This method facilitates the joining, by an aircraft, of a secure zone, without constraint of deployment in the horizontal plane, in particular when the latter is threatened by a risk of collision with the ground or by a risk of penetration into a forbidden zone which cannot be resolved by a purely vertical avoidance maneuver. It consists in selecting a point for joining a zone of free lateral deployment by means of a criterion of minimum cost of the initial maneuver of turning at the start of the trajectory for joining the possible points of access to the zones of free lateral deployment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods for the joining, by an aircraft, of a secure zone, with a minimum of constraint in the horizontal plane. It deals especially with the case of aircraft threatened by risk of collision with the ground or by a risk of penetration into a forbidden zone which cannot be resolved by a purely vertical avoidance maneuver.
2. Description of the Related Art
Aircraft are increasingly often being equipped with ground proximity warning systems whose role is to prevent aeronautical accidents in which an aircraft which is still maneuverable crashes with the ground, accidents known in the technical literature by the acronym CFIT standing for the expression "Controlled Flight Into Terrain". These ground proximity warning systems produce alerts and alarms to attract the attention of the crew of the aircraft to the need to correct the trajectory of the aircraft but leave, most of the time, to the initiative of the crew, the terrain avoidance trajectories, that is to say the joining of a secure zone, with a minimum of constraint in the horizontal plane, such as the space above a safety altitude greater than the highest reliefs of the region overflown.
Essentially two generations of ground proximity warning systems are known, the first known by the name GPWS (the acronym standing for the expression: "Ground Proximity Warning System") and the second by the name TAWS (the acronym deriving from the expression: "Terrain Awareness Warning System").
GPWS ground proximity warning systems take no account of the flight conditions of the aircraft and only emit alarm messages of the style "terrain, terrain", "Terrain Ahead, pull up" for the attention of the crew of an aircraft. They pose a problem of adjustment of sensitivity, a compromise having to be sought between timely triggering with each true risk of collision with the ground and a minimum of false alarms.
TAWS ground proximity warning systems supplement the information taken into account by GPWSs with navigation data and maps of the relief overflown that are extracted from topographical databases on board or accessible from the aircraft in flight. Moreover they fulfill customary GPWS functions, an additional function of predictive alert of risks of collision with the relief or with obstacles on the ground consisting in alerting the crew of the aircraft when the short-term forecastable trajectory of the aircraft may encounter the ground or an obstacle on the ground and a function of display, on the instrument panel, of a map of the region overflown mentioning the threatening reliefs and obstacles on the ground.
In these TAWS ground proximity warning systems, a risk of collision with the ground is likened to the penetration of the relief in a set of disengagement trajectories, climbing at maximum slope, plotted from the current position of the aircraft, over a certain angular opening in the azimuthal plane about the course of the aircraft since these disengagement trajectories are a compulsory switch, as a last resort, for an aircraft seeking to attain a safety altitude.
Certain TAWS ground proximity warning systems, such as those described in American patents U.S. Pat. No. 5,442,556 or U.S. Pat. No. 5,892,462, actually calculate the elements most representative of the disengagement trajectories within the range of the aircraft from its current position and may therefore propose an avoidance trajectory when they detect a risk of collision with the ground. However, this avoidance trajectory is not necessarily the simplest to implement.
Most ground proximity warning systems of TAWS type have no explicit avoidance trajectory to propose to the crew since, to limit calculational requirements, they merely determine coarsely, one or more protection volumes tied to the aircraft, which extend in front of and beneath the aircraft and are dimensioned in such a way as to contain the majority of the disengagement trajectories within the range of the aircraft, vis-à-vis a possible relief or obstacle on the ground placed in its short-term forecastable trajectory.
There is therefore a requirement for procedures for computing an avoidance trajectory bringing an aircraft threatened by a risk of collision with the ground, into a secure zone where it can deploy freely flat, for the time required for the situation to be taken in hand again. The same requirement makes itself felt for an aircraft threatened with a risk of penetration into a prohibited zone. As an avoidance trajectory is defined mainly by the aim point which must allow the aircraft to access, under the best possible conditions, a zone of free lateral deployment, the problem of the computation of an avoidance trajectory boils down essentially to that of the selecting of a point of a zone of free lateral deployment, which is easy to access for an aircraft from its current position.

Method for selecting aircraft access point into a lateral free evolution area


A cover for a headband size regulator used on a typical baseball style cap or visor. The cover cushions the wearer's head against the gouging and discomfort of headband size regulator straps. The cover is aesthetically pleasing and allows the wearer to display easily attachable indicia, such as logos, emblems and words on the back of their hat. The wearer can use the cover on caps with varying strap widths and on single leather strap and clasp size regulators.

Several types of headband size regulators are integral to the headband of adjustable visors and adjustable caps. Adjustable visors and caps employ various designs of headband size regulators which permit the wearer to quickly and easily adjust the size of the headband.
Most headband size regulators are the narrowest point in the circumference of the headband. One of several problems caused by the narrowness of the headband size regulator is increased constricting pressure where the headband size regulator contacts the wearer's head. Many people, especially those with thin hair or bald heads, find the pressure against their scalp from the headband size regulator extremely uncomfortable.
Furthermore, some headband size regulator designs consist of extruded vinyl straps with square edges that gouge the scalps of thin haired or bald users.
Cap and visor wearers often wear the bill or the visor to the rear of their head for unobstructed vision. When worn in this position, the headband size regulator is normally in contact with the wearer's forehead. The narrow headband size regulator applies pressure to the wearer's forehead, and can cause extreme discomfort, gouge and leave visible marks on the wearer's forehead.
Several popular headband size regulators consist of man-made materials which can cause the wearer to suffer allergic reactions. Headband size regulators made of leather straps can also provoke allergic reaction due to the chemical used to tan the leather.
While adjustable caps and visors are available in many appealing styles, fabrics and colors, their exposed headband size regulators are unsightly and aesthetically detracting. The following patents are representative of the art in this field:
U.S. Pat. Reissue No. 33,430 (1990) to Nunnery et al. discloses a detachable perspiration absorbing band for headgear. The perspiration band is secured around the existing band by a face to face engagement of a mating fasteners that are disposed in rows along the upper and lower edges of the perspiration band. The present invention uses aesthetically pleasing materials, is adjustable to different band widths and lengths, and does not use rows of mating fasteners.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,003,640 (1991) to Pizzacar discloses an advertising nameplate that partially conceals the adjustable straps of a conventional cap's headband. The advertising nameplate attaches to the outer surface of the adjustable straps. The present invention covers the inside as well as the outside of the adjustable straps, thereby, protecting the wearer's scalp from contact with the adjustable straps.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,153,943 (1992) to Clement discloses a flexible weather shield that attaches to a hat with a forward visor and a rear size adjuster. The shield is attached to the hat by an elastic band placed on top of the visor and by a rear hook and loop fastening strip that attaches around the rear adjustment straps. The present invention is not a weather shield.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,259 (1992) to Shorts discloses a protective neck covering garment that attaches to the rear adjustment strap of a conventional baseball cap. The protective garment attaches to the cap by an upper strap placed on top of the bill of the cap and by a rear fastening strap that is secured around the cap's adjustment straps. The present invention is not a protective neck covering garment.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,282,278 (1994) to Miner et al. discloses an emblem bearing accessory that attaches to the inside rear of a sized baseball style cap. The cap accessory has a relatively stiff emblem or indicia bearing panel that displays the indicia when it is folded upward or downward. The present invention does not require a stiff emblem bearing panel and is used with size adjustable baseball style caps.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,287,559 (1994) to Christiansen et al. discloses a semicircular fabric covered foam rubber pad that covers the hemispherical rear opening in a conventional style baseball cap. The foam pad is hinged in the middle and hook and loop fasteners are attached to one side of the pad. The pad then folds in half and is fastened around the cap's adjustable straps to completely cover the cap's rear opening. The present invention covers only the adjustable straps and does not obstruct the rear opening, allowing hair to pass through the opening.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,315,714 (1994) to Peters et al. discloses a method and apparatus for covering the adjustable straps used in apparel. The method and apparatus slide a tubular sheath over the cap's adjustable straps. The sheath is either formed from seamless neoprene or from a rectangle of material joined along one edge by a single seam. The preferred embodiment of the present invention is not a fixed size tube, rather, it consists of two pieces that allow for adjustment to band width and changing of displayed indicia. The alternative embodiment also allows the displayed indicia to be changed.
The present invention eliminates problems unanswered by the prior art. The present invention covers both the inside and the outside of the headband size regulator with soft, comfortable, and aesthetically attractive material. The present invention is not limited to the display on one indicia. Rather, the present invention's displayed indicia is easily interchangeable with alternative indicia. The present invention further provides an attachable sweat pad that is easily interchangeable with fresh sweat pads.
The present invention is also completely adjustable to any width of headband size regulator.


