A monitor current to a squib as an air bag actuating element conducts in one and the opposite directions alternately. Each produced voltage value is differentially amplified with a positive reference voltage and a difference between the amplified voltages are calculated. Thus, an offset voltage of an operational amplifier used for the differential amplification is cancelled, and the difference between the two detected voltages becomes a voltage value which will be produced by a monitor current twice as large in current level. Thus, the squib is diagnosed accurately.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a failure diagnostic apparatus and method for a resistor element such as a squib of a passive safety system installed in an automotive air bag system or a pretensioner of an automotive seat belt system.
2. Related Art
A prior art passive safety system like an air bag system has a small actuating element such as a squib so as to be activated immediately upon an occurrence of collision by a signal upon detecting the occurrence of collision by a G sensor. A resistor is the main portion of the squib. Therefore, the squib is heated up and detonates by conducting electricity through the resistance so that the safety device is operated. Since the squib has to be heated up instantaneously, it usually has a structure like a filament of a flash lamp. Thus, it cannot have a mechanically strong structure. However, since the squib is required to work without fail at the occurrence of collision, the squib should be always checked to determine whether it is in an operable condition or in an inoperable (failure) condition.
Usually checking of the squib is made on whether a resistance value thereof is normal or not. A small monitor current for checking is conducted through the squib. A voltage at both sides of the squib is checked. The resistance value is determined from the voltage value and the resistance value is checked whether it is normal or not. Since the squib is used to produce a lot of gas by heat only upon the detection of the collision, a large amount of current cannot be conducted as the monitor current and it is limited to about 50 mA. It is impossible to flow more current since it has more risks of unnecessarily operating the squib itself. Since the resistance value of the squib has normally only about 2.OMEGA., the voltage value detected at both sides of the squib is small. Thus, an amplifier is used for amplifying the voltage value at both sides of the squib. Since the amplifier is mounted easily on a circuit substrate of the device as an operational amplifier due to a recent semiconductor manufacturing technology, the small voltage can be amplified easily.
A high performance operational amplifier is, however, high in cost, and consequently an operational amplifier usually used for a precision measuring equipment cannot be used from the standpoint of cost. Therefore, it is desired that the voltage is detected by a general purpose operational amplifier. However, since a general purpose operational amplifier produces errors such as offset voltages, such errors cannot be ignored relative to the small voltage described above. Thus, precise voltage value cannot be obtained, and the resistance value of the squib cannot be determined precisely either. Hence, it is likely that the squib, even if in the failure condition, will be determined normal erroneously, and the passive safety device may not be actuated upon the vehicle collision.

Failure diagnostic apparatus and method for a resistor element


A pilot operated pressure relief valve is formed by a valve body having an inlet and outlet port forming a passageway therebetween. A centrally bored valve is slideably supported by the body for movement toward and away from the valve inlet. The valve body is provided with an axial extension projecting opposite the inlet port forming a pressure chamber receiving upstream fluid pressure through the valve which is sensed by a sensor and normally transfers fluid pressure through a pilot operated, normally closed three-way two-position valve, to the end of the valve opposite the seat to maintain pressure differential across the valve equalized. Excess pressure above a predetermined value in the pressure chamber shifts the manifold valve to unseat the valve and discharge fluid downstream through the outlet port and apertures and passageway in the valve head.

The present invention relates to relief valves and more particularly to an electronic control pilot operated pressure relief valve.
1. Field of the Invention
2. Description of the Prior Art
Industrial pressure relief valves are well known and several types are presently in use. Some being actuated by a spring releasing the valve to open under a predetermined pressure while others feature a frangible disc which ruptures or a slender column which buckles to permit a valve to open and release pressure. Other types of relief valves use the system pressure, when under the required limit, to maintain a relief valve closed and features an external pilot connected with the upstream side of the valve by small tubing to release excess pressure above a predetermined limit by allowing the valve to open and the system to blow down.
It is desirable to provide a pressure relief valve which is provided with valve head passageways allowing system pressure below a set pressure to maintain the valve closed but which is triggered open by a sensor sensing the pressure above a predetermined limit which quickly releases dome system pressure against the closed valve piston and discharges this pressure through the valve body to a downstream low pressure disposal system as the system blows down through the opened valve.

Electronic pressure control pilot operated relief valve


A mechanism for correcting errors in a stream of digital data that are encoded at a transmitter site, transmitted over a communication channel to a receiver site and decoded at the receiver site to recover the digital data pre-encodes the data using a parity-encoder. The location of the errors is determined through a comparison operation on which the receiver is able to generate a `template` of the pattern of errors in the received digital data stream. This error pattern template is then used in an iterative pattern predictive error correction process to identify the location of burst errors contained in the recovered data and to controllably modify the output of the receiver's host decoder so as to remove the located errors from the originally decoded data.

Most digital data communication systems in use today employ some form of encoding mechanism (e.g. convolutional or block codes) to enable the receiver site to correct errors that have occurred in the course of data transmission over a noisy channel. In the course of the data recovery process linear block and convolutional codes operate to provide a `best fit` between the data that was actually received and the data that was most probably transmitted. In the case of block codes, this best fit is obtained by forcing the received data into a known `good` data pattern having a smallest Hamming distance difference. (Maximum likelihood) convolutional codes determine the best fit between received symbols and a corresponding data pattern using the smallest cumulative path metrics as the decision criterion. Once the data has been processed, however, the user is left with data that provides no indication of its correctness, except for a general probability of error that is constant for all data bits. Although soft decisions obtained from the channel receiver offer some degree of confidence of the encoded data, no information concerning the confidence level of a particular decoded data bit is provided. Simply put, there is no way to determine whether or not the decoded data contains errors, much less an indication of where such errors occur.

Error correction mechanism using pattern predictive error correction codes


A media library system capable of reducing a time and an average moving distance of the media carrying unit required for exchanging the recording media. The system includes a storehouse having a plurality of storage cells for storing a plurality of recording media, a media driving unit for executing data read/write operation with respect to the recording media, and a media carrying unit for carrying the recording media between the storehouse and the media driving unit, so as to exchange a previously used recording medium mounted on the media driving unit with a new recording medium stored in the storehouse. The media exchange operation of the media carrying unit is controlled such that the storage cells of the storehouse are divided into at least two groups arranged in an order of average distances with respect to the media driving unit, including a first group with a shortest average distance with respect to the media driving unit and a last group with a longest average distance, and at least one vacant cell not storing any recording medium is secured among the storage cells of the first group after the media exchange operation is completed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a media library system having a storehouse for storing a large number of recording media such as optical disks, magnetic disks, magnetic tapes, etc., which carries out the-exchange of the recording media and the data access to the recording media automatically.
2. Description of the Background Art
The optical disk device is a storage device for exchangeably storing optical disk media, where each optical disk medium is either a type of 90 mm diameter having several hundred MB recording capacity or a type of 130 mm diameter having approximately 1 GB recording capacity, such that unlimited amount of recording capacity can be realized in principle by the exchange of the optical disk media.
In recent years, there has been a development of an optical disk library system which realizes the recording capacity of 1 TB level by carrying out the exchange of the optical disk media automatically, by taking an advantage of such an optical disk device. This optical disk library system has a schematic configuration as shown in FIG. 1, in which a standard type cartridge 1 containing one optical disk medium is mounted onto a disk drive 2 to carry out data read/write with respect to the optical disk medium contained in the cartridge 1, and an arbitrary cartridge 1 stored in a storage cell 3a of a storehouse 3 can be exchanged with the cartridge 1 in the disk drive 2 by being conveyed by a robotic hand 4 of an automatic disk handling mechanism.
Normally, in a case of exchanging the cartridges 1, as shown in FIG. 1, the cartridge 1 taken out from the disk drive 2 is conveyed over to the prescribed storage cell 3a of the storehouse 3 by the robotic hand 4 as indicated by an arrow 1, and then the robotic hand 4 is moved over to the storage cell 3a of a next cartridge 1 as indicated by an arrow 2, and finally this next cartridge 1 is conveyed over to the disk drive 2 as indicated by an arrow 3.
However, this manner of exchanging the cartridges 1 requires to return the cartridge 1 mounted on the disk drive 2 to the prescribed position first, and then convey the new cartridge 1 stored in the storehouse 3 to the disk drive 2, so that an average access time of the optical disk has been as much as ten to twenty seconds in a conventional optical disk library system.
Now, in the optical disk library system, there is a possibility for a need to continuously reproduce data which are recorded in division on a plurality of recording media. In order to cope with this situation, there is a proposition for a provision as shown in FIG. 2 to provide two escape cells 5 for temporarily storing cartridges 1 in a vicinity of the disk drive 2 such that the cartridge 1 to be accessed next can be standing by in advance in these escape cells 5 to shorten the exchange time of each cartridge 1.
In this case, the cartridge 1 to be accessed next is moved from the storage cell 3a to one of the escape cells 5 by the robotic hand 4 in advance as indicated by arrows 1 and 2, and when the data read/write with respect to the previous cartridge 1 is finished, the finished cartridge 1 is temporarily stored in the other one of the escape cells 5 as indicated by arrows 3 and 4. Then, the next cartridge 1 in one of the escape cells 5 is mounted on the disk drive 2 to restart the data read/write as indicated by arrows 5 and 6. After that, the previous cartridge 1 temporarily stored in the other one of the escape cells 5 is returned to the prescribed storage cell 3a of the storehouse 3 as indicated by arrows 7, 8 and 3.
However, according to this proposition, the advance moving of the cartridge 1 to the escape cells 5 is going to be carried out even for those cartridges 1 which have little influence on the access time as they are already located in a vicinity of the disk drive 2, so that the average moving distance of the robotic hand 4 is going to be increased beyond what is absolutely necessary. In particular, in a case very frequent movements of the robotic hand 4 is required as in a case of using a plurality of disk drives 2 with respect to a single storehouse 3, it is even possible for this increased robotic hand moving distance to cause the lowering of the cartridge exchange performance itself.

