There is provided a method of digital Automatic Gain Control (AGC) in a receiver having limited dynamic range, particularly for discontinuous signals. The method comprises detecting the level of a received and AGC'd discontinuous signal, comparing the level of the AGC'd signal relative to the dynamic range of the receiver, and adjusting the AGC to establish a desired relationship between the AGC'd signal and the dynamic range limitation. There is also provided a method of handoff in a TDMA cellular-type transmission system utilizing this method of AGControl.. The method for Automatic Gain Control (AGC) of discontinuous signals in a receiver having limited dynamic range is further characterized by: digitizing a received and AGC'd discontinuous signal and converting the digitized samples to a power sample to sense the power of and detect the level of the signal, comparing the level of the AGC'd signal relative to the dynamic range of the receiver; and coarsely-adjusting by either progressively attenuating the signal until it falls within the dynamic range of the receiver or by progressively gain-amplifying the signal until it falls within the limited dynamic range of the receiver and finely-adjusting the AGC of the received signal until optimum use of the full (albeit limited) dynamic range of the signal processing stages is about 6-12 dB below maximum sensitivity to establish a desired relationship between the AGC'd signal and the dynamic range limitation.

Although the concept of Automatic Gain Control (AGC) in radio signal reception is well understood, automatic gain control of Time Division multiplexed Multiple Access (TDMA) signals presents new challenges to the land-mobile industry.
In wideband TDMA systems, such as the cellular system proposed for use in Europe, an RF channel is shared (time-division-multiplexed) among numerous subscribers attempting to access the radio system in certain ones of various time-division-multiplexed time slots. The time slots are arranged into periodically repeating frames. Thus, a radio communication of interest may be periodically discontinuous--interleaved with unrelated signals transmitted in other time slots. The unrelated signals (of widely varying strength) must not influence the gain control of the signals of interest. A formidable challenge then is to provide Automatic Gain Control of these periodically discontinuous TDMA signals.
The challenge is further enhanced by attempting to provide digital AGC in inexpensive receivers--those having limited dynamic range. Since these signals may vary by as much as 100 dB in the land-mobile environment, but modest 8-bit Analog-to-Digital converters (A/D) for digital signal processing are limited to 48 dB dynamic range, techniques must be developed for controlling the gain of the signal to keep it within the limited dynamic range of the receiver. The challenge then is to handle a 100 dB discontinuous signal with a 48 dB device; otherwise, prohibitively expensive A/Ds with greater dynamic range must be utilized.
Another challenge for gain control is introduced by the digital nature of these TDMA transmission systems. Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK) modulates the quadrature phases of the signal such that the power of the received signal is more difficult to measure, and neither of the quadrature phases, taken alone, is proportional to the received signal power.
This invention takes as its object to overcome these challenges and realize certain advantages, presented below.


The present disclosure relates to vectors for cloning and expressing genetic material including but not limiting to antibody gene or parts thereof and methods of generating said vectors. Said vectors express the antibody genes in different formats such as Fab or scFv as a part of intertransfer system, intratransfer system or direct cloning and expression in individual display systems. In particular, phage display technology is used to clone and screen potential antibody genes in phagemid which is followed by the transfer of said genes to yeast vector for further screening and identification of lead molecules against antigens. The present vectors have numerous advantages including uniquely designed inserts/expression cassettes resulting in efficient and smooth transfer of clonal population from phage to yeast vectors resulting in efficient library preparation and identification of lead molecules.

Cell surface display is a technique that allows the target protein to be expressed on the cell exterior by fusing it to a carrier protein, which is typically a cell membrane associated protein or its subunit. Surface display technology is employed as library screening tool for protein engineering, directed evolution, and drug discovery. However, said display technology is associated with it's own merits and demerits.
For instance, the ribosome display method is technically more challenging due to relative instability of the RNA and the ribosomal complex. Another limitation of this technique is the inability to display a single chain protein such as ScFv. Intracellular selection methods, such as yeast-two-hybrid system or protein complementation assay directly rely on intracellular expression of the target protein. However, they come with several limitations including propensity to aggregate in intracellular scenario, low cellular half-life and most importantly the whole system needs to be tailored for a specific application depending on the type of antigen against which the screening is intended. Further, though phage display is widely accepted method, there are limitations on proper protein folding due to being a prokaryotic expression system and lack of post translational modifications of the displayed proteins. To overcome these limitations, yeast display platform, a eukaryotic display system can be employed. However, major challenge in case of yeast display system and similarly all other eukaryotic cell surface systems is the limited transformation efficiency setting limits on the library size that can be achieved which makes the entire process less efficient.
Success of a protein/antibody library, in terms of screening against an antigen, lies in its independent representation of vast size without compromising on the diversity and functional size of the library along with secretion efficiency, processing efficiency and post translation efficiency amongst other factors. In this regard, the flexibility of display systems, such as phage and/or yeast display platforms, is an absolute essential criterion to achieve such an objective. The flexibility of display systems is contingent on the kind of expression vectors being used and whether compatibility exists between them. Further, the compatibility and complementarity of vectors signify the transfer of diversity from phage to yeast display system either via combinatorial or batch transfer approaches. Said compatibility and complementarity features are lacking in the presently employed synthetic constructs/vectors of phage and yeast display systems.
The instant disclosure is directed towards addressing the above limitations of the current technologies and therefore aims at providing vectors which accommodate and cross-transfer large and diverse protein gene libraries via a combinatorial process which thereby improves the potential of identifying, transferring, preserving and generating proteins with varied affinities and specificities.

Vectors for cloning and expression of proteins, methods and applications thereof


A device is disclosed which includes an interposer, at least one capacitor formed at least partially within an opening formed in the interposer and an integrated circuit that is operatively coupled to the interposer. A method is disclosed which includes obtaining an interposer having at least one capacitor formed at least partially within an opening in the interposer and operatively coupling an integrated circuit to the interposer. A method is also disclosed which includes obtaining an interposer comprising a dielectric material, forming an opening in the interposer and forming a capacitor that is positioned at least partially within the opening.

1. Technical Field
The subject matter disclosed herein is generally directed to the field of semiconductor manufacturing, and, more particularly, to an interposer structure with an embedded capacitor structure and various methods of making same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Integrated circuit technology uses electrical devices, e.g., transistors, resistors, capacitors, etc., to formulate vast arrays of functional circuits. The complexity of these circuits requires the use of an ever-increasing number of linked electrical devices so that the circuit may perform its intended function. As the number of transistors increases, the integrated circuitry dimensions shrink. One challenge in the semiconductor industry is to develop improved methods for electrically connecting and packaging circuit devices which are fabricated on the same and/or on different wafers or chips. In general, it is desirable in the semiconductor industry to construct transistors which occupy less surface area on the silicon chip/die.
Conventionally, an integrated circuit device receives power from a power supply and is provided with a connection to ground, e.g., via a connection to VSS. Normally, the power and ground connections are connected to the integrated circuit device through power and ground planes. One issue with power and ground planes in modern integrated circuit devices is that they contribute to inductive ringing. In memory devices, ringing due to package self-inductance can slow down the external interface. It is very desirable to minimize the inductive path for the power supply and ground connections to improve the performance of the integrated circuit.
Inductive ringing has been addressed previously by increasing the number of power and ground lines such that each line handles a reduced capacitive load. However, increasing the number of lines may contribute to increased package size, which may also be undesirable. Conventional power supply and ground planes may be positioned on the semiconductor die contributing to larger die size. It is desirable to minimize, to the greatest possible extent, the die size to enable smaller integrated circuit devices to be produced.
Another issue with power supply and ground planes is the necessity to provide capacitive decoupling. Commonly, decoupling capacitors are used to provide the necessary decoupling for the integrated circuit device. Again, these decoupling devices add to cost and size.
Circuit boards and other carrier substrates or platforms, both single- and multi-level, are employed to mechanically support and electrically connect both active devices, such as semiconductor dies, as well as passive components, such as resistors, capacitors and inductors. Conventional system in package (SIP) and multi-chip package (MCP) assemblies typically include discrete components of both classes, e.g., resistors, capacitors and inductors, as well as various solid state "chips" or "dies" hard wired, plugged, soldered, ball-bonded or otherwise electrically connected to a conductor network carried by a platform such as a card, board or other substrate. In the prior art, discrete capacitors as well as resistors and inductors are often required to be placed on the platform in combination with adjacent, associated semiconductor die, for example in the construction of a single in-line memory module (SIMM) or dual in-line memory module (DIMM). With the increased circuit densities required by ever-faster processors and larger memories, due to a generally fixed board or platform area, commonly termed "real estate" in the semiconductor industry, the use of discrete passive components is viewed as an undesirable but hitherto necessary waste of real estate which could otherwise be applied to better and higher uses.
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Methods of making an interposer structure with embedded capacitor structure


