21 and 22 are connected to the drains of the NMOS transistors 27 and 29, respectively. The emitters of the NPN transistors 23 and 24 are connected to the drain of the NMOS transistor 28. The collector of the NPN transistor 23 is connected to the first high power-source voltage Vcc1 through a resistor 25 and a base of which is connected to the emitter of the NPN transistor 21. The collector of the NPN transistor 24 is connected to the first high power-source voltage Vcc1 through a resistor 26 and a base of which is connected to the emitter of the NPN transistor 22. A node of the resistor 25 and the collector of the NPN transistor 23 and a node of the resistor 26 and the collector of the NPN transistor 24 serve as sense outputs 201 and 202, respectively. The gates of the NMOS transistors 27 to 29 are connected to a reference voltage Vr and sources of which are connected to a first low power-source voltage Vs1.
A read operation of the memory circuit shown in FIG. 1 will now be described. Assume now that the memory cell 4 in the digit line block la is in a selected state and the NMOS transistor 7 is in an ON state.
A decoder (a column decoder) not shown sets one of the digit selecting lines 111 to 114 to a low level and the remaining three lines to a high level in response to an externally supplied column address signal.
Similarly, a decoder (a row decoder) not shown selects one of plurality of word lines, sets the selected word line and non-selected word lines to high and low levels, respectively in response to an externally supplied row address signal. Assume now that the word line 109 is in the selected state and in the high level state.
In the memory cell 4 of the selected digit line block 1a, the NMOS transistor 7 is in the ON state; the NMOS transistor 8 is in the OFF state; and the memory cell 4 is in a stable state.
The voltages of the digit lines 101 and 102 are determined by the currents flowing into the first data lines 103 and 105, and the current flowing into the memory cell 4.
The voltages of the first data lines 103 and 105 are transmitted to the second data lines 107 and 108 through the NPN transistors 13 and 14 and applied to a sense amplifier SA using a differential operational amplifier.
If the PMOS transistors 35 to 38 are assumed not to be provided, the first data lines 104 and 105 in the non-selected state (to which the selected digit block selecting line 1a is not connected) goes to a floating state electrically and the voltages thereof becomes unstable.
If the voltages of the first data lines 104 and 106 become an abnormally low voltage due to some cause and the selected digit line block is switched from the digit line block 1a to the digit line block 1c or 1d, a time period for reading data from the memory cell will become longer or data might be erroneously written in the memory cell.
More specifically, when the voltages of the first data lines 104 and 106 become a voltage lower than the voltage of the data line 103 to which the selected digit line block 1a is connected by an intermediate voltage between the second high power-source voltage Vcc2 and the low power-source voltage Vs2 (or a voltage lower than the intermediate voltage), and when the selected digit line block 1a is switched to the digit line block 1c or 1d, the read time might be longer since it takes too much time to charge the first data lines 104 and 106 or the voltages of the first data lines 104 and 106 may change the voltages of the newly selected digit lines 101 and 102 so that the data might be erroneously written in the memory cell. The voltage of the data line 103 is a lower-side one of the voltages of the first data lines 103 and 105 to which the selected digit line block 1a is connected. The voltage of the data line 103 is lower than the second high power source Vcc2 by O.1 V to 0.2 V.
In order to prevent such problem, in the semiconductor memory device shown in FIG. 1, clamping transistors 35 to 38 are provided. The voltage of the clamp control line 110 is set at a voltage equal to or slightly lower than a voltage of the line at the low voltage side of the first data lines 103 and 105 to which the selected digit line block 1a is connected; the block selecting line 115 is set at a high level and the PMOS transistors 35 and 36 are cut off to electrically isolate the first data lines 103 and 105, and the clamp control line 110. Further, the block selecting line 116 is set at a high level and the PMOS transistors 37 and 38 are turned on to clamp the voltages of the first data lines 104 and 106 at the one approximately equal to the voltage of the clamp control line 110. Such arrangement permits the voltages of the first data lines 104 and 106 in the non-selected state to be fixed without affecting the voltages of the first data lines 103 and 105 in the selected state.
However, in the semiconductor memory device having the above arrangement, the block selecting lines 115 and 116, a circuit for identifying the selected and non-selected states of the data line pairs, a circuit for controlling the voltages of the block selecting lines and the like must be provided, resulting in increased circuit size and complicated circuit structure.

Semiconductor memory device having a data-lines clamp circuit


[Object] To allow the receiver side that receives a transport stream TS including a first video stream having two-dimensional image data inserted thereinto and a second video stream having the three-dimensional image data inserted thereinto in a time multiplexed manner to perform an appropriate and efficient process.

A variety of systems that display a stereoscopic image are known. For example, as described in PTLs 1 to 3, a method in which the left eye image and the right eye image having parallax are alternately displayed on a display in predetermined periods and are viewed using shutter glasses including liquid crystal shutters that are driven in synchronization with the display images is known.

Transmitting apparatus, transmitting method, receiving apparatus, and receiving method

Abstract: [Solution] First identification information and second identification information are inserted into the transport stream TS. The first identification information is identification information indicating whether a video stream included in the stream TS is the first video stream or the second video stream. The second identification information is identification information indicating whether the first identification information has been inserted or not. 3D signaling information including the first identification information is inserted into a user data area of one of a picture header and a sequence header. The second identification information is included in a video stream descriptor inserted and placed under a video elementary loop of a PMT.