Media library system with improved media management scheme

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation


A heat exchanger includes plural flat tubes each having a flat cross section, and plural flat-tube U-bends each having a flat cross section and a U-shape in external appearance. Plural flat-tube columns each made up of the plural flat tubes installed in plural tiers in a set direction are arranged in a direction intersecting the set direction and in a staggered manner. Each of the plural flat-tube U-bends is placed in a pair of coupling portions of the plural flat tubes. Each of the pair of coupling portions is placed in one of a pair of the plural flat-tube columns. The plural flat-tube U-bends are twisted such that major axes of flat cross sections in both end portions of each of the plural flat-tube U-bends are oriented in the same directions as major axes of flat cross sections of the plural flat tubes connected to the both end portions.

A heat exchanger used in a refrigeration apparatus, an air-conditioning apparatus, or a heat pump is generally made up of plural fins arranged at intervals and penetrated by heat transfer tubes. Plural tiers of the heat transfer tubes are arranged in a direction intersecting airflow and plural columns of the heat transfer tubes, made up of the plural tiers, are arranged along a direction of the airflow. In a typical configuration, refrigerant flows through the heat transfer tubes, and the heat exchanger makes up a part of a refrigerant circuit.
Some of heat exchangers such as described above use flat tubes with a flat cross section for the heat transfer tubes and have U-bends connected to a pair of coupling portions that are each located in a corresponding one of plural columns of flat tubes that are next to each other or to a pair of coupling portions that are each located in a corresponding one of plural tiers of flat tubes that are next to each other. For example, there is a technique whereby using joints each having a flat cross section at one end, and a circular cross section at the other end, flat tubes are connected with each other via the joints adapted to convert a cross-sectional shape and separate U-bends (hereinafter referred to as "circular-tube U-bends") made up of circular tubes and adapted to connect circular portions of the joints with each other (see, for example. Patent Literature 1).
Also, there is a technique whereby flat tubes are connected with each other without using a joint such as described above, but using a connecting pipe to which circular tube portions and flat-shaped portions are integrated by forming both end portions of a circular-tube U-bend into a flat shape (see, for example, Patent Literature 2).
Also, there is a technique whereby flat tubes placed at the same height and in different columns are connected with each other using a connecting flat tube that is uniformly flat in cross section (see, for example, Patent Literature 3).
Furthermore, in a heat exchange unit of a double-column structure using flat tubes, a pair of coupling portions that are each located in a corresponding one of flat-tube columns horizontally arranged next to each other are coupled together by U-shaped connecting pipes, the connecting pipes are each created by flattening both ends of a circular tube bent into a U-shape, both end portions of the connecting pipe are made of a clad material with a brazing material bonded to an inner circumferential surface, and the connecting pipes and flat tubes are joined together by brazing (see, for example, Patent Literature 4).

Heat exchanger, air-conditioning apparatus including the same, and method of producing flat-tube U-bend


A controller (80) calculates a target speed ratio of a continuously variable transmission (2) incorporated into an infinitely variable transmission for a vehicle and a target vehicle acceleration based on a vehicle running state. When a predetermined creep torque control condition holds (S90-S93, S101), the controller (80) corrects the target speed ratio such that the deviation of the target acceleration from the real vehicle acceleration to decrease. By controlling the speed ratio of the continuously variable transmission to the corrected target speed ratio, the infinitely variable transmission generates a creep torque consistent with the driver""s intention.

This invention relates to control of an infinitely variable transmission of a vehicle.
Tokkai 2000-179674 published by the Japanese Patent Office in 2000 discloses an infinitely variable transmission (IVT) in which a continuously variable transmission (CVT), a fixed speed ratio transmission and a planetary gear set are combined.
The speed ratio of the IVT (IVT speed ratio) arbitrarily varies from forward to reverse, including a geared neutral point (GNP) at which the speed ratio becomes infinite, by changing the speed ratio of the CVT (CVT speed ratio).
At GNP, the output shaft of the IVT stops. In other words, only the variation in the CVT speed ratio allows change-over between forward and reverse operation without using a forward/reverse change-over mechanism.
In this IVT, the CVT speed ratio is controlled based on the accelerator pedal depression and vehicle speed. Even when the accelerator pedal is not depressed, a small torque is transmitted to the drive wheels of the vehicle to cause the vehicle to creep, i.e., to make the vehicle move at a low speed. The creep torque transmitted to the drive wheels in this state is obtained through CVT speed ratio control wherein the CVT speed ratio is feedback controlled so that the real vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor coincides with the target vehicle creep speed.
As a result, when a driver depresses the brake pedal in order to stop the vehicle at low speed, the difference between the real vehicle speed and the target vehicle creep speed increases and the CVT speed ratio is controlled to increase the creep torque transmitted to the drive wheels in order to achieve the target vehicle creep speed.
This increase in the creep torque is opposite to the intention of the driver who operates the brake to stop the vehicle, and the driver may experience an uncomfortable feeling.
Further, the design of the IVT results in the following output torque characteristics. When the CVT speed ratio corresponds to GNP, the torque transmitted from IVT to the drive wheels is zero. When the CVT speed ratio is slightly increased from the GNP, the output torque of the IVT undergoes a large and abrupt increase, and then it gradually decreases as the CVT speed ratio further increases. Such an abrupt increase in the output torque of the IVT may adversely affect the smooth starting of the vehicle.
It is therefore an object of this invention to optimize the creep torque of a vehicle equipped with an IVT through the speed ratio control thereof.
In order to achieve the above object, this invention provides a control device for such an infinitely variable transmission for a vehicle that comprises an input shaft, a continuously variable transmission which outputs the rotation of the input shaft at an arbitrary speed ratio, a fixed speed ratio transmission which outputs the rotation of the input shaft at a fixed speed ratio, and an output shaft which changes a rotation direction and a rotation speed according to a difference between an output rotation speed of the continuously variable transmission and an output rotation speed of the fixed speed ratio transmission.
The control device comprises a sensor which detects a running state of the vehicle, a sensor which detects a real vehicle acceleration, and a programmable controller that controls the speed ratio of the continuously variable transmission.
The controller is programmed to calculate a target speed ratio of the continuously variable transmission based on the running state of the vehicle, set a target vehicle acceleration based on the running state of the vehicle, calculate an acceleration deviation of the target vehicle acceleration from the real vehicle acceleration, determine if a predetermined creep torque control condition holds based on the running state of the vehicle, calculate a corrected target speed ratio, if the predetermined condition holds, to cause the acceleration deviation to decrease, and
control the speed ratio of the continuously variable transmission based on the corrected target speed ratio.
The controller may alternatively be programmed to calculate a target speed ratio of the continuously variable transmission based on the running state of the vehicle, set a target vehicle acceleration based on the running state of the vehicle, determine if a predetermined creep torque control condition holds based on the running state of the vehicle, calculate a corrected target speed ratio, if the predetermined condition holds, to cause a ratio of the rotation speed of the input shaft with respect to the rotation speed of the output shaft to become smaller as the target vehicle acceleration becomes larger, and control the speed ratio of the continuously variable transmission based on the corrected target speed ratio.
This invention also provides a control method for the above described infinitely variable transmission. The control method comprises detecting a running state of the vehicle, detecting a real vehicle acceleration, calculating a target speed ratio of the continuously variable transmission based on the running state of the vehicle, setting a target vehicle acceleration based on the running state of the vehicle, calculating an acceleration deviation of the target vehicle acceleration from the real vehicle acceleration, determining if a predetermined creep torque control condition holds based on the running state of the vehicle, calculating a corrected target speed ratio, if the predetermined condition holds, to cause the acceleration deviation to decrease, and controlling the speed ratio of the continuously variable transmission based on the corrected target speed ratio.
The details as well as other features and advantages of this invention are set forth in the remainder of the specification and are shown in the accompanying drawings.

Control of infinitely variable transmission


A multiple tape dispenser for wire marker tape consisting of a plurality of identical tape dispensers secured together coaxially. Each tape dispenser is generally cylindrical and has an arcuate hinged door which in its closed position forms part of the circumferential edge wall of the housing. Tape wound on a core in the housing has its free end folded back over an arcuate area beneath the free end of the arcuate door with the adhesive side of the tape adhering to the underside of the door such that when the door is opened the tape peels from the back side of the door and stands up for easy access by the user.

