A light-emitting-diode (LED) illuminating device includes an object having a plurality of holes formed thereon, and at least one LED lamp bank consisting of a plurality of LED lamps serially connected together using an electric wire. The LED lamps are separately inserted in the holes on the object to show geometrical shapes or patterns, and/or word or words on the object, so that the object may be used as an illuminating signboard. Each of the LED lamps includes an LED and a protective member enclosing a rear part of the LED, so that the LED is waterproof and not subjected to breaking easily. The LED-illuminating device is easy to assemble, consumes less power, and has longer usable life and reduced cost.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a waterproof light-emitting-diode (LED) illuminating device, and more particularly to a waterproof, easy-to-assemble, and durable LED-illuminating device that includes an object and a plurality of LED lamps mounted on the object and is suitable for use as a signboard or a decorative lamp.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 1 shows a conventional signboard 1, in which at least one lamp 2 is mounted to provide a light source to illuminate the signboard 1. The lamp 2 tends to burn out after being used over a long time, and is not easy to replace. Therefore, there are signboards with burned-out lamps here and there. Meanwhile, to increase the brightness and changes in colors of the signboard 1, tubular lamps filled with a certain type of inert gas have also been used in making the signboard 1. The tubular lamps must be sintered to form desired shapes or words before they can be connected to a power supply to emit light. The tubular lamp is bright enough but produces only mono-color light.
On the other hand, LED has the advantages of lower cost, less power consumption, and longer usable life as compared to the conventional lamps, and can therefore be advantageously used to make signboards. FIG. 2 shows a conventional manner of using LED's 3 as a light source to make a signboard. The LED's 3 are welded to a circuit board 4, which is then mounted in a box 5 with or without a colored cover. The box 5 is then used in making the signboard. It is very troublesome to make the signboard with LED's in the above-described manner, and the circuit board 4 and the arrangement of the LED's 3 must be designed according to customer-specified pictures or words. Therefore, the conventional signboard with LED's requires very high manufacturing cost.
Moreover, most of the conventional signboards with LED's installed outdoors are not waterproof, and must be moved indoors or turned out in a rainy day, or be additionally provided with external means to shield the signboards from rainwater. Therefore, the conventional signboards with LED's are not popular at least for the time being.
It is therefore tried by the inventor to develop a waterproof LED-illuminating device to overcome the problems in the conventional illuminating signboards.

Waterproof light-emitting-diode illuminating device


The invention relates to a shin guard system for sporting activities that have a shin guard portion and a reusable elastic rash and odor preventing insert attached thereto.

In sporting activities such as soccer, ice hockey, field hockey, and lacrosse, athlete's shins and ankles are prone to injury from impact. To prevent such injuries, athletes use shin guards for protection. Although prior art shin guards are generally designed to protect a player's lower leg and ankle from impact with a ball, a puck, an opposing player's foot, and other sporting equipment, shin guards can provide great discomfort to the player. Prior art shin guards are generally formed with an impact absorbing material, including, for example, plastics, foams, carbon fiber, and impact-absorbing gels, that are encased and/or backed with a fabric or other synthetic material. These shin guards are designed to be worn inside a player's sock, wherein the inside surface of the backing or casing directly contacts the player's lower leg. The shin guard is secured to the player's lower leg by means of a strap extending around the leg. Players often sweat during play, particularly in the area between the shin and the backing or casing of the shin guard. As this backing or casing rubs against a player's shin during play, the player's skin is irritated and may develop a rash. Moreover, some of the player's sweat penetrates into and is absorbed by the backing or casing of the shin guard, resulting in foul odors after play. Washing and drying these shin guards can be difficult, as high temperatures can deform or destroy the impact absorbing material. Multiple washes can also lead to deterioration of the shin guards.
Attempts have been made to overcome some of the problems associated with prior art shin guards. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,900,270 to Scheffer (hereinafter the "270 patent") discloses a shin guard for a soccer player that comprises a bandage with straps surrounding a player's lower leg, and a rigid shield element attached thereto that is intended to be positioned in front of the player's shin. The bandage is attached to the rigid shield element with Velcro® hook and loop fabric fastener, and is removable from the shield element. This construction, however, has multiple drawbacks. For example, the bandage layer is bulky and constrictive on the player's leg. The bandage layer has two constrictive straps for attachment to the player's leg, which are formed from two upper flaps that wrap around the player's leg and attach to one another above the player's calf, and two lower flaps that wrap around the player's leg and attach to one another below the player's calf. In addition, the shin guard described in the '270 patent has no means of securing the rigid shield element to the player's leg. The rigid shield element is only attached by Velcro® to the underlying bandage layer. As such, the rigid shield element may become dislodged from the shin area when in use, thereby heightening the risk of injury to the player. Moreover, the shin guard described in the '270 patent is an integrated system that requires a rigid shield element that is specifically designed for attachment to the bandage layer. The bandage layer is not designed to be interchangeable with other types of impact absorbing constructions. Finally, for ankle protection, the shin guard described in the '270 patent requires a separate ankle guard that the player attaches with Velcro® to the elastic bandage layer. This construction is prone to detachment during use, which may limit the shin guard's effectiveness.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0294799 to Pedigo et al. (hereinafter the "'799 application"), now abandoned, describes a shin guard odor protector comprising an absorbent pad, a protective barrier material, and a fastening system designed to be temporarily attached to a shin guard. The '799 application contends that the odor protector described therein absorbs the wearer's perspiration, protects the shin guard from that perspiration, and is removed and discarded after use. The odor protector described in the '799 application is not washable or reusable, which results in high replacement costs over the life of a shin guard. Moreover, the odor protector is backed by a plastic barrier material layer that imparts rigidity into the overall structure (i.e., the odor protector is inelastic). The odor protector's rigidity is augmented by the series of attachment means, namely adhesive strips, that extend along the length of the odor protector at intervals across the entirety of the protective barrier layer. This rigidity may cause rashes on a player's shin during play.
The present invention has been designed to overcome these and other deficiencies in the prior art.

Reusable rash preventing shin guard system


An optical high speed Arbitrary Waveform Generator (AWG) comprising a trigger module configured to receive binary signals and generate a trigger output in response, a digital waveform shaper (DWS) module configured to be programmed by a digital waveform and convert it to analog waveform, an amplifier module configured to amplify the analog waveform, a load adapter module configured to match the electrical impedance of the amplifier module to the electrical impedance of a light source, a TEC controller and a voltage supply module adapted to supply voltage to the trigger module, the digital waveform shaper module, the amplifier module, and the load adapter and the TEC controller.

High speed and high power light sources, particularly lasers and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are used in numerous industrial, biomedical and defense applications. Many laser-based material processing e.g., laser drilling, cutting, engraving welding etc., require pulses of high speed and power. Likewise, LEDs become ever more popular as light source for microscopy and machine vision systems, requiring bright and often strobed (pulsed) illumination. Other applications, particularly those involving diode lasers, or fiber lasers require arbitrary waveform shape, where the waveform is specified point-by-point by the user. The shape of the waveform namely, the amplitude, pulse duration, the rise time and fall, and other are essential part of the application. And while the shape of the waveform can be digitally defined with high precision, the actual optical output may differ from the specified waveform shape if the driver is not designed to match the specific characteristics of the light source.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,348,516 to Sun et al. describes three different laser architectures providing a certain control over the laser pulse shapes. U.S. Pat. No. 6,281,471 to Smart, entitled "Energy-efficient, laser-based method and system for processing target material" describes many requirements and specifications concerning the temporal generation of square laser pulse shapes in material processing. The system presented therein includes, among its main components, a controller for generating a processing control signal, and a signal generator for generating a modulated drive waveform based on the processing control signal. A common pulse shaping technique such as for example disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,428,253 issued to Murison et al. uses digital electronic means where sequence of digital points stored in a memory is passed to a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). The shaped analog signal output by the DAC is then fed to a an amplifier having enough bandwidth and drive capability for directly modulating a light source such as a laser diode U.S. Pat. No. 8,073,027 to Deladurantaye et al describes a practical architecture for implanting digital pulse shaping module for controlling a pulsed laser oscillator.
Although the aforementioned inventions provide solutions for shaping an optical waveform, they do not address directly the difficulties associated with certain physical characteristics of light sources and matching the current waveform to the light output thereof.
One such difficulty associated with driving a light source such as a laser diode (LD) and LED is a time delay between an on-off transition in the drive current and the on-off transition in the light output. This time delay results from a relatively large capacitance and inductivity of a typical LD or LED. A common approach in the art to address the issue is by pre-shaping the electrical pulses that drive the light source. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,818,896, issued to Cavanna, discloses a driver which pre-shapes current pulses by adding current "spikes" during the rise and the fall of the light source in order to quickly charge and discharge the associated capacitances of the LED. Different architectures for realizing "peaking of leading and trailing edges of current pulses are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,343,323 (Lynn, et al) U.S. Pat. No. 5,115,147 (Kusano, et al), and U.S. Pat. No. 6,724,376 (Sakura, et al), U.S. Pat. No. 6,049,175 (Forsberg). U.S. Pat. No. 7,453,306 issued to Baumgartner discloses a driver for controlling both the height and the width of peaking current to account for variations in capacitance and inductance of LD and LED.
Another difficulty is to overdrive LDs and LEDs for having increased optical peak power but without scarifying their reliability.
While the above-mentioned generators provide solution for pulsed light sources, they do not address the situations where the laser or LED is required to operate at arbitrary waveform. Therefore, there is a need for an optical waveform generator that will provide the means for pre-shaping the driving waveform to comply with different lasers and LED providing various pre-programmed optical waveforms, and providing a multiple feedback options to adjust the pre-shaped waveform to the optical output thereof.