A rack adapter for a programmable controller is included in each of four remotely located I/O interface racks that are connected in series to a central processor. The rack adapter includes a rack interface processor under program control which converts serial data received from the central processor to parallel data that is written into I/O modules in its rack. The rack interface processor also converts parallel data from I/O modules to serial data, which is sent back to the central processor through a select data out circuit in proper sequence with data from the other racks. The rack interface processor initiates the decontrol of machines connected to the four racks if a major transmission fault occurs, but the rack interface processor is tolerant to transmission errors caused by electrical noise. A dual-frequency clock drives the rack interface processor, and interface circuitry which is operable at two bit-transmission rates connects the rack interface processor to the communication channel, which can range up to 10,000 feet from the central processor.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of the invention is digital controllers, and more particularly programmable controllers in which I/O interface racks are remotely located from the central processor of the controller to control industrial machines and processes.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A programmable controller with a central processing station and remotely located interface racks is disclosed in Markley et al, U.S. Pat. No. 3,997,879, issued Dec. 14, 1976, and entitled "Fault Processor for Programmable Controller with Remote I/O Interface Racks." The controller includes a central processor, a memory, and an I/O scanner which are interconnected with one another and located at a central processing station. I/O interface racks, such as disclosed in Springer et al, U.S. Pat. No. 3,992,654, issued Nov. 21, 1977, are each connected by a separate cable to the I/O scanner circuit at the central processing station. Each I/O rack has a capacity of 128 input/output circuits which are arranged in eight rack slots having sixteen I/O circuits each. Each I/O circuit can be monitored or controlled by a single logic voltage signal, which is generated in response to a single bit of data. With the I/O racks connected in "parallel" communication channels to the I/O scanner circuit, and with proper connection through distribution panels and to remote power supplies, it is possible to locate each of the eight I/O racks up to 5,000 feet from the central processing station.
Each communication channel in this prior system is formed by a cable, which is connected on its opposite ends to a pair of universal asynchronous receiver/transmitters (UAR/T's). There is one UAR/T in the I/O scanner for each communication channel, and there is one UAR/T in a rack adapter in each I/O rack. The UAR/T's couple bytes of data from the central processor to the I/O rack slots by converting the data to serial data for transmission through the communication channels and by reassembling the serial data into data bytes at the I/O rack adapters.
The programmable controller described above is contemplated for use in an industrial environment where electrical noise can produce erroneous transmissions over the transmission cables. It has been observed in industry that electrical noise generally produces only a single transmission error within the time represented by several scans of the I/O scanner, which is typically less than 0.1 second. Thus, in the system above, the detection of a major fault requires two error signals on a single scan, or on two successive scans of an I/O interface rack by the I/O scanner. If a major fault is detected, the operating devices on a machine controlled by the faulted rack are decontrolled.
The monitoring of transmission errors is performed at each end of the transmission cables by the I/O scanner circuit and the rack adapter circuits in each of the I/O interface racks. Besides its UAR/T, the rack adapter circuit at each I/O rack is comprised of discrete components such as storage registers, data selectors, flip-flops, gates, counters, and others, which are wired together to perform the logic functions required in monitoring transmission errors.
There is need for greater flexibility and efficiency in the application of programmable controllers to industrial control tasks. It is desirable in a programmable controller to be able to place I/O interface racks at greater distances from the central processing station. It is also desirable to subdivide I/O interface racks into partial racks that can be spaced apart to perform a number of control tasks, none of which require all of the 128 I/O control circuits that are available in a full I/O interface rack.

Rack adapter for serially connected I/O interface racks


An immune adherence hemagglutination assay for detection of hepatitis A antigen or antibody. Plasma having known high titer of hepatitis A antibody, and gamma globulin having known high titer of hepatitis A antibody.

This invention relates to an assay method for hepatitis A antibody and antigen, and to plasma and gamma globulin of known hepatitis A antibody titer. More particularly it relates to an immune adherence assay method and to the use of such method to detect plasma and prepare gamma globulin having a known protective titer of hepatitis A antibody.
Hepatitis A is a liver disease which, while not commonly fatal, can involve many weeks of debilitating illness. It is usually spread by direct contact with an infected individual or by contaminated drinking water or food. Presently known methods for the detection of hepatitis A antigen or antibody lack sensitivity, are time-consuming and expensive. There has not been heretofore a sensitive test which is both specific and reproducible for quickly determining whether or not the sera from a patient or a donor contains hepatitis A associated antibody or antigen. For example, the prior art method for determination of hepatitis A antibody involves neutralization tests in marmoset monkeys. This method takes from 8 to 10 weeks and only permits evaluation of 1 or 2 samples per 100 marmosets.
The present method of treating an individual believed to be in danger of contracting hepatitis A is to administer gamma globulin. The rationale for this treatment is the expectation that the gamma globulin contains hepatitis A antibody in a quantity sufficient to confer immunity to the exposed individual. It is well known, however, that gamma globulin fails to confer immunity to certain exposed individuals.

Human immune serum globulin with high hepatitis A antibody titer


Systems and methods are provided for a computer-implemented method of providing an interactive avatar that reacts to a communication from a communicating party. Data from an avatar characteristic table is provided to an avatar action model, where the avatar characteristic table is a data structure stored on a computer-readable medium that includes values for a plurality of avatar personality characteristics. A communication with the avatar is received from the communicating party. A next state for the avatar is determined using the avatar action model, where the avatar action model determines the next state based on the data from the avatar characteristic table, a current state for the avatar, and the communication. The next state for the avatar is implemented, and the avatar characteristic table is updated based on the communication from the communicating party, where a subsequent state for the avatar is determined based on the updated avatar characteristic table.

