An aqua-terra planetary transport system and development system utilizing a pneumatic and electromagnetic underwater tube link transportation system to move passengers and cargo rapidly between a network of interconnected land based terra station and ocean based aqua stations. The aqua stations are all self-sufficient and derive power from natural resources and have means for agriculture and manufacturing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to transportation systems and, more specifically, to an underwater transportation system that utilizes pneumatic and magnetic principles to propel a cylinder container containing cargo and eventually passengers through a tube-link network located beneath the surface of the ocean. A plurality of sub-surface tube links interconnect a plurality of ocean based aqua stations and land based terra stations. Each aqua station comprises a surface structure that is typically circular in shape with a substantially conical sub-surface base extending downward therefrom with the inferior portion of said sub-surface based anchored to the ocean floor by a platform base and/or retractable anchors, depending on the depth of the water at that location.
The aqua stations are designed to be totally self sufficient although some goods and supplies will be transported in cylinder containers thereto and from terra stations via the sea to land transport tube-links. For security purposes, no sea vessels will be permitted closer than three hundred feet (300′) from the perimeter of the aqua stations. Loading and unloading facilities for air and sea vessels are two independent platforms located on either side of the access platform that contains the access conveyor tunnel to the Aqua Station. This is the only alternate way into the Aqua Stations besides the tube-link from Terra Stations.
The present invention utilizes natural resources such as wind, water, and solar energy to generate sufficient power to supply the needs of the aqua station, sub-stations located on the aqua stations, and the transport system. However, the primary power source is the oceanic waterfall system created by a double hull parallel to the subsurface portion of all aqua stations. This double hull surrounds the subsurface portion of each aqua station and is formed by an inverted skirt that moves vertically along the outer body of the aqua stations to permit water to enter when lowered and disallow water from entering when raised.
This oceanic waterfall system is used to turn turbines located in the lower portion of the aqua station and the salt water is also directed to the desalinization facilities to be used as needed. Excess water is discharged through a tube network designed for such purpose. Included are critical infrastructure services such as housing, engineering and utilities, security, desalinization facilities, greenhouse farming, sea farming, educational facilities, garment and other type of manufacturing facilities to name a few.
Recreational facilities are dispersed throughout the aqua station and include, but are not limited to, resort facilities, outdoor and indoor golf courses, sports arenas, recreational parks, sports tracks for runners, walkers, and bicycle riders, and facilities for ice skaters, swimmers, and all other indoor and outdoor sport activities that may be desired.
Defense and security is paramount throughout the entire system with all terra and aqua stations having state of the art detection and intervention systems in place. Satellites monitor the air space, the sub-water transport tube-link network, the aqua stations and the six floating security platforms forming a two mile security ring that surrounds each station. These security platforms contain thereon equipment capable of long and short range radar, sonar, visual, audio, and laser systems to provide multi-layered detection and defense systems for scanning the air and water space within a substantial area proximal to each station to provide adequate response time in the case of an imminent threat. A plurality of defense options are provided for instances when a potential threat is detected, the defense system includes solar powered drone aircraft, sub-surface security/maintenance vehicles, smart torpedo launchers, electronic guidance scrambler and surface to air laser beam devices. Furthermore, a plurality of passive defense options are available including a retractable dome and an emergency retractable sub-surface explosion proof stainless and special alloy composite curtain that may be deployed during an emergency. Facility security is comprehensive throughout the entire network whether ocean or land based and includes specially trained security personnel and cutting edge surveillance, detection, and screening devices.
The present invention seeks to revolutionize the manner in which cargo and people travel by offering a high-speed alternative for long distance destinations. Additionally, the aqua stations are designed with resort qualities for living and/or holiday pleasures. The present invention is also environmentally friendly since it relies on natural resources and not on the burning of fossil fuels and thus being more cost-effective than present day airline and cargo ship users.
The present invention provides the construction of floating and anchored aquatic stations (Aqua Stations) and their related land-based floatable land stations (Terra Stations). The Aqua Stations are to be united/linked by a sub-water tube link system connecting each Stations to each other to form a long distance super speed electromagnetic and pneumatic subsurface transportation system for use in transporting cargo and passengers to distant places in a very short time.
The transport system incorporates cylinder containers that travel within a sub-water tube-link network connecting to a network of Aqua Stations in distant areas. Each Aqua Station shall be approximately seven (7) to ten (10) miles in diameter and located not less than 15.2 miles off shore at all locations.
Each Aqua Station shall be connected to one or more land-based floatable Terra Stations. Each Terra Station is a collection center for cargo and passengers to be boarded onto the cylinder containers for transport out to the Aqua Station for a stay or boarding onto cylinder containers heading to other desired destination.
The Terra Stations are floatable as an additional safety feature of the system to assure survival in case of rising ocean waters and possible deterioration or collapsing coastlines, given that global warming continues and thus, the melting of polar ice caps will cause ocean waters to rise.
Each tube section has a double corrugated wall, is approximately thirty to fifty feet long and fifteen to eighteen feet in diameter. The cylinder containers/capsules are approximately twenty to thirty feet long and twelve to fifteen feet in diameter able to travel through the tube-link network at speeds up to 14,000 mph even though lower speeds of 4–5,000 mph may be desired and sufficient at first.
The Aqua Stations are giant floating islands/mini-cities, connected by a network of specialized tubes. Each Aqua Station is anchored to the bottom of a body of water (i.e. ocean), with a capacity to submerge through a ballast system, if necessary, as is also the case with the self-sufficient and floatable sub-stations of the smaller domed facilities surrounding the central energy core.
These Aqua Stations are self-sufficient in every way and designed to provide all basic human daily and comfort needs. The primary sources of energy include solar, wind, water motion, and perhaps other forms of energy later to be discovered.
Solar energy shall be derived from the use of collectors placed on the top of the central core of the main Aqua Station. Other solar panel locations may also be developed as floating energy barges near each Aqua Station. Wind energy shall be harnessed from giant windmills to be located at strategic locations around the circumference of each Aqua Station.
Water motion energy shall be derived from the use of wave motion technology and oceanic waterfall system that takes advantage of the surrounding body of water. The oceanic waterfall system allows the water to fall into a specialized deep cavity, thus turning turbines on the way to the bottom to create electricity.
Once reaching near the bottom, some of this water is funneled to desalinization units to create usable fresh water while any excess is discharged into the ocean through an internal tube network. Other forms of energy, not yet used, may be available as this project develops over the next several years to include possibly use of safe atomic energy units.
Each Aqua Station shall be accessible through the tube-link network connecting to other Aqua Station and near by Terra Stations. Additionally, Aqua Stations shall be accessible to aircraft and ships. Ships will dock at the shipping slips provided and attached to a landing platform that is connected to a central platform containing the conveyor tunnel leading to the aqua station for boarding and unloading of goods and persons. Vertical landing aircraft shall also have access to the Station via a landing platform that is also attached and anchored to the central platform and conveyor belt system for transport of goods and persons.
Each Aqua Station will contain six (6) self-sufficient satellite dome units that are independently self-sufficient. The Aqua Stations shall provide energy, housing, food, water storage facilities, entertainment and sports complexes for those living on any Aqua Station or those visiting or passing through.
All satellite sub-station units on each Aqua Station are accessible from any other satellite unit via the central elevator system running from the bottom of the Aqua Stations to the top garden level or by the conveyor belt walking system to be located between and connecting sub-station to sub-station or by foot.
Each Aqua Station is controlled through the Central Control Section that is to be located at the garden level, along the perimeter of the central energy core. Engineering shall be responsible to oversee and control the transport system and be responsive to Central Control decisions and instructions.
Central Control shall be responsible for the operations and management of the entire facility, following the guidelines of the Aqua-Terra Holdings, Inc. directorship or an authorized management entity.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are other transportation systems known in the art. While these transportation systems would be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention, as hereinafter described.

Aqua-terra planetary transport system and development pneumatic and electro-magnetic underwater tube-link transportation system


A method is provided for the operation of a system for the administration of calls to a call center. A first call initiated by a caller using a call number allocated to the call center is automatically received and held in a waiting queue. A waiting position with respect to the first call is determined and the first call is ranged in the waiting queue corresponding to the determined waiting position. The calls held in the waiting queue are forwarded one after the other to an available call center agent. The first call is terminated within a time interval if the call has not been forwarded, and a second call to the caller is initiated by using a recorded call number. If the second call is answered, the second call will be ranged in the waiting queue, wherein the waiting position is determined in consideration of the first call.

Call centers generally serve for carrying out different telecommunication tasks and are especially used by companies for offering their clients services such as advisory service, product help or sale. The present invention relates in particular to the administration of calls to so called inbound call centers which receive calls from clients in contrast to so called outbound call centers in which persons are called by call center agents, for example in order to win these persons as potential clients or for market research purposes.
Call centers can usually be reached under a particular service call number under which callers are connected to corresponding employees of the call center, so called call center agents. For the administration of the incoming calls, which in particular means the distribution of incoming calls to free call center agents, the forwarding to corresponding call center agents as well as the control or command of incoming calls until they are forwarded to a free call center agent, different systems or telephone installations are known in the state of the art. A substantial component of such systems or installations is a so called automatic call distribution (ACD; ACD: Automatic Call Distribution). This automatic call distribution holds incoming calls in a waiting queue comprising other calls waiting to be forwarded to a call center agent until they are forwarded to a call center agent. The calls are usually distributed or forwarded according to the so called FIFO principle (FIFO: First in-First out), i.e. incoming calls are forwarded to a free call center agent in succession according to their incoming time, wherein the call which has been received at first will be the first to be forwarded. Furthermore, the so called "longest-idle" principle is often applied, according to which a call to be forwarded from the waiting queue is forwarded to such call center agent whose last communication is dated back farthest.
However, the systems and methods for the operation of systems for the administration of calls to a call center which are known in the state of the art comprise disadvantages.
In particular for avoiding misuse of the service call numbers provided for reaching the call center by unserious calls which bind the call center agents unnecessarily and thus cause longer waiting times for the clients, calls to a call center are usually not free of charge. Since an incoming call usually cannot be immediately transferred to a call center agent and therefore has to be put in the waiting queue, as already mentioned, it is a problem that the caller is also charged for the waiting time he is spending in the waiting queue. Due to the charged costs, the callers evaluate or perceive corresponding waiting times as highly negative. For reducing the costs, it has been regulated by law in some countries (for example in Germany from the 1 Sep. 2012) that a caller may not be held for fees in a waiting loop. For technical reasons however, no waiting loops which are free of charge and which exceed 120 seconds can be realized at the moment in the common call number lanes of the German networks as well as in the mobile networks. Since it is usually impossible to assure that a call is forwarded to a call center agent or a call is received by a call center agent within 120 seconds, since this would lead to high staff costs, corresponding calls have to or would have to be ended by the system with the request to call again later. Since in such a case the caller's wish cannot be immediately dealt with, this will lead to a customer's dissatisfaction and a negative evaluation by the caller.
Systems or telephone installations known in the state of the art for the administration of calls to a call center solve this problem partially in that a caller can leave his call number and the caller will be called back when a free agent is available. As in particular the time distances between the call initiated by a caller and the ring back by a call center agent often comprise several hours, there are in particular the disadvantages that the ring back might no more reach the caller or another person than the caller answers the phone or the caller has already otherwise dealt with his wish. Since the call center agent is not available for other callers during such calls, these ring backs entail considerable costs for the call center or the company which operates the call center. Furthermore, it is more difficult to realize corresponding ring backs by the call center agents in a process.

Method for the operation of a system and system for the administration of calls to a call center


Ink-processing technology is set forth herein for detecting a gesture that a user performs in the course of interacting with an ink document. The technology operates by identifying a grouping of ink strokes created by the user. The technology then determines whether the grouping expresses a gesture based on a combination of spatial information and image information, both of which describe the grouping. That is, the spatial information describes a sequence of positions traversed by the user in drawing the grouping of ink strokes using an ink capture device, while the image information refers to image content in an image produced by rendering the grouping into image form. The technology also provides a technique for identifying the grouping by successively expanding a region of analysis, to ultimately provide a spatial cluster of ink strokes for analysis.

Some systems and applications allow a user to perform gestures in the course of interacting with a digital ink document. For example, an ink-processing application may allow a user to cross out a word in the ink document using a pen or finger. Upon recognizing this gesture, the ink-processing application can perform any kind of application-specific function, such as deleting the word, etc.
A satisfactory gesture-detecting engine should accurately detect gestures with low latency in a resource-efficient manner. These goals, however, may be technically challenging to achieve. For instance, an ink-processing application may have difficulty distinguishing between a gesture drawn with a pen and other content that the user does not intend to serve as a gesture. Further, the ink-processing application may run on a resource-constrained platform, such as a smartphone. A developer may have difficulty providing a viable gesture-detecting solution in such a resource-constrained environment.

Detecting ink gestures based on spatial and image data processing


An illumination device configured so as to produce a uniform illumination distribution incorporating one or more LEDs fabricated such that the top surface emitting the colored light is not obstructed by an electrode or by contacts connecting the LED to a current source. Such a configuration is accomplished by providing a substantially transparent attachment layer that may include an opaque conductive material, but preferably includes transparent conductive particles that, in combination, attach and electrically connect the LED to an electrode disposed upon a substrate.

1. Field Of the Invention
This invention relates to a light-emitting diode, such as may be used as a source of optical radiation in a printer or a display, and in particular, to such a source fabricated so as to decrease the effects of a non-uniform distribution of radiation.
2. Description Of The Prior Art
One shortcoming to the use of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as light sources is the inherent irradiance problems resulting from the configuration of electrical contacts at the LED, as shown in FIG. 1A. LED 12 is a two-terminal semiconductor device characterized primarily by its ability to pass current readily in only one direction. Current flow is achieved by creating an electrical barrier within the semiconductor or at the surface of the semiconductor. Passage of the current is allowed when the electrical barrier is reduced by applying a "forward" voltage, but current is blocked when the electrical barrier is increased by applying a "reverse" voltage. When current passes through, LED 12 emits optical radiation 14.
The first terminal of the LED is connected at the interface of a bottom surface of LED 12 and a first electrode 16. First electrode is bonded to LED 12 by means of a solder or a conductive epoxy 18. Because conductive epoxy 18 is opaque, the light emitted through the bottom surface of LED 12 is blocked.
The second terminal of LED 12 connects to a substrate electrode 22 by a bonding wire 26 that is electrically connected to a pad 24 integrated on a top surface of LED 12. Pad 24 is configured so as to create substantially uniform flow of electricity throughout LED 12 and thus allow the passage of current. Pad 24, however, blocks light 14 emitted from a portion of the top surface of LED 12. An example of an illumination distribution of the emitted light across plane A--A' illustrates the problem as is shown by graph 34 in FIG. 1B.
Further, bonding wire 26 alters the transmission of emitted light 14 from a portion of the top surface of LED 12. Emitted light 14 that is obstructed by the bonding wire 26 along the angle .theta. will have an altered angular illumination distribution as the bonding wire 26 creates a strong shadow and a non-symmetrical, angular light-emission characteristic. FIG. 1C shows the resulting illumination distribution as curve 30 plotted on the ordinate as the magnitude of the illumination against an angle .theta. across the surface of LED 12 in comparison with a uniform distribution 32.
Another drawback of using LEDs as light sources is that bonding wire 26 is often coated with a passivation layer 28 that non-uniformly affects emitted light 14. This is a result of the tendency of passivation layer 28 to clump at places along bonding wire 26. Moreover, LEDs that are edge emitters have a different angular light emission characteristic and contribute to a non-uniform irradiance distribution in any optical system in which they are incorporated.
Accordingly it is an object of this invention to provide a light source which minimnizes the effects of electrical contacts on emission.
It is another object of the invention to minimize the effects of edge emitters on an irradiance distribution.

Light-emitting diode having uniform irradiance distribution


Preferred embodiments of a stent with a high degree of flexibility are shown and described. The stent can include a continuous helical winding having interconnected struts joined at vertices, and having bridges connecting sections of the helical winding to each other. An annular ring can be provided at one or both ends of the helical winding, and the annular ring can have extensions extending to connect to the helical winding. One of the extensions can connect to a bridge and another extension can connect to a vertex. The struts at the ends of the helical winding can have strut lengths that differ from the strut lengths of the struts in a central portion of the winding between the ends of the winding.

It is known in the medical field to utilize an implantable prosthesis to support a duct or vessel in a mammalian body. One such prosthesis may include a frame-like structure. Such frame-like structures are commonly known as a "stent", "stent-graft" or "covered stent." These structures are referred to collectively herein as a "stent" or an "implantable prosthesis."
The stent or prosthesis can be utilized to support a duct or vessel in the mammalian body that suffers from an abnormal widening (e.g., an aneurysm, vessel contraction or lesion such as a stenosis or occlusion), or an abnormal narrowing (e.g., a stricture). Stents are also utilized widely in the urethra, esophagus, biliary tract, intestines, arteries, veins, as well as peripheral vessels. The stent can be delivered via a small incision on a host body. Hence, the use of stents as a minimally-invasive surgical procedure has become widely accepted.
Previously developed stents for use in the biliary, venous, and arterial systems have been of two broad classes: balloon-expanded and self-expanding. In both of these classes, stents have been made by different techniques, including forming from wire and machining from a hollow tube. Such machining can be done by photo-chemical etching, laser-cutting, stamping, piercing, or other material-removal processes. Other manufacturing techniques have been proposed, such as vacuum or chemical deposition of material or forming a tube of machined flat material, but those "exotic" methods have not been widely commercialized.
One common form of stent is configured as a series of essentially identical rings connected together to form a lattice-like framework that defines a tubular framework. The series of rings may or may not have connecting linkages between the adjacent rings. One example does not utilize any connecting linkages between adjacent rings as it relies upon a direct connection from one ring to the next ring. It is believed that more popular examples utilize connecting linkages between adjacent rings, which can be seen in stent products offered by various companies in the marketplace.
All of the above stent examples utilize a biocompatible metal alloy (e.g., stainless steel, Nitinol or Elgiloy). The most common metal alloy utilized by these examples is Nitinol, which has strong shape memory characteristics so that Nitinol self-expands when placed in the duct or vessel of a mammalian body at normal body temperature. In addition to self-expansion, these stents utilize a series of circular rings placed adjacent to each other to maintain an appropriate longitudinal spacing between each rings. Other examples are shown and described in U.S. Patent Publications 2004/0267353 and 2003/055485, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,824,059. Examples which use a helical configuration are shown and described, to identify a few, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,117,165; 6,488,703; 6,042,597; 5,906,639; 6,053,940; 6,013,854; 6,348,065; 6,923,828; 6,059,808; 6,238,409; 6,656,219; 6,053,940; 6,013,854; and 5,800,456.
A need is recognized for a stent that maintains the patency of a vessel with the ability to adapt to the tortuous anatomy of the host by being highly flexible while being loadable into a delivery catheter of sufficiently small profile and easily deliverable to target site in the vessel or duct by having the ability to navigate tortuous ducts or vessels.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Highly flexible stent and method of manufacture


Apparatus and methods for percutaneously forming a passageway between adjacent vessels, a vessel and an organ, or different regions of an organ are provided comprising first and second catheters carrying distally positioned electromagnets. The first and second catheters are percutaneously advanced to positions within a body so that the distal endfaces oppose one another and magnetically attract one another, causing the lumens of the catheters to become aligned. A cutting wire is then advanced out of the first lumen, through the thickness of the tissue captured between the catheters, and into the second lumen. The cutting wire may be advanced fully through the second catheter so that it exits the patient, and upon removal of the first and second catheters, serves as a guide wire. Methods of percutaneously performing surgery are also provided.

A number of congenital defects are encountered in pediatric cardiac surgery wherein it is desirable to create a passageway between adjacent vessels or adjacent regions of an organ. For example, congenital lesions frequently involve an obstruction of blood flow to the lungs, such as pulmonary atresia with, or without intact ventricular septum, Tetralogy of Fallot, complex single ventricle anatomy, and pulmonary valve stenosis.
A first step in treating such defects typically involves placing a graft between the systemic arterial system and the pulmonary arteries to supply blood to the lungs. Such a graft is often referred to as "Blalock-Taussig shunt" or "B-T" shunt, and is placed between the native subclavian artery and the pulmonary artery. To install a typical Blalock-Taussig shunt, the surgeon exposes the mediastinum (the contents of the middle of the chest between the two lungs), the pulmonary artery and the subclavian artery. A graft of suitable synthetic material (e.g., PTFE) is then anastomosed between the arteries, so that flow passes from the subclavian artery to the lungs via the pulmonary artery.
In the Glenn procedure, often performed as the second stage of treating pulmonary atresia and single ventricle anatomy, the distal end of the superior vena cava is anastomosed to the superior wall of the right pulmonary artery, while the proximal end of the superior vena cava is either occluded or anastomosed to the inferior wall of the right pulmonary artery. It would therefore be desirable to provide apparatus to percutaneously anastomose the pulmonary artery to the superior vena cava.
In the Fontan procedure, which is often used to treat complex single ventricle anatomy, the proximal end of the superior vena cava is anastomosed to the inferior wall of the right pulmonary artery, and the right atrium closed off, so that there is little or no communication between either the inferior vena cava or the superior vena cava and the right atrium. Isolation of the vena cava from the right atrium also minimizes the impact of an atrial septal defect. Conventional treatment of single ventricle anatomy is generally performed in two surgical stages, to enable the heart to gradually accommodate the hemodynamic impact of the procedure. However, repeated surgeries cause significant trauma to the patient, require long recuperation times, and pose serious risks of mortality. It therefore would be desirable to enable at least one stage of a complicated procedure, such as the Glenn or Fontan procedure, to be accomplished using an interventional (i.e., percutaneous), rather than surgical, approach.
In other medical applications, such as treatment of coronary artery disease and in some cases of pulmonary vascular atresia, it is often desirable to form a passageway through an occlusion. Unfortunately, balloon dilatation catheters generally can only be used where there is not total occlusion, while cutting catheters, such as atherectomy catheters, pose a risk of dissecting the vessel. It would therefore be desirable to provide apparatus and methods that would enable an opening to be formed through an occluded pulmonary valve or occluded vessel with a high degree of certainty of the trajectory of the puncture.
In view of the foregoing, it would therefore be desirable to provide apparatus that enables the formation of a passageway between adjacent vessels, adjacent regions of an organ, or between an organ and an adjacent vessel, to establish a flow path therebetween.

Apparatus and methods for percutaneously forming a passageway between adjacent vessels or portions of a vessel


Improved Fasteners of the Slidingly Engagable type are provided in uni-directional and multi-directional orientations, in single and double-sided configurations, and in a range of designs which also include provisions for attaching certain embodiments of such fasteners to a substrate material. A method of economically producing such fasteners and products incorporating such fasteners in diverse materials is also disclosed.

Surface Fasteners of the Slidingly Engagable type (SEFs) were disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,983,467 entitled "Interlocking Device" by the undersigned. That disclosure included a range of fastener types, each including portions with a base structure having pluralities of apertures and islands, which may be slidingly engaged by application of a relative shearing force, so that the individual islands of one portion become interlocked within complementary apertures of the other, and vice versa. SEFs may be provided in various designs including uni-directional or multi-directional orientations; may be hermaphroditic or have different male and female portions; may be configured to connect a point, an edge, a strap, a surface or other condition; may include an associated aperture opening that provides a "snap fit" prior to engagement, and may also include diverse self-alignment and coupling mechanisms.
Typically, the individual apertures of Slidingly Engagable Fasteners are designed to receive complementary islands so as to allow a relatively loose and imprecise initial alignment to result in a relatively tight and more precise engaged state, after application of a relative shearing force. Three characteristics define this aspect. First, the apertures and complementary islands are effectively tapered in at least one dimension in relation to the axis of engagement so as to provide an aperture opening that is somewhat larger in at least one dimension than the leading edge of an associated island, thereby abetting self-alignment of the elements. Secondly, each such aperture includes at least one undercut wall segment which, after application of the relative shearing force (i.e. a force applied to one of the portions in a direction generally parallel with the basal surface) to the aligned portions, engages a complementary island undercut sidewall segment so as to contain the island and prevent further movement in a direction generally perpendicular to the basal surface (vertical). Thirdly, each such aperture also includes wall segments which, upon application of the relative shearing force, engage complementary island sidewall segments so as to contain such island and prevent further movement in the direction of such applied shearing force (engagement direction) or in a direction generally perpendicular to such force and also parallel with the basal surface (lateral direction). The term "slidingly engaged" is intended to convey that the islands are caused (by the relative shearing force) to enter complementary apertures so that the island sidewalls progressively approach aperture walls until reaching a state of full contact and engagement, in which state the portions are effectively interlocked.
The profile shape of such walls and sidewalls (as viewed in cross section perpendicular to the axis of engagement), as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,983,467 include orthogonal dovetail-like shapes, ogee-like shapes, and variations of such shapes. It is apparent that any profile shape which provides the appropriate engagement and containment aspects as described above may be used. It may also be understood that any such walls or sidewalls need not be contiguous in order to provide such engagement and containment aspects. Therefore it has become known to the present inventor that Slidingly Engagable Fasteners may include elements which are discontinuous, perforated, or otherwise modified in design, provided only that the essential function and structural integrity of the device is maintained. In that a basic engineering design precept entails minimizing resources in order to achieve a particular function, it may therefore be desirable to produce Improved SEFs with such discontinuity, perforations or other modifications in order to minimize such resources. SEFs can provide significant advantages over hook-and-loop, mushroom-type and other surface fasteners, as well as a wide variety of mechanical fastening devices, for many applications. Such advantages include superior shear and tensile strength, low profile, ease of use, durability, a non-grabbing texture, and numerous other aspects. However, in order to advantageously provide these advantages, a simple and economical method of producing SEF fasteners in large or small quantities, in a variety of materials, and in a range of designs is needed.
In addition to the need for an improved method of production, a number of potential improvements to such fasteners are also desirable which may also be related to such method of production. Slidingly Engagable Fasteners should be available in a variety of materials including molded thermoplastics, other moldable materials, paper and paper board, composite and fibrous materials, and in formed metals, plastics and other malleable materials. Flexibility of the overall structure should be combined with structural integrity of individual fastening elements. SEF products should be available in a range of scales for a diversity of applications. Use and disposition of materials should be economical. Low profile and high strength aspects should be maximized. Fastener portions for many potential application environments should be self-cleaning. Self connecting fasteners in strap or linear forms should be available, including double-sided fastener straps and surfaces. Provisions for integrally attaching SEFs to various substrates should be available. SEF portions which may be integrally molded or formed as part of a larger component or product are also needed. Fasteners which combine certain of these aspects as well as other features are also needed.
Working prototypes of SEFs in various embodiments have been produced by molding, machining, forming, constructing, and die cutting diverse materials such as hard and soft plastics, wood, paper and paperboard, foam, sheet metal, ceramic materials, and composite materials. Although these models have generally been functionally successful, the need for a simple and inexpensive method of production is apparent. Molding or forming SEF fastener portions by conventional methods is complicated by the fact that such fasteners include a multiplicity of undercut surfaces. Although conventional molding or forming techniques may be employed to produce various uni-directional SEFs, multi-directional embodiments present a particular challenge. Therefore, a relatively simple method is needed which will provide for the removal of that part of the die or mold which defines the underside of such undercut surfaces without harming, weakening, or comprising the design of the product.
Several known manufacturing processes are applicable to the present invention: injection molding utilizing a reciprocating machine; continuous molding in which a substance is molded between a set of counter rotating rollers, effectively extruding a continuous product; die forming utilizing a reciprocating press; and continuous die forming in which a sheet of material is formed between a set of rotating dies. Each of these processes has been developed extensively over many years, and are not claimed herein except in relation to the present invention. Each such process also involves numerous secondary systems for pressurizing, heating, cooling, lubricating, ejecting product and waste, and other considerations which are beyond the scope of this disclosure. The common aspects of these processes are that each utilize a set of dies or, more commonly, a single die with a corresponding anvil or backing, and an apparatus designed to provide pressure on a raw material in order to produce a product of the desired shape.
Reclosable surface fasteners such as molded hook-and-loop hookstrips and mushroom type fasteners, which also include undercut surface segments, are typically manufactured of molded thermoplastics. Erb U.S. Pat. No. 3,147,528 describes a method of producing hookstrips by reciprocal injection molding. Other methods utilize a continuous web process using a belt or rotary mold. Undercut fastening elements may be formed by a complex mold with internally moving elements i.e. Menzin et al U.S. Pat. No. 3,758,657; they may be directly molded in cavities provided in such a mold and rapidly cooled before forcibly (resiliently) stripping form the mold i.e. Fischer U.S. Pat. No. 4,775,310; or they may be formed in a two step process in which a base with an array of stems is first molded and the stems are subsequently reformed into hooks or mushroom shapes, i.e. Provost et al U.S. Pat. No. 5,953,797. Yet another possible manufacturing method includes a sacrificial mold portion for forming undercuts, i.e. Torigoe et al U.S. Pat. No. 5,242,649. Recently, Kampfer et al U.S. Pat. No. 6,000,160, Miller U.S. Pat. No. 6,054,091, and Parellada et al U.S. Pat. No. 6,248,276, each disclose improved methods of forming fastener elements by the aforementioned two step process. Many other examples provide variations and refinements to similar processes. It appears that the quest for a definitive method of manufacturing fastener products is ongoing.
Utilizing a set of interengaging dies is a known method of manufacturing complex products with under-surfaces, most commonly known in paper and sheet metal stamping at least far back as Hodgson U.S. Pat. No. 299,982 of 1884, but also employed in plastic molding. Methods of producing certain designs of hook-and-loop hookstrips and mushroom type fasteners by utilizing an apparatus which includes a set of bypassing dies are also known. Kaneko U.S. Pat. No. 5,212,853 discloses injection molded surface fastener products that utilize a set of male and female interdigitating dies to form a unique mushroom-type fastener portion, although such method is not claimed. Kaneko's product includes a fastener head on two legs which are flush with the head perimeter, apparently to provide flexibility. His method includes a set of male and female dies with abutment faces, such faces being more or less perpendicular to the product surface structure. Although it is noted that the abutment faces are slightly tapered to facilitate die separation, it would appear that, without further remedy, repetitive use under heat and pressure could cause die seizure or differential movement if anything other than small portions are produced. Like other types of mushroom fasteners, Kaneko's device appears to be limited in potential strength as related to durability under repetitive use. Kayaki U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,210 appears to depend on a similar molding method which is not described. His device appears to require relatively exact positioning in two dimensions, first to align the ribs then to align alternately offset elements. It is apparent that each such fastener has limited application.
Certain other known fasteners also include a fenestrated base structure which could be produced by a method incorporating bypassing dies. Spier, U.S. Pat. No. 4,581,792, describes a press-together surface fastener comprising a plurality of perpendicular tapered projections and complementary receptacles arrayed in alternating rows each surrounded by a contiguous base structure having openings at each such projection and receptacle. Spier's device, however, appears to maintain engagement by friction rather than providing any type of interlock. It requires precise alignment of the portions, and does not appear to provide significant resistance to shear. Cousins, U.S. Pat. No. 4,183,121, and Allan, U.S. Pat. No. 5,640,744, each disclose types of surface fasteners with undercut elements which include portions having a fenestrated base structure, an engagement mechanism which may be effected by a relative shearing force, and in which openings in the fenestrated base structure at least partially align with undersurface segments of individual engagement members. However, each of these fastening devices appear to require considerable precision in aligning the elements both lineally in columns and in angular orientation. The former, Cousins, appears to require consistent pressure along the length of its axis in order to engage all elements simultaneously, and does not provide for excess overlap when adjusted. The latter, Allan, also requires longitudinal alignment ribs to prevent lateral disengagement. Both provide fastening mechanisms which are not adaptable to resist shear forces oriented in more than a single radial direction and have other limitations.
A new manufacturing method for SEFs should include certain desirable aspects. For instance, having a positive means of defining the thickness of a fastener portion throughout its area is particularly important for producing wide products with either reciprocating or rotating molding systems. Provisions for maximizing production speed are also desirable. Providing enhanced surface features for functional, aesthetic, or identification purposes is also desirable. Precise definition of the shape of individual fastening elements is important in controlling the design of strength and release characteristics. Material efficiency, weight, and flexibility should be carefully designed. Strength of individual fastening elements and profile depth require precise control. Speed, simplicity, and economy of production are important considerations as well are tooling costs. Provision of a method by which fastener portions may be readily manufactured in a one-step process as part of a larger primary product would also have significant utility. In summary, there is a need for a simple, efficient, economical, precise, and versatile method of manufacturing Slidingly Engagable Fastening products.

Slidingly Engagable Fasteners and method


The present invention relates to a semiconductor device having complementary field effect transistors and a method for manufacturing the same. The object of the present invention is to provide a semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same in which is decreased the silicide formation area for connecting a p-type impurity region and an n-type impurity region in the dual gate structure. It comprises steps of covering the silicide formation area of a semiconductor layer with an oxidation resisting sidewall formed in a self-aligned fashion, ion-implanting p-type and n-type impurities with the oxidation resisting sidewall as a mask, patterning the semiconductor layer to form a dual gate pattern, oxidizing a surface of the dual gate pattern with the oxidation resisting sidewall as a mask, selectively removing the oxidation resisting sidewall, and followed by making silicide at its surface exposed by the removal of the oxidation resisting sidewall.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device having complementary field effect transistors and a method for manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram illustrating an example of SRAMs comprising six MOS transistors.
Namely, the SRAM includes two CMOS invertors comprising p-channel load transistors Q.sub.1 and Q.sub.2 and n-channel drive transistors Q.sub.3 and Q.sub.4 respectively.
The gates of the p-channel load transistor Q.sub.1 and the n-channel drive transistor Q.sub.3 forming one of the CMOS invertors are connected to the drain of the n-channel drive transistor Q.sub.4 of the other of the CMOS invertors respectively. Also, the gates of the p-channel load transistor Q.sub.2 and the n-channel drive transistor Q.sub.4 forming the other of the CMOS invertors are connected to the drain of the n-channel drive transistor Q.sub.3 of the one of the CMOS invertors respectively in the same manner. Furthermore, the drains of the two drive transistors Q.sub.3 and Q.sub.4 are connected respectively to a bit line BL and an inverted bit line BL through the two source/drains of n-channel transfer transistors Q.sub.5 and Q.sub.6. The term "source/drain" designates an appropriate element functioning as either of a source and a drain and is utilized hereinbelow in this sense.
Furthermore, a voltage Vcc is applied to the sources of the two p-channel load transistors Q.sub.1 and Q.sub.2 while a voltage Vss is applied to the sources of the two drive transistors Q.sub.3 and Q.sub.4. The gates of the two transfer transistors Q.sub.5 and Q.sub.6 are connected to a word line WL.
The horizontal configuration of the above SRAM is described, for example, in (1) THOMAS E. TANG et al., IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ELECTRON DEVICES, Vol.ED-34, No.3, March 1987, pp.682-688.
The semiconductor device described therein comprises first and second p-type transistors T.sub.1 and T.sub.2, serving as the load transistors Q.sub.1 and Q.sub.2, formed within an approximately "C"-shaped first active region 101 and first to forth n-type transistors T.sub.3 to T.sub.6, serving as the drive transistors Q.sub.3 and Q.sub.4 and the transfer transistors Q.sub.5 and Q.sub.6, formed within the four straight portions of "L"-shaped second and third active regions 102 and 103 as illustrated in FIG. 2.
The gate electrodes of the first p-type transistor T.sub.1 and the first-n-type transistor T.sub.3 are formed from a first conductive pattern 104 serving as a interconnection. Also, the gate electrodes of the second p-type transistor T.sub.2 and the second n-type transistor T.sub.4 are formed from a second conductive pattern 105 serving as a interconnection.
The drain region of the first p-type transistor T.sub.1 is connected to the drain region of the first n-type transistor T3 through a third conductive pattern 106. Furthermore, the drain regions of the second p-type transistor T.sub.2 and the second n-type transistor T.sub.4 are connected to each other through a fourth conductive pattern 107.
A couple of CMOS invertors are thus formed by this configuration.
Also, a interconnection 104 a extending from the first conductive pattern 104 is connected to the fourth conductive pattern 107. Furthermore, the second conductive pattern 105 is connected to the third conductive pattern 106 in the same manner. The CMOS invertors are cross-coupled by this structure. The word line WL passing through the second and third active regions 102 and 103 serves also as the gate electrodes of third and fourth n-type transistors T.sub.5 and T.sub.6.
Meanwhile, p-type impurity diffusion layers are formed in the both sides of the gate electrodes within the first active region 101, and n-type impurity diffusion layers are formed in the both sides of the gate electrodes within the second active region 102 and the third active region 103. Furthermore, the source/drain regions of the third and fourth n-type transistors T.sub.5 and T.sub.6, which are not connected to the first and second n-type transistors T.sub.3 and T.sub.4, are connected to bit lines which are not shown in this figure.
In the technical field, it has been attempted to fabricate the first p-type transistors T.sub.1 and T.sub.2 as surface channel type transistors in order to suppress the short channel effect of the p-type transistors T.sub.1 and T.sub.2. In this case, the gate electrodes of the p-type transistors T.sub.1 and T.sub.2 are usually formed of a p-type impurity doped silicon.
Accordingly, the gate electrode for making connection between a p-type transistor and an n-type transistor is formed as a dual gate structure comprising a p-type impurity diffusion region and an n-type impurity diffusion region formed in a silicon layer. These regions have to be connected by means of a metallic material or silicide on the both sides of the boundary between the p-type impurity diffusion region and the n-type impurity diffusion region. To this end, a p-type impurity and an n-type impurity are introduced in a separate manner and the p-type impurity diffusion region and the n-type impurity diffusion region are connected by means of silicide.
The dual gate structure is described in (2) Wen-Hsing Chang et al., IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ELECTRON DEVICES, Vol. 39, No. 4, APRIL 1992, pp. 959-966 and (3) Bijan Davari et al., IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ELECTRON DEVICES, Vol. 39, No. 4, APRIL 1992, pp. 967-975.
However, in order to improve the integration level of semiconductor devices, it is required to decrease the area of the silicide at the boundary in the dual gate structure for fining the dual gate structure much more. This has not been discussed yet.
Meanwhile, as fining semiconductor devices, the accuracy of alignment of contact holes, through which connection of bit lines and interconnections for supplying electric power is made, must be improved. The margin of the alignment may be procured, for example, by providing pad layers on the source regions and the drain regions of MOS transistors, on which connection to bit lines and power lines is made by the so-called self-aligned contact. This technique is described in (4) Japanese Patent Published Application No.Hei2-2139 corresponding to U.S. patent application Ser. No.128,834, filed on Dec. 4, 1987.
However, it is not permitted to grow a metallic film for providing the pad layer in the position of an opening described in the document (4) in the condition that the above described silicide layer is exposed at the surface of the gate because short current paths are formed among the gate and the source/drain.

Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing semiconductor device


An obstacle detecting method, apparatus, device and computer storage medium are proposed. The method includes: obtaining data acquired by a plurality of sensors installed on a vehicle at the same time; combining the data acquired at the same time to obtain a data set corresponding to the time; and performing obstacle detection based on the data set to obtain obstacle information. The technical solution may reduce financial costs and enrich information amount of the data, and may simplify the obstacle detecting steps, and avoid the problem about failure to fuse data in different formats, and thereby further improve the vehicle's travel safety.

In the existing autonomous vehicles, in order to avoid the case in which the autonomous vehicle has a blind spot so that obstacles located in the blind spot cannot be detected, a method of arranging a plurality of sensors on the autonomous vehicle is generally employed to completely sense all obstacles around the vehicle.
However, in the related art, when a plurality of sensors are used for obstacle detection, there are the following problems: when multiple sensors of the same type are used for obstacle detection, if relatively expensive sensors are used, data in a broader scope and with a larger amount of information can be obtained, but huge financial costs will be consumed; if relatively cheap sensors are used, although less financial costs are consumed, data in a broader scope and with a larger amount of information cannot be obtained; when different types of sensors are used for obstacle detection, output data of multiple sensors are usually fused, so the obstacle-detecting steps are cumbersome; furthermore, when the number of sensors is too large, the problem of fusion failure is very likely to occur. Once the data fusion fails, obstacles around the vehicle cannot be detected, which therefore substantially affects the travel safety of the vehicle.

Obstacle detecting method, apparatus, device and computer storage medium

APOLLO INTELLIGENT DRIVING TECHNOLOGY (BEIJING) CO., LTD.


A valve actuation mechanism are disclosed, which is capable of controlling the lift of valves of an engine by more than three on/off combinations. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the valve actuation mechanism is designed to control the opening and closing of engine valves by the use of an uncomplicated structure with minimum solenoid valves and hydraulic lines. By the valve actuation mechanism of the invention, not only the design of hydraulic line as well as that of space mechanism of an engine can be greatly simplified, but also the opening and closing of valves of an engine can be controlled thereby for enabling the engine to provide different valve lifts and thus satisfying different engine requirements, such as output power increasing, combustion efficiency improving, or cylinder deactivation.

With the ever-increasing oil price, fuel economic efficiency and fuel-saving potentials of an engine are becoming more and more important. Recently, most fuel-saving researches are focused upon developing variable valve actuation mechanism since it is the foundation of various fuel-saving techniques, such as cylinder deactivation, engine down-sizing, and so on.
Fuel-saving can be achieved by changing valves' lift, which is realized by methods listed as following:                (1) Designing intake valves to synchronously enable a high or a low lift selected with respect to engine speeds: The valve lifts of two intake valves of an engine are optimized for matching the same with the engine speed, by which high valve lift is adopted for enhancing intake efficiency and thus helping to develop high-power output with less fuel consumption when the engine is operating at high speeds, and low valve lift is adopted when the engine is operating at low/median speeds for reducing fuel consumption since the intake flow speed is increased, the driving torque of camshaft is reduced and the combustion of the engine at idle is stabilized. The aforesaid design is commonly being adopted by Honda and used in its products, such as CIVIC and ACCORD. In addition, The Valvetronic system of BMW is the first variable valve timing system to offer continuously variable intake valve lift for optimizing the performance of engines.        (2) Designing one of two intake valves to enable a high lift while another enabling a low lift: Such design basically allows only one intake valve to be opened for intaking air when an engine is operating at a low/median speed, by which an intense swirl can be created inside its cylinder so as to improve combustion efficiency and thus improve fuel consumption. It is noted that when the engine is operating at high speeds, both of the two intake valves are enabled to perform at a high valve lift. The CB400F of Honda is the representative of such design. However, in order to avoid fuel from depositing at the closed intake valve when the engine is operating at a low/median speed and thus cause troubles, such as incorrect air/fuel ratio and carbon deposition, one intake valve is enabled with a high lift while another is enabled with a low lift.        (3) Deactivating partial valves from intaking: For large-volume engine or hybrid engine, it is preferred to reduce pump loss during cylinder deactivation that can be achieved by designing valves of a portion of a cylinder to be closed when the engine is operating at low speed. The Insight of Honda is the representative of such design.
Currently, there are various researches relates to valve lift control. One such research is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,523,550, which uses a valve actuation mechanism with adjustable valve disabling device for valve lift control, and is the design capable of enabling one of two intake valves with a high lift while another with a low lift, or enabling only one valve is opened while another is closed. Another such research is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,727,831, which uses the combinations of three cams and three rocker arms for controlling two valves capable of selectively operating in two operation modes, that is, enabling both valves with a high lift synchronously or enabling one of two intake valves with a high lift while another with a low lift. Further another such research is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,563, which uses the combinations of three cams and three rocker arms for controlling two valves capable of selectively operating in three operation modes, that is, enabling both valves with a high lift synchronously, or enabling one of two intake valves with a high lift while another with a low lift, or enabling one of two intake valves with a median lift while another with a low lift.
Although methods and apparatuses disclosed in the aforesaid patents are all capable of providing multiple operation modes of valve lift, they are all short for providing valve lift control capable of meeting every operation requirement of an engine as it is operating at a high speed for high-power output, or as it is operating at a median speed and requiring an vertex inside its cylinder for improving combustion efficiency, or as it is subject to a cylinder deactivation condition, or as it is stalled. Therefore, it is in need of a valve actuation mechanism that is freed from the shortcomings of prior arts.

Industrial Technology Research Institute


An image forming apparatus supplies toner to an electrostatic latent image on a circumferential surface of a photosensitive rotating member to develop the electrostatic latent image, and includes: a photosensitive unit including the photosensitive rotating member and a pair of support frames rotatably supporting the photosensitive rotating member at its axial ends; a developing unit including a developing sleeve that is longer in its rotational axis direction than an element tube of the photosensitive rotating member in its rotational axis direction, and a pair of bearings provided outward from axial ends of the element tube and rotatably holding the developing sleeve at its axial ends; and a forcing member relatively forcing the developing unit toward the photosensitive unit to bring the bearings into abutment with the respective support frames, such that a gap between the developing sleeve and the photosensitive rotating member is maintained at a predetermined value.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer, and particularly relates to an image forming apparatus that include a mechanism for maintaining a gap between a photosensitive drum and a developing roller at a defined value, and an image forming unit and a developing unit included in the image forming apparatus.
(2) Related Art
An image forming apparatus employing an electronic photography system such as a printer performs image formation by exposure-scanning a circumferential surface of a photosensitive drum to form an electrostatic latent image, supplying toner to the electrostatic latent image for development from a developing device via a developing roller, and transferring a toner image onto a recording sheet.
A developing device employing a two-component developing system, among various types of developing devices, for example has a structure in which a developing roller includes a cylindrical developing sleeve into which a magnet roller is inserted. Generally, a flange having a rotational shaft which is vertically provided on the center thereof is attached to an opening of each of ends of a developing sleeve, and the developing sleeve is pivotally supported by the rotational shaft so as to be rotatable relative to a housing of the developing device.
By the way, in order to excellently form a toner image on a photosensitive drum, it is necessary to maintain a gap between a circumferential surface of a developing sleeve and a circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum at a predetermined defined value with a high precision. Such a gap is hereinafter referred to as a development gap.
For this reason, conventional image forming apparatuses for example have the following structure such as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. H11-161015. A developing sleeve has a rotational shaft to which a roller for controlling a gap (hereinafter, DS roller) is attached whose outer diameter is slightly longer than a diameter of the developing sleeve, and a developing roller is forced toward a photosensitive drum to bring a circumferential surface of the DS roller into abutment with a circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum, thereby maintaining a development gap at a defined value.
However, abutment of the DS roller with the photosensitive drum might obstruct smooth rotation of the photosensitive drum due to abrasion of a part of the photosensitive drum which is in abutment with the DS roller, a load torque which prevents rotation of the photosensitive drum, or the like. Since many image forming apparatuses recently have adopted a structure of rotating a developing sleeve in a direction counter to a rotational direction of a photosensitive drum in order to efficiently supply toner to a developing position, the abrasion and load torque as described exercise a significant negative influence on smooth rotation of the photosensitive drum especially in the image forming apparatuses adopting such a structure.
In view of this, there has proposed a structure of bring the DS roller not into direct abutment with the photosensitive drum but into partial abutment with support frames which support ends of the photosensitive drum so as to secure a development gap.
FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of a photosensitive unit 500 and a developing unit 503 which adopt the above structure. FIG. 15 shows respective ends of the photosensitive unit 500 and the developing unit 503 at only one side in a longitudinal direction thereof.
As shown in FIG. 15, the developing unit 503 has the structure in which a flange 505 which is integrally formed with a rotational shaft 5051 is attached to each of ends of a developing sleeve 504, the rotational shaft 5051 is held by a slide bearing 507 so as to be rotatable relative to a housing 506, and a DS roller 508 is attached to the end of the rotational shaft 5051.
The housing 506 of the developing unit 503 is forced toward the photosensitive drum 501 by an elastic member which is not illustrated. This brings the DS roller 508 into abutment with a corresponding one of support frames 502 which support both ends of the photosensitive drum 501, thereby maintaining a development gap G to a defined value.
According to the structure such as shown in FIG. 15, since the DS roller 508 is out of contact with the photosensitive drum 501, it is possible to prevent abrasion of the photosensitive drum 501 and decrease of a rotation driving force due to a load torque.
However, this structure requires that the rotational shaft 5051 should have a longer length than a conventional one in order to bring the DS roller 508 into abutment with the support frame 502 which is provided outward from ends of the photosensitive drum 501 in a rotational axis direction of the photosensitive drum 501.
The flange 505 and the rotational shaft 5051, which are integrally formed, are generally formed by cutting and machining a thick round bar of metal so as to secure a certain degree of strength. The longer the rotational shaft 5051 is, the longer a round bar of metal is necessary and the longer a period for cutting and machining the rotational shaft 5051 is also necessary. This causes a problem of increase in manufacturing costs.
In response to this problem, there has proposed a method of assembling the flange 505 and the rotational shaft 5051 as separate parts and then integrating them with each other. However, this method requires an increased number of components, and results in a large tolerance between the components (dimensional tolerance). This might disable to secure the development gap G as the defined value.

Image forming apparatus having reduced manufacturing costs, and image forming unit and developing unit included therein


Provided is a light sensor including a substrate, a dielectric layer, a plurality of pixels, a plurality of spacers, and a plurality of metal interconnects. The dielectric layer is located on the substrate. The pixels are located in the dielectric layer. The spacers are located on the sidewall of openings between adjacent pixels. The metal interconnects are located in the openings and cover the spacers so as to be electrically connected to the corresponding pixels.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a sensor. More particularly, the invention relates to a light sensor.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, sensing devices have been playing important roles in most industrial applications and automated control uses. Sensing devices usually include temperature sensors, humidity sensors, pressure sensors, magnetic sensors, illumination sensors, distance sensors, light sensors, and the like. Among these, light sensors have been extensively applied in various consumer products with the popularization of liquid crystal display panels and various mobile devices (such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), global positioning systems (GPSs), notebooks, netbooks, and so on).
Generally, light sensors contain pixels arranged in a matrix. In particular, increasing pixel density leads to shorter distance between pixels. As a result, the distance between two lower electrodes of two adjacent pixels is decreased, thus readily causing leakage current between the pixels when a voltage difference exists between the lower electrodes. If the distance between adjacent lower electrodes is increased, then the electric field in the middle region of the pixels becomes too weak. As a result, the photoelectron produced cannot readily reach the lower electrodes, thus generating a lag phenomenon. Moreover, light can also readily enter between pixels and cause crosstalk phenomenon between the pixels.


Methods, systems and apparatuses may provide for technology that determines a size of a meshlet and writes the meshlet to a full-sized buffer allocation if the size of the meshlet is greater than a partial-sized buffer allocation. The technology may also write the meshlet to the partial-sized buffer allocation if the size of the meshlet is not greater than the partial-sized buffer allocation.

Graphics processor three-dimensional (3D) pipelines may use mesh shaders to generate "meshlets" of geometric objects to be rendered. For performance reasons, the meshlet data is typically buffered in internal storage of the graphics processor until the data can be consumed (e.g., rendered) in order. The amount of output data per meshlet is variable and may range from a null output up to multiple kilobytes of data. As the size of the generated meshlet is determined at the execution time of a mesh shader kernel, an amount of internal storage to receive the maximumly-sized meshlet allowable by the mesh shader kernel is typically pre-allocated prior to mesh shader execution. If the actual meshlet generated consumes only a small portion of the pre-allocation (e.g., a "sparse" output), the unused remainder of the allocation is typically unavailable for reallocation until the meshlet is rendered. This inefficient use of internal storage for meshlets may limit the number of active (e.g., "in-flight") meshlets and result in suboptimal mesh shading performance, particularly when the maximumly-sized meshlet allocations are large.

Mesh shader output management technology


A cable protector for use within a wellbore has at least one housing member adapted to be placed against a wellbore device, such as an electric submergible pumping system. The housing member has at least one and preferably two longitudinal protrusions extending therefrom, which are adapted to receive an electric power cable adjacent to or between the protrusions. One or more bands or straps extend around the housing member to attach the cable protector to the wellbore device and to retain the cable between and inwardly of the protrusions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to devices used to protect a cable that is disposed within a wellbore and, more particularly, to a cable protector used to protect an electric power cable connected to an electric submergible pumping system within a wellbore.
2. Description of Related Art
Wellbore cable anchors and protectors are mechanical devices that are bolted to or strapped around a wellbore conduit, and include openings therein for a cable or other conduit to pass therethrough. The purpose of such cable protectors is to rigidly hold the cable to transfer its weight to the wellbore conduit. These devices are needed because wellbore cables generally cannot support their own weight past about 200 feet of suspension. Another purpose of such cable protectors is to prevent the cable from moving within the wellbore, with such movement causing abrasion or impact damage to the cable. Due to their need to transfer the weight of the cable to the wellbore conduit, the prior cable anchors and protectors include relatively large forged or cast housings, with robust clamps and/or bolts.
In certain wellbore applications, there exists very close clearances between an exterior surface of the electric submergible pumping system and an interior surface of the wellbore casing. This is especially true where the power cable must pass a progressive cavity pump and at least an upper portion of a submergible motor. In these applications, there is a need to protect the cable from being damaged by its movement and/or impact from vibrating or moving wellbore equipment, and not as much of a need at that point to transfer the weight of the cable to the wellbore conduit. These dimensions are often too close to permit the use of the prior robust cable anchors and protectors; therefore, there is a need for a simple cable protector which can be used in wellbore applications with very close clearances and which provide vibration dampening.


The present invention discloses a chip-size package (CSP) ready multiple chip module (MCM) board having a top surface and a bottom surface for mounting and packaging a plurality of integrated circuit (IC) chips on the top surface. The MCM board is provided with a plurality of chip connection terminals on the top surface for electrically connecting to the IC chips. The MCM board further includes a plurality of via connectors in electrical connection with each of the MCM connection terminals. The MCM board further includes a plurality of CSP connection terminals disposed on the bottom surface substantially under the IC chips wherein each of the via connectors penetrating the MCM board for electrically connecting the CSP connection terminals to the MCM connection terminals.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the electronic package. More particularly, this invention relates to a novel multiple chip module (MCM) packaging configuration to simplify assembling and testing processes of MCM such that a lower production cost is achieved, and to simplify the procedures to repackage and utilize the know-good-die (KGD) after testing such that an effective method is provided to minimize the wastes of the known-good-dice.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There is a challenge faced by those applying the multiple chip module (MCM) technology to package multiple electronic chips into a single module. This challenge arises from the fact that a MCM module can function properly only if every chip assembled into this MCM package is individually a good die. Also, due to the accumulative effect, even a small percentage of reject rate for the individual chips generates an unacceptable loss to the MCM packages using these chips. For example, a 99% chip acceptance rate for the individual chips, when assembled into eight-chip modules (X8 modules) as dual in-line memory module (DIMM) or single-in-line-memory module (SIMM) packages, an 8% loss or rework rate is generated which is clearly unacceptable.
In order to reduce wastes of resources committed to packaging chips which are not good dice, burn-in tests of individual chips are performed to identify the known good dice (KGD) before a MCM packaging processes are carried out. However, the processes for burning-in each individual chip or chip-size package (CSP) are very expensive due to the requirements of special testing sockets, and large dedicated burn-in board. Furthermore, difficult handling techniques are required to test these individual chips. Due to these special and expensive requirements for qualifying an integrated circuit (IC) chip as a known good die (KGD), it generally costs more to test a chip than to test a package. For the same reasons, the price of a known good die is approximately five to seven times as that of a untested die. Even with the high cost of testing and a much higher price to use the KGD, due to the concern of accumulative losses when chips are assembled as multiple chip modules, there is no choice but to employ the KGDs.
In addition to the costs related to the requirement of using the known good dice, two level of substrates are employed in conventional multiple chip modules wherein known good dice are assembled. The first level of substrate is used for packaging individual chips. The multiple chip module substrate is a second level substrate which is used for mounting multiple chips. Additional costs are incurred in this two level substrate structure since it requires more material and processing. This two substrate structure further presents another disadvantage that the packages have a high profile. In order to enhance device miniaturization, more and more modern applications implemented with packaged electronic chips require a reduced thickness. Conventional MCM packages implemented with a two-level substrate structure have very limited usefulness in modern miniaturized devices when an electronic packages with a very small thickness are required.
Therefore, a need still exits in the art to provide an improved configuration and procedure for testing and packaging the multiple chip modules to reduce the cost of testing and to more conveniently and economically reuse the known good dice when a known good die is packaged with other failed chips into a multiple-chip-module.

Multiple chip module configuration to simplify testing process and reuse of known-good chip-size package (CSP)


A vehicle seat having a seat part extending in the vehicle lengthwise direction (X) and in the vehicle width direction (Y) and having a backrest part and a seat substructure for cushioning and/or damping at least the seat part with respect to a body of a vehicle, in which the seat substructure comprises at least one horizontal spring device having a first spring part and a second spring part that is movable relative thereto and a deformable fluid spring element for cushioning the seat part with respect to the body in the vehicle lengthwise direction (X) and/or in the vehicle width direction (Y), the deformable fluid spring element being arranged with a first connecting region to the first spring part and a second connecting region to the second spring part, wherein the deformable fluid spring element is arranged between the first and second spring parts so as to be deformed solely by the first and second spring parts upon relative movement of the first and second spring parts relative to each other.

Generic vehicle seats are already well known in the art. They are expediently often used in all-terrain motor vehicles and utility motor vehicles so as in particular to offer a driver maximum driving comfort even on rough terrain or dirt roads.
For this purpose these vehicle seats often comprise both horizontally and vertically acting cushioning and damping devices, which are used to support at least the seat part of the vehicle seat sufficiently well with respect to the body of the vehicle.
A seat substructure of the vehicle seat is often very large since the cushioning and/or damping devices occupy considerable space. For example, horizontal spring devices known in the art often require considerable space since they always use spring elements, such as helical spring elements, which are oriented in the cushioning direction. However, such an arrangement means that the horizontal spring device is either very large in order to achieve a particular spring characteristic in the cushioning direction or only a suitably smaller spring element can be used. If the latter option is chosen, however, the desired spring characteristic is often not achieved, or is achieved but only to an insufficient extent. Moreover, the spring characteristics of, in particular, the spring elements installed in the horizontal spring devices cannot be varied or influenced—or can be, but only to an insufficient extent. This means that the resulting spring characteristic cannot be optimally set.
A generic vehicle seat for a vehicle is also known from Offenlegungsschrift DE 10 2010 055 342 A1 and has, inter alia, a horizontal spring device comprising at least one fluid spring element which is actively variable in an absorptive volume and extends in an elongate manner between two attachment regions, onto which fluid spring element pressure forces can be applied obliquely to the lengthwise direction thereof by means of a deformation device for deforming, in particular for bending, the fluid spring element. Owing to the thus constructed spring device, a compact horizontal spring device can be integrated in the seat substructure below a seat part of the vehicle seat. Particularly owing to the fluid spring element used, the spring characteristic can additionally be set within certain limits, thereby effectively circumventing at least some of the disadvantages set out above.

Vehicle seat and method for cushioning two spring parts which are movable relative to each other


A portable workstation for splicing fiber optics has slots that slip over a side of a bucket of an aerial bucket truck. The slots provide for a secure attachment of the workstation to the bucket. The workstation has hand slots so that the workstation is easily manipulated for attaching or removing the workstation to/from the bucket. Within the workstation is a pocket having a cavity for securely holding a fusion splicer. The workstation has a work area, adjacent to the splicer, for holding splicing tools and other materials used for making a fiber optic splice.

In the communication service business, such as the telecommunication business or the cable television business, the physical channels for carrying signals comprises a variety of cables, such as twisted copper pairs, coaxial cables or optic fibers. For new installations and maintenance, it is often necessary to splice the physical channels in order to provide or repair a connection from the provider to the customer. The physical channels are often placed above the existing terrain (aerial installations) or buried underground or placed elsewhere.
In general, a technician that splices such channels works in a variety of environments, which range from inside areas with controlled environments to outside areas with extreme weather conditions. The equipment used to provide splices and the physical channel being spliced need an environment suitable for providing a good splice and a safe situation for the technician. Because the demand for bandwidth continues to increase and cost of optical fiber has decreased, a fiber communication channel is considered a great value for providing high bandwidth. Hence technicians are busy with installations of fiber that require splicing of optical fibers. Fusion splicers have been developed for splicing a first fiber optic to a second fiber optic.
Fusion splicing uses heat to join two optical fibers end-to-end. The objective is to fuse the two fibers together in such a way that light passing through the fibers is not scattered or reflected back by the splice, and so that the splice and the region surrounding it are just about as strong as the virgin fiber itself. The source of heat for the fusion splicer is usually an electric arc, but can also be a tungsten filament through which current is passed.
Several steps are necessary to splice optical fibers including stripping the coating off the two fibers to be spliced together and then cleaning the fibers. Next, each fiber is cleaved so that its endface is substantially flat and perpendicular to the axis of the fiber. Then the two endfaces of the fibers are aligned. After the fibers are aligned, the two fibers are fused together. Finally, the bare fiber area is protected either by recoating or installing a splice protector. In addition, it is often desirable to perform a proof-test to ensure that the splice is strong enough to survive handling, packaging and extended use.
Alternatives to fusion splicing include using optical fiber connectors or mechanical splices. Such alternative splicing techniques generally produce a splice having higher insertion losses, lower reliability and higher return losses than the splice provided by a fusion splicer.
Fusion splicing machines or fusion splicers for fiber-optic cables are relatively expensive, and historically fiber splices were performed in stable, controlled environments such as in "splicing trailers," portable splicing labs, or in cable vaults. However, recent industry trends have driven the need for technicians to be able to splice fiber-optic cables basically anywhere, quickly and easily. One of the most difficult locations to splice fiber-optic cables is actually in aerial closures where the technician performs a splice from a bucket of an aerial bucket truck, in a splicing closure usually suspended about 15-30 feet from the ground. Technicians must not only worry about the fact that the splicing tools are exposed to the weather, but also the fact that it is very difficult to secure the splicing machine in a manner that facilitates a safe and easy fiber-optic splice.
To alleviate several of the aforementioned problems with splicing fiber, several workstations have been proposed. However, such workstations do not meet the needs of a telecommunication technician splicing fibers in many environments where telecommunication fibers serve as communication channels.


Compositions, which can be used in cosmetic applications, comprising: (a) at least one wax selected from the group consisting of dialkyl(ene) alkoxy ethers corresponding to formula (I):R1—(OCnH2n)x—O—(CmH2mO)y—R2  (I)in which R1 and R2 independently of one another represent alkyl and/or alkylene groups containing 16 to 36 carbon atoms, n and m independently of one another represent numbers of 2 to 4 and x and y independently of one another represent numbers of 0 to 10, the sum of x and y being a number of 1 to 10; and dialkyl(ene) carbonates corresponding to formula (II):R3O—CO—OR4  (II)in which R3 and R4 independently of one another represent optionally hydroxyfunctionalized alkyl and/or alkenyl groups containing 16 to 36 carbon atoms, and mixtures thereof; (b) at least one silicone; (c) at least one amphoteric and/or zwitterionic surfactant; and (d) at least one cationic polymer.

It is known that, after washing, hair not only looks dull, it is also very difficult to comb and manage. For this reason, conditioning agents are added to modern shampoos with a view to overcoming these disadvantages. Thus, EP 0 918 506 B1 describes cosmetic preparations containing certain long-chain dialkyl ethers in combination with silicones in conditioning shampoos. WO 97/47274 also relates to cosmetic cleaning preparations which contain a combination of certain long-chain dialkyl ethers or dialkyl carbonates with surfactants and polyols as a pearlizing component. WO 98/20845 also relates to pearlizing concentrates which contain dialkyl ethers in combination with silicones and certain emulsifiers. WO 99/06414 discloses preparations based on alkoxylated dialkyl ethers, surfactants and silicones.
Now, the problem addressed by the present invention was to provide cosmetic preparations for cleaning hair which would greatly reduce combing work after washing and which would condition the hair, but which at the same time would also show a high foaming capacity and good cleaning performance. In addition, insoluble silicones would lend themselves to stable incorporation in the preparations.

Cleaning and conditioning compositions comprising silicones and waxes


A device for turning over and transferring the patient comprises a base, a lifting mechanism, an extension arm, a cantilever beam, and a turn driving device. The lifting mechanism comprises a lifting post and a lift driving device. The lifting post is fixed to the base; the lift driving device is fixed to the lifting post. The extension arm has a first end and a second end. The lift driving device is operatively connected to the first end for driving the extension arm to move up and down along the lifting post. The cantilever beam is connected to the second end and extending away from the lifting post. The turn driving device comprises a motor reducer, a revolutionary shaft, and two turning shafts.

In the coming aged society, the bodies of many apoplexy patients, patients in the vegetative state, or bedridden patients degenerate due to lack of activities. If not turned periodically, they may suffer from bedsores. Thereby, caregivers and care equipment are required for their daily cares. It is a tiresome and heavy duty to take care a bedridden patient in a long time. For improving the caring abilities as well as relieving the burden of labor for caregivers, convenient and labor-saving care and rehabilitation apparatuses are highly required.
Currently, the care and rehabilitation apparatuses for caring bedridden patients in the market include:    1. Turning bed: includes a single application of turning a bedridden patient.    2. Inflatable bed: includes a single application of changing the pressure points of the body of a bedridden patient for preventing bedsores.    3. Electric shifting machine: includes the application of moving and weighing a bedridden patient.    4. Phlegm suction machine: includes a single application of phlegm suction for a bedridden patient's mouth, nose, throat, or shallow trachea.    5. Shampooing basin: includes a single application of shampooing a bedridden patient's hair in bed.    6. Bath machine: includes a single application of moving a patient to the bathroom for bathing.    7. Rehabilitation machine for hands and legs: includes a single application of rehabilitating the hands and legs of an apoplexy patient.    8. Weighing frame: includes a single application of slinging a patient for weighing.    9. Rehabilitative walking machine: includes a single application of rehabilitating an apoplexy patient by walking.    10. "Multipurpose body-turn-over apparatus" by the present inventor (Taiwan utility patent publication number 387249; U.S. Pat. No. 6,321,398 B1):            (1) Only the lateral (the left and right direction of the patient) turning rod is designed; no longitudinal (the head and leg direction of the patient) turning rod is available. Hence, there is no lateral turning operations such as slinging the wheelchair in the sit position or turning laterally for lifting the hip and the chest.        (2) The male shell of the lifting frame slips into the female shell for moving up and down. Because the female shell has a basic length, the lifting range is relatively high. Due to the limited lifting path, the demand is not practically satisfied.        (3) The net having a folding board inside hooks the sling for turning. However, the folding board has the disadvantages of increasing cost, heaviness, interference, and uneasy to fold and clean.            11. "Assistive turning device having lifting function" (Taiwan utility patent publication number M416461: The lifting mechanism and the turning device are different from the present invention.
Although the various care apparatuses for apoplexy patients, patients in the vegetative state, or bedridden patients described above have respective functions, there is no an integrated device for caring. In addition to higher purchasing costs, they occupy space. Besides, they cannot satisfy the overall demands of home care and rehabilitation.

Device for turning over and transferring the patient


Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture wherein a point-in-time copy operation command for a point-in-time copy of a point-in-time source volume to a point-in-time target volume is received while performing continuous copy operations from continuous copy source volumes to continuous copy target volumes. A determination is made as to whether the point-in-time target volume is a first continuous copy source volume and whether the point-in-time source volume is a second continuous copy source volume. A determination is made of metadata corresponding to the point-in-time copy operation, in response to determining that the point-in-time target volume is the first continuous copy source volume and the point-in-time source volume is the second continuous copy source volume. Point-in-time copy operations are performed on the continuous copy target volumes based on the determined metadata to execute the point-in-time copy operation command while performing the continuous copy operations.

1. Field
The disclosure relates to a method, system, and article of manufacture for the execution of point-in-time copy operations in continuous mirroring environments.
2. Background
In certain storage environments, asynchronous, continuous mirroring solutions may operate by copying updated data from a source storage subsystem to a target storage subsystem in a time-sequenced order, where the time-sequenced order is based on the time the data was updated by an application program. In such continuous mirroring solutions, source storage volumes, also referred to as continuous copy source volumes, are copied via continuous copy operations to target storage volumes, also referred to as continuous copy target volumes.
Point-in-time copy operations may attempt to copy source storage volumes, also referred to as a point-in-time source volumes, to target storage volumes, also referred to as point-in-time target volumes. In point-in-time copy operations, the point-in-time target volumes are updated with the data stored at the point-time-time source volumes at a single point-in-time. Furthermore, in point-in-time copy operations instantaneous or substantially instantaneous updates are made to the point-in-time target volumes with data from the point-in-time source volumes.
In certain situations, point-in-time copy operations have to be performed while continuous copy operations are being performed within a storage environment. Large scale point-in-time copies made onto a continuous mirror source volume (i.e., the continuous mirror source volume is the target volume for a point-in-time copy operation) may cause problems in certain storage environments because all the data included in the domain of the point-in-time copy may be logically updated instantaneously, and data consistency may be lost.
In certain existing implementations of continuous copy solutions, a record set may be created for each of the tracks updated by the point-in-time copy, wherein all of these record sets may have the same timestamp and may have to be physically copied to the continuous copy target volumes at the same time in order to maintain data consistency. Consistency can also be maintained by consecutively updating the continuous copy target volumes with the continuous copy source (i.e., point-in-time target) tracks, but this may prevent other application updates from being applied to the continuous copy target volumes until the entire range of the point-in-time copy is mirrored.
In certain customer environments where an entire data center is mirrored using continuous copy, in certain solutions the available choices for the customer are to disable mirroring while point-in-time operations are processed, or to not use point-in-time operations.

Execution of point-in-time copy operations in continuous mirroring environments

International Business Machines Corporation