Two substantially identical optical fiber interferometers, preferably packaged together and exposed to the same parameter to be measured, wherein an increase of the field quantity to be measured causes an increase of the delay time difference of one interferometer and a decrease of the delay time difference of the other interferometer. Demodulator means is connected to the outputs of the interferometers to demodulate the phase-modulated signals from each of the interferometers, and electronic differencing means is connected to receive the demodulated signals from the demodulator means to difference one of the signals from the other to enhance the measured signals relative to the laser-induced noise signals.

This invention pertains to noise reduction in fiber optic interferometric systems used for sensing. More particularly, it pertains to such noise reduction in hydrophone sensor systems employing pairs of Michelson or Mach-Zehnder interferometers at each spatial sensing point. The apparatus and methods apply as well to measurement of field quantities such as sound, pressure and temperature.
Both Michelson and Mach-Zehnder interferometers are used to measure acoustic pressure and temperature. Sound is measured by detecting the instantaneous fluid pressure. The arms of the interferometer are immersed in the fluid whose pressure, temperature, or other parameter is to be measured. The measured parameter will be recited herein as either pressure or acoustic pressure with the understanding that the invention is not limited to pressure or acoustic pressure.
Usually one arm of the interferometer is sensitized to changes in fluid pressure, whereas the other is not. Alternatively, one arm may extend and the other contract with increases in pressure. Frequently, to reduce noise, the output signal of an identical interferometer, whose arms are not exposed to the sensed pressure, is subtracted from the sensor interferometer output signal.
It is found that, because the coherence length of the driving laser is finite, phase errors or phase noise are produced in the output signal.
In the prior art, both Mach-Zehnder and Michelson interferometric sensors have only one input port and one output port. Single-mode directional couplers are used to split and recombine the light beams. In a typical operation, one of the fiber arms is sensitive to the field quantity to be measured, and the other arm is isolated. A change in pressure at the sensor causes a differential change in phase between the two recombined beams, producing an intensity change at the detector.
In a frequency-division-multiplexed system, FM-modulated coherent light, combined with a small delay-time imbalance between the interferometer fiber paths produces a phase-modulated carrier at the detector, simplifying signal demodulation. Intensity noise is also generated by the combination of laser phase noise and the delay time imbalance. Both the desired sensor signal and the laser phase-noise appear in the sensor output signal. Prior-art interferometric sensors employing FM-modulated sources and slightly-unbalanced paths are limited in performance by the phase-noise of the laser.
In other prior art embodiments, both available output signals from Mach-Zehnder interferometric sensors are used. Changes in the intensity of such sensor signals are differential. The phases of the sensed signals and the phase of the laser noises are not common-mode. Differencing the two output signals increases the signal-to-noise ratio 3dB, for the carrier power increases 6dB, but the noise increases only 3 dB.
Single-output Frequency-Division-Multiplexed (FDM) interferometric sensors are limited by phase noise from the combined effect of finite laser linewidth and the slight delay-time imbalance in the sensor.
One prior art apparatus that purports to eliminate or reduce laser phase noise uses a remote isolated interferometer whose delay-time difference is matched to that of the sensor. Following photodetection and demodulation, the signals from the isolated interferometer and from the sensor interferometer are electronically differenced, cancelling phase noise. The sensed signal is unchanged because the remote isolated reference interferometer is not exposed to the physical stimulus which is sensed by the sensors. Only one reference interferometer is needed for a plurality of sensors, all driven by a common laser source. The demodulated electrical output signals from the reference interferometer contains only laser phase noise. That output is subtracted from the outputs of all of the sensor channels, cancelling the laser phase noise while preserving the desired signal.
Such apparatus has achieved limited success in the laboratory, but it is believed to have limited potential in the field. Separate mechanical packages are needed for the sensor and the reference, and the reference must be well-isolated from the environment. Second order non-linear terms are not eliminated. Noise is also produced by the telemetry connecting the laser to the sensor. Further, failure to accurately match the delay-time difference between any sensor and the reference interferometer reduces noise cancellation. The matching condition is often difficult to maintain over widely-varying environmental conditions.

Differential fiber optic sensor and method


This invention is related to an article storing device, particularly to a container for storing the cassettes of sound/video-recording tape or even computer disc, which mainly consists of a case, a drawer, a spring, a or a set of brake block, and a lifting spring leaf, and is characterized by making use of the interaction of some guide grooves in the case, a or a set of brake block pivotally mounted on the back side of drawer, and a spring so as to be closed through an easy push inward by a single finger, and to be quickly opened through a light push on any position of front plate of the drawer thereby, or even to make the article contained therein automatically float up in extreme favor of storing and taking out the said article without inclining the drawer.

This invention is related to a sound/video-recording tape storing device, particularly to an improvement of U.S. Pat. No. 3,899,229 "Container for Tape Cassettes" (as shown in the Annex). The said container for tape cassettes is an improved drawer-type container based on the conventional and simple one which consists of a base case and a transparent enclosure. In comparison with the conventional one, the said container for tape cassettes can be closed through a easy push inward by a single finger and to be quickly opened through a push on the push button thereby so as to conveniently put the tape cassette in the said container and take same out therefrom. The design of said container is deliberate but there are a plurality of impractical defects as follows:
1. A push button 25,25' is mounted on only one side of the drawer 2,2'; it has to push the said push button upward with a finger so that the drawer can be opened, but this opening action is rather less smooth, or even the users in general cannot open and use it, sometimes it has to push the push button for more than two times to open it, so the opening action is less convenient. PA0 2. When to close the said drawer 25.25' in an open state, it is mainly to use a finger to press the wall face on the front end of said drawer so as to push the said drawer into the case 1,1', and the said drawer is positioned by an incision 24,24' preset on one side of said case through a catching action by the tooth 23,23' on the lower or outer side of push button 25,25'; however, when the push button is molded with plastic, a thinner leaf spring 22,22' is extended from the base plate of drawer 2,2', the said tooth 23,23' can be caught into the said incision 24,24' through the elastic force of such a leaf spring 22,22'; since the said leaf spring 22,22' made of plastic is very thin and will lead to an elastic fatigue as the said container is always placed in front of the car driver's seat to be exposed to the sun or for other foreign factors, the said tooth 23,23' cannot be caught into the incision 24,24' strictly when closing the said drawer which is therefore cannot be opened or kept in a closed state very often. PA0 3. In addition, a push button 25,25' has to be installed on the drawer 2,2' for keeping the said drawer in a closed state, so a suitable clearance (as shown in FIG. 2 and 5 of said U.S. Patent) has to be left between the push buttom 25,25' and the opening edge of case 1,1' or even between the front wall 7 of drawer and the said opening edge, and the said container without airtight and dustproof action cannot protect the tape contained therein. PA0 4. Furthermore, since no lifting accessory or device is installed in such a container, the article contained therein cannot automatically float up after the drawer is opened. If the width of said article is about the same as that of the drawer, it is extremely enconvenient or uneasy to take the said article out therefrom.
In view of the foregoing drawbacks of current more practical "container for tape cassettes" and the video recording tape, sound recording tape and computer disc in urgent need of a container with conveniently opening, closing, placing and taking operations as well as factual dustproof action, this inventor has improved it and invented a much better "sound/video recording tape storing device" which is characterized by being closed through an easy push inward by a single finger and quickly opened thru a light push on any position of the front plate of drawer thereby in extreme favor of placing and taking the above-said article which can automatically float up without inclining the said drawer; meantime, capable of overlapping, connecting and mounting a plurality of the cases together or traversely or longitudinally installing several or a plurality of drawers in the same one large case with several or a plurality of separate cases for desirable portability in extreme favor of individually opening and closing each one of said container; and particularly capable of the action of airtightness and dustproofness since the perimeter of front plate of the drawer closely matches with the opening edge of the case body of the case.