The present invention relates to a tape dispenser particularly useful for dispensing wire making tapes.
Electrical wire identification marking requires the ten digits to be separately supplied so that they can then be applied in any sequence by the user. Most frequently the digits are imprinted on pressure sensitive adhesive tapes supplied on cards or sheets or in roll form. The prior art roll tape dispensers have been unduly large because of the necessity of providing a space between the roll and the cutting edge against which the tape is severed where the tape can be pinched between two fingers to be pulled out. Multiple roll tape dispensers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 593,035; 2,470,250; 2,250,774; 2,610,000; 2,710,152; 3,502,252; and 3,547,327. The last two of these patents are most representative of the size problem, both in length and diameter, created by the need for making the end of the marking tape accessible for pinching between the fingers of the user. Also, in those type of dispensers the tape, after being pinched between two fingers, must be pulled beyond the cutting edge for severing, resulting in greater than a finger width of tape being withdrawn which is often more than is necessary for wire marking.

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company


A formulated attractant for household flying pests and the optimal release rates have been found providing improved attractiveness when compared to prior art attractants including the use of fermented materials or hydrolyzed or other decomposed proteins. The attractant is pleasant and nontoxic to humans when used correctly, and is easily manufactured, stored and transported.

Insects are the most numerous of all living organisms and nearly one million species constitute approximately 70 percent of all animal species. Of these, about 1 percent are considered significant pests. Overall, insects are known to attack humans and domestic animals; transmit human, animal, and plant diseases; destroy structures; and compete for available supplies of foods and fibers.
Of the insect pests, flying insect pests can be particularly troublesome. Such pests have been vectors for pathogenic organisms that can cause a variety of diseases in man and in domestic animals. Control of household flying insects for aesthetic, public health, and economic reasons are practiced all over the globe in human environments including houses, restaurants, food processing units, office buildings, and other locations in which humans or organic materials present an attractive environment for flying insect pests.
In the past, a number of pesticides have been identified that kill insect pests. Because of the toxicity of these chemicals to humans and to organisms other than those targeted by the pesticide, alternatives to routine pesticide use have been sought. Chemical attractants for pests are chemicals that can attract pests during a search for food, for oviposition (egg-laying) sites, or for mates. Many of these chemicals can be used as attractants to draw insect pests into mechanical traps or into poisoned baits for population control, for measurement of population densities and, for example, for selective or timed spray applications of the collected populations. In this way, insect attractants can be used for insect population control without pesticide or only with limited judicious pesticidal applications.
The science of insect pest attraction has a long history of development. The testing of attractants for attractancy has been performed in a variety of different ways. The testing methodology is rarely comparable. Further, published data on a chemical can be often contradictory. The earliest types of attractants were natural products related to hydrolyzed or decomposed protein materials or fermented plant materials. Natural attractants based on fermenting or decomposing natural products provide little opportunity to control release rates. Further, indoor use and outdoor use is severely limited by unacceptable odors and by rapid dehydration of the organic matter.
Attractants are typically relatively volatile organic compounds that can be released into the atmosphere. Each chemical attractant composition has a threshold level of attractancy at which point insects can detect the presence of the concentration of the attractant by olfactory receptors. Below such a threshold level, the chemicals tend not to be measurably different from nonattractive compositions in affecting insect behavior. Each attractant has an effective concentration range which is dependent upon its release rate into the environment within which the attractants are effective to alter the behavior of insects in a way that attracts the insects to the attractant composition. Above the effective concentration range for each attractant, the attractancy of the composition is typically lessened, and often at higher release rates, the resulting concentrations of the material in the atmosphere act as effective repellents. A few chemical attractants have been introduced for commercial use. These attractants are typically phermones which are chemicals released by insects for the purpose of attracting mates. Such compounds are used at very low levels and are typically dispensed into the environment on a carrier such as porous plastic or a natural product such as corncob grits.
A substantial need exists for an attractant material to be used in the human environment to attract insects, particularly flying insect pests, which is effective, is non-offensive to humans, and is nontoxic when used correctly.


A safety minute dose hypodermic syringe which includes a locating stopper mounted inside the front end of the barrel and connected to the locking tip, which holds the needle cannula, and an arrowhead-like retainer rod fixed secured to the movable rubber stopper and connected to the plunger, the arrowhead-like retainer rod being forced into engagement with an arrowhead-like retaining hole on the locating stopper after the injection, for permitting the locating stopper and the locking tip with the needle cannula to be pulled backwards by the plunger to the inside of the barrel and retained in place by inside annular flanges of the barrel, and for permitting the needle cannula to be deformed by the plunger when the plunger is disconnected from the retainer rod and inserted into the front end of the barrel.

The present invention relates to minute dose hypodermic syringes, and relates more particularly to a safety minute dose hypodermic syringe which permits the needle cannula to be pulled back inside the barrel after the injection, and then deformed by the plunger by removing the plunger out of the rear end of the barrel and then inserting it into the front end of the barrel.
In order to prevent contamination, regular hypodermic syringes are commonly made disposable. FIG. 1 shows a regular minute dose hypodermis syringe which is generally comprised of a barrel, a locking tip fixedly secured to the front end of the barrel on the outside to hold a needle cannula, and a plunger having a front end coupled with a rubber stopper moved in the barrel. The needle cannula must be damaged by a syringe crusher or the like after the injection, to prevent possible contamination. FIG. 2 shows a safety minute dose hypodermic syringe according to the prior art in which the locking tip is coupled to the front end of the plunger. After the injection, the plunger is pulled backwards to move the needle cannula to the inside of the barrel, and then the front end of the plunger is broken and retained on the inside of the barrel. However, because the needle cannula is still maintained intact, it may injure someone when the barrel is broken.


A focus adjusting apparatus employable for an imaging system with an image-capturing unit configured to capture an image of an object, includes a unit configured to extract a specific frequency component from an image capturing signal along each horizontal scanning line to generate a focus signal and a unit configured to set a focus signal extraction area with reference to the image capturing signal. A peak holding unit extracts a line peak value by peak-holding the focus signal along each horizontal scanning line in the setting area. A first evaluation value generation unit generates an integral evaluation value by integrating line peak values obtained along a predetermined number of horizontal scanning lines of all the horizontal scanning lines in the setting area. A control unit performs a focus adjustment that includes driving a focus lens based on an AF evaluation value derived from the integral evaluation value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a focus adjusting apparatus that can obtain a video signal that can be processed in an imaging system, such as a video camera, and relates to a focus adjusting method.
2. Description of the Related Art
An automatic focus adjustment (AF) apparatus can be employed for a video device, such as a video camera. For example, a conventionally known TV-AF system extracts a high frequency component, as a focus signal, from a video signal obtained by an image-capturing unit, such as a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS), and performs focus adjustment by driving a focus lens in such a way as to increase the magnitude of the focus signal. The magnitude of the focus signal can be expressed using an "AF evaluation value."
As discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-298120, an AF evaluation value for the TV-AF system can be conventionally calculated as an integral evaluation value that is obtainable by integrating line peak values (obtained by peak-holding the focus signal along each horizontal line) in the vertical direction.
The integral evaluation value is stable and robust against instant noises due to effect of integration. Further, the integral evaluation value is excellent in sensitivity. Namely, the signal is sensitively variable in response to a very small focal shift. Thus, the integral evaluation value can be used to identify the in-focus direction.
Further, in the TV-AF system, there may be a problem that a point light source object cannot be focused. To solve the problem, as discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-189634, it is conventionally feasible to switch the integral evaluation value to be used in the control of the TV-AF system to a value obtainable by subtracting the present integral evaluation value from the maximum value of the integral evaluation value, in the vicinity of the in-focus point, if the presence of any point light source object is detected.
However, according to the integral evaluation value discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-298120, a lens position corresponding to a large value may not coincide with the in-focus position in an image capturing operation of a point light source object. In general, if the target in a shooting operation is an ordinary object, the maximum point of the integral evaluation value coincides with the in-focus point as illustrated in FIG. 2.
On the other hand, if the target is a point light source object, the shooting operation is somewhat different. If the captured image of a point light source object is presently in focus as illustrated in FIG. 3A, the number of scanning horizontal lines available to capture the object is small although the focus signal has a very large line peak value. Therefore, the integral evaluation value does not increase so much.
However, if the captured image of a point light source object is presently out of focus as illustrated in FIG. 3B, the number of scanning horizontal lines available to capture the object is large although the focus signal has relatively smaller line peak values. Therefore, the integral evaluation value increases significantly.
From the reasons described above, the maximum point of the integral evaluation value does not coincide with the in-focus point as illustrated in FIG. 3C. Accordingly, if the system performs focus adjustment in such a way as to increase the integral evaluation value monotonously, an out-of-focus point may be erroneously detected as an in-focus point and a point light source object may not be focused adequately.
To solve the above-described problem, the technique discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-189634 is conventionally available. However, the conventional technique discussed in this patent literature is only useful to detect a minimum value that corresponds to the in-focus point illustrated in FIG. 3C. Therefore, the conventional technique requires a special control that is different from that of the TV-AF system, which identifies the maximum point of the integral evaluation value as the in-focus point.
Further, the minimum point (i.e., the in-focus point) may not clearly appear if shooting conditions for a target point light source object are inappropriate. In this case, it is difficult to focus on the target point light source object.