A tool shelf magazine for milling and drilling machines has at least one shelf, a plurality of compartments provided in the shelf above each other at predetermined intervals and also a plurality of notches, which are open on one side accommodating one suspended tool. A handling device is vertically and horizontally shiftable by means of a motor located adjacent to the shelf. At least one gripper arrangement is provided for extracting predetermined tools from the shelf and for transferring them to a tool changer. At least one shelf has compartments with notches serving as tool accommodations on the front and back side. The notches on the front side are located in the access range of the handling device and the notches on the back side are accessible for retooling. The shelf is formed so as to be rotatable about an axis for a change of sides.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to machine tools, and more specifically to a tool shelf magazine, particularly for machine tools or machining centers, for example.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Various tool shelf magazines are known and are preferably used for complex machine tools, such as machining centers and eroding equipment, all of which are capable of carrying out a multitude of different machining processes using different tools. Conventional shelf magazines have a shelf positioned adjacent to the machine tool and a plurality of compartments disposed above each other in predetermined intervals. A plurality of approximately semicircular notches are formed in each compartment and are open on the machine side. Various tools are inserted into the machine side with their tool tapers. A handling system is provided laterally on or adjacent to the shelf. The handling system has a support column shiftable on horizontal rails and a gripper arrangement vertically shiftable on the support column. A movable tool gripper is provided for extracting a specified tool from the magazine and for transporting the tool to a transfer position in which the tool is either directly inserted into the work spindle according to the pick-up principle or transferred to a tool changer. Such shelf magazines having a handling system are known, for example, from European patent 0 319 914 B and German patent publication 100 20 801 A.
German patent publication 39 25 567 A describes a plurality of magazine shelves disposed adjacent to the machine tool on one side and two compartments having a number of tool accommodations. The magazine shelves are individually movable on lateral support rails from a rear stand-by position to a front position, where the individual tools can be taken up by a gripper arrangement that is shiftable on a rigid support frame. The tools can then be inserted into a vertical spindle or a horizontal spindle of the machining center. However, such a tool storage and handling system is relatively complex and requires a greater amount of space adjacent to the machine tool.


A composition, containing at least 50% by weight of a polyamide fraction which comprises: a) from 50 to 95 parts by weight of a polyamide having as copolymerized units bis(4-aminocyclohexyl)methane (PACM) and a linear dicarboxylic acid having from 8 to 18 C atoms; and b) from 50 to 5 parts by weight of a linear aliphatic polyamide having an average of from 8 to 12 C atoms in the monomer units, where the sum of the parts by weight of a) and b) is 100 is provided. The composition can be processed to give a moulded article having high transparency, high toughness and high resistance to chemicals, to solvents and to stress cracking.

The invention relates to a mixture which comprises a transparent polyamide, and also comprises a semicrystalline polyamide that in the pure state is opaque. As a blend, this type of polyamide mixture is transparent; and corresponding moulding compositions have better mechanical properties than the individual components.
Transparent polyamides made of bis(4-aminocyclohexyl)methane (PACM) with from 30 to 70% content of trans,trans-stereoisomer, and also dodecanedoic acid, are known from DE 15 95 150 A1. EP 0 619 336 A2 describes corresponding transparent polyamides made of from 35 to 60 mol % of trans,trans-bis(4-amino-cyclohexyl)methane and from 65 to 40 mol % of other diamines, and also linear aliphatic dicarboxylic acids. According to the description of EP 0 619 336 A2, the transparent polyamides of that type are crystalline; they therefore have good resistance to solvents, and also to stress cracking.
EP 0 725 101 A1 describes transparent, amorphous polyamides which are composed either of alkyl-substituted cycloaliphatic diamines having from 14 to 22 C atoms and of unbranched aliphatic dicarboxylic acids having from 8 to 14 C atoms or of unbranched aliphatic diamines having from 8 to 14 C atoms and of cycloaliphatic dicarboxylic acids. It is mentioned that these polyamides can also be used to produce blends or alloys with aliphatic homopolyamides, but no advantages of any type are alleged for these. No specific relevant examples are disclosed. The amorphous polyamides of described in EP 0 725 101 cannot be based on PACM.
Likewise, EP 0 837 087 A1 does not disclose the use of PACM for the production of the transparent polyamides. It is possible to produce alloys or blends with polyamides such as PA11 or PA12, these likewise being allegedly transparent. Otherwise nothing is said about the properties of alloys or blends with PACM. It remains unclear whether alloys or blends of that type are at all advantageous.
EP 1 595 907 A1 describes transparent amorphous polyamides based on diamines and tetradecanedoic acid, and also mixtures thereof with semicrystalline polyamides. PACM can be used as diamine, and specific mention is made here of PACM20, which comprises 20% of trans,trans-isomer. However, there is no explicit disclosure of the mixture of a PACM-based transparent amorphous polyamide with a semicrystalline polyamide.
The polyamides based on PACM have valuable performance characteristics, and with suitable composition are transparent, but microcrystalline and therefore resistant to solvents and to stress cracking; they have a high level of mechanical properties, for example impact resistance. However, there remains a need for improved puncture resistance. This is important in the application sector of spectacle frames and spectacle lenses, in particular in "sports" applications and "defence" applications. In these applications the material is characterized through a ball-impact test where a ball of defined weight is propelled with a defined velocity onto a spectacle frame or a spectacle lens. Another disadvantage of these polyamides is high melt viscosity under processing conditions, making it difficult to produce filigree components. Although the melt viscosity can be lowered by using the corresponding polyamide with lower molecular weight, this considerably impairs mechanical properties, in particular impact resistance and puncture resistance. The lower molecular weight also leads to lower tensile strain at break, high notch sensitivity and lower ageing resistance on exposure of the mouldings to heat or moisture.
The object of the invention consists in improving the processability of the said polyamides while avoiding any significant impairment of transparency, of resistance to solvents and to stress cracking, and also of mechanical properties. Another aspect of the object consists in improving the puncture resistance, breaking strength, notch sensitivity and ageing performance of corresponding mouldings, while avoiding impairment of transparency, resistance to solvents and to stress cracking.


A turbine blade for use in a gas turbine engine is provided. The turbine blade includes an airfoil portion having a tip end, a shroud attached to the tip end, which shroud has an outer surface, and a knife edge attached to an outer surface of the shroud. The knife edge has a pair of cutter blades protruding outwardly from the knife edge.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to gas turbine engines, and more particularly, to a turbine blade for use in such engines.
(b) Prior Art
Gas turbine blades are rotating airfoil shaped components in series of stages designed to convert thermal energy from a combustor into mechanical work of turning a rotor. Performance of a turbine can be enhanced by sealing the outer edge of the blade tip to prevent combustion gases from escaping from the flowpath to the gaps between the blade tip and the outer casing. A common manner of sealing the gap between the blade tips and the turbine casing is through blade tip shrouds.
A feature of a typical turbine blade shroud is a knife edge. Depending upon the size of the blade shroud, one or more knife edges may be utilized. The purpose of the knife edge(s) is to engage honeycomb material located on the inner surface of the outer casing to further minimize any leakage around the blade tip. One typical type of knife edge is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,491,498 to Seleski et al.
In some shroud configurations, the knife blade is provided with one or more cutting blades which cut the honeycomb material as the blade rotates. Japanese Patent Publication No. 8-303204 illustrates a knife blade having such cutting blades with one of the cutting blades being at an end of the knife edge and the other being removed from the end of the knife edge.
Often, prior art shrouds having knife edge sealing arrangements suffer from a life shortfall as a result of creep initiated by the extra mass of the cutter feature being located at an outer edge of the shroud. Thus, there is need for an improved shroud construction which meets all sealing requirements, and yet does not suffer from creep which shortens the life of the shroud.


An attentional portion to be corrected in gradation of an image is specified, and a gradation corrective function with respect to a density of the specified attentional portion is generated. Preset gradation conversion characteristics are corrected with the gradation corrective function, and the gradation of the image is converted according to the corrected gradation conversion characteristics. The gradation conversion characteristics can be corrected in the vicinity of a desired density.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of processing an image by way of gradation conversion or color correction.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the printing and platemaking fields, there have widely been used image reading, recording, and reproducing systems for electrically processing a color image recorded on a subject to be read, producing film plates or printing plates in the colors C, M, Y, K, and obtaining a desired print from the film plates or printing plates for the purposes of making printing and platemaking processes more efficient and improving the image quality.
The color image is read by a scanner device or the like and then converted in gradation or corrected in color for each of the colors C, M, Y, K in order to obtain a print in a desired gradation or color tone with respect to an attentional portion.
Specifically, the gradation converting process converts the density of the color image into a density capable of achieving a desired output halftone dot %. A tone curve, which is an input-density vs. output-density conversion table, used in the gradation converting process is adjusted in highlight (HL), shadow (SD), and middle (MD) portions of the color image according to a gradation corrective coefficient that the operator has established. However, the tone curve is adjusted by correcting gradation corrective functions prepared respectively for the HL, SD, and MD portions based on the gradation corrective coefficient. Consequently, if a certain gradation between the HL and MD portions is finely adjusted, then the gradation of an unintended portion is also varied.
In the color correcting process, it is customary to prepare corrective intensity functions primarily for the six hues of C, M, Y, R, G, B and correct the corrective intensity functions using a color corrective coefficient established by the operator for thereby obtaining a desired color tone. For adjusting the color tone of a particular portion, since the corrective intensity functions are set primarily for the six hues of C, M, Y, R, G, B, the color tone of an unintended portion is also varied. For example, if a flesh color is to be adjusted, then since the corrective intensity functions primarily for the hues of R and Y are corrected, the hues of R and Y are largely changed rather than the flesh color itself. If a duller green is to be adjusted, then since a corrective intensity function is corrected more greatly for a color of greater saturation, a more vivid green is changed rather than the duller green.