The disclosure provides a light-enhancing component and a photographic device having the same. The light-enhancing component includes a light reflective unit and a light source. The light reflective unit includes a first reflecting surface and a second reflecting surface. The light source is disposed between the first reflecting surface and the second reflecting surface. An inclination of the first reflecting surface is different from an inclination of the second reflecting surface.

Technical Field
The disclosure relates to a light-enhancing component. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a light-enhancing component with asymmetrical reflective surfaces, and a photographic device having the same.
Background
Surveillance cameras are widely used in different kinds of locations, such as industry plants, dormitories, stores, apartments, entrances of buildings or communities, hallways and other remote locations. The surveillance camera is for monitoring and recording human behaviors or accidents so that it is favorable for maintaining social control, recognizing threats, and avoiding criminal activities.
A surveillance camera generally comprises a light-enhancing component for illuminating the places with limited or no lighting. Unfortunately, when the light-enhancing component is manufactured with a poor design, it is unable to illuminate the whole area that is trying to be captured and recorded and the surveillance camera cannot capture images clearly. Moreover, a fish-eye camera has been developed for decreasing the blind spots of surveillance cameras. The viewing range of the fish-eye camera is wide, and the fish-eye camera usually comprises an infrared light source. However, when the fish-eye camera is used in places with limited or no lighting, the fish-eye camera needs to be equipped with a lighting device to light up the whole area evenly, since the emission angle or the light intensity of the infrared light source is limited. For example, a viewing angle of the fish-eye camera is greater than 170 degrees, but a projection angle of the infrared light source is between about 90 degrees and 100 degrees. The projection angle of the infrared light source cannot cover the viewing angle of the fish-eye camera, limiting the image quality of the fish-eye camera. Furthermore, when the fish-eye camera is equipped with many infrared light sources, the center of the images has sufficient illumination, but the peripheral of the images is darker. In other words, the images are captured unevenly, which is called as the "flashlight effect". To sum up, it is important to improve the image quality of surveillance cameras.

Light-enhancing component and photographic device having the same


A radio repeater device, which can mutually communicate by relay of a vehicular terminal with a base station, comprises a first antenna to communicate with the base station, a second antenna to communicate with the vehicular terminal, and a repeater section which is connected with the first antenna and the second antenna, and to relay the base station and the vehicular terminal to be able to communicate therebetween, and, when the first antenna receives the signal from the vehicular terminal, an operation of at least the repeater section is stopped.

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 11-093960, filed Mar. 31, 1999, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to, for example, a radio repeater device which relays between a base office and a vehicular terminal in a communication method of an FDMA method.
The current service system of the radio base station is as follows. Digital and the analog cable signals are converted into the base band which should be made a radio, and is digitized by the time-division and the FDMA (Frequency-Division Multi-Access) method. The multiple radio communication is performed by the number of channels corresponding to the office line.
The radio base station is set through the minute field examination, and the approach line design and the transmission propagation examination. However, the region to which service other than coverage are not received as shown in FIG. 1 exists in the vehicular communication. This region is called xe2x80x9cBlind zonexe2x80x9d.
The radio repeater device enables the communication between the vehicular terminal in the blind zone and the above-mentioned radio base station. Therefore, this radio repeater device is a specification of government-managed or based on this.
The vehicular communication can be called public works, and, naturally, the radio repeater device to which the evil is given since the evil is not given to this communication network to this communication network should not be set up.
However, even if the radio repeater device of the operation between the base stations without trouble at time when it is set up, thereafter, the evil is occasionally caused for the communication network by the change in the environment in the surrounding. This cause will be explained referring to FIG. 2.
To enable the communication between base station 15 and vehicular terminal 25, the radio repeater device has a first antenna 10 (hereafter, called as xe2x80x9cexternal antennaxe2x80x9d for convenience"" sake) and a second antenna (hereafter, called as xe2x80x9cinternal antennaxe2x80x9d for convenience"" sake) set up in the blind zone as shown in FIG. 2. The blind zone is solved by being possible to communicate mutually by sending and receiving wave with each of antennas 10 and 25, and base station 15 or vehicular terminal 25. In addition, this radio repeater device has first and second antenna shared devices 31 and 36, first and second band-pass filters 32 and 37, and first and second amplifiers 33 and 38.
Here, the signal from the base station received by external antenna 10 is input to first shared device 31. Next, only the signal of the desired frequency can pass by first filter 32. Thereafter, the reception signal amplified with first amplifier 22 is input to second shared device 36, the signal is sent to internal antenna 20, and the signal is sent from internal antenna 20 to vehicular terminal 25. The signal from vehicular terminal 25 is received with internal antenna 20, and processed with second filter 37 and second amplifier 38 through second shared device 36 as well as the signal received with external antenna 10. The signal received from first shared device 31 to external antenna 10 with internal antenna 20 is sent to base station 15.
Thus, the communication of vehicular terminal 25 in the blind zone becomes possible.
However, the radio repeater device operates same as the oscillation circuit when the signal from vehicular terminal 25 reaches external antenna 10, as a result, the phenomenon in which the radio repeater device is saturated and oscillates occurs. Therefore, the following disadvantages are occurred. Use of vehicular terminal 25 in the circumference according to the concerned radio repeater device becomes impossible. The relay of other radio repeater devices may be obstructed by generating the noise signal from external antenna 10 or internal antenna 20 caused by the oscillation.
It is necessary to prevent the signal from vehicular terminal 25 from reaching an external antenna not to occur this disadvantage. However, at first, even if it is a structure that the signal of vehicular terminal 25 does not reach an external antenna, the leakage of the relay carrier etc. can happen by a remarkable change in the environment in the surrounding according to the building construction others and the earthquake accident, etc.
As described above, the conventional radio repeater device has the disadvantage that the radio repeater device oscillates because of reaching the signal from vehicular terminal 25 to an external antenna of the radio repeater device.
An object of the present invention is to provide a radio repeater device which solves problem because of oscillation of the radio repeater device caused by leakage of relay carrier etc. etc.
The present invention adopts the following means to solve the above-mentioned problem.
The radio repeater device, which can mutually communicate by relay of a vehicular terminal with a base station, according to the present invention is characterized by comprising: a first antenna to communicate with the base station; a second antenna to communicate with the vehicular terminal; and a repeater section which is connected with the first antenna and the second antenna, and to relay the base station and the vehicular terminal to be able to communicate therebetween, wherein when the first antenna receives the signal from the vehicular terminal, an operation of at least the repeater section is stopped. Here, stop of the operation of the repeater section is performed by stopping a supply of a power supply to the repeater section.
Specifically, the radio repeater device, which can mutually communicate by relay of a vehicular terminal with a base station, according to the present invention is characterized by comprising: a repeater section which can communicate and is the relay of the base station and the vehicular terminal; a pilot signal generation section which sends the pilot signal for the monitor to the repeater section; and a reception controller by which the signal from the repeater section is input, and the operation of the repeater section is stopped at least when intensity is larger than predetermined signals which become standards. Another radio repeater device, which can mutually communicate by relay of a vehicular terminal with a base station, according to the present invention is characterized by comprising: a first antenna to communicate with the base station; a second antenna to communicate with the vehicular terminal; a repeater section which is connected with the first antenna and the second antenna, and to relay the base station and the vehicular terminal to be able to communicate therebetween; and a stop section, when the first antenna receives the signal from the vehicular terminal, to stop an operation of at least the repeater section.
In above-mentioned radio repeater device, preferable manners are as follows.
(1) The pilot signal generation section which sends a pilot signal for a monitor to the repeater section is further provided.
(2) The stop section comprises a reception controller which inputs a signal from the repeater section and stops an operation of at least the repeater section when intensity of the input signal is larger than a predetermined signal which is a standard signal.
(3) The reception controller comprises a comparator which compares the input signal and the predetermined signal and outputs a result thereof and a switch which turns off a power supply of a power supply section which supplies a power supply to the repeater section based on the comparison result.
With above-mentioned configuration, even when the signal from the vehicular terminal leaks to outside and is received by the external antenna, when the signal intensity of the repeater section becomes larger than predetermined intensity (that is, when it becomes a state in which the repeater is saturated and oscillates) by always monitoring the signal in the repeater section, since the operation is stopped, the adverse effect is never caused to other devices. Therefore, it is possible to provide an improved repeater device in the blind zone. Even in a case that the signal is leaked by the change in the environment, since the operation of the repeater device is similarly stopped, the adverse effect is never caused to other devices.
Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a radio repeater device which can communicate between the blind zone and coverage without adversely affecting other devices.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter.