A method of forming a board suitable for use as container flooring uses bamboo and fast-growth low-density wood. The method includes the step of overlaying thin layers of high-density bamboo composites on surfaces of a core layer which can be the composite of wood veneer and wood strand-based composite, or wood veneer and bamboo stripe sheet composite. The benefits of bamboo and wood materials are combined to produce a bamboo-wood composite board having sufficient mechanical and physical strength and durability for use as container flooring.

The present invention relates to a composite board suitable for use as a container flooring material.
Container shipping revolutionized the shipping industry in the 1950's. A container body could be moved from a tractor-trailer and placed it fully-loaded on a ship, a railroad car, or even an airplane. Ocean shipping in this manner saves the tedious, expensive, and time-consuming job of unloading cargo from a truck or a railroad car, loading it into the hull of a ship and reversing the process at the ship's destination. A standard container can carry up to 20 tons (U.S.) fully loaded. It can keep shipments together, protect them from the elements, from damage in handling, and from theft. An estimated 90 percent of the world's trade today moves in containers.
The floorboard of the container is the main structural component to carry the cargo loading. Container flooring must meet high requirements for mechanical performance, impact resistance, and durability. For many years, the container industry has relied on high-density hardwood species from the tropical forest to produce the multiple-layer thick plywood as container floorboards. However, tropical high-density hardwood species such as Apitong and Keruing face increasing demand while having very long growth cycles. As a result, tropical hardwood forests are rapidly diminishing.
To protect the natural environment and decrease the consumption of tropical hardwood, it would be desirable to develop a new type of container flooring with a more environmentally-friendly species to expand the floorboard supply and meet the increasing demand of the container industry.

Method of forming a bamboo wood composite board


An apparatus and method is provided for removing deposits which accumulate within a continuous APCVD system having more than one reaction chamber. The apparatus includes means for delivering vaporized etchant material at a controlled flow rate to each reaction chamber along the system. The mechanism for channeling or metering etchant to each injector can be achieved by properly shaped receptacles or chambers having one or more inlets and multiple outlets. The apparatus can remove deposits of deposition materials which periodically fill or plug perforations within the chamber floor, the perforation openings being necessary to allow floor purge to the wafer backside surface. The apparatus can also remove deposition material formed upon or between purge curtains surrounding each chamber. The present apparatus can also selectively meter more etchant to one or more reaction chambers in order to remove unusually heavy amounts of deposits formed therein. As such, the present apparatus and method can be used to optimized downtime associated within cleaning a continuous APCVD system by etching each chamber at a rate sufficient to allow all downstream and upstream chambers to be cleaned at approximately the same time without over etching a chamber and causing the deleterious effects associated therewith.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition (APCVD) reactor system and more particularly to an apparatus and method for removing deposits which accumulate within the APCVD system.
2. Background of the Relevant Art
Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reactors are well known. CVD reactors are used to deposit thin films of various compositions upon a semiconductor substrate. CVD reactors can also be used to pre-deposit a dopant material upon the semiconductor substrate. After the dopant is placed, it can then be driven into the substrate using well known thermal diffusion techniques. CVD systems are therefore recognized as being capable of depositing a film upon the substrate or diffusing a dopant into the substrate. Accordingly, CVD systems are well adapted to many different applications and remain a mainstay in semiconductor fabrication.
There are many different types of CVD systems. Generally speaking a CVD system operates by placing a vaporized deposition or diffusion material into the reactor and over the target or semiconductor substrate. As the vaporized material passes over the substrate, it nucleates and adsorbs upon the substrate. The reaction chamber is typically heated from 300.degree. C. to 900.degree. C. at the nucleation zone in order to bring about the desired reaction. Various inert carrier gases such as, for example, hydrogen can be used to carry the dopant or thin film to the substrate in a vapor form.
Carrier gases are typically used to carry a source (either a solid, gas or liquid source) to the reactor or reaction chamber. The device used to inject a stream of carrier gas into a liquid source is generally referred to as a "bubbler." A typical bubbler is described and shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,078,922 to Collins, et al. (herein incorporated by reference).
Reactions can take place in either pressurized or non-pressurized CVD chambers. Due to the stringent requirements of film uniformity, low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) reactors have gained in popularity. LPCVDs generally operate in the range of 0.1 to 10 torr and can provide high quality film upon the substrate with relatively few impurities or contaminants therein. In many instances, film uniformity or impurity concentration is not critical. In those cases, atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition (APCVD) reactors are employed. APCVDs operate at atmospheric pressure and provide higher film growth rate than LPCVDs. Thus, APCVDs can increase wafer throughput.
More recent enhancements to APCVD systems include continuous APCVD systems. Continuous APCVD systems generally utilize a conveyor belt extending through multiple reactors arranged along the belt, whereby wafers are loaded onto the belt and pass through the reactors. See, e.g., Lee, H., Fundamentals of Microelectronics Processing, McGraw-Hill, 1990, pp. 220-281. Continuous APCVD systems are well suited for depositing films such as glass or BPSG which do not require stringent flatness or uniformity upon the substrate.
Although continuous APCVD systems are well recognized for their throughput feature, they must be occasionally cleaned of the deposits left behind. Periodically, the deposition material must be removed from the accumulation points within or around each reactor along the system. Specifically, the conveyor belt and drive systems must be periodically cleaned as well as nitrogen purge curtains surrounding each reactor. Moreover, the muffle surrounding the reactions chambers and, particularly, perforations within the muffle directly below each reaction site must be cleaned to ensure the openings remain. If the reaction area and regions surrounding the reaction area (i.e., purge curtains, floor purge perforations, conveyor belt, etc.) are not periodically cleaned of deposits, proper amounts of nitrogen purge will not occur. As a result, the viscous flow from the purge curtains may not occur thereby causing deleterious gas phase nucleation (i.e., nucleation in the gas or vapor surrounding the wafer instead of on the wafer itself). If the perforations underneath each reaction area are filled or become plugged with deposits, proper floor purge through the perforations will not occur. Once the perforations underneath each reactor (i.e., underneath the conveyor belt and wafer substrate) become plugged, nitrogen flow from underneath the reaction site and through the holes will cease thereby allowing impurities to creep into the chamber and collect upon the backside of the wafer. It is important that viscous flow with closely controlled and equalized flow rates occur and are properly directed in and around each of the multiple reactor sites of the continuous APCVD system. Any change or fluctuation from optimal flow rates or redirection of purge gases generally caused by deposit buildup will negatively impact the deposition operation.
It is not only important to periodically clean the reaction areas, but the cleaning step must be non-intrusive and must be easily performed. It is further important that each reaction area be cleaned thoroughly such that the continuous APCVD system, having many reaction areas, is completely cleaned throughout. Each reaction area or chamber must be cleaned simultaneously and at the same rate. If one reaction area is cleaned at a faster rate than another, then one reactor of the continuous APCVD system may be left dirty while the remaining reactors are clean. Additionally, over cleaning of one reactor of the plurality of reactors may cause problems whenever the etching material used to clean the reactor over etches into the reactor material itself instead of simply removing only the deposits upon the reactor surface.
It is therefore important that a cleaning apparatus and method be devised which can clean several reactors or reaction areas simultaneously within a continuous APCVD system. Likewise, it is necessary that the cleaning material used to remove the deposits be directed to areas where deposits are predominately placed and areas where deposits cannot be readily tolerated. For example, it is important that the cleaning material be directed to any and all deposit sites along the continuous APCVD system with minimal operator interface using the existing CVD configuration.

Apparatus and method for removing deposits from an APCVD system


A torque converter, including: an axis of rotation; a cover arranged to receive torque; an impeller including an impeller shell non-rotatably connected to the cover and at least one impeller blade fixed to the impeller shell; a turbine including a turbine shell and at least one turbine blade fixed to the turbine shell; a hub; a seal plate; and a weld fixedly connecting the hub and the seal plate. A line orthogonal to the axis of rotation passes through, in sequence, the hub, the weld, the seal plate, and the hub.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-section view of prior art four-pass torque converter 200. Torque converter 200 includes cover 202 arranged to receive torque, impeller 204 with impeller shell 206, turbine 208 with turbine shell 210, hub 212, and lock-up clutch 214 with piston plate 216. Torque converter 200 includes pressure chambers 218 and 220. Chamber 218 is bounded by hub 212, piston plate 216, and seal plate 222. Chamber 220 is bounded by cover 202, hub 212, and piston plate 216. To close clutch 214 (non-rotatably connect cover 202 and piston plate 216), fluid pressure in chamber 218 is increased and fluid pressure in chamber 220 is decreased to displace piston plate 216 in axial direction AD1. To open clutch 214, fluid pressure in chamber 220 is increased and fluid pressure in chamber 218 is decreased to displace piston plate 216 in axial direction AD2.
End E of seal plate 222 is butt-welded to hub 212 with weld 224. Root 226 for weld 224 is an area of weld 224 most susceptible to failure in response to pressure applied to seal plate 222 during the close mode for clutch 214. For example, simulations have shown that for a fluid pressure of 9.5 bar in chamber 218, the stress (tension) on root 226 is greatly elevated. An axial extent of weld 224 is linked to thickness 228 of plate 222. For example, weld 224 extends no further than seal plate 222 in direction AD1.