Embodiments of a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) with a logarithmic response and methods for converting digital signals to analog are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. In some embodiments, the DAC includes a wedge-shaped resistive array having a plurality of linearly-spaced contact nodes and a switching array to selectively couple one of the contact nodes with an analog output based on a control signal. Each of the contact nodes may provide a corresponding reference voltage that varies logarithmically with respect to the linearly-spaced contact nodes.

In RF devices, digital representations of RF signal levels and/or measured field strengths are used by digital circuitry. Because RF signal levels are generally measured in decibels (dB), which are logarithmic representations of the RF power level, linear ADCs that convert voltages representing the RF signal levels do not provide the desired precision at lower levels. ADCs with a logarithmic response may be used to overcome this issue, but are difficult and/or expensive to fabricate. Alternatively, the output of linear ADCs may be converted digitally to a logarithmic output, but linear ADCs may not have the precision in the lower range to provide an accurate result. Similar fabrication issues exist for DACs in which a non-linear response, such a logarithmic response, is desired.
Thus, there are general needs for DACs having a non-linear response, and methods for converting a digital input to an analog voltage. There are also general needs for DACs having a non-linear response that are less expensive and/or that require less precision to fabricate.

Digital-to-analog converter with logarithmic selectable response and methods


A personal memo device adapted to be worn around the wrist. The device is made from a flexible sheet-like material and has a message-receiving portion upon which a message can be written and wrist straps extending from opposite sides of the message receiving portion. The free ends of the wrist straps can be secured together with adhesive or with interlocking hooks formed in the straps to secure the device around the user's wrist. The device may also be provided with a confidentiality flap that can be folded over the message-receiving portion to conceal a message written thereon. The devices are preferably provided in a pad.

This invention relates to making notes and reminders, and in particular to a personal memo device which allows the user to wear a note or memo on the wrist as a reminder.
Various types of memo pads and other devices have been made to help people remember important information, such as events, errands, etc. However, notes tucked in one's pocket are easily forgotten as are messages written on a calendar, organizer, or memo board. The proverbial string tied around a finger may be less easily forgotten, but it does not give the wearer detailed information. What has been needed is a convenient, easy to use device that provides the user with a note or reminder, and which cannot be lost or forgotten by the user, but is relatively inconspicuous to others.


A new and distinct cultivar of Gypsophila plant named ‘Esm Cold’, characterized by its erect and strong flowering stems; early, uniform and freely flowering habit; semi-double white-colored flowers; and good postproduction longevity.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Gypsophila plant, botanically known as Gypsophila hybrida, grown commercially as a cut flower, and hereinafter referred to by the name 'Esm Cold'.
The new Gypsophila is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in El Quinche, Pichincha, Ecuador. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely flowering Gypsophila cultivars with many petals per flower and straight stems.
The new Gypsophila originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in El Quinche, Pichincha, Ecuador in February, 2003 of a proprietary selection of Gypsophila hybrida identified as Line 146, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Gypsophila hybrida identified as Line 31, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar Esm Cold was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in El Quinche, Pichincha, Ecuador.
Asexual reproduction of the new Gypsophila by cuttings in a controlled environment in El Quinche, Pichincha, Ecuador since December, 2003, has shown that the unique features of this new Gypsophila are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.


A method for preparing high resolution negative-working wash-off relief images comprising the sequential steps of: (a) providing a non-photosensitive, aqueous processable layer, preferably on a substrate, said layer comprising a dispersion of solvent-coalesceable particles in a polymer matrix; (b) imagewise applying an ink to the non-photosensitive layer to coalesce the particles and form a water-insoluble polymer blend between the particles and the polymer matrix in the ink applied areas; and (c) washing the layer with an aqueous developer solution to remove the non-ink applied areas of the layer.

It has long been known in the art that images may be prepared using what is known as a "wash-off" development step in which a latent image is developed by washing with water or other aqueous or non-aqueous developing solution. Such techniques have been widely used in the preparation of flexographic plates, printed circuits, etc. from photosensitive compositions.
It is also known in the art that relief images may be prepared from photosensitive or non-photosensitive elements using wash-off development techniques in which the image layer is applied with an ink jet printer. British Patent 1,431,462 teaches such a method. More specifically, this patent teaches both positive and negative-working systems for forming a relief image using primarily natural proteinaceous materials. In the negative-working system, a polymer coating (e.g. gelatin) is crosslinked, polymerized, or otherwise imagewise hardened by applying a suitable agent (e.g. formaldehyde) using ink jet printing and then dissolving the unhardened areas with a developing solution. In the positive-working system, ink jet printing is used to apply an agent (e.g. enzyme) which will degrade an otherwise insoluble polymer coating, thus rendering it soluble in the developing solution.
Although desirable in principle, the methods disclosed in the aforementioned British Patent are disadvantageous in practice. First, the natural proteinaceous polymers disclosed in this patent lack many physical characteristics necessary from most relief applications, thus rendering such reliefs of limited practical or commercial utility. Second, crosslinking and degradation reactions are relatively slow, particularly at room temperature, thus decreasing the efficiency of the process. The patent teaches that heat could be applied to facilitate the reaction, but this requires an additional step and presents other complications. Third, many of the crosslinking agents, such as aldehydes, are environmentally disadvantageous. Fourth, the use of photopolymerizable compositions requires an additional exposure step, which increases costs and lowers efficiency. Fifth, many of the developing solutions are organic solvent- based, are highly alkaline, or are maintained at elevated temperatures and thus present additional environmental and safety hazards. Sixth, the latent images generated by such methods are not stable, reducing the utility of the process. Finally, the resolution obtainable from these methods was only marginal and often insufficient for demanding commercial application.
The present invention overcomes many of these disadvantages and provides a process which poses minimal environmental risks, is easy to use and has the capability of producing images of high resolution in a very short period of time.

Method for preparing negative-working wash-off relief images


Provided is a differential payment system connected to both a supplier terminal of a supplier providing a service and a purchaser terminal of a purchaser purchasing the service though a network, to differentially pay for the service based on an evaluation data of the service provided by the supplier.

As the number of overseas/domestic travelers increases every year, the number of disputes between tour package suppliers and tour package purchasers gradually increases. Possible main disputes include touting of optional items, arbitrary service changes and omissions, peremptory sales, and unkindness. In typical systems used to pay for tour packages, a tour package purchaser completely pays for a tour package before the departure. Thus, when a tour package supplier lowers a service level at a tour site or omits a service, it is difficult for the purchaser to appropriately respond to the act of the supplier.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a process of selecting a tour package and paying for the tour package according to a related art. Generally, a purchaser selects a tour package and a tour package supplier and confirms his/her selection through the Internet and completely pays for his/her tour package to the supplier before departure. Since the purchaser substantially pre-pays for his/her tour package, service quality at a tour site only depends on credit of the supplier. Specifically, as the number of personal tours increase, the number of direct contracts with local tour agencies increases. Thus, damages to tourists from cheap tour agencies abusing pre-payment are increasing.
Although suppliers prepare local services with money paid by purchasers, typical prepayment systems have problems by a standard that a price is paid in return for a service. Thus, methods of paying for tour packages should be improved.