Apparatus and method for preventing oscillations in a radio repeater device


There is provided a method of purifying single wall carbon nanotubes so as to be able to remove impurities such as a metal catalyst to obtain the single wall carbon nanotubes with high purity. The method includes the first oxidizing step of oxidizing the single wall carbon nanotubes soot 1 containing an impurity with a metal catalyst 2, the first refluxing step of refluxing the single wall carbon nanotubes soot 1 obtained by the first oxidizing step in an acid solution, the second oxidizing step of oxidizing the single wall carbon nanotubes soot 1 obtained by the first refluxing step, and the second refluxing step of refluxing the single wall carbon nanotubes obtained soot 1 by the second oxidizing step in an acid solution. The single wall nanotubes 1 are synthesized by an arc discharge with a carbon electrode containing a metal catalyst 2. The carbon electrode contains a metal catalyst which consists of Ni, Y, and Ti. The first oxidizing step is performed by heating at a temperature between 350 and 600° C. or by a wet-oxidization in hydrogen peroxide solution. The first refluxing step is performed by refluxing in nitric acid. The second oxidizing step is performed by wet-oxidizing in hydrogen peroxide. The second refluxing step is performed by refluxing in hydrochloric acid.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of purifying single wall carbon nanotubes.
2. Description of the Related Art
Single wall carbon nanotubes have a special structure with nanometer order. Due to the mechanical and structural properties derived from the special structure, the single wall carbon nanotubes are expected to be used in various applications such as a one-dimensional fine wire, a catalyst, a cold cathode device, and a hydrogen-storing substance.
The single wall carbon nanotubes, for example, can be prepared by discharging an arc between carbon electrodes in which linearly formed metal catalyst is embedded in an inert gas such as argon or helium. In the above-mentioned preparation, the single wall nanotubes grow linearly from particles of the metal catalyst and spherically form multi-layers of graphite carbons around the particles of the metal catalyst. Subsequently, amorphous carbons are formed around the carbon layers.
As a result, the obtained single wall nanotubes contain the graphite carbon layers, the amorphous carbons, and the metal catalyst as impurities. Since the single wall nanotubes contain particles of the metal catalyst, however, there is a problem with their proper function when they are applied to a cold cathode device, a hydrogen-storing substance and the like. It is, thus, necessary to remove the particles of the metal catalyst.
A metal catalyst consisting of Ni and Y is widely used in the above-mentioned preparation of single wall carbon nanotubes. It is, however, difficult to remove the metal catalyst consisting of Ni and Y since it becomes large particles having a diameter from 20 to 100 nm when it remains in the single wall carbon nanotubes. It is also difficult to process the metal catalyst homogeneously since its particle size is dispersed in a wide range as mentioned above. Therefore, it is considered a process of refluxing a single wall carbon nanotubes containing the impurities in nitric acid, for example, to be a method of removing the particles of the metal catalyst.
However, refluxing the single wall carbon nanotubes containing the impurities immediately in nitric acid can only achieve low removal efficiency since the metal catalyst is covered with layers of graphite carbons and thus longer time is required to remove the impurities sufficiently. Therefore, the single wall carbon nanotubes may be degraded. In addition, multi-layered graphite carbons formed around the metal catalyst are not fully removed in the above-mentioned process under reflux. Thus, the single wall carbon nanotubes have disadvantageously low purity.

Method of purifying single wall carbon nanotubes


A method and device for detecting, on the ground, the obstruction of a pressure tap of a static pressure sensor of an aircraft. The device includes a pressure sensor that measures the pressure inside a probe and a heating system for heating the probe. When the heating system is activated, the sensor carries out a first measurement of a parameter dependent on the pressure inside the probe. After a predetermined duration from the activation of the heating system, the sensor carries out a second measurement of the parameter. A central processing unit calculates the difference between the first and second measurements and compares this difference to a predetermined value. A warning device emits a warning signal indicating the detection of an obstruction if the difference is greater than the predetermined value.

Usually, such a static pressure sensor is part of an anemometric unit which is intended to measure air data and so determine values of parameters such as the altitude of the aircraft, its speed, etc., which are in particular used to pilot the aircraft.
It is known that such a static pressure sensor normally comprises at least:                a probe provided with a pressure tap passing through the fuselage of the aircraft;        a module that is linked by a pipe to said probe; and        an activatable heating system which is provided to heat said probe.
Any failure of such a static pressure sensor must of course be able to be detected quickly and reliably, since otherwise, the measurements taken will provide erroneous values for the abovementioned parameters (used for piloting), which can have very damaging consequences for the security of the aircraft when in flight.
It is known that human errors, in particular on airplane maintenance operations, can lead to the failure of such a static pressure sensor.
For example, the people responsible for washing the airplane often stick a piece of adhesive tape over the pressure tap of the probe, in order to prevent water from penetrating into the pipe linked to said probe during said washing. If the removal of the piece of adhesive tape after washing is forgotten, the pressure sensor will fail on the next flight of the aircraft, since it cannot measure the air pressure outside the fuselage. It will in fact measure the air pressure imprisoned in the pipe which is sealed (at its probe side end) by the piece of adhesive tape, this measured pressure obviously being different in flight from the outside pressure.
Various solutions are known (patent applications FR-2 847 669 and FR-2 857 447, for example) making it possible to detect the failure of a pressure sensor which is part of an anemometric unit of an aircraft. However, the known solutions only make it possible to detect a failure when the aircraft is flying. In the case of such a detection in flight, it is simply possible to stop taking into account during the rest of the flight the measurements taken by the failed pressure sensor, in order not to take account of false measurements (which is obviously important for safety), but repairing the failed pressure sensor is not possible. Although an anemometric unit of an aircraft normally comprises several pressure sensors so that the failure of one of said pressure sensors does not prevent the flight from continuing, the failure to take into account the data from a pressure sensor can, nevertheless, have a negative effect on the accuracy of the values of the parameters used to pilot the aircraft, which are derived from the measurements taken by this anemometric unit.

Method and device for detecting, on the ground, the obstruction of a pressure tap of a static pressure sensor of an aircraft


Provided is a method for purifying α-thrombin and for quantifying α-thrombin and its degradation polypeptides in a liquid proteinatious solution. The method employs a one-step anion exchange chromatography method. The method allows purification and/or quantification of a homogenous post-translationally modified α-thrombin. The method can also be used for purification and/or quantification of β-thrombin.

Thrombin is a serine protease which is widely used in clinical applications in several commercial products. It is a common component of surgical dressings, and has been used in combination with fibrinogen and other proteins in hemostatic systems such as fibrin glues, adhesives, and sealants. Fibrin sealants typically comprise a fibrinogen component and a thrombin component. When both components are mixed (e.g. when applied to a bleeding wound or surgical incision) thrombin cleaves the fibrinogenpeptides off the fibrinogen thus allowing the latter to generate insoluble fibrin polymers/sealant.
Concentrated (e.g. more than 500 IU/mL), purified thrombin in aqueous liquid form may display a reduction in activity during prolonged storage, primarily as a result of autolysis. Assessment of thrombin degradation is thus an essential physico-chemical analytical tool for determining thrombin stability.
Mammalian α-thrombin is made up of two disulfide linked polypeptide chains A and B. The B chain is post-translationally modified (e.g. by glycosylation) and exhibits thrombin's proteolytic activity toward fibrinogen and other proteins. The α-thrombin can autolyze into β-thrombin, and γ-thrombin polypeptide derivatives, which can be partially identified by Gel electrophoresis and Western Blot.
Thrombin autolysis is a major challenge in manufacturing and storing of thrombin, especially at high concentrations. The methods known in the art for identifying thrombin degradation polypeptides (β-thrombin and γ-thrombin derivatives) are inadequate in that they either provide insufficient separation between thrombin and its degradation polypeptides, a denaturing separation and/or are labor intensive. Therefore, the quantitation is not accurate and/or possible.

Method for purifying and quantifying thrombin and its degradation polypeptides


A paddle type holster including a holster body formed to provide a pouch for holding a handgun or other object and an inside the waistband formed holster support structure. The support structure is in the form of a curved broad surface which generally conforms to the human waist shape and includes a connector portion which extends between the curved portion of the support structure and the holster body. The holster body is rotatably adjustable with respect to the curved portion. The connector portion is likewise vertically adjustable with respect to the holster body to further control the relationship of the support structure. The adjustments are secured by fasteners and by mechanical interlocking of the parts of the holster. A holster or pouch for tall objects is disclosed with a "Z" shaped paddle member.

A paddle type holster is known as a waistband worn holster which does not require attachment to the wearer's belt and, in fact, may be worn on garments such as trousers or slacks without a belt. The holster can lie close to the wearer's body or away from it and is maintained in place by a curved "paddle" of thin leather or plastic generally pear shaped which lies between the wearer and their trousers on either left or right hip. This is the support portion of the holster. A connector portion is secured to the top of the support portion and rests on the top of the wearer's waistband. The holster also includes a depending or descending portion connected to the inner face of a holster body which is configured to receive a handgun through a top opening. The support portion, the connector portion and the holster body define an inverted "U" shape hooked over the waistband of the wearer or in certain cases described below, in a "Z" shape.
In conventional paddle holsters, the position, height and angle of the holster is primarily established by the wearer's waistband. That may be acceptable but usually is not optimum.