This disclosure relates generally to animated avatars designed to simulate personality characteristics for entertainment and other applications, and, more particularly, to devices, systems, and methods adapted to capture personality and behavioral profile characteristics of a person and to provide an interactive experience with an animated avatar where the avatar simulates personality and behavioral profile characteristics based on at least a portion of the captured personality and behavioral profile characteristics.
The broad notion of interacting with an artificial intelligence continues to be contemplated and studied. For example, efforts to create virtual agents or automated attendants for commercial use in reception, call center, online presence, and customer service applications have resulted in text-centric (e.g. automated online chat help services) and verbal/voice-centric (e.g. automated call center services) with improved capabilities of accurately receiving and responding to user/customer queries. Service providers of these virtual agents or automated attendants routinely advertise that these kinds of artificial intelligence technologies consistently outperform their human counterparts for the tasks for which they are designed. The effectiveness of these technologies is often measured in terms of the percentage of calls or interactions that result in sales, the accuracy/resolution rate of correctly identifying the query and its corresponding answer, the rate of delivering brand-complementing and legally compliant (i.e. good) answers, the response time between question presented and answer delivered, the number of question-answer pairs, the percentage of calls where the call-query attempt was abandoned, and other similar information delivery-centric metrics.
Virtual agent and automated attendant systems typically do not include flexibility to provide different personality styles, or if they do, such flexibility is limited to pre-selecting personality modes from a discrete range of selectable "personalities" for presentation to the target users. Each different "personality" might have a different tone of voice according to desired gender, speech cadence or rate of word delivery, and other selectable pre-programmed parameters.
Similarly, such agent and attendant systems typically do not have an ability to assimilate new information that modifies future responses. That is, most of these systems do not have capabilities to learn. However, some progress may have been made to incorporate processes whereby the agent or attendant learns by storing queries and information identified as new, then triggers a process by which the new information is selectably (i.e. through human intervention/action) retained and incorporated or discarded.
Further, such agent and attendant systems typically do not involve animated avatars, or if they do, the avatars are animated in very limited ways. Most often the animation is simply to reinforce the presence of an active system that is doing something to address the user's query, or to simply signal that the agent/attendant is in a particular state such as ready or delivering a response or thinking or turned-off/unavailable.
Gaming systems use animated avatars more comprehensively than virtual agent and automated attendant systems. Gaming systems increasingly employ avatars as central aspects of the gaming experience. In fighting-oriented games, for example, the user views the virtual environment through the eyes of an avatar, commonly viewing the user's virtual arms, appendages, weapons, equipment, and so forth. And the user views other users' virtual realizations (or avatars) in the gaming/virtual environment. The gaming industry continues to focus on avatar-centric techniques whereby the avatars, controlled by, and representing, the human users, take on increasingly life-like and realistic behaviors. For example, gaze control, whether user controlled or automated (i.e. sentient gaze), has been recognized as an important aspect of avatar-to-avatar communications, in addition to vocal and other visual queues and communications means.
The avatars used in gaming systems increasingly incorporate more options for the user to customize. Head gear, camouflage, color combinations, weapon systems, names, nicknames, and numerous other individually selectable options allow the user to create a particularly unique avatar or character. In many games, the user is able to modify, improve or upgrade, and add customized features to their in-game character which carryover from each game session to the next game session, thereby allowing the user to continue changing and developing features and characteristics of the user's created character.
The avatars used in virtual world simulation environments, such as Second Life, for example, may be customized into a desired "digital persona" that may or may not resemble the user in real life. Such avatars are typically cartoon-like representations created from a user's selections of various pre-determined or canned selectable options, similar to the gamer's selections of modifications and so forth when changing and adding features to their in-game character.
A more realistic avatar experience has been proposed whereby a typical cartoon-like avatar is animated to mimic (or shadow) the movements and motion of a user whose movements and motions are sensed by a camera/sensor system. The "Avatar Kinect" system may be such a system, as an evolution of Microsoft's Xbox product. The system uses a Kinect camera to animate a typical cartoon-like avatar so as to provide more realistic avatar movements and motion, with software/applications to place the avatar in various environments, situations, and circumstances.
An even more realistic avatar experience has been proposed, in concept, whereby 3D modeling and 2D video might be combined in real time computationally to create a near photo quality, very realistic avatar performance. In concept, such a system might use camera sensors (like Kinect) to capture the movements and motion of a user, then combine the information with a photograph or 2D video of a real person to create an avatar performance. The avatar performance would be very realistic since the appearance of the avatar is synthesized from a photograph or 2D video of the real person, and the avatar's movements and motion is synthesized from movements and motion of the user captured by the camera sensors. In concept, such a system could be used whereby an actor (or user) might read and perform a script which is then synthesized by the system into a corresponding avatar performance, with the avatar appearing as a very realistic/photographically accurate depiction of a different real person that was previously photographed. In such a system, however, particular aspects of the movements and motions of the avatar would theoretically track those of the actor/user/player rather than reflect the particular aspects that may distinguish similar movements and motions of the person previously photographed, unless, of course, the actor/user/player and the person previously photographed were the same person.
Neither advanced avatar systems that provide a very realistic avatar experience, such as providing a photo-realistic avatar having full-body and facial animations, nor artificial intelligence systems for simulating and providing for interaction with such animated avatars have been developed. Moreover, the subcomponent devices, systems, and methods for designing and developing and implementing such systems are not available, or are not available for practical, affordable use, or have limitations that have not yet been overcome or adequately addressed by engineers, inventors, and commercialization efforts. What is needed, therefore, are new and improved devices, systems, and methods directed to the development and implementation of improved animated avatars with improved capabilities and features.