Sound/video-recording tape storing device

3rd Floor, No. 15, Lane 142, Chunghsin Road, Sec. 4


A method and apparatus for identifying items of information from an information system which is especially useful for identifying information from the World Wide Web. The information items have not been seen by the user before and are relevant and interesting to the user. A first record of items requested by each member of a group of users is obtained. A second record is obtained of items requested more than once by the same user. Pairs of users in the group are analyzed, and said to be xe2x80x9cfriendsxe2x80x9d if they have requested some of the same information from the second record. Information that has been requested by a user""s friend but which has not been seen by the user before is identified for that user.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for identifying items of information from an information system which is especially useful for identifying information from the world wide web.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The world wide web and many other information systems contain vast amounts of information. It is hard for users to keep up with new information that may be relevant to them because of the difficulty of doing searches. The user needs to spend valuable time planning and constructing search strategies and ensuring these are kept up to date as new terminology comes into use. Even when this task has been completed, the search needs to be run and then the results managed. Many irrelevant items may be found in the search and the user still needs to spend valuable time evaluating these and pinpointing relevant items. Because of these problems many of the advantages of the information system are lost. The user finds the system too difficult to use or manage and does not gain the maximum benefit from the information system.
Known systems that have been developed to find relevant information on behalf of users include those based on profiles. These systems build up a profile of the user which is a description of the types of information that s/he is interested in and then use this profile as a gauge against which to assess the relevance of a piece of information to the user. However, these systems are problematic because in order to be effective the profiles have to accurately reflect the interests of the user. Consequently the profiles are difficult to create and maintain as the user""s interests change and adapt. Also, these systems are typically used in conjunction with a conventional search process and the profiles are used to prioritise or filter the search results before presentation to the user. This means that the whole process is still limited by the performance of the conventional search process in finding the required information quickly and without finding spurious information. Conventional search processes are designed to search, for example, a database or an index of terms. However, for unstructured, large systems like the world wide web conventional search processes are difficult to implement.
International patent application number WO 96/29661 in the name of Interval Research Corporation describes a system for the retrieval of hyperlinked information resources using heuristics. In this system a first xe2x80x9cexplorationxe2x80x9d heuristic is used to search an information system (such as a network of linked textual or multi-media information) and this process finds at least one information resource for presentation to the user. Then a second xe2x80x9cpresentationxe2x80x9d heuristic is used to present selected resources to the user and the user provides feedback indicative of the degree of relevance of the presented information in the form of a rating, score, or binary parameter, such as yes/no. The first and second heuristics are then modified on the basis of the ranking functions. This process is disadvantageous because it requires the user to provide relevance feedback which is time consuming. Also, the system searches the information system itself which makes it less useful for large unstructured databases.
International application number WO 95/29451 in the name of Apple Computer, Inc. describes a system for ranking the relevance of information objects accessed by computer users. This system involves storing a profile of interests for each user having access to the system and items of information are displayed in order of ranking. This means that the system has the disadvantages of xe2x80x9cprofilexe2x80x9d systems as described above. Also, this system is not intended to be used to search large databases but rather is designed for use with electronic mail messages and bulletin board systems.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,537,586 describes a method for extracting a preferred set of textual records from a database. However, this is fundamentally a criteria-based search system. It will not find data that is not indexed and it relies on maintaining a search profile for each user.
International Patent Application Number W0 97/26729 describes a system for identifying which advertisements to present to a particular user of the world wide web. Using a xe2x80x9cSmart Ad Boxxe2x80x9d simultaneous viewers of the same web page can be presented with different advertisements and this document describes a way in which advertisers can decide which of a number of adverts to present. In order to do this a measure of similarity between several individual users of the World Wide Web is generated. For one user the individuals with the greatest calculated similarity to that user become that user""s community. The system then determines which advertisements to show to the user based on characteristics of that user""s community.
This system is designed for identifying advertisements from a limited number of possible items, rather than for identifying any items of potential interest from the whole World Wide Web. Also, under this system, users are presented with advertisements that they have previously seen. The system is described as being used in conjunction with demographic data such as the age and domicile of a user. This is similar to profile based systems and is therefore subject to the same disadvantages. The demographic data is complex to obtain, maintain and use.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for identifying items of information from an information system which overcomes or at least mitigates one or more of the problems noted above.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of identifying items of information from an information system, for at least one of a group of users of the information system, said method comprising the steps of:
(i) obtaining a first record of items of information requested from the information system by each user in the group;
(ii) obtaining a second record of items of information requested from the information system on more than one occasion by the same user;
(iii) determining a score for each pair of users in the group said score being determined on the basis of a number of items from the second record requested by one user in the pair, that were also requested by the other user in the pair;
(iv) for each user allocating one or more group members as friends for that user on the basis of the scores for pairs containing that user; and
(v) for each user identifying items of information that have been requested by a friend of the user that have not been requested by the user.
The invention also encompasses a corresponding apparatus for identifying items of information from an information system, for at least one of a group of users of the information system, said apparatus comprising:
(i) an obtainer arranged to obtain a first record of items of information requested from the information system by each user in the group and also to obtain a second record of items of information requested from the information system on more than one occasion by the same user;
(ii) a determiner arranged to determine a score for each pair of users in the group said score being determined on the basis of a number of items from the second record requested by one user in the pair, that were also requested by the other user in the pair;
(iii) an allocator arranged to allocate, for each user, one or more group members as friends for that user on the basis of the scores for pairs containing that user; and
(iv) an identifier arranged to identify, for each user, items of information that have been requested by a friend of the user that have not been requested by the user.
A corresponding information system is also provided comprising an apparatus for identifying items of information from the information system, for at least one of a group of users of the information system, said apparatus comprising:
(i) an obtainer arranged to obtain a first record of items of information requested from the information system by each user in the group and also to obtain a second record of items of information requested from the information system on more than one occasion by the same user;
(ii) a determiner arranged to determine a score for each pair of users in the group said score being determined on the basis of a number of items from the second record requested by one user in the pair, that were also requested by the other user in the pair;
(iii) an allocator arranged to allocate, for each user, one or more group members as friends for that user on the basis of the scores for pairs containing that user; and
(iv) an identifier arranged to identify, for each user, items of information that have been requested by a friend of the user that have not been requested by the user.
This method, apparatus and system each provide the advantage that xe2x80x9cinterestingxe2x80x9d information that a user has not previously requested is identified. The user does not have to spend time searching for information and is quickly and simply provided with new information that is potentially interesting. This helps the user to cope with and make use of the ever-increasing amount and variety of available information in the information system (for example, the world wide web). Information is identified for both novice and expert users of the information system and information-finding tasks of various kinds are aided, for example, answering a particular query, or casually browsing or surfing for information of interest in the absence of a specific query. Advantageously, no user profiles are created or maintained which greatly simplifies the process and helps to reduce errors that may arise and no demographic data needs to be obtained, maintained or used. Also, no actual search process is carried out and no access to the information system itself is needed. Information is identified by reference to information that other members of a group of users have requested. This means that no complex and lengthy search processes need to be carried out and the method is suitable for large unstructured information systems such as the world wide web as well as well organised data bases.
Another advantage is that, by using the second record, information identified for each user is removed from the identification process unless it is requested more than once by the same user. This helps to avoid suggesting things to users simply because these have previously been suggested to that user""s friend(s). This is especially important when the method has been repeated several times. Also, use of the second record in conjunction with the first record was found to produce unexpectedly good results. Users were presented with items identified by the system that were particularly useful and the number of irrelevant or uninteresting items was reduced.

Method and apparatus for identifying items of information from a multi-user information system


A vehicle door structure includes: a metal door outer panel that includes an outermost design surface of a vehicle door; a metal annular reinforcement that (i) is provided at a door inner side of the door outer panel, (ii) has an annular shape so as to extend along an outer peripheral portion of the door outer panel, and (iii) is joined to the outer peripheral portion of the door outer panel; at least one reinforcing member that extends in a door longitudinal direction and that is joined to the annular reinforcement; and a fiber-reinforced door inner panel that is provided at a door inner side of the annular reinforcement, and is fastened to the annular reinforcement.

Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a vehicle door structure.
Related Art
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2015-027829 discloses a vehicle door structure that includes a door outer panel that is made of metal, and a door inner panel that is made of resin and that is joined by hemming to the peripheral edge portion of the door outer panel. In this vehicle door structure, joining members that are made of metal are provided at connected portions, that are connected to the vehicle main body, of the door inner panel. Due to the above structure, an attempt is made to ensure the supporting rigidity of the door with respect to the vehicle main body.
However, in the above-described related art, there is room for improvement with regard to load that is inputted to the door inner panel, made of resin, at the time of a collision of the vehicle or the like.


An optical disk processing system having a recording unit and a printing unit is provided. An optical disk processing system comprises a printing unit and a recording unit. An optical disk is driven with a low torque and then with a high torque. Based on reaching times until target rotational speeds are reached when the optical disk is driven with the low torque and the high torque, a type of the optical disk is judged. Loading of a plurality of optical disks is detected when the judgment results for low torque and for high torque do not match.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an optical disk device and an optical disk processing system having the optical disk device, and in particular to loading of an optical disk in an optical disk device.
2. Description of the Related Art
When a CD or a DVD is mass-produced, the manufacturing cost is reduced by using a large-scale device having a disk changer. On the other hand, an optical disk processing system is proposed in which a recording unit which writes information on the optical disk, a printing unit which prints on a label surface of the optical disk, and a disk changer are integrated, in order to handle the cases of custom-made optical disks which do not require mass production such as, for example, school learning materials, commemorative items, presents, etc. In this optical disk processing system, a sequence of processes are automatically executed in which an optical disk which is not yet processed is transported from a stocker to a recording unit and loaded, data is recorded by the recording unit, the recorded optical disk is ejected, the recorded optical disk is transported to the printing unit and a print is applied on the label surface, and the printed optical disk is again transported back to the stacker.
Japanese Patent No. 3797318 discloses an optical disk processing system in which a recording unit, a printing unit, and a disk changer are integrated.
In the optical disk processing system, the optical disks must be taken out from the stocker one by one, transported to the recording unit, and loaded. However, depending on the surface state of the optical disk, the optical disks may stick to each other, and a plurality of optical disks may be transported to the recording unit together and loaded. The optical disk loaded on the tray of the recording unit is normally clamped by a magnetic damper and is rotationally driven by a spindle. However, when a plurality of optical disks are loaded in the stuck state, the clamping force of the magnetic damper is weakened by the thickness of the plurality of stacked optical disks and the optical disk cannot be firmly clamped, and as a result, the rotational control becomes unstable, or the control cannot be achieved when the number of rotations is increased and the optical disk vibrates. Therefore, when a plurality of optical disks are loaded, this phenomenon must be quickly detected.