A selector receives inputs of a user. An energy generator produces energy to neutralize environmental danger. A controller, communicatively coupled with the selector, controls operation of the energy generator based on the inputs. A case, containing the energy generator and the controller, is dimensioned to fit in the hand of the user.

Germs, bacteria, and viruses that have the potential enter or otherwise affect the human body can cause great risk and harm to human health and well-being. Such pathogens have threatened human health by their appearance on food, hands, and other items that can come in contact with the body. Once present in the human body the pathogens are capable of causing illness and in some circumstances even worse consequences.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, irradiation is a safe technology that can eliminate disease-causing germs from foods. Like pasteurization of milk and pressure cooking of canned foods, treating food with ionizing radiation can kill bacteria and parasites that would otherwise cause foodborne disease. The food that space astronauts eat has been sterilized by irradiation to avoid getting foodborne illness in space. The effects of irradiation on the food and on animals and people eating irradiated food have been studied extensively. Although their conclusions and findings have changed, these studies show effective cleansing results when certain irradiation is used on foods. Similar technology is used in industrial settings to sterilize medical devices so they can be used in surgery or implanted without risk of infection.


Spray device comprising a piezoelectric element, a sonotrode having a base coupled to the piezoelectric element, and a tube extending as far as a horn, a drive circuit for vibrating the piezoelectric element, and a feed device for bringing the product to be sprayed up to the front face of the horn. The sonotrode mainly vibrates in a mode parallel to the tube, the horn being dimensioned so as not to flex along the longitudinal axis, without flexing when the drive circuit vibrates the piezoelectric element. This spray device is applicable in cosmetology and in perfumery.

More specifically, the invention relates to a spray device comprising:                a piezoelectric element,        a sonotrode comprising a base coupled to the piezoelectric element and a horn tube narrower than the base extending along a longitudinal axis from the base to a horn mouth that is wider than the horn tube, said horn mouth having a front face directed away from the horn tube,        a control circuit designed to cause the piezoelectric element to vibrate,        and a feed device for feeding product that is to be sprayed, this feed device being designed to carry the product that is to be sprayed as far as the front face of the horn mouth,the sonotrode vibrating in a mode parallel to the longitudinal axis, the horn mouth being sized to move essentially along said longitudinal axis without flexing when the control circuit causes the piezoelectric element to vibrate.
Document EP-A-0 389 665 describes an example of a spray device such as this.

Spray device having a piezoelectric element, and use thereof in cosmetology and perfumery


A liquid ejection head includes an ejection section for ejecting liquid; an electrical wiring substrate having terminals to be electrically connected to the respective electrical contacts of a liquid ejection apparatus; a first loading section to be loaded with a first liquid storing container; and a second loading section to be loaded with a second liquid storing container having a width greater than that of the first liquid storing container. The wall of the liquid ejection head is provided with a rib extending in the height direction on the surface opposite to the surface mounted by the electrical wiring substrate; and the second loading section and the rib are arranged at respective positions where the second loading section and the rib overlap with each other as viewed in the direction of loading the second liquid storing container in the second loading section.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid ejection head that ejects liquid such as ink for recording purposes.
2. Description of the Related Art
Liquid ejection heads having a structure adapted to be directly mounted by ink tanks, which are in other words liquid storing containers, for storing liquid (a so-called on-carriage structure) are known. Liquid ejection heads of the above-identified type include a liquid ejection substrate having a plurality of ejection ports and a housing in which a plurality of ink tanks can removably be loaded. The liquid ejection substrate is rigidly secured to the outer surface of the housing and the plurality of ink tanks are loaded in array in the inside of the housing. Each of the ink tanks contains an ink absorbent that is impregnated with ink and the ink absorbent is partly exposed to the ink outlet port of the ink tank.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-125770 discloses a liquid ejection head of the above-described on-carriage type. In the liquid ejection head disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-125770, ink supply ports for supplying ink to the liquid ejection substrate are formed in the housing and a filter is arranged at each of the ink supply ports. Additionally, an electrical wiring substrate for electrically connecting the liquid ejection substrate and the liquid ejection apparatus main body is arranged on the outer surface of the housing.
The liquid ejection head disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-125770 is provided with a system for supplying ink from the ink tanks to the liquid ejection substrate by pressurizing the ink absorbent at the ink outlet port of each of the ink tanks and forcing the absorbent into contact with the filter at the corresponding ink supply port of the housing at the time when the ink tanks are loaded in the housing. Therefore, when there is not any ink tank loaded in the housing typically because all the ink tanks are removed from the housing in an operation of replacing the existing ink tanks, the filters are exposed to the outside. As the filters are exposed to the atmosphere, the water content of ink becomes liable to evaporate so that, if the filters are exposed to the atmosphere for a long period of time, ink can be caught in the meshes of the inner tissues of the filters and also at the surface layers of the filters and become hardened to consequently clog the filters.
In view of the above-identified problem, the applicant of the present patent application looked into the feasibility of additionally providing the housing of a liquid ejection head with a tank connection unit that covers the ink supply ports where filters are arranged from the atmosphere and is adapted to be connected to ink tanks. However, as a tank connection unit is added to the housing, the filters are prevented from being clogged but the liquid ejection head can be upsized and become bulky.
The applicant of the present patent application also looked in the feasibility of further additionally providing the housing of a liquid ejection head to which a tank connection unit has already been added as described above with connectors and an electrical wiring substrate for electrically connecting the ink tanks with the liquid ejection apparatus main body.
An arrangement as described below can be conceivable to realize the above-described provisions. A plurality of connectors to be electrically connected to respective ink tanks are arranged on the inner surface of a part of the lateral wall of the housing and an electrical wiring substrate to be electrically connected to the liquid ejection apparatus main body is arranged on the outer surface of that part of the lateral wall. Then, the electrical wiring substrate and the terminals of the connectors are electrically connected. Thereafter, the liquid ejection apparatus main body and the ink tanks are electrically connected to each other as the electrode pads formed on the electrical wiring substrate are pressed against the respective electrode terminals as electrical contacts formed at the side of the liquid ejection apparatus main body.
Then, however, a plurality of apertures needs to be formed in the lateral wall of the housing so as to allow the connectors to run through the lateral wall and come out to the outside of the housing. As such apertures are formed, the stiffness of the wall, to which the connectors and the electrical wiring substrate are rigidly secured, will be reduced so that the reliability of the electrical contacts between the electrode pads of the electrical wiring substrate and the electrode terminals at the side of the liquid ejection apparatus main body can be put at risk. Moreover, if apertures are not formed in the wall of the housing where the electrical wiring substrate are to be rigidly secured but the wall is liable to be deformed at the time of establishing electrical contacts between the electrical wiring substrate and the liquid ejection apparatus main body, the reliability of the electrical contacts can also be put at risk.
The wall of the housing where the electrical wiring substrate is to be rigidly secured may be provided with one or more than one rib in order to improve the stiffness of the wall. Then, however, the ink tank sitting positions need to be selected appropriately in order to avoid any interference between the ink tanks and the rib or ribs. When the ink tanks are fitted to the wall at respective positions where the ink tanks are free from the rib or ribs, the plurality of ink tanks may not be tightly placed side by side. Then, the housing may have to be upsized. Thus, when one or more than one ribs are formed on the wall of the housing to which the electrical wiring substrate is rigidly secured and a tank connection unit is additionally fitted, the liquid ejection head will inevitably become further upsized and bulky.


A construction system includes: a position data acquisition unit configured to acquire position data of a bottom of water; a current-terrain data generation unit configured to generate current terrain data of the bottom of water based on the position data; a target-terrain data generation unit configured to generate target terrain data of the bottom of water based on the current terrain data; and a working equipment control unit configured to control a working equipment of a work vehicle based on the target terrain data.

For a purpose such as the improvement and control of a river, the water depth securement of a harbor, or the like, dredging is performed with a work vehicle (refer to Patent Literature 1). Dredging means excavating earth and sand on a bottom of water. A bottom of water means a river bed, a river side wall, or sea floor.

Construction system and construction method


A system and method for improving acquisition sensitivity and tracking performance of a GPS receiver using multiple antennas is provided. In an embodiment, the acquisition sensitivity can be improved by determining the correlation weight of each received path signal associated with one antenna from a plurality of antennas and then combining the path signals based on their respective correlation weight. In another embodiment, carrier offset correction information of each path signal is individually determined and then summed together to be used for tracking the code phase in a code phase tracking loop. The code phase tracking loop generates an early code and a late code that are used to determine the code phase error. The system includes digital adaptive filters to mitigate narrowband and broadband noises of a received GPS signal, wherein the digital adaptive filters are switched on periodically or by external events.

The present invention relates to GPS receivers. More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus and methods for receiving GPS signals using two or more antennas.
A significant cause of errors in positioning systems is signal multipath propagation. Multipath is caused by positioning signals that are reflected from structures before arriving at the receiver. In worst cases, the positioning signals transmitted from the GPS satellites may be canceled by the multipath signals that may arrive at the receiver with 180 degree phase shift relative to the direct path signal.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

GPS antenna diversity and noise mitigation


An incline elevator system includes a pair of laterally spaced rails and a carriage configured with restraining members extending laterally beneath a bottom surface of the rail in a vertically spaced relationship therewith. A rail kit, together with methods of assembling the elevator system, is also provided. A modular deck system includes a plurality of box treads arranged in an array and a plurality of stanchions supporting the array. Methods of assembling the array of box treads are also provided.