Systems and methods for providing an interactive avatar


A displacement information detection apparatus for detecting relative displacement information regarding the apparatus and an object to be detected includes an illumination system for radiating coherent light. A first diffraction grating splits the coherent light from the illumination system into first and second light beams, which are radiated onto the object. A second diffraction grating synthesizes the first and second light beams emerging from the object to generate an interference light beam. A light-receiving element detects the interference light beam and detects the relative displacement information regarding the object and the apparatus upon reception of the interference light beam. The illumination system is configured to focus the first and second light beams at a location along an optical path between the first diffraction grating and the second diffraction grating, so that the interference light beam incident on the light-receiving element is a divergent light beam.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a displacement information detection apparatus and, more particularly, to an apparatus suitable for optical displacement sensors such as an encoder, a speed sensor, an acceleration sensor, and the like, which measure a displacement and a speed of an object by utilizing the fact that when a light beam radiated onto an object being displaced is diffracted or scattered, the diffracted or scattered light beam is phase-modulated according to the displacement or the moving speed of the object.
2. Related Background Art
Conventionally, optical displacement sensors, e.g., an optical encoder, a laser Doppler speedometer, a laser interferometer, and the like, for obtaining a physical quantity such as movement or displacement of an object with high precision by radiating light onto the object are widely used mainly in the fields of NC working machines, OA equipment, robots, and the like. As a conventional displacement sensor, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Utility Model Application No. 1-180615 and Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 62-121314 disclose optical encoders. Also, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2-262064 discloses a laser Doppler speedometer.
In consideration of an application of the displacement sensor to wider fields, the displacement sensor is required to have a more compact structure (on the order of mm), and higher precision and resolution (on the order of 0.1 .mu.m). If the displacement sensor has a size on the order of mm, it may be used while being directly adhered to an object to be measured by, e.g., an adhesive. For this reason, the displacement sensor can be used for smaller devices, and the application field range can be remarkably widened. However, it is difficult for the conventional displacement sensor to achieve both a compact structure and high-precision/high-resolution characteristics.

Displacement information detection apparatus for receiving a divergent light beam


A multi-layer body (10i) includes an optically machine-readable identification, wherein the multi-layer body has at least one first plastic material layer with a microscopically fine relief structure shaped in that layer and the optical effect of the microscopically fine relief structure can be altered region-wise for writing in an item of information. First and second regions have different relief structures and form a background pattern (1 through 7) which encodes a first item of information and which is partially altered for writing in an individualized code pattern (1i through 3i) which encodes an individualized second item of information and which overlaps the background pattern. There is also described a method of manufacturing such a multi-layer body and a method of reading the items of information.

The invention concerns a multi-layer body having an optically machine-readable identification, a method of manufacturing such a multi-layer body and a method of reading an item of information out of such a multi-layer body.
EP 0 718 795 A1 discloses an information strip with optically encoded information. Optical markings are arranged on the information strip in bit lines, wherein at least two bit lines with identical division into surface portions of equal size are required. Each surface portion is occupied for example by an optical diffraction element. The diffraction elements of the one bit line involve the same grating parameters (spatial frequency, profile shape, azimuth and so forth) and differ from the diffraction elements of the adjacent other bit line. A respective surface portion from the one bit line forms with the adjacent surface portion from the other bit line a bit pair representing a single bit of the information. In the case of that information strip, after manufacture it is possible to write an item of information once, wherein the optical characteristic of the surface portion is irreversibly altered in the operation of writing in one of the two surface portions of the bit pair.
It is known from EP 0 883 085 A1 that each surface portion of a single-line information strip has a plurality of partial surfaces which are occupied alternately with one of two different optical diffraction elements from an amount of n diffraction elements. The diffraction elements of a sub-amount involve the same grating parameters (spatial frequency, profile shape, azimuth etc) and differ from the diffraction elements of the other sub-amounts. Each surface portion differs from its two neighbors by the selection of the diffraction elements for the partial surfaces. The information of those information strips is established by manufacture and cannot be altered individually for each information strip.
WO 00/62237 A2 discloses an information strip with raster elements which are arranged in two lines and which are of equal size, wherein the one diffraction structure of the one line differs from the other diffraction structure of the other line and the grating grooves of the fine relief structures of the diffraction structures are oriented substantially parallel to the lines. A respective raster element from the one line represents a single bit of the information, with the adjacent raster element from the other line. With that information strip, after manufacture, an item of information can be written once, in which case the optical characteristic of the raster element is irreversibly altered in the operation of writing in one of the two raster elements of a bit.
A reading device must simultaneously read out the diffraction structures in both lines of the information strip, in which respect the reading field is to be oriented as exactly as possible with respect to the separation line between the two diffraction structures. The tolerance which can be accepted is not more than ±0.5 mm. Inlays in plastic cards or the like however have a typical tolerance of ±1 mm in relation to the edges.

Multilayer element with an identification which can be read optically by a machine


The present invention is a wildlife nutritional supplement for free ranging ruminants including about 7.5-8.5% calcium, about 3.5% phosphorus, about 32-37% salt, at least one xe2x80x9cBxe2x80x9d series vitamin is selected from a group consisting of pantothenic acid, folic acid, riboflavin, niacin, thiamine, cobalamin, and pyridoxine hydrocholoride, about 16-19% sodium, about 0.15% magnesium, about 0.15% potassium, about 2.5% sulfur, about 1,200 PPM iron, about 20 PPM copper, about 105 PPM manganese, about 45 PPM zinc, about 5 PPM cobalt, about 1 PPM selenium, about 1 PPM iodine, about 50,000 IU/LB Vitamin A, about 20,000 IU/LB Vitamin D, about 50 IU/LB Vitamin E, about 134 MG/LB biotin, about 60 MG/LB ascorbic acid, oxytetracycline and fenbendazole.