Optical disk device and optical disk processing system having optical disk device


A method and apparatus for reducing power consumption of transistor-based circuit is disclosed. The method includes receiving a low power mode indication; determining whether to supply power to at least a portion of the transistor-based circuit in response to a reset value of the transistor-based circuit and a state of the transistor-based circuit prior the receiving of the low power mode indication, and selectively providing power to at least a portion of the transistor-based circuit. The apparatus is adapted to receive a low power mode indication, and includes: a determining circuit to determine whether to supply power to at least a portion of the transistor-based circuit in response a state of the transistor-based circuit prior the receiving of the low power mode indication; and a power gating, adapted to selectively provide power to at least a portion of the transistor-based circuit in response to the determination.

Mobile devices, such as but not limited to personal data appliances, cellular phones, radios, pagers, lap top computers, and the like are required to operate for relatively long periods before being recharged. These mobile devices usually include one or more processors as well as multiple memory modules and other peripheral devices.
The power consumption of a transistor-based device is highly influenced by leakage currents that flow through the transistor. The leakage current is responsive to various parameters including the threshold voltage (Vt) of the transistor, the temperature of the transistor and the like. Transistors that have higher Vt are relatively slower but have lower leakage currents while transistors that have lower Vt are relatively faster but have higher leakage current.
In order to reduce the power consumption of mobile devices various power consumption control techniques were suggested. A first technique includes reducing the clock frequency of the mobile device. A second technique is known as dynamic voltage scaling (DVS) or alternatively is known as dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS) and includes altering the voltage that is supplied to a processor as well as altering the frequency of a clock signal that is provided to the processor in response to the computational load demands (also referred to as throughput) of the processor. Higher voltage levels are associated with higher operating frequencies and higher computational load but are also associated with higher energy consumption.
A third technique uses domino circuits that include both high threshold voltage transistors and low threshold voltage transistors. U.S. patent application number 2004/0008056 of Kursun et al., which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a domino circuit that is configured such as to reduce power consumption, for example by limiting the energy consumed during power switching.
Yet another technique is based upon creating a stack effect that involves shutting down multiple transistors of the same type that are serially connected to each other. U.S. Pat. No. 6,169,419 of De et al., which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a method and apparatus for reducing standby leakage current using a transistor stack effect. De describes a logic that has both a pull up path and a pull down path.
There is a growing need to find effective apparatuses and methods for reducing power consumption of integrated circuits.

Apparatus and method for reducing power consumption using selective power gating


A precompression pump sprayer is primed by the provision of a priming ramp for deflecting the lower end of a poppet valve member at the end of the plunger downstroke for cocking the valve member so as to disrupt its sealing action with the discharge valve seat to thereby permit air to be released from the pump chamber through the discharge orifice and to the atmosphere.

This invention relates generally to a precompression pump sprayer, and more particularly to a pump chamber priming arrangement for such sprayer.
As known, the manually actuated precompression pump sprayer, otherwise referred to as a pressure build-up pump sprayer, has a reciprocable discharge valve member which opens the discharge at a threshold pump pressure reached during pumping as pump chamber pressure exceeds the force of a return spring. The threshold pressure may not be reached to open the discharge while the pump chamber contains air, which is compressible. Thus, for the precompression pump sprayer to function satisfactorily, the pump chamber must first be primed, i.e., the unwanted air in the chamber must be evacuated and replaced by liquid product to be dispensed.
One approach taken in priming the pump chamber of a precompression sprayer is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,051,983 wherein a longitudinally extending rib or groove is formed on the inner wall of the bore of the pump housing in which the reciprocable discharge valve operates. A nose of the discharge valve, in the form of a popper valve, is normally seated against a discharge valve seat formed in the discharge passage of a hollow piston stem, under the action of an opposing spring force provided by the piston return spring. At the threshold pressure, the popper valve is forced away from its valve seat to open the discharge, in the known manner.
The popper valve has a seal in sliding sealing engagement with the bore in which the valve reciprocates. As the air in the unprimed pump chamber is compressible, the piston and poppet valve are lowered together upon depressing the plunger. At or near the end of the plunger downstroke, the seal between the poppet seal and the wall of the bore in which the poppet operates is interrupted when the poppet seal is juxtaposed to the rib or groove. The air in the pump chamber, which has now been compressed during the piston downstroke, is evacuated from the pump chamber directly into the container via the dip tube extending into the liquid product in the container. The compressed air flows down the tube by capillary action until product partially fills the pump chamber on each ensuing upstroke which draws liquid product into the pump chamber. As liquid product partially fills the pump chamber, it prevents the remaining volume of air in the pump chamber from being evacuated past the popper seal and into the container. This remaining volume of air must now be purged from the chamber to avoid issuance through the discharge orifice causing an undesirable sputtering and uneven spray.
Another approach taken in priming the pump chamber of a precompression pump sprayer is exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 5,064,105, wherein one or more small protuberances is formed on the wall of the pump chamber for deforming the piston seal at or near of the end of the piston downstroke permitting unwanted air from the pump chamber to be evacuated into the container via a side port formed in the pump housing.
A still further arrangement provided for priming the pump chamber is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,094 in which the popper valve has a radially outwardly extending base which, at the end of the plunger downstroke, engages a projection on an inner wall of the closure forming a priming step for causing a poppet valve seal to shift away from its confronting wall to open a path for evacuating air from the pump chamber into the container via a container vent.