Bluffs are formed along the shores of various waterways, including oceans, lakes and rivers, or in various mountainous or hilly areas. Often, it is desirable to access a bottom of the bluff or hill from a location higher up on the bluff or hill, for example to provide access to and/or from a lodging or parking area. While various stair systems may be assembled along such bluffs or hills, traversing such stairs may not be possible for various persons, including those with disabilities. Likewise, repeated trips up and down such stair systems, or trips involving cumbersome loads, may be not be feasible even for able-bodied individuals.
To solve this problem, various incline elevator systems, or furnicular railways, may be installed on the bluff or hill to provide transportation between upper and lower locations by way of a carriage. The installation of such systems may be problematic, however, when located on relatively steep inclined surfaces, or where the ground surface is soft and susceptible to shifting, for example along sandy bluffs.
In addition, and due to the gravity induced descent encountered if various stop systems fail, it is important for such systems to ensure that the carriage stays on the tracks. Accordingly, there is a need for tamper proof systems that preclude derailment.
As can be appreciated, worksites where such incline elevator systems are installed may often be located at remote locations. As such, it may be difficult and expensive to ship/transport the appropriate building materials to the worksite.
In addition, it is often desirable to provide upper and lower deck systems providing access to such incline elevators. Often, such decks must be custom built, with underlying support beams, joists and/or truss structures. Such construction can be expensive and time consuming. In addition, such systems are not easily reconfigured or repaired, and are typically made of materials, such as wood, that wear over time under adverse weather conditions. Moreover, the surface of such systems may be slippery when wet, and cause erosion due to water run-off patterns created by the deck configuration.

Incline elevator and modular deck system and methods for the assembly, use and shipping thereof


Methods for binding heparin to biological or synthetic materials which are to be implanted within a mammalian body. In instances where connective tissue proteins or other components of the material having adequate carboxyl groups present thereon, the method comprises a) contacting the material with a carboxyl-activating agent, b) contacting the material with a polyamine compound to form amide-bound polyarnine side chains at the sites of the previously activated carboxyl groups, and c) contacting the material with heparin such that heparin will become bound to the amino groups on the polyamine side chains. In other applications wherein the connective tissue proteins or other molecular entities of the material are devoid of or deficient in carboxyl groups, the method will comprise a) contacting the material with a carboxyl-activating agent in combination with a polyamine compound which has functional carboxyl groups thereon such that at least some of the functional carboxyl groups of the polyamine compound will become activated and will react with some of the amino groups on the polyamine compounds to form a polyamine network interlocked within the molecular structure of the material, and b) contacting the material with heparin such that heparin will become bound to amino groups on the polyamine network.

i. Biological Tissue Grafts and Prostheses
Collagen, and to a lesser extent elastin, are the major connective tissue proteins which make-up the connective tissue framework of most biological tissues. The relative pliability or rigidity of each biological tissue is largely determined by the relative amounts of collagen and elastin present in the tissue and/or by the physical configuration and conformation (e.g., structural lattice) formed by the connective tissue proteins.
The prior art has included numerous surgically-implantable bioprosthetic grafts and prostheses (referred to herebelow collectively as "bioprostheses") which are formed wholly or partially of chemically fixed (i.e., tanned) biological tissue. The chemical fixation of these biological tissues is typically accomplished by contacting the tissue with one or more chemicals which will crosslink collagen and elastin molecules which are present within the tissue. Such crosslinking of the collagen and elastin serves to preserve the tissue so that the tissue may be used as, or incorporated into, bioprosthetic devices intended for long term implantation or attachment to a patient's body. Examples of biological materials which have heretofore been utilized as bioprostheses include cardiac valves, blood vessels, skin, dura mater, pericardium, ligaments and tendons. These anatomical structures typically contain connective tissue matrices, formed of collagen and elastin, and the cellular parenchyma of each tissue is disposed within and supported by its connective tissue matrix.
Each collagen molecule consists of three (3) polypeptide chains which are intertwined in a coiled helical conformation. Chemical fixatives (i.e., tanning agents) used to preserve biological tissues form chemical crosslinkages between functional groups on the polypeptide chains within a given collagen molecules, or between functional groups on adjacent collagen molecules.
When chemical crosslinkages are formed between polypeptide chains within a single collagen or elastin molecule, such crosslinkages are termed "intramolecular", while crosslinkages formed between polypeptide chains of different collagen or elastin molecules are termed "intermolecular".
Elastin fibers are built by crosslinking (natural linkage) of repeating units of smaller molecules in essentially fibrous strands maintained by rigid crosslinking involving desmosine and isodesmosine. Those chemical fixatives which are used to form crosslinkages between the amino groups of collagen molecules also tend to form such crosslinkages between amino groups of elastin molecules. However, the amount of elastin present in most biological tissues is substantially less than the amount of collagen present therein.
Chemical fixative agents which have previously been utilized to crosslink collagen and/or elastin in biological tissues include; formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, dialdehyde starch, hexamethylene diisocyanate and certain polyepoxy compounds.
Glutaraldehyde is the most widely used agent for fixing biological tissues to be as bioprostheses and there are currently a number of commercially available glutaraldehyde-fixed bioprosthetic devices, such as, heart valves of porcine origin having support frames or stents (Carpentier-Edwards.RTM. Stented Porcine Bioprosthesis; Baxter Healthcare Corporation; Edwards CVS Division, Irvine, Calif. 92714-5686), prosthetic heart valves formed of a metal frame having leaflets formed of bovine pericardial tissue mounted on the frame (e.g., Carpentier-Edwards.RTM. Pericardial Bioprosthesis, Baxter Healthcare Corporation, Edwards CVS Division; Irvine, Calif. 92714-5686) and stentless porcine aortic prostheses (e.g., Edwards.RTM. PRIMA.TM. Stentless Aortic Bioprosthesis, Baxter Edwards AG, Spierstrasse 5, GH6048, Horn, Switzerland).
ii. Calcification of Biological Tissue Grafts & Prostheses
One problem associated with the implantation of bioprosthetic grafts is that they tend to undergo in situ calcification following implantation. Such calcification can result in undesirable stiffening, degradation and premature failure of the bioprosthesis. Both intrinsic and extrinsic calcification have been known to occur, although the exact mechanism(s) by which such calcification occurs is unknown.
The factors which determine the rate at which chemically-fixed bioprosthetic grafts undergo calcification have not been fully elucidated. However, factors which are thought to influence the rate of calcification include:
a) patient's age; PA1 b) existing metabolic disorders (i.e., hypercalcemia, diabetes, etc.); PA1 c) dietary factors; PA1 d) race; PA1 e) infection; PA1 f) parenteral calcium administration; PA1 g) dehydration; PA1 h) distortion/mechanical factors; PA1 i) inadequate anti-coagulation therapy during initial period following surgical implantation; and PA1 j) host tissue responses. PA1 a) treating the biological material with a chemical crosslinking agent to form crosslinkages between and/or within the connective tissue protein molecules present in the biological material; PA1 b) contacting the biological material with a polyamine compound which has some carboxyl (COOH) functionality (e.g., amino acid peptide or protein); PA1 c) contacting the biological material with a carboxyl activating compound to convert at least some of the free carboxyl (COOH) groups present on i) the connective tissue protein molecules and/or ii) the polyamine (e.g., amino acid, peptide or protein) molecules, into chemical groups which will react with amines (e.g., conversion of the carboxyl (COOH) groups to o-acylisourea groups); and, PA1 d) contacting the biological material with heparin such that the heparin will bind to the amino (NH.sub.2) groups present on the polyamine compound which has been directly bonded to or mechanically linked with the connective tissue proteins.
Glutaraldehyde-fixed bioprosthetic grafts have been observed to calcify sooner than grafts which have been fixed by non-aldehyde fixative agents. Thus, non-aldehyde fixatives, such as polyepoxy compounds, may be useful for manufacturing bioprosthetic graft materials which exhibit improved (i.e., lessened) propensity for calcification. Examples of polyepoxy compounds which may be used to crosslink connective tissue proteins include: ethylene, polyethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (Denacol EX-810, Nagase Chemical, Co., Osaka, Japan) and glycerol polyglycidyl ether (Denacol EX-313, Nagase Chemical, Co., Osaka, Japan).
The prior art has also included numerous reports and publications which purport to describe techniques or process which will mitigate in situ calcification of implanted biological tissues. These publications include; U.S. Pat. No. 4,885,005 (Nashef et al.) entitled Surfactant Treatment of Implantable Biological Tissue To Inhibit Calcification; U.S. Pat. No. 4,648,881 (Carpentier et al.) entitled, "Implantable Biological Tissue and Process For Preparation Thereof"; U.S. Pat. No. 4,976,733 (Girardot) entitled, "Prevention of Prosthesis Calcification"; U.S. Pat. No. 4,120,649 (Schechter) entitled, "Transplants"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,002,256 (Carpentier) entitled, "Calcification Mitigation of Bioprosthetic Implants"; EP 103947A2 (Pollock et al.) entitled, "Method For Inhibiting Mineralization of Natural Tissue During Implantation" and WO84/01879 (Nashef et al.) entitled, "Surfactant Treatment of Implantable Biological Tissue to Inhibit Calcification"; and, in Yi, D., Liu, W., Yang, J., Wang, B., Dong, G., and Tan, H.; Study of Calcification Mechanism and Anticalcification On Cardiac Bioprostheses Pgs. 17-22, Proceedings of Chinese Tissue Valve Conference, Beijing, China, June 1995.
iii. Biocompatability of Tissue Grafts & Prostheses
The overall biocompatability (e.g., antigenicity and immunogenicity) of a fixed biological tissue can significantly affect the severity of post-implantation calcification of that tissue, and may also be a factor in the occurrence of other undesirable post-implantation complications or sequelae, such as platelet activation, thrombogenesis, local inflammation, and/or graft failure. The biocompatability (e.g., antigenicity and/or immunogenicity) of a fixed biological tissue is largely dependant upon the chemical make-up of the tissue (i.e., presence of surface antigens), the type of chemical fixative agent used in fixing the tissue, and the particular methods and conditions used during the fixation (i.e., chemical crosslinking of the connective tissue proteins). Biocompatability-related problems which have known to follow the implantation of a chemically fixed biological grafts and/or prostheses may include: local tissue inflammation, platelet aggregation, host rejection and/or enzymatic degradation of the graft or prosthesis. Like calcification, lack of biocompatability may also result in undesirable post-implantation complications or sequelae.
One method which has been proposed for mitigating the potential for thrombogenesis due to non-biocompatability of a biological graft or prosthesis, is the binding of heparin to the collagen and/or elastin of the implanted biological tissue such that the anti-coagulant properties of the heparin will prevent or deter subsequent thrombogenesis. Heparin is a polysaccharide which consists of alternate residues of L-iduronic acid 2-sulfate and 2-deoxy-2-sulfoaminoglucose 6-sulfate. The anticoagulant properties of heparin are probably due to binding of the heparin molecule to thrombin and antithrombin in plasma in a manner which promotes their subsequent combination. Heparin may also affect lipid metabolism by causing lipoprotein lipase to become bound to cell surfaces.
Heparin may be covalently or ionically bound to collagen or elastin. In the ionic approach, heparin is first ionically bound to protamine to form a heparin-protamine complex. The heparin-protamine complex is then introduced into the collagen or elastin matrix. As a result, heparin is slowly released from the graft into the blood stream. Such slow release of heparin from a lumenal graft (e.g., a tubular vascular graft) may facilitate endothelialization of the lumen of the graft.
Patents and patent applications which have described methods for binding or applying heparin to bioprosthetic materials include: U.S. Pat. No. 4,690,973 Production Process of an Antithrombogenic and Antiadhesive Material for Medical Use (Noishiki Y., Kodaira K., Furuse M., Miyata T., Miyamoto T., and Ito H.) issued Sep. 1, 1987; U.S. Pat. No. 4,704,131 Medical Materials (Noishiki Y., and Miyata T.) issued Nov. 3, 1987; U.S. Pat. No. 4,806,595 Method of Preparing Antithrombogenic Medical Materials (Noishiki Y., Kodaira, K., Furuse, M., and Miyata T.) issued Feb. 21, 1989. Also, the following publications have described methods for binding or applying heparin to bioprosthetic materials: Noishiki Y., Nagaoka S., Kikuchi T., and Mori Y., "Application of Porous Heparinized Polymer to vascular Graft", Trans ASAIO 27:213-218, 1981; Miyata T., Noishiki Y., Matsumae M., and Yamane Y., "A New Method to Give An Antithrombogenicity to Biological materials and Its Successful Application to Vascular Grafts", Trans ASAIO 29:363-368, 1983; Noishiki Y., and Miyata T., "Antiadhesive Collagen Membrane with Heparin Slow Release", The 11th Annual Meeting of the Society for Biomaterials, pp. 99, San Diego, Apr. 25-28, 1985; Noishiki Y., and Miyata T., "Successful Animal Study of Small Caliber Heparin-Protamine-Collagen Vascular Grafts", Trans ASAIO 31:102-106, 1985; Noishiki Y., and Miyata T., "A Simple Method to Heparinize Biological Materials" J Biomed Mater Res 20:337-346, 1986; Noishiki Y., and Miyata T., "Antiadhesive Collagen Membrane with Heparin Slow Release", J Bioactive Biocompatible Polymers 2:325-333, 1987; Satoh S., Niu S., Shirakata S., Oka T., and Noishiki Y., "Development of an Autologous Connective Tissue Tube as a Small Caliber Vascular Substitute", Trans ASAIO 34:655-660, 1988; Miyata T., Furuse M., and Noishiki Y., "Biodegradable Antiadhesive Collagen Membrane with Heparin Slow Release" The 3rd World Biomaterials Congress, PP. 528, Apr. 21-25, Tokyo, 1988.
One problem which can arise when attempting to covalently bind heparin to chemically fixed biological tissues is that the fixation process may use up the majority of the available amino (NH.sub.2) groups on the connective tissue protein molecules (e.g., collagen and elastin), thereby leaving an insufficient number of functional amino groups for subsequent binding to the heparin. Additionally, the few functional amino (NH.sub.2) groups which may remain on the connective tissue proteins may be located or situated so as to be less than optimal for subsequent heparin binding.
In view of the above-explained shortcomings of the prior art, there remains a need for the development of new methodologies which will a) enhance the number and/or availability of functional amino groups on the connective tissue proteins, b) optimize the locations of the available amino groups to facilitate their subsequent bonding to heparin, and c) cause heparin to become bound to the chemically fixed connective tissue proteins in a manner which will result in less calcification and/or enhanced biocompatability and/or decreased thrombogenicity of the implanted graft.