This invention relates to wildlife nutritional supplements, and more particularly to a ruminant feed supplement having enhanced palatability and immune-system bolstering effects.
The reduction of habitat due to human development has left a noticeable impact on the health and vitality of wild ruminant animals. Ruminant animals such as deer, elk and the like, suffer diminished reproduction, decreased weight, smaller antlers, and susceptibility to disease and parasites.
There are seven major minerals that have an important effect on wildlife: (1) calcium aids in the growth of bones, teeth and antlers and is important in the function of muscles and nerves; (2) phosphorus aids in the growth of bones, teeth and antlers, enhances energy metabolism and enzymation as well as proper protein utilization; (3) potassium is integral in the function of nerves, enzyme processes, as well as mineral and water balance; (4) sulfur is an essential component of some proteins; (5) sodium is vital to the function of muscles and nerves and also maintains water balance; (6) chloride of sodium forms hydrochloric acid in the abomasums which aids in protein breakdown; and (7) magnesium is an important component is almost all body processes.
There are seven trace minerals that are needed to maintain healthy wildlife: (1) manganese is essential for good bone development and feed utilization; (2) copper is needed for blood and feed utilization; (3) zinc provides an important influence on the rate of nutrient absorption; (4) iodine is a vital component of the thyroid hormone which controls body temperature and rate of metabolism; (5) selenium is needed for growth and reproduction and is also involved in enzymatic systems; (6) cobalt is a necessary component of vitamin B12 and enzymes that digest feed; and (7) iron is a critical component of red blood cells.
There are three vitamins known in the prior art for use with wildlife range feed supplements: (1) vitamin A is necessary to support growth, vision, reproduction, is involved in bone development and antler growth, and aids in controlling infections; (2) vitamin D is necessary for the mineralization of bone development and antler growth and maintains proper functioning of muscles, nerves, blood clotting and cellular growth; and (3) vitamin E is a component of the enzyme system, acting as an antioxidant at the cellular level as well as functioning in selenium metabolism.
Supplementing the nutritional deficiencies in range rudiment animals is known in the art. Wildlife nutritional supplements are typically placed near wildlife trails or other areas frequented by wildlife. Commercially available brands include WHITETAIL INSTITUTE 30-06 manufactured by Whitetail Institute Of North America, 239 Whitetail Trail, Pintlala, Ala. 36043, BIOLOGIC manufactured by Haas Outdoors, 200 East Main Street, West Point, Miss. 39773, ANTLER KING manufactured by Antler King Trophy Products, Inc. W11353 Spaulding Road, Black River Falls, Wis. 54615, DEER CANE POWDER and DEER CANE BLOCK manufactured by Evolved Habitats, 2261 Morganza Highway New Roads, La. 70760, BIG SPRINGS TROPHY MINERAL manufactured by BIG SPRINGS TROPHY MINERAL at Rural Route Box 65, Rockport, Ill., 32370, CEDER CREEK TROPHY DEER manufactured by Roger Haslag, P. O. Box 114, Loose Creek, Miss. 65054, and PURINA ELK MINERAL 56/M2 manufactured by Purina Mills, LLC, 1401 South Hanley Road, St. Louis, Miss. 63144. U.S. Pat. No. 6,261,609 describes three iterations of range mineral under the brands of HILL COUNTRY MIX, ROLLING PLAIN MIX and WHEAT PASTURE MINERAL. The components of the above-mentioned supplements are provided in Tables 1-10 below:
Although the above-mentioned products enhance the health of the wildlife, drawbacks to current formulations still remain. Nutritional deficiencies that contribute to decrease repellency of ticks, mosquitoes, gnats and flies are still not addressed by the known art.
Another need in the art exists for sustained palatability and consumption. The effectiveness of the prior art supplements is restrained by the inconsistent and limited consumption of the product. Wildlife suffering from mineral and vitamin deficiencies benefit from ongoing and consistent intake of supplements, rather than sporadic consumption.
Another need in the art exists for a wildlife supplement that preemptively medicates ruminant animals against parasitic and bacteria infections while maintaining the beneficial flora needed for proper digestion.
Yet another need in the art exists for a wildlife supplement that includes the addition of xe2x80x9cBxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cCxe2x80x9d series vitamins that maintain the overall health of ruminant animals. Currently, xe2x80x9cBxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cCxe2x80x9d series vitamins are only provided in a penned or controlled environment and administered through veterinary means.
It is, therefore, to the effective resolution of the aforementioned problems and shortcomings of the prior art that the present invention is directed.
However, in view of the prior art in at the time the present invention was made, it was not obvious to those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art how the identified needs could be fulfilled.


A nonvolatile memory cell includes first and second MOS transistors, such as a PMOS transistor and NMOS transistor in a CMOS cell. One of the two transistors provides a floating gate for storing data while the other transistor is provided with a control gate for selecting the memory cell, and is connected with a bit line for reading data stored in the cell. The nonvolatile memory cell may be integrated into a logic device, such as a CMOS gate array, using PMOS and NMOS transistor cells formed in the gate array. In that case, the nonvolatile memory cell may be fabricated in a logic device with the standard processes used to produce the logic device.

1) Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to the field of semiconductor memory devices, and more particularly, to a nonvolatile memory cell produced of semiconductor transistor structures common to semiconductor logic devices.
2) Background of the Related Art
Semiconductor memory devices may be largely divided into Random Access Memories (RAMs) and Read Only Memories (ROMs). RAMs, also referred to as volatile memories because the stored data is destroyed with the passage of time upon removal of the power supply, allow rapid data storage and data retrieval. ROMS, also referred to as nonvolatile memories because they retain data once it is entered, typically have slower data storage and data retrieval times.
One popular type of ROM is the Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM) in which data is electrically programmed and erased. A flash EEPROM, which is electrically erasable at high speed without being removed from a circuit board, offers the advantages of a simple memory cell structure, cheap cost, and no need for a refresh signal to retain the data.
EEPROM cells are largely divided into two types: a NOR type EEPROM and a NAND type EEPROM.
FIG. 1 shows a circuit diagram for a NOR-type flash EEPROM cell 100. A metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor 120 is provided with a floating gate 110 and a control gate 160. The floating gate 110 may be programmed with a charge according to the data to be stored in the memory cell 100. Data is read by selecting the transistor on a word line connected to the control gate 160 and detecting the presence or absence of a current through the transistor on a bit line 170 connected to one terminal of the device.
A number of different memory cell structures have been used for a nonvolatile memory device. FIG. 2 shows one configuration of a NOR-type Flash EEPROM cell 200 according to the prior art. The memory cell 200 comprises a semiconductor substrate 205 having first and second impurity regions 225 and 235 formed in a top surface of a well 202. The first impurity region 225 is connected with a bit line 270 of the memory device 200, while the second impurity region 235 is connected with ground potential. A first oxide later 230 is deposited on the top surface of the semiconductor substrate where the first and second impurity regions 225 and 235 are formed.
A floating gate 210 is formed on the first oxide layer 230 above and between the first and second impurity regions 225 and 235. A control gate 260 is also formed above and between the first and second impurity regions 225 and 235. A portion of the control gate 260 is formed above the floating gate 210, separated by a second oxide layer 250. The floating gate 210 and the control gate 260 may each be formed of conductive polysilicon layers.
To program the EEPROM device 200 with a potential V.sub.P, the word line connected with the control gate 260 is supplied with a large positive potential V.sub.PGM (e.g., V.sub.PGM =12.5 Volts). This causes an injection of electrons onto the floating gate 210. To read the data from the cell 200, a lower positive voltage V.sub.cc (e.g., 5 volts) is applied to the control gate while the bit line is supplied with a smaller positive voltage (e.g., 1-2 volts). Data 0 or 1 is read from the cell 200 according to the presence or absence of a current path through the cell, relying on the principle that the threshold voltage V.sub.th of the cell is changed to a voltage greater than +5V when electrons are stored in the cell, while the threshold voltage V.sub.th is about 1.5V when electrons are not stored on the floating gate. Data may be erased though exposure to ultraviolet light radiation, or through a separate erase gate (not shown).
Disadvantageously, these prior art nonvolatile memory cell structures are not readily adaptable to integration in a logic device such as a gate array. For example, the EEPROM cell 200 requires two polysilicon layers or more, whereas the typical gate array process uses a single polysilicon process. Yet, it is desirable to provide nonvolatile memory cells in a gate array device.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a nonvolatile memory cell which may be easily integrated into a semiconductor logic device. It would also be advantageous to provide a nonvolatile memory cell which may be easily integrated into a gate array logic device. It would be further advantageous to provide a nonvolatile memory cell which can use the same process technologies and array structures which are used to manufacture gate array logic circuitry. Other and further objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

Nonvolatile memory cell structure for integration with semiconductor logic devices and method of using same


A method and apparatus for diagnosing and treating neural dysfunction is disclosed. This device has the capability of delivering the therapeutic electrical energy to more than one treatment electrode simultaneously. In another exemplary embodiment, this device can perform EMG testing both before and after the therapeutic energy has been delivered, to assess whether the target nerve was successfully treated. In another embodiment, the device has the capability to record and store sensory stimulation thresholds both before and after treatment is described, which allows the clinician to accurately determine whether the target nerve has been desensitized. Energy control may achieved by simultaneously comparing the tip temperature of each treatment electrode to a set temperature selected by the operator, and regulating the therapeutic energy output to maintain the set temperature. In another embodiment, EMG, stimulation thresholds, and graphs of temperature versus time can be conveniently displayed on a two-dimensional graphics display.