In a self-aligned structure semiconductor laser in which a pair of optical guide layers are respectively formed on both faces of an active layer, the optical guide layers having a bandgap which is wider than that of the active layer, a pair of cladding layers are formed so as to sandwich the active layer and the optical guide layers, the cladding layers having a bandgap which is wider than bandgap of the optical guide layers, a pair of carrier blocking layers are respectively formed between the active layer and the optical guide layers, the carrier blocking layers having a bandgap which is wider than bandgaps of the active layer and the optical guide layers, and a current blocking layer having a stripe-like window is embedded in at least one of the optical guide layers, the current blocking layer is formed by selective growth.. In this way, a window of a current blocking layer can be accurately formed and the fabrication yield can be improved while avoiding maleffects on other layers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of fabricating a semiconductor laser capable of operating at a high output power, which is preferably used in the fields of communication, laser medical treatment, laser beam machining, laser printers and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 6 is a view showing the configuration of an example of a self-aligned structure semiconductor laser with a separate confinement heterostructure (hereinafter, such a laser is referred to as an SCH-SAS LD). The laser is reported in IEEE Journal Quantum. Electronics., Vol. 29, No. 6, (1993) p1889-1993.
Referring to FIG. 6, a cladding layer 2 of n-AlGaAs, a quantum well active layer 5 of GaAs/AlGaAs, a cladding layer 9 of p-AlGaAs, and a contact layer 10 of p-GaAs are sequentially formed on an n-GaAs substrate 1. A current blocking layer 7 of n-AlGaAs is embedded in the cladding layer 9.
In the self-aligned structure semiconductor laser shown in FIG. 6, the current blocking layer 7 having a stripe-like window and a bandgap wider than that of the cladding layer 9, i. e., a refractive index lower than that of the cladding layer is embedded. Therefore, a refractive index difference is formed also in a direction (lateral direction) parallel to the quantum well active layer 5, so that laser light can be confined also in the lateral direction of the stripe. As a result, two dimensional real index structure is realized.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication JP-A 62-73687(1987) discloses a self-aligned structure semiconductor laser in which upper and lower cladding layers are respectively formed on both faces of an active layer, a current blocking layer is formed on the upper cladding layer, a center portion of the current blocking layer is then removed away to form a stripe-like groove, and a third cladding layer is embededly grown.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication JP-A 4-370993(1992) discloses a self-aligned structure semiconductor laser in which a refractive index difference is formed also in the lateral direction of a stripe by a current blocking layer having a refractive index lower than that of a cladding layer, and, in order to facilitate the regrowth of a stripe-like window of the current blocking layer, an optical guide layer is disposed between an active layer and the current blocking layer.
A thesis (Applied Physics Letters., Vol. 37, No. 3, (1980), p262-263) reports a self-aligned structure semiconductor laser in which a current blocking layer is made of a material having a bandgap narrower than that of an active layer, and laser light is laterally confined by optical absorption of the current blocking layer.
FIG. 7 is a view showing the configuration of an example of a self-aligned structure semiconductor laser with a perfect SCH (hereinafter, such a laser is referred to as a PSCH-SAS LD). This laser is disclosed in International Patent Publication WO96/12328 in the name of the assignee of the present application.
Referring to FIG. 7, a cladding layer 2 of n-AlGaAs, an optical guide layer 3 of n-AlGaAs, a carrier blocking layer 4 of n-AlGaAs, a quantum well active layer 5 of GaAs/AlGaAs, a carrier blocking layer 6 of p-AlGaAs, an optical guide layer 8 of p-AlGaAs, a cladding layer 9 of p-AlGaAs, and a contact layer 10 of p-GaAs are sequentially formed on an n-GaAs substrate 1. A current blocking layer 7 of n-AlGaAs is embedded in the optical guide layer 8.
In such a PSCH-SAS LD also, a refractive index difference is formed also in the lateral direction by the existence of the current blocking layer 7, and hence two dimensional real index structure is realized.
FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C are views illustrating an example of a conventional method of fabricating the SCH-SAS LD. First, as shown in FIG. 8A, the cladding layer 2 of n-AlGaAs, the quantum well active layer 5 of GaAs/AlGaAs, and a part of the cladding layer 9 of p-AlGaAs are sequentially crystal-grown on the n-GaAs substrate 1. An n-AlGaAs layer 7a to be the current blocking layer 7 is then uniformly crystal-grown.
Next, as shown in FIG. 8B, a mask is formed in the lateral sides of a region where the center stripe-like window is to be formed, and the stripe-like window is opened in the n-AlGaAs layer 7a by wet etching by which crystals are not damaged, thereby forming the current blocking layer 7. Thereafter, the mask is removed away.
Next, as shown in FIG. 8C, the remaining part of the cladding layer 9 is crystal-grown, and the contact layer 10 of p-GaAs is then crystal-grown.
FIGS. 9A, 9B and 9C are views illustrating an example of a conventional method of fabricating the PSCH-SAS LD. First, as shown in FIG. 9A, the cladding layer 2 of n-AlGaAs, the optical guide layer 3 of n-AlGaAs, the carrier blocking layer 4 of n-AlGaAs, the quantum well active layer 5 of GaAs/AlGaAs, the carrier blocking layer 6 of p-AlGaAs, and a part of the optical guide layer 8 of p-AlGaAs are sequentially crystal-grown on the n-GaAs substrate 1. An n-AlGaAs layer 7a to be the current blocking layer 7 is then uniformly crystal-grown.
Next, as shown in FIG. 9B, a mask is formed in the lateral sides of a region where the center stripe-like window is to be formed, and the stripe-like window is opened in the n-AlGaAs layer 7a by wet etching by which crystals are not damaged, thereby forming the current blocking layer 7. Thereafter, the mask is removed away.
Next, as shown in FIG. 9C, the remaining part of the optical guide layer 8 is crystal-grown, and the cladding layer 9 of p-AlGaAs and the contact layer 10 of p-GaAs are then sequentially crystal-grown.
In such a SCH-SAS LD and a PSCH-SAS LD, in order to realize lateral light confinement and suppression of current spread so as to attain excellent single lateral mode oscillation, the current blocking layer must be located at a position close to the active layer as much as possible, and the width of the window through which a current passes must be formed so as to accurately coincide with the designed value.
In the conventional fabrication method, in the etching step of forming the stripe-like window in the current blocking layer, overetching in which even the active layer is etched away frequently occurs, thereby fabricating a problem in that a high yield cannot be attained.
As a technique that etching is controlled to a desired depth while preventing such overetching from occurring, known is a method in which an etching stop layer for automatically chemically stopping etching is formed below the current blocking layer. In the method, however, only the etching controllability in the depth direction is improved and the controllability in the lateral direction, i.e., the controllability of the window width of the current blocking layer is not improved. Since the window width of the current blocking layer affects the oscillation threshold and the stability of the lateral mode, the method using an etching stop layer is not sufficient for solving the problem.

Method of fabricating semiconductor laser using selective growth


A heating assembly adapted to be releasably mounted externally of an instrument for the transfer of heat to the instrument by conduction to maintain the instrument at a desired temperature.

The field of this invention is heating assemblies for transferring heat to instruments.
The use of thermostatically controlled electric resistance-type heaters is known in the art for accomplishing various heating objectives such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,627,564; 1,797,712; 2,606,271; 2,813,961; 2,906,849; 3,036,190; 3,146,977; 3,335,459; 3,349,722; and 3,412,231.
More specifically, the patent of E. L. Volling, U.S. Pat. No. 3,538,302, discloses threaded heat assemblies which are positioned in bolt openings of an instrument housing to thermostatically control the temperature of the instrument. Since the heating assemblies replace bolts in bolt openings of the instrument housing, the integrity of the instrument is disturbed and users are frequently concerned that such usage will cause damage to or malfunctioning of the instrument. Such arrangement further results in the disadvantage of producing localized heat within the instrument housing. In some instances, with the Volling device, because the localized heat generation is in proximity to sensitive portions of the instrument, an output signal is produced that is not representative of the actual conditions detected by the instrument.


A fuel injection control system for an internal combustion engine equipped with a fuel injection system includes fuel injector valves. The fuel injection control system comprises a control unit for controlling fuel injection for each fuel injector valve. The control unit has a function to control the fuel injection in accordance with a first characteristic required for engine starting before occurrence of an initial explosion in an engine cylinder, and in accordance with a second characteristic required for normal engine operation after occurrence of the initial explosion.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to improvements in a fuel injection control system for an engine, and more particularly to a technique for improving engine starting without degrading exhaust gas characteristics.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Most internal combustion engines are equipped with a fuel injector valve(s) for injecting fuel into the engine under a fuel injection control executed by a fuel injection control system. In general, in the fuel injection control at engine starting, a larger amount of fuel is injected than in normal engine operation to improve a starting characteristics of the engine. In other words, a fuel injection control manner suitable for the engine starting is executed when a starter switch is kept turned ON on the assumption that the turning-ON state of the starter switch corresponds to an engine starting condition. This fuel injection control manner is shifted to another fuel injection control manner suitable for the normal engine operation when the starter switch is turned OFF.
However, difficulties have been encountered in the above-discussed conventional fuel injection control, as set forth below. The above fuel injection control is intended to form an air-fuel mixture necessary for causing an initial exposition in an engine cylinder, within a short period of time. Accordingly, the fuel injection control manner for the engine starting is continued even after occurrence of the initial explosion until the starter switch is turned OFF, so that the fuel injection amount within this time duration is excessive thereby degrading the characteristics of exhaust gas.
Besides, in the conventional fuel injection control in which fuel injection is intermittently made in synchronism with or in relation to engine speed during normal engine operation, such engine speed-synchronized fuel injection is made even at engine starting. However, in this control, fuel is unavoidably concentrically injected at a time since a cycle time of engine rotation is large during engine cranking at which engine speed is very low (not higher than about 200 rpm). Additionally, at such a very low engine speed, an air flow speed in the air intake passage is very low and therefore most fuel that cannot be vaporized tends to adhere to the inner wall of the air intake passage forming a fuel flow on the air intake passage inner wall.
Such a tendency is strong particularly under a low temperature condition in which fuel vaporization is degraded. Additionally, in a system having a large volume in an intake system between the fuel injector valve and the engine combustion chamber, there is a tendency for the air-fuel mixture formed to have a nonuniformity in lean and rich characteristics. As a result, a large amount of useless fuel is injected at the engine starting thereby degrading exhaust gas purifying characteristics and engine starting characteristics.

Fuel injection control system for engine


An extendable mast arrangement, that is supported on a mobile vehicle, having a telescopically extending mast and a mast accessory supported at one end thereof. The mast arrangement having a control system for effecting the movements and functions of the mast and mast accessories, that includes a wireless remote control that utilizes coded command signals to communicate instructions to the control system of the mast arrangement. The control system, including the remote control, utilizes spread spectrum modulation to encode and decode the electromagnetically transmitted control commands. Particularly, the control system uses frequency hopping modulation, a form of spread spectrum modulation, to encode and decode the command signals.