Method for actively binding heparin to crosslinked biological tissues


A vehicle power window apparatus includes: a driver seat unit and a first non-driver seat switch which is a manual switch provided on a non-driver seat to open and close a non-driver seat window. The driver seat unit includes a switching circuit operated based on a predetermined operation of the first non-driver seat switch. When an extended operation of the first non-driver seat switch set by operating the first non-driver seat switch for a certain time period or more is detected, the control unit drives the switching circuit. After the extended operation of the first non-driver seat switch is released, the control unit fully opens or closes the non-driver seat window in an automatic operation mode by energizing the non-driver seat motor via the switching circuit and the first non-driver seat switch by the power supply.

1. Technical Field
One or more embodiments of the present invention relate to a power window apparatus for opening and closing a vehicle window, particularly, to a power window apparatus in which an occupant in a driver seat can open and close all seat windows including non-driver seat windows by operating respective switches.
2. Related Art
In a power window apparatus in which a vehicle window is caused to be opened and closed by an electric motor, the motor rotates in a clockwise direction or a counter-clockwise direction to open and close the window based on an operation state of an operation switch. For example, when the operation switch is operated to an up position (a window closing position), the motor is driven to rotate in the clockwise direction, and the window is closed. When the operation switch is operated to a down position (a window opening position), the motor is driven to rotate in the counter-clockwise direction, and the window is opened. When a motor drive circuit switches the direction of a current flowing to the motor based on a signal from the operation switch, the motor is controlled to rotate in the clockwise direction or in the counter-clockwise direction.
Typically, a vehicle is provided with respective operation switches for a driver seat and other seats (a front passenger seat, a left rear seat, a right rear seat, and the like). An operation switch of a driver seat includes non-driver seat switches used to remotely open and close non-driver seat windows such as a front passenger seat window in addition to a driver seat switch used to open and close a driver seat window. An operation switch of the non-driver seat is used to open and close only the corresponding non-driver seat window. A control unit is provided so as to control an opening and closing operation of each seat window based on an operation of the corresponding switch.
JP-A-2008-19625 discloses a power window apparatus which is provided with respective control units for the operation switch of the driver seat and the operation switch of each of the non-driver seats, and in which the driver seat control unit and the non-driver seat control units are connected to each other via a serial communication line. In this power window apparatus, when an occupant operates the operation switch of the driver seat so as to open and close the non-driver seat window, the driver seat control unit communicates with the non-driver seat control unit via the serial communication line, and the non-driver seat control unit drives a window opening and closing motor for a non-driver seat.
JP-A-6-343279 discloses the power window apparatus that is provided with a single control unit for the operation switch of the driver seat and the operation switch of each of the non-driver seats. In this power window apparatus, when the single control unit receives an input signal from the operation switch of the driver seat, or the operation switch of the non-driver seat, the single control unit controls a window opening and closing motor for the corresponding seat.
JP-A-2012-82647 discloses the power window apparatus that includes a driver seat unit having the operation switch and the control unit, and a non-driver seat unit having the operation switch and a relay. In addition, the driver seat unit and the non-driver seat unit are connected to each other via a single signal line. In this power window apparatus, contacts of the operation switch and the relay of the non-driver seat unit cause a current flowing to the window opening and closing motor for a non-driver seat to switch its flow direction, based on an opening and closing operation of the non-driver seat window in the driver seat unit.
In the power window apparatus, an opening and closing operation of a window via a switch operation includes a manual operation and an automatic operation. In the manual operation, when a switch is operated to be in a manual opening position, an opening operation of the window is started, and the opening operation continues only while the switch is being operated. When the switch operation is released, the opening operation of the window is stopped. When the switch is operated to be in a manual closing position, a closing operation of the window is started, and the closing operation continues only while the switch is being operated. When the switch operation is released, the closing operation of the window is stopped.
In contrast, in the automatic operation, when the switch is further operated from the manual opening position to an automatic opening position, the opening operation of the window transitions to an automatic opening operation, and even when the switch operation is released, the opening operation of the window continues. When the window reaches a fully open position, the opening operation of the window is stopped. When the switch is further operated from the manual closing position to an automatic closing position, the closing operation of the window transitions to an automatic closing operation, and even when the switch operation is released, the closing operation of the window continues. When the window reaches a fully closed position, the closing operation of the window is stopped.