The general use of radiofrequency and high frequency generator systems which deliver electrical output to electrodes that are connected to a patient's body is known in the clinical literature and art.
By reference, an example of radiofrequency heat lesioning generators used in clinical practice for the treatment of neural disorders is the Radionics RFG-3C+ (Burlington Mass.).
This device is capable of delivering high frequency energy to patient tissue via an adapted electrode, and associated ground or reference electrode. This device is also capable of delivering low frequency stimulation pulses that are used to accurately localize the electrode placement before treatment.
Parameters that may be measured by these devices include impedance, HF voltage, HF current, HF power, and electrode tip temperature. Parameters that may be set by the user include time of energy delivery, desired electrode temperature, stimulation frequencies and durations, and level of stimulation output. In general, electrode temperature is a parameter that may be controlled by the regulation of high frequency output power.
These devices have various user interfaces that allow the selection of one or more of these treatment parameters, as well as various methods to display the parameters mentioned above.
In one application of these devices, a patient complains of back pain, or some other pain of nocioceptive or neuropathic origin. A doctor then performs diagnostic blocks with local anesthetic by injecting the anesthetic into the areas that is suspected of generating the pain. If the patient receives temporary relief from these injections the doctor concludes that the pain generators were in the location where he made these injections. Unfortunately, the origin of pain is poorly understood; perceived pain at a certain level in the back, for instance, can actually be created from many different and multiple sources.
Once a location has been identified, the clinician will decide to deliver high frequency energy to this location to permanently destroy the pain generator. A ground or reference plate will be placed on the patient's thigh to provide a return path for the high frequency energy. An insulated electrode with a small un-insulated tip will be placed at the expected target. Stimulation pulses will be delivered at a sensory frequency (typically 50 Hz), and a stimulation voltage will be placed on the electrode. The clinician is looking for a very low threshold of response from the patient (e.g., less than 0.5 V) to ensure that the electrode is close to the sensory nerves. They will then perform a stimulation test at a muscle motor frequency (e.g., 2 Hz), and increase the stimulation voltage output to 2 v. In this instance, they are looking for no motor response in the patient's extremities as this would indicate the electrode was too close to the motor nerves. Treatment in this area could cause paralysis. Upon successful completion of these tests, high frequency energy is typically delivered for one or more minutes, while maintaining an electrode tip temperature between 70 and 90 degrees. Alternatively, high frequency energy may be delivered for one or more minutes, but in a pulsed mode where the high frequency energy is on for a short period of time and off for a long period of time, thus not producing any appreciable heating (reference is made to commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,161,048, the entire contents of which are specifically incorporated by reference herein).
Although these treatments are successful, they have several drawbacks. In practice, most patients need treatments at several different nerve locations. This requires placing the electrode, performing the stimulation, and delivering the energy at each location and then repeating the process, thus causing a great deal of wasted time, and patient discomfort, while waiting for the energy to be delivered. Another drawback is that in spite of successful stimulation testing, the target nerve is often not destroyed resulting in no decrease of pain. The clinician is left to determine whether the target nerve has been missed, or whether the pain generator is located else where in the body.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and apparatus for diagnosing and treating neural dysfunction


Aspects of communication of a client device with a private or hybrid cloud are described. In some aspects, a private host computer is determined as being connected to a private network. The private network differs from a network to which the client device is connected. A virtual private network is established between the client device and the private host computer. The virtual private network being established using a virtual private network server that includes a connection to the private host computer through the private network. A request is transmitted to the private host computer through the virtual private network. The request includes an origin value, wherein instructions associated with the origin value are allowed to access resources of the private host computer.

Hybrid cloud computing systems are used to extend the capabilities of an organization's private data center that manages and executes workloads using computing resources such as virtual machines. A "public" cloud system serves multiple "tenants" and can expand the capabilities of such tenants by providing computing resources to the tenants on demand. For example, a private data center may migrate some virtual machines to the public cloud system for execution in order to free up computing resources for other work. Although convenient, one issue with hybrid cloud computing systems is that communication between the disparate components may be complex. Because the public and private sides of hybrid cloud systems typically do not reside in the same location and/or on the same network, communication between the different components is not always a trivial matter.

Techniques for communication in hybrid cloud system


Approaches presented herein enable managing an incoming communication on a communication device from a communication channel. Specifically, the incoming communication is received and analyzed to determine, based on a context of the incoming communication, a situational pattern from among a plurality of situational pattern models. Based on the determined situational pattern, a criticality level is identified. One or more prompts from among a plurality of prompts are transmitted to a wearable device based on the criticality level for display to provide notification to a user of the criticality of the incoming communication.

The advent of social networking, instant messaging, and ubiquitous wireless data networks allows individuals to select from a plurality of methods to communicate with their contacts. In the past, communications between individuals were limited to physical mail, wired telephones, fax, and wireless telephones. However, with the expansion of the Internet, coupled with mobile devices capable of maintaining a data connection to the Internet, users may be able to select from a plethora of communications means, such as: cellular phone calls, email to multiple accounts, multiple instant messaging protocols, twitter messages, video chats, Short Messaging Service (SMS) and Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) messages, social networking messages, voicemail, and the like. Typically, users are less concerned by the actual communication mode used with their contacts, and more concerned with the content of the communication conveyed.

Message translation for cognitive assistance

International Business Machines Corporation


A switching device for data processing includes: a processor unit to generate a pseudo-first-form packet by attaching a second-form header to an end portion of a first-form packet when a second-form packet is input, the second-form packet including the first-form packet encapsulated with the second-form header; and a switching unit to transfer the second-form packet to the processor unit when the second-form packet is input from a network, and transfer the pseudo-first-form packet generated by the processor unit to a cache device such that the cache device processes the pseudo-first-form packet.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and do not constitute prior art.
Lately, the performance of user equipment (UE), such as a smart phone, and mobile communication technology are rapidly being improved. Accordingly, a user has become able to access a web server provided by a content provider (CP) and use a variety of content, such as photographs, videos, audio, and applications, through UE at any time and any place. Also, the frequency of using content through a mobile network (e.g., a mobile communication network) in which the mobility of a user is ensured is continuously increasing.
However, while the number of web servers provided by a CP is limited, the number of users who access the web servers is rapidly increasing. For this reason, the inventor(s) has noted that there occur various needs related to improve communication resource and quality of service by reducing or, for example, data loss, a bottleneck, transmission delay, data discontinuity and data interruption. The inventor(s) has noted that to solve these needs, a content delivery network (CDN) has been provided.
A CDN is a service for stably transferring various types of content, such as photographs, movies, and music videos, to one or more UEs. More specifically, the CDN provides cache devices which are widely distributed to major points in a network. The inventor(s) has noted that these cache devices copy and store in advance a part or all of a variety of content, which is content having a large capacity, such as images, videos, and audio, or frequently requested by one or more UEs, present in web servers of a CP far away from the UEs. Subsequently, when a content request message is received from the UEs, a cache device located closest to the UE transmits content to the UEs. The inventor(s) has noted that the CDN improves content access speed and stably provides content.