The subject invention relates to the art of extendable mast arrangements, and more particularly to extendable mast arrangements that include a wireless remote control that utilizes coded electromagnetic signals to interface with the mast arrangement and thereby control the movements and functions thereof.
Featherstone, U.S. Pat. No. 5,572,837; Hulse, U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,635; Yada, U.S. Pat. No. 5,748,669; Hulse, U.S. Pat. No. 5,980,070; Hulse, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/383,428; Hulse, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/384,071; Sturm, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/384,076; and, Spread Spectrum Introduction, Technical Paper by ir. J. Meel of DeNayer Polytechnic School for Engineers, Belgium, Oct. 6, 1999 are incorporated herein by reference as background art.
Extendable mast arrangements have been provided heretofore, and generally, as shown in Featherstone ""837, Hulse ""635 and Hulse ""070 for example, have an extendable mast articulable about a base that is supported on a mobile vehicle. At the end of the mast opposite the base is at least one accessory, such as a light source. The accessory may also be adjustable in some manner. For example, the light source may have high output and low output settings. Furthermore, the light source may be rotatable about the mast and/or pivotable about an axis perpendicular to the mast. As a result, the mast arrangement will have a wide variety of movements and functions that should be responsive to the commands of an operator to maximize the utility of the mast arrangement.
Previously, extendable mast arrangements of the foregoing character have provided an operator interface for the input of movement and function commands. Often the interface is in the form of a control panel or control pad located within the vehicle or attachable to the base of the mast adjacent the outside of the vehicle. This type of interface communicated electrical command signals directly to the control system of the mast arrangement. These electrical command signals are utilized by the mast arrangement to cause the extension or retraction of the mast, to cause the mast to pivot about the base, to cause the light source to turn on and off, and/or to cause the light source to pan about the mast or tilt about the axis perpendicular to the mast.
One problem with the above-described arrangement is that the control system of the mast arrangement must directly communicate electrical command signals to the mast accessory at the elevated end of the mast. As such, a separate wire for each function or movement of the accessory must extend from the base to the accessory at the elevated end of the mast. For an accessory having multiple functions and a variety of movements, a substantial number of wires may be required to transmit all of the command signals from the base to the accessory. This can add a significant amount of weight to the mast. Even though this additional weight is distributed along the entire length of the mast, the contribution of the portion of the wires extending along the accessory end of the mast places a significant additional load on the entire mast arrangement. Accordingly, it would be beneficial to minimize the wires extending from the base to the mast accessory.
Another problem with the previously discussed arrangement is that the control panel in the vehicle and the control pad attached to the outside of the vehicle each limit the mobility of the operator when deploying or adjusting the position of the mast and accessory. When utilizing the control panel, the operator must be in or at least reach into a compartment of the vehicle. This often makes it difficult to see the orientation of the mast and accessory, complicating deployment and directional adjustment. Utilizing the control pad attached to the base outside the vehicle improves the operator""s ability to view the deployment of the mast and the directional positioning of the accessory supported thereon. However, the operator""s range of mobility is limited by the length of the cord extending between the control pad and the base. Furthermore, the cord cannot be too long because it can become easily damaged and also presents a safety hazard should it be extended across an emergency or construction site where the mast arrangement is deployed. As such, the operator must remain near the vehicle when deploying the mast and return to the vehicle to adjust the mast or accessory as conditions or needs at the deployment site change. Accordingly, it would be beneficial to allow the operator to deploy and manipulate the mast and accessory while at a distance from the vehicle without requiring an extended cord stretching back to the vehicle.
Sturm, Application No. ""076, makes progress toward overcoming the disadvantages discussed above. Sturm discloses an extendable mast arrangement with a control system that utilizes a wireless remote control for the input of command signals by an operator. The remote control transmits the command signals to the mast arrangement using a suitable electromagnetic wave. One disadvantage of the invention disclosed in Sturm is that the communication signals between the remote control and the mast arrangement are susceptible to interference, at times rendering a mast arrangement unresponsive to the command signals from the remote control. Another disadvantage of devices such as that disclosed in Sturm is realized in situations where multiple mast arrangements are deployed in one area. It will be appreciated that in such a situation many or all of the mast arrangements may respond to a command signal from a remote control that was intended to adjust only one mast arrangement. As such, it would be beneficial to utilize communication signals that are less influenced by interference and that reduce unintentional response of neighboring mast arrangements.
In accordance with the present invention, an extendable mast arrangement is provided which overcomes or minimizes the problems and difficulties encountered with the use of arrangements of the foregoing nature, while promoting and maintaining the desired simplicity of structure, economy of manufacture, and ease of operation. More particularly in this respect, an extendable mast arrangement according to the invention includes a base supported on a mobile vehicle, a telescopically extending mast pivotally supported at one end by the base, a mast accessory supported at the opposite end of the mast, and a control system for controlling the movements and functions of the mast and mast accessory. The control system includes controllers for controlling the movements and functions of the mast accessory, and a remote control for the input of control commands by an operator. The control system further includes at least one encoder for encoding the control commands, at least one transmitter for transmitting the encoded control commands as command signals, at least one receiver for receiving the encoded command signals, and at least one decoder for decoding the command signals from the receiver. One of the encoders and one of the transmitters is in the wireless remote control, and one of the receivers and one of the decoders is supported on the mast adjacent the mast accessory. Preferably, the base will include a second receiver and a second decoder. Additionally, the base may include a second encoder and a second transmitter. As such, coded command signals may be transmitted to the mast arrangement by the wireless remote control from a distant location without the need for extension cords to carry the command signals. Furthermore, as will be discussed in detail hereinafter, the encoders and decoders respectively use spread spectrum modulators and demodulators to cooperatively encode and decode the control commands reducing the likelihood that more than one mast arrangement will be responsive to the encoded command signals and producing a command signal that is minimally affected by interference.
In use, the operator enters control commands into the wireless remote control, such as by depressing command keys on a keypad, to deploy, adjust or stow the mast and mast accessory. The wireless remote control broadcasts the encoded command signals which are picked up by one or more receivers on the mast arrangement. The mast and mast accessories respond to the received command signals until the operator determines that the mast and mast accessory are properly positioned and discontinues the transmission of command signals from the remote control. As a result, the mast and mast accessory can be deployed, adjusted and stowed from a distance by utilizing the wireless remote control. Furthermore, the mast arrangement can utilize a mast accessory at the end of the mast which has multiple functions and movements while minimizing the number of wires that must extend to the accessory from the base.
The spread spectrum modulators and demodulators respectively utilize frequency hopping modulation and demodulation to encode and decode the command signals. Frequency hopping modulation both encodes the command signal and reduces the signal""s susceptibility to interference. Furthermore, each mast arrangement encoding and decoding command signals can utilize a unique code sequence. As such, multiple mast arrangements can be deployed in one area without having cross-communication between wireless remote controls.
Accordingly, it is an outstanding object of the present invention to provide an extendable mast arrangement of the foregoing character having a wireless, remote control interface for directing command signals to the extendable mast arrangement that reduces or minimizes the need for electrical communication wires extending between the base of the mast arrangement and the mast accessory supported on the end of the extendable mast.
Another object is the provision of an extendable mast arrangement of the foregoing character in which the mast and mast accessory thereon can be deployed, adjusted and/or stowed using a remote control interface operable at a distance from the mast arrangement, without the need for extension cables stretched between the interface and the mast arrangement.
Still another object is the provision of an extendable mast arrangement of the foregoing character that utilizes wireless communication to direct command signals from a remote control interface to the mast arrangement, where the wireless communication is encoded to eliminate cross-communication between multiple mast arrangements deployed in one area.
Yet another object is the provision of an extendable mast arrangement of the foregoing character that utilizes wireless communication to direct command signals from a remote control interface to the mast arrangement, where the wireless communication employs spread spectrum modulation to produce wide band, lower power density signals rather than narrow band, higher power density signals, and thereby minimize the interference from other electromagnetic signals.
A further object is the provision of an extendable mast arrangement of the foregoing character which is comprised of a minimal number of components and is structurally and electrically simple, thereby promoting the economic production of the extendable mast arrangement.

Extendable mast arrangement having a coded remote control system


The present invention relates to detection of fluorescence, and more particularly, to the use of fluorescent moieties in proximity to metallic surfaces to change the spatial distribution of fluorescence in an angular dependent manner and detecting emissions at a determined optimal detection angle thereby increasing sensitivity of the detection.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to detection assays, and more particularly, to the use of fluorescent moieties in proximity to metallic surfaces to change the spatial distribution of fluorescence in an angular dependent manner thereby increasing sensitivity of the assay.
2. Background of the Related Art
Over the past 10 years, fluorescence has become a dominant technology in medical testing, drug discovery, biotechnology and cellular imaging. The use of fluorescence technology has greatly enhanced the ability to detect specific molecules leading to rapid advancements in diagnostics. For example, fluorescence detection is widely used in medical testing and glucose analysis because of the high degree of sensitivity obtained using fluorescent techniques. Small numbers of molecules can be detected using fluorescence technology.
Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence (MEF), a phenomenon where the quantum yield and photostability of weakly fluorescing species are dramatically increased, due to proximity to free-electron rich metals, is becoming a powerful tool for the fluorescence-based applications of drug discovery [1, 2] high-throughput screening [3, 4] immunoassays [5] and protein-protein detection [1, 4, 6].
In this regard, many surfaces have been developed for metal-enhanced fluorescence [1-5], primarily based on silver nanoparticles, such as those comprised of silver islands [1, 5, 7], silver colloids [8], silver nano-triangles [9], silver nanorods [10] and even fractal-like silvered surfaces [11]. Several modes of silver deposition have also been developed, such as by wet chemistry [1, 9, 10], deposition by light [12] and electrochemically [13], on glass [5] and plastic substrates [14], HTS wells [3] and even electrodes [15].
However, fluorescence is normally an isotropic process, which means that when a fluorophore is excited, its fluorescence emission radiates in 360°, with an equal intensity at all angles. Thus, nearly all fluorescence is lost in many analytical and clinical applications of fluorescence because the detection measurement occurs over just a few degrees. For example, a fluorescence fluorometer, works by exciting a solution of fluorophores and measuring the fluorescence emission at 90° to the excitation light. In these measurements, only 1-5% of light, at the very best, is observed, meaning that >95% of the total light available is lost.
Providing a system and method that has the capability of capturing this light, would significantly increase detection limits in the many applications of fluorescence, such as in bio-assays and even imaging histology. Thus, there is a need for a biosensor platform and system that overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art and provides for increased sensitivity and signal production.