Extruded protrusion laser welded seal plate


A method of treating neurological condition in a subject by administration of an extract, or fraction or sub-fraction thereof, of Nerium species or Thevetia species is provided, wherein the extract, or fraction or sub-fraction thereof, excludes oleandrin and neriifolin. Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease or stroke are treated by administering a therapeutically effective amount of the extract, or a fraction or sub-fraction thereof, to a subject. The extract can be present in a pharmaceutical composition.

Neurological diseases and disorders affect brain function. Many efforts have been made to develop curative or ameliorative therapies for these diseases and disorders; however, no comprehensive or universally curative therapy has been developed, even though there are numerous pharmacotherapeutic approaches that have been proven to be effective against various different diseases and disorders.
Huntington's disease (HD) is an inherited disease of the brain that affects the nervous system. It is caused by a defective gene that is passed from parent to child. The HD gene interferes with the manufacture of a particular protein known as 'huntington' which appears to be crucial for proper brain development. The classic signs of HD include emotional, cognitive and motor disturbances. Huntington's is characterized by jerky involuntary movements (chorea), but sometimes causes rigidity without abnormal movements, changes in using the limbs (apraxia), loss of control of bodily functions and dementia, including a progressive deterioration of memory, speed of thought, judgment, and lack of awareness of problems and planning. There is no known cure for Huntington's disease. Although there are a number of medications to help control symptoms associated with HD such as emotional and movement problems, there is no treatment to stop or reverse the course of the disease. Huntington's disease has been recognized as a disease with a general membrane abnormality. A significantly elevated level and activity (10 fold increase) of Na,K-ATPase has been observed in membranes of erythrocytes and basal ganglia of Huntington's patients compared to that of normal (Butterfield D A, Oeswein J Q, Prunty M E, Hisle K C, Markesbery W R). Increased sodium, potassium adenosine triphosphatase activity in erythrocyte membranes in Huntington's disease. Ann Neurology, 4:60-62, 1978) fibroblast membranes obtained from the skin of Huntington's disease patients (Schroeder F, Goetz I E, Roberts E, Membrane anomalies in Huntington's disease fibroblasts. J. Neurochem. 43: 526-539, 1984).
Alzheimer's disease is a form of dementia—a neurodegenerative disease that damages the brain's intellectual functions (memory, orientation, calculation, etc.), but usually preserves its motor functions. In Alzheimer's disease, the mind gradually deteriorates, causing memory loss, confusion, disorientation, impaired judgment and other problems that may affect a person's ability to perform normal daily activities. The type, severity, sequence and progression of mental changes vary greatly. There is no known cure for Alzheimer's disease and no known way to slow its progression. For some people in the early or middle stages of the disease, medication such as tacrine may alleviate some cognitive symptoms. Aricept (donepezil) and Exelon (rivastigmine) are reversible acetylcholinesterase inhibitors that are indicated for the treatment of mild to moderate dementia of the Alzheimer's type. These drugs (called cholinesterase inhibitors) work by increasing the brain's levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, helping to restore communication between brain cells. Some medications may help control behavioral symptoms such as sleeplessness, agitation, wandering, anxiety, and depression. These treatments are aimed at making the patient more comfortable. Although no medication is known to cure Alzheimer's disease, cholinesterase inhibitors may improve performance of daily activities, or lessen behavioral problems. Medications for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease currently being tested include oestrogens, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, vitamin E, selegiline (Carbex, Eldepryl) and the botanical product gingko biloba.
Nerium oleander is an ornamental plant widely distributed in subtropical Asia, the southwestern United States, and the Mediterranean. Its medical and toxicological properties have long been recognized. It has been used, for example, in the treatment of hemorrhoids, ulcers, leprosy, snake bites, and even in the induction of abortion. Oleandrin, an important component but not the sole component of oleander extract, is a cardiac glycoside.
Extraction of glycosides from plants of Nerium species has provided pharmacologically/therapeutically active ingredients from Nerium oleander. Among these are oleandrin, neriifolin (nerifolin), and other cardiac glycoside compounds. Oleandrin extracts obtained by hot-water extraction of Nerium oleander, sold under the trademark ANVIRZEL™, contain the concentrated form or powdered form of a hot-water extract of Nerium oleander. A Phase I trial of a hot water oleander extract (i.e. Anvirzel™) has been completed (Mekhail et al., Am. Soc. Clin. Oncol., vol. 20, p. 82b, 2001). It was concluded that oleander extracts, which would provide about 57 ug oleandrin/day, can be safely administered at doses up to 1.2 ml/m2/d. No dose limiting toxicities were found.

Method of treating neurological conditions with extract of


The present invention is a planar spiral inductor a top magnetic layer a bottom magnetic layer; and a plurality of conductive coils disposed between said top magnetic layer and said bottom magnetic layer. A significant difference from prior art is that the top and bottom magnetic layers have their centers effectively cut out using lithographic techniques or other techniques to frame the core of the conductive spirals. An advantage of this structure over the prior art is that when magnetic anisotropies other than shape are kept small, then the magnetic configuration will produce a magnetostatic shape anisotropy such that the easy axis (low energy direction of magnetization) lies parallel to the legs of a rectangular frame or the circumference of a circular frame, as will be described. During operation of the inductor, the field produced by the coils flows in a radial direction and will be perpendicular to the easy axis direction thereby causing magnetization reversal to occur by rotation while advantageously utilizing the full structure in this mode.