System and method for differential payment


Digital control of frequency and/or amplitude modulation techniques of an intracavity and/or extracavity AOM (60) facilitate substantially full extinction of a laser beam (90) to prevent unwanted laser energy from impinging a workpiece (80); facilitate laser pulse amplitude stability through closed-loop control of pulse-to-pulse laser energy; facilitate beam-positioning control including, but not limited to, closed-loop control for applications such as alignment error correction, beam walk rectification, or tertiary positioning; and facilitate employment of more than one transducer on an AOM (60) to perform any of the above-listed applications.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a typical prior art laser 2 employing a traditional acousto-optic Q-switch 10a. FIGS. 2A and 2B (generically, FIG. 2) are alternative partly schematic views of a prior art acousto-optic modulator (AOM) 10 having a transducer 12 responsive to a radio frequency (RF) driver 14 that controls the extent to which the AOM 10 transmits a zero-order beam 16 and/or a first-order beam 18. FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the traditional technique for controlling the RF driver 14. With reference to FIGS. 1–3, AOMs 10 have traditionally been used as Q-switches 10a within the resonators of lasers 2 to control pulse timing, repetition rate, and cavity gain. A typical Q-switch 10a (or a typical AOM 10) includes an RF transducer 12 that is amplitude-modulated by the RF driver 14 at a specific frequency set by a manufacturer. The Q-switch 10a is typically controlled by a laser system controller 4 that commands a power supply 14a to provide a selectable amount of power to the RF transducer 12 to allow laser pulses to either exit the laser or to hold the laser energy inside the laser resonator. The power supply 14a also typically provides power to a laser pumping source 6 to provide pumping radiation to a laser medium 8 in response to commands from the laser system controller 4. These components cooperate to produce a pulsed laser beam 20 when desired.
AOMS 10 have also been used as variable intra-resonator loss modulators to control laser pulse timing and intensity by variably controlling the amplitude of the RF signal delivered to the RF transducer(s) 12 on the AOM(s) 10 as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,074 of Emmons, Jr. et al. AOMs 10 have also been used as extra-cavity beam attenuators that control the intensity of the laser beam 20 by diffracting the laser beam 20 with varied diffraction efficiency so that a percentage of the optical energy travels down a desired beam path and most of the rest of the optical energy travels to a "beam dump."
More recently, Electro Scientific Industries, Inc. of Portland, Oreg. has employed AOMs 10 as gating control devices or "pulse pickers" to allow pulses from a laser 2 to propagate through or along various positioning system components to impinge a workpiece when commanded and to inhibit the laser pulses from impinging the workpiece when not commanded. This process is described in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,172,325 of Baird et al.
With reference again to FIGS. 2 and 3, the transducer 12 converts an RF input signal from the analog RF driver 14 into a sound wave 19 that sets up in the AOM 10. As the sound wave 19 transverses through the AOM 10, the sound wave 19 distorts the optical media of the AOM 10, causing increases and decreases in indexes of refraction in the AOM 10. Thus, an incoming laser beam 20 is diffracted by the sound wave 19 and follows the laws of diffraction, resulting in the zero-order beam 16 that is on-axis and in first-order (or higher-order) beams 18 at angles specified by equations relating to the diffraction process.
When no RF power 22 is applied to the AOM 10, the incoming laser beam 20 passes through the AOM 10 substantially along its original beam path. When the RF power 22 is applied to the AOM 10, part of the incoming laser beam's energy is diffracted from the beam path of the zero-order beam 16 to a beam path of a first-order beam 18. The diffraction efficiency is defined as the ratio of the laser energy in the first-order beam 18 to the laser energy in the incoming laser beam 20.
With reference to FIG. 4, either the first-order beam 18 or the zero-order beam 16 can be used as a working beam to impinge a workpiece 30, based on different application considerations. When the first-order beam 18 is used as the working beam, the energy of the working laser pulses can be dynamically controlled from 100% of its maximum value down to substantially zero, as the RF power 22 changes from its maximum power to substantially zero, respectively. Because the practical limited diffraction efficiency of an AOM 10 under an allowed maximum RF power load is about 75% to 90%, the maximum energy value of the working laser pulses is about 75% to 90% of the laser pulse energy value from the laser.
However, when the zero-order beam 16 is used as the working beam, the energy of the working laser pulses can be dynamically controlled from about 100% (minus losses from traveling through the AOM 10, perhaps as much as a few percent due to thermal and dispersion considerations) of the maximum value of the laser pulse energy from the laser down to about 15% to 20% of the maximum value, as the RF power 22 changes from substantially zero to its maximum power, respectively. For memory link processing, for example, when the working laser pulse is not on demand, no leakage of system laser pulse energy is desired (i.e., the working laser pulse energy should be zero), so, as shown in FIG. 4, the first-order beam 18 is used as the working beam and the zero-order beam 16 is directed to a beam dump, such as an absorber 32.
An extinction ratio 34 of the AOM 10 defines the difference in transmitted power of a laser pulse 36 (36a or 36b) between an "unblocked" (or "transmitting") state 38 and a "blocked" or "nontransmitting" state 40. FIG. 5 is a simplified generic graph showing the differences in transmittance of blocked and unblocked laser beam 20 as a function of decibel (dB) level applied to the AOM 10 at a specific frequency. With reference to FIGS. 3 and 5, conventional AOMs 10 used in pulse-picking laser systems receive, from a constant frequency generator 24 (typically a PLL or a crystal), a specific single radio frequency that is set by a manufacturer and cannot be changed. This frequency determines the output angle and controls the amount of diffraction by RF amplitude within the limits of the extinction ratio 34.
The amplitudes of the signals sent to the analog RF drivers 14 of conventional AOMs 10 can be controlled by either sending a transistor-transistor logic (TTL) "ON" or "OFF" signal from an on/off digital controller 26, and/or by sending an analog signal of 0–1 volt in non-integer increments from an analog amplitude control board 28, into the RF driver 14. The TTL "OFF" signal directs the analog RF driver 14 to lower the output to the minimum level, which is the lowest power output the RF driver 14 will allow. Setting the analog signal into the RF driver 14 at its minimum level will accomplish the same result. Both of these options will, however, still allow the transmission of a small amount of RF power 22 to transducer 12, creating a low-energy diffracted first-order beam 18 that passes to the workpiece 30 when it is not wanted.
As laser powers continue to increase for a variety of laser applications (such as laser DRAM processing, laser trimming and micromachining, and laser micro-via drilling), many of these laser applications seek the ability to turn completely off the laser power to the work surface. In these laser operations, the workpiece may be expensive in terms of materials and/or prior processing. If the laser output does not turn completely off, there is potential to "leak" or diffract energy to the workpiece in locations where damage to, change to, or effect on the material properties or characteristics is unacceptable. In laser trimming, unwanted energy could, for example, induce undesirable electro-optical effects in the material that are undesirable. Regardless of the laser operation, leaked laser energy has the potential to cause significant irreversible damage to a customer's product, such as devices on a wafer, and such damage may not necessarily be noticeable by visual inspection. Energy leakage problems in laser systems can occur in a continuous range of wavelengths, including long-wavelength CO2 (about 10 μm), infrared and near infrared (such as 1.3 μm to 1.0 μm), visible, and UV (less than about 400 μm).
With the increasing use of AOMs 10 in laser processing applications, energy leakage problems become increasingly more evident. Unfortunately, even when the minimum RF level is sent to state-of-the-art AOM controllers, there is still some RF power 22 that leaks into the AOM 10, causing some amount of laser beam energy to be diffracted to a potentially unwanted location. Such leakage can also occur when traditional Q-switches 10a are employed, allowing for some laser energy to exit the laser 2 during the laser energy buildup time when laser output is undesirable.

AOM modulation techniques employing an upstream Bragg adjustment device


The invention provides a bail for a rope shovel having a hoist rope and a dipper. The bail includes a pair of arms coupled to the dipper; and a cross-member extending between the pair of arms and being pivotably coupled to each of the arms. The cross-member includes a mounting block for coupling the hoist rope to the bail.

The present invention relates to the field of mining shovels. Specifically, the present invention discloses a bail for a shovel dipper.
Conventional mining shovels include a boom, a dipper handle coupled to the boom, and a dipper coupled to an end of the dipper handle. The dipper is moved during a dig cycle by a rope that passes over a boom sheave coupled to the end of the boom. The rope is attached to a bail and/or an equalizer, which are coupled to the dipper. The bail and the equalizer can be used separately or in combination. A bail provides a rigid connection between the rope and dipper and maintains clearance between the rope and the dipper. The bail increases the dig force by applying the rope force closer to the digging lip. An equalizer maintains the ropes in a position that is tangent to the boom sheave and increases the dig and dump heights of the dipper.
However, conventional bails and equalizers directly attached to the dipper each have disadvantages: the bail reduces the dig and dump heights of the dipper, and the equalizer reduces the cutting force. Although combining the components into the same assembly balances these factors and improves the cutting force, the combination increases the length of the components between the rope and the dipper and results in reduced dig and dump heights.


According to one embodiment, a method for encapsulating a conductive structure having a first layer, a second layer and a third layer, with a cladding layer, for improved electromigration performance is described. The method comprises the following steps: forming a fourth layer over the conductive structure and reacting at least a portion of the first layer, the third layer and the fourth layer with a portion of the second layer to form a cladding layer that encapsulates an unreacted portion of the second layer. In one embodiment of the present invention, the cladding layer is TiAl.sub.3.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of our invention relates generally to semiconductor manufacturing, and more particularly to a method for cladding an interconnect for improved electromigration performance.
2. Description of Related Art
During the process of semiconductor fabrication, metal films are deposited on a wafer surface. After being patterned into various metal strips or lines utilizing, for example, a photomasking process, a metal layer then connects the devices on the wafer as required by the circuit operation. These strips of metal are often referred to as interconnects.
Interconnects are impacted as the semiconductor industry moves toward smaller and smaller device dimensions in order to allow for a greater density of devices per wafer. As the device dimensions shrink, the width of the interconnects also shrinks. Therefore, the narrow dimensions of an electrical interconnect lead to higher resistances and greater current densities in the conductive layer which forms the electrical interconnect. The increased current density then causes a reduction in the electromigration lifetime.
Electromigration is a phenomenon that occurs in aluminum interconnects while the circuit is in operation. Electromigration shows up as a field failure, and not as a failure during semiconductor processing. Electromigration is caused by the diffusion of the aluminum atoms in electrical fields set up in the interconnect while the circuit is in operation. Electromigration is often the result of the movement of the electrons in a conductor when an electrical field is raised to a very high level and the operating temperature is high. This results in a physical displacement of conductor atoms, such as aluminum atoms, that eventually leads to an open conductor and circuit failure when the metal thins and eventually separates completely. Electromigration becomes even more of a problem as the level of integration increases. This is because the higher number of components in a VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration) circuit creates more current flow and also generates more heat.
One solution to increasing the electromigration lifetime of an aluminum interconnect is to introduce an alloying species, for example, typically 0.5% copper to the aluminum. Another solution is to deposit a thin layer of a metal (or metals) prior to the deposition of the aluminum. This thin layer of metal, usually titanium, acts as a barrier or shunt layer. Therefore, if there is a small void in an aluminum interconnect, the current may go around the void by going down through the barrier layer instead. The result is a longer electromigration lifetime because it requires greater damage to the aluminum interconnect or line with the barrier layer in order to cause the same amount of damage to the electrical circuit without the barrier layer.
This solution, however, has several drawbacks. First, titanium has a much higher resistance than aluminum. Second, current barrier layers do not prevent hillocking at the sidewalls of an interconnect, so their effectiveness as a constraint is limited. A hillock is the localized displacement of a thin film material, such as aluminum, that occurs when the material is heated and cooled or when the material has undergone electromigration stressing. A hillock provides a location to accumulate the material that has been displaced when a void is created. Ease of hillocking is associated with degraded electromigration performance.
Another solution is to apply a mechanical constraint to the aluminum line or interconnect by passivation. This constraint is usually a layer of silicon dioxide deposited around the line which also electrically isolates one line from another. However, the industry is moving away from silicon dioxide and toward low temperature polymers as insulation/passivation layers in an effort to increase performance. This is because the use of the polymers as passivation layers has been ground to decrease the time delay of circuits. Unfortunately, these polymers are softer than silicon dioxide and thus, are unable to act as an effective mechanical constraint against electromigration induced hillocking.
Thus, what is needed is a process for cladding an interconnect to increase electromigration lifetime, prevent or reduce sidewall hillocking and allow the use of soft polymers to lower the RC (resistance-capacitance) time delay of a circuit.