University of Maryland, Baltimore County


A lead frame includes a first side rail, a second side rail spaced apart from the first side rail, a center rail disposed between the first side rail and the second side rail, and a plurality of package locations. Each package location includes a first and a second die attach paddle. The first die attach paddle supports a first side of a semiconductor die and is coupled only to the first side rail or to the second side rail. The second die attach paddle supports a second side of the semiconductor die and is coupled only to the center rail. The first and second die attach paddles are separate and unconnected to each other and may be generally circular in shape. An aggregate surface area of the first and second paddles may be less than about 25 percent of a surface area of the semiconductor die. By limiting the surface area of the interfaces between the lead frame and the silicon die and the surface area of the interfaces between the lead frame and the molding compound, moisture-related problems and problems related to the differing coefficients of thermal expansion (such as delamination and/or cracks, for example) of the constituent materials of the resultant semiconductor device are minimized.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to high-density lead frames, packaging technology containing such lead frames and methods of attaching a silicon die onto a lead frame. More particularly, the present invention relates to high-reliability lead frames and packaging methods that provide excellent resistance to moisture and moisture-related problems, such as delamination and warping.
2. Description of the Related Art
Semiconductor integrated circuits are usually mounted on lead frames, each circuit thereafter being encapsulated in a plastic package formed by an injection molding process. FIG. 1 shows an example of a first generation copper lead frame 100. The lead frame 100 includes a plurality of solid copper die-attach platforms 110. Each die-attach platform 110 is adapted to support a single semiconductor die (not shown). The die attach platforms 110 of the lead frame 100 have about the same dimensions as the semiconductor die they are designed to support. On either side of each die-attach platform 110 are leads 115. Each die-attach platform 110 is attached to one of the two lead frame side rails 105 as well as to the lead frame center rail 135. To attach the semiconductor dies onto the solid copper die-attach platforms 110, an adhesive (such as silver epoxy paste) is applied to each die-attach platform 110, and the semiconductor die is adhered thereon. A wire bonding process is then typically carried out to attach fine gold wires between the semiconductor die and the leads 115. The assembly is then enclosed in a mold and molding compound is injected therein to encapsulate the silicon die into the packages. The molding compound is injected at high temperature, most often at or around 175-185 degrees C., and thereafter cooled to room temperature. The resulting packages are then trimmed from the lead frames 100, the leads 112 appropriately bent and shaped, and the packages separated from one another in a singulation process.
The heating of the lead frame assembly to a temperature suitable for plastic injection molding and subsequent cooling to room temperature, however, causes problems that have been traced to the mismatch in the Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (hereafter xe2x80x9cCTExe2x80x9d) of the constituent materials of the semiconductor package. Indeed, the CTE of the silicon die is about 2.2 Parts Per Million per degree C. (hereafter xe2x80x9cPPMxe2x80x9d/degree C.), while the CTE of the plastic molding compound is about 8-12 PPM/degree C. and that of the copper lead frame 100 is about 17 PPM/degree C. Due at least in part to these rather larger CTE mismatches, packages manufactured utilizing this or similar lead frame technologies tend to warp as the constituent materials thereof expand and shrink to differing extents and rates.
FIG. 6 depicts a side view of a semiconductor package 600 and the leads 115 protruding therefrom. After the high temperature plastic injection molding and subsequent cooling processes, the mismatch in the CTE between the semiconductor die, the plastic molding compound and tho copper lead frame 100 causes the package 600 to warp as it cools to room temperature. The extent of this warpage is illustrated in FIG. 6 by the dimensional arrow labeled W, which represents a measure of the deformation undergone by the package 600 during the heating and/or cooling processes or during a subsequent high temperature process, such as a solder reflow process. The lead frame architecture shown in FIG. 1, for example, typically leads to a warpage measure W of about 4-5 mils for a Thin Outline Small Semiconductor Package (hereafter xe2x80x9cTSOPxe2x80x9d) having a thickness of about 40 mils, or about 1 millimeter.
In an effort to mitigate the warping effects of the solid copper die attach platforms 110 shown in FIG. 1, the semiconductor industry turned to the lead frames having an architecture similar to that shown at 200 in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the lead frame 200 includes die attach platforms 210 comprising platform cutouts 220 defining an xe2x80x9cXXxe2x80x9d-like shape, lead frame side rails 205 and a lead frame center rail 235. The cutouts 220 reduce the amount of copper platform material supporting the semiconductor die (not shown) and thus somewhat reduce the warpage W experienced by the resulting semiconductor package as it undergoes the plastic injection molding and cooling processes and/or other thermal cycling processes. As shown in FIG. 2, each die attach platform 210 is connected to one of the side rails 205 as well as to the center rail 235. Although an improvement over the lead frame architecture of FIG. 1, the lead frame of FIG. 2 still results in an unacceptable degree of warpage W, due to the large area interfaces and CTE mismatches between the copper lead frame 200, the molding compound and the silicon die.
In a further effort to control this warping phenomenon and the delamination and package cracking (internal and/or external) problems associated therewith, lead frame designers were drawn to design alternative lead frame configurations and die attach platforms, such as shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 shows a lead frame 300, including side rails 305, a center rail 335, leads 315 and die attach platforms 310 comprising platform interior supports 330 attached to platform frames 325. The platform frames 325 have about the same footprint as the die attach platforms 110 of FIG. 1, but with the interior portion thereof cut out to define the platform interior supports 330. The platform interior supports 330, as shown in FIG. 3, include a meshwork of paddles interconnected by thin wire-like runners. Each semiconductor die (not shown) is supported, therefore, by a platform frame 325 and by the platform interior supports 330 associated with the platform frame 325. These die attach platforms 310, although an improvement over the designs shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, nevertheless exhibit a significant degree of warpage W as a result of thermal cycling and the ingress and egress of moisture into and out of the resulting package. Indeed, the surface area of the die attach platforms 310 is still about 69% of the total surface area of the semiconductor die to be attached thereon. Therefore, a significant area of contact remains between the thermally mismatched copper die attach platform 310 and the silicon die, as well as between the copper die attach platform and the molding compound. Typically, the die attach platforms 310 of FIG. 3 leads to a warpage W of about 2-3 mils for a TSOP package having a thickness of about 40 mils and to significant delamination problems as the constituent materials of the resultant package expand and contract to differing degrees as the device cools.
Still further efforts to reduce the warpage W have led to the lead frame architecture shown in FIG. 4. As shown therein, the lead frame 400 includes lead frame side rails 405, a center rail 435, leads 415 and die attach platforms 410. Each die attach platform 410 has a generally xe2x80x9cIIxe2x80x9d-like shape, configured as a pair of facing and spaced-apart platform runners (perpendicular to the side rails 405 and to the center rail 435) to support the silicon die (not shown). The facing and spaced apart runners of the die attach platform 410 define an empty space 420 therebetween. Whereas two of the sides of the silicon die are supported by the facing and spaced apart runners of the die attach platform 410, the middle portion of the die is suspended over the space 420. As with the die attach platforms of the lead frames of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the die attach platform 410 of FIG. 4 is attached to one of the side rails 405 as well as to the center rail 435. Despite a lower contact area between the copper die attach platform 410 and the silicon die and a lower contact area between the die attach platform 410 and the molding compound, the lead frame architecture of FIG. 4 still results in a warpage factor W of abut 2-4 mils for a 40 mils thick TSOP package, with the accompanying defects and delamination problems occasioned by such warpage.
Standard J-STD-020, xe2x80x9cMoisture/Reflow Sensitivity Classification for Non-Hermetic Solid State Surface-Mount Devicesxe2x80x9d, promulgated by JEDEC (Joint Electron Device Engineering Council), the semiconductor engineering standardization body of the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA), is a widely accepted standard for measuring the moisture sensitivity of semiconductor packages made with moisture-permeable materials. Standard J-STD-020 (incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), and revisions thereof may be found at the JEDEC World Wide Web site, at URL http:www.jedec.org. This standard defines moisture levels that measure the reliability of the package relative to moisture. Currently, six MSL levels are defined, from Moisture Sensitive Level (hereafter xe2x80x9cMSLxe2x80x9d) 1 to MSL 6, with lower MSL numbers indicating high reliability and low moisture sensitivity and higher numbers indicating low reliability and high moisture sensitivity.
Semiconductor packages manufactured with the lead frame 100 of FIG. 1, after testing as per JEDEC standard J-STD-020, are typically assigned an MSL of 5, because of relatively high sensitivity to moisture, leading to possible subsequent delamination of the plastic from the die and/or from the lead frame, as well as internal or external package cracks (in extreme cases) as the moisture within the package attempts to outgas therefrom during solder reflow, for example. Similarly, the lead frame architectures of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are typically assigned an MSL of between 3 and 5, indicating a relatively high sensitivity to moisture, and pointing to the likelihood of significant moisture and thermal cycling-related problems, such as delamination, die lifting, internal cracks and like defect-inducing phenomena.
What is needed, therefore, are novel high reliability lead frames, packaging technologies and methods of attaching dies onto such novel high reliability lead frames that are less sensitive to moisture and to the problems associated with packages having high moisture sensitivities. Also needed are lead frames that reduce the warpage W of semiconductor devices as they undergo processes having a high thermal gradient such as, for example, reflow processes.
An object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide novel high reliability lead frames, packaging technologies and methods of attaching dies onto such novel high reliability lead frames that are less sensitive to moisture and to the problems associated with packages having high moisture sensitivities. A further object of the present invention is to provide lead frames that reduce the warpage W of semiconductor devices as they undergo thermal cycling.
In accordance with the above-described objects and those that will be mentioned and will become apparent below, a lead frame, according to an embodiment of the present invention, comprises:
a first side rail;
a second side rail spaced apart from said first side rail;
a center rail disposed between said first side rail and said second side rail;
a plurality of package locations, each package location comprising:
a first die attach paddle to support a first side of a semiconductor die, the first die attach paddle being coupled only to one of said first and second side rails; and
a second die attach paddle to support a second side of the semiconductor die, the second die attach paddle being coupled only to said center rail.
The first and second die attach paddles may be generally circular in shape. The aggregate surface area of the first and second die attach paddles may be less than about 25 percent of a surface area of the semiconductor die. Each of the first and second, die attach paddles may be attached to the first side rail, the second side rail or to the center rail by a paddle support. The paddle support may include a pair of support arms. The largest dimension of each of the first and second die attach paddles may be smaller than the smallest side dimension of the semiconductor die. The first and second die attach paddles may be adapted to support only a first pair of facing sides of the semiconductor die, a second pair of facing sides thereof being unsupported by the first and second die attach paddles. The lead frame may be formed of or include copper or alloys thereof Other materials having lesser degree of thermal mismatching between it and the silicon die and/or the molding compound may be used. However, such other materials may have poor thermal dissipation characteristics and may require changes to the lead frame design, the plastic injection molding machine and/or the trim form tooling.
According to another embodiment, the present invention may be regarded as a semiconductor device, comprising:
a first generally circular die attach paddle;
a second generally circular die attach paddle, said second die attach paddle being unconnected to and disposed apart from said first die attach paddle;
a semiconductor die attached to and supported by the first and second die attach paddles;
a plurality of leads, each electrically connected to said semiconductor die;
a package encapsulating said first and second paddles and said semiconductor die, the package leaving a portion of each of the plurality of leads protruding therefrom.
The aggregate surface area of the first and second die attach paddles may be less than about 25 percent of a surface area of the semiconductor die. The largest dimension of each of the first and second die attach paddles may be smaller than a smallest side dimension of the semiconductor die. The first and second die attach paddles may be adapted to support only a first pair of facing sides of the semiconductor die, a second pair of facing sides thereof being unsupported by said first and second die attach paddles. Each of the first and second die attach paddles may include a paddle support connected thereto. The paddle support may include a pair of support arms. The first and second die attach paddles may include copper or alloys thereof.
The present invention is also a method of packaging a semiconductor die, comprising the steps of:
mounting the semiconductor die onto a lead frame including, at each package location thereof, a plurality of leads and a pair of separate die attach paddles, an aggregate surface area of the pair being less than about 25 percent of a surface area of the semiconductor die;
wire bonding the semiconductor die to the plurality of leads; and
encapsulating the semiconductor die in molding compound.
The mounting step may include a step of applying an adhesive, such as silver epoxy paste, for example, to each die attach paddle of the pair of die attach paddles. Each of the die attach paddles of the pair of die attach paddles may include copper or alloys thereof. Each of the die attach paddles of the pair of die attach paddles may be attached to the lead frame by a paddle support.