Paddle holsters for handguns and other waistband carried objects


Provided is a powder overlay nozzle that can increase the quality of an overlay layer formed on processing portion of a workpiece, and that can greatly increase workpiece productivity and maintainability. The powder overlay nozzle includes an inner nozzle member including a laser passage for passing laser beam, and an outer nozzle member externally fitted on the inner nozzle member. Between the inner nozzle member and the outer nozzle member, a discharge space for passing powder is formed. The outer nozzle member includes a supply channel for supplying the powder to the discharge space in a direction inclined with respect to an axis L of the powder overlay nozzle.

Technical Field
The present invention relates to powder overlay nozzles, and particularly to a powder overlay nozzle used for laser cladding processing for forming an overlay layer (cladding layer) on a workpiece.
Background Art
Conventionally, laser processing is known Whereby; in order to increase the durability of a valve seat of an engine cylinder head while increasing its design freedom, the valve seat is irradiated with laser beam while a powder (powdered) overlay material is supplied to the valve seat, forming an overlay layer (cladding layer) while the valve seat and the laser beam are relatively rotated. Specifically, the cylinder head that has been subjected to a machining process required for the engine combustion chamber, such as a valve opening forming process, is irradiated with laser beam while an area of the cylinder head that is to be formed into the valve seat is supplied with the powdered overlay material. The powdered overlay material may include a copper alloy and the like having abrasion resistance. In this way, a ring-shaped overlay layer, namely an overlay bead portion, that is to eventually provide the valve seat, is formed. Generally, the technology is referred to as laser cladding processing.
In the above laser cladding processing, generally a coaxial nozzle (powder overlay nozzle) of double-pipe structure is adopted which is configured to pass laser beam while discharging the powder metal from around the laser beam. As an example of such conventional powder overlay nozzle, a powder metal overlay nozzle illustrated in FIG. 13 is known (Patent Literature 1).
The conventional powder metal overlay nozzle illustrated in FIG. 13 includes a columnar body portion A and a nozzle portion B coaxially joined to the body portion A. The body portion A includes an outer member C and an inner member D fitted in a central space of the outer member C. Between the outer member C and the inner member D, there are formed a ring-shaped gas charged space F charged with inert gas, and a powder metal charged space F charged with powder metal as well as carrier gas. Into the powder metal charged space F, a plurality of supply channels G are opened. The powder metal charged space F is divided by dividing, portions I into charged regions corresponding to the respective supply channels G. At the bottom of the powder metal charged space F, there are formed a number of guide holes J for guiding the powder metal to the nozzle portion B, the guide holes J being disposed along the circumference of the bottom in parallel with an axis L and opening on the lower surface of the outer member C.
The powder metal overlay nozzle is linked with a laser beam generation device for a laser processing head, with the powder metal supply channels G of the body portion A being connected to a powder metal supply source (Which may also be referred to as a "feeder") via a supply pipe. The powder metal overlay nozzle is configured such that laser beam R emitted from the laser beam generation device connected over the body portion A passes through a laser passage K inside the body portion A and the nozzle portion B and irradiates a processing portion W of a workpiece via an irradiation opening M. On the other hand, the powder metal P supplied from the feeder to the powder metal supply channels G via the supply pipe together with the carrier gas is charged equally into the respective charged regions partitioned by the dividing portions I of the powder metal charged space F. The charged powder metal P passes through the guide holes J and discharge passages N and is discharged out of a discharge opening Q to an area around the processing portion W. The discharged powder metal P is melted by the laser beam R, whereby an overlay layer is formed on the processing portion W.


A front body for a motor vehicle includes, but is not limited to a bumper carrier and a hood lock carrier that are solidly connected to one another. An energy absorber structure that is supported on the bumper carrier on one side and on the whole block carrier on the other side features ribs that extend between the lock carrier and the bumper carrier and are essentially oriented in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

The bumper carrier and the hood lock carrier generally provide a significant contribution to the rigidity of the front section of a motor vehicle body and are designed for absorbing substantial deformation energy in case of a collision with another vehicle. However, this means that they are generally not significantly deformed during a collision with a pedestrian. In order to also protect pedestrians, it is necessary to arrange regions that are easier to deform in front of these two carriers, and these regions are deformed during a collision with a pedestrian and able to absorb the pedestrian's impact energy.
DE 10 2005 020413 A1 discloses a front body for a motor vehicle, in which a radiator grille is supported on a bumper carrier and a front element that is not described in detail. Since the radiator grille in itself is rigid, it is proposed to provide a flexible ledge with a flexible undercut region on an upper edge of the radiator grille with a bellows that collapses during a collision with a pedestrian and therefore allows a pivoting movement of the otherwise rigid radiator grille. Since this edge region has small dimensions in comparison with the entire radiator grille, it is difficult to provide this edge region with a sufficient energy absorption capacity that fulfills the legal requirements with respect to the protection of pedestrians.
Attempts to ensure a sufficient protection of pedestrians have resulted in front body constructions, in which the hood lock carrier is set back relative to the bumper carrier and an edge of the hood that protrudes over the hood lock carrier can be deformed with relative ease in order to yield in case of a collision with a pedestrian and to thusly decelerate the pedestrian. Although it was determined that the hood respectively yields with relative ease at the beginning of the deformation, the deformation resistance increases significantly as the deformation progresses. In order to improve the protection of pedestrians, it would be desirable to reduce the dependence of the deformation resistance on the extent of the deformation.
The invention aims to develop a front body for a motor vehicle that ensures an effective protection of pedestrians with simple means and solves or at least diminishes one or another of the above-described problems. In addition, other aims, desirable features, and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent summary and detailed description, and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background.


A method for forming resist patterns having two photoresist layers and an intermediate layer involves coating a primary photoresist film having a small thickness over an under layer, and exposing the primary photoresist film to light using a mask. Then, the primary photoresist film is developed, thereby forming a primary photoresist film pattern. An intermediate layer is formed over the entire exposed surface of a resulting structure, the intermediate layer being made of a spin on glass or plasma enhancement oxide. A secondary photoresist film is coated over the intermediate layer. The secondary photoresist film is exposed to light using the same mask as used for the primary photoresist film, and is developed to form a secondary photoresist pattern. A portion of the intermediate layer exposed through the secondary photoresist pattern is etched, forming a secondary photoresist pattern completely overlapping with the primary photoresist pattern so that the resulting resist pattern has a vertical profile.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for forming resist patterns in the fabrication of semiconductor devices, and more particularly, to a method for forming resist patterns having a vertical profile.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Where a resist pattern is formed using conventional single layer resist and tri-level resist methods, a notching occurs at side walls of the resist pattern due to light reflected by a substrate disposed under the resist pattern or an under layer. Such a notching results in a problem that the resist pattern has no vertical profile.
FIG. 1 illustrates the exposure of a resist film to light in accordance with a conventional method. As shown in FIG. 1, a photoresist film 34 is coated over a substrate or an under layer 35. As the photoresist film 34 is exposed to light 31 through a mask 32, the light transmitting the photoresist film 34 is reflected from the surface of the substrate 35 and then reflected again from the upper surface of the photoresist film 34. As a result, non-exposure portions of the photoresist film 34 are undesirably exposed to light 36 irregularly reflected as mentioned above. This results in a notching phenomenon that the side walls of a photoresist film pattern are partially removed.
Where a resist pattern is formed by coating a photoresist film over a substrate formed with another pattern and then patterning the photoresist film by use of exposure and development processes, a notching may occur due to the topology of the under pattern. In other words, the photoresist film pattern is partially removed at its side walls.
Generally, photoresist films used to obtain micropatterns are resist films having a low viscosity and a high sensitivity. Due to these properties, it is difficult for such photoresist films to have a large thickness. It is impossible to use photoresist films having a small thickness as masks for patterning metal layers. In order to increase the photoresist film thickness, a double resist coating method has been proposed.
FIG. 6 illustrates a conventional double resist coating method. In accordance with this method, a primary photoresist film 43 is formed over a silicon substrate 44 by coating a liquid phase photoresist material 46 through a nozzle 41 onto the silicon substrate 44 mounted on the shaft 45 of a spinner while rotating the silicon substrate 44, as shown in FIG. 6. A secondary photoresist film 42 is coated cover the primary photoresist film 43.
During the coating of the secondary photoresist film 42, the upper surface of the primary photoresist film 43 is dissolved by a solvent contained in the material for the secondary photoresist film 42, thereby causing an interface between the primary photoresist film 43 and the secondary photoresist film 42 to be poor. As a result, the primary and secondary photoresist films have a degraded uniformity in thickness. As the photoresist film thickness becomes larger, the resolution of the resulting resist pattern is degraded. This is because the undesirably large thickness of the photoresist film results in limiting the depth of focus which causes the process margin of the reduced exposure equipment to decline.

Method for forming resist patterns having two photoresist layers and an intermediate layer

Hyundai Electronics Industries Co., Ltd.