Cladding of an interconnect for improved electromigration performance


Electromechanical sensors that employ Janus micro/nano-components and techniques for the fabrication thereof are provided. In one aspect, a method of fabricating an electromechanical sensor includes the following steps. A back gate is formed on a substrate. A gate dielectric is deposited over the back gate. An intermediate layer is formed on the back gate having a micro-fluidic channel formed therein. Top electrodes are formed above the micro-fluidic channel. One or more Janus components are placed in the micro-fluidic channel, wherein each of the Janus components has a first portion having an electrically conductive material and a second portion having an electrically insulating material. The micro-fluidic channel is filled with a fluid. The electrically insulating material has a negative surface charge at a pH of the fluid and an isoelectric point at a pH less than the pH of the fluid.

Microelectromechanical (MEMS) and nanoelectromechanical (NEMS) devices have been implemented as sensors in a number of different applications, such as velometers and accelerometers. Because they are mechanical, MEMS and NEMS can reduce standby leakage current. Electromechanical devices also potentially have better sub-threshold behavior than transistors (which are limited by 60 mV/dec.).
However, conventional electromechanical device designs require a large control gate voltage which makes them hard to scale. Further, many conventional MEMS and NEMS devices rely on a cantilever design wherein a cantilever structure (e.g., a polysilicon arm or array of arms) actuates during operation of the device. Thus the reliability of these devices can also be an issue. Reliability refers to a lifetime of the electromechanical switch, for example how many times the electromechanical transistor can be switched on and off, how long the electromechanical transistor can stay on with resistance less than a certain value, etc.
Therefore, an improved electromechanical sensor design that does not suffer from the above-described drawbacks would be desirable.

Techniques for fabricating Janus sensors


A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device employing a semiconductor inspection apparatus to accurately inspect semiconductor elements while still in the wafer state, the semiconductor inspection apparatus including: a probe sheet 31 having contact terminals 7 which contact electrodes 3 of a wafer 1 and contact bumps 20b electrically connected to respective contact terminals 7; and a probe sheet 34 which is backed by a metal film 30b and having contact electrodes 34a which contact the contact bumps 20b of the probe sheet 31 and peripheral electrodes 27b electrically connected to the respective contact electrodes 34a, the wafer 1 is interposed between the probe sheet 34 and the supporting member 33 via the probe sheet 31 by reducing pressure through vacuuming, and the contact terminals 7 which have a pyramidal or truncated shape are contacted to the electrodes 3 of the wafer 1 at a desired atmospheric pressure, thereby performing the inspection.

As the technologies for manufacturing a semiconductor device, the following technologies are known.
For example, in the manufacturing process of a semiconductor device, after forming semiconductor circuits on a wafer, an assembly step is carried out, through which products such as packaged products, bare chips, and CSPs (Chip Size Packages) which are typical shipping forms of semiconductor devices are formed. Inspections performed in the manufacturing process of such semiconductor devices are roughly sorted into the following three inspections. The first is wafer inspection for checking the conduction state and the electrical signal operating state of semiconductor elements, which is performed in a wafer state in which semiconductor circuits and electrodes are formed on a wafer. The second is burn-in test in which semiconductor elements are placed in a high-temperature state so as to eliminate unstable semiconductor elements. The third is sorting inspection for checking the product performance before shipping the semiconductor devices.
Numerous semiconductor devices (chips) are provided on the surface of such a wafer, and they are individually separated and then used. The individually separated semiconductor devices have many electrodes arranged on their surfaces. In order to inspect the electrical characteristics of such semiconductor devices mass-produced industrially, a connecting device comprising probes formed of tungsten needles obliquely projecting from a probe card (hereinafter, referred to as Conventional technology 1) has been employed. Inspections by use of the connecting device employ a method in which contact is made by scratching the electrodes with the contact pressure utilizing flexibility of the probes and then the electrical characteristics thereof are inspected.
Also, as another conventional technology, for example, the technology described in Patent Document 1 (hereinafter, referred to as Conventional technology 2) is known. This technology discloses an inspection system as follows. That is, contact terminals which are formed with using the holes formed by anisotropic etching of silicon as casts are formed on the wiring on a flexible insulating film, and a probe sheet fixing substrate which is fixed to the rear surface side of the contact terminal forming surface of the insulating film with interposing a buffer layer therebetween is overlapped on a wafer support substrate in which the wafer on which the semiconductor devices to be inspected are formed is fixed to a wafer-shaped groove of the wafer support substrate. By this means, the tip surfaces of the contact terminals are brought into contact with the surfaces of the electrodes of the wafer to take the electrical connection. Then, the semiconductor devices are inspected.
Furthermore, as still another conventional technology, for example, the technology described in Patent Document 2 (hereinafter, referred to as Conventional technology 3) is known. This technology discloses a burn-in wafer cassette as follows. That is, a probe sheet including bumps which penetrate polyimide resin and serve as contact terminals, wiring board in contact with the sheet via anisotropic conductive rubber on the rear surface thereof, and a wafer tray on which the wafer is placed are sealed with a circular sealing member provided outside the wafer mounting part, and the pressure of the space between the wiring board and the wafer tray sealed by the sealing member is reduced. By this means, the tip surfaces of the contact terminals of the probe sheet are brought into contact with the surfaces of the electrodes of the wafer, thereby taking the electrical connection. Then, the semiconductor devices are inspected.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 07-283280
Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 11-135582

Probe cassette, semiconductor inspection apparatus and manufacturing method of semiconductor device


In the present invention four thrusters are provided as a group of thrusters for collision avoidance. These thrusters contain a component of translational thrust for collision avoidance injection in their respective outputs, and are capable of simultaneously generating posture control torque around two coordinate axes, which are orthogonal to a thrust axis, in order to maintain the directional stability of the thrust axis during the injection. When abnormality arises in a group of thrusters for ordinary use, collision avoidance is executed by replacing all the thrusters for ordinary use by these thrusters for collision avoidance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a collision avoidance device for preventing a rendezvousing spacecraft from colliding against a target when an abnormal situation arises during the flight by employing a sensor close to a target in space, in addition to a guidance and control device, thrusters, and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 5 shows a collision avoidance device and the associated devices of a conventional rendezvous spacecraft. In FIG. 5, numeral 1 represents a navigation sensor (hereinafter referred to as a sensor) for measuring and computing flight conditions of the rendezvousing spacecraft, such as a relative position to a target, a posture, and acceleration. Numeral 2 represents a guidance and control device. Numeral 3 represents a circuit (hereinafter referred to as a thruster driver for ordinary use) for driving a group of thrusters (hereinafter referred to as a group of thrusters for ordinary use) which generate translation force and triaxial rotation torque in three dimensional space. Numeral 4 represents a group of thrusters for ordinary use. Numeral 5 represents a collision avoidance device. Numeral 6 represents an abnormality determining circuit. Numeral 7 represents an avoidance operation command circuit. Numeral 16 represents a circuit (hereinafter referred to as a thruster driver for redundant use) for driving a group of spare thrusters (hereinafter referred to as a group of thrusters for redundant use) which have functions equivalent to those of the group of thrusters for ordinary use. Numeral 17 represents the group of thrusters for redundant use whose constitution is same as that of the group of thrusters for ordinary use.
In the conventional arrangement described above, each of those devices, including the collision avoidance device 5, operates in the following manner. During a normal flight, in accordance with instrumentation signals transmitted from the sensor 1, the guidance and control device 2 computes required controlling force of six degrees of freedom, in total, concerning position control and triaxial posture control in three dimensional space. A drive command is then generated for each thruster. The thruster driver for ordinary use 3 drives the group of thrusters for ordinary use 4 in response to the received drive command. After execution of a sequence of the operations, a rendezvous flight to the target is performed. However, if any one of the devices malfunctions, for example, due to an abnormal operation, e.g., a cutoff of output from the sensor 1 or an erroneous injection, a normal rendezvous flight will not be performed. In a worst case, the chaser spacecraft and the target may collide with each other.
In order to avoid such a collision during the flight, in the collision avoidance device 5, the abnormality determining circuit 6 selects a signal which the guidance and control device 2 has designated from among monitor signals concerning the flight conditions, (e.g., a relative position, a posture, and acceleration), outputted by the sensor 1. The abnormality determining circuit 6 then compares the signal, or a value computed from the signal, with a reference value which has been previously set in the abnormality determining circuit 6, thereby performing a repeated determination of the presence of an abnormality, such as a mechanical failure, an excess of posture error, and a deviation from a predetermined orbit. When any abnormality is found, the avoidance operation command circuit 7 is notified of the abnormal incident. The avoidance operation command circuit 7 then determines how to cope with the situation based on the type of abnormal incident and a criterion showing the risk of collision, (e.g., an estimated amount of time the spacecraft reaches the target), which is provided by the guidance and control device 2. An outcome of the determination is transmitted to the guidance and control device 2 as a command to perform the collision avoidance.
If the avoidance operation command circuit 7 determines that any failure arises or may arise in the group of thrusters although there is not sufficient time left before the spacecraft reaches the target, the group of thrusters will be switched to the group of thrusters for redundant use, and a command to perform the injection for collision avoidance will be given to the guidance and control device 2. In accordance with the command, the guidance and control device 2 computes the required controlling force of six degrees of freedom, to carry out the injection for collision avoidance and to maintain an appropriate posture during the period, and inputs a drive command for each thruster, to the thruster driver for redundant use 16. Consequently, a group of thrusters for redundant use 17 is activated and the injection for collision avoidance is finally executed.
A correlation between a direction of the injection for collision avoidance and an avoidance orbit is shown by an "equation 1." Equation 1 is a so-called Hill equation. This is an equation of motion which shows a relative position of the rendezvousing spacecraft to the target by setting the coordinate origin to be the target, X-axis to be in the direction of the orbit of the target, and Z-axis to be in the direction of the center of the earth. (Y-axis, namely, motion in the direction which deviates from the spacecraft's orbital plane is omitted because such motion does not influence collision avoidance.) FIG. 6 illustrates an example of the solution of the equation 1. In FIG. 6, numeral 15 represents the rendezvousing spacecraft and numeral 18 represents the target. Coordinates X and Z are in the direction of the orbit of the target and the direction of the center of the earth, respectively, as shown in the equation 1. As shown in the drawing, if thrust is applied in the direction of orbit by the injection for collision avoidance, the rendezvousing spacecraft 15 will pass over and move away in the backward direction towards the target 18. If the thrust is applied in the reverse direction of the orbit, the rendezvousing spacecraft 15 will pass below and move away in the forward direction towards the target 18.
Equation 1! EQU d.sup.2 X/dt.sup.2 -2.omega.dZ/dt=0 EQU d.sup.2 Z/dt.sup.2 +2.omega.dX/dt-3.omega..sup.2 Z=0
X: Relative distance of the rendezvousing spacecraft, which is moving in the forward direction, to the target PA1 Z: Relative distance of the rendezvousing spacecraft, which is moving in the direction of the earth, to the target PA1 .omega.: Orbit angular velocity
The aforementioned principle is applied to collision avoidance. In order to execute collision avoidance safely, a relative position to the target, and a direction and time period of the injection according to relative velocity, shall be appropriately set beforehand in the avoidance operation command circuit 7. In order to avoid such a collision, it is essential to apply the thrust as previously set. Therefore, the rendezvousing spacecraft is usually equipped with at least a group of thrusters for redundant use 17 as a way of precaution against a failure of the group of thrusters for ordinary use 4. An example of the arrangement of the groups of thrusters is shown in FIG. 7. As shown in FIG. 7, for the purposes of generating three dimensional translation force and triaxial rotation torque, the arrangement of a group of thrusters for rendezvousing is such that a mass of thrusters are arranged in a complicated manner. Here, a solid line arrow represents one of the thrusters for avoidance, and a dashed line arrow represents one of the thrusters for redundant use. Each of these arrows shows a direction of the injection.
There is another method of preventing such a collision. In this method (hereinafter referred to as an arrangement method), none of the thrusters for redundant use 17 are used, but translation force and rotation torque for the collision avoidance are generated by removing one or more of the broken thrusters from the group of thrusters for ordinary use 4 and then combining the remaining thrusters. This is a method which uses software logic capable of processing according to the number of combination of thrusters shown in an "equation 2." More specifically, in the guidance and control device 2 of FIG. 5, the software logic needed to generate the required translation force and rotation torque is prepared in advance with arbitrary thrusters being excluded, and a command to perform posture control and injection for collision avoidance is provided to the thruster driver for ordinary use 3. Here, the posture control and the injection for collision avoidance are performed by a combination of thrusters which excludes the broken thruster(s) specified by the collision avoidance device 5.
Equation 2!
The number of combination(C) when excluding m pieces from n pieces of thrusters: ##EQU1##
Example of calculation: if n is 16 and m is 2, .sub.16 C.sub.2 will be 120 ways.
In the prior art, there are some problems. More specifically, the injection for collision avoidance and the posture control during the injection are carried out by using the group of thrusters for redundant use 17, which function to generate three dimensional translation force and triaxial rotation torque, equivalent to the group of thrusters for ordinary use as described above. Consequently, the prior art has superfluous functions for ensuring safety of the rendezvousing spacecraft and the target and involves a complicated construction and a comparatively high cost. On the other hand, if such injection for collision avoidance and posture control during the injection are carried out, for the purposes of solving the aforementioned problems, by an arbitrary combination of the remaining thrusters which are left after only arbitrary thrusters, namely, broken thrusters were excluded from a group of thrusters for ordinary use, there are a larger number of ways of combining these thrusters as shown in the equation 2. Therefore, software for processing the data will become large in scale, and costs required for the verification of the software will increase.

Rendezvous spacecraft collision avoidance device


Apparatus for remotely counting the number of individual objects of the same general shape and disposed in a collection having a front end in a common vertical plane.

It is often necessary to count the number of individual objects such as bricks, bags of cement or other like objects which are disposed in a collection of these objects in a common plane. While such counts may be obtained by having one or more individuals to stand adjacent to the plane, but inclement weather conditions or other factors may require such counts to be made in positions remote to this plane.
The present invention provides new and improved apparatus for performing such remotely disposed counting operations.

Apparatus for remotely counting objects in a collection using differential lighting


A device for heating parisons made of a thermoplastic material and having a supporting ring for blow molding hollow bodies, having a conveyor means, a plurality of holding means which are arranged on the conveyor means and grip the head area of the parisons between the supporting ring and the mouth and radiant heaters arranged on the path of movement of the parisons carried by the holding means, a shield supported by the conveying means being assigned to each holding mandrel in the form of a cover plate which is located at the height of the supporting ring and has a borehole to receive the supporting ring. Furthermore, there is also a cooling device, which acts directly on the exposed head area. This permits optimum protection of the head area of the parisons, which is not to be shaped or deformed, to prevent unacceptable heating.

British Patent 2 095 611 B has already disclosed such a device with which the parisons are gripped on the outside in the head area by means of holding fingers between the supporting ring and the open mouth and the shielding is formed by a cylindrical protective jacket which surrounds most of the head area including the supporting ring. Although the parison head area, which is not to be deformed, is protected from direct heating by the radiant heater due to this protective jacket, it is not protected from indirect heating by the protective jacket, which is itself heated by the radiant heaters.
British Patent 2 095 611 B has already disclosed such a device with which the parisons are gripped on the outside in the head area by means of holding fingers between the supporting ring and the open mouth, and the shielding is formed by a cylindrical protective jacket which surrounds most of the head area including the supporting ring. Although the parison head area, which is not to be deformed, is protected from direct heating by the radiant heater due to this protective jacket, it is not protected from indirect heating by the protective jacket, which is itself heated by the radiant heaters.

Device for heating preforms provided with supporting ring


An adjustable booster-type seat having a base 10 for supporting the seat on a flat surface, a riser 12 mounted for height adjustment on the base, a body support 14 having a seat and back mounted for arcuate motion on the riser 12 for changing the angular position of the body support 14 and being adjustable in height by virtue of the adjustability of the riser on the base. A restraint bar 16 is detachably connected to the body support and in turn adjustably carries a tray 18 enabling the tray to be moved toward and away form the back and to be mounted at different angles with respect to the body support 14.

This application relates to booster-type seats. In accordance with one aspect of the application, the elevation of the body support may be varied. In accordance with another aspect of the application, the angular disposition of the body support may be varied. These features enable the seat to accommodate newborns who are fed by a caregiver and toddlers seated at a table. Another aspect of the present application is the adjustability of the tray with respect to the body support so as to move the tray toward and away from a child in the seat to accommodate the child's size, as well as to change the angular disposition of the tray with respect to the body support so that the tray may be placed in a substantially horizontal position when the body support is in its reclined position. This feature enables a caregiver to place food on the tray while feeding a young child without the food sliding off the tray. Yet another aspect of the present application is the unitized construction of the seat and backrest that comprise the body support so that the two move together as the body support is adjusted. And yet another aspect of the present application is the collapsibility of the backrest so as to accommodated storage and transporting of the seat. This is particularly advantageous in seating that has a unitized seat and backrest.
Additional objects, features and advantages of the present application will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the subject matter of this application as presently perceived.


A semiconductor device can include a substrate and a trace layer positioned in proximity to the substrate and including a trace for supplying an electrical connection to the semiconductor device. Conductive layers can be positioned in proximity to the trace layer and form a bond pad. A non-conductive thin film layer can be positioned between the trace layer and the conductive layers. The thin film layer can include a via to enable the electrical connection from the trace to the bond pad. A portion of the trace between the substrate and the plurality of conductive layers can have a beveled edge.

An integrated circuit (IC) typically is an electronic circuit manufactured by diffusion of metal elements into the surface of a semiconductor material. Integrated circuits are used in various electronic devices today. Computers, cellular phones, and so forth are some example devices which include integrated circuits and which have been made possible, at least in part, due to low cost of production of such circuits.
For many applications, IC chips are packaged before being placed on circuit boards. Materials used in chip manufacturing and packaging have different properties and behaviors, and various temperature changes and mechanical stresses can lead to stress or damage in an end product. For example, stresses can cause damage to the IC chip. In particular, certain stresses can cause cracks in the IC chip, or more specifically, in a layer of passivation within the IC chip.
Various attempts have been made to identify specific causes of such stresses and to address ways to avoid the stresses. For example, some package stress relief designs restrict the use of the areas which are more heavily affected by stress. Some attempts to reduce stress have proposed the use of various different materials or the use of defined packaging methods, such as wire bonding and tape automated bonding, including single-point thermosonic bonding and gang or thermocompression bonding. Different types of bonds or packaging can have a different effect on the stresses on the chip. However, some designs still exhibit areas of high stress with resultant cracking.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.


An internal-combustion engine includes a cylinder, a piston reciprocating therein, intake and exhaust ports, a fuel injection nozzle opening into the combustion chamber of the cylinder and an ignition device situated in the top wall of the cylinder. The top wall of the cylinder as well as the piston base oriented towards the top wall each has first and second surfaces being inclined to one another and meeting in a ridge, whereby the top wall and the piston base have an essentially V-shaped configuration when viewed in a sectional plane taken along the cylinder axis. The first surface of the top wall faces and is parallel with the first surface of the piston base and the second surface of the top wall faces and is parallel with the second surface of the piston base. A dished depression is provided in the piston base such that the depression interrupts the ridge and extends on either side thereof, whereby the dished depression is bounded by the first and second surfaces of the piston base.

This invention relates to a fuel injection system for a spark-ignited piston-type internal-combustion engine and includes a fuel injector by means of which fuel is directly injected into the work chamber of the engine cylinder. As concerns the moment of such injection, essentially two types of operational modes are known.
In the first type of operation, also referred to as a "homogenous operation", the fuel is injected at an early moment, generally during the inflow of fresh air, that is, while the intake valve is open. This mode of operation which ensures a good homogenization of the fuel/air mixture, is particularly expedient during a high-load engine run.
In a second type of operation, also referred to as a "stratified-charge operation", the injection of fuel occurs only after the air intake valve is closed and when the upwardly moving piston arrives in the region of its upper dead center. As a result, the fuel is mixed only with one part of the intake air contained in the cylinder and only in a locally limited manner until the mixture is ignited by the ignition system. Such an operation is preferably used during partial-load conditions and during idling. It is an advantage of this operational mode that the engine may run without throttling the intake air and yet without obtaining, in the vicinity of the ignition device, an excessively lean fuel/air mixture which would jeopardize a reliable ignition.
The above-outlined two operational modes may be performed by various methods for introducing the fuel in the cylinder chamber and for providing a fuel/air mixture. These processes may be subdivided into two categories, namely the "jet-guided" and the "wall-guided" processes.
In the "jet-guided" process the injected fuel jet is aimed directly onto the ignition device. The injected fuel cloud mixes with the combustion air and is ignited by the ignition device. A reliable stratified-charge operation is accordingly ensured only if the ignition device is positioned very close to the fuel injector. Such an arrangement involves the disadvantage that only an extremely small operational point-specific ignition window is available and therefore a coordination (tuning) of the fuel jet expansion for large characteristic field ranges is critical. Consequently, the fuel injectors used in such systems have to be manufactured with high precision; even small tolerance deviations or changes in the injector during an extended operation may lead to disadvantageous boundary conditions for the ignition.
Thus, conditions of a reliable ignition in the stratified-charge operation may be ensured only by means of a precise geometrical arrangement of the ignition device and the fuel jet. Consequently, the known methods belonging to this category are designed without a definite and intensive charge motion. In the homogeneous operation, on the other hand, it is precisely such a charge motion that would be needed for improving the homogenization of the fuel/air mixture. The result is loss of power and an increase of the fuel consumption which, in turn, involves a correspondingly heightened release of pollutants into the atmosphere.
It is a further disadvantage of this process that because of the direct exposure of the ignition device to the fuel jet, an increased wear occurs, resulting in a shortened service life of the ignition devices.
According to the "wall-guided" process, in the stratified-charge operation the fuel jet is deflected towards the ignition device by that wall of the combustion chamber which is formed by the piston base. The resulting intensive charge motion has an enhancing effect. This method avoids a direct impingement of fuel on the spark plugs. Tolerance deviations and the operational condition of the fuel injectors are less critical than in the earlier-discussed jet-guided process. It is, however, a disadvantage of the wall-guided process that the fuel impinges on the combustion chamber wall, particularly on the piston base, during a direct injection into the cylinder chamber so that in certain operational conditions an incomplete combustion occurs which results in an increased emission of uncombusted hydrocarbons and soot. This process has been utilized heretofore with intake-side fuel injectors and is based on the formation of a rolling motion of the charge, which is particularly designed with respect to direction and sense of rotation and which guides the mixture jet, in the direction of injection, via the piston base to the ignition device. This type of charge motion is achieved by providing steep, upstanding intake ports, such as disclosed in European Patent No. 0 558 072. Such an arrangement, however, requires a correspondingly greater structural height of the engine. According to another solution, the desired motional configuration of the charge is obtained by a special form of the intake port or by the geometry at the seating zone of the intake valve, as disclosed in European Patent No. 0 463 613. Such a solution, however, has disadvantageous effects on the quality of flow of the intake system and thus on the full-load operation of the engine. In both cases the injection jet is directed towards a depression of the piston base, so that precisely in case of a stratified-charge operation fuel which is still in a liquid state impinges on the piston base. The mixture which is formed there is then, while in contact with the wall of the piston base, guided to the ignition device.
The intensive charge motion required in the stratified-charge operation in this process is, however, disadvantageous in the homogeneous operation because of the resulting increased combustion noises and increased wall heat losses.

System for the direct injection of fuel in internal-combustion engines


A wagering game combining the attributes of keno and video poker is disclosed. First, players place wagers and select one or more cards from a plurality of face-up cards. One or more cards from the plurality of cards are then randomly identified. Players receive awards based on the number of randomly identified cards which match player selected cards and/or the strength of a poker hand formed by the randomly identified cards. Players may also be provided an option to replace one or more of the randomly identified cards with new randomly identified cards. An optional bonus award is directed to the position of the randomly identified cards. For example, if two or more of the randomly identified cards are arranged adjacent to one another or in a pre-determined card display pattern, a bonus ward is paid. The game may also be played in a live table game version or stand alone version similar to conventional keno.

As the popularity of legalized gaming continues to increase, the desire for new games of chance increases as well. Therefore, significant numbers of new wagering games are being developed and promoted. However, a large number of the new wagering games are destined to fail. Reasons for failure include complexity, unfamiliar rules and a large house edge associated with the games. Thus, new games of chance which incorporate common themes and provide an acceptable house edge stand a better chance of success.
Accordingly, the embodiments of the present invention combine the games of poker and keno. In fact, poker is the most popular wagering card game in the world. Poker comprises the use of playing cards to form the highest poker hand pursuant to pre-established poker hand rankings. On the other hand, keno is a very popular casino numbers game wherein players select one to fifteen numbers from a pool of eighty numbers. Thereafter, twenty of the numbers from the pool of eighty numbers are randomly selected. Players are paid based on the number of matches between their selected numbers and the randomly selected twenty numbers.
Although poker and keno are popular in their own right, each game has been around for a long time and could use an infusion of excitement. Therefore, the embodiments of the present invention combine aspects of both games into a single exciting wagering game.


The invention relates to the routing of data packets in a packet-switched network, e.g. in an autonomous system, having traffic distribution. According to the invention, the forwarding or the routing of data packets occurs via the access interface based on an item of information and via the output interface of the data packet based on an item of information. Both these items of information are, for example at the input interface, placed in front of the data packet in the form of information fields or labels. The invention enables, with a moderate expense and limited degree of complexity, a flexible and loop-free routing under the terms of a traffic distribution.

An important area of work for network technicians, and routing and internet experts, is the further development of packet-switched networks. An important objective of this further development is to be able to offer a comprehensive spectrum of services over packet-switched networks.
Apart from the conventional applications for data transmission, ever more services with real-time requirements, such as telephone (e.g. Voice over IP) and the transmission of image data in real time (e.g. video on demand, video conferences), are to be realized over packet-switched networks. From this arise new requirements which the packet-switched networks must meet. Adherence to quality characteristics for services with real-time requirements—frequently referred to in this context as the 'quality of service', abbreviated to QoS—is of central importance.
The packet-switched networks which are currently most popular are based on the IP (Internet Protocol) protocol. The success of these is to a large extent explained by their comparatively low complexity and high flexibility. Both of these arise from the way that packets are forwarded in the IP network.
Within IP networks, the packets are routed by reference to their IP addresses. In the large majority of cases, the routing is effected on a per-hop basis, i.e. by reference to the packet address the routers identify a destination, normally another router, to which the packet concerned is forwarded. At the end of the transmission via a chain of routers, the packet is delivered to the destination address, often a host or a gateway.
In general, no information relating to the transmission path is available to an individual router apart from details of the next hop or the next stage, as applicable. As a result, the maintenance and administration of the routing tables requires little effort. In addition, the method is flexible to the extent that alternative and default destinations can be provided for the next hop which, for example, ensure that the packet can be forwarded in the event of a malfunction or unknown addresses.
IP networks using conventional routing techniques are not very suitable for real-time traffic. Delays to packets, and their loss, are not subject to sufficiently stringent controls to be able to guarantee the quality characteristics necessary for real-time transmission.
Methods for better control of the transmission parameters include the reservation of transmission capacity for services with real-time requirements, and the specification of transmission paths in the network. The RSVP (Resource Reservation Protocol) signaling protocol was developed for the purpose of reserving bandwidth in IP networks. The RSVP protocol is used with, among others, the MPLS (Multi-Protocol Label Switching) protocol which permits the transmission path to be defined. The MPLS protocol provides for a packet, when it enters into a network, to be allocated a label by an LSR (Label Switching Router) edge router, which defines an LSP (Label Switched Path) path through the network. The packet is then forwarded by internal LSR (Label Switching Router) routers according to the LSP path defined by the label.
A choice of path is also made as part of the ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) technique, and for IP networks can also be effected by means of the Source Route Option of the IP datagram (although in practice this is seldom supported).
The reservation of paths permits guarantee statements in respect of a QoS transmission, but is associated with high complexity and the loss of flexibility (by comparison with "best effort" packet-switched networks).

Efficient intra-domain routing in packet-switched networks


A ceiling fan hanger assembly includes a mount plate with a pair of plate extensions and a downrod having a pair of spaced downrod extensions. A connector bracket pivotally couples to the plate extensions to define a first pivot axis and pivotally couples to the downrod extensions to define a second pivot axis different than the first pivot axis.

Ceiling fans are used to generate airflow within a space or area, often used for cooling or temperature regulation. Ceiling fans can be used in industrial, commercial or other suitable environments to circulate air to maintain proper temperature regulation. Often, the ceiling fan is suspended from the ceiling of a building structure, or other structural elements of the building structure at the ceiling, such as beams or girders for example.
Suspension of the ceiling fan includes mounting a portion of the ceiling fan, such as a mounting bracket, to the ceiling or building structural elements. The remainder of the ceiling fan is then coupled to the mounting bracket and suspended within the area. Often, mounting and suspending the ceiling fan can be challenging for an installer. Furthermore, if the ceiling or building structure is provided at an angle, the suspension of the ceiling fan must account for such an angle.


An apparatus for recording video data by forming many tracks on a recording medium and/or for reproducing the video data from the tracks is provided with a memory which is arranged to have recording video data or reproduced video data supplied thereto. The apparatus detects the picture change-over portion of the video data obtained within the tracks and controls, in accordance with the detected position, an offset degree between the writing and reading addresses of the memory.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a video data recording and/or reproducing apparatus and more particularly to an arrangement highly suited for a video data recording and/or reproducing apparatus wherein the picture change-over portion of the video data in one recording track differs from the position obtained in another track.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings shows in outline the typical arrangement of the conventional digital video tape recorder (hereinafter referred to as DVTR). The recording operation of the DVTR is as follows:
Referring to FIG. 1, an input image signal is converted into digital data by an analog-to-digital (hereinafter referred to as. A/D) converter 30. Redundant data is removed by an encoder 31 by utilizing correlation between images. Next, an error correction code (ECC) is added by an ECC encoding circuit 32 to the digital data against occurrence of any error relative to the recording medium. Further, a modulator 34 performs a digital code modulating action to obtain a signal spectrum distribution suited for magnetic recording and reproduction. Then, the output of the modulator 33 is recorded on a magnetic tape 36 through a magnetic head 35.
In reproducing, the video data recorded on the magnetic tape 36 is reproduced through a reproducing head 37, a head amplifier 38 and a digital demodulator 39. The signal in this stage includes some code error relative to the recording medium (tape), as mentioned above, such an error resulting from dust, a flaw or the like. Therefore, the error is corrected by an ECC decoding circuit 40. After that, redundant information such as a synchronizing (hereinafter referred to as sync) signal is added and the input information is nearly completely restored to its original state by a decoder 41. Lastly, a digital-to-analog (hereinafter referred to as D/A) converter 42 converts the digital signal into an analog image signal which is similar to the input image information.
Many DVTRs of the kind described have recently been developed. FIG. 2 shows a recording track pattern formed by these DVTRs. As shown, one picture plane is formed with a plurality of tracks in general. For example, the video signal of a first field is recorded in the tracks T1 to T3 and the video signal of a second field in the tracks T4 to T6.
Generally, the number of tracks to be formed by the video signal of one field is arranged to be an even number, because this arrangement is advantageous in respect to the synchronized operation of the DVTR, concatenated recording, editing, variable speed recording, etc.
During recent years, the technology for encoding video data with a high degree of efficiency has made a rapid advancement mainly in the communication field for TV conference systems, TV telephone system, etc.
Meanwhile, a demand for a longer recording time of DVTRs has increased. The length of recordable time of the DVTR can be increased by using the high efficiency image encoding technique developed in the field of communication technology. The technique will likely come to be actively applied to the DVTR for this purpose.
However, an attempt to record data which is further compressed through a high efficiency encoding process with the highest possible degree of density would encounter a problem that the picture change-over position of the video data within a recording track on the recording medium tends to fluctuate and vary from that of another track. In such a case, it is difficult to have the video data received and produced in units of fields or frames. This would make it difficult to carry out the above-stated synchronized operation of the DVTR, concatenated recording, editing work, etc.
In case that some video data is newly recorded by such a DVTR on a recorded tape, it is inevitable to have a picture having a drop-out part in its data. This does not mean simple drop-out of some picture elements within a picture but might make impossible the reproduction of all the picture elements of the picture, because the DVTR is generally arranged to utilize the correlation among picture elements of one and the same picture plane for the purpose of compressing the data. Further, even if only a reproducible picture can be extracted, it is impossible to adequately match the reproduction timing of one picture with that of another at the concatenating part between them. Therefore, adequate reproduction is hardly expectable under such a condition.
Further, if the data of such an imperfect picture remain on the tape, it would be impossible to reproduce any adequate picture from the tape. In other words, the video data becomes discontinuous as no image can be obtained from the data of the imperfect picture. This discontinuity of video data would result in a conspicuous skew or a skipped picture appearing at a concatenated part of the record. In this instance, even if some time code is recorded longitudinally on the tape, it becomes impossible to correlate the time code with the video data recorded in oblique tracks. As a result, it is impossible to locate a picture being looked up by finding its record ranging from a point in one track to a point in another. A quick look-up is difficult under such a condition.
This problem may be solved by recording one field or frame portion of the video data in an even number of tracks without fail. This method, however, hinders efforts to increase the recording density, because assuming that one field amount of video data is successfully compressed to be recordable in 2.1 tracks by the record density increasing efforts, this method still requires three tracks for one field amount of the video data.

Video data recording and/or reproducing apparatus


Applicant's underground storm-pod structure is directed to a system for collecting and utilizing storm-water. A pod structure includes at least one pod member. This pod member's structure is defined by sidewall members, end flanges, sidewall interfacing members, an upper section base member, reinforcing members, and a slab member. The sidewall member and the end flange form an opening. A retention chamber formed within the pod member is structured to store liquid. Weep holes formed through the sidewall members permit liquid to flow between a partially-elliptically-shaped pathway and a corresponding chamber. The liquid retention chamber can be in further communication with an outlet mechanism, which is itself in communication with an external environment. In one embodiment, adjacent pod members are fixedly coupled with respect to each other by coupling corresponding flange members.

Applicant's underground system is concerned with storm-water management applications. In particular, the subject system is directed to a storm pod system which includes one or more pod members of predetermined contour, which directs the loads supported thereon to be dispersed through an elliptically-contoured sidewall which maximizes the strength of the structure. The modular design of Applicant's pod members, and the pod structures being of reinforced concrete design, ensure that Applicant's system is customizable to fit the requirements of various users. The design of Applicant's system further ensures a long service life and durability, and reduces the associated structural costs.

Storm-pod system for collecting and utilizing storm water