Methods for producing high reliability lead frame and packaging semiconductor die using such lead frame


A display apparatus includes: a display panel to display a first image having a first image spectrum corresponding to a first animal spectral sensitivity curve of a first cone cell of an animal, and to display a second image having a second image spectrum corresponding to a second animal spectral sensitivity curve of a second cone cell of the animal, in response to output image data. At least one of the first and second animal spectral sensitivity curves is different from first, second, and third human spectral sensitivity curves of cone cells of a human that perceives red, green, and blue colors.

1. Field
One or more aspects of example embodiments of the present invention relate to a display apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, various display devices, such as liquid crystal displays, organic light emitting displays, electrowetting display devices, plasma display panels, electrophoretic display devices, etc., have been developed. The display devices may be applied to various electronic equipment, such as smart phones, digital cameras, notebook computers, navigation devices, etc.
In general, the display device displays colors using three primary colors of red, green, and blue colors. The red, green, and blue colors correspond to spectral sensitivity curves of three cone cells of the human eye, respectively.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention, and therefore, it may contain information that does not constitute prior art.


An apparatus for rotating a workpiece in a machining operation, the workpiece having internal passageways, includes a stationary support, a carriage mounted for reciprocation with respect to the support and a cylindrical shaft carried by the carriage and capable of rotary motion about its axis. A pinion gear is fixed to one end of the shaft and meshes with a rack which reciprocates in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the shaft axis. A pin carrier block is fixed to the other end of the shaft, and supports a plurality of pin members adapted to register with the passageways of the workpiece when the carriage moves from one extremity of its travel to the other. Once the pin members are engaged, the rack moves along its path in order to rotate the shaft, and thus the workpiece, through 90.degree. to prepare it for further machining operations.

The current method of making crankshaft bearing caps involves casting several caps (typically five) as an integral piece called a "monoblock". The monoblock passes through a broaching machine which rough machines the half-round joint faces and lock width pads. The ends of the monoblock and a "V" locating notch (for manufacturing purposes) are then milled. The various bearing cap holes are then drilled, whereupon the monoblock is sawed apart to produce a plurality (typically five) of bearing caps which have the finish width dimension.
The lock width of the bearing caps is then broached, and the individual bearing caps are spread apart.
The apparatus of the present invention, in accordance with one embodiment, is adapted to rotate the plurality of bearing caps through 90.degree. into a "side faces down" position.
Subsequent to the rotation of the bearing caps, the bearing cap holes are finish reamed, and the lock notches are milled.
The foregoing steps produce finished parts, and each part is ready to be bolted to an engine block.
A crankshaft bearing cap of the kind under discussion has three critical locating surfaces, each perpendicular to the other two, and all of the them intersecting at one comer. The apparatus disclosed herein is adapted to rotate the bearing cap (or several at a time) about the line of intersection of two of these planes, while retaining the third surface in its own plane. The third surface just mentioned is the joint face between the bearing cap and the cylinder block to which it is affixed.
There are several advantages arising from the rotation of the thrust face of the bearing cap from a vertical plane to a horizontal plane. For example, with the thrust face now parallel to the plane of the floor, it is possible to improve the accuracy of the location of the bolt holes with respect to this thrust face. Moreover, this position of the bearing cap also lends itself to maintaining the improved accuracy for a longer period of time, thus resulting in an improvement in part quality and reduced scrappage.

Apparatus for manipulating a workpiece in a machining operation


[PURPOSE]

Pouch batteries are known that have a cell stack encapsulated in a laminate film exterior body.
In a pouch battery, creases generated at portions of the laminate film exterior body that cover the main sides of the cell stack result in uneven constraining pressure being applied to the cell stack when the pouch battery is constrained, producing an adverse effect on the battery performance and especially on the long-term cycle characteristic. Therefore, techniques for minimizing formation of creases in laminated exterior bodies have been proposed.
For example, PTL 1 describes a method for producing a pouch battery comprising:
a forming step in which a laminate film is formed into a cup section that can receive a flat-shaped cell stack,
a housing step in which the flat-shaped cell stack is housed into the formed laminate that has been formed in the forming step, and
a sealing step in which the opening of the cup section of the formed laminate is covered with a laminated sheet and sealed in a state of reduced pressure,
wherein the length of the bottom of the cup section formed in the forming step, in the direction along at least one side, is longer than the length of the cell stack housed in the housing step.
In the pouch battery produced by the method of PTL 1, the bottom of the cup section formed in the laminate film exterior body has a shape protruding outward from the lateral sides of the cell stack, along the main sides of the cell stack, and folded over from the protruding end and connected to the side of the cup section.

Abstract: [PURPOSE]

Abstract: To provide a method for producing a pouch battery that can reduce formation of creases on the main sides and the lateral sides of the laminate film exterior body.

Abstract: [SOLUTION MEANS]

Abstract: A method for producing a pouch battery that comprises a cell stack insertion step in which a cell stack is inserted in a laminate film exterior body, an outer perimeter edge sealing step in which the outer perimeter edges of the laminate film exterior body in which the cell stack has been inserted are sealed in an airtight chamber in a state of reduced pressure, a tensile force applying step in which tensile force is applied to the outer sides in the in-plane direction at two facing locations in the in-plane direction on the outer perimeter edges of the laminate film exterior body, and a tensile force-maintained air release step, in which application of tensile force to the outer sides of the laminate film exterior body in the in-plane direction is maintained while the pressure in the airtight chamber is raised to atmospheric pressure.