A semiconductor integrated circuit device has a page buffer, several memory cells to which data is written in accordance with write data stored in the page buffer, and an accumulating counter. The accumulating counter accumulates and stores a number of program loops spent for data write to several memory cells, and outputs the accumulated and stored number of program loops.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit device. In particular, the present invention relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit device including a data rewritable non-volatile semiconductor memory device.
2. Description of the Related Art
An electrically rewritable non-volatile semiconductor memory device, for example, a flash memory writes data in units of a page. In the write operation, program and verify are repeated. In the following description, the number of repeat times is called the loop count. The loop count is not infinite, but limited in some degree. If it is determined that write is sufficiently made before the program loop reaches the limited number of times, write status is set as "pass", and then, write with respect to the page ends. Conversely, if the program loop reaches the limited number of times in a state that write is not sufficient, write status is set as "fail", and then, write with respect to the page ends.
In the flash memory, for example, a NAND flash memory, several pages, for example, 32 pages, are collected to form a unit calling a block. The block is the data erase minimum unit.
As one of the specifications of a memory card, there is an average write speed of a block. If it is desired to determine the average write speed, it is recommended to measure the loop count of the entirety of one block. In order to determine the write speed, the following operation is required. Specifically, the loop count is measured when every write is completed with respect to one page. The foregoing operation is continued until write is completed with respect to the entirety of one block. Finally, the loop count thus measured is added together to obtain the total number of times.
However, according to the method of measuring the loop count when every write to one page is completed, much time is spent.    Reference document: JPN. PAT. APPLN. KOKAI Publication No. 5-314780


A magnetron sputtering apparatus can be used to achieve high quality coating on substrates if the substrates are positioned adjacent to the sputtering target. Furthermore, the coating can be enhanced if the substrate is rotated in a planetary manner about the sputtering target. This device can be used in the production of high quality mirrors if the device allows for alternating coatings of different materials.

Sputter deposition of materials has been widely used in the past for a number of applications including semiconductors, superconductors, and optical coatings. This sputter deposition has been accomplished through the use of DC diode sputtering, RF diode sputtering, RF magnetrun sputtering and other sputtering methods.
Typically, sputtering is accomplished by first establishing a gas discharge within a chamber. This gas discharge causes ions to be accelerated towards the cathode and eventually collide with the cathode surface. This collision with the cathode surface causes ion particles to be released from that surface and deposited on other surfaces in close proximity to the cathode. A substrate is typically placed close to the cathode and thus can be coated with the ion particles released from the cathode.
Magnetron sputtering is achieved by placing a magnet assembly behind the cathode. This magnet assembly can contain the plasma that is created by the gas discharge. Control of the plasma is very beneficial since it often maximizes the use of the cathode surface. By varying the design and configuration of the magnet assembly, depletion of the target surface can thus be controlled and maximized. In a typical gas discharge a plasma is created directly in front of the cathode. The plasma typically takes on an overall positive charge. A space is created between the plasma and the cathode surface which is free from electric charge. When electrons collide with the cathode surface, occasionally negatively charged ions are released. These negatively charged ions are accelerated across the dark space toward the plasma, due to the charge of the plasma. Subsequently the ions are accelerated through the plasma and collide with any objects that are situated behind this plasma. Due to the high rate of acceleration and large amount of energy, these ions can cause destruction or disturbance to a coated surface when they collide with that surface.
Sputter deposition is often used to produce high quality optical mirrors. When sputtering is used for this purpose, alternating layers of thin films are required to be deposited on a substrate. Therefore, it is necessary to sputter a first material to a certain thickness upon a substrate, and subsequently sputter a second material to a desired thickness on the same substrate. This sequence is then repeated for as many times as desired.
The need for alternating layers of sputtered material creates a problem in typical sputtering apparatus. The different materials must be sputtered onto the same substrate without unnecessarily handling the substrates themselves. Also, constant handling and changing of the target material is undesirable since that requires opening and closing of the gas filled chamber.
One approach has been to have numerous targets within one chamber and position the substrate in front of the appropriate target. While this method does allow for alternating coatings, the problem of direct, high energy collisions still exists. Additionally, the number of mirrors that can be produced concurrently is limited.

Off-axis magnetron sputter deposition of mirrors


A sintered dense laser block constructed of ceramic metal composition manufactured through sintering, conventional machining and electro discharge machining. A ceramic metal powder and binder are combined and shaped into a laser block. The laser block is then sintered to permit electro-discharge machining. After detailed machining various subsequent firings will yield different dielectric properties for the laser block. Other laser gyro ceramic parts may be manufactured with the method of the invention such as mirror assemblies, cathodes and laser path length controllers. The electro-discharge machining permits the construction of complex ceramic shapes from a slurry of powdered ceramic metal and binder which has been extruded or shaped and then conventional machined. The resulting part is cheaper and easier to make and the electro-discharge machining provides a method of creating very complex shapes in the part.

A glass-ceramic is a glass that has been transformed into a solid with a high crystalline component in its microstructure. Most glasses, composed of more than 50% Si0.sub.2 and other oxides, are super-cooled liquids (i.e. amorphous solids with the structure of a liquid). The absence of porosity normally found in ordinary ceramics, makes glass-ceramics strong and the inherent mixed structure makes low coefficients of thermal expansion possible.
The construction of complex components made from glass-ceramics is a difficult and expensive process. However, the advantages glass-ceramics offer, like excellent mechanical and thermal stability, often outweigh the manufacturing drawbacks. The present invention reduces or eliminates some of the manufacturing drawbacks or creating glass ceramic parts and enhances the desirability and advantages that glass-ceramics offer.
Presently, parts made from commercially available quartz-like materials, such as Cervit, Zerodur, fused silica, or glasses such as Schott Optical's BK-7 and other types of glass-ceramics, are constructed from a number of techniques including milling, boring, drilling, grinding, sanding, lapping, polishing, diffusion and lamination. Because it is difficult to produce large and complicated monolithic parts from such materials, smaller, less complicated structures are typically glued, bonded or optically sealed together in order to achieve larger complex structures.
Prior art techniques use a set of multi-stage operations to prepare complex monolithic structures. Each technique accomplishes a specific goal during the manufacturing of a structure from a blank of the unfinished material. Milling, boring and drilling serves to shape and form the ceramic into a useful shape.
For example, the successful construction of a gas filled ring laser angular rate sensor requires boring a laser cavity into a block of Cervit or Zerodur. Typically, three or more interconnected tunnels are bored within the block. Grinding, lapping and polishing serve to shape or form the surfaces of milled, bored, or drilled block features. For example, the successful preparation of the mirror structure mating surfaces at the corners of the laser gyro block can only be accomplished by grinding, lapping or polishing the surface. Mirror assemblies are bonded to mating surfaces at the corners of the block.
Ring laser angular rate sensor components may be constructed using the techniques of the invention. Prior art methods of creating ring laser angular rate sensors using a glass block created from the methods of the prior art are discussed above. In some cases, the resulting laser block has a tendency to out gas impurities from the surface of the machined cavities Prior art ring angular rate sensors block glass has tended to fracture because the glass has low thermal conductivity. Prior art laser gyro blocks must be cleaned by very harsh chemicals which have a tendency to etch the glass material of the block to remove fractures.
Due to the relatively low melting point and low coeficient of expansion of prior art glasses the types of commercial frits that may be used on the glasses have been limited. Prior art glass also suffers from the problem that the characteristics of the material are relatively undynamic and cannot be varied to fit each application. Also, prior art glass looses its memory after being exposed to excessive heat which leads to different coefficients of expansion. This in turn ruins the optical properties of the glass for its intended application. Prior art blocks also have a tendency to be relatively expensive. As a result, prior art ring laser gyroscopes built from the production method of the prior art tend to be limited in their amount of acceleration stress that the block can withstand. Also, prior art blocks cannot be cleaned with high-temperature processes that exceed 1000 degrees.
The method of the invention depends on electro-discharge machining which is a process of utilizing a conductive material and a high electric field to machine an object. Electro-discharge machining is well known in the art. A good reference material containing background material on electro-discharge machining can be found in Machine Tool Practices, Third Edition, Richard R. Kibbe, et al. John Wiley and Sons, New York 1987. pp. 739-740.
Electro-discharge machining is a non-traditional machining process involving the use of electric sparks. Electro-discharge machining removes material through the use of an electric spark generated by high energy power supply. Electro-discharge machining is known as EDM. EDM works by eroding material from a part by bringing the part close to a large potential voltage difference. The traveling of electrons from the electrode to the part erodes the part away. EDM is similar to other methods of machining in that it requires part positioning and measurement. EDM has been applied to numerical control systems thus increasing the effectiveness and precision of the results. One additional aspect of the EDM process is that the shape of the electrode dictates the features imparted in the part features eroded in the part. Electro-discharge machining electrodes are traditionally made for metal or graphite. An allied method is wirecut EDM where a wire is used as an electrode and the types of part geometry that may be machined are more intricate. The wirecut EDM works similarly to a band saw in conventional techniques.
Some ring laser gyro mirror assemblies themselves are composed of a number of glass-ceramic parts including the optical path length control (PLC) transducer mirror. The PLC transducer mirror often comprises two pieces of glass-ceramic having a common mating surface. In the current method of manufacturing PLC transducers two pieces of worked glass-ceramic are mated and bonded with an optical seal. Alternately, a bonding agent deposited on the mating surfaces such as a gold diffusion layer or a thin film of glass is used. A good discussion of such bonding techniques for transducer mirrors may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,865,451 to Ahonen, et al. entitled "SILICON SUBSTRATE MIRROR ASSEMBLY FOR LASERS".
Multi-layer structures manufactured in accordance with known techniques discussed hereinabove suffer from a number of disadvantages. For example, the use of a gold diffusion bond appears to result in an "aging bond," wherein bonding strength degrades with time. Further, the diffusion bonding process requires very high temperatures and pressures which may degrade the mechanical and thermal stability of the glass-ceramic material. Similarly, the use of epoxy seals, indium seals and other sealing and bonding materials result in structures with poor mechanical, electrical or optical properties.
Referring now to FIGS. 1A-1E which shows the processing steps illustrating one prior art method of creating glass-ceramic structures. The objective of the process is to create a final compound assembly using a glass-ceramic material.
As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a glass-ceramic block 100 is first milled using the techniques described above. The milled surface on glass-ceramic block 102 are indicated by 101 where a milling machine has taken off glass at a slow rate to achieve a first subassembly structure 104 as shown in FIG. 1C. Referring now to FIG. 1D, the first subassembly structure 104, a second subassembly structure 106 and a gold diffusion layer 108 is shown. The second subassembly structure 106 is fabricated in the same manner as the first subassembly structure 104. In this example, a simple compound assembly is fabricated from two cylindrical disks bonded together. The bonding technique used is a traditional gold diffusion bond which is created under high temperature. Two subassemblies 104 and 106 are coated with the gold diffusion layer 108 and aligned along lines 110. The parts are then brought into intimate contact, pre-loaded and the temperature is raised. The increase in temperature is detrimental to the properties of the glass-ceramic as discussed above but is crucial to the construction of a bonded assembly. In the final assembly step shown in FIG. 1E, the part is created and subassembly 104 is joined to subassembly 106 by the gold diffusion bond 108. Of course, the gold diffusion bond may be replaced by using glass frits, or brazing.
The difficulty and expense of prior art methods has created a need for a new method of manufacturing glass-ceramic structures. The present invention eliminates or reduces the need for extensive machining, drilling or boring of a ceramic subassembly by working with the material in the green state and using electro-discharge machining to fashion the glass.