The present invention relates generally to thin film inductors and the articles comprising the structure therefor.
With the increasing trend of miniaturization of electrical circuits, it is expected that thin film inductors will find applications in AC circuits such as those for on-chip power management and signal processing for wireless communications products. For example, inductors intended for power management will be required to operate in the 10 MHz region, have relatively large inductance and be able to handle large driving currents. For wireless communication applications, it is anticipated that ultra high frequency ( greater than 1 GHz) inductors will be utilized, where inductance and driving currents that are required are comparatively small relative to power management applications.
Currently, typical bulk inductors are made by wrapping conducting coils around a magnetic torroid. Often an air gap is put into the torroid to control the magnetic properties. The effect of the air gap is to manipulate the internal magnetic field (Hi) such that
Hi=Haxe2x88x92NM
where Ha, is the applied field, M is the magnetization of the ferromagnetic material and N is a demagnetizing constant which is dependent on the geometry of the gapped inductor. Because a structure will try and magnetize itself such that its internal magnetic field is zero, the magnetization increases linearly with an applied magnetic field such that the shape of a corresponding hysteresis loop becomes sheared with respect to an ungapped structure. This slanting of the hysteresis loop is also responsible for maximizing the energy storage of the inductorxe2x80x94since Estored=xc2xdLImax2, where L is the inductance and Imax is the maximum current of the coils. In addition, since Imax is proportional to the maximum magnetic field (Hmax) and L proportional to the permeability       (          μ      =                        Δ                                xe2x80x83                              B                          Δ                                xe2x80x83                              H                      )    ,
it can be seen that optimization of the energy storage occurs when Hmax is just below Hsat.
The geometry of planar inductors causes some magnetic effects which are dissimilar to magnetic effects found in bulk inductors. These differences must be considered when designing a planar inductor for maximum efficiency in the application of interest. For example, due to the shape anisotropy of thin films, magnetization typically is confined in the plane of the magnetic film, essentially causing a two dimensional magnetization reversal. Soft magnetic films which would be used for planar inductors typically have an additional in-plane uniaxial anisotropy energy, where the magnetization is of low energy when along the xe2x80x98easy axisxe2x80x99 and high energy when along the xe2x80x98hard axisxe2x80x99. Since this energy which controls the magnetization reversal process is typically uniaxial, the easy axis is perpendicular to the hard axis. This causes the magnetization reversal to predominantly occur by magnetic domain wall motion when a field is applied parallel to the easy axis and by magnetization rotation when a field is parallel to the hard axis. Magnetization rotation produces a linear hysteresis loop with a saturating field equal to the anisotropy field (Hk=2Ku/Ms) where Ku is the uniaxial anisotropy constant. As is known, this uniaxial anisotropy can be produced in ferromagnetic films through different mechanisms such as uniaxial stress (magnetoelastic energy), magnetically induced anisotropy (an external magnetic field applied to the film during deposition or annealing), crystal anisotropy (when an in-plane crystallographic texture is present), tilted columnar microstructure (a micro magnetostatic energy) or as a result of the shape of a patterned magnetic structure (a macro magnetostatic energy). Because of the resulting linear hysteresis loop of magnetization rotation, the effect of increasing the uniaxial anisotropy is analogous to the effect of increasing the gap size in bulk torroids.
For ultra high frequency inductor applications it is also advantageous to have a uniaxial anisotropy in the ferromagnetic layers. It is also beneficial to operate the magnetization reversal by rotation mechanisms because rotation typically has higher ferromagnetic resonance frequencies and lower losses than domain wall motion mechanisms. This is especially important at ultra high frequencies. The ferromagnetic resonance frequency can be used to calculate a cut-off frequency for the usefulness of a magnetic inductor. The resonance frequency for magnetization rotation of a thin ferromagnetic film can be calculated to be   fres  =            γ              2                π                                Hk4                          xe2x80x83                        π                          xe2x80x83                        Ms
where xcex3 is the gyromagnetic constant.       (                            γ                      2                        π                          ~        2.8                          xe2x80x83                          MHz        /        Oe              )    .
Theoretically the maximum permeability of rotation is given by 4xcfx80Ms/Hk as a first approximation. Again, the importance of controlling this anisotropy for the application and frequency of interest can be seen, since a large Hk increases the resonance frequency. At the same time, however, large Hk also decreases the permeability.
The prior work on the design of thin film inductors has focused primarily on the shape of the conducting coil. For example, Kawabe et al., IEEE Trans. Mag. V20, #5, p. 1804-1806 (1984) describes planar coils with hoop type, spiral type and meander type configurations. Sato et al, IEEE Trans. Mag. V30 #2,p.217-223 (1994) describes a double rectangular spiral coil. Most of these inductors utilize rectangular or square shaped magnetic films above and/or below the plane of the conducting coils. In their analysis Kawabe et al. assume a constant permeability and do not take into consideration an anisotropy in the magnetic layer. However, Sato et al. and Yamaguchi et al., presented at MMM Miami, Fla., November, 1998 treat a more realistic model which takes into account magnetically induced anisotropy produced by external magnetic fields which occur during processing or subsequent annealing.
An example of a prior art type of configuration for a planar inductor 10 is shown in FIG. 1. As shown, the planar inductor 10 comprises a top magnetic layer 12 and bottom magnetic layer 14 including, for example, magnetic film conductor coils 16 sandwiched between the two layers. Referring to FIG. 2, it can be seen that region A has an applied field parallel to the easy axis. Region B has the applied field parallel to the hard axis. As would be understood by a person skilled in the art, this means that region A will operate by domain wall motion mechanisms which are not beneficial for high frequency applications. This is because domain wall motion has higher losses and lower ferromagnetic resonating frequencies than rotation mechanisms. Region B would operate by magnetization rotation mechanisms which are the desired mechanism of magnetization reversal for high frequencies. Some prior art designs manipulate the dimensions of the magnetic layer in order to eliminate region A and as a result the complete coil is not utilized.
Another type of inductor described in prior art literature is the stripe inductor which involves a conductor sandwiched between two magnetic layers in the form of a stripe. For these inductors the magnetic material either completely encloses each segment of conductor or has the same width as each segment of conductor. The stripe inductor has been proposed for UHF applications and will contain a shape anisotropy which must be considered for device design as will be discussed. Based on the above, it can be seen that a need exists in the design of planar inductors which better takes into consideration the existence of the anisotropies of the magnetic layers.
The present invention is a planar spiral inductor including a top magnetic layer a bottom magnetic layer and a plurality of conductive coils disposed between the top magnetic layer and the bottom magnetic layer. A significant difference from prior art is that the top and bottom magnetic layers have their centers effectively cut out using lithographic techniques or other techniques to frame the core of the conductive spirals. An advantage of this structure over the prior art is that when magnetic anisotropies other than shape are kept small, the magnetic configuration will produce a magnetostatic shape anisotropy such that the easy axis (low energy direction of magnetization) lies parallel to the legs of a rectangular frame or the circumference of a circular frame. During operation of the inductor, the field produced by the coils flows in a radial direction and will be perpendicular to the easy axis direction thereby causing magnetization reversal to occur by rotation while advantageously utilizing the full structure in this mode.

Planar magnetic frame inductors having open cores


The present invention provides a method of fabricating a flash memory. The method first involves forming a gate oxide layer on a silicon substrate of a semiconductor wafer. Then, a first polysilicon layer, and a silicon nitride layer are formed, respectively, on the gate oxide layer. A lithographic process is then used to pattern a first photoresist layer for defining a memory array area and a peripheral region. The first photoresist layer is then used to etch the silicon nitride layer down to the surface of the silicon substrate to form a wide gap at the boundary between the memory array area and the peripheral region, and a plurality of gaps in the memory array area. An HDP oxide layer is then deposited, followed by coating of a photoresist (PR) on the wafer to achieve cell planarization. Thereafter, an oxide etch back process is performed followed by stripping of both the PR coating and the silicon nitride layer. Finally, a floating gate and a control gate are formed, respectively.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of fabricating a high-coupling ratio flash memory array, and more particularly, to a method of planarizing a flash memory to prevent CMP dishing, to increase cell uniformity and to increase the coupling ratio between the floating gate and the control gate.
2. Background of the Invention
In a flash memory cell, an initial memory array and a peripheral region are first defined on a silicon substrate. The initial memory array typically includes columns of polysilicon lines (also referred to as Poly-1 lines) and a plurality of gaps formed therein between two adjacent Poly-1 lines. The Poly-1 lines of the memory array function as a bottom portion of a floating gate of the flash memory. A high-density plasma chemical vapor deposition (HDPCVD) process is normally performed to deposit an HDP oxide layer over the memory array and partially filling the gaps. In most cases, each Poly-1 line comprises an additional nitride cap layer formed on its surface. A chemical mechanical polishing process (CMP) is thereafter used to achieve cell planarization for facilitation of subsequent processes using the nitride cap layer as a polishing stop layer.
In manufacture of the flash memory, uniformity of thickness of the HDP oxide layer at the bottom of each gap between two adjacent Poly-1 lines (hereinafter referred to as bottom thickness) is of primary concern for flash memory cell performance. In regards to the deposition variation of the bottom thickness of the HDP oxide layer, the typical uniformity variation at one sigma statistical standard deviation of error is approximately 2% (xc2x11"sgr") . The use of the CMP process exacerbates the decrease in uniformity as device packing density increases, and is likely due to the well-known dishing effects. Typically, the uniformity variation at one sigma statistical standard deviation resulting from the use of the CMP process is approximately 3-4% (xc2x11"sgr"), to thereby produce an undesirable total variation of about 4% (xc2x11"sgr").
Please refer to FIG. 1 to FIG. 7 of the cross-sectional diagrams of fabricating a flash memory cell on a semiconductor wafer 10 according to the prior art. As shown in FIG. 1, a gate oxide layer 14 is first formed on a silicon substrate 12 of a semiconductor wafer 10. Next, a polysilicon layer 16, and a silicon nitride cap layer 18 are formed, respectively, on the gate oxide layer 14. As shown in FIG. 2, a lithographic process is then used to pattern a photoresist layer 20 for defining a peripheral region 15 and a memory array area 17. As shown in FIG. 3, using the photoresist layer 20 as a hard mask the silicon nitride cap layer 18 and the polysilicon layer 16 are etched to form columns of capped Poly-1 lines 21. As well, a wide gap 22 is produced between the peripheral region 15 and the memory array area 17, and a plurality of gaps 23 are formed in the memory array area 17 between two adjacent Poly-1 lines 21. The photoresist layer 20 is then removed.
As shown in FIG. 4, after the removal of the photoresist layer 20, a high-density plasma chemical vapor deposition (HDPCVD) process is then performed to deposit an HDP oxide layer 24 on the surface of the semiconductor wafer 10 and filling in both the gap 22 and the gaps 23. As shown in FIG. 5, a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process is then performed to remove the portion of the HDP oxide layer 24 atop the Poly-1 lines 21 and achieve cell planarization. As shown in FIG. 6, a wet etching process, such as hot phosphoric acid etching, is used to completely remove the silicon nitride layer 18 to expose the underlying polysilicon layer 16. ACVD process is then performed to deposit a polysilicon layer 26, followed by the deposition of a photoresist layer 28 and then its patterning by a conventional lithographic process.
As shown in FIG. 7, the photoresist layer 28 is used as a hard mask to etch the polysilicon layer 26 down to the surface of the HDP oxide layer 24 to form a floating gate 29. The floating gate 29 is formed of both the polysilicon layers 26, 16. After the removal of the photoresist layer 28, a thin oxide-silicon-oxide (ONO) dielectric layer 32 is formed on the surface of the semiconductor wafer 10 and covering both the HDP oxide layer 24 and the floating gate 29. Finally, a doped polysilicon layer 34 is formed over the ONO dielectric layer 32 to form the control gate.
In the prior art, the dishing effects that occur in the CMP process greatly affect the uniformity of the bottom thickness of the HDP oxide layer 24. The occurrence of dishing can also lead to erosion of the exposed Poly-1 line 21 near the wide gap 22. As a result, both dishing and a decrease in uniformity of the bottom thickness affect the electrical performance and reliability of the flash memory cell.
It is therefore a primary objective of the present invention to provide a method of cell planarization to prevent dishing, increase the uniformity of HDP thickness as well as to increase the coupling ratio of the floating and control gate to effectively enhance the performance of the flash memory cell.
In the present invention, a gate oxide layer is first formed on a silicon substrate of a semiconductor wafer. Then, a first polysilicon layer, and a silicon nitride cap layer are deposited, respectively, on the gate oxide layer. A lithographic process is then used to pattern a first photoresist layer and define a memory array area and a peripheral region. The first photoresist layer is then used as a hard mask to etch the silicon nitride cap layer and the first polysilicon layer to form columns of silicon-capped poly lines. Also, a wide gap is formed at the boundary between the memory array area and the peripheral region, and a plurality of gaps are formed in the memory array area. Following removal of the first photoresist layer, an HDP oxide layer is then deposited over the surface of the semiconductor wafer via an HDP deposition process. Next, a photoresist (PR) is coated over the HDP oxide layer and filling the gaps to achieve cell planarization. Thereafter, an oxide etch back process is performed to remove a portion of the PR coating. A stripping process is then used to strip both the PR coating and the silicon nitride layer to expose both the surface of the first polysilicon layer and that of the HDP oxide layer.
The method of the present invention replaces the prior art use of chemical mechanical polishing with the coating of a photoresist in order to achieve cell planarization. As a result, dishing is prevented and the standard deviation of error occurring from the use of the CMP process is removed to increase the electrical performance of the flash memory cell. Also, following cell planarization and stripping of both the PR coating and the silicon nitride layer, the ends of the HDP oxide layer block allow for a greater contact surface between the floating gate and the control gate. As a result, the coupling ratio between the gates increases to thereby improve the read/write speed of the flash memory.
These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, which is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.

Method of fabricating a high-coupling ratio flash memory


A first email is received. If the first email is similar to at least one received email is determined. Responsive to the determination, an action for the first email is provided. The action is the same as an action taken for the similar at least one received.

The present invention relates generally to the field of electronic mail, and more particularly to analysis, organization, and template creation of electronic mail messages.
Electronic mail, or emails, are digital messages that are exchanged between a sender and one or more recipients. The emails are transferred between devices connected over a network, such as the Internet. Email applications that allow a user to access and manage the user's emails operate on a client-server model whereby messages are sent to and stored in a networked server for the recipient, thereby allowing for non-real time correspondence between the sender and the recipient. Email applications, which may be web-based or personal computer-based, typically provide a variety of options for managing emails, such as the ability to delete a message, send a message in response back to the sender, and move an email for storage in a particular folder.

Automatic and predictive management of electronic messages

International Business Machines Corporation


An apparatus for gathering a running fiber web into a sliver, includes a web guide element having edge portions defining an outlet opening through which the web passes; a trumpet arranged downstream of the outlet opening of the web guide element as viewed in a direction of web advance, and an arrangement for guiding air, flowing against the direction of web advance and generated by web compression downstream of the web guide element, away from a zone extending between the outlet opening of the web guide element and the outlet opening of the trumpet.

This invention relates to an apparatus for gathering a fiber web, discharged by a web delivering device of a card, into a sliver, including the step of passing the fiber web through an opening in a fiber web guide element and introducing the gathered fiber web into a trumpet.
According to a known method, the gathered fiber web is introduced from the opening in the fiber web guide element directly into the trumpet and leaves the trumpet as a sliver. Upon increasing the delivery speed of the card, for example, to a web speed of 300 m/min., operational disturbances are experienced due to an air backflow at the trumpet. Further, immediately upstream of the trumpet (as viewed in the direction of fiber travel) the fiber web takes up a significantly greater space than the compressed sliver. The environmental air is entrained by the fiber web into the trumpet; the entrained air quantities increase with increasing speed. The air streaming rearwardly from the trumpet, particularly from its constriction, eventually reaches such a high backflow speed that the incoming fiber web is destroyed or is blown back in several zones. If the fiber web is compressed from a large cross section in the trumpet, the backflow velocities were found to be excessively high in case of web speeds above 100 m/min.

Apparatus for gathering a fiber web into a sliver in a carding machine


A method is provided for making alkali metal bisphenoxide salts by refluxing a heterogenous mixture of a non-polar organic solvent and an aqueous solution of an alkali metal bisphenoxide. These bisphenoxide salts can be used thereafter to make aromatic bis(ether phthalimides) by reaction with nuclear ring substituted N-organo phthalimides.

The present invention relates to a method for making alkali metal phenoxide salts. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for making aromatic ether imides based on the use of an alkali metal phenoxide salt obtained by azeotroping a water-hydrocarbon solvent mixture from an aqueous mixture of an in situ formed alkali metal phenoxide salt.
Prior to the present invention, as shown by Wirth et al U.S. Pat. No. 3,787,364, assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, alkali metal phenoxide salts were made by effecting reaction between alkali metal hydroxides and bisphenols in the presence of water, where the water was removed by azeotropic distillation using a hydrocarbon solvent and a dipolar aprotic solvent. Although this procedure was effective for making polyetherimides, it could not be used without the presence of the dipolar aprotic solvent which rendered the procedure economically less attractive. Improved results were achieved when the bisphenoxide salt was made in accordance with the procedure of White U.S. Pat. No. 3,852,242, assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, based on the use of an alkali metal alkoxide which was reacted with a bisphenol to produce the alkali metal bisphenoxide in the absence of water. An additional procedure is shown by copending application of Tohru Takekoshi, Ser. No. 374,440, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,200,993, based on the rapid separation of water, such as by flashing from a hydrated alkali metal bisphenoxide, or an aqueous slurry containing stoichiometric amounts of alkali metal hydroxide and the bisphenol. The advantages of the procedure of Takekoshi is that elevated temperatures can be used, for example, above 100.degree. C. and as high as 300.degree. C. to effect the rapid separation of water from aqueous bisphenoxide alkali metal hydroxide slurry, or the hydrate of the alkali metal bisphenoxide salt to produce a substantially anhydrous bisphenoxide salt. Although the procedure of Takekoshi also in effective for making substantially anhydrous alkali metal bisphenoxides, special equipment, such as spray dryers, drum dryers, etc., are needed to render the procedure economically feasible.
The present invention is based on the discovery that unlike the procedures of the prior art requiring either expensive dipolar aprotic solvents, special equipment or the synthesis of alkali metal alkoxides, substantially anhydrous alkali metal bisphenoxides can be made by initially preparing a homogeneous solution of an aqueous metal hydroxide and a bisphenol and thereafter combining the aforementioned aqueous bisphenoxide solution with a substantially inert hydrocarbon solvent to produce a heterogenous mixture which is thereafter refluxed to effect the separation of water by azeotropic distillation. The surprising feature of the present invention is that unless the initial mixture of alkali metal hydroxide and bisphenol is in the form of a homogeneous solution, effective removal of water cannot be achieved and the resulting alkali metal bisphenoxide salt does not provide for satisfactory yields of aromatic ether imide when used in reaction with substituted phthalimides, such as nitro phthalimide.

Method for making bisphenoxide salts and bisimides derived therefrom


An alternator for use in an automotive vehicle includes a circuit for detecting initiation of rotation of an engine. Upon detecting the initiation of rotation, excitation current supply to a field winding is started, and thereafter an alternator output is controlled by controlling the excitation current. A resistor is connected to one phase winding of an armature to obtain a voltage indicating initiation of rotation during a period in which no excitation current is supplied to the field winding, and a capacitor is connected to another phase winding to raise the indicating voltage level. Since the indicating voltage induced by a small amount of residual magnetism is increased to a sufficient level by the capacitor, the initiation of rotation can be accurately detected.

This application is based upon and claims benefit of priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-263120 filed on Aug. 31, 2001, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an alternator for use in an automotive vehicle such as a passenger car or a truck.
2. Description of Related Art
A voltage regulator is used for controlling an output of an automotive alternator. Some types of conventional voltage regulators include a function to detect turning-on of a key switch. Such a voltage regulator initiates supply of exciting current to an alternator upon detection of the turning-on of the key switch. It is usually required to provide signal lines for detecting the key-switch operation.
In order to detect the key switch operation without using the signal lines, JP-U-62-44698 proposes a technology for detecting initiation of rotation of an alternator based on a frequency of a voltage induced in an armature winding due to residual magnetism in field poles. In this manner, whether the alternator is started, i.e., whether the engine is cranked up is detected. Upon detecting the start-up of the alternator, exciting current is supplied to the field winding of the alternator. There has been a requirement, however, to increase a level of voltage induced by the residual magnetism because an amount of residual magnetism is small. U.S. Pat. No. 4,409,539 proposes to improve magnetic characteristics of the field poles by annealing the field poles. Further, JP-A-3-215200 and JP-A-8-503308 disclose a technology to detect initiation of the engine rotation based on a line voltage induced in armature windings of two different phases.
It is found out, however, that there are respective problems in those conventional technologies. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,409,539, though the residual magnetism is improved, a magnetic resistance increases and thereby the output of the alternator in its normal operation decreases. Accordingly, the alternator size has to be enlarged to maintain the output. Further, a large size furnace is necessary for performing the annealing, which results in manufacturing cost increase.
According to the technology disclosed in JP-A-8-503308, a resistor is connected to a phase winding which is different from a phase winding with which the induced voltage is detected, and the phase winding to which the resistor is connected is grounded through the resistor thereby to form a closed circuit. A negative potential also appears across the resistor in a negative half cycle. This means that a so-called line voltage in three-phase windings appears across the resistor. To detect the negative potential, a complex circuit for providing a negative reference potential is required, which results in manufacturing cost increase. Accordingly, only a positive potential appearing in a positive half cycle is practically detectable. The voltage appearing in the positive half cycle cannot be amplified in the technology disclosed in this publication. Therefore, a detecting threshold has to be lowered to improve detection accuracy. If the detecting threshold is lowered, however, a signal-noise ratio (S/N ratio) becomes low because of influence of a leakage current flowing into the alternator from an on-board battery. As a result, it becomes difficult to accurately detect the signal indicating initiation of rotation. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,376,876 and 6,147,474 propose to eliminate the influence of the leakage current by changing the threshold level according to an armature voltage. To change the threshold level, however, it is necessary to add a logic circuit for this function.
In the device disclosed in JP-A-3-215200, a potential difference between two phases is detected by floating it from the ground. There is a possibility, however, that the detecting circuit is damaged due to a large amount of current flowing into the detecting circuit when the alternator begins to generate power. It is necessary to provide a protecting circuit, such as a current limiter or a switching circuit for intercepting the current, to avoid the above problem. It is not advantageous to provide such a protecting circuit because it makes the detecting circuit complex and expensive. Especially, when the switching circuit is employed, it is required to provide the switching circuit with a proper current capacity and counter-measure against a surge voltage generated by intercepting the current.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an improved alternator in which initiation of the alternator rotation is properly detected by a simple structure without using signal lines for detecting turning-on of a key switch.
The alternator includes a rotor, a stationary armature, a rectifier and a voltage regulator. The rotor includes plural field poles and a rotor winding to which excitation current is supplied. The armature has multi-phase armature windings, such as three-phase windings. Alternating current is generated in the armature in a rotating field of the rotor. The rectifier rectifies the alternating current into a direct current that charges an on-board battery. The voltage regulator controls the output of the alternator by controlling excitation current supplied to the field winding.
In order to detect initiation of the rotor rotation, without using signal lines for detecting operation of a key switch, a resistor is connected to one of the phase-windings, e.g., a Y-phase winding. Upon initiation of the rotor rotation, a voltage induced by residual magnetism without supplying the excitation current appears across the resistor. A level of the induced voltage, however, is low because the amount of the residual magnetism is small. To increase the voltage across the resistor to a sufficient level to accurately detect the initiation of the rotor rotation, a capacitor is connected between another phase-winding, e.g., a Z-phase winding, and a negative terminal of the rectifier. The capacitor charged in a negative half cycle period is discharged in the following positive half cycle period thereby to increase the voltage across the resistor.
The voltage across the resistor is compared with a threshold voltage, or a reference voltage. It is determined that the rotor rotation is initiated when the voltage across the resistor becomes higher than the threshold voltage. Since the voltage across the resistor is increased to a sufficient level, the initiation of the rotation is accurately detected without lowering the threshold voltage level. Upon detection of the initiation of rotation, the excitation current starts to be supplied to the field winding, and thereafter the excitation current is controlled by the voltage regulator to maintain the output of the alternator at a desired level.
Preferably, a frequency of the voltage across the resistor is compared with a reference frequency in addition to detection of the voltage level, and initiation of the rotor rotation is detected when the voltage level reaches the threshold and the frequency exceeds a predetermined frequency. There is a possibility that the voltage level may be affected by leakage current flowing from the on-board battery to the resistor through the armature windings. Initiation of the rotor rotation is more accurately detected by detecting both the voltage level and the frequency. Preferably, an impedance of the capacitor in a frequency region corresponding to an idling speed of the automotive engine is set to a level lower than a resistance of the resistor. In this manner, the capacitor can be sufficiently charged thereby to increase the voltage level across the resistor.
The rectifier may be constituted by Zener diodes. In this case, the impedance of the capacitor is set not to raise the voltage across the resistor to a level exceeding a Zener voltage (a breakdown voltage in the inverse direction).
According to the present invention, the initiation of rotation is accurately detected by a simple circuit structure without using signal lines for detecting the key switch operation.
Other objects and features of the present invention will become more readily apparent from a better understanding of the preferred embodiment described below with reference to the following drawings.

Automotive alternator having detector for detecting initiation of rotation


An improved shielded ribbon cable arranged to expedite termination of the shield for grounding the shield. There is an isolator strip placed during fabrication of the cable between the conductor array and the shield; the isolator strip prevents flow of plasticized insulating material between the cover sheet and the conductor array, which usually occurs through the interstices in the shield, so that the shield can be readily separated from the conductor array to permit termination of the shield without jeopardizing the integrity of the insulation on the conductor array.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to shielded ribbon cables such as are widely employed for interconnecting computer and like electronic circuit elements, and more particularly to a cable in which termination and connection of the shield can be effected rapidly and easily.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Shielded ribbon cable is widely used, particularly in environments where radio frequency interference and the like is present. In order to achieve good shielding of the conductors from such interference, it is imperative that the shield be connected to the ground at one or more points along the cable run. Connection of the shield to the ground necessitates access to the shield without impairing the conductors or the insulation thereon. Such access is difficult in presently known shielded ribbon cables because the shield is typically of woven or foraminous construction and during fabrication of the cable, portions of the plastic insulative cover are extruded through the foramina of the shield. Such renders removal of insulation from the shield a long and tedious job and requires great care in order to avoid severing the fine gauge conductors of which the shield is formed.


An integral dual rod spinal construct for immobilizing and stabilizing vertebral bodies of the spine is described.

Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates generally to medical devices, more specifically spinal rods for immobilizing and stabilizing vertebral bodies of the spine.
Background
The spine is formed of a column of vertebra that extends between the cranium and pelvis. The three major sections of the spine are known as the cervical, thoracic and lumbar regions. There are 7 cervical vertebrae, 12 thoracic vertebrae, and 5 lumbar vertebrae, with each of the 24 vertebrae being separated from each other by an intervertebral disc. A series of about 9 fused vertebrae extend from the lumbar region of the spine and make up the pelvic region of the vertebral column. These fused vertebrae consist of the sacral and coccygeal region of the vertebral column.
The main functions of the spine are to provide support and protect the spinal cord. Even slight disruptions to either the intervertebral discs or vertebrae can result in serious discomfort due to decompression of nerve fibers either within the spinal cord or extending from the spinal cord. If a disruption to the spine becomes severe enough, damage to a nerve or part of the spinal cord may occur and can result in partial to total loss of bodily functions (e.g. walking, talking, and breathing).
Each year millions of people suffer from back pain arising from defects in the intervertebral disc space. Commonly, surgical interventions directed at promoting fusion across the affected joint are employed to permanently provide long term pain relief to the patient. Typically, such fusion surgeries involve performing a partial or complete discectomy to prepare the disc space, and then implanting a natural or synthetic intervertebral fusion implant within the prepared disc space.
Surgical procedures on the spine (for example, procedures meant to fuse two or more vertebra together) often include the immobilization of two or more vertebra. Immobilizing the vertebrae may be accomplished in many ways (e.g. fixation plates and pedicle screw systems). One of the most common methods for achieving the desired immobilization is through the application of bone anchors (most often introduced into the pedicles associated with the respective vertebra to be fixed) that are then connected by rigid rods locked to each pedicle screw. Pedicle screws generally include an anchor component and a rod-housing component (or "tulip") that is often coupled to the anchor component in a manner that permits angular adjustability of the tulip relative to the anchor component in one or more planes. Once the pedicle screws are implanted in the desired positions a spinal rod is seated in each tulip and locked in position.
One complication of spinal surgery is failure of the implanted components. Rod failure can occur where rod strength is compromised during bending of the rods to fit patient anatomy, or where the stress loads placed on the rod are too great. Therefore, in some procedures that are known to introduce higher stress to the implanted rod, such as pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO), it may be desirable to provide increased strength to the rod to increase stability and support to prevent negative outcomes that can result from rod failure.
It is desirable that an improved rod increase the stiffness and fatigue strength of the construct while having a minimal effect on the ease with which the construct is implanted and/or the amount of hardware needed to enhance the strength of the construct (e.g. in comparison to current techniques employing multiple side-by-side rods connected by a series of connectors). An improved rod as disclosed herein could be used for increased stability of short or long constructs, trauma, or posterior reconstruction, in support of spinal fusion. For example, the improved rod disclosed herein may help reduce the incidence of rod fracture across a PSO or unstable construct.