There are provided an information transmitter and an apparatus including the same. The information transmitter includes a signal generator configured to output an information signal including pulses changed from a first state to a second state or a third state and subsequently changed from the second state or the third state to the first state. A time period in which some of the pulses are changed from the first state to the second state or the third state may be shorter than a time period in which some of the pulses are changed from the second state or the third state to the first state. The information transmitter also includes a transmitting coil configured to receive the information signal and generate a magnetic field based on the information signal.

1. Field
The following description relates to an information transmitter, and an apparatus including the same.
2. Description of Related Art
A technology to transmit information wirelessly has been variously applied in many fields. Recently, information transmitting technology has been increasingly used in a mobile apparatuses. For example, mobile payment apparatuses and methods using information transmitting technology have increased.
However, when information transmitting technology is used in mobile apparatuses, a size of a battery may be limited due to miniaturization of the mobile apparatus. Therefore, it is desired to reduce power consumption within a mobile apparatus implementing the information transmitting technology.

Information transmitter and an apparatus including the same


An orthopedic chair for supporting a person wearing a hip spica cast in an upright position includes a seat having a front side and a rear side. A rear support, connected to the seat along said rear side, extends upwardly therefrom. A front support, spaced from the rear support, is connected to the seat along said front side and extends upwardly therefrom. A seat supporting device supports the seat above a surface. The person is supported in an upright position by said seat, and said front and rear supports with one leg extending between one side of said front support and said rear support and another leg extending between an opposite side of said front support and said rear support. Stabilizing legs can be provided to prevent tipping. Adjustment devices allow adjustment of seat height and width between the front and rear supports.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to chairs and, more particularly, to an orthopedic chair for supporting a person wearing a cast.
2. Background of the Invention
There are approximately 250 million residents of the United States and each year there are about 4 million new births. Of the new births, 3-5% (120,000-200,000) of the infants have congenital hip dislocation in which the rounded head of the thigh bone does not sit properly in the hip socket. Treatment of congenital hip dislocation has a high success rate when diagnosed and treated on or about the fifth month after birth. Treatment typically involves abduction and splintage of the unstable hip(s).
After surgery, doctors place the infant in a hip spica cast, a form of splintage which is a full or nearly-full body cast, for approximately three months. The infant in the hip spica cast must lie on his/her back or front and be turned every four hours. Typically the infant's legs are positioned in an outwardly projecting fashion, approximately parallel to a plane defined by the infant's shoulders, such that the infant's torso and legs form a inverted "T"-shape. The hip spica cast positions the infant's legs in this fashion to allow the infant to lie comfortably on either his/her back or front.
Conventional chairs normally used for feeding infants cannot be employed since they fail to accommodate the infant's outwardly projecting legs.
Able to lie only on his/her back or front, the infant is forced to assume a restricted life. In addition, when lying on his/her back or front, the infant can develop bed sores which develop when the infant lies in one position too long. Common places for bed sores include heels, elbows, shoulder blades, and tail bones.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a chair which allows the infant wearing a hip spica cast to assume a more normal life and to reduce bed sores caused by lying on the infant's back or front too long.

Orthopedic chair for supporting a person wearing a cast


In the present invention, in a color copy machine, original modes of copy job units, and setting changes of sharpness adjustment, whose updates are permitted beforehand, are totaled, change of default is judged, when this accumulated result is larger than a threshold value, and the original mode whose accumulated result is larger than the threshold value, and the sharpness adjustment are set to change a default state of an image processing unit.

The present invention relates to image forming apparatuses such as a color digital copy machine.
In recent years, digital copy machines have rapidly spread in offices.
For the digital copy machine as a product which replaces a conventional monosaturated analog copy machine, a high-speed monosaturated digital copy machine on which an electronic sort function has been used. In these several years, partly because of a progress in color printed matters, or color data prepared in the office, a color digital copy machine has also increasingly been used.
Particularly, since main body price and copy unit price of the color digital copy machine are still high, many users use the copy machine in a plurality of fields, or use a function by which the use can be limited by a management code for each group. Moreover, concerning adjustment of a copy image quality, in a general product, an image quality adjustment function is imparted onto a control panel so that the adjustment is possible in accordance with a user's purpose.
Moreover, a product having a one-touch adjustment function which is combined with image quality adjustment depending on some product, or a function (set mode memory function) by which a user's set mode can be stored/read is also brought onto market.
As described above, with the color digital copy machine, for the user using the machine in the plurality of divisions, or using the function by which the use can be limited by the management code for each group, the image quality adjustment function on the control panel is generally used to set quality conditions of the image to be copied for each copy and copy the image.
For example, a user who frequently copies a original considering photo reproducibility as important changes a mode to a print photo mode and executes the copy. A user who frequently copies a original including a photo considering thick and clear text reproduction as important adjusts sharpness on a plus side and manually adjusts density on a plus side before copying the original.
Moreover, when the product having the set mode memory function is used, it is necessary to store a set mode state at a copy time by a designated number and call out and use the designated number indicating stored set mode state at the next use time.
Furthermore, as a content proposed in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 9-179698 (Cannon Inc.), when the user selects/changes a set value of an item with respect to default set values of a plurality of set items (setting with which general users are satisfied), the user can update the default set value. However, in this proposed function, the update is freely possible when desired by a plurality of users as described above. Therefore, confusion is sometimes created, when the copy is desired by the same user on pre-copy conditions.
Therefore, even the user who frequently uses the above-described apparatus has to always change the same setting or read the designated number, and this deteriorates operability.


The present invention relates to computer-implemented services and user interfaces for allowing users to send a request or message to another user or anyone with an email address without disclosing her or her identity, match friends, tag people with certain attributes to generate a social percentile, and review connections. The invention also relates to methods for sending a request or message anonymously, generating a social percentile with attribute tagging, reviewing individuals and matching a member with another individual.

The web offered numerous dating sites for individuals, but the websites could not understand the personality of individuals. In order to build a user's personality profile, websites such as Match.com, asked the users to answer a series of questions to get an insight on their personality so that they could match them with another user based on the results of the answers. Similarly, web also offered several social networking websites but they did not quantify individuals or enhance users' credibility. In addition, there is a large population of who are introverts or simply shy. These introverts or shy people want to disguise their profile when approaching a potential date. This invention addresses the need of introverts to disguise their identity so that there is no fear of rejection, allows friends and family to match you with a date, quantify the quality of your personality with a social score.
Whereas the main focus of social networking sites is on social relations, dating sites bet on finding a suitable match for you. By mixing these two components, this invention introduces the concept of "Social Dating". It is the only invention that also employs the approach of using friends and families to find suitable match for you instead of match making algorithms used by other dating sites. Also, unlike other dating websites, this invention lets user's friends and family members take initiative in finding a match online which ensures sanity of the prospective match.

System and method of anonymous messaging, reviewing, quantifying, matching and searching people on map


An optical element for homogenizing and, possibly, concentrating the output from high-power two-dimensional semiconductor laser arrays, which has the basic shape of a convex-flat cylindrical lens with a facet cut into the convex surface for each individual semiconductor laser bar.

The present invention relates to optical pumping of lasers, and in particular, to an optical element for homogenizing and concentrating the output of laser arrays used to pump solid-state lasers.
A high-average-power solid-state laser is typically pumped by injecting light from high-power two-dimensional semiconductor laser arrays. The arrays are also called stacks because they are stacks of bars. The laser arrays are frequently fitted with lenses that separately collimate the output of the bars so that the pump light is collimated well enough for transmission to the solid-state laser gain medium. The resulting output from a typical array consists of a beam of light from each bar with cross sectional dimensions of 1 mm by 1 cm. The spacing of the bars is typically about 1.8 mm, so the overall irradiance distribution from the array consists of bands of light that are separated from each other. Part of the power of the pump light is deposited as heat in the gain medium. Temperature non-uniformity of the gain medium causes wavefront distortion and depolarization of the laser light, which degrades the quality of the solid-state laser beam. It would be advantageous if the individual beams from the bars could be made to overlap or to partially overlap in the gain medium to thereby homogenize the pump beam.

Multifaceted prism to cause the overlap of beams from a stack of diode laser bars

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force


The present invention relates to a consumer goods product comprising a consumer goods product ingredient and a non-crosslinked functionalized lignin oligomer, wherein the functionalized lignin oligomer: (a) has an average number of lignin monomers of from 3 to 8; (b) comprises a polyethylene glycol functional group; (c) comprises a functionalization content between 90 and 0.5% lignin (m/m), wherein the consumer goods product ingredient is an emulsifier, and wherein the lignin oligomer is in the form of an emulsion, and wherein the consumer goods product is in the form of an oral care composition or a detergent composition.

Polyethylene glycol is incorporated into consumer goods products to provide benefits such as hydrophilisation of the treated surface. However, the surface substantivity of polyethylene glycol can be poor, which can lead to poor surface modification performance. The inventors have found that functionalizing lignin with polyethylene glycol in the manner described by the present invention improves the performance of the polyethylene glycol in the consumer goods product. In addition, the lignin provides anti-oxidant properties, this can be especially preferred for consumer goods products of skin applications.

Consumer goods product comprising functionalised lignin oligomer