Disclosed is a printed circuit board with a weak magnetic field sensor according to the present invention, which includes a substrate having first excitation circuits and first detection circuits formed on both sides thereof. First laminates are layered on both sides of the substrate, and have soft magnetic cores with a predetermined shape formed thereon. Second laminates are layered on the first laminates, and have second excitation circuits and second detection circuits, connected through via holes to the first excitation circuits and first detection circuits, respectively, so that the first and second excitation circuits and first and second detection circuits are wound around the soft magnetic cores, formed thereon. The soft magnetic cores each include a magnetic core and non-magnetic metal layers formed on both sides of the magnetic core.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to a printed circuit board with a weak magnetic field sensor and a method of fabricating the same and, more particularly, to a printed circuit board with a weak magnetic field sensor, in which a soft magnetic core, an excitation circuit, and a detection circuit lie at right angles to each other on upper and lower sides of the printed circuit board to sense a weak-magnetic field having a similar strength to the earth's magnetic field, and a method of fabricating the same.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The recent trend of expansion of various kinds of additional information services associated with the spread of mobile phones and mobile terminals brings about adoption of location information services as basic functions, and demands for more detailed and convenient services are growing.
A sensor capable of precisely sensing a user's location is needed to check location information, and a weak magnetic field sensor, which is used as a unit for providing the location information as shown in FIG. 1, senses the earth's magnetic field to detect the user's location.
FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a conventional weak magnetic field sensor, FIG. 2a is a timing diagram of a magnetic field generated from a first magnetic core, FIG. 2b is a timing diagram of a magnetic field generated from a second magnetic core, FIG. 2c is a timing diagram of magnetic flux density at the first magnetic core, FIG. 2d is a timing diagram of magnetic flux density at the second magnetic core, and FIGS. 2e and 2f are timing diagrams of first and second induced voltages (Vind1, Vind2) induced to a detection coil, and the total of the first and second induced voltages (Vind1+Vind2), respectively.
As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional weak magnetic field sensor includes first and second magnetic cores 1a, 1b having a shape of a large bar, excitation coils 2a, 2b, which are wound around the first and second magnetic cores 1a, 1b in a predetermined direction at regular intervals so that the wound excitation coils 2a, 2b form a figure—8 pattern to excite a magnetic field, and detection coils 3a, 3b, which are wound around the first and second magnetic cores 1a, 1b in a predetermined direction at regular intervals to detect the magnetic field generated from the first and second magnetic cores 1a, 1b.
Referring to FIGS. 2a to 2f, in which operation of the conventional weak magnetic field sensor is illustrated, an internal magnetic field (H1) of the first magnetic core 1a caused by an excitation current of an alternating current is expressed by 'Hext (external magnetic field)+Hexc (magnetic field caused by the excitation coils)', and an internal magnetic field (H2) of the second magnetic core 1b is expressed by 'Hext-Hexc'.
Additionally, a magnetic flux density (B1) of the first magnetic core 1a is expressed by 'Bext (magnetic flux density by the external magnetic field)+Bexc (magnetic flux density by the excitation coils)', and a magnetic flux density (B2) of the second magnetic core 1b is expressed by 'Bext-Bexc'.
In other words, the internal magnetic fields (H1, H2) of the first and second magnetic cores 1a, 1b are generated in a contrary direction each other, and so are the magnetic flux densities (B1, B2).
At this time, the first and second induced voltages (Vind1, Vind2), generated from the first and second magnetic cores 1a, 1b and detected by the detection coils 3a, 3b, are shown in FIG. 2e.
Since the winding of the detection coils 3a, 3b is conducted in such a way that variations of magnetic fluxes generated from the first and second magnetic cores 1a, 1b are summed, a voltage, detected by the detection coils 3a, 3b, is measured by offsetting the first and second induced voltages (Vind1, Vind2) against each other as shown in FIG. 2f.
That is to say, the magnetic fields (Hexc), caused by the excitation coils, are axially applied to the first and second magnetic cores 1a, 1b in a direction counter to each other to be offset into 0, and the external magnetic fields (Hext) are axially applied to the first and second magnetic cores 1a, 1b in the same direction, thereby the offset of the external magnetic fields is avoided.
Accordingly, an amplitude of the external magnetic field (Hext) may be obtained by measuring an amplitude of the total of the first and second induced voltages (Vind1+Vind2).
However, the conventional weak magnetic field sensor is problematic in that it is difficult to maintain a location accuracy when the excitation coils 2a, 2b and detection coils 3a, 3b are wound around the magnetic cores 1a, 1b, and that since the coils are vulnerable to temperatures, light, and surface materials for detection, precisions of characteristic values are poor.
Further, the conventional weak magnetic field sensor has disadvantages in that since the excitation coils 2a, 2b and detection coils 3a, 3b are directly wound around the magnetic cores 1a, 1b, the coils are frequently snapped.
Another disadvantage of the conventional weak magnetic field sensor is that since its size and its power consumption are large, it cannot follow the trend of miniaturization and power reduction of electronic products.
To avoid the disadvantages of the conventional weak magnetic field sensor, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,936,403 and 6,270,686 disclose a weak magnetic field sensor. In these patents, an amorphous core is formed by stacking amorphous boards, each having a circular conductor pattern, on opposite sides of an epoxy base board, which has a particular pattern etched thereon and the capacity for vertical conductivity, and epoxy bases, which have a coil X and a coil Y, respectively, are stacked on the top and bottom surfaces of the amorphous core.
However, the U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,936,403 and 6,270,686 are problematic in that since the epoxy base board is etched to have the circular conductor pattern, the stacking is conducted in such a way that etched portions correspond in position to each other to produce the amorphous core, and the epoxy base board, having the coils X and Y thereon, is stacked on upper and lower sides of the amorphous core, the fabricating process of the weak magnetic field sensor is complicated and its production costs are increased because the sensor has many layers.
Furthermore, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,936,403 and 6,270,686 are disadvantageous in that since lands of the coils are clustered together inside the circular amorphous core, the number of coil windings is limited, thus reducing sensitivity in detecting a weak-magnetic field due to low coil density per unit length, thereby running counter to the trend of miniaturization of electronic products.
Korean Pat. Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-11287, which was submitted on Jul. 30, 2002 by the applicant of the present invention, suggests a printed circuit board, having biaxial magnetic field detecting elements integrated thereon, to avoid the above disadvantages. The printed circuit board comprises a first soft magnetic core having a shape of two bars or rectangular rings extended in a first axial direction; a first excitation coil wound around the first soft magnetic core, resulting in formation of a metal film; a first detection coil wound around the first soft magnetic core in such a way that the first detection coil and first excitation coil are alternatively positioned on the same plane, causing formation of a metal film; a second soft magnetic core with a shape of two bars or rectangular rings extended in a second axial direction at right angles to the first soft magnetic core; a second excitation coil wound around the second soft magnetic core, resulting in formation of a metal film; and a second detection coil wound around the first soft magnetic core in such a way that the second detection coil and second excitation coil are alternatively positioned on the same plane, leading to formation of a metal film.
However, Korean Pat. Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-11287 has disadvantages in that an interface between the soft magnetic core and an insulating layer (e.g. epoxy resin layer) is in good order after fabrication of the printed circuit board, including the biaxial magnetic field detecting elements integrated thereon, is completed, but after the printed circuit board is tested to estimate its life, delamination occurs at the interface between the soft magnetic core and insulating layer.
Additionally, Korean Pat. Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-11287 is problematic in that since stripping occurs at interfaces between a developed dry film and the surface of the soft magnetic core during the lithography process for forming the soft magnetic core and the circuit pattern, an etching solution penetrates between the dry film and the surface of the soft magnetic core during an etching process, and thus, there exists an etching deviation between the soft magnetic core and the circuit pattern (i.e. copper foil).

Printed circuit board with weak magnetic field sensor


A photographic element is described having. a photographic support; PA1 a green sensitive silver halide emulsion layer on the photographic support and having a magenta dye-forming coupler, and PA1 a filter layer on the photographic support and associated with the green sensitive layer, wherein the magenta dye-forming coupler is a 2-equivalent magenta dye-forming coupler, and the filter layer includes a filter dye molecule having the formula: EQU D.dbd.CH--M (I) PA1 wherein D is a group which, with the remainder of the molecule, forms a dye having an absorption maximum in the blue or green region of the visible spectrum, and PA1 M is a five-membered or six-membered unsaturated heterocyclic ring, which may be fused with another five-membered or six-membered ring system, and which is unsubstituted or substituted with a lower alkyl group having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or an electron withdrawing group.