A 10T NVSRAM cell is provided with a bottom HV NMOS Select transistor in each 3T FString removed from traditional 12T NVSRAM cell. A Recall operation by reading a stored ΔVt state of flash transistors into each SRAM cell uses a charge-sensing scheme rather than the current-sensing scheme, with all other key operations unchanged. The Recall operation works under any ramping rate of SRAM's power line voltage and Flash gate signal which can be set higher than only Vt0 or both Vt0 and Vt1. Alternatively, the Store operation can use a current charging scheme from a Fpower line to the paired Q and QB nodes of each SRAM cell through a paired Flash Voltage Follower that stored ΔVtp≧1.0V. The Recall operation in this alternative embodiment is to use a 7-step approach with the FN-channel erase, FN-channel program and FN-edge program schemes, including 2-step SRAM amplification.

Today, a trend of high-density NMOS NVSRAM memory more than 8 Mb is required. Therefore, besides the fixed six transistors (6T) of each SRAM cell, the number of transistors of each NMOS Flash cell should be minimized as much as possible.
Traditionally, a 12T NVSRAM cell comprises one 6T LV SRAM cell and one 6T HV Flash cell including paired 3T Flash strings. Each SRAM cell has paired storage nodes of Q and QB connected to two inputs of the paired Flash strings. Each 3T Flash string further includes one (high-voltage) HV Select transistor located on top and another one on bottom, with one 2-poly HV flash transistor sandwiched in the middle of above two HV Select transistors.
Each paired drain nodes of the paired Flash strings are preferably connected to each paired nodes of Q and QB of each 6T LV SRAM cell directly. Conversely, the paired source nodes of each paired Flash strings are connected to a common VDD power supply to provide the different current flows to charge each paired nodes of Q and QB at two different voltage levels for each SRAM cell's subsequent amplification through two different programmed channel threshold levels Vts of each paired Flash transistors during the Recall operation.
Although several NVSRAM approaches were disclosed before, the 12T NVSRAM using low-current FN-channel program and FN SBPI method is prevailing in the market place. The flash type can be either made of 1-poly charge-trapping SONOS or MONOS type from Cypress or 2-poly floating-gate NMOS or PMOS type from Aplus Flash Technology, Inc., or a trigate flash technology from Simtek. By 2012, the highest density of a 12T NMOS NVSRAM memory in production is 16 Mb.
There are five key fundamental operations associated with the 12T NVSRAM cell memory, as summarized here: 1) SRAM's LV Read and Write operation; 2) Flash's HV FN-channel Program operation; 3) Flash's HV FN-channel Erase operation; 4) NVSRAM Store operation; and 5) NVSRAM Recall operation.
The Store operation is defined to program each SRAM cell logic data into each corresponding Flash cell. This is like a Flash FN-channel Program operation as described in operation 2). This operation can be further divided into three sub-operations as shown below:                a) Auto-Store operation: This operation is defined to be performed when a first regular VDD power supply is removed and replaced by a second VDD back-up power supply by using an off-chip Vcap or Vbat.        b) Software-Store operation: This operation is defined to be performed during stable VDD period and is called by a defined sequence of software steps.        c) Hardware-Store operation: This operation is defined to be performed during stable VDD period and is called by a hardware pin by system Multipoint Control Unit (MCU).
The Recall operation is defined to transfer each Flash cell logic data into each corresponding SRAM cell. This operation is like a Flash Read operation. This operation can be divided into three sub-operations as shown below:                a) Auto-Recall operation: This operation is defined to be automatically performed during the power-up period of a first regular VDD power supply once the VDD ramping voltage level reaches above the predetermined voltage, such as 80% of the final stable VDD power.        b) Software-Recall operation: This operation is defined to be performed during stable VDD period and is called by a defined sequence of software steps.        c) Hardware-Recall operation: This operation is defined to be performed during stable VDD period and is called by a hardware pin by system MCU.
For example, in a U.S. Pat. No. 5,065,362, a 12T non-volatile RAM cell was provided with the flash cell being a 1-poly trigate cell structure. The biased conditions for program operation is: Flash word line FWL=+15V, source line FSL=0V, with Flash cell Vt≧+2V; for erase operation: FWL=−15V, FSL=0V, with Flash cell Vt≦−2V. In another example of U.S. Pat. No. 7,760,540, a 12T non-volatile SRAM cell was provided with the flash cell being a 1-poly charge-trapping SONOS or MONOS cell structure. The associated bias conditions for program operation is: FWL=+10V, FSL=0V, with Flash cell Vt≧+2V; for erase operation: FWL=−10V, FSL=0V, with Flash cell Vt≦−2V. In yet another example, as shown in a U.S. Pat. No. 7,164,608, granted to the same inventor of the present application, another 12T NVSRAM cell with a 2-poly floating-gate flash cell structure is provided. The biased conditions for program operation is: Flash word line FWL=+15V, source line FSL=0V, with Flash cell Vt≧+2V; for erase operation: FWL=−15V, FSL=0V, with Flash cell Vt≦−2V.
One big drawback of this 12T NMOS NVSRAM memory is its large 12T cell size that comprises one 6T LV SRAM cell and one 6T HV Flash cell. And each 6T Flash cell further comprises one paired 3T FStrings and each FString further comprises one top HV Select transistor, one bottom HV Select transistor, and one flash transistor sandwiched by two Select transistors in the middle.
Due to three transistors of each Flash string have to be made of all HV devices to sustain a HV of 5-7V generated by a SBPI (Self-Boosting Program-Inhibit) scheme during the FN-Channel Program operation of NVSRAM cell, the channel length of these two HV Select transistors are made relatively bigger than the ones of a LV SRAM two PMOS transistors and four NMOS transistors. As a result, it is desirable to achieve any saving of each HV Select transistor in each Flash string so as to drastically reduce the NVSRAM cell size for cost reduction.