Device and method for processing data in content transmission system


A method of brazing a pipe member to a counterpart member includes steps of mounting in a circumferential direction an engaging portion in a ring shape to an outer periphery of the pipe end portion proximate an endmost portion of the pipe member, engaging a brazing-filler-metal-made ring in a ring shape with the engaging portion, inserting the pipe end portion of the pipe member provided with the brazing-filler-metal-made ring into the counterpart member, heating and melting the brazing-filler-metal-made rug with the outer peripheral surface of the pipe end portion being in abutment with the inner peripheral surface of the counterpart member, pouring a brazing filler metal into an abutment portion between the outer peripheral surface of the pipe end portion and the inner peripheral surface of the counterpart member, and securing by brazing the pipe end portion to the counterpart member.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method of brazing a pipe end portion of a metal pipe, which is generally used as a supply channel for automobiles or various machines, devices, or the like, to a counter member into which the pipe end portion is inserted to connect the metal pipe and the counter member.
2. Description of Related Art
To connect a pipe end portion, which is a vicinity of a pipe endmost portion of a pipe member, to an interior of a counterpart member securely, such a method has been generally taken that an outer peripheral surface of the pipe end portion and an inner peripheral surface of the counterpart member, in which a portion therebetween is defined as an abutment portion, are securely connected by brazing or soldering. Furthermore, a method as disclosed in Patent Document 1 has been widely known. In this method, the pipe end portion of the pipe member is inserted into the counterpart member and this inserted part of the pipe member is subjected to a swaging process from an exterior of the counterpart member to temporarily secure the pipe end portion and the counterpart member. The pipe member and the counterpart member are immersed in a melted metal to secure a connected part between the pipe member and the counterpart member as well as to form a metal coating on surfaces of the pipe member and the counterpart member.
As disclosed in Patent Document 2, a following method has also been widely known. That is, an expanded diameter portion in a ring shape is formed to an outer periphery of the pipe end portion of the pipe member to brought the expanded diameter portion into abutment with an inner peripheral surface of the counterpart member in an engaging manner by inserting the pipe end portion into a counterpart member so as to temporarily secure the pipe end portion of the pipe member and the counterpart member to each other. At the same time, a brazing filler metal is provided between an outer peripheral surface of the pipe member at the vicinity of the abutment portion and the inner peripheral surface of the counterpart member. The brazing filler metal is melted to braze the abutment portion between the expanded diameter portion of the pipe end portion and the inner peripheral surface of the counterpart member so that the outer peripheral surface of the pipe end portion and the inner peripheral surface of the counterpart member are securely connected.
Patent Document 1 is Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-92773. Patent Document 2 is Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-59171.
According to the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1, however, the pipe member and the counter member are immersed in the melted metal to cover the entire surface of both members with the metal. In this manner, the metal covers unnecessary parts, thereby causing waste. Furthermore, where the metal used for covering has a low corrosion resistance, the surface is required to be covered again with the metal with a high corrosion resistance. As a result, the production takes time and trouble while requiring a high production cost. Yet further, there is a case where the extra melted metal remains at the connected part between the pipe member and the counterpart member. In this case, there has been a fear that the remaining metal narrows a flow channel for liquid or gas that flows through the connected part between the pipe member and the counterpart member.
According to the invention disclosed in Patent Document 2, furthermore, since the brazing filler metal provided between the outer peripheral surface of the pipe member and the inner peripheral surface of the counterpart member is not positioned by securing or the like, there arises a case where the brazing filler metal is shifted to a position different from a desired position at the time of brazing operation. In this case, it has been difficult to perform the brazing operation to the desired position with accuracy.
This invention aims to solve the aforementioned problems and to provide a method of brazing the pipe member to the counterpart member, in which the pipe end portion of the pipe member and the counterpart member can be certainly secured by brazing at the desired position while this brazing operation is performed at a low cost without time and trouble.

Method of brazing pipe member to counterpart member


A catcher for use in a component stacker for holding stacks of product die-cut from a continuous sheet of material. The catcher includes two catcher plates attached to a pivot pin for upward and downward pivoting between generally horizontal and generally vertical positions, thereby providing support for adjacent edges of two adjacent stacks of product.

This invention relates to a catcher for use in a stacker machine for holding a stack of die-cut components.
In general, such a machine comprises a stacker board having a plurality of windows and catchers, a plurality of lifters located below the stacker board, and means of advancing a continuous web of product between the lifters and the board.
In operation, the web is advanced over the lifters, and the individual products contained therein are aligned with the lifters. The lifters advance upwardly, stripping the products from the web and shifting them upwardly through the vertically aligned windows in the stacker board to engage the bottom of stacks of previously removed products. When the lifters retract downwardly through the windows, the stacks of product engage catchers and are supported above the windows. This operation is repeated with additional product being added to the bottom of the stacks.
Each catcher is capable of supporting one side of one stack of products. Accordingly, each stack of products requires at least two catchers for support. As a result, a web containing multiple rows and columns of product requires numerous sets of catchers.

Dual plate catcher for use in a component stacker