Color silver halide photographic materials generally contain layer units sensitive to each of the primary regions of the visible spectrum, i.e., the blue, green, and red regions, and coupler compounds. Such coupler compounds have the function of producing dyes to make up the images recorded in such materials. Usually, a yellow dye-forming coupler is associated with a blue sensitive silver halide emulsion layer, a magenta dye-forming coupler is associated with a green sensitive silver halide emulsion layer, and a cyan dye-forming coupler is associated with a red sensitive silver halide emulsion layer.
Silver halide employed in these materials has inherent sensitivity in the blue region of the visible spectrum. Increased sensitivity to blue light, along with sensitivity to green light or red light, is imparted through the use of various sensitizing dyes adsorbed on the silver halide grains. Sensitized silver halide, however, retains its intrinsic sensitivity to blue light, and, therefore, the red sensitive and green sensitive layers of color photographic elements are sensitive to radiation in the blue region of the spectrum as well as to radiation in the region of the spectrum intended to be recorded, i.e., green or red radiation, respectively.
If, prior to processing, blue light reaches a layer containing silver halide sensitized to a region of the spectrum other than blue, such exposed silver halide grains would be rendered developable, resulting in a false rendition of the image information recorded by the photographic element. It is common, therefore, to incorporate in the photographic element a material that filters blue light. This blue absorbing material can be located anywhere in the element where the filtering of blue light is desirable. In a photographic element with layers sensitized to each of the primary colors, it is common to have the blue sensitive layer closest to the exposure source and to impose a blue-absorbing, or yellow, filter layer between the blue sensitive layer and green and red sensitive layers.
Similarly, if the red layer sensitization is broad enough to respond to unwanted green light exposure, a false rendition of color is observed. In such instances, the use of a magenta filter dye residing below the green sensitive silver halide emulsion layer, but above the red sensitive layers, is advantageous. The green light is absorbed, and thus does not expose the red sensitive layers.
The material most commonly used as a blue-absorbing material in photographic elements is yellow colloidal silver, known in the art as Carey Lea silver. Carey Lea silver, however, exhibits unwanted absorption in the green region of the spectrum. Silver can also cause unwanted photographic fog. Filter dyes can provide the beneficial light absorption properties without the undesirable effects of Carey Lea silver. Examples of materials useful as filter dyes are those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,420,555 to Krueger et al. and 4,923,788 to Shuttleworth et al.
There are many known classes of compounds that are useful as couplers in photographic materials. 5-Pyrazolone compounds and pyrazoloazole (e.g., pyrazolotriazole) compounds are well-known as magenta dye-forming couplers. Such couplers are described in, for example, James, The Theory of the Photographic Process, MacMillan, 1977. One type of magenta dye-forming coupler is the 4-equivalent type. With 4-equivalent couplers, a hydrogen atom is cleaved from the coupler compound at the coupling position when the compound couples with the oxidized color developer. Four moles of silver halide must be reduced in order to form one mole of dye from a 4-equivalent coupler.
A second type of magenta dye-forming coupler known in the art is the 2-equivalent type. As described below, such couplers require the reduction of two moles of silver halide to form one mole of dye.
When a 4-equivalent magenta dye-forming coupler is incorporated in a green sensitive layer adjacent to a filter layer having a certain known type of filter dye, an unacceptable increase in light-induced yellowing or "printout" of the post-processing image occurs. Therefore, a problem to be solved by this invention is a reduction in the printout increase which occurs when certain filter dyes are used in conjunction with 4-equivalent magenta dye-forming couplers. Elements of this type have been described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,788 to Shuttleworth et al.
Although the problem of an increase in printout is significant for both of the two major types of photographic elements, color negative and color reversal elements, it is a more serious problem with color reversal materials.
In color negative materials, the element is exposed to light and processed with a color developer that imagewise forms a silver image and a dye image. The silver image is formed due to the color developer's reduction of exposed silver halide to form silver and oxidized color developer. The dye image is formed by the reaction of oxidized color developer with dye-forming coupler. The silver image is bleached and solubilized for removal, leaving only a negative color dye image. This image is then used to expose another color negative material to form a positive color dye image.
In contrast, in reversal materials, the element is generally exposed and processed with a black-and-white developer to form a negative silver image in each layer. The remaining undeveloped silver halide thus forms a positive imagewise pattern. The undeveloped silver halide is then fogged and processed in a color developer to form a dye image along with the silver. All the silver is then bleached and solubilized for removal, leaving only the positive color dye image.
In color negative photography, the photographic element that was exposed to the image is thus used to print the finished product on a second photographic material. The effect of an unwanted increase in printout may be lessened through the use of various filters in conjunction with the printing equipment. No such masking opportunity exists with color reversal materials, because the element originally exposed to the image becomes the finished product upon processing. Any increase in printout is, therefore, more likely to be apparent in the final image with color reversal materials.

Photographic element with 2-equivalent magenta dye-forming coupler and filter dye


A method of processing a plurality of packaged electronic chips being connected to one another in a common substrate is provided, wherein the method comprises etching the electronic chips, detecting information indicative of an at least partial removal of an indicator structure following an exposure of the indicator structure embedded within at least a part of the electronic chips and being exposed after the etching has removed chip material above the indicator structure, and adjusting the processing upon detecting the information indicative of the at least partial removal of the indicator structure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods of and devices for processing a plurality of electronic chips on substrate level, to an electronic chip, and to an article.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional packages, such as mold structures, for electronic chips have evolved to a level where the package no longer significantly impedes the performance of the electronic chips. Moreover, processing electronic chips on wafer level is a known procedure for efficiently producing them. Etching electronic chips is a conventional technique for removing material therefrom.
However, there is still potentially room to reduce manufacturing cost and simplify processing of electronic chips to be packaged while maintaining a high accuracy of the processing.

Removable indicator structure in electronic chips of a common substrate for process adjustment


An insertion method for a flexible elongate member is used to insert the flexible elongate member into a tube while causing first and second holding units to perform an opening-and-closing operation for holding and releasing the flexible elongate member. The method includes acquiring information of a distance by which the second holding unit moves with respect to the first holding unit and information of an operation type used to distinguish between insertion of the flexible elongate member into the tube, stoppage of the flexible elongate member, and extraction of the flexible elongate member from the tube; generating operation information regarding an opened/closed state of the first holding portion and an opened/closed state of the second holding portion on the basis of the distance and the operation type; and controlling the insertion, stoppage, or extraction of the flexible elongate member on the basis of the operation information.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for a flexible elongate member, a method for a flexible elongate member, and a storage medium, which are used to assist an operation of, for example, inserting a flexible elongate member into a tube.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, an operation method of inserting a flexible elongate member, such as a guidewire or a catheter, into a tube of a human body, such as a blood vessel, while observing a fluoroscopic image or the like has been used, for example, to treat angiostenosis. This operation method is generally carried out while an operator observes an image of the tube or the flexible elongate member to check the state of the tube or the flexible elongate member and, at the same time, directly senses a force related to insertion resistance, which is generated when the flexible elongate member comes into contact with the tube, with their hand.
In a manufacturing site, an operation of assembling a flexible elongate member like an optical fiber, or inserting a flexible elongate member like a wire or a hose into a pipe, is performed. A worker performs such an operation while directly sensing a force with their hand to prevent damage to the optical fiber or the pipe.
In any of the above-described operations, the force related to the insertion resistance applied to the flexible elongate member can only be recognized by the operator or worker, and cannot be quantified into numerical values or the like. Also, it is difficult to appropriately insert the flexible elongate member up to a desired position due to the insertion resistance applied to the flexible elongate member.
To solve the above-described problems, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-285150 proposes a method for inserting the flexible elongate member by using a coil insertion apparatus while measuring, from the outside of the human body, the insertion resistance force applied to the flexible elongate member. The insertion resistance is measured by measuring the degree of bending of the flexible elongate member. With this method, the insertion resistance force applied to the flexible elongate member can be measured quantitatively, and the flexible elongate member can be inserted by using the insertion apparatus.
With the method according to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-285150, no sensor is directly provided on the insertion apparatus or the flexible elongate member, and the force related to the insertion resistance applied to the flexible elongate member can be measured from the outside of the human body. However, this method is not convenient because the degree of bending of the flexible elongate member is detected by an optical sensor and the manner in which the flexible elongate member is bent varies depending on the rigidity of the flexible elongate member. In particular, when the flexible elongate member is made of a plurality of materials, the relationship between the degree of bending and the force needs to be determined experimentally. In addition, the detection accuracy of the method according to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-285150, in which the force is estimated by measuring a current of a motor that drives a roller, is lower than that of a measurement method in which a known strain gauge or the like is used.

Apparatus for flexible elongate member, method for flexible elongate member, and storage medium

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


An inner lead bonding inspecting method comprises the steps of: irradiating an illumination light onto the planar surface of a bonding portion between an electrode bump provided on a semiconductor pellet and an inner lead, measuring the quantity of reflected light from the surface, and judging whether the bonding state of the inner lead bonding is good or bad on the basis of the measured result. According to another aspect, an inner lead bonding inspecting apparatus comprises any irradiation device for irradiating a light onto a planar surface of a bonding portion between an electrode bump provided on a semiconductor pellet and an inner lead; a light quantity measurement device for measuring the quantity of reflected light from the inner lead surface, and a judging device for comparing the measured quantity of reflected light with a reference light quantity, to judge the quality of the bonding state.