A pattern electrode having a predetermined pattern and a connecting electrode connected to the pattern electrode are formed on one surface of a single-polarized ferroelectric substance crystal. An electric field is applied across the ferroelectric substance crystal with corona charging or electron beam irradiation from the side of the other surface of the ferroelectric substance crystal. A polarization inversion region having a shape corresponding to the predetermined pattern is thus formed in the ferroelectric substance crystal. The electric field is applied in a state, in which an electrical insulating material is located on the other surface of the ferroelectric substance crystal and at a position corresponding to at least a position of a certain area of the connecting electrode.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method of forming a polarization inversion region by applying an electric field across a ferroelectric substance crystal. This invention particularly relates to a polarization inversion method for a ferroelectric substance, wherein an electrode having a predetermined pattern is formed on a surface of a ferroelectric substance crystal, and an electric field is applied across the ferroelectric substance crystal in this state in order to cause polarization inversion to occur in accordance with the shape of the electrode. This invention also relates to a process for producing an optical wavelength converting device, wherein the polarization inversion method for a ferroelectric substance is utilized.
2. Description of the Related Art
A technique for performing wavelength conversion of a fundamental wave to its second harmonic by use of an optical wavelength converting device provided with regions, in which spontaneous polarization (domain) of a ferroelectric substance having a nonlinear optical effect has been inverted periodically, has been proposed by Bleombergen, et al. (The proposed technique for performing the wavelength conversion is described in Phys. Rev., Vol. 127, No. 6, 1918, 1962.) With the proposed technique for performing the wave length conversion, phase matching between the fundamental wave and its second harmonic is capable of being effected by setting a period Λ of the polarization inversion regions at integral multiples of a coherence length Λc, which is represented by Formula (1) shown below.Λc=2π/{β(2ω)−2β(ω)}  (1)wherein β (2ω) represents the propagation constant of the second harmonic, and β (ω) represents the propagation constant of the fundamental wave.
In cases where the wavelength conversion is performed by use of a bulk crystal of a nonlinear optical material, the wavelength at which the phase matching is effected is limited to a specific wavelength inherent to the crystal. However, with the proposed technique for performing the wavelength conversion described above, in cases where the period Λ of the polarization inversion regions, which satisfies Formula (1) shown above, is selected with respect to an arbitrary wavelength, the phase matching (i.e., the so-called "pseudo-phase matching") is capable of being effected efficiently.
One of techniques for forming the periodic polarization inversion structure described above has been disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,594,746. With the disclosed technique for forming the periodic polarization inversion structure, periodic electrodes having a predetermined pattern are formed on one surface of a single-polarized ferroelectric substance crystal having a nonlinear optical effect, corona charging of the ferroelectric substance crystal is performed with the periodic electrodes and a corona wire, which is located on the side of the other surface of the ferroelectric substance crystal opposite to the one surface described above, in order to apply an electric field across the ferroelectric substance crystal, and local area limited polarization inversion is thereby caused to occur at regions of the ferroelectric substance crystal, which regions stand facing the periodic electrodes.
Besides the technique for forming the periodic polarization inversion structure by the utilization of the corona charging, a technique for forming the periodic polarization inversion structure by the utilization of an electron beam has been proposed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,249,250 and a literature "FABRICATION OF DOMAIN REVERSED GRATINGS FOR SHG IN LiNbO3 BY ELECTRON BEAM BOMBARDMENT," ELECTRONIC LETTERS, Vol. 26, No. 3, pp. 188–189, February 1990. With the proposed technique for forming the periodic polarization inversion structure by the utilization of an electron beam, an electron beam is irradiated onto one surface of a single-polarized ferroelectric substance crystal having a nonlinear optical effect, an electric field is thus applied across the ferroelectric substance crystal, and a local area limited polarization inversion region is thereby formed in the ferroelectric substance crystal.
In cases where the electric field is applied across the ferroelectric substance crystal by use of the periodic electrodes described above, it is necessary that the side of the periodic electrodes is grounded. The periodic electrodes are constituted of a plurality of electrodes which are arrayed with a predetermined period. Therefore, in order for the periodic electrodes to be grounded, ordinarily, a technique for applying the electric field across the ferroelectric substance crystal is employed, wherein a single connecting electrode, which is electrically connected to the periodic electrodes, is formed on the surface of the ferroelectric substance crystal and is electrically connected to the ground via a wire.
In cases where the aforesaid technique for applying the electric field across the ferroelectric substance crystal is employed, if the connecting electrode is located within, for example, the regions, which are to be corona-charged, or the regions, to which the electron beam is to be irradiated, the polarization inversion will also occur in the areas of the ferroelectric substance crystal, which areas stand facing the connecting electrode. In such cases, if the amount of inverted electric charges is large, depending upon the thickness of the ferroelectric substance crystal, the area of inversion, and the period, it will often occur that the areas of the ferroelectric substance crystal, which areas stand facing the connecting electrode, suffer from breakage (cracking, and the like). Particularly, the crystal breakage occurs primarily at a bent area of the connecting electrode, which bent area is electrically connected to the periodic electrodes described above.
Also, particularly, the aforesaid problems with regard to the crystal breakage are markedly encountered with an LiNbxTa1−xO3 crystal, where 0≦x≦1, or an LiNbxTa1−xO3 crystal, where 0≦x≦1, having been doped with MgO, ZnO, or Sc, which crystal has the characteristics such that an electric conductivity of the ferroelectric substance crystal changes largely before the polarization inversion occurs and after the polarization inversion has occurred, and the electric charges are apt to concentrate at initial inversion areas.
Besides the cases where the periodic polarization inversion regions are formed by use of the periodic electrodes described above, the aforesaid problems with regard to the crystal breakage are also encountered in cases where the electric field is applied across the ferroelectric substance crystal with corona charging or electron beam irradiation by use of the electrode having a predetermined pattern and the connecting electrode electrically connected to the electrode having the predetermined pattern.
If the crystal breakage occurs, the ferroelectric substance crystal will become a defective produce, and the yield of polarization inversion will become low. Also, in cases where the optical wavelength converting device described above is produced by forming the periodic polarization inversion structure in the ferroelectric substance crystal with the aforesaid technique for applying the electric field across the ferroelectric substance crystal, if the yield of polarization inversion is low, the cost of the optical wavelength converting device cannot be kept low.

Polarization inversion method for ferroelectric substances


A system and method for tracking and identifying digital content distributors using file sharing networks. The system monitors distribution networks, logs pertinent network and distributor information, generates network statistics, gathers evidence of content distribution, and notifies interested parties of the availability of content on file sharing networks.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to digital content distribution, and in particular to the identification and tracking of digital content distributors on Wide Area Networks.
2. Related Art
Distribution of copyrighted digital content on the Internet and other Wide Area Networks (WANs) is a growing problem. Identification of digital content distributors is attempted on an ad hoc basis, for example by manually searching for a file representing a piece of copyrighted content on a file sharing network and making a note of user names and IP addresses of potential distributors advertising the file. Such approaches are inefficient and not scalable. Accordingly, is a need for an efficient and automated system for identification and tracking of digital content distributors on WANs.

Identification and tracking of digital content distributors on wide area networks


A hinge assembly (10) includes a tubular hinge housing (11) encasing a follower member (14), a cam (13) and a spring (12) in an interior space thereof. The follower member has a connector (141), a shaft (143), and a cylindrical portion (142) having a flat surface (1421) and at least one tab (1424) formed on the flat surface. The cam forms at least one peak (1321) and one valley (1322) thereon. The cam and the spring are respectively inserted over the follower member. Wherein the cam is sildably engaged in the hinge housing, and is rotatably and sildably coupled to the shaft of the follower member so that the tab of the follower member is received in the valley of the cam. An insert member (15) is inserted into the interior space of the tubular hinge housing for retaining the follower member therein.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for hinging together the housings of foldable devices, and particularly to an apparatus for hinging together the housings of a foldable mobile phone.
2. Description of Related Art
Portable radiotelephones having two housings joined by a type of hinge that allows the housings to fold upon one another are known in the art. Some such folding radiotelephones have most of the electronics in one housing, called the main housing, and fewer electronics in the other housing, called the cover. Other such folding radiotelephones have all the electronics in the body with the cover serving only to cover the keypad or keypad and display of the phone.
TW Pat. No. 411069 discloses a hinge assembly 40 as shown in FIGS. 5–6. A rotating shaft 41 is respectively inserted through a washer 42, a stationary cam 43, a sliding cam 44, a spring 45, and a fixing member 46. An elastic ring clip 47 fitted to an engaging groove (not labeled) of the shaft 41 is locked to a deformed hole (not labeled) of the fixing member 46 by being mounted into the hole at an inside thereof. The shaft 41 is thereby fixed such that the shaft 41 does not come off the fixing member 46 and the fixing member 46 is rotated along with the shaft 41. A ring 48 is fitted to another engaging groove (not labeled) of the shaft 41. Furthermore, the fixing member 46 is fastened in and rotated along with the cover 50, and the stationary cam 43 is fixed in the main body of the mobile phone. The sliding cam 44 is rotated along with the shaft 41 and can linearly slide along the shaft 41. When the cover 50 is rotated, the fixing member 46 and the shaft 41 are rotated along with the cover, and the sliding cam 44 engages with the stationary cam 43 to retain the cover 50 in an opened or closed position. However, during cover rotation, the shaft 41 suffers a torsional force, so that the shaft 41 is in danger of being broken or damaged. Furthermore, the hinge assembly 40 is complex, and is not convenient to assemble in a limited retaining space of the mobile phone.
Therefore, an improved structure of a hinge assembly is desired which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art.