This invention relates to a method of inspecting semi-manufactured articles after the ILB (Inner Lead Bonding) process which is the process for manufacturing TAB (Tape Automated Bonding) products, and an apparatus for inspecting the same, and more particularly to a method and an apparatus used for automated inspection of the bonding state of an inner lead bonding by observation of its appearance.
In accordance with the TAB system, inner leads of a carrier tape are aligned with a plurality of electrode bumps or projected-connection electrodes formed on an IC pellet. Then, the inner lead bonding process for simultaneous connection is carried out. In the prior conventional art, the judgment arts whether or not the bonding or connecting state between bumps and inner leads is good was conducted by a visual human inspection, using a stereoscopic-microscope.
In accordance with this method, a visual inspection operator inspected the inner lead surface in the vicinity of the bonding portion of the inner lead to subjectively judge, relying on the operator's training and experience. If the surface is shining brightly, the bonding state is judged to be acceptable, If not, the bonding state is judged unacceptable".
Since the objective judgment as to whether or not bonding state is good cannot be so conducted. There may be disagreement between operators, or disagreement due to a lapse of time even for the same operator. As a result, the quality varied. Further, in a visual test, there is high possibility that oversight, misperception, etc. may occur. Accordingly, the criteria for judgment may change or an artificial error may occur. On the other hand, although automation of the manufacturing process may be required, conventional subjective testing methods cannot cope with automation.

Inner lead bonding inspecting method and inspection apparatus therefor


A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure may include a substrate, a semiconductor layer, a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, a first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer. The first dielectric layer is disposed on the substrate. The second dielectric layer is disposed on the first dielectric layer. The semiconductor layer is adjacent to the first dielectric layer or the second dielectric layer. The semiconductor layer is disposed on the first dielectric layer or the second dielectric layer. The first conductive layer is adjacent to the first dielectric layer or the second dielectric layer. The second conductive layer is disposed on the first dielectric layer or the second dielectric layer. The effective Young's modulus of the second dielectric layer may be smaller than the Young's modulus of the first dielectric layer.

To satisfy trends of light and compact electronic devices, flexible electronic devices with pliability and low prices become a development focus of many manufacturers. In most current flexible electronic devices, the pliability feature is usually achieved by reducing performance, such as significantly decreased characteristics of semiconductor devices in these flexible electronic devices.

Semiconductor device structure, method for manufacturing the same and pixel structure using the same

Industrial Technology Research Institute


The present invention provides a digital computer system executing a scheduled operation and method thereof including: a main system having a central processing unit for processing an interrupt processing routine; a bus which transmits information to system elements by connecting the main system and the system elements; a system memory which is connected to the bus and stores system information such as hibernation information; a power supply which supplies an external power to a computer system and supplies power to the computer system when the external power is turned off; a wake-up source which senses, receives and outputs an external change; a power control connected to the wake-up source, the power supply and the bus, controls the computer system for a hibernation function and receives the external change signal from the wake-up source in order that the computer system can execute the scheduled operation; and a storing device which is connected to the bus and stores data such as information of the system memory and the central processing unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital computer system executing a scheduled operation with the system having the apparatus and method to execute the sceheduled operation. More particularly, the present invention relates to the digital computer system having a power management function that senses the request of a wake-up source, executes the scheduled operation by waking an operating system, and stands by in a hibernation state.
2. Description of the Related Arts
Interruption of computer operations (by powering on and off) concerns today's computer systems. Typically, when an interruption of electric power occurs during a computer operation, the data (along the operating system in process) are lost. On this matter, among the exemplars of the contemporary practice in the related arts is Yamashita et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,552,860, Monitoring System In Auto-Restoring Image Reproducing System, Sep. 3, 1996) discussing a monitoring system in auto-restoring image reproducing system. It involves display by an image reproducing machine of the system in connection with fault diagnosis and auto-restoration processes by the image reproducing machine. Hsiang (U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,087, System For Selectively Operating In Different Modes Depending Upon Receiving Signal From A Host Computer Within A Time Window Upon Power Up, May 28, 1996) discusses a system for selectively operating in different modes depending upon receiving signal from a host computer within a time window upon power up. A control available time window of prearranged duration is set up in the local device in response to a power on start condition. Ikeda (U.S. Pat. No. 5,475,847, Power Saving Control System For Computer System With Feature Of Selective Initiation Of Power Saving Control, Dec. 12, 1995) discusses a power saving control system for computer system with feature of selective initiation of power saving control. Patsiokas et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,461,558, Method And Apparatus Having Time Dependent Sleep Modes, Oct. 24, 1995) discusses a method and apparatus having time dependent sleep modes. A remote meter reading system includes a group of meter interface units in which cach meter interface unit operates between periods of activity and inactivity. Oshiba et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,307,500, Integrated Circuit Device With Stand-By Cancellation, Apr. 26, 1994) discusses an integrated circuit device having a processing unit with a plurality of input terminals and adapted to cancel its stand-by mode when a pulse-like control signal having a predetermined duration is received by one of the input terminals. Brown, Jr. et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,847,782, Energy Management System With Responder Unit Having An Override, Jul. 11, 1989) discusses an energy management system provides energy managing signals over a medium, such as TV cables, power lines, telephone lines or free space radio frequency transmissions, to a plurality of subscriber units. Iijima et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,825,352, Process Control System And Method Thereof, Apr. 25, 1989) discusses a process control system having a timer circuit which fixes operational periods by issuing an instruction for starting each of a plurality of time periods in such a manner that the computation of control blocks will occur during periods of fixed duration. From my study of these exemplars of the contemporary practice and of the prior art, I find that there is a need for an effective digital computer system--having a power management function that senses the request of a wake-up source, executes the scheduled operation by waking an operating system, and stands by in a hibernation state--that functions with the features of the present invention.

Method and apparatus for executing a scheduled operation after wake up from power off state


An image data dissemination system and method for anticipating user image requests from a user workstation and for locating, transforming and, as necessary, migrating anticipated representations of image data files to a local storage area for efficient access. An anticipated image request is determined based on a number of factors including the image retrieval historical information associated with a user and/or the user workstation. An anticipated representation of the image data file is also determined. An image data file that satisfies the anticipated image request and is in the anticipated representation is then identified, copied and stored in an optimal local storage area. When a user workstation generates the anticipated image request, the corresponding image data file stored on the optimal local storage area is provided the user workstation.

Picture Archiving and Communications Systems (PACS) consist of various components to facilitate the management of images from various imaging modalities. It is therefore necessary to efficiently distribute medical images to various users. Pre-fetching and auto-routing are used to predict when an image will be accessed and to therefore place it in a cache or directly at the station where it is expected to be viewed, with the aim of cutting down wait time for an end user requiring a view of a particular image. Many attempts to reduce waiting times for image retrieval have been made.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,574,629 to Cooke, Jr. et al. discloses a PACS that routes relevant prior studies to a reviewing station in contemplation of a scheduled event through pre-fetching. Pre-fetching rules, used to determine which prior studies on the PACS should be retrieved, are stored in memory and may be set and modified by the user. The studies are then placed into an archive station cache and routed to the appropriate station automatically.
Okura et al. ("An inductive Method for Automatic Generation of Referring Physician Prefetch Rules for PACS," J. of Digital Imaging, pp. 226-231, Vol. 15, No. 4, December 2002), discloses an inductive method to generate pre-fetching rules based on practical data from a hospital (e.g. examination histories, previous images requests, etc.) by employing a decision tree algorithm. This avoids the pre-fetching of unnecessary data.
However, since these systems are designed to pre-fetch full fidelity image data, they introduce significant system load since in most applications prior exams do not need to be full fidelity. Also, these systems do not allow for optimization of data traffic across networks and between devices, or for optimization of the size and resolution of image data. As a result, these systems do not adequately address waiting times in the display of images.

Image data dissemination system and method


The invention relates to a method and equipment with which an organic solution extraction solution is purified from entrainment of aqueous solution and impurities during hydrometallurgical liquid-liquid extraction. The method treats an organic extraction solution, which is loaded with a valuable metal or valuable substance from the aqueous solution. The purpose is to carry out the physical separation of water droplets and the chemical removal of impurities from the organic extraction solution simultaneously.

During liquid-liquid extraction, an organic reagent solution is mixed, in an extraction cell (mixer-settler) or in a column, into an aqueous solution, which contains a substance to be purified and concentrated as soluble, metal usually in ion form or as a complex together with several impurities. The valuable metal or substance to be refined reacts selectively with an organic extraction chemical, whereby it is separated from the aqueous solution into the extraction chemical as a pure form. The valuable metal or substance can then be separated from the organic solution back into the aqueous solution (stripping) with the inverted chemical reaction to extraction, from which aqueous solution it can be recovered again as a product e.g. by precipitation or reduction into metal.
The extraction process is thus mixing liquids physically insoluble in each other into droplets or a dispersion in the mixing section of the extraction equipment, and after chemical mass transfer occurs the droplets in the dispersion are made to coalesce i.e. to recombine back into the original layers of liquid in the settling section or settler. Intensive mixing or a significant change in the surface chemistry conditions of the process may result in very small droplets, which require a lot of time to disengage to its own liquid phase. These droplets do not necessarily have time to disengage in the actual settling section of the extraction step, but move further on in the process with the other phase. The inclusion of the original feed solution (aqueous solution) in the organic solution as it enters later process stages may weaken the purity of the final product and demand extra purification measures. Likewise the organic extractant may end up lost with the treated aqueous solution. In both cases the cost efficiency of the process is lessened.
In particular, a tank has been used for the removal of aqueous entrainment from a organic solution after the extraction cells, in which the entrained water droplets fall towards the bottom of the tank due to the force of gravity and the purified surface layer can be routed to the next process stage, which tank is then called an after-settler. The tank can also function simultaneously as a surge tank, which is needed to even out changes in the volume of organic solution occurring in various parts of the process. In this case the surface level of the solution in the tank varies.
The actual purification method of the organic solution, scrubbing, occurs using mixer-settler cells, in which basically the chemically bound impurities are removed by treating the organic solution with suitable aqueous solutions. In this case therefore a dispersion of extraction solution and aqueous solution is formed in order to achieve a large liquid-liquid surface area, as in an extraction cell. Besides chemical scrubbing, water droplets are also removed or the impurities contained in them are diluted. A mixer-settler cell built for scrubbing purposes generally consists of a pump, a mixer and a settling tank with its retaining fences, and is usually the size of an extraction cell. Changes in organic solution volume cannot be balanced with a scrubbing cell, so a separate surge tank as mentioned above is needed, which has the required volume capacity.