Hinge assembly and portable electronic device having same


The application relates to a device for measuring the weight of a ballast assembly of a crane, and to a crane comprising a corresponding device. The device may include a ballast assembly coupled to the structure of the crane by seats, the seats may comprise a measurement shaft, and the measurement shaft deforming under a weight of the ballast assembly.

Measuring the weight of ballast bodies is used to ensure appropriate ballasting of cranes. For this purpose, the crane has to be equipped with ballast weights, in accordance with corresponding load tables, in such a way that the crane is not damaged or destroyed when raising and lowering loads or when the load torque is changed or increased.
Automatic weight measurement may be used to monitor manually ballasted cranes with respect to the weight of the ballast bodies, and to send corresponding signals to the operators of the crane if the ballast body weight is too low, or to prevent, using control or regulation technology, raising of a load that is then too great.
A common problem of devices for measuring weight of ballast bodies is that corresponding sensors may be damaged during crane operation or during operation on construction sites in which the crane is operating. Furthermore, inadvertent incorrect entries by the operators may allow for raising of loads that are actually not permissible or may allow for incorrect setting of the crane, wherein the damaged or soiled sensors may erroneously display correct ballasting.
Problems can also arise in the case of unballasting or retrospective ballasting, which problems result from an initially correctly set and determined ballast mass being changed. In this case, the ballast mass of a first, correctly ballasted, crane may be changed by means of another crane. For example, a ballast plate may be removed from a correctly set ballast mass or added to a correctly set ballast mass. If the ballast mass state is not corrected correspondingly, in crane monitoring, following a change of this kind, dangers may result for the crane and the operators.
Against this background, the object of the application is that of providing an improved device for measuring the weight of a ballast assembly of a crane, which device functions in a more reliable and simpler manner.
This object is achieved by embodiments described in and envisioned by the application. According to an embodiment of the application, the ballast assembly is coupled to the remainder of the structure of the crane by means of at least three seats, wherein the seats comprise seating points on which the ballast assembly rests. Accordingly, the seating points can correspond to the contact regions of the seats, on which regions the seats are in contact with the ballast assembly. It is conceivable for one seating point to be assigned to each seat.
According to the application, at least one of the seats is configured as a weighing device that comprises at least one measurement shaft. In this case, the measurement shaft is a component that is different from the seating point and may not formed integrally with the seating point. According to the application, the weight of the ballast assembly can be determined on the basis of the loading and/or deformation of the measurement shaft.
For this purpose, at least one corresponding sensor may be provided on the measurement shaft or in the region of the measurement shaft, which sensor may be coupled to a regulation/control means of the crane. The sensor can record load values and/or deformation values of the measurement shaft and provide said values to the regulation/control means. The weight of the ballast assembly can be determined on the basis of said measurement values. The term "measurement shaft" is to be understood broadly, and can refer to any component of which the deformation and/or loading correlates with the weight of the ballast assembly.
In an embodiment of the application, it is conceivable for the measurement shaft to be arranged directly below the seating point. The measurement shaft can thus be located, in a defined manner, in the flow of force that corresponds to the introduction of the weight force of the ballast assembly into the subsurface of the crane. Such an arrangement of the measurement shaft makes it possible to increase the measuring accuracy of the device in a simple manner.
In a further embodiment, it is conceivable for at least the seat that is configured as a weighing device to be arranged so as to be pivotable, about a tilt shaft, relative to the remainder of the structure of the crane. In this case, the at least minimal pivoting of the seat about the tilt shaft is brought about by applying the ballast assembly or the corresponding weight. The deformations or loadings of the device that occur during pivoting can be used to more simply measure the weight of the ballast assembly. This is due to the fact that the pivotable arrangement of the seat means that it is possible to increase the change in position thereof under ballast, which can correspondingly lead to an increase in the loading and/or deformation of the measurement shaft. This increased loading and/or deformation of the measurement shaft can be determined more precisely by the sensor, in order to increase the measuring accuracy.
In a further embodiment, it is conceivable for at least one stop point to be provided, for fixing the seat, configured as a weighing device, relative to the remainder of the structure of the crane. While the seat that is pivotably hinged to the crane can be pivoted correspondingly by means of applying the ballast weight, said pivot movement can be limited, within a suitable frame, by the stop point.
In an embodiment, it is conceivable for the stop point to be the measurement shaft itself. In this case, the weighing device or the corresponding seat can also rest on or strike the stop point in an unloaded state, i.e. in a state without an applied ballast. In one embodiment, the freedom of pivot movement of the weighing device can be restricted by the stop point, and said device may be pivotable only away from the stop point, or maybe pivotable towards the stop point, only within elastic limits of the components involved.
In a further embodiment, it is conceivable for the stop point to be configured as a bolt running in a groove, as a ring comprising a recess, or as a shoulder. In this case, corresponding sensors for recording the loading or the deformation of the bolt, of the ring or of the shoulder may be provided at suitable locations.
In a further embodiment, it is conceivable for the seating point to be spherical or planar, and/or to comprise a gimbal and/or a spherical bearing.
In a further embodiment, it is conceivable for a connection to be provided, which is configured for positioning the ballast assembly in an interlocking manner with respect to the remainder of the structure of the crane. In this case, the connection can be different from the seating point and arranged further away from the ballast assembly than the seating point.
In an embodiment, it is conceivable for the connection and the seating point to be configured to introduce the weight force of the ballast assembly into the remainder of the structure of the crane, via the measurement shaft.
The device can thus be configured such that the weight force of the ballast assembly is introduced into the remainder of the structure of the crane exclusively via the connection and the seating point of a seat. In the present case, the expression "the remainder of the structure of the crane" comprises components of the device other than those mentioned in each case, which components are to be assigned to the crane itself. In this case, "the remainder of the structure of the crane" need not be the entire remainder of the structure of the crane, but rather any further components of the crane may be meant.

Device for measuring the weight of a ballast assembly of a crane, and crane comprising a corresponding device


The present invention provides novel full-length human antibodies that bind to human Fc epsilon-R1 alpha (monospecific antibodies). The present invention also provides novel bispecific antibodies (bsAbs) that bind to both Fc epsilon-R1 alpha and CD3 and activate T cells via the CD3 complex in the presence of Fc epsilon-R1 alpha-expressing cells. The bispecific antigen-binding molecules of the invention are useful for the treatment of diseases and disorders in which an upregulated or induced Fc epsilon-R1 alpha-targeted immune response is desired and/or therapeutically beneficial. For example, the bispecific antibodies of the invention are useful for the treatment of allergies, including anaphylaxis.

FcεR1 is a high affinity Fc receptor for Immunoglobulin E (IgE), and FcεR1 binds to IgE with an equilibrium dissociation constant (KD) value of about 10−10 M. FcεR1 receptor crosslinking by allergen-bound IgE leads to cellular degranulation and subsequent allergic response, and the serum level of IgE is positively correlated with FcεR1.
Human FcεR1 is expressed in mast cells, basophils, monocytes, macrophages, mDCs, pDCs, Langerhans cells, eosinophils and platelets. Mast cells and basophils are innate effector cells that play a role in allergy and anaphylaxis via allergen mediated crosslinking of the IgE receptor, FcεR1α. Other roles include wound healing and mucosal immunity.
There are two types of human multimeric cell surface FcεR1 receptors, the tetrameric form and the trimeric form. The tetrameric human FcεR1 comprises an a chain, a 3 chain, and a homodimer of γ chains (αβγ2), and the trimeric human FcεR1 comprises an a chain and a homodimer of γ chains (αγ2). The α-chain of FcεR1 binds to a single IgE antibody molecule, while there is no reported role for β- and γ-chains in ligand binding.
Human FcεR1 binds to both human and murine IgE, and interleukin-4 (IL-4) enhances the expression of the α-chain in humans. In contrast, murine FcεR1 only has the tetrameric αβγ2 isoform and is expressed in mast cells and basophils. IL-4 does not enhance the expression of the α-chain of murine FcεR1.
CD3 is a homodimeric or heterodimeric antigen expressed on T cells in association with the T cell receptor complex (TCR) and is required for T cell activation. Functional CD3 is formed from the dimeric association of two of four different chains: epsilon, zeta, delta and gamma. The CD3 dimeric arrangements include gamma/epsilon, delta/epsilon, and zeta/zeta. Antibodies against CD3 have been shown to cluster CD3 on T cells, thereby causing T cell activation in a manner similar to the engagement of the TCR by peptide-loaded MHC molecules. Thus, anti-CD3 antibodies have been proposed for therapeutic purposes involving the activation of T cells.
Antigen-binding molecules that target FcεR1α, as well as bispecific antigen-binding molecules that bind both FcεR1α and CD3 would be useful in therapeutic settings in which specific targeting and T cell-mediated killing of cells that express FcεR1α is desired.

Anti-Fc epsilon-R1 alpha (FcεR1α) antibodies, bispecific antigen-binding molecules that bind FcεR1α and CD3, and uses thereof