Method and equipment for purifying an extraction solution from aqueous entrainment and impurities


In a mixed signal integrated circuit containing both an analog core circuit and a digital core circuit, a plurality of dedicated analog boundary scan cells disposed around the analog core circuit are connected in series by a dedicated analog boundary scan path. A plurality of dedicated digital boundary scan cells disposed around a digital core circuit are connected in series by a dedicated digital boundary scan path. The analog and digital boundary scan paths are independent of each other. In testing the analog or digital core circuit, the boundary scan path dedicated thereto is selected so that sets of test control data or test data are shifted only in the boundary scan cells dedicated thereto. As a consequence, a test pattern is shortened and the analog or digital core circuit can efficiently be tested in a shorter period of time.

The present invention relates to improvements in a mixed signal integrated circuit containing both an analog circuit and a digital circuit and in a test method therefor.
In the today's industrial world, efficient testing of connections between a plurality of circuits on a printed circuit board is a goal to be attained with a considerably high priority. Under such circumstances, the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.) adopted a boundary scan technique as a standard in 1990 (IEEE Std 1149. 1-1990). Although the standardized technique is useful for a digital circuit, a printed circuit board actually used as a product contains both an analog circuit and a digital circuit. Hence, it has been difficult to test connections between all circuits on the printed circuit board by using the foregoing boundary scan technique.
To overcome the difficulty, the technique of testing an analog circuit or a mixed signal integrated circuit (analog boundary scan) has conventionally been proposed in, e.g., ITC 1993 Paper 15.2 Structure and Metrology for an Analog Testability Bus, Kenneth P. Parker et al. and in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 6-347517. Owing to the technique, it has become possible to test device interconnections or an analog discrete component present between the devices in a mixed signal integrated circuit by using no test probe at all or only a reduced number of test probes.
FIG. 15 shows a conventional integrated circuit device 601 using the foregoing analog boundary scan technique. As shown in the drawing, the integrated circuit has: an analog core circuit 602; a digital core circuit 603 connected to the analog core circuit 602 by a connecting line 608; a plurality of analog boundary scan cells 605 disposed around the analog core circuit 602; a plurality of digital boundary scan cells 606 disposed around the digital core circuit 603; a single scan path 607 connecting in series the analog and digital boundary scan cells 605 and 606; an analog test bus 611 for transmitting analog signals for testing (analog test data) to the analog boundary scan cells 605; a test controller 604; an data input terminal 609 for receiving test data; an output terminal 610 for outputting a test result; and an analog test terminals 612 and 613 for receiving and outputting the analog test data.
The digital core circuit 603 receives digital test data which has been inputted to the digital boundary scan cells 606 through the data input terminal 609 and the scan path 607. On the other hand, the analog core circuit 602 is brought into a testable state by test control data for placing the analog core circuit 602 under test which has been inputted to the analog scan cells 605 through the data input terminal 609 and the scan path 607, while receiving analog test data from the analog boundary scan cells 605, which has been inputted to the analog boundary scan cells 605 through the analog test terminals 612 and 613 and the analog test bus 611.
However, in the case of testing, e.g., only the analog core circuit 602 in the conventional integrated circuit, it is necessary to shift sets of test control data in the analog boundary scan cells 605 through the digital boundary scan cells 606, since the scan path 607 contains the analog and digital boundary scan cells 605 and 606. In other words, it is inevitable to concurrently perform the writing of test control data to the analog boundary scan cells (input cells and output cells) 605 of the analog core circuit 602 and the writing of test control data to the digital boundary scan cells (input cells and output cells) 606 of the digital core circuit 603.
Thus, even when only a part of the integrated circuit (e.g., the analog core circuit 602) is to be tested, it is necessary to shift sets of scan test data in a scan chain not to be tested (the digital boundary scan cells 606 for the digital core circuit 603), so that a test pattern is elongated and enlarged while test time is increased disadvantageously. In addition, the process of automatically generating test data for boundary scan is also complicated and elongated in time.

Integrated circuit and test method therefor


A real-time industrial Ethernet EtherCAT system including a communication master and a plurality of slave nodes, wherein one slave node acts as a logic control master and the further slave nodes act as logic control slaves, and wherein a communication flow is as follows: the communication master sends a data fetching frame, when the data fetching frame passes through the logic control master, the logic control master inputs control data for the logic control slaves into the data fetching frame, when the data fetching frame passes through the logic control slaves, each logic control slave inputs status data into the data fetching frame, after return of the data fetching frame to the communication master, the communication master sends a data sending frame with output data, said output data being reorganized according to the control relationship between the logic control master and the logic control slaves by the communication master, when the data sending frame passes through the logic control master, the logic control master gets the status data of the logic control slaves from the data sending frame, and when the data sending frame passes through the logic control slaves, each logic control slave gets command data from data sending frame.

EtherCAT is a real-time industrial Ethernet technology particularly suitable for communication between control systems and peripheral devices like I/O systems, drives, sensors and actuators. It is part of the IEC1158 and the IEC61800 standard.
An EtherCAT system comprises a master and some slaves. Conventionally, the master plays the role of both a communication master and a control master. This makes the master code very complex and special technology must be introduced for achieving the expected fast communication speed.

Real-time industrial ethernet ethercat communication control


Integrated semiconductor circuits, in particular, dynamic random access memories include a multiplicity of generator circuits for generating internal voltage levels from an externally applied supply voltage. During testing, the internal voltage levels are altered by the output voltage generated at the output of the generator circuit being adapted to an externally applied test voltage. If the test voltage is outside a tolerance range, the semiconductor circuit maybe destroyed. A protection circuit connected in parallel with the generator circuit limits the output voltage.

Modern integrated semiconductor circuits require a multiplicity of internal voltage levels for the operation of subcircuits and individual components. The internal voltage levels are intended to have a previously defined, temporally constant value and may be either positive or negative relative to a reference potential or a ground of the integrated semiconductor circuit.
To ensure a simple voltage supply of the integrated semiconductor circuit by a single external power source, the internal voltage levels required for the operation of the subcircuits and components are generally generated from a single, preferably positive, supply voltage applied externally to the integrated semiconductor circuit.
For example, a dynamic semiconductor memory with random access, a so-called DRAM (dynamic random access memory), contains, as subcircuits and components to be operated, an array of memory cells, a plurality of word lines, a plurality of bit lines, and an address decoder for selection of one of the memory cells based on an address by selection of one of the word lines and one of the bit lines. Each of the memory cells has a selection transistor with a control terminal and a controlled path and a storage capacitor with an electrode having a capacitance with respect to a conductive plate buried in the substrate. The control terminal of the selection transistor is connected to one of the word lines and the electrode of the storage capacitor is connected to one of the bit lines via the controlled path of the selection transistor.
For operation of the dynamic semiconductor memory with random access, one or a plurality of the following internal voltage levels, in particular, are generated from an externally applied supply voltage VDD, for example, of preferably 3.3 V, an internal supply voltage of, for example, 2.5 V for supplying the address decoder, a negative substrate bias voltage VBB of, for example, −1.3 V as bias voltage for the semiconducting substrate in order to suppress leakage currents, a plate voltage VPL of, for example, 0.9 V as bias voltage for a conductive plate buried in the substrate, an equalize voltage VBLEQ of, for example, 0.9 V for setting a reference charge on a bit line, a high voltage level VBLH of, for example, 1.8 V for writing to a memory cell, a negative switch-off voltage VNWL of, for example, −0.5 V as negative bias voltage of the word lines, and a switch-on voltage VPP of, for example, 3.5 V for a word line selected by the address decoder.
After fabrication an integrated semiconductor circuit is generally subject to a comprehensive functional test under various operating conditions. For example, the functional test for a semiconductor memory with random access include selecting a memory cell based on an address, writing information items to the selected memory cell, reading information items from the selected memory cell, and comparing the written and read information items. In this case, the same memory cells are accessed in a different order, in particular, in order to find malfunctions that depend on the access order.
The operating conditions are varied while the functional test is carried out. In particular, the ambient temperature of the integrated semiconductor circuit is increased by introducing it into a furnace. Moreover, the internal voltage levels required for operation of the subcircuits and components are altered. For this purpose, the integrated semiconductor circuit is connected to an automatic test machine which sets the internal voltage levels to previously defined test values by applying test voltages to terminals provided for this. In this case, the test values for the internal voltage levels are deliberately chosen such that the integrated semiconductor circuit is exposed to a stress that has been increased in a targeted manner. However, unfavorable operating conditions may lead to undesired damage to or destruction of components due to overstress. For example, as a result of incorrect programming of the automatic test machine, internal voltage levels outside a tolerance range around an envisaged value may be generated, which leads to destruction of the integrated semiconductor circuit.
To avoid such overstress, to prevent the integrated semiconductor circuit from being destroyed as a result of an erroneous predefinition of test voltages by the automatic test machine, is desirable.

Integrated semiconductor circuit and method